Chapter 275: Saving Lives

Chu Qing's decision to seek out the people from Zhaori Mountain was expected. After all, as the hunted party unable to retaliate, their only option for survival was to find them.

However, according to Yiyi, the situation for the Divine Concealment Palace wasn't good; they were at a disadvantage in their clashes with Zhaori Mountain.

This puzzled Lu Ye. He had been persistently engaging the Wind-Flower Pavilion, killing a large number of their members. Logically, the Divine Concealment Palace should only have had to contend with Zhaori Mountain, as both sides were roughly equal in manpower and strength. Why, then, was Zhaori Mountain gaining the upper hand?

Earlier, in the valley, Ji Yan from the Divine Concealment Palace had tried to recruit him, but Lu Ye refused. He felt it was better to act alone than to cooperate with unfamiliar people and follow their commands.

Events had proven him right; if he had been operating with the Divine Concealment Palace, he wouldn't have achieved so much success.

Now, the situation was unfavorable for the Divine Concealment Palace. Should the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge faction defeat them, the Hao Tian Alliance cultivators in Xian Yuan City would have no way out.

Therefore, after only a brief deliberation, Lu Ye decided to rendezvous with the Divine Concealment Palace forces.

This was no longer a time for individual combat.

About fifteen minutes later, Lu Ye and Ju Jia entered the combat zone where the two major factions were clashing. This area, spanning over a dozen streets, was a battleground for cultivators from both sides. Every house concealed danger; no one knew if enemies were hidden within, and hostile cultivators might suddenly emerge from them if one passed by.

On a long street, several Hao Tian Alliance cultivators were fighting as they retreated, their blood staining the ground as they passed. Along their path, the bodies of their comrades lay sprawled.

The Ten Thousand Demon Ridge cultivators pursuing them outnumbered and outmatched them. They had already sent out calls for help, but their own side was at a disadvantage, with everyone under siege. Who could possibly come to their rescue?

The cultivators were resolute; though they knew their chances were slim, they refused to simply wait for death. They only sought an opportunity to drag their enemies down with them. However, the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge cultivators pursuing them had clearly learned from such experiences, so they were very cautious and wouldn't approach easily. They only used their spirit artifacts and spells to wear them down, clearly planning to deplete their spiritual energy before delivering the killing blow.

Realizing the enemy's strategy, the cultivators dared not delay any longer. They exchanged glances, and under the command of their leader, they all charged forward.

Flashing lights gleamed and blood spurted. Two fell during the charge. A moment later, two more collapsed. Finally, only one eighth-level military cultivator remained, fighting his way to the enemies. His spirit artifact in hand shone brightly as he brought it down on the nearest Ten Thousand Demon Ridge cultivator.

However, before his attack could land, a spell struck him in the chest, sending him flying.

He fell to the ground, barely breathing.

"You overestimate yourself!" scoffed the leading cultivator from the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge side. He raised his spirit artifact, about to step forward and end the military cultivator's life.

Just as he moved, he suddenly froze. Frowning, he asked, "What's that sound?"

A rumbling sound rapidly approached from the side. Immediately after, a large hole was smashed into a nearby house, and a tall figure burst out fiercely from within.

Staring at the figure, the leading Ten Thousand Demon Ridge cultivator exclaimed in shock, "Ju Jia!"

This individual clearly recognized Ju Jia.

Ju Jia, who had arrived by following the spiritual energy fluctuations, looked around. Before he could even understand the situation, he was met with an encirclement by the group of Ten Thousand Demon Ridge cultivators.

He lowered his head, aimed at the enemies, and adopted a charging stance. With a powerful step, he charged out, and as attacks struck his body, a shimmering aura flickered around him.

The distance between them rapidly closed. The group of Ten Thousand Demon Ridge