Chapter 550 494: Shang Miaoyan's First Meeting with Nangong Jin (2)

At this thought, Shang Miaoyan relaxed her wary gaze.

Meanwhile, Pei Yuhang stepped forward to quickly exchange information with Nangong Jin, who had just arrived.

"Junior Sister Nangong, do you know what's happening to the Sect?"

Nangong Jin shook her head, but a rare, solemn expression appeared on her usually placid face.

"I'm not sure. I only know that a great enemy is approaching the Dao Sect. Our Thirty-Three-Layered Sect Protection Array is already on the verge of collapse under her assault.

The Taoist Lord is currently activating the Ancestral God Pavilion to suppress this powerful foe. Before he can, we must go to the sect's front lines and stop this uninvited guest..."

Hearing this, Pei Yuhang's sharp brows furrowed in astonishment.

"One person, single-handedly breaking through the Dao Sect's Thirty-Three-Layered Sect Protection Array... They've even alarmed the Taoist Lord, forcing him to use the Ancestral God Pavilion. The Ancestral God Pavilion is the Sect's Treasure! It wasn't even activated during the great war between the righteous and demonic factions!"

'No Mahayana Stage Great Power in the current Cultivation Realm should be capable of pushing the Dao Sect this far, right?'

'Unless... the enemy isn't from this era...'

A name faintly surfaced in Pei Yuhang's mind, but he immediately quashed the thought.

'No, it's impossible...'

'If it really is Ji Shenyun returning to the mortal world, that would mean Yueqiu has been possessed by her. But back in the Cold Palace Sword Mansion, Yueqiu's Life Lamp is still burning brightly!'

'Yueqiu... she has to be okay!'

Seeing Pei Yuhang's unease, Nangong Jin raised her hand without the slightest hesitation and took his fingertips in hers.

"Brother Pei."

"I'll protect you. Don't worry."

"...I'm fine. Thank you for your concern, Junior Sister."

Nearby, Shang Miaoyan's eyes widened as she watched the two of them hold hands.

'Hold on, girl, weren't you just exchanging information with Xiaohan? How did you suddenly start holding hands?!'

She eyed Nangong Jin's perpetually placid face with suspicion.

'If she weren't certain that Nangong Jin had truly severed all worldly desires, she'd suspect this ice-queen beauty of taking advantage of Xiaohan.'

But... even knowing that wasn't Nangong Jin's intention, Shang Miaoyan was still annoyed to see her so close to Pei Yuhang.

'As Ye Liyuan's best friend, Shang Miaoyan felt it was her duty to make Nangong Jin—the woman her best friend despised—stay far away from Pei Yuhang!'

She calmly stepped in front of them and said with a deadpan expression:

"Ahem. You two, time is of the essence. We should hurry to the Dao Sect's front lines."

Hearing Shang Miaoyan's slightly jealous reminder, Pei Yuhang nodded and withdrew his hand from Nangong Jin's grasp.

Nangong Jin glanced at Shang Miaoyan, this unfamiliar Saintess of the Yin Yang Sacred Land, but said nothing.

Without further hesitation, the three of them transformed into streaks of light and sped toward the Dao Sect's main gate. In the night sky, countless meteor-like Escape Lights tore across the heavens, each one a Void Refining True Monarch rushing to the front line.

To put this in perspective, even during the great war between the righteous and demonic factions, the strongest combatants the Major Sects deployed were generally only at the Divinity Transformation realm. Void Refining True Monarchs, the highest power level below a Sacred Land's Mahayana cultivators, were, by default, never mobilized!

This was further proof that the invading enemy might genuinely be able to shake the Dao Sect's ten-thousand-year foundation, forcing the entire Xuanyuan Dao Sect to commit everything it had!

...

...

Pei Yuhang and the others arrived as streaks of light. The moment they landed, they were stunned by the scene before them.

Before the Dao Sect's main gate, thirty-six Void Refining True Monarchs stood suspended in mid-air. Their robes billowed as Spiritual Qi surged around them, making them resemble thirty-six bright moons hanging in the sky.

Above them all, three Mahayana Stage Divine Monarchs radiated a Suppression as deep as an abyss, causing the very air to stagnate.

The Dao Sect's Great Elder, Xiao Jiuxing, clad in a black Daoist robe, stood at the very center of the assembly. With the Taoist Lord absent, the Great Elder was the Dao Sect's highest authority.

Pei Yuhang hadn't seen him in a long time. Now that he did, he noticed that Xiao Jiuxing's already sparse hair had thinned even more. His long, silvery-white beard drifted in the wind, and his perpetually grim face was now darker than ever.

Seeing Nangong Jin and Pei Yuhang arrive, Xiao Jiuxing gave a slight nod, then produced an ancient-looking scroll from his sleeve.

The scroll expanded in the wind, instantly swelling to cover half the sky. Its surface rippled like water, sending out concentric waves that gradually sharpened to reveal a scene from some unknown distance—

In the image, amidst a vast mountain range, a Dharma Giant woven from black and gold, with massive, curved bull horns on its head, was striding forth, trampling over mountains and rivers.

