"San Jie," Shen Ming shouted, trying to hide his excitement. "San Jie, Luo Cheng, "
San Jie put his arm around Luo Cheng's waist and held him. It was no secret that they were all worried about San Jie the most, but he didn't even have a scratch. Behind them, Wu Xuan walked in with a blood-stained sword. His clothes were torn, and he was covered in other people's blood, he looked scary.
"What happened, are you guys okay?" When Duan Xia asked, Yu Yi rushed over and hugged Wu Xuan tightly.
"Da Shixiong,"
"I'm sorry. I'm late." Silently, looking at Yu Lingyu who was sleeping on Shen Ming's shoulder, Wu Xuan said, patting Yu Yi's head.
"Wu Shixiong, have you been inside the domain the whole time?" Xu Jin asked. Xuan nodded his head as if to say yes. "Even so, it's still quiet when we enter." San Jie said, sitting close to Yu Lingyu. His eyes looked at Lingyu with pity. "Is he alright?"
"Lingyu is fine, don't worry." Hong Li said, looking down at the ground.
With a mocking smile, Wu Xuan walked towards Hong Li.
"Meng Li Shimei, I doubted it was you at first. I think that if Wei Yunhe knew that you had joined the Lotus Sect, he would regret it. After all, he even opposed Elder Shen Guo because of you."
Hong Li's hands clenched. Her body trembled with fear. "That has nothing to do with Da Shixiong. What do you want, Wu Xuan?"
"Me? Oh, I don't want anything, but you still worry about Lingyu, don't you? He's done so much for you." What Wu Xuan meant seemed simple, but only Hong Li understood its true meaning. He was telling her to die for Yu Lingyu.
"You don't have to tell me about Lingyu. There's no way I'll let him die here."
Wu Xuan shrugged. "Then that's it." He said sitting on the stone ground.
"We are not the Lotus Sect's true target." San Jie said.
"If Wu Shixiong isn't at the peak, it's a perfect opportunity to attack the Wen Sect."
Wu Xuan nodded as if to confirm it. "When the elders are in solitary meditation and Wei Yunhe is not in the sect, they are cunning."
"Will they attack the Sect? Da Shixiong what are we going to do?"
Wu Xuan smiled. It's a scary smirk. "There's one thing they don't know, Xiao Hai and Han Zi Ying arrived at the sect today." Wu Xuan was excited. If there were people with his respect, there were only a few. It is no secret that Xiao Hai and Han Zi Ying are part of it. But how could no one else know that the two of them had returned to the sect? San Jie's eyes widened. Could it be, Wu Xuan had guessed this kind of situation in the beginning?
The Lotus Sect were on their way to death if he was true. They were competing with the jade inferiors of the Wen Sect. Although two were absent, three were still on the sect.
It was the beginning of a long war.
***
A long silence pervaded the sect. The shadows of the darkness were dancing on the moonlight and the sound of night owls was slowly increasing. Atop the tall, observation tower of Sha Diren, someone stood straight and motionless. He closed his eyes tightly. His red robe was swaying in the wind and his hair was blowing freely in the wind. In the right hand was a long, sharp sword full of intricate carvings. His very existence seemed intimidating.
"Xiao Hai," Zi Ying said, offering a cup of tea to the motionless figure. In a moment, he also joined Xiao. "Is Xuan telling the truth? It's almost seven o'clock."
There was no answer from Xiao Hai. He continued his observation. "Zi Ying," Xiao Hai spoke to the chief disciple of Sha Diren, who was looking into his cup of tea. "They're coming."
"Huh? Where where? I can't see them." He nodded as he pressed down from the tower. But he wasn't stupid enough to make fun of Xiao Hai's warning. He signaled the others to get ready. "Where is Sha Na Mi?" Xiao hai asked without opening his eyes anymore.
"In Juyao,"
"Tsk," Xiao Hai let out a frustrated sound. "Zi Ying, talk to Na Mi, their target is not Juyao but Jun Peak." He opened his eyes and said nervously. "I'll go to Jun Peak. Call Na Mi for backup. Give Yi Qiu the rest." He said without bothering to say anything else and flew away on his sword. Zi Ying still stood where he was as if to grasp what was happening.
Xiao Hai is known in the Wen Sect for his super sensibilities. His senses were higher than the average human and he saw and heard things that the average person couldn't see or hear. He nervously stepped up to Jun Peak, but only Murong Meng was there, startled by his sudden arrival. "X-Xiao Shixiong?"
It was certainly quiet. But Xiao Hai was sure of it, the enemies were here, at Jun Peak. As a loud explosion rang out from the direction of Sha Diren, it sounded like a signal of the arrival of the enemy. "Are they here already?" Murong Meng asked, listening to the incessant explosions and noises.
"Where are the others?" Xiao Hai did not risk walking carelessly. No one knows better than he, that there are traps almost everywhere here, even if they look normal.
"At the underground barrier. Our team is low and I can't take a risk."
Xiao Hai felt like something was wrong. If the enemy arrives at Jun Peak, the traps should activate even if they arrive unseen. Only one who is well aware of these traps has a chance to escape. Wait, could it be a trap? As soon as he left, Sha Diren was attacked. What if the enemy guessed it and deliberately misled Xiao Hai? He was about to leave. But proving his guess correct, a rapid stream of spiritual energy rushed towards him. Crossing his sword and stopping it, he glared at his enemy.
