Zhao Wuji Emerged from Seclusion!

Inside the Evolutionary Spirit Sect!

"What?"

Hearing the Young Officer's report, Xu Xiao, who had just emerged from seclusion, looked utterly incredulous.

"Is what you said true?"

"The Demon Race's entire army has already arrived?"

"Yes. By now, most of the cities have probably fallen. I fear our Cloud Azure Territory is utterly doomed!"

The young officer knelt on the floor. He had watched with his own eyes as the Demon Race slaughtered and devoured his friends and family.

"Fine. Fine, fine, fine..."

Xu Xiaotian nodded, seeming to age decades in an instant. "Invite the seniors from the Mystic Universe Heavenly Palace here..."

"No need. We're already here."

The Five Guards of the Mystic Universe Heavenly Palace slowly walked in from outside.

They were responsible for protecting the sect master of the Evolutionary Spirit Sect.

"Gentlemen, I fear this time will truly be difficult."

"Rest assured, Sect Master Xu. We have already reported this matter to our sect. Before long, they should send disciples to assist us. Once they arrive, this crisis will naturally be resolved."

"But until then, we will likely have to hold out for three days. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, they will arrive within that time!"

One guard smiled faintly, without a trace of nervousness.

"Before then, however, the Evolutionary Spirit Sect would do well to remain hidden. The Demon Race's methods are exceedingly cruel. If we are discovered, even if all five of us fight to the death to protect you, we cannot stop their army from bearing down on us!"

All five were at the seventh level of the heavenly mansion realm. Though they could offer some resistance, once those demons became ruthless, even a mouthful of spit from each of them would be enough to drown the guards.

"I know. But I cannot accept it. I cannot accept the people of the Cloud Azure Territory being killed by the Demon Race just like that. This is all my fault, all my fault!"

Xu Xiao was consumed with regret. Had he known this would happen, he would never have let his son slaughter Tang Chuan.

Perhaps if Tang Chuan had not died, the people of the Cloud Azure Territory would not have suffered such brutal persecution at the hands of the Demon Race!

"Sect Master Xu, there is no need to blame yourself like this. The Demon Race has come in overwhelming force, and our cultivation falls short of theirs. Naturally, we are no match for them. You need not belittle yourself."

Xu Xiao nodded, his body trembling.

"I'm counting on you!"

"Rest assured, Sect Master Xu. We promised your son that we would do everything in our power to protect the Evolutionary Spirit Sect!"

As they spoke, the five vanished from where they stood.

Xu Xiao stared at the empty room, pain flashing across his face. "Xu Xuan, your father cannot fully protect the Cloud Azure Territory. You won't blame me, will you?"

At the Mystic Universe Heavenly Palace...

Zhao Wuji was cultivating in his private hall. After a long while, he slowly opened his eyes, and a streak of golden light shot out.

"I've finally broken through to the ninth heaven of the heavenly mansion realm!"

Zhao Wuji let out a long, excited cry. After returning and collecting his reward, he had immediately begun cultivating!

And now, he had broken through to the ninth heaven of the heavenly mansion realm.

"Hm?"

Suddenly, Zhao Wuji spotted a paper dove flying toward him. He reached out and gently caught it, and the paper dove unfolded in his palm.

There were only a few simple words written on it.

"Senior Brother Zhao, the Cloud Azure Territory is in danger! The Demon Race's army has arrived. Please come to our rescue at once!"

Zhao Wuji burned the paper dove to ashes, then moved swiftly, leaving the hall in moments...

"Elder Mo, this disciple has a matter in which he seeks your help."

Zhao Wuji arrived beside the Nine-Level Palace. Seeing Mo Tianji at its edge, he approached with his hands clasped in salute.

Mo Tianji glanced at Zhao Wuji, then nodded lightly.

"Wuji, speak freely."

"Yes!"

Zhao Wuji nodded gently, then recounted everything that had happened in the Cloud Azure Territory.

"Elder, should we intervene?"

Mo Tianji fell briefly silent. Only after a moment did he speak.

"Intervene? Why wouldn't we?"

"Zhao Wuji, take this. There is a purple mansion realm puppet inside. It can help you drive them back, but it cannot slaughter every last one of them."

"All you need to do is repel them. Nothing more."

Mo Tianji spoke calmly as he handed Zhao Wuji a purple Token.

"There is a puppet inside this Token. Just tap it lightly, and it will emerge. As long as this Token is in your hands, it will obey you unconditionally."

After explaining, Mo Tianji added, "Go. Leave those fellows from the Ten Thousand Demons Realm to Xu Xuan. You only need to drive them into one place."

"Yes."

Zhao Wuji did not dare ask any more questions. He quickly took the Token, called over a few veteran disciples, and left with them.

Inside the Nine-Level Palace.

Xu Xuan had now successfully reached the end of the Seventh Trial.

The end of the Seventh Trial lay within an Endless Sea.

Xu Xuan gazed at the Endless Sea before him, remaining silent for a long time.

After a long while, he finally took a step forward.

"So this is the Endless Sea?"

Xu Xuan sighed softly, an inexplicable melancholy stirring within him.

He did not know how he was supposed to get through this level.

"As long as you successfully cross the Endless Sea, you can enter the Eighth Level."

The voice ahead reached Xu Xuan's ears.

Only then did Xu Xuan nod. Looking at the Endless Sea before him, he took a step forward.

Splash!

The Endless Sea suddenly sent spray surging into the sky. Xu Xuan lost his footing, and the waves instantly slapped him back onto the shore.

"Hm?"

Xu Xuan looked at the Endless Sea before him. "I knew it wouldn't be that easy."

"But the harder it is, the more excited I get!"

"Come on! Let me see just what secrets you, the Nine-Story Palace, still hold!"

Far from shrinking back, Xu Xuan grew braver with every battle. Defeat after defeat, he fought on, his courage rising with each attempt!

"Pfft!"

At last, Xu Xuan spat out a mouthful of blood.

With each successive attempt, the waves struck more fiercely, and the journey across the Endless Sea seemed to grow ever longer!

Yet he still stood on the shore.

For a long time, he could not speak. The repeated assaults had twisted his face into a somewhat savage expression.

"System, what are my chances of making it through the Endless Sea?"

"Ten percent!"

"Only a ten percent chance?"

Xu Xuan drew a deep breath and took another step forward.

Bang, bang, bang!

The waves battered him, their force growing ever stronger!

But this time, Xu Xuan did not budge. He even took another step forward.

"Since you insist on stopping me, I'll borrow your strength!"

A plan sprang to mind. Xu Xuan continued resolutely forward, then suddenly leaped up as the waves struck.

He was gambling!

This time, there were two possibilities. One was that the waves would strike him and carry him straight to the finish.

The second was that the waves would slap him back again, forcing him to start all over!

Watching the waves lash out from the Endless Sea, Xu Xuan gritted his teeth and stamped down hard on them!

Whoosh!

With a burst of crashing waves, Xu Xuan finally reached the finish. Looking at the door leading to the Third Level, he stepped through!