But this hope was only slight. Even if she couldn't see through Xiaoyao, she wouldn't think his strength was very high—at most Mid Saint Level. Even though Xiaoyao had cultivated in Rakshasa Tower for three years, his previous foundation was too shallow, merely Late Emperor Level.

Becoming Mid Saint Level was already the highest expectation for Xiaoyao—already quite an overestimate.

Yun Qingyi knew Xiaoyao cultivated the Divine Farmer's Art, which was much more difficult than ordinary cultivation. This was why she felt Mid Saint Level was already the ceiling. At the same time, because of this reason, she felt Xiaoyao's self-preservation ability could work even against God Level opponents.

Originally, when Xiaoyao was only at Early Emperor Level, he had forcibly withstood Qi Bupo's palm strike. Qi Bupo's current strength was about the same as Yun Kaitai's. If he could withstand one palm then, needless to say now.

Self-preservation should be no problem...

Yun Qingyi thought to herself, not daring to be certain, only silently praying.

Soon, just as Yun Qingyi had said, Xiaoyao was brought before Yun Kaitai to continue the previous conversation. Of course, now Xiaoyao already understood what Yun Kaitai wanted.

"Sect Master Yun, actually everyone taking a step back would be the best outcome—ending this unnecessary war. You say I colluded with the Demon Sect, but everyone knows this reason means nothing. I can also find evidence of your Fuyun Sect and other sects trading with the Demon Sect," Xiaoyao said indifferently.

...

"Little bastard, are you threatening me?" Yun Kaitai said angrily.

"You're already so old—don't speak so harshly. I haven't settled accounts with you about my mother yet, but you're upset instead and planning to use me as an issue. You wanted to ostracize me and create all this trouble. Do you really think this has meaning now?" Xiaoyao asked indifferently.

"..." Yun Kaitai fell silent. Initially, he indeed just wanted to make things difficult for Xiaoyao, to blacklist him and pressure the Luo family. He didn't really want the Luo family exterminated, though he would definitely make them return to their original state and weaken their development of recent years.

However, he hadn't expected the Luo family to withstand this pressure and even provide unexpected counterattacks. Things gradually changed from there, evolving to the current situation that even he couldn't control.

If he had known it would result in this, he definitely wouldn't have done those things to the Luo family. Minor pressure would have occurred, but absolutely not the kind that would cause the current situation.

But even though he thought this way, he couldn't possibly admit it. Admitting it would be like bowing his head in defeat to Xiaoyao—how could he be willing?

"I know your current situation—feeling like you're riding a tiger and can't get off. Capturing me is actually useless. They won't believe you," Xiaoyao said with a smile.

"They will believe it. I've already received news that they're preparing to come here," Yun Kaitai looked at Xiaoyao.

"You need some basis for saying this. I just arrived not long ago. Even if they were to know, it would take time. How could they be preparing to come?" Xiaoyao said indifferently.

Yun Kaitai smiled, looking at Xiaoyao: "That's because you don't know. The moment we captured you, someone already sent a message. When they heard you were captured by us, they immediately released messenger eagles. We intercepted them, then took something from you back to them, and they believed it."

Xiaoyao fell silent. On the road, he seemed to have had his hair pulled. He hadn't paid much attention before, but thinking about it now, perhaps that was it.

His hair carried his aura. Anyone at Saint Level or above could sense it, and Guxing's group was very sensitive to his aura—naturally they could tell it was his and had been pulled off recently.

He believed they also confirmed this news with the Carefree Sect. Adding Xiaoyao's disappearance, they would reach this conclusion. But the time this took seemed too short—in less than a day, they had completed all these things. It seemed their intelligence network was quite good.

However, this wasn't good news for Xiaoyao. At this moment, he hoped their abilities were a bit worse, requiring some time to confirm. That way, he would have time to notify them.

Now this time might be gone. They would definitely come quickly, even if they knew this was a death trap!

If he left now, it would actually be worse. If he couldn't contact them, they would still come. At the same time, without his presence, Yun Kaitai and others would definitely set up a death trap, unlike now where they might threaten them to lay down weapons through him.

Since it had reached this point, he could only wait here for them to come. Though this would be dangerous, survival chances were still high. At worst, he could surrender to this side.

Xiaoyao definitely wouldn't sacrifice Guxing and the others for the Luo family—he would easily defect, just not interfering in anything related to the Luo family.

This result might not be what Yun Kaitai wanted, but his allies would definitely agree.

