Sect Rescue Arrives

“This blasted formation is so annoying, I could, die!”

Xuan Mo’s furious roar, wrapped in a mighty immortal pressure, shook the land! The earth beneath her feet trembled violently in the ensuing rumble. For a hundred li around, all poisonous insects and fierce beasts cowered in the depths of their lairs, letting out fearful whimpers under the overwhelming pressure.

If not for this trapping formation, this mountain forest would have long since disintegrated under her vent-like fury!

In a dark corner, Bai Yan and Zhuang Yang leaned against the cold rock wall, their faces pale, their spirits withered like frost-bitten autumn grass. Trapped for days, they were mentally and physically exhausted.

After venting her rage, Xuan Mo crossed her arms, sat cross-legged three feet in the air, her brow tightly furrowed with anxiety.

Bai Yan forced himself to his feet and approached, his voice hoarse. “Martial Aunt… please calm down for now. The fortunate have their own providence. Junior Brother Qingfeng and the others… perhaps they have already escaped and are waiting for us in the town behind…”

“Waiting?” Xuan Mo let out a cold snort, the fury in her eyes surging. “It’s been so long without any news! I’m afraid their bones have already turned cold!”

“Martial Aunt…”

Bai Yan’s voice was strained. “Didn’t you also say yesterday… that by now, the sect’s rescue should be here? We’ll be out soon…”

“Aaargh!”

Xuan Mo suddenly stomped in the air! The void was stamped by an invisible giant force, creating three shocking rings of airwaves!

“You three little bastards! At least make a sound, whether you’re dead or alive!

“If Lu Qiancha is really gone… how can I face her master?!

“And those two precious immortal seedlings, Shangguan Yunzhu and Qingfeng! If they’re gone—I’ll have to forfeit a hundred years of my salary!!”

A few dark lines appeared on Bai Yan’s forehead, but he understood that beneath the Martial Aunt’s fierce and blustering shouts lay a heart-wrenching worry.

Suddenly! A faint, almost imperceptible breeze brushed through the silent great formation.

A long sigh, as if gathering from all directions, carried with it an supreme majesty. Following it was an aged voice, as calm as a deep, ancient well. “Little Mo… do you know your crime?”

Xuan Mo shivered! Her arrogant demeanor instantly vanished, and her voice dropped by an octave. “M-Master?”

Bai Yan was also startled. “Is Reverend Zuoyin here to find us in person?” he asked in surprise.

The thick white fog that enveloped the world instantly receded like a tide. Their long-imprisoned spiritual and immortal senses suddenly broke free from their shackles and crazily extended towards the long-unseen world.

And at that moment—

Thud! Thud!

Two black shadows were thrown by an invisible giant force like ragged sacks, landing heavily on the dusty ground at Xuan Mo’s feet.

They were two Mahayana realm old men with white hair and beards, clad in black. Each had a deep palm print on their chest, their breaths were faint, and they were already unconscious.

“It’s them! Martial Aunt! These two old thieves ambushed us!” Zhuang Yang’s eyes were crimson as he pointed at the two on the ground and roared in anger.

Xuan Mo no longer hesitated. She bent her knees and knelt directly on the ground, her forehead touching the earth, her voice choked with regret and despair. “Master! This disciple is incompetent! I was ambushed, causing three junior disciples of the sect… to be lost without a trace! This disciple is willing to accept the sect’s heavy punishment! I only ask that Master immediately use his profound techniques… to investigate the… life and death of those three.”

The fog dispersed, and the view ahead suddenly opened up. Several figures with profound auras slowly revealed themselves.

The Daoist in the lead, dressed in an eight-trigram Daoist robe, with an immortal air, saw Xuan Mo’s solemn kowtow and plea. A hint of embarrassment appeared on his face. He quickly cleared his throat and squeezed out an awkward smile. “Our master isn’t here. It’s me. Ahem, your resourceful, handsome, and suave… Senior Brother.”

“Hmm?!” A bone-chilling killing intent instantly locked onto the Daoist!

Before the Daoist could finish, the white immortal dress before him suddenly transformed into a furious bolt of lightning that tore through the void!

“Xuan—Ping—!!”

Accompanied by a thunderous roar and a piercing sonic boom—

Smack!!

A slap, wrapped in immortal power, landed heavily on Xuan Ping’s handsome and suave face!

Half of his face instantly swelled up! Xuan Ping clutched his burning cheek and muttered pitifully, “I was… just trying to warm up the atmosphere with a joke… why did you have to be so ruthless…”

This Daoist’s name was Xuan Ping. Although he and Xuan Mo were senior and junior martial siblings, they were used to roughhousing and were as close as real siblings.

