As Xu Long watched the white-robed cultivator's figure disappear, a chill ran down his spine. He knew all too well the energy within the cold air—it was the Poison Curse of Higher Mist Beast!
It's Poison Curse as insidious as a bone-deep infection!
Xu Long had already experienced the strangeness of the Poison Curse; in the Land of Exile, it was an energy that even Divine Punishment Lightning Tribulation could not completely dispel!
After the battle with the Daoist nun and the Human Python, Xu Long's Poison Curse disappeared as the nun Human Python perished.
Although Xu Long hadn't fully grasped the mystery, he knew that it contained the power of cause and effect, something that couldn't be easily resolved by one party alone; he had to settle things with the master of the Poison Curse.
Otherwise, this karmic entanglement will disrupt one's path to enlightenment, and the master of the Poison Curse will surely make the cultivator's cultivation a never-ending ordeal.
Therefore, he surmised that this energy should not be underestimated; a strike from a higher being would not be ordinary!
Xu Long thought to himself: Danger!
If I had followed the white-robed cultivator just now, and fled alongside him, wouldn't this Poison Curse have fallen upon me now?
When the tide of Mist Beast surges in, surrounded by the Higher Mist Beast beings, I will definitely be in a life-or-death situation. Those superior beings that stand upright are definitely not so simple!
The surrounding cultivators were unaware that the cold air contained the Poison Curse of the Mist Beast. They only saw the white-robed cultivator being attacked by a blast of cold air, after which he forcibly broke free and fled again.
However, Xu Long remained secretly on guard. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that this Mist Beast was not to be underestimated. What was its purpose in going to such lengths to place Poison Curse on the white-robed cultivator?
As he was pondering this thought, he subconsciously glanced at the figure that had stood upright in the mist earlier.
Xu Long's gaze instantly met a pair of emerald eyes. Through the thin mist, a figure stood upright, appearing and disappearing behind the blue river.
The cold gaze in those emerald eyes was like a sharp sword, piercing straight into Xu Long's heart.
His pupils contracted sharply, the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, and his heart almost stopped beating.
A fine layer of sweat appeared on Xu Long's forehead. He noticed that there seemed to be a dark shadow observing them from the opposite horde of Mist Beast.
Xu Long's gaze met itss, and the coldness in its emerald eyes confirmed to Xu Long that this was a powerful, Higher Mist Beast!
After a brief eye contact, Xu Long abruptly looked away. The fog opposite him suddenly thickened, and a powerful aura emanated from it.
A sense of pressure suddenly rose in everyone's hearts, as if some powerful being had manifested, making them tremble from the bottom of their hearts.
A mocking glint flashed in her emerald eyes, and her forked tongue hissed as the giant blue pythons in front of them surged toward the group.
Behind the mist, a pair of emerald eyes gazed meaningfully into the distance before gradually disappearing behind the horde of Mist Beast.
Upon hearing the rustling sound, Xu Long couldn't help himself. He cursed his bad luck, realizing that he had actually encountered Higher Mist Beast in the world of Phoenix City.
He dared not look it in the eye again, fearing it might cast Poison Curse upon him as well.
Anticipating the imminent attack of the giant blue python, he could only grit his teeth and transform into a streak of light, chasing after the white-robed cultivator.
Seeing him flee first, no one could continue fighting. Several streaks of light flashed, and all the cultivators followed Xu Long. More and more giant blue pythons appeared along the way, and a rustling sound sent chills down everyone's spines.
As everyone gave up resisting, the surrounding Mist Beast surged forward all at once, appearing on the ground like blue waves, carrying a thin mist that threatened to engulf them.
The horde of Mist Beast surrounding them from all directions created a heavy, oppressive atmosphere, and the group would occasionally fight their way through it.
Xu Long felt he could already see the white-robed cultivator in his eyes, but at this moment they were also surrounded at the front, and Xu Long's heart sank.
Before his eyes surged a vast, blue river, with bubbles about to be swept away by the waves. He almost couldn't resist breaking through the mist above his head.
Once the azure river completely surrounds them, he will likely have no way to escape under the threat of the Higher Mist Beast and the Eternity Ice Mist.
A sense of urgency rose in Xu Long's heart, and a hint of anxiety appeared on his face.
The white-robed cultivator in their sights slowed down noticeably, seemingly unconcerned about the horde of Mist Beast gathering around him. He gazed in the direction of the city as if waiting for something.
Before Xu Long could even wonder, a strong tremor gradually spread from the ground, and a rumbling sound, like muffled thunder, echoed beneath everyone's feet.
The solid ground began to tremble violently, as if some enormous creature had rolled over, and the immense energy caused a shockwave in the ground.
A glint flashed in Xu Long, and the streak of light he transformed into slowly came to a stop on the ground, the anxious look on his face finally disappearing.
Two divine steeds galloped across the land ahead, their heavy bodies causing the ground to tremble as they raced.
Behind the divine steed was a huge bronze chariot, whose tall shafts caused violent shockwaves as they rolled onto the ground.
This enormous war chariot surged across the land like a train, charging wildly into the horde of Mist Beast with a violent aura, seemingly oblivious to the Eternity Ice Mist freezing power of the Mist Beast within.
Ten powerful cultivators sat atop a carriage three zhang high, each clad in armor and wielding weapons, dressed in uniform black robes, their faces solemn as they looked upon the crowd.
On the tall bronze beams of the chariot, there was a gleaming command flag, with a divine bird embroidered on it.
The divine bird was covered in colorful feathers, its two large wings were slightly spread, its long neck was held upright, and its proud eyes gazed at the sky.
Its exquisite form seemed poised to leap from the command flag at any moment. The divine bird's imposing presence imbued the seemingly ordinary flag with an extraordinary aura.
As the chariots approached, the command flags fluttered in the air, and the divine bird perched on them seemed to have come to life, dancing its colorful body in the air. The faint precious light emanating from the command flags enveloped the people on the chariots, protecting them from the erosion of the fog.
As the divine steed galloped in carrying the bronze chariot, it crashed straight into the horde of Mist Beast. As the massive chariot shafts crushed down, countless giant blue pythons below were instantly reduced to a pile of mud.
After the heavy cart shafts rolled quickly past, the Mist Beast that had been hissing just moments before were now surrounded by dust, and the surging tide of Mist Beast instantly came to a halt.
Under the imposing presence of this bronze chariot, the Mist Beast horde dared not approach for a moment. Its violent aura was like that of a ferocious beast within the Mist Beast, and the totems engraved on the outside of the chariot seemed to be awakening.
At this moment, the imposing presence of the chariot made the great cultivators on board appear like gods. Beneath their black robes, they truly exuded an extraordinary aura.
The approaching chariot slowed down, and the oppressive atmosphere in the hearts of those behind it miraculously dissipated. A seemingly older, powerful cultivator on the chariot bowed slightly to the white-robed cultivator and asked:
"Greetings, Pavilion Master Xu. Are all the fellow cultivators from the Rogue Cultivators Association alright?"
"Snort!"
Upon seeing the bronze chariot approaching, the white-robed cultivator came to a complete halt. When he emerged from the beam of light, his expression was rather grim.
Deep down, he was clearly somewhat displeased with the great cultivator who had spoken up to him, but now, amidst the horde of Mist Beast, it was the other party who had come to his rescue.
Therefore, no matter how much emotion he felt, he couldn't vent it in front of others. He just gave a cold hum and then fell silent.
Xu Long was relieved to see the chariot. He had seen Deng Shouchong take out the bronze chariot in Blackwater City and knew that it was a rare magical Dharma Artifact.
During the horde of Mist Beast in Blackwater City, it was only thanks to the bronze chariot that Deng Shouchong and Ma Fang were able to escape.
Seeing the chariots now, he knew that he was temporarily safe in the Mist Beast Tide, and that Phoenix City was probably not far away.
The older cultivator on the carriage wasn't particularly annoyed by Pavilion Master Xu Xu's response.
He had just carefully observed Pavilion Master Xu's face and noticed an unusual flush. He knew that the group of the Rogue Cultivators Association had probably encountered serious trouble, and that Pavilion Master Xu himself had likely suffered a hidden loss during the Mist Beast tide.
He thought: At this moment, Pavilion Master Xu must be cursing our City Lord's Manor people in his heart for not coming to wipe out the Mist Beast Tide sooner. He must want to see the Rogue Cultivators Association and the Mist Beast Tide suffer heavy losses outside Phoenix City!
The great cultivator on the carriage was too lazy to explain. He knew that Pavilion Master Xu was not listening to good advice in his rage, but he knew that the losses suffered by the Rogue Cultivators Association could not be blamed on the City Lord's Manor.
Luckily, my team arrived just in time, and they helped Pavilion Master Xu out of his predicament. Besides, none of the Rogue Cultivators Association suffered any casualties.
Hmm? Who are those people...?
The older, more senior cultivator's eyes flickered as he looked at Xu Long and his group, seemingly lost in thought, his expression somewhat hesitant.
"They're all from the Red Land, wanting to come to Phoenix City and serve us!"
