Blocked, but the Dao Fruit Escaped
Everyone's heart was in their throat.
On the stone platform, Li Yunjing's expression was extremely solemn.
A full-force attack from the Loose Immortal Realm is indeed terrifying.
He could clearly feel the destructive power contained within that palm print.
If he were hit squarely, not only would he be reduced to ashes, but Yuanchu and Dao Fruit behind him would also be reduced to dust.
"Senior Yuanchu, hide behind me!"
Li Yunjing let out a low roar and advanced instead of retreating.
He grasped the Pure Subtlety Spiritual Banner with both hands and poured all his spiritual power into it without reservation.
"Pure Subtlety Spiritual Banner - Imperial Guard!!"
The Semi-Immortal Artifact was pushed to its limit.
The pale blue light curtain instantly expanded, transforming into a massive light shield that blocked his path.
On the light screen, Qingwei cloud patterns flowed rapidly, layer upon layer, numbering in the dozens.
At the same time, the Five Aggregates Cauldron flew to the top of his head, and the primordial yellow light descended, enhancing the light shield.
The power of both the Immortal Artifact and the Semi-Immortal Artifact was simultaneously pushed to their limits.
Bang!
The black palm print slammed heavily onto the light shield.
The deafening roar was so loud it made people's eardrums ache.
The Qingwei Light Shield instantly caved in with a huge arc.
The first layer of cloud patterns shattered, then the second, the third... and so on, layer by layer crumbled.
Click...
A crisp cracking sound rang out.
The Pure Subtlety Spiritual Banner trembled violently, and a thin crack appeared on its surface.
Li Yunjing shuddered and spat out a mouthful of blood with a "pfft".
The immense impact traveled through the light shield, causing his bones to creak under the strain, and his legs to sink deep into the stone platform, up to his knees.
But he managed to block it in the end.
The light shield swayed precariously, but it did not break.
The Demon Emperor unleashed a furious attack, which he intercepted.
"Huff, huff..."
Li Yunjing was panting heavily, his Qi and Blood surging and his meridians aching.
If it weren't for the Five Aggregates Cauldron's blessing, the Pure Subtlety Spiritual Banner alone would absolutely not have been able to withstand this attack.
But he had no time to feel fortunate.
Because he saw that something had happened to Dao Fruit behind him.
The Demon Emperor's attack just now was incredibly powerful.
The energy shockwave generated by the collision between the palm print and the light shield spread out and swept across the entire stone platform.
The violent energy turbulence slammed violently into the Primordial Dao Fruit.
The Dao Fruit inherently possesses a spirit, and it was further activated by the Yuanchu, placing it in an extremely sensitive state.
Suddenly subjected to such a violent impact, it trembled violently, like a startled bird.
Buzz!
The Dao Fruit emitted a rapid buzzing sound.
The previously slow trend towards the beginning of the Yuanchu abruptly stopped.
The next second, the seven-colored light on the surface of the Dao Fruit began to flash wildly.
The light flickered, pounding like a heartbeat.
"Not good!"
Yuanchu's expression changed, and he quickly reached out, wanting to activate the Dao Fruit again.
This time, however, Dao Fruit did not approach him again.
Instead, it began to tremble violently.
"It's startled!" Yuanchu exclaimed urgently, "Its origin is unstable! It's trying to escape!"
"Escape?" Li Yunjing was taken aback.
Before the words were even finished, a sudden change occurred.
Whoosh!
The Primordial Dao Fruit transformed into a streak of seven-colored light, moving at an extreme speed.
It didn't fly towards either the righteous or the demonic, but instead flew straight upwards, soaring into the sky.
Wherever the light passed, space automatically cracked open.
Dao Fruit plunged into the spatial rift and disappeared.
Only a faint ring of seven-colored ripples remained, slowly dissipating in the air.
The stone platform was completely empty.
Where the Dao Fruit had originally floated, only chaotic aftershocks of Spiritual Qi remained.
Dao Fruit ran away?
The entire battlefield fell silent instantly.
The sounds of fighting, shouts of battle, and clashing weapons all abruptly ceased.
The cultivators from both the righteous and demonic paths remained in their fighting postures, staring blankly at the empty space on the stone platform, then looking up at the horizon where the Dao Fruit had disappeared, their minds completely blank.