At this sight, the pupils of every Void Refining True Monarch present contracted sharply.

"This—how is this possible? How can this person's Dharma Image of Heaven and Earth be so enormous!"

"Don't panic! This person must have used some kind of Illusionary Divine Abilities! Otherwise, how could a Dharma Image of Heaven and Earth this large possibly exist!"

Quite a few of the Void Refining True Monarchs present had mastered the Divine Ability, Dharma Image of Heaven and Earth.

For instance, Chen Xiuxian, who had once fought alongside Pei Yuhang, had mastered this very Divine Ability. He had once used it to hold off an Ancient Cultivator, the Vortex Daoist.

'But Pei Yuhang estimated that Chen Xiuxian's Dharma Image of Heaven and Earth would only reach the calf of the giant in the scroll. To even touch its knee, it would probably have to jump...'

"It's too big... simply unbelievable."

Pei Yuhang watched as the bull-horned, black-and-gold giant's head touched the heavens while its feet trod the netherworld. Its majestic body looked as if it would tear the very fabric of existence apart.

The distant mountain ranges were like motes of dust at its feet, not even reaching the giant's soles.

BOOM—

With a deafening crash that shook the heavens, the Dharma Giant strode forward.

With a single step, a thousand mountains and ravines flew past beneath its feet.

In an instant, a flood of dense golden runes erupted in the void.

This was the Golden Light Divine Sky Array, one of the Dao Sect's Thirty-Three-Layered Sect Protection Arrays. Every rune comprising the Grand Array contained world-destroying power. Space warped and shattered around them, yet they failed to impede the giant's advance in the slightest.

The black-and-gold giant threw a punch. Its fist, as massive as a mountain, seemed slow but was faster than lightning. In the wake of the punch, thousands of array runes shattered like glass, dissolving into a rain of light that scattered across the sky.

Seeing this, the faces of all the Void Refining Cultivators present filled with terror.

After the black-and-gold Dharma Giant attacked, they finally confirmed that this Giant God was no illusion. It was real!

"The Golden Light Divine Sky Array... Even a Mahayana Cultivator would find it extremely difficult to break free from it. Yet this Giant God shattered it with a single punch."

Fu Haixia, the Pavilion Master of Dan Yun Pavilion, spoke slowly. The brows on her already wrinkled forehead furrowed into a deep ravine.

Beside her, Yin Wanqing's red lips parted as she added:

"The sheer scale of the enemy's Dharma Image of Heaven and Earth... I doubt even the Martial God of Martial God Mountain could match it, even if he exhausted all his Spiritual Qi. It might be infinitely close to the legendary Saint Realm.

This being is definitely not from our era. Perhaps... she is an Ancient Cultivator summoned by the Chosen Organization. To be able to cross the river of time and summon the spirits of the past into our present age... That mysterious Chosen Organization actually wields such incredible power..."

Xiao Jiuxing listened to the two Mahayana Stage Female Cultivators beside him. He stopped looking up at the image in the scroll and turned to face the Void Refining True Monarchs.

His wide sleeves billowed though there was no wind, and his face was as hard and cold as cast iron.

"Everyone," Xiao Jiuxing's voice boomed like muffled thunder, each word a hammer blow to their hearts. "You have all seen the enemy's power now.

This black-and-gold Dharma Image's cultivation has likely surpassed the Mahayana Stage. It is a foe the likes of which our Dao Sect has never before faced!"

"This black-and-gold Giant God has already broken through our Eighteen-Layered Sect Protection Array. In another half-hour, she will be at our gates."

"If this Giant God breaches the Dao Sect's inner sanctum, countless of our disciples will be killed or injured!"

"Therefore, we must stop her before she arrives! We must buy the Taoist Lord at least one hour!

This is a true moment of life and death for our Dao Sect. I ask that you all work together with one heart to help the Sect overcome this crisis!"

"Yes! We shall protect the lands of the Dao Sect and ensure its lineage endures!"

The thirty-six Void Refining True Monarchs swore their oath in unison. An air of grim determination and tragic heroism intertwined, so thick it seemed to freeze the very air.

Just as the True Monarchs were about to depart with Xiao Jiuxing.

A figure suddenly approached Pei Yuhang.

"Palace Master Pei, may I ask a favor of you?"

Pei Yuhang looked at him in confusion, wondering what the Daoist Sect's Saint Son could possibly need to ask of him.

"My True Disciple, Ji Xichan... If I should fall in this battle, could you take her as your disciple and look after her?"

Chen Tiansheng spoke these words, entrusting his charge, with a calm expression.

Pei Yuhang was stunned for a moment. Then his pupils constricted, his brows furrowed deeply, and a nameless rage ignited in his heart.

He grabbed Chen Tiansheng by the collar, his grip so tight it nearly tore the fabric.

"Chen Tiansheng, are you out of your goddamn mind?!"