Wen Yue glanced behind him.

Having lost sight of Wen Yue, the personal cavalry guards had fallen into a panic.

Just moments ago, their Young Master was charging at the very front on horseback, yet in the blink of an eye, he was gone.

Even many soldiers hadn't blinked; they had watched Wen Yue disappear before their eyes.

"Don't panic, everyone! The Young Master is an immortal master. Even if something happens to us, nothing will happen to the Young Master." One of the personal guards stepped forward, filling Wen Yue's absence, raising the "Wen" banner, and spurring his horse forward, brandishing his saber.

Upon hearing these words, everyone immediately found their anchor.

The one holding the banner charged at the very front: "Follow me and charge in to rescue our revered master!"

"Kill!"

Wen Yue stood rooted to the spot, watching his personal guards sweep past him.

They seemed unable to see Wen Yue at all.

In the midst of the two armies clashing, the five of them stood as if isolated from the world, transcendent above the real battlefield.

Even the sounds seemed to have drifted far away.

"You're the ones who did this."

Wen Yue fixed his gaze on the sword-bearing youth, his body tense and ready to act.

"It's nothing more than a small illusion array. Mortals are just mortals, making a fuss over nothing," the Qi Refining fifth-layer cultivator spoke quickly, his expression arrogant, narrating calmly.

This was not truly the case; it was merely a display of a condescending attitude.

"Cui Guang of Primordial Spirit Sect greets fellow Daoist," the leading Qi Refining seventh-layer youth clasped his hands, his voice indifferent, yet clearly conveying a sense of being on high alert.

"Senior Brother, why waste words with this kid?"

"I'm telling you, a life for a life. You killed Junior Brother Zhu Lin, and today you must pay with your life for his," the last cultivator, holding the compass, had an ill-natured expression.

Wen Yue then recalled that in Feihong Stream, he had encountered that Primordial Spirit Sect disciple who, taking him for a demonic cultivator, had engaged him in battle.

Finally, he had feigned weakness to lure the disciple close, then asked teacher to kill him.

He had not expected to be sought for revenge today.

And to be perfectly blocked on his inevitable path.

Cui Guang looked at the crimson longsword strapped to Wen Yue's back, his gaze stern: "Wen Yue, do you have any last words?"

Wen Yue had nothing to explain. In that moment, if he hadn't killed Zhu Lin, he would have been slain by Zhu Lin's magic sword.

No one in this world would willingly offer their neck to the blade.

He still had many things to do, and he could not die an unclear death in Feihong Stream.

Just as today, he could not die an unclear death here.

He had promised Song Ran to return safely. He had promised the deceased Old Xiang that he would protect the borders, bring peace to the people, and drive out the Northern Wei. He had promised teacher that he would help the Soul Banner grow...

He carried the expectations of many and many promises.

His eyes gradually became bloodshot. He drew the longsword from his back: "It seems today, there will be no good end!"

Wen Yue let out a long breath, and the Turtle Spirit Breath-Holding Technique receded, revealing his true cultivation.

It was only at Qi Refining fourth layer.

"Qi Refining fourth layer?"

Cui Guang's expression was one of shock. He had estimated Wen Yue's strength to be at least in the late stage.

Otherwise, how could he have slain Zhu Lin?

Zhu Lin was a Qi Refining sixth-layer cultivator, with excellent sword skills and a remarkable mastery of sword manipulation.

It was precisely because of this that Cui Guang had not chosen to act rashly, but instead had called upon two more junior brothers as insurance.

He also did not feel that fighting with superior numbers was an act of bullying the weak. To live to avenge Junior Brother Zhu Lin, using some tactics was not despicable.

"Could it be hidden cultivation?"

Not only was Cui Guang startled and surprised, but the others also found it hard to believe how this person's revealed cultivation was only at Qi Refining fourth layer.

"Only fourth layer Qi Refining? Watch me chop you down!"

Before anyone else could move, Tang Wen, the Qi Refining fifth-layer cultivator, unleashed his flying sword and charged directly at Wen Yue.

A crimson longsword slashed horizontally towards Wen Yue's neck.

"Be careful!"

Cui Guang let out a low cry, joining his sword-fingers, causing the longsword on his back to unsheathe and fly forth to aid.

Regardless of Wen Yue's revealed cultivation, Zhu Lin was already dead.

This indicated that Wen Yue's danger level was fully comparable to that of a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator. How could one dare to rashly step forward to take his life?

At the same moment Tang Wen made his move, the Soul Banner trembled.

Through their cultivated tacit understanding, Wen Yue knew that teacher was warning him.

"Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts."

