Chapter 551 495: The Advancing Ji Shenyun

"Palace Master Pei, if I should unfortunately perish, could you take Xichan in as your disciple?"

Chen Tiansheng had barely finished speaking in his calm tone when Pei Yuhang viciously seized him by the collar, yanking him forward.

Pei Yuhang's voice was extremely low, yet it seethed with uncontrollable rage.

"Ji Xichan is perfectly fine as your disciple, so why are you always trying to dump her on me?!"

"Do you think I enjoy having beautiful women throwing themselves at me every day? Do you think that just because someone admires and loves me, I have to reciprocate and take responsibility?!"

"What kind of master tries to send his own True Disciple to another's estate every single day?! What in the world do you take Ji Xichan for?"

"..."

Chen Tiansheng's collar was crumpled in his grasp, forcing him to lean forward slightly. Yet he didn't resist, merely watching Pei Yuhang in silence. Reflected in his jet-black eyes was Pei Yuhang's face, taut with anger.

Pei Yuhang's knuckles had turned white from the force of his grip. He stared fixedly at Chen Tiansheng, as if trying to bore through those calm eyes and read his very thoughts.

After a long moment, he spoke through gritted teeth, enunciating every word.

"We haven't even seen the enemy, and you're already thinking about dying."

"Stop being so morbid! As the Saint Son of the Xuanyuan Dao Sect, can't you show some of the Dao Sect's backbone?!"

"You teach your own disciple. Ji Xichan is exceptionally talented, an undeniable prodigy. Don't you dare waste her aptitude and effort."

Pei Yuhang glared at him for a few more seconds before finally letting out a cold snort and releasing his grip.

The push sent Chen Tiansheng stumbling back a step. He lowered his gaze to the crumpled collar of his robes, silent for a moment, before finally giving a slight nod.

"My apologies, Palace Master Pei. I was being presumptuous."

Pei Yuhang said nothing more. After letting go of Chen Tiansheng, he seemed to flee the scene, quickly catching up with Elder Xiao's party.

Shang Miaoyan and Nangong Jin exchanged a glance. Then, with a tacit understanding, they moved to flank him, one on his left and one on his right.

Shang Miaoyan tilted her head slightly, her red lips parting. She kept her voice extremely low, but it couldn't mask her curiosity.

"Xiaohan, what did that Daoist Sect's Saint Son just say to you? Why did it look like you were about to fight him?"

Shang Miaoyan had rarely seen Pei Yuhang lose his composure like that with anyone but her. Seeing Xiaohan get angrier with another man than he ever did with her...

This not only piqued her curiosity but also ignited a strange sense of competitiveness within her.

'What in the world did Chen Tiansheng say to make him even more furious than I can?'

Nangong Jin, on the other hand, narrowed her eyes, her tone laced with a hint of coldness.

"Brother Pei, did the Dust Saint Son upset you? Or does he have some kind of leverage over you? Do you need me to intervene?"

As she spoke, Nangong Jin's fingers were already resting on the hilt of the sword at her waist. It was as if a single nod from Pei Yuhang would be enough for this White-clothed Sword Fairy to draw her blade for him, regardless of who was right or wrong.

Pei Yuhang shook his head and spoke softly.

"No... it's neither of those. He just asked a favor of me, and I was unwilling to grant it. That's all."

As for what favor Chen Tiansheng had asked, Pei Yuhang refused to elaborate, no matter how much Shang Miaoyan pried.

By this time, Xiao Jiuxing had led the True Monarchs far from the Dao Sect, coming to a halt in a vast, boundless wilderness.

He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his robes whipping in the biting wind. He spoke in a solemn voice.

"Fellow Daoists, though the power of that Dharma Giant is indeed immense, you must not forget that this is, after all, the territory of our Xuanyuan Dao Sect."

As Xiao Jiuxing spoke, he clenched his right hand into a loose fist. Fifteen Tiger Talisman Tokens, each glowing with a different colored light, began to circle his hand.

"These Tiger Talismans can command the Sect Protection Arrays that have not yet been destroyed."

"Saint Master Yin and I have just selected five elemental Barrier Arrays. When the time comes, we will use the principles of the Five Elements' generation and restriction to combine them into an even larger, self-sustaining Array.

When the time comes, I need all of you to follow my command. The three of us Mahayana Cultivators will serve as the core of the Array, while you Void Refining True Monarchs will act as the Array Flags.

Even if we are slightly outmatched in a direct confrontation, we can use the Array to hold our own. As long as we can stall that Horned Giant God until the Taoist Lord arrives, victory will be within our grasp!"

The Pavilion Master of the Dan Yun Pavilion, Fu Haixia, also stepped forward with graceful, lotus-like steps. The elderly woman, her hair as white as frost, spoke with a benevolent expression.

"Fellow Daoists, I am not skilled in the art of combat. Throughout my life, I have only ever known how to work with Elixirs."

As she spoke, she slowly summoned a Divine Strange Bronze Cauldron. Within it swirled a nebula-like fluid, shimmering with countless crystalline points of starlight. In an instant, a rich, fragrant aroma of elixirs permeated the area, invigorating the spirits of all who smelled it.

Shang Miaoyan activated her Pupil Technique. After getting a clear look at the marvels within the cauldron, she gasped in her mind:

'The Elixirs in this cauldron... they're as numerous as the sands of a galaxy! Not only is the quantity horrifying, but every single one has reached the Extreme Realm. The Dao Sect's foundation is this terrifying!'

'It seems the Xuanyuan Dao Sect, which has stood undefeated for ten thousand years, is pulling out all the stops for this battle.'

Pavilion Master Fu Haixia of the Dan Yun Pavilion then said softly, "Every famous Elixir known to the Cultivation Realm is in this cauldron. Once the Grand Array is activated, all of you may freely choose any Spirit Pill from within."

At these words, the expression of every True Monarch present changed dramatically.

These were Elixirs from the foremost master of Alchemy in the entire Cultivation Realm. A single one of these, if it appeared in the outside world, would be enough to cause a bloodbath as countless Great Powers fought to the death over it. And now... they could take as many as they wanted!

If seeing the unstoppable Giant God in the Scroll had previously filled their hearts with dread, now, their morale was set ablaze!

A fervent battle lust ignited in the eyes of the True Monarchs. Their exchanged glances were filled with grim determination. A True Monarch in purple robes took a sharp step forward, cupped his fist, and declared in a resonant voice: