Ying Zewei asked, “What do you want?”
“I can stop if you grant me two things,” Ji Yang replied. “First, give me the ‘Sky-Shattering State Breaker’. Second, restrict all Dao Sheng Tian disciples: if they dare harm, Nan Yan, their three hun souls will be torn apart, their seven po souls will be scattered, and they’ll never reincarnate.”
“The Sky-Shattering State Breaker is a supreme treasure forged from a small realm leaf by the Dao Venerable. You’re clever enough to use such a fine weapon effectively. I wonder which would hurt more: that or your second condition.” Ying Zewei pondered, “But I’m curious. If you want to protect that child’s life, why not ask me to make a blood oath against my evil intentions?”
Blood-colored pupils gradually emitted a light like a burning karmic fire. “Master, isn’t this how it’s always been, year after year?”
“…You truly understand me well.”
Ji Yang knew him too well. Ying Zewei was the kind of monster who, to achieve his goals, wouldn’t fear the backlash of even the most torturous blood oaths.
If he said he’d kill Nan Yan, he definitely would. Rather than restricting him, it was better to restrict Dao Sheng Tian’s people.
“It’s getting late. Please make your decision, Master.”
“Very well.”
…
On the western shore of Dao Sheng Tian.
“I am Six States, here to capture the fugitive,” the High Priest announced.
Given his status, Chu Ning hurriedly emerged from the dragon-horse carriage to greet him.
“Dao Sheng Tian is in chaos. If there’s any urgent matter, you could have sent a disciple. Why trouble yourself, High Priest?”
Six States High Priest looked as if he’d just come from a battlefield, his sleeves charred and his aura unstable. He sneered, “It seems Young Master Chu is unaware of the situation. Let me be direct: your consort has likely taken away an important criminal wanted by Dao Sheng Tian.”
“What?!” Chu Ning exclaimed in surprise. “High Priest, there must be some mistake. My consort is from a noble family in Chen State. She’s always been well-behaved. How could she collude with fugitives?”
“We’ll see about that.”
Impatient, Six States waved his sleeve, shattering Meng Ying’s carriage. The figure inside shocked the Yi State people.
“How dare you! You villain, holding my wife hostage!”
Nan Yan’s fingers were pressed against Meng Ying’s pulse point. The latter wept, “Husband, save me!”
“Troublesome woman!” Chu Ning cursed. “High Priest, my consort is from the great Ao family of Chen State. Please, let’s not be hasty.”
“Noble family?” Six States, having reached the third decay of the Celestial realm years ago, had keen eyes. He immediately noticed something amiss. “This wretched creature just escaped from a painting realm. Her spiritual power is still weak. If she’s truly from Chen State’s Ao family, she could use bloodline techniques to transform into a dragon. She’d only need a moment to escape. Can’t this woman do that?”
Meng Ying’s hand, hidden in her sleeve, tightened. The next moment, Six States sneered and pointed a finger, sending a blue light like an awl to eliminate both her and Nan Yan behind her.
“You go first,” Nan Yan said, throwing Meng Ying aside. Her Nascent Soul suddenly activated, manifesting a Guanyin image around her body.
Surprised that she didn’t dodge, Six States shouted, “Break!”
The thousand-armed Guanyin around Nan Yan, originally a hundred feet tall, shattered with a cracking sound as the blue awl struck it, stopping just three feet from her body.
“To withstand even half a percent of my power, your talent isn’t bad,” Six States coldly snorted between his teeth. Intent on ending this quickly, he tapped his cane and said, “Heavenly Cycle Chant.”
Nan Yan’s heart tightened. She had seen this move before – it was Dao Sheng Tian’s world-renowned secret technique, combining Dao arts and sword arrays for unparalleled sealing and attack. Judging by the High Priest’s stance, the attack range likely covered a five-mile radius.
“First Array, Fall!”
The sword array, like fine rain, instantly pierced through the Thousand-Armed Guanyin’s defense. But just as it was about to strike Nan Yan, she clasped her arms together, lowered her brow, and muttered something. Her gray robe was suddenly consumed by white flames, revealing a Vermilion Bird Crying Skies Dress underneath.
This too was a supreme treasure. As phoenix feathers bloomed and scattered before her, they blocked every single sword shadow without fail.
Seeing this, Nan Yan’s ear suddenly twitched as if hearing something. She turned and shot towards the sea.
Six States, seeing her in such vivid red attire, couldn’t deny how similar she looked to Sovereign Nan. He angrily shouted, “You wretched creature, just like that demoness Sovereign Nan, you should die! Extreme Array, Fall!”
The Heavenly Cycle Chant sword array covered the sky with extreme light. Even as Nan Yan plunged into the sea, it fell as expected, causing a huge splash. Six States pursued.
“Fine, I’ll spare your life for now, for the sake of the Buddha bone and Zen heart—”
“Old fossil, get lost!”
Six States was shocked as an overwhelming demonic aura slowly rose from the sea surface, and a small island emerged from the water.
“Heavens, what… what kind of monster is this?” The Yi State people retreated in panic.
It wasn’t a small island, but the head of a giant turtle. Atop it stood a young man in snow-white fox fur, looking furious, with Nan Yan tucked under his arm like a mother hen protecting her chick.
“You curse our demon clan’s mother, you hit our demon clan’s child, and you’ve even ruined her makeup! This is outrageous! Today, I’ll lead my clan ashore and use you, old fossil, as our vanguard sacrifice!”