Chapter 144: Rescue

Qu Yiqiu shook her head. “No. She is gone. She is no longer an artifact spirit.”

“I understand.”

Mu Yunjin gazed at her face. Though she had not explained everything, he already understood what she meant.

The artifact spirit of this secret realm could not help them.

Qu Yiqiu turned toward the crimson horizon and suddenly spotted a black speck hurtling toward them at incredible speed.

“Little Yan, what do you think that is?”

Her heart lurched, and an ominous feeling stirred within her.

Little Yan’s expression tightened. “They’ve lured the Taotie here.”

“Senior Sister, we need to get inside. The Taotie will be here any moment!”

Qu Yiqiu was just about to warn Mu Yunjin when his words cut her off. He seized her and flew forward with her for a distance.

She followed him at full speed, yet wondered how he had detected the danger.

With Mu Yunjin’s spiritual sense at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, he should not have been able to see that far.

Her doubts deepened, but not the slightest trace of them showed on her face. She obediently followed him into the Dead Spirit Lock Formation.

Not long after they entered the formation, a small group of disciples dressed in the robes of the Heavenly Evolution Sect flew over from the direction in which they had departed.

“Junior Brother Chi, are you certain this Dead Spirit Lock Formation is still effective after the artifact spirit’s death?” Jiang Shuangyan had somehow changed into a disciple’s uniform and was blending inconspicuously into the group. She frowned as she stared hesitantly ahead.

Chi Yushu’s expression was gentle. As he gazed toward the place where Qu Yiqiu and Mu Yunjin had disappeared, a strange glimmer passed through his eyes.

“Yes. We must get out before the disciples of the Profound Intent Sect.”

Fei Zhongda gnashed his teeth in fury. “Those people from the Profound Intent Sect are utterly shameless. They actually used the lives of several disciples to frame our Heavenly Evolution Sect!”

“Exactly! They are completely unworthy of being called an orthodox sect!” The few disciples who had survived by sheer luck echoed him bitterly.

Jiang Shuangyan’s eyes turned icy. “Once we get out, we must erase the Profound Intent Sect from the Qiong Realm Continent!”

“Exactly! Senior Sister Jiang is right!” Fei Zhongda and several disciples agreed in unison.

“Let’s go. The Taotie is coming from that direction.” Chi Yushu’s gaze shifted slightly, and he did not look back at the people behind him.

Jiang Shuangyan glanced aside and followed Chi Yushu to the Dead Spirit Lock Formation.

“You go in first.”

Chi Yushu stopped before the formation.

Fei Zhongda froze. “Junior Brother, what are you planning to do?”

Jiang Shuangyan immediately saw through his intention. “If I am not mistaken, the Taotie is chasing our sect’s disciples, is it not?”

Fei Zhongda finally understood. He exclaimed in astonishment, “Junior Brother Chi, that is the ancient ferocious beast Taotie! Whether they can make it inside will depend on their own ability!”

Chi Yushu remained expressionless as he stood where he was. “Go inside. There is not much time left.”

“Junior Brother Chi...” Fei Zhongda still wanted to say more, but Jiang Shuangyan raised a hand to stop him.

“Junior Brother Chi, exposing the Profound Intent Sect’s conspiracy requires us to survive. Forgive us for being unable to stay with you.” With those solemn words, Jiang Shuangyan turned and led Fei Zhongda and the others into the formation.

After they had walked for a while, Fei Zhongda could not help asking, “Junior Sister Jiang, do you think Junior Brother Chi’s wood spiritual root is enough to stop the ancient ferocious beast Taotie?”

“Even Senior Sister Jiang might not be able to do that. For Senior Brother Chi to stop the Taotie alone will be extremely difficult...” The female cultivator behind Fei Zhongda could not help voicing her worry.

Jiang Shuangyan swept her eyes rapidly over the others. “Even if we joined him, we could not stop that beast. The secret realm is now in the hands of the Profound Intent Sect’s leader. If we cannot escape, then once their disciples leave, our proud Heavenly Evolution Sect will cease to exist.”

Fei Zhongda and the other disciples changed expressions at once. They all understood what she meant.

“Junior Sister is right. Only we and Qu Yiqiu know about the Profound Intent Sect’s conspiracy. If we cannot escape, Deng Jingyao will certainly move against our Heavenly Evolution Sect!”

...

The air was heavy with death, and sinister energy coiled everywhere.

The Dead Spirit Lock Formation was a killing formation constructed with countless vengeful spirits serving as its anchors.

Mu Yunjin seemed very familiar with the formation. Before long, he led Qu Yiqiu to the vicinity of the only path to survival.

“Senior Sister means that all of this is a conspiracy of the Profound Intent Sect?”

He stopped and stared at Qu Yiqiu in surprise.

Qu Yiqiu nodded. “That is right. Bai Shulan was actually the first person to discover the Feiling Secret Realm. Yan Xi saved her, yet she helped Deng Jingyao destroy Yan Xi.”

Mu Yunjin’s brows drew tightly together. Through the formation, he watched the disciples of the two sects fleeing from the Taotie outside.

“Then should we still let them out?”

Qu Yiqiu paused briefly, realizing that he was referring to the people from the Profound Intent Sect. “We must let them out. Only if they remain alive can the world understand that our Heavenly Evolution Sect was not responsible for this.”

Mu Yunjin withdrew his gaze indifferently and nodded. “Senior Sister is right. We cannot let the people of the Profound Intent Sect die without leaving anyone to testify against them.”

“Yes... Deng Jingyao would not go that far, would he?”

A thought flashed through Qu Yiqiu’s mind.

No one left alive to testify?

What if Deng Jingyao had Bai Shulan and the others killed here?

If the people of the Heavenly Evolution Sect escaped alive, how would they explain everything?

No. He could not possibly be that insane!

Qu Yiqiu shook her head, casting aside those thoughts.

Mu Yunjin seemed lost in thought. “Senior Sister, what should we do if the Heavenly Evolution Sect cannot escape this calamity?”

Qu Yiqiu looked up in surprise. “Why would you ask that? I personally saw Bai Shulan attack Jiang Shuangyan. How could we fail to survive this?”

Mu Yunjin pressed his lips together slightly. Then he rubbed his head and said with an innocent air, “I do not know why I asked. I just feel that too many people from the Profound Intent Sect have died. Would Sect Master Deng really be willing to let this go?”

Qu Yiqiu’s brows knotted together. “You have a point. Nearly half of the Profound Intent Sect’s finest young talents have died in this secret realm. That will cause irreparable damage to the future of their sect. How could Deng Jingyao possibly let the matter rest so easily?”

“We have to bring the people from the Profound Intent Sect out!”

A moment later, Qu Yiqiu made her decision with absolute resolve.

Mu Yunjin had intended to take her away from this place as quickly as possible. He had not expected her words to lead her to decide to rescue the disciples of the Profound Intent Sect. He stared at her in astonishment.

“Senior Sister, the one pursuing them is the ancient ferocious beast Taotie!”

Even after transforming into a true dragon, he might not be able to defeat that opponent!

At that moment, Mu Yunjin desperately wanted to take back the foolish thing he had just said.

Qu Yiqiu replied gravely, “The Taotie has been sealed for many years. It is no longer as formidable as it was in its prime. Besides, I have a divine beast at my side.”

She lifted her chin and looked at Mu Yunjin proudly.

Gazing at her delicate, enchanting face, Mu Yunjin stood there in a daze.

Qu Yiqiu gave a soft laugh. She raised her hand and gently stroked his smooth black hair.

“We do not need to confront it head-on. We only need to use a little ingenuity to draw it away.”