These three simple words crashed into the hearts of the assembled crowd like a clap of thunder. In that moment, everyone couldn't help but doubt their own ears; surely they hadn't misheard? The Martial Marquis was actually letting Tai Shuang leave?

"Tai Shuang, you may depart," Zhuang Yu grunted heavily. Tai Shu Yan’s face was ashen; he opened his mouth but ultimately held the words back.

"Very well, then we shall take our leave!"

Nie Kong was unsurprised by the decision made by the Martial Marquis and Zhuang Yu. With a flicker of intent, the colossal form of the Soul Ghost Eagle King was summoned from his pet pack, and its soul was swiftly reinjected into the body. Emitting a sharp, crisp cry, the Soul Ghost Eagle King flapped its wings and stirred back to life.

Witnessing this spectacle, the crowd gasped again. Tai Shuang possessed such an immense spatial artifact, capable of storing a living spirit beast?

Nie Kong smiled slightly, looping an arm around Tai Yan's waist, and they leaped onto the giant eagle's back. However, their gazes immediately shifted toward Luan Ye Xin.

Nie Kong felt profoundly grateful to Luan Ye Xin. Unlike Tai Shu Yan, she held no malice toward him. Especially after she became an Elder of the Pill Immortal Sect, she had shown considerable care for both him and Tai Yan. During their month-long stay in Ascending Dragon City, she had become the only true friend they possessed.

As they might never meet again, this kindness naturally demanded repayment now.

"Elder Luan, please accept this pill as thanks for your care these past few days." As he spoke, Nie Kong waved his hand, and a streak of crimson light shot rapidly toward her.

"Watch out for an ambush!" an elder nearby shouted, raising a hand as if to intercept the red light.

"No matter," Luan Ye Xin said, waving him off. She caught the crimson streak and, looking at her open palm, saw a perfectly round, fiery red pellet, about the size of a thumb, emanating a potent medicinal aura. It appeared to be a Ninth-Grade Elixir, likely of excellent quality, with no other apparent peculiar features.

A moment later, a faint whisper reached Luan Ye Xin's ear: "Elder Luan, though it appears to be an ordinary Ninth-Grade Elixir on the surface, it is actually a cluster of Primordial Chaos energy condensed by my 'Chaos Heavenly Fire.' Refining it will greatly benefit your cultivation."

"Remember this: do not let Tai Shu Yan know."

Luan Ye Xin’s heart jolted, and she snapped her head up to look at Nie Kong, overwhelmed with complex emotion. This fellow had caused chaos throughout the Pill Immortal Sect, even absconding with the lower volume, the 'Chaos Jade Codex,' yet for the small assistance she had offered, he gifted something so valuable. Now, she truly didn't know whether to feel anger or gratitude.

"Caw!"

With a long cry, the Soul Ghost Eagle King beat its wings, soaring over the heads of the Ninth-Tier Illusion Masters in front, carrying Nie Kong and Tai Yan speeding toward the distant horizon.

Seeing that Nie Kong had genuinely given Luan Ye Xin a pill instead of attempting a treacherous strike, everyone present was somewhat surprised, though they paid little mind to the elixir itself.

In an instant, the pair and the eagle vanished.

An eerie silence descended upon the Divine Splendor Peak...

A cloud of suspicion hung over everyone. Tai Shuang had stolen the 'Chaos Jade Codex,' and his sister had slain several people on Divine Splendor Peak. Although those victims weren't Pill Immortal Sect members, their deaths still caused the sect to lose face. Why, then, were the Martial Marquis and Zhuang Yu allowing them to depart so openly?

For a time, the eyes of the crowd fixed upon the Martial Marquis and Zhuang Yu seemed branded with two giant question marks.

"Tai Shuang has gained control of the Heavenly Fire within the 'Chaos Jade Codex,'" Zhuang Yu stated, sweeping his gaze over the assembly in a deep voice. "Earlier, when Senior Brother Martial Marquis, the Sect Master, and I employed the 'Pill Heaven God Sealing Formation,' we couldn't retain the 'Chaos Jade Codex.' This is likely the reason. Had anyone truly dared to reach out and seize the Codex just now, the Heavenly Fire would have instantly erupted, reducing them to ash. With the aid of the Heavenly Fire, coupled with his Spirit God sister, attempting to forcefully stop them—even if we managed to keep both—the Pill Immortal Sect would suffer devastating casualties. At least half the people here would have died!"

"Ah?"

No one doubted Zhuang Yu's explanation, but relief mixed with profound horror. The 'Pill Heaven God Sealing Formation' was created by the Patriarch Pill Heaven. If even that formation could not contain the 'Chaos Heavenly Fire,' then the entire Pill Immortal Sect truly couldn't hold Tai Shuang, who commanded the Heavenly Fire!

If they insisted on keeping him, there was only one path: a massive contingent of Ninth-Tier Illusion Masters would have to tie down Tai Shuang, who controlled the Heavenly Fire, while the Martial Marquis and Zhuang Yu jointly struck down Tai Yan, who had just ascended to the Spirit God realm. If Tai Yan died, Tai Shuang’s mind would inevitably collapse, creating an opening to strike him down. If Tai Shuang perished, the Heavenly Fire would naturally cease to be a threat.

However, before Tai Yan could be dealt with, an immense number of experts would surely be incinerated by the Heavenly Fire. After such a battle, the Pill Immortal Sect's strength would be severely diminished, and they would fall behind not only the Grandmist Heaven Palace but perhaps even the slightly lesser Extreme Emperor Dao and Myriad Manifestations Sect. Acting rashly would clearly be too costly. From the current perspective, the Pill Immortal Sect’s true losses were minimal, as the Chaos Jade Codex, though a supreme treasure, had never truly been utilized.

After weighing the situation, the agitation in many hearts subsided.

"Martial Uncle Marquis, are we truly going to let this go?" Tai Shu Yan's face was grim, his chest burning with fury. The loss of face for the Pill Immortal Sect was a small matter; what he found utterly unacceptable was the theft of the 'Chaos Jade Codex.' Without Tai Shuang and the 'Chaos Heavenly Fire' within the Codex, his dream of refining Tai Shuang to cultivate Chaos Divine Power had evaporated into nothingness.

He had only just glimpsed the hope of success, and in less than half a day, that hope had turned to despair, the dawning light swallowed by darkness. This reality was excruciatingly cruel to Tai Shu Yan. In this moment, he maintained a façade of calm, but inside, his heart throbbed with frantic pain.

Tai Shuang, damned! Tai Yan, damned!

Tai Shu Yan wished he could tear them both to shreds, but these were mere thoughts. The pair had already departed safely, and furthermore, he was self-aware enough to know that with his strength at the Second Stage Spirit Tribulation, he couldn't possibly contend with the newly ascended Spirit God, Tai Yan, nor could he suppress Tai Shuang, who controlled the 'Chaos Heavenly Fire'!

"Of course, we cannot just let it rest," the Martial Marquis replied, his eyes closed, his voice cold. "Sect Master, retrieve the five Tenth-Grade 'Great Dragon Spirit Transformation Pills' from the treasury. Junior Brother Zhuang Yu and I will travel to the Grandmist Heaven Palace to borrow their 'Grand Void Divine Water.' As long as we can suppress the 'Chaos Heavenly Fire,' killing them will be simple."

"Good, I'll go now!" A ferocious glint flashed in Tai Shu Yan's eyes as he rapidly flew toward Divine Heaven Peak.

"'Grand Void Divine Water,' that's right! Why didn't I think of that?"

"'Grand Void Divine Water' is of the same tier as the 'Chaos Heavenly Fire.' Water counters fire; it's perfect for suppressing the 'Chaos Heavenly Fire.'"

"Once we borrow the 'Grand Void Divine Water,' where do we find them? The Divine Void Realm is vast. If they hide themselves, I fear..."

"Martial Uncle Marquis surely has a way."

"..."

The Martial Marquis's words greatly invigorated the crowd, and they began speaking in turn.

Luan Ye Xin sighed softly. Deep down, she naturally did not wish for harm to come to Tai Shuang and Tai Yan. However, she was an Elder of the Pill Immortal Sect and could not possibly race after them to send warnings. Now, she could only offer them silent blessings. Fortunately, if they could simply survive half a year, the danger would pass. By next year, both Martial Uncle Marquis and Uncle Zhuang Yu would enter the 'Grand Venerable Spirit Realm,' and without Spirit Gods, the Pill Immortal Sect couldn't touch them. Moreover, if they managed to return to that 'Heavenly Spirit Continent,' they would certainly have no need to fear pursuit from the Pill Immortal Sect.

... ...RO