"Murong Meng!" He growled. A sarcastic smile appeared on Menge's face. "As expected, I can't fool your senses." He said with a smile. "But that's fine, Xiao Hai. Nice to meet you."
Xiao Hai is a calm and ice-cold person. But Murong Meng managed to anger even him a little. Xiao Hai's swords glowed with spiritual energy. "Now that you're here, I can't let you go, Xiao Shixiong." Murong Meng said, slicing through the air and pulling out a long spear. His eyes were full of frenzy like a mad cat's.
Xiao Hai didn't like to talk too much. With his sword ready, he rushed towards Murong Meng. Each of his blows was strong enough to split even a large boulder, but Murong Meng was not harmed at all. That was not at all the Murong Meng that Xiao Hai had once known.
"Heh heh, Xiao shixiong, please fight with all your might, can you? This is boring." Murong Meng said, blocking another blow, and launched a swift attack at Xiao. Xiao Hai avoided it. "Did you betray us from the beginning?" Xiao Hai asked as the blades clashed, looking directly into Murong Meng's eyes.
"I was never a part of this to be a traitor." The blades of the weapons collided and sparks erupted. The air around them vibrated with spiritual energy and the trees twisted and fell. "Shall I tell you something, Xiao Shixiong?" Murong Meng said as he jumped to the side as he jumped to the sky. "Now, if you go to the Crimson Phoenix Pavilion, you can save Wu Xuan."
Xiao Hai said nothing. Xuan was the strongest among them. He didn't need anyone's help. "Wu Xuan can be strong." Murong Meng said, twirling the spear as if reading Xiao's thoughts. "Even so, he is nothing compared to Lord Xul'goth."
Xiao Hai stopped in shock. "Xul'goth?" That second was enough for Murong Meng. When Xiao Hai lost his focus, he quickly threw the spear at him as it pierced his stomach and stuck in a nearby tree. "Now, now Xiao shixiong, please don't lose focus." Murong Meng said excitedly, pulling the spear toward him. "What a pity! I didn't mean to hurt you or Lingyu. This is all Wu Xuan's fault."
Spitting blood, Xiao Hai stood up. His eyes glowed crimson red. "Fire technique...Pheonix blast!" Flames rose from the ground and surrounded Xiao Hai's body as the gas near him ignited. They gathered behind him to form a huge phoenix illusion and blew fiery gas, heating the entire surroundings.
"Oh, why the hurry, are you worried about Xuan? Or is it about Lingyu?" asked Murong Meng, jumping back from the fiery edge. "Because if Lingyu dies, you won't be able to face Wei Yunhe- oh" Murong Meng jumped aside as a huge ball of fire came towards him. The fireball hit the pillar at the entrance and exploded, shaking the entire spire.
Murong Meng was no longer joking. His eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Soul Form, scarlet wolf!" The air near him became cloudy. As his body glowed red, a sharp upsurge cut through the air. A tall and large semi-transparent wolf stood beside him. Its fur glowed red and gold and its eyes were blood red.
"Attack!" As Murong Meng commanded, the big wolf lunged at Xiao Hai, baring its teeth. Stretching his right hand forward, Xiao Hai directed his fire phoenix into battle.
As the entire Jun Peak shook, the gold and crimson powers clashed, creating huge spiritual explosions.
The hot springs were burning and bubbling steam as the trees fell from their roots. If this fight continues, Jun Peak will be shaken to its foundations.
The collision of the wolf and the phoenix always ignited a blinding light. It was clear that Murong Meng was hiding his power in the past. He truly surpassed Xiao Hai.
"Last technique, Air devouring arrow!"
A beam of white light shot toward Murong Meng at a speed beyond what the eye could see and smashed into his shoulder, causing great pressure, and forcing him to reverse his spiritual energy. As the crimson wolf was torn apart by the phoenix, the bird's fire breath was aimed directly at Murong Meng. The white sword that had pierced his shoulder flew away again as Murong Meng fell backward like a rag doll in the face of the earth-shaking power clash.
He roared in anger as Murong Meng fell to the ground, shattering a stone statue behind him. The blow to the shoulder was putting so much pressure on him that he could no longer handle his qi properly. He dodged aside before Xiao Hai's other attack hit, transforming into a blood-colored wolf and quickly fleeing down the mountain.
Xiao Hai canceled his technique and breathed heavily. "Thank you, Qingxuan," he said, turning his head to Mei Qingxuan who was walking from inside the Jun Peak, and squeezing the wound in his abdomen to stop the bleeding.
Mei Qingxuan looked disappointed. The white sword in his hand was trembling. "Murong Xiong, really?" Xiao Hai said nothing and sat on the ground, channeling his qi properly. Had Mei Qingxuan not arrived, Xiao Hai's defeat would have been inevitable. Although Qingxuan was not very powerful, anyone who was hit by his Air Devouring Arrow succumbed to the pressure of the air. If Murong Meng wasn't completely focused on Xiao, Qingxuan wouldn't even have had a chance to get close.
"Da Shixiong is right," Qingxuan muttered as he looked at Xiao Hai with emotionless eyes. "That's really Murong Meng!"