Seeing the sparks flying from Xuan Mo’s eyes and the imminent threat of another slap, Xuan Ping’s heart skipped a beat. He quickly covered his face and shouted, “Business! Let’s talk business!!”

He quickly turned his head, pointed at the still-shaken Bai Yan and Zhuang Yang, and spoke as fast as a machine gun, “Their masters are all here. Who’s missing? Where did they go missing? How long have you been trapped here?”

The anger in Xuan Mo’s chest had not subsided, but when her gaze fell upon the several figures behind Xuan Ping, especially the one at the very back, her fury was doused as if by ice water, turning into bitterness and heaviness. For a moment, she was speechless, only biting her lower lip and lowering her head in sorrow.

At this moment, Bai Yan and Zhuang Yang were overjoyed. They hurriedly stepped forward and greeted the several immortals with a flurry of “Master,” “Martial Uncle,” and “Martial Aunt.”

Behind Xuan Ping were several people: the Peak Master of Creation Peak—Li Qinghong, a Celestial Immortal, and Shangguan Yunzhu’s master.

Zhang Xingyi of Creation Peak—an Earth Immortal, and Qingfeng’s master.

And two immortals from Tiangong Peak and Shijian Peak. The latter two quickly glanced at their unharmed disciples, nodded slightly, and said no more.

Xuan Mo’s gaze, as if burned by a branding iron, finally settled on the figure at the very end of the crowd—the woman standing quietly.

Xuan Ya of Tianquan Peak—Lu Qiancha’s master.

At this moment, Xuan Ya’s figure was as thin as a frosted branch. Her originally ink-black hair was now streaked with a jarring white, her haggardness unconcealed.

Xuan Mo felt a chill run from the soles of her feet to the top of her head. She didn’t dare to look directly into the other’s eyes…

Xuan Mo lowered her head and sighed, knowing in her heart how important this disciple, Lu Qiancha, was to her martial sister, and how many hopes and hesitations she had placed in her.

Xuan Mo’s voice was dry and tight, her throat working. “Martial Sister Xuan Ya, the last time I saw Qiancha, she was heading north.

“Yunzhu and Qingfeng were heading northwest, accompanied by a general from Yunzhu’s family named Qiong Gong. If I’m not mistaken, this was a plot against Yunzhu and Qingfeng.”

“Sigh,” Xuan Ya let out a soft sigh, cupped her hands at Xuan Mo, then bowed deeply. “A cultivator’s life and death are destined. Training outside is inherently dangerous.”

She raised her head, her voice carrying an irrepressible strain, her gaze sweeping over everyone, her plea as heavy as a mountain.

“Everyone, my cultivation is shallow, and I have not yet attained the immortal realm. I can do little in this northern continent. I ask… I ask for your help in searching for my disciple’s whereabouts. The lineage of Tianquan Peak will be eternally grateful.”

Beside her, Xuan Ping quickly said, “We’re family, don’t say such things. Martial Sister Xuan Ya, rest assured, we will split into two groups now. I and Xuan Mo will accompany you to search to the north.”

Then he turned and glared at the still-frozen Xuan Mo. “Little Mo, don’t just stand there. Pull yourself together. If you want to be punished, you have to find them first! We need to see them alive, or if they’re dead…” He couldn’t bring himself to say the last word.

Instead, he pointed sternly at the two unconscious Mahayana realm cultivators on the ground. “These two were guarding the great formation. When I found them, they were constantly repairing it. They are clearly one of the main culprits who framed you. We’ll each take one and interrogate them. We’ll surely get something out of them!”

“There’s no time to lose! Let’s move!”

Li Qinghong and Zhang Xingyi from behind responded in deep voices almost simultaneously, the anxiety on their faces palpable.

Xuan Ping flicked his sleeve, and a gust of wind like a dragon instantly swept up the two Mahayana realm cultivators on the ground.

“Catch!” One of them was thrown to Li Qinghong.

No one said anything more. The priority now was to find and rescue the disciples.

Quickly deciding on a method of communication and search areas, they finally split into three groups.

Bai Yan’s master, along with Bai Yan and Zhuang Yang, would go to the town outside to gather information. Zhuang Yang’s master, along with Li Qinghong and Zhang Xingyi, would search to the northwest. Xuan Ping, Xuan Mo, and Xuan Ya would search to the north.

The three groups transformed into streaks of light and sped off.