Perhaps sensing the gazes from the carriage, Pavilion Master Xu unusually offered an explanation for everyone, which served as a recommendation to the group in the eyes of the City Lord's Manor's Mansion.
However, he emphasized the words "in the middle of the Red Land " and his tone was cold.
As expected, the great cultivator on the carriage changed his expression slightly after hearing Pavilion Master Xu's words, but he was still somewhat composed and did not react on the spot.
" Pavilion Master Xu, there's no need to worry. The City Lord's Manor's Mansion will surely open a passage for the fellow cultivators of the Rogue Cultivators Association. Please go ahead, I'll cover the rear!"
After quickly saying a few words to Pavilion Master Xu, the great cultivator urged everyone on the carriage to prepare for battle.
The cultivators, clad in black robes, all jerked up, simultaneously unleashing their weapons outside the carriage. As if provoked, the surrounding horde of Mist Beast surged towards them once more.
Upon hearing this, Pavilion Master Xu bowed to the cultivators on the chariot without saying a word, then walked straight past the bronze chariot and transformed into a streak of light, disappearing away.
Meanwhile, those behind looked at each other, bewildered, as they watched Pavilion Master Xu disappear. They were also at a loss as they watched the chariot approaching from the front.
Xu Long glanced at the older cultivator on the chariot. He had no intention of speaking to the group. As the chariot began to pick up speed again, it started to run straight towards them.
A rumbling sound echoed beneath their feet, and the massive steed's imposing form came into view. As the tall shafts rolled, it seemed as if they would crush everyone into the dust in the next instant.
At this moment, with a horde of Mist Beast behind them and bronze chariots in front, the group was caught in a dilemma, and the atmosphere became somewhat anxious.
Xu Long showed no sign of anxiety in front of others; he knew this was merely a show of force from the City Lord's Manor.
If all the cultivators who pledged allegiance to Phoenix City are wiped out in the future, Phoenix City will lack fresh blood, and its combat power will eventually die out. Then, the vast city will gradually fall into ruin and be eliminated by the times and by the Mist Beast.
According to the memories of the great cultivator of the Pill Cauldron Sect, Phoenix City is a city of cultivators that has existed for a very long time, and it has been absorbing other cultivators into the city for countless years.
The infighting among the cultivators earlier allowed the Mist Beast Tide to successfully besiege them, which clearly disrupted the plans of Pavilion Master Xu and his group, and even caused Pavilion Master Xu to suffer a hidden loss.
While speaking with the people from the City Lord's Manor, what appeared to be an introduction was actually a reminder to the City Lord's Manor cultivators on the carriage: this group of people are not good people, and the City Lord's Manor should be careful.
That's why the City Lord's Manor's chariots were about to crush the crowd, to teach them a small lesson.
Despite knowing this was a show of force, Xu Long still felt a great sense of tension as the bronze chariot charged towards him; it was no ordinary object.
The heavy divine steed dragged the enormous chariot, crashing down like a runaway locomotive.
The totems on it, appearing and disappearing intermittently, emitted a binding force that froze everyone in the room for a moment, leaving them only able to watch helplessly as they awaited their death!
At this moment, the anxiety on everyone's faces had turned into despair, and some of the timid cultivators were already on the verge of crying, as everyone was about to be buried in the mud.
As the divine steed landed in front of them, a gust of wind startled them awake. They wiped the large beads of sweat from their foreheads, their expressions filled with surprise and uncertainty.
The older, more mature cultivator on the chariot waved his hand indifferently, signaling everyone to quickly escape from behind the chariot, leaving the horde of Mist Beast behind them to him.
At this moment, everyone felt as if they had been granted a pardon. They showed gratitude in front of the chariot, and then all of them turned into streaks of light and fled.
Xu Long was at the forefront. He had begun to flee as the divine steed approached, and now, as he emerged from behind the chariot, the figure of Pavilion Master Xu could already be seen.
A sound of surging Magic Power came from behind, and the earth trembled violently. Presumably, with the City Lord's Manor's chariots, the group of Mist Beast would not dare to be too presumptuous.
However, Xu Long keenly observed on the way that the regrouped Mist Beast tide did not seem to be launching a strong offensive.
At least when they were chasing the crowd before the chariots arrived, they appeared quite fierce, with cultivators occasionally turning into ice sculptures.
However, after the chariots appeared, the Mist Beast Tide became somewhat scattered, as if it had lost its command, and its formation became unusually loose under the chariots.
As the chariots attacked, countless Mist Beast began to retreat. The rolling wheels crushed the ground, and the surging blue river suddenly stopped flowing beneath the bronze chariots.