"I—I," Ji Changkong opened his mouth, yet he didn't know what to say. The assembly was close, too close. He had thought of so much, yet now that the moment had arrived, he still had no idea how to face it.

"I brought this upon myself," Ayiguli looked at him, her face flushing crimson. Not hearing the words she longed for, a wave of disappointment washed over her heart.

"I never expected it to turn out like this. I apologize, Holy Maiden, would you—would you be willing to come with me?" Ji Changkong gazed deeply at Ayiguli, hesitated for a moment, and then suddenly spoke.

Ayiguli’s eyes instantly lit up with surprise. "Sect Master, you... what do you mean?"

"Whatever I have done, I will naturally take responsibility for it!" Ji Changkong said in a deep voice.

"Responsibility?" Ayiguli softly murmured. This was clearly not the answer she had wished for, but Ji Changkong saying this was enough to reveal his character; he would not shirk responsibility in such a matter, a rare and valuable virtue in a man.

"Yes, I will take responsibility for you," Ji Changkong affirmed.

Shaking her head, Ayiguli frowned, biting her lip lightly. She slowly pushed Ji Changkong away from her. Where they had touched finally separated under her gentle pressure. Feeling the burning pain inside her, Ayiguli’s heart filled with bitterness.

"I don't need you to take responsibility. This was my own doing. It was just... just an accident. Sect Master doesn't need to concern himself with it." She lowered her head, unwilling to meet Ji Changkong’s eyes, and murmured, "I know I am not worthy of the Sect Master. I don't dare hope for anything, but I don't want... I don't want this so-called responsibility!"

Ji Changkong distinctly heard the grievance in her tone. After a moment of contemplation, he chose his words carefully. He spoke slowly, "I... I don't know how this happened. Before this, I didn't harbor any other intentions toward you. Even though this event has occurred, I cannot... cannot change the true intentions within my heart, at least, not yet."

Ayiguli, whose heart had been wounded, felt a flicker of hope rekindle upon hearing his words. She looked up, stealing a glance at him, and saw the sincerity in his eyes.

"I understand the Sect Master never liked me before. If you cannot change your true feelings now, then... change them slowly. I will wait silently until the day the Sect Master begins to like me!" Suddenly raising her head with determination, Ayiguli looked at him and said, "I don't ask for much. As long as... as long as you keep me in your heart, remember me, and allow me to stay by your side, that is enough."

Ji Changkong was stunned.

Suddenly, he felt that Ayiguli was actually quite charming. He stared motionlessly at that face that could cause the downfall of nations, at her current vulnerability, and felt a string in his heart inexplicably plucked. "Give me some time..."

Ayiguli nodded heavily.

"It’s over there! The Saintess of the Oro Sect, it must be her. That lewd and despicable woman, actually consorting with someone in broad daylight! No wonder the Oro Sect is nearing collapse; if even the Saintess is like this, what hope does the Oro Sect have!"

"The man couldn't be identified; he was powerfully built, probably very strong. You must be careful."

The two Seven-Star Heavenly Soldiers who had fled in disarray returned, their voices echoing above the bushes once more. Accompanying them were about ten masters from the Mani Sect.

"Get dressed properly." After whispering a brief instruction to Ayiguli, Ji Changkong turned around and looked calmly towards the sky.

Ayiguli meekly redressed herself, standing silently behind Ji Changkong. She also began brewing the secret techniques of the Oro Sect, ready to face any attack from their incoming assailants.

Finally, a group of over a dozen figures gradually descended from the sky, landing precisely in front of Ji Changkong and Ayiguli. Besides the two dishevelled Seven-Star Heavenly Soldiers from other sects, about ten experts from the Mani Sect appeared. Ji Changkong recognized two of them from Tianshan: the Pure Dharma King and the Mighty Dharma King of the Mani Sect.

Both were at the peak of the Eight Trigrams Heaven realm, their expressions peaceful and natural, faint smiles playing on their lips.

However, these two Dharma Kings were not the leaders of the group. Before them, a beautiful, slender, and captivating young woman, veiled in silk embroidered with a sun pattern, stepped forward first. As soon as she moved, the Pure Dharma King and the Mighty Dharma King immediately followed, but neither dared to pass her.

Clearly, this young woman’s status was higher than that of the two Dharma Kings.

The maiden was also at the Eight Trigrams Heaven realm. Her fiery red hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her bright eyes shone brilliantly, seemingly holding the profound depth of the ocean. As she approached gracefully, her alluring body swayed gently, and her long, shapely, and full legs seemed capable of ensnaring a man's soul. The two Seven-Star Heavenly Soldiers who had escorted her stared at her openly behind her.

"Ayiguli, I can’t believe it’s really you. Heh heh, was everything just now real?" The young woman's eyes were full of amusement as she pointed toward the rock behind Ayiguli. "Right here? You coupled with him right here? Truly incredible!"

"Pari..."