Of course, this was only when there were no other options. If there were other ways, Xiaoyao wouldn't choose this path. He'd see what Guxing's group's current strength was like—if possible, there was still a good chance of breaking out.

Xiaoyao smiled and asked calmly: "So you also intercepted my previous messenger eagle?"

"Already shot down," Yun Kaitai said.

"You're really an annoying person," Xiaoyao said. "How do you plan to entertain me now?"

"Entertain you? Indeed, you are such an important person. Men, take Young Master Xiaoyao to stay at Lingyun Pavilion," Yun Kaitai said with a smile, then waved his hand for his subordinates to take Xiaoyao away.

Lingyun Pavilion, as its name suggested, was above the clouds—a very strange building of the Fuyun Sect. It was built suspended on a mountain peak with a strange depression. The peak's top had a depression about one kilometer in diameter, somewhat elliptical, as if an elliptical piece was missing from the middle.

This Lingyun Pavilion was at the center of this ellipse, fixed in place with iron chains and other things, plus some restriction formations. It could be monitored from all directions—completely an aerial prison.

Xiaoyao was confined here. Unless he could turn invisible, any movement would be immediately discovered.

However, Xiaoyao didn't plan to leave. He just prepared to have Chi Chi notify someone. Before coming here, Chi Chi had already gone aside. No one would pay attention to a small monster beast. Yun Kaitai and others had long obtained Xiaoyao's information and knew Chi Chi was his bonded spirit beast.

At the same time, they also knew Chi Chi was a monster beast who couldn't even speak—only Xiaoyao could understand her words. Even if she escaped, it would be useless.

Now Xiaoyao couldn't do anything except meditate and contemplate. These three years he had been cultivating internal power without any insights. It was time to find time to contemplate techniques and mental states—being able to be quiet for a while was good.

Soon—at least he felt it was soon—he was awakened by noise outside...

"Xiaoyao, big sister is here to save you! Show yourself quickly!"

"Little servant, are you dead or not?"

"Xiaoyao..."

"..."

Xiaoyao opened his eyes. He knew the main event was about to begin. He hadn't expected them to come so quickly—much faster than he had imagined.

Xiaoyao went outside, but two God Level martial artists accompanied him. He saw Guxing's group standing on a Thunder Feather Eagle. This Thunder Feather Eagle was very large—the few of them seemed to have plenty of space.

No wonder they could come so quickly. The Thunder Feather Eagle was a very rare flying monster beast—fast and with large carrying capacity. Even a sect like the Fuyun Sect might not possess several. He didn't know how the Luo family obtained it.

Xiaoyao saw all four girls were there. Besides them, there were actually two more people. One was Luo Yuntian, which Xiaoyao could have expected. The other was unexpected—it was actually Wang Yanyu.

Wang Yanyu was actually at the Luo family and came together with Guxing's group.

"Are you all well?" Looking at Guxing and the others, Xiaoyao asked with a smile, very calmly, as if greeting in a peaceful environment, without any feeling of being a hostage.

"We're doing great. Big sister will soon become a God Level martial artist. How about that—impressive, right?" the Young Miss said proudly to Xiaoyao. She also seemed to have no awareness, treating this place as casual conversation.

"I already am," Guxing replied.

"Mm, I know. You're very impressive—you've already reached our childhood goal..." Xiaoyao said with a smile.

"Mm, but I couldn't protect you..."

Guxing nodded. She thought of what she had said to Xiaoyao as a child: "I'll become a God Level martial artist, become the world's number one, so I can protect you."

If it were in the Divine Martial Continent, she would already be number one. There were no God Level martial artists in the Divine Martial Continent, except perhaps the Monster Clan, but they wouldn't appear in human society—they formed their own world.

"By coming, you are protecting me," Xiaoyao said with a smile.

"Xiaoyao, I..." At this moment, Luo Yuntian wanted to say something. Before coming, he had thought about what to say, but now he couldn't say anything.

"No need to say it. I understand. You didn't know I was still alive. Moreover, even if you knew, you could have your own choice. For me, staying there seemed better. If I weren't searching for my origins, I actually wouldn't want to come here," Xiaoyao shook his head and spoke to Luo Yuntian.

"Alright, let's not talk about this. Why did you come? Where's that old man Yun Kaitai?" Xiaoyao was somewhat puzzled. At the scene, he only saw Guxing's group—where were Yun Kaitai and his people?

(End of Chapter)