Just as Daoist Qingyan was lost in rosy dreams of his future, the door to the secret room suddenly exploded. Sunlight streamed in from outside, illuminating eight mysterious figures.
They wore masks and red cloaks patterned with black clouds.
All eight were dressed alike, making them look utterly eerie.
Daoist Qingyan reacted swiftly. Realizing that something terrible had happened to his son, his face twisted with grief and fury. Without hesitation, he summoned a flying sword magical artifact and sent it shooting toward Naruto at the head of the group.
But before the flying sword could reach Naruto, it veered off to one side and landed in the hand of a figure wearing a golden mask.
"Metal is mine to command. Don't try using metal magical artifacts in front of me!"
The golden-masked figure's voice rang out, firm and resonant, like a longsword standing proud.
The Core Formation Stage elder he served had taught him a peculiar cultivation technique that allowed him to control all metal, including magical artifacts—especially sword-shaped magical artifacts.
Daoist Qingyan's eyelid twitched at the sight, and his expression darkened.
By now, he had discerned the cultivation levels of the eight people before him. Aside from their tall, powerfully built leader, the other seven were all at the Foundation Establishment Stage. Five of them were even in its middle stage!
Damn! Where did they come from? What family has eight Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators at once? Could they be from the Seven Great Sects?
Cold sweat broke out on Daoist Qingyan's face. The defensive magical artifact concealed beneath his clothes suddenly flashed. At the same time, he slapped his Storage Pouch and summoned a Small Boat, preparing to leap aboard.
Seeing how bad the situation was, Daoist Qingyan decisively chose to flee, abandoning even his family.
At