The one hidden within the black robe was, naturally, Chen Xiao.
The Yitian Sword flew around him in circles of joy, excited to be able to fight alongside its master once more.
Chen Xiao's appearance naturally drew everyone's attention, though their thoughts varied.
Ximen Ao Xue extended his hand, and the Blood Drinking Mad Saber flew back into his grasp. He scrutinized Chen Xiao with a sinister gaze, his mind filled with confusion.
The strength to repel the Blood Drinking Mad Saber with a single sword strike was no small feat!
Where had this person emerged from? He had never heard of the Heavenly Lotus Sect having such a master to support them!
Could it be that the Heavenly Lotus Sect harbored an ancient ancestor who lived in seclusion?
He speculated wildly, but the elders of the Heavenly Lotus Sect knew that the Heavenly Lotus Sect had no such ancestor!
Moreover, why did this person emerge from the Heavenly Lotus Sect? Who was he? When did he enter the Heavenly Lotus Sect, and how did no one notice?
Furthermore, the most crucial point… was he friend or foe?
Qing Lian panicked and blurted out anxiously, "Who told you to come here? Hurry up and get lost! Don't you know your place? Is this a place you should be?"
She shouted loudly while desperately signaling Chen Xiao with her eyes.
Although her words were harsh, Chen Xiao did not get angry, as she did not want him to get involved and be implicated.
But how could he not get involved? Setting aside the relationship between Daoist Master Qing Lian and Tu Shan Che, the very cause of this incident made it impossible for him to remain an outsider.
After all, the Heavenly Blood Sect used the death of their young sect master, Ximen Qiufeng, as the pretext for their disturbance, and Ximen Qiufeng was, in fact, killed by Chen Xiao!
Therefore, Chen Xiao ignored Daoist Master Qing Lian's shouts and did not leave.
"Did you hear me when I told you to get lost? Are you crazy? Are you trying to die!"
Daoist Master Qing Lian was so anxious she felt like spitting blood.
Since Chen Xiao had entered through his connection with Tu Shan Che, how could she allow him to be harmed on her territory?
If that happened, how could she face Tu Shan Che again in the future… Of course, given the current situation, it seemed she wouldn't have the chance to meet Tu Shan Che again anyway.
"Daoist Master Qing Lian, you, you know him? Who is this person? Why did he come out of our Heavenly Lotus Sect?"
Huo Lian said, clutching her chest.
Her confusion was shared by the other elders, but the other elders did not directly question Daoist Master Qing Lian.
They knew that Huo Lian would ask anyway.
Daoist Master Qing Lian's expression froze. Although her end was near, even if she died, she could not expose her 'affair' with Tu Shan Che to these fellow disciples… doing so would ruin her reputation for a lifetime.
Her eyes darted around, and an idea struck her.
"She is Jin Lian, my outer disciple whom I took in from the mortal realm. Because her talent and aptitude are too outstanding, I brought her back to the sect today to formally accept her as an inner disciple!"
A Daoist Master was indeed a leader; she could tell a lie without blushing or her heart skipping a beat!
Upon hearing his new identity, Chen Xiao's expression immediately stiffened… I was brothers with your man, and you're calling me your disciple? Isn't that taking advantage of me?
Indeed, the ethical dilemma was a pitfall that could never be avoided!
Moreover, what was with the Daoist name you gave me?
Jin Lian? Are you serious? Fortunately, my surname isn't Pan…
Chen Xiao initially thought that such a flawed lie would not be believed by anyone, and at most, they would not expose her.
However, he had greatly overestimated the intelligence of these human cultivators.
Judging by the expressions on their faces, they clearly believed Qing Lian's words.
"So she's Qing Lian's outer disciple, then there's no problem!"
"Jin Lian is indeed exceptionally talented. To be so powerful even while cultivating as an outer disciple, it's no wonder even the Daoist Master couldn't resist taking her as a disciple!"
"It's a pity she didn't arrive at a good time. No matter how talented a genius, she's likely doomed today."
"Qing Lian, why did you tell her to get lost earlier? Since she's your disciple, she's now one of us from the Heavenly Lotus Sect. When the sect is in danger, how can she seek to preserve her own life? A disciple of the Heavenly Lotus Sect should prioritize righteousness over life, and die with honor!"
Hearing these words, Qing Lian's face turned ashen, and only one thought remained in her heart: "Let it all be destroyed, and quickly!"
Not only did the disciples of the Heavenly Lotus Sect believe the Daoist Master's lie, but the demon cultivators of the Heavenly Blood Sect, including Sect Master Ximen Ao Xue, also believed Qing Lian's fabrication.
"So she's just Qing Lian's disciple, then we have nothing to fear. Even her master Qing Lian is no match for our Sect Master, let alone a mere disciple!"
"What are you saying? The Sect Master has never said he was afraid!"
"The Sect Master was ambushed earlier; he was just careless. As long as the Sect Master focuses on dealing with him, he could crush this girl with just one finger!"
Hearing his disciples' praise, Ximen Ao Xue remained unmoved, his expression unchanged.
However, Chen Xiao's lips twitched… Who are they calling a girl? Who… who said that?
"Qing Lian, although your strength is lacking, you've truly taken in a good disciple!"
Ximen Ao Xue said this to Qing Lian, but his eyes were fixed on Chen Xiao, "No wonder your strength hasn't improved much over the years; you were planning to take a different path and cultivate the next generation of geniuses, weren't you?"
"It's a pity you don't have much time left!"
"Today, I will kill you all!"
With a loud shout, Ximen Ao Xue raised the Blood Drinking Saber and slashed down at Chen Xiao.
The blood-red saber energy transformed into a saber over ten meters long, cleaving towards Chen Xiao.
The surging true essence power had completely enveloped Chen Xiao.
Without the protection of the Seven Star Lotus Array, a mere disciple of Qing Lian would absolutely be unable to withstand this strike.
The disciples of the Heavenly Lotus Sect turned their heads away, unable to bear watching the scene that was about to unfold.
Although they had only met 'Jin Lian' for the first time, she was one of their own. They couldn't bear to watch their own kin be brutally killed by Ximen Ao Xue's saber.
Daoist Master Qing Lian closed her eyes again, tears streaming down her face.
"Tu Shan Che, I truly did my best. I hope you won't blame me for not protecting your brother!"
The Daoist Master thought silently. Although she knew Chen Xiao was an extraordinary figure in the mortal realm, otherwise, he wouldn't have gathered the four sacred relics.
However, the difference between the mortal realm and the Immortal Hidden Realm was like the difference between the celestial realm and the mortal world. How could an extraordinary figure from the mortal realm contend with a Void Transformation realm mighty being from the Immortal Hidden Realm?
Everyone believed that this 'Jin Lian' was doomed, whether friend or foe!
However, at the critical moment, Chen Xiao casually raised his hand and flicked it with effortless grace.
*Ding!*
Chen Xiao flicked a finger at the saber energy surging with true essence…
Then, an unbelievable scene occurred.
The saber energy instantly dissipated into nothingness, and dense, spiderweb-like cracks appeared on Ximen Ao Xue's Blood Drinking Mad Saber.
*Crack—*
With the spread of the cracks, the Blood Drinking Mad Saber shattered!
"The Blood Drinking Mad Saber… it's broken?!"
"My Blood Drinking Mad Saber, my Blood Drinking Mad Saber!"
Ximen Ao Xue cried out loudly. The Blood Drinking Mad Saber contained hundreds of years of his cultivation.
Chen Xiao shattering it with a single flick was equivalent to destroying hundreds of years of his cultivation instantly!
"You, who exactly are you?"
Ximen Ao Xue roared, asking.
Shattering his centuries of cultivation with a single finger, this person could absolutely not be Qing Lian's disciple.
Everyone on the Heavenly Lotus Sect's side was also shocked. How did this 'Jin Lian' manage it?
Shattering the Blood Drinking Mad Saber with a single flick was something even her master, Daoist Master Qing Lian, could not do!
Could an outer disciple truly possess such extraordinary talent?
Elder Jiao Lian looked at Daoist Master Qing Lian with confusion and found that her expression was also one of shock, no different from everyone else.
Elder Jiao Lian immediately had a guess, her beautiful eyes flickering, "Could it be him? But how dare a mere demon cultivator come to the Immortal Hidden Realm? Daoist Master Qing Lian, you are truly audacious!"
Facing Ximen Ao Xue's question, Chen Xiao remained silent.
It wasn't that he was deliberately acting cool or didn't want to answer the question… it was simply that he couldn't speak.
If he spoke, his male identity would be exposed!
Of course, Chen Xiao could perfectly imitate a woman's voice using some subtle techniques.
But Chen Xiao was a man of principle, and one of his principles was to never be a sissy!
"Hmph, acting like a master! Do you think this is any place?"
Ximen Ao Xue said angrily, "Do you think you've already defeated me? To defeat me, you have to ask my Five Ghosts if they agree!"
Although the Blood Drinking Mad Saber had shattered, the five fierce ghosts summoned by Ximen Ao Xue still stood in mid-air.
"Kill her for me! Kill her!"
Ximen Ao Xue pointed at Chen Xiao, gritting his teeth as he ordered.
The Five Ghosts, receiving his command, immediately unleashed their unique skills and attacked Chen Xiao.
The disciples of the Heavenly Lotus Sect, who had been cheering moments ago, became anxious once more.
These five fierce ghosts were beings that could easily break even the Seven Star Lotus Array. No matter how talented 'Jin Lian' was, she couldn't possibly be more powerful than the Seven Star Lotus Array, could she?
It's over, it's over, it's over. It seemed the scales of victory still tipped in favor of the Heavenly Blood Sect.
Chen Xiao was about to say, "A mere few fierce ghosts want to kill me?"
But considering his current 'Jin Lian' persona, he forcefully swallowed the words that had already reached his lips.
He looked up at the Five Ghosts and thought to himself, "Very well, I'll test my new techniques on you!"
Immediately, Chen Xiao moved his mind.
A divine statue's phantom, a thousand feet tall and cloaked, slowly materialized behind Chen Xiao.
This divine statue was one of the Seven Gods who followed Chen Xiao in the Seven God Scroll!
His face was hidden within his hood, just like Chen Xiao's at this moment!
Seeing this, everyone, including Daoist Master Qing Lian and Ximen Ao Xue, was stunned…