The Soul Banner suddenly expanded to a full zhang in height, and black mist erupted, a hundred ghosts converging into a green-faced fiend.

Tu Shanjun, imbued with the power of a hundred ghosts, fiercely struck out.

Tang Wen had already sobered up considerably the moment he heard his Senior Brother's warning. He hastily circulated his spiritual power, and with a turn of a hand seal, a brilliant light burst forth.

"Bang."

The fierce blow of the ghostly hand had already landed on his body.

With a tearing sound.

The ghostly hand directly ripped open Tang Wen's protective spiritual light, and the light from his long robe artifact immediately extinguished.

Tang Wen was sent flying, his magic robe torn with five gashes.

Blood splattered, wetting his clothes.

Finally, he slammed heavily into the wall of Jiangyun Valley, spitting blood and falling unconscious.

Even though he was a Qi Practitioner, without the protection of spiritual power, this single claw strike was enough to severely injure him.

But before Tu Shanjun could pursue his advantage, a flying sword directly slashed towards Wen Yue.

Tu Shanjun hastily dragged Wen Yue, pulling him out of the flying sword's striking range.

Tu Shanjun stared with an ill expression at the Qi Refining seventh-layer cultivator.

Among all of them, this person alone gave him the strongest sense of danger.

At this moment, it was no longer appropriate to feign weakness and conceal cultivation.

This trick might work on others, but it wouldn't be very effective against these people. Knowing that Wen Yue had killed Zhu Lin, aside from the most eager-to-show-off fifth-layer cultivator, the rest did not approach Wen Yue.

Feigning weakness was actually better better for the other side. Since the opponent was feigning weakness, it was better to seize the opportunity to unleash flying swords and hack them to death with a flurry of blades.

Therefore, when the fifth-layer youth charged forward, Tu Shanjun struck fiercely.

Now, disabling one was one disabled; the opportunity had to be firmly grasped.

It was a pity that due to this person's interference, Tu Shanjun could not kill that reckless young man who had courted death.

However, that person was either dead or disabled. The Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts attacked his spirit at close range, and he also took a solid claw strike from him. He probably couldn't get up now.

"Revered Soul Banner?"

The compass cultivator's expression changed. He stared at the ten foot-tall Soul Banner in Wen Yue's hand: "A demonic cultivator of the Blood Fiend Sect."

Tu Shanjun stood behind Wen Yue, his scarlet eyes fixed on Cui Guang, who was recalling his sword.

This person was at Qi Refining seventh layer. Even though he was also at Qi Refining seventh-layer strength, if he were to contend with him, he would inevitably be at a disadvantage.

He had to go all out.

Only by releasing the three hundred evil spirits within the Soul Banner would there be a chance to break the situation.

And no spirit stones could be spared, even if all nearly twenty spirit stones were completely exhausted.

Fortunately, with just a glance, Wen Yue understood teacher's meaning.

He often entered the Cultivation Cliff, and teacher had told him that if he encountered someone seeking revenge, he must give his all and absolutely not be stingy with spirit stones or elixirs.

Wen Yue was obedient, and having just begun cultivation, he didn't value spirit stones and elixirs as much as other cultivators.

After seeing teacher's glance, he immediately used his spiritual power to retrieve the spirit stones from his storage talisman, clutching them in his hand to restore his own spiritual power.

Tu Shanjun stared at Cui Guang, and Cui Guang naturally observed Tu Shanjun.

However, judging from the aura of this ghost, it was definitely a late-stage Qi Refining evil spirit, which explained why Zhu Lin had died.

Even if the one wielding the banner was only at Qi Refining fourth layer, with this evil spirit overseeing things, he could still slay a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator.

"Superior-grade magical tool?"

Cui Guang's expression was grave. He did not possess a superior-grade magical tool either.

Even Grand Cultivators at Qi Refining eleventh layer might not each possess a superior-grade magical tool.

However, superior-grade magical tools were powerful, and they consumed far more spiritual power than low or mid-grade ones.

Using one with Qi Refining fourth-layer cultivation would likely be strenuous.

No wonder Wen Yue directly clutched the spirit stones in his hand.

Black mist swirled around Tu Shanjun, suddenly launching an attack, but it was not directed at the three individuals on the field. Instead, it targeted the Qi Refining fifth-layer cultivator who had struck first but was now unconscious.

With a hundred ghosts protecting Wen Yue, even if three people attacked him, they wouldn't be able to instantly kill him.

But if no one came to his aid, the fifth-layer cultivator would surely die.

In such a perilous moment, it was a gamble for their lives.

"How dare you!"

Cui Guang tipped his toe, and his magic sword carried his body directly towards Tu Shanjun.

(Chapter End)