As they spoke, Han Fang suddenly exclaimed with surprise, gazing upward: “The four Realm-Protecting Venerables have finally arrived. Truly, they are terribly late; I’ve had quite the wait for them—”
Fang Wen was equally moved, a wave of relief washing over him. With these Realm-Protecting Venerables present, even if Qiu Yunzi was frantic or maddened, he wouldn't dare be overly presumptuous!
But just at that moment, a lightning spear, a thousand zhang long, abruptly pierced down from the clouds.
Han Fang’s eyes narrowed slightly, followed by a cold snort. With a mere flick of his sleeve, the very fabric of heaven and earth rippled. In an instant, a burst of thunderous light erupted, slashing out to meet the attack mid-way.
Electrical currents flickered and permeated the surroundings. Amidst the crashing thunder, the majority of the lightning dissipated as they collided.
Yet, slivers of energy still escaped. Some pierced into the Black Spirit Valley Path, blasting open a corner of the Inverted Formless Array, which then shattered with a roar!
The situation within was finally revealed to the assembled crowd. Fang Wen immediately looked down, seeing the nine hundred Black Armored Cavalry of the Mortal Life Dao standing almost entirely intact near the western exit, having lost barely forty men.
While a shadow crossed his expression, his heart eased slightly. When his gaze then fell upon the two locations where skeletal remains were piled, the joy within him could no longer be suppressed!
A grand victory! And an overwhelming one at that!
Of the one thousand four hundred Purple Heaven Sword Riders, only a little over a hundred remained. And of the two hundred elite disciples from the Grand Spirit Sect, fewer than forty now stood!
After this battle, for the next decade, they would no longer need to pay undue attention to the foremost sect of the Daoist path.
The Mortal Life Dao, already overburdened, could finally catch its breath. They could use this respite to mobilize forces and thoroughly resolve numerous pending issues and hidden dangers!
The outcome of this battle would also serve to awe the surrounding territories, causing those petty evildoers harboring ill intentions toward the Mortal Life Dao to rein themselves in, at least for a time!
The dense, oppressive cloud mass opposite grew thicker, churning incessantly, with countless electrical currents flashing within, as if brewing some terrible thing.
Han Fang smiled, and with a mere thought, a shimmering longsword flew out, circling around him. He hadn't anticipated that when Qiu Yunzi and his four companions arrived, they would act with such frenzy, launching their full power.
Now, however, such an easy reprieve was gone. If a fight were to break out again, it would be to the death!
He then laughed casually, “Brother Qiu Yun! Do you remember twenty years ago, at Yan City Pass, when I tried to save someone, and you single-handedly stopped me? You mocked that I had lived so many years only to be unable to stomach a loss. Do you still recall those harsh words? Saying that when juniors struggle, it’s each according to their own ability, and elders like us shouldn't interfere. Now, Brother Dao, are you perhaps like this old man, unable to stomach a loss yourself, preparing to shield your kin?”
In the black clouds, there was only silence; Qiu Yun remained quiet, offering no reply.
Han Fang roared with laughter, an expression of pure elation: “Twenty years ago, my Mortal Life Dao and your Grand Spirit Sect maintained separate waters. Yet, out of greed, you struck against my sect’s disciples! Three assassination attempts, a full four hundred and thirty-four lives lost. Their spirits watch from afar, but now, with these two thousand lives exchanged, it is enough to comfort the spirits of our disciples in heaven—”
Fang Wen smiled. The casualties suffered by the Grand Spirit Sect in this battle, front and back, now exceeded two thousand. Furthermore, the background exposed by King Liao dealt a devastating blow to the Grand Spirit Sect.
Beside him, Shi Ruolan seemed not to hear, staring fixedly below, utterly absorbed.
“Silence!”
A sharp reprimand suddenly rang out from within the black clouds, cutting off Han Fang’s words.
Immediately after, a figure stepped out from the cloud mass. He appeared to be in his thirties, with a gaunt, stern countenance. A golden hairpin adorned his hair, and he wore a dark blue Daoist robe.
He first glanced below, his eye twitching involuntarily, a flash of heartbreak crossing his gaze.
Most of the one thousand four hundred Purple Heaven Sword Riders had fallen here! The remaining sect elites were also almost entirely wiped out.
This Mortal Life Dao, already aware of King Liao’s affair, and clearly holding the advantage in this fight, had still continued to add bargaining chips, luring the Grand Spirit Sect into the trap and dispatching even more personnel!
It was detestable!
Finally, his gaze settled upon the Black Armored youth below, the one holding the giant crimson sword, standing ready with his blade across his chest, pointing directly at Ji Lingzi.
“So this is the new martial nephew you’ve taken in, Han Fang! Good! Good! Extremely good. Truly a heaven-blessed prodigy. If allowed to mature, he will surely become an unparalleled famous general capable of intimidating the world!”
Inside, he desperately wished he could strike Tan Qiu down with a single slap. It was this individual who had caused the Grand Spirit Sect losses nearing the point of crippling their foundation, making recovery take years!
At this critical juncture when spirit tides were surging, they had suffered such a heavy blow!
He could only forcibly suppress the urge. If he were to strike, among those four Venerables, even if one hailed from the Grand Spirit Sect, they would be compelled to intervene.
After a moment of hesitation and internal struggle, Qiu Yunzi’s voice suddenly softened: “What terms must be met for you to release these disciples of my Grand Spirit Sect?”
His words held an almost pleading tone.
