Qi Da Xian knew very well that if he didn't use his ability now, he would be subdued by the man who suddenly appeared, with no hope of escape. With this thought, he gritted his teeth and immediately placed his hands on the shoulders of the others. A white mist flashed, and in an instant, everyone vanished before the eyes of all the black-robed figures!
This was Qi Da Xian's Instantaneous Body Flicker ability, a form of spatial ability. However, while powerful, its destination was random. Bad luck could even transport one to a cliff face, with no way up or down.
Of course, his luck wasn't great this time either. The landing spot was completely engulfed in flames. The ground was cold and smooth stone, below were hundreds of cultivator disciples, and beside him was Liu Furu, whom Liu Yu had seen before, dressed in white robes with her face veiled by sheer gauze!
Gasps erupted from the disciples below.
"Damn, Qi Da Xian, now we don't even need them to trap us in a cage; we've already become half-cooked turtles!"
Tu Xing Sun picked his ear. Without the previous clamor, everyone's spirits lifted.
Liu Yu drew his black blade and, without a word, held it at Liu Furu's neck.
"Listen, all of you. I'm taking this woman with me. If any of you have an objection, I guarantee my blade will instantly slice open her throat!"
"Who are you people! How dare you disrupt the Saintess's succession ceremony!"
The elder standing before the altar flames, leaning on a bronze staff and stroking his white beard, was about to signal the black-robed figures holding swords to his left and right when Xiao Chong's Seizing Hand stopped him.
"Don't move, old man, unless you want to die!"
The elder could feel a chilling killing intent from Xiao Chong's eyes and reluctantly lowered his hand.
"Why have you come here? Aren't you afraid of death?" Liu Furu's voice was like cold mountain snow.
"We are afraid, but someone is more afraid of something happening to you. So, Miss Liu Furu, even if this is hell, we will turn it upside down and take you away."
"Don't dream. You are no match for the Sect Master. If you want to live, I can be a hostage!"
Liu Furu's body suddenly trembled. It was unclear if it was because of the words "someone" in Liu Yu's mouth, but her heart, as still as a stagnant pond, instantly rippled.
"The Sect Master you're talking about, is it that guy who likes to shout out loud for no reason?" Tu Xing Sun kicked over a brazier, and at that moment, that soul-stirring voice, like thunder piercing the sky, boomed forth!
"Fireflies dare to compete with the sun and moon!"
The sonic wave was like a sharp blade, instantly knocking several people to the ground. Only Liu Yu was able to resist with his inner energy. Upon hearing this voice, all the cultivator disciples immediately knelt on one knee, shouting loudly, "Welcome, Sect Master," then placed their hands on their chests, looking up at the altar with reverence.
Liu Yu looked up and saw a man wearing a Shura mask appear above the altar. His age was completely indiscernible from his build.
"They all say cultivators are people in flowing white robes, unsullied by the mortal world. But your appearance makes me think of some unorthodox paths, or rather, it's a bit like a Sichuan Opera face-changing actor."
Although Liu Yu felt quite uncomfortable, he had no intention of sparing his words. Moreover, with his black blade at Liu Furu's neck, he had some confidence.
"Hmph, sharp-tongued. It seems you guys are friends of Ya Sheng in the mortal world?" The masked man stood proudly, not in a hurry to attack.
"Friends is not quite accurate, but we are indebted, and it is our obligation to bring her out of here!"
"Oh? Have you sought her opinion? Ya Sheng, why don't you tell them yourself if you are willing to go with them?" The masked man flashed down, in just one move, he sent Xiao Chong flying, then casually brushed the dust off the elder's clothes, acting as if nothing had happened.
The six pairs of eyes were now fixed on Liu Furu, and her answer completely surprised Liu Yu and the others.
"I am not willing."
Liu Yu, knowing most of the secrets, immediately said sternly, "Are you crazy! We've finally reached this point!"
"I am crazy. No matter where I escape to, I will be captured by the sect. Moreover, I am content with your intention. I believe it won't be so lonely in Lin Xian Tower."
As they were speaking, a series of deafening explosions suddenly erupted from the direction of Yun Jin City. Fireworks shot up into the sky, illuminating the entire firmament with a riot of colors, as bright as day, magnificent and dazzling!
This was clearly the prelude to the Fireworks Festival, with even grander and more beautiful fireworks lighting up the sky one after another, leaving the most brilliant memories in the lives of all like-minded men and women.
Meanwhile, Ren Yuan Hao was leaning against the windowsill alone, reading the letter left by Ji Fu by the dim light.
The content of the letter was simple: his mother's orders were difficult to disobey, so she could no longer accompany him to hot springs and eat sashimi, nor could she tease him by calling him "husband" or "boyfriend." The writing style was elegant and light, but Ren Yuan Hao clearly saw some blurred characters, as if they had been wetted by some liquid and the edges had become frayed. It was likely that Ji Fu's emotions were stirred when writing this part, and tears had stained her light clothing.
Fireworks continued to rise, so brilliant it seemed otherworldly. But the more lively and grand it was, the more forlorn and lonely Ren Yuan Hao felt.
However, what he didn't know was that beneath this Fireworks Festival, on the mountaintop to the southwest, a bloody massacre was nearing its end.
The masked man, taking advantage of the fireworks display, moved swiftly and snatched Liu Yu's black blade, then without hesitation plunged it into Liu Yu's abdomen. Copy Cat Xiao Chong, seeing this, instantly replicated the masked man's sonic wave technique, but his inner energy was insufficient. Before he could cause real damage, the masked man cut his leg with a single saber strike, blood gushing out.
Qi Da Xian shook his head and was about to activate his ability, preparing to take everyone away in a desperate gamble. Unexpectedly, the masked man was prepared. He threw the black blade, which pierced directly through Qi Da Xian's chest and nailed him to the original wood at the top of the altar. His death was tragic. Rain Girl and Ice Crystal Girl had already exhausted their abilities earlier. As the masked man was about to strike a killing blow, Liu Furu, in her capacity as Ya Sheng, knelt on the ground.
"Hmph, you are about to become the Saintess, and you can only bow to heaven and earth. Is this appropriate?" The masked man clasped the heads of the two women with both hands, gradually increasing the force. Blood slowly flowed from their foreheads.
"Sect Master, what is the tenet of our Chi Xiao Sect?" Liu Furu glared with disdain, her tone like the cold air emanating from an ice cellar.
"Ya Sheng, are you questioning me? Or are you dissatisfied with me?" The masked man did not loosen his grip, and the force grew stronger!
Just then, Tu Xing Sun glanced at his old friend who was nailed to the log and suddenly erupted, diving into the base of the altar. He intended to pull the masked man into his domain by burrowing through the ground. Unexpectedly, the masked man seemed to have anticipated this. As his head emerged from the ground, the masked man unleashed a thunderous roar at his face!