Huilong Continent, West, Xiwang.
"This is too hideous…!" Guo Cheng exclaimed as they took a sharp breath when they saw the devastating look of the city.
All the houses were destroyed with the walls has the traces of dried blood on it. The ground they were treading on is red after being soaked by blood. One could just imagine the bloodbath that happened. And it was because of Ming Ye – or Wu Ran, who brought his forces of demonic cultivators to spread darkness upon this land.
Sun Yi took a deep breath to calm his raging emotions when he saw the devastating Xiwang which he loved after he ran away from Shanliang. At first, he received resistance from the citizens of Xiwang after they saw his clothes, recognizing that he was from Shanliang. But, after Chen Han found him, the resistance from the people decreased. And, when Wu Yuan married him, they finally accepted him.
Wu Yuan… Sun Yi thought as he lowered his gaze when his eyes became misty.
BOOOM!!! They suddenly heard a sound of explosion. They all immediately became alert. "There's someone fighting!" Tang Zhe said as they all drew their swords.
"It's due north!" Tang Yun said and pointed.
They all suddenly froze. "That's where the Youxiwang Sect is…" Shan Lu said and looked at Sun Yi.
Sun Yi's face paled. They all know that the Youxiwang Sect has became the base of Wu Ran after he exposed himself as Ming Ye. But, after the signal from Cheng Sheng sealing the Sand Sea Mountain in the Southmost Region happened, Wu Ran has taken all of the demonic cultivators to south to intercept Cheng Sheng after Cheng Sheng comes out of the Heilong Realm where he, Fei Yin and Wu Yuan went to find Chen Jing and Wu Fan, as well as find the source of the demonic qi and destroy it.
That's why they were confident when they went in Xiwang since they know that most of the demonic cultivators went with Wu Ran. Although there were some left, but they can beat them. However, they don't understand why there was suddenly a fight, when there are only demonic cultivators here.
"Could it be there are righteous cultivators left here that survived the demonic cultivators' attack and hid, but now was suddenly exposed?" Wu Xi asked through the Thought Talisman.
Everyone knows that the Xiwang bore the brunt of the demonic cultivators' attack. Even the Chen and Wu families have fallen, even though it was mainly due to they were caught off-guard by Wu Ran's deceit as Ming Ye.
"Whoever it is, we have to save them!" Sun Yi said.
"Yes!" they answered and flew towards the Youxiwang Sect to not waste time.
"There!" Guo Cheng pointed towards the entrance of the cave across the lake.
They saw the demonic cultivators leaping on the lotuses floating on the water to go towards the cave where a crowd of demonic cultivators are surrounding it.
"That's where one of the Ni Lai Gates is!" Tang Zhe's expression changed.
They all fell silent. Could it be, the demonic cultivators are trying to destroy the Ni Lai Gate? Or this righteous cultivator is helping them destroy it? They thought and looked at each other.
"The seal isn't that easily destroyed." Guo Cheng said as he threw over two talismans to test the Ni Lai Gate that came into their view after the crowd in front of it scuffled away from it.
Their expressions suddenly eased.
"Help first, talk later!" Tang Zhe decided when they saw some of the demonic cultivators noticed Guo Cheng's talismans and turned to them.
"En!" they answered as they landed on the lotuses before they leapt towards the nearest demonic cultivators and killed them.
"Why are there new ones?!" the demonic cultivators asked, startled.
"Anyway, kill them! Their blood might be useful to break the seal in the Ni Lai Gate!" one of them said.
Tang Zhe, Tang Yun, Guo Cheng, Shan Lu, Sun Yi and Wu Xi were shocked of what they said. "What?!" they looked at each other.
"Xiao Yun! Guo Cheng! Cover Shan Lu, Sun Yi and I. Wu Xi, protect them!" Tang Zhe said.
Wu Xi nodded and retreated along with Tang Yun and Guo Cheng to the bank while Tang Zhe, Shan Lu and Sun Yi advanced towards the incoming demonic cultivators.
"Sun Yi… Ah Yi?" a voice called.
Tang Zhe and Sun Yi paused when they saw a familiar voice called while Shan Lu started his killing spree. They turned and saw a familiar person through the gap between the demonic cultivators surrounding the entrance of the cave surrounded by a barrier of talismans.