Han Fang was momentarily stunned, then let out a dry, mirthless laugh, shaking his head slightly: “Brother Qiu Yun, why go to such lengths? If the situation were reversed today, would you agree? Have you forgotten how I, Han Fang, pleaded back then? How you responded then is exactly how I respond now.”
Qiu Yunzi’s face paled. How could he forget? That moment had been the most satisfying of his life! But now, the tables were completely turned, and Han Fang was humiliating him!
However, he could not abandon these nearly two hundred disciples below!
The disciples who had managed to survive the swords of the eight hundred Mortal Life Dragon Riders could be considered true elites. In a few years, perhaps they could help the Grand Spirit Sect recoup some losses.
After a moment of deep thought, Qiu Yunzi finally exhaled softly: “Three medium-grade Spirit Stone Veins, would that suffice?”
Han Fang scoffed. Spirit Stones were indeed valuable. Three medium-grade Spirit Stone Veins could support another three hundred Mortal Life Dragon Riders.
But these things could never outweigh the hatred in his heart!
“—Add three pieces of Black Iron Mountain Armor as well! My Grand Spirit Sect is willing to contract with the Mortal Life Dao: thirty years of non-aggression!”
Black Iron Mountain Armor was an eighth-tier spirit artifact, whose defensive capabilities rivaled that of a second-tier magic treasure!
Only cultivators above the eighth tier within the Grand Spirit Sect were qualified to possess it. This armor required a special spiritual metal, which was only produced in the mines of the Grand Spirit Sect.
Han Fang remained utterly unconcerned about the armor; as for the contract, he deemed it unnecessary in his eyes. If the Mortal Life Dao were truly strong, why would they fear provocation from their enemies? Conversely, the current Grand Spirit Sect was more worried about being attacked from both front and back.
Qiu Yunzi frowned, then finally clenched his fist fiercely, saying coldly: “The Governor of Yan City Pass back then, Xue Xi, along with all one hundred and thirty-four disciples of the Mortal Life Dao, are currently imprisoned by my Grand Spirit Sect! My Grand Spirit Sect is willing to exchange them and guarantee the full restoration of their cultivation!”
Xue Xi?
Fang Wen’s eyes immediately flashed with a brilliant light, a look of utter disbelief crossing his face.
His unfortunate junior brother was actually still alive! And those one hundred and thirty-four Mortal Life Dao disciples, whom he had believed were buried at the hands of the enemy, had actually survived?
Han Fang was also deeply shaken, his eyes churning with emotion. After a long pause, his expression finally settled back into calm. He looked up toward the starry sky.
Heaven has eyes! Senior Brother, Senior Brother, I, Han Fang, can finally account for you now.
He then looked down at the figure of Zong Shou, Han Fang’s expression becoming profoundly complex.
He truly didn’t know how to thank this junior brother enough.
Years ago, because of the incident at Yan City Pass, his Senior Brother had left in anger. Although he still maintained contact with the Mortal Life Dao, he refused to return for decades. This caused many elders among the Three Sects and Six Gates to become estranged from the Mortal Life Dao.
The decision to exchange those Mortal Life Dao disciples was worth far more than just those one hundred and thirty-four lives. Moreover, the hundred elite disciples accompanying Zong Shou now possessed a completely different spirit and bearing!
As if having been tempered, they shone with an unprecedented charisma and grace. Their demeanor had shifted, and a resolute willpower now marked their brows—a flavor unique to those who have passed through the crucible of life and death.
Perhaps in a few years, or even decades, thirty or fifty seventh-tier powerhouses would emerge from their ranks! And certainly, many would be able to break through the Immortal Barrier!
His junior brother, though concerned only with his own cultivation and reluctant to become too entangled with the sect, was unaware that after this battle, countless factions within the Three Sects and Six Gates would feel gratitude toward him! Especially Xue Xi; his return in this manner would surely benefit him for his entire life!
With a soft chuckle, Han Fang suddenly looked up, his smile brilliant: “Deal!”
There was no need to hesitate; this was a magnificent turn of events! How could he refuse?
Zong Shou below was beginning to grow impatient, his sword already raised.
The booming thunder above, with waves of vast intent, had repeatedly tried to crush downward. Fortunately, Han Fang had blocked them back. While it was nerve-wracking, it couldn't harm him.
He had also overheard the conversation between the two above. When Han Fang spoke his final word, not only did the surviving disciples of the Grand Spirit Sect relax their expressions, Zong Shou also knew that the day’s confrontation had concluded, and this person could no longer be killed.
If it were only about the Spirit Stone Veins and a few pieces of Black Iron Mountain Armor, even if Han Fang had agreed, Zong Shou would still have attacked. After all, Han Fang was his senior brother, and couldn't truly stop him.
But since the lives of over a hundred fellow sect members were involved, he had no choice but to stand down.
He merely mused internally: Who exactly is this Xue Xi? He sounds like an extremely important figure in the Mortal Life Dao, perhaps far more than just the commander of Yan City Pass.
He also privately grumbled that Han Fang had indeed followed him the entire way. It was fortunate that he hadn't done anything that would arouse suspicion along the path. He had forcibly suppressed the urge to investigate several famous treasure grounds and the few low-tier apex dungeons in the Divine Radiance Game.
The eight hundred knights behind Zong Shou also maintained silent expressions. Although their indignation remained unresolved, they showed no intention of disobeying orders.
Just as Zong Shou was about to reluctantly lower his sword, Ji Lingzi glared over, his eyes burning with fire.
“Do you dare fight me fairly?”