"Hiss."
From afar, the Sky Devouring Python spotted the figures of Xu Yi and Ji Bu Wang.
Its scarlet forked tongue flicked out, and cold, faint rays gleamed in its emerald pupils.
It had not originally intended to come here. It was a Sky Devouring Python of noble blood, and two human cultivators were hardly worth its personal attention.
However, the Bi Fang, burning with the Earth Heart Azure Flame, evoked unpleasant memories.
After swallowing the Bi Fang that dared to call for help, it decided to devour the human cultivator who possessed the Earth Heart Azure Flame, ensuring that the disgusting existence of the Earth Heart Azure Flame could never appear again.
Thus, it came.
Its gaze did not linger on Ji Bu Wang for even a moment, fixing instead on Xu Yi.
That repulsive aura originated from here.
Swallow her! Swallow her!
The Sky Devouring Python's massive pupils locked onto Xu Yi, and its body rapidly approached her.
"Hmph."
Xu Yi grunted, fresh blood trickling down the corner of her mouth. Coupled with her disheveled hair, she appeared quite battered.
If the Sky Devouring Python were allowed to advance further, Xu Yi would be crushed into a pulp by its oppressive aura even before it could make its move.
Hearing Xu Yi's grunt, Ji Bu Wang's heart trembled. His eyes suddenly shifted, and he silently recited a incantation, his fingers beginning to tremble incessantly, as if drawing runes with a peculiar regularity.
Concurrently, his aura began to change.
The first to notice the transformation in Ji Bu Wang was Xu Yi.
She could clearly feel the pressure on her lessening significantly. Turning her head, she saw a golden seal rapidly flashing behind Ji Bu Wang.
"Sect Master... the Golden Seal?"
Xu Yi stared dazedly at the golden seal behind Ji Bu Wang, her mind going blank for a moment.
Xu Yi's master, Old Ancestor Yuan Ming, had once been the Sect Master of the Xuan Ji Sect and carried the Sect Master's Golden Seal with him, so Xu Yi was no stranger to its appearance.
She quickly regained her composure, a faint, bitter smile appearing on her lips.
In fact, she should have guessed it long ago, shouldn't she?
Sect Master Ji Bu Wang, who had never shown himself.
Lu Zai Ye, a cultivator in the Tribulation stage, who was unnamed within the Xuan Ji Sect.
These two were, in fact, the same person.
Lu Zai Ye had always hidden himself well. Xu Yi had harbored suspicions about him but had never connected him to the Sect Master, mistaking him for an elder she had never met.
Now that the truth was revealed, Xu Yi felt a sense of finality and satisfaction, mingled with a burgeoning anger at being deceived.
Upon careful reflection, she now understood why Ji Bu Wang had concealed his identity and stayed by her side.
It was undoubtedly due to his distrust of her, the Old Ancestor who had suddenly appeared, and he had wanted to stay close to gather information.
Xu Yi could actually understand Ji Bu Wang's thinking.
But what she couldn't understand was that she thought Ji Bu Wang, having spent so much time with her, understood her well enough to have revealed the truth long ago.
Yet, not only did he fail to confess, but he also participated in the sect's grand competition alongside her, competed on the same stage as juniors, and even joined the Kunlun Academy to study with her.
Xu Yi couldn't comprehend how Ji Bu Wang could go to such lengths.
Did this mean that he did not truly trust her, neither in the past nor in the present?
These thoughts formed in Xu Yi's mind almost in the blink of an eye.
Meanwhile, the Sky Devouring Python was confronting Ji Bu Wang.
The golden seal behind Ji Bu Wang caused the Sky Devouring Python a flicker of apprehension.
It tilted its head, looking down at Ji Bu Wang, its serpentine mouth speaking human words.
"The golden seal behind you is extraordinary. Which sect's Sect Master are you?"
Ji Bu Wang did not reply. Instead, he channeled all his spiritual energy into the golden seal behind him.
The golden seal gradually solidified, and an aura of righteous and majestic energy erupted from him.
The Ironback Lizard and the Red Ant, intimidated by the aura emanating from Ji Bu Wang, involuntarily retreated several steps.
The Golden Lion Beast, however, had already collapsed onto the ground, trembling.
Such a terrifying aura.
Two distinct auras in the air were engaged in a silent battle.
Neither Ji Bu Wang nor the Sky Devouring Python spoke, yet the speed at which their internal spiritual energy circulated grew increasingly rapid.
At this moment, Xu Yi had also discarded her absurd thoughts and refocused her mind. The most important thing now was to survive and leave this place, so she intended to lend Ji Bu Wang a hand.
The cultivation techniques of the Xuan Ji Sect were just and peaceful.
Furthermore, disciples who cultivated the Xuan Ji Sect's techniques were of the same lineage, and their spiritual energies could also merge.
Protected by Ji Bu Wang, Xu Yi could no longer feel the pressure from the Sky Devouring Python.
Thus, she smoothly moved to Ji Bu Wang's side, reached out, and grasped his wrist, continuously channeling her spiritual energy into him.
Feeling spiritual energy that seemed to originate from the same source, yet with subtle differences, flowing through his meridians, a very faint smile flashed in Ji Bu Wang's eyes.
Upon seeing Xu Yi, the Sky Devouring Python was reminded of some unpleasant memories. Without further hesitation, it opened its monstrous maw and lunged at them.
As the Sky Devouring Python opened its mouth to bite, it completely covered the area above the heads of Ji Bu Wang and Xu Yi, as if night had descended, plunging their figures into darkness.
But in the next moment, an exceptionally dazzling golden light erupted from behind them.
A golden seal detached itself from behind Ji Bu Wang and violently collided with the massive snake head.
The world was suddenly plunged into a moment of silence.
Boom!
"Hiss!"
A deafening roar, accompanied by a vast, wild force, instantly permeated the entire land.
Xu Yi felt as if her head had been struck by a dull hammer. Stars danced before her eyes, blood seeped from all seven orifices, and her consciousness began to blur.
Ji Bu Wang, however, fared somewhat better.
After releasing the golden seal, he experienced a moment of exhaustion, but he quickly began to absorb the scattered energy from his surroundings into his body.
The sky had already turned dim, and Ji Bu Wang could not foresee the outcome.
If this strike failed to injure the Sky Devouring Python, then they were surely doomed.
Therefore, he could only think of a very risky, and perhaps the only, method for them to escape this place.
"Xu Yi, go!"
Dozens of Boundary Breaking Talismans shattered simultaneously.
The already precarious space was instantly filled with countless narrow cracks.
Bone-chilling yin wind blew out from the black holes, instantly jolting Xu Yi's already hazy consciousness awake.
Before she could react, she felt a cool palm in hers, and then she was pulled into the darkness by a powerful force.
"Xu Yi, hold me tight."
In the darkness, all emotions were amplified.
Xu Yi could not see her surroundings and instinctively followed the words, reaching out to embrace the figure before her.
Whether it was her imagination or not, the moment she hugged the figure, she heard a low, hoarse chuckle.
The chilling yin wind that had permeated her body suddenly became gentle.
Was it Ji Bu Wang?
A thought flashed through her mind, but she didn't have time to ponder it before her consciousness rapidly faded into the void.