Mo Rui began to doubt the loyalty of the Nan siblings.
"People of the Southern Domain Dynasty, truly untrustworthy. Even in the Lower Realm, they dreamed of uniting the world, and now they still cannot see their own limits!"
A trace of anger colored his eyes.
He had thought to use the Nan siblings' power to capture the Holy Maiden of Bei Ming Holy Palace alive. Now that he was here, he realized just how absurdly wrong he had been.
"Was it you who lured me here?"
From the southeast, a dense black mist approached, carrying a deep, rumbling roar.
Mo Rui squinted. "Who is hiding in the shadows?"
"The one who should hide is you. Do you know whom you have offended?"
The black mist twisted and swirled. Cold winds swept over the verdant peaks as a pair of eyes suddenly opened in the fog. Mu Xin fixed his gaze on the figure ahead, surprise flickering in his eyes.
"The sect master of Wuxiang Sect?"
Mo Rui stared at the eyes carefully, caution in his tone. "Who are you, sir?"
"The one who will take your life!"
Mu Xin suddenly turned fierce, thinking to himself that the woman had indeed spoken correctly. It was an old acquaintance. His body emerged from the black mist.
Mo Rui cautiously swept out his whisk to defend himself.
Their eyes met, separated by barely an inch. Mo Rui's pupils widened. "It's you! You're not dead?"
Mu Xin sneered. "Even if you die, I will not!"
"You're also in the Lower Realm!"
Mo Rui could not hide his shock.
Mu Xin's eyes gathered a murderous intent. "If I were not in the Lower Realm, how could I encounter you here and then kill you?"
"Trying to kill me will not be so easy!" Mo Rui gritted his teeth. Two bursts of palm force clashed, shattering several mountain peaks instantly.
From Yun Gu Sect, Yun Dehe and his companions had just arrived. They stopped their advance, staring at the flying debris within the black mist.
"There are others here!"
Yun Dehe carefully focused on the center of the mist. Two figures were locked in combat, the aftershock of their duel shaking the earth.
Yun Hui whispered fearfully, "These two seem quite powerful!"
"But they are not allies. Perhaps we can wait for them to fatally injure each other," Zhao Lingyi observed the scene, forming a new strategy.
Yun Dehe chuckled. "That's a good idea!"
"Your idea is good, but do not think I cannot hear you!"
In the blink of an eye, the black mist was blasted aside. Mo Rui swept his gaze across them, a faint killing intent lurking in his eyes.
Under this stare, Yun Dehe and his companions felt exposed, as if standing naked before him. Nothing could escape his eyes.
"Truly a cultivator from the Spirit Realm. Under his eyes, we have no place to hide," Yun Dehe felt both fear and excitement.
"With the immortal artifacts sent by the Xiānzhǔ, and this unknown cultivator's assistance, perhaps we can kill him!" Zhao Lingyi drew his Xiān sword, its sharp brilliance flashing across Mo Rui's eyes.
"Immortal artifacts? I underestimated you. A mere Golden Core, yet you wield a Immortal sword!"
"You are not only underestimating me but also them!"
Zhao Lingyi's clear voice rang out. Yun Dehe and the others produced various immortal artifacts, all targeting him.
Mo Rui froze.
"How… how can you Eastern Wilderness people possess so many immortal artifacts? Could there be Ancient immortal artifacts buried beneath the Eastern Wilderness?"
"If there were, I would have dug them out long ago. Let them take them? Impossible." Mu Xin casually drew the massive hammer from his abdomen. Seeing Mo Rui's astonishment, a faint smile curved his lips.
"You also possess immortal artifacts?!"
Mo Rui's pupils widened in shock. His whisk trembled in the breeze.
Yun Dehe and the others exchanged glances, startled by Mu Xin's sudden move.
"Daoyou, forgive my impudence, but is the immortal artifacts in your hand your own, or…" Yun Dehe hesitated before asking.
Mu Xin lazily glanced at him. "If I had such immortal artifacts back then, I would have already killed the old sect master of Central Domain. Do you think this immortal artifacts could come from anywhere else? Without my help, all of you would have died at his hands!"
"Th-this…" Yun Dehe sucked in a breath.
Yun Hui immediately realized, exclaiming joyfully, "Daoyou is on our side? The immortal artifacts in his hand must be a gift from Fairy Ranran!"
"Gift? Don't use that word. She would never be so generous. I earned these with my life!"
Mu Xin could not tolerate anyone praising Yao Ranran, nor could he allow the immortal artifacts he had exchanged for a lifetime of freedom to be called a gift. She was not a kind person!
Yun Hui did not expect such a reaction and wisely stayed silent to avoid angering the senior.
Mo Rui observed their expressions and turned to Mu Xin. "You've allied with these Lower Realm people? Is it just for this immortal artifacts? Since when have you been so unprincipled?"
Mu Xin casually glanced at him. "You understand nothing."
Mo Rui: "…"
He spoke, but why did he insult me?
"Fine, fine, I do not understand. I want to see how powerful your immortal artifacts truly is!"
Mo Rui's gaze flickered. As Mu Xin smiled faintly, he quickly unleashed a secret technique and charged forward.
Yun Dehe and his companions used the immortal artifacts as protective wards, seeing multiple images of Mo Rui.
Mu Xin's smug smile froze on his lips.
"Running?"
"Running?" Yun Dehe stared in shock.
"Really running!" Yun Hui shouted in surprise.
Zhao Lingyi held a talisman between two fingers, tossing it out. Eyes closed, he said, "He cannot escape the Eastern Wilderness. The Xiānzhǔ has deployed a formation across the entire Eastern Wilderness!"
"What? When did the Xiānzhǔ set this up?" Yun Dehe suddenly felt ignorant.
Zhao Lingyi explained, "I only realized it by using this talisman. The Eastern Wilderness is enclosed by a strange formation. It was likely just deployed by the Xiānzhǔ."
Yun Hui looked at Mu Xin, then back at Yun Dehe. "Father, we haven't even told the Xiānzhǔ anything, yet every step is within her plan. What that Demon General said is not an exaggeration. The Xiānzhǔ is truly godlike!"
Yun Dehe stood stunned. "Yes… even our uselessness was anticipated by the Xiānzhǔ…"
Yun Hui: "Father, perhaps no need to mention this now?"
Mu Xin snorted. "Even people like you get immortal artifacts?"
His tone drew the attention of Yun Dehe and the others.
Zhao Lingyi frowned. "Daoyou, since you were sent by the Xiānzhǔ, you know we are loyal to her. Though our strength is weak now, there will come a day when it rises!"
"Hmph. By the time your strength rises, she will probably have already reached the God Realm!"
Mu Xin's instinctive ridicule faded as he recalled his acknowledgment of Yao Ranran, and he quickly sealed his mouth.