What about the Dao Fruit?
What about such a large Primordial Dao Fruit?
How could it just disappear like that?
"The Dao, the Dao Fruit?" someone murmured to themselves, their voice hoarse.
"It ran away... it ran away?"
"How is this possible! How could the Dao Fruit run away on its own?!"
"Am I seeing things? How could such a large Dao Fruit disappear in an instant?"
After a brief silence, an even greater uproar ensued.
Everyone was stunned.
The Primordial Dao Fruit, which appears only once every 100,000 years, carries the hopes and ambitions of everyone. Hundreds of thousands of troops from both the righteous and demonic paths gathered here, fighting fiercely and suffering countless casualties.
As a result, Dao Fruit ran away on its own?
What's going on here?!
"No!"
Yan Tianjin let out a deafening roar.
He burned his very essence, forcing back the two immortals, and risked depleting his cultivation to deliver a powerful blow, all to prevent the righteous path from receiving the Dao Fruit, and to avenge his son.
But what was the result?
The Dao Fruit is gone?
He turned his head sharply, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Li Yunjing, the killing intent within them almost tangible.
"It's all your fault! It's all your fault, you little beast!" Yan Tianjin gritted his teeth. "If you hadn't killed Xuanye, if you hadn't provoked me, how could Dao Fruit have been frightened and fled?!"
Li Yunjing wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and said coldly, "Demon Emperor, you are mistaken. If you hadn't launched a sneak attack, how could your Dao Fruit have been startled? In the end, you ruined everything yourself."
"You're asking for it!"
Yan Tianjin was furious and raised his hand to attack again.
"Old Devil Yan, cease your arrogance!"
Two figures landed simultaneously, blocking Li Yunjing's path.
These were none other than the two Loose Immortal Xuanjizi and Yunyouzi.
Despite their injuries, the two Loose Immortal kept their eyes fixed on the Demon Emperor, preventing him from taking another step forward.
"Demon Emperor, the Dao Fruit has escaped, which is not our wish," Xuanjizi said in a deep voice. "If you make another move, even if it means serious injury, we will both capture you."
Yunyouzi pointed his divine sword at the ground, lightning flashing. "At worst, we'll fight to the death. You decide for yourself."
Yan Tianjin's chest heaved violently as he stared intently at Li Yunjing, wishing he could tear him to pieces.
However, he also knew that although the two Loose Immortal were injured, they still had the strength to fight.
But he was different; he burned his very essence.
If he doesn't replenish his vital essence with rare and heavenly materials and earthly treasures in time, he'll be in big trouble.
If he really goes all out now, even if he wins, he'll pay a heavy price.
Moreover, Dao Fruit has already run away.
What's the point of continuing this fight?
"Very well, very well indeed." Yan Tianjin each word clearly, his voice icy and chilling. "Li Yunjing, I will remember this debt. One day, I will crush the Luozhen Sect and make you wish you were dead."
He abruptly waved his sleeve. "Order the troops to retreat!"
"Your Majesty?" The Devil General Blood Baleful Intent was taken aback. "You're just leaving like that?"
"The Dao Fruit is gone, what's the point of staying here?" Yan Tianjin said coldly. "Send the order down: the entire army is to retreat to the Myriad Devil Abyss. Also, send men to search for the Dao Fruit all costs. Even if we have to dig three feet into the ground, we must find it!"
"As you command!"
The demonic army began an orderly retreat.
Although the Devil Cultivator were unwilling, they had already lost their Dao Fruit, so continuing to fight was indeed meaningless.
Before leaving, many Devil Cultivator glared hatefully at Li Yunjing on the stone platform, their eyes filled with resentment.
Soon, the black torrent receded completely.
The righteous path did not pursue them.
Everyone was still reeling from the shock of Dao Fruit's escape.
Zhang Jianchen walked to the edge of the stone platform, staring at the empty space in mid-air, his brows furrowed and his face extremely grim.
"How could this be?" he muttered to himself. "How could the Dao Fruit have vanished on its own?"
Xuanjizi sighed, "The Dao Fruit possesses a spirit and contains the Dao Realm Origin. It's only natural that it would instinctively protect itself from a violent impact and escape into a spatial rift. However... no one knows where it went."