Tang Zhe's eyes widened while Sun Yi's eyes reddened and his tears fell when he felt his heart leapt in excitement.
"YUAN!!!" Sun Yi cried. In a second, his figure shot towards the demonic cultivators, his sword raised.
BOOOM!!! The lotuses rocked on top of the water that rippled and splashed after some demonic cultivators were blown away when Sun Yi unleashed an attack!
"WOAH!" Guo Cheng and Tang Yun exclaimed while Wu Xi stepped forward and blocked the strong gust of wind that came towards them because of the impact.
"AH!" Shan Lu cried, startled, when he fell into the water while Tang Zhe reacted fast and flew on his sword high.
After the wind settled, they all turned to look at Sun Yi and Wu Yuan who were now hugging and kissing, expressing their missing of each other. Sun Yi was crying so much, while Wu Yuan, although not crying, but it can be seen how he was trembling as he held Sun Yi in his arms.
"… is this the time for this?" Guo Cheng asked. Although, even if he asked that, but he and Tang Yun attacked the demonic cultivators with talismans and spells from the distance while Tang Zhe also started to kill the demonic cultivators around them, picking up Shan Lu from the water in passing.
Although Sun Yi and Wu Yuan missed each other very much, but they know that there is still a battle. They separated, then started to counterattack against the demonic cultivators.
Half an hour later, the red color in the water of the lake disappeared along with the corpses of the demonic cultivators.
"Thank you for the help." Wu Yuan spoke and bowed to Tang Zhe.
Tang Zhe shook his hand. "We didn't expect… you to return." He sighed in relief.
"Yuan…" Sun Yi called and hugged Wu Yuan tight.
The coldness in Wu Yuan's face disappeared and was replaced with a warm smile as he held Sun Yi. The Huakai Sect disciples looked at each other and smiled while Wu Xi nodded on the side, appreciating the warm scene.
"I came back because father and uncle Jing have returned." Wu Yuan spoke.
Everyone was surprised. "You've seen them?! They're fine?!" they exclaimed.
Wu Yuan, unexpectedly, shook his head. "I didn't see them, but I am sure they must have returned to Huilong." He said. "That's why I left Cheng Sheng and Fei Yin there to investigate the source of demonic qi." He explained. "You didn't see father and uncle Jing?" he asked them.
They all shook their head. "No. We came here after we heard the explosion." They answered.
Wu Yuan frowned. "There were demonic cultivators waiting in the Ni Lai Gate. I can only block them with the talismans and erect a barrier around me using the talismans." He explained.
"Wu Ran must have placed some demonic cultivators to guard the Ni Lai Gates." Tang Zhe said.
Wu Yuan nodded. "Father and uncle Jing…" he muttered. He thought he would see the two after he went out of the Ni Lai Gate.
"Could it be the Ni Lai Gates, although are teleportation arrays, but their destination is random?" Guo Cheng asked.
As soon as he said that, everyone felt enlightened.
"Then, where could they have gone to?" Tang Yun asked.
Wu Xi tilted his head, can't come up with an answer, either.
South.
"I think… they are really the Chen patriarch and former sect leader Wu." Xi Ming said as he, Xi Xing, Shu Mu and Xiao Le formed a circle to discuss while Wu Fan and Chen Jing just sat on the side and looked after Shu Mu's fellow disciples.
"Why?" Xi Xing asked.
"Think about it. They are righteous cultivators. The demonic cultivators can't imitate a righteous cultivator's qi unless he would get reincarnated into another person's body." Xi Ming spoke.
Everyone immediately understood. Wu Ran. They thought.
"Also – " Xi Ming continued. " – the only righteous cultivators that have gone to Heilong Realm were them, Cheng Sheng, Fei Yin and Wu Yuan. Would either Cheng Sheng, Fei Yin or Wu Yuan disguise as the Chen patriarch or former sect leader Wu, whom they were looking for?" he asked.
"You've got a point." Shu Mu said as they all turned to look at Chen Jing and Wu Fan who were resting.
"Are you done discussing?" the two asked them.