"Tsk tsk, how utterly shameless. In broad daylight, out in the wilderness, under the gaze of others, you were so eagerly desperate to couple with a man! Ayiguli, you truly are unbelievable! The Saintess of the Oro Sect, heh heh, you are so very holy!" Pari giggled incessantly.

Ayiguli’s face burned crimson, grinding her teeth in hatred. She didn't know how to refute, especially in front of the two eyewitnesses.

Pari? Hearing Ayiguli name the woman, Ji Changkong immediately knew her identity—the Saintess of the Mani Sect, hailed alongside Ayiguli as the two most beautiful flowers of the Western Regions, known by the moniker, the Flower of the Sun.

He had seen this Pari on Tianheng Star before, but at that time, she was in the form of a spirit soul. The Pari before him was veiled, but Ji Changkong looked closely at her a few times and confirmed that her pupils were indeed the same; this woman was indeed the Saintess of the Mani Sect.

"Pari?" Ji Changkong sneered coldly. "Back on Tianheng Star, you escaped fast enough. Otherwise, you wouldn't be standing here today."

Pari was about to continue humiliating Ayiguli when she was stunned by these words. Staring intently at Ji Changkong, her voice immediately turned cold: "Ji Changkong! You have audacious courage to dare enter the sphere of influence of my Mani Sect!"

The serene and peaceful expressions of the Pure and Mighty Dharma Kings suddenly changed, and a killing aura burst forth from their bodies!

"Ji Changkong? The new generation Xuanyuan, the Sect Master of the Oro Sect?"

The two cultivators from the Western Regions who had brought the Mani Sect experts suddenly looked terrified. They exchanged a glance and immediately began backing away step by step, putting significant distance between themselves and Ji Changkong, fearing he might attack and kill them instantly.

For years, Ji Changkong’s name had been sung throughout the world of Heavenly Soldiers. After he slew the Yaksha King in the Northern Barbarians and retreated calmly from the Asura King, in the eyes of masters everywhere, he had become one of the most powerful beings in existence!

Especially in territories hostile to the Central Plains, like the Western Regions and the Northern Barbarians, the terror he inspired! The moment they heard he was Ji Changkong, they became flustered. Even with the Pure and Mighty Dharma Kings present, they felt deeply uneasy and only wished to distance themselves.

"Saintess, please return to the Holy Mountain first!" The Pure Dharma King and the Mighty Dharma King suddenly moved to stand in front of Pari, speaking in unison.

A person's reputation precedes them! The two great Dharma Kings knew of the Dark King's death and Ji Changkong’s successful retreat against the Blood Emperor, realizing they had miscalculated this time. They immediately prepared to escort Pari away first.

"Since you’ve come, none of you are leaving," Ji Changkong chuckled nonchalantly, looking at Pari, whose bright eyes were constantly flickering with strange light. "Congratulations on breaking through to the Eight Trigrams Heaven realm, but... you are still too slow."

As he spoke, a massive pressure suddenly materialized across the entire area. Sharp, fierce edges of light swept out maniacally from Ji Changkong as the center, rushing towards all directions.

The incredibly dense bushes were instantly annihilated under the assault of this radiance. Where the light passed, the ground was leveled, leaving not a single bush remaining. Even the dark red stones shattered one by one. Stone fragments flew everywhere, obscuring vision.

The Pure and Mighty Dharma Kings' faces changed drastically. They stood before Pari together, unleashing the sacred power of the Mani Sect to form a massive shield of light, enveloping themselves and the Saintess.

"Ah!"

The two experts from other sects who had brought the Mani Sect masters were instantly shredded into ribbons of flesh under the force of the radiance, just like the short, stout man from before, their blood and flesh flying wildly.

Several Mani Sect masters of comparable strength, unprotected by the Dharma Kings, were ripped into the sky by the berserk power unleashed by Ji Changkong, ground into powder just like the scattered stones.

Nine Palaces Heaven realm!

This was an absolute advantage! How could masters only at the Eight Trigrams Heaven realm withstand the devastation wrought by Ji Changkong?

Even the shield of light began to crack under this violent force, as if it could shatter at any moment.

"Brother, there's a powerful expert below; the fight is intense!" In the sky, the beautiful maiden riding the Three-Headed Hellhound pointed excitedly toward the dense thicket below.

Yao Kui, whose posture was as straight as a sword, frowned slightly and cast a fierce gaze downwards. A cold, cruel smile curved his lips. "A Nine Palaces Heavenly Soldier. A bit interesting. Worth me going down to have a look."

As soon as he finished speaking, without waiting for his command, the frightened Three-Headed Hellhound voluntarily flew downwards.

Thank you all for fulfilling a small wish of mine! Also, thank you to several brothers for your generous tips. I have guests at home today, so I can only manage two chapters. Starting tomorrow, I will resume bursting forth chapters! Rest assured, Little Ni will not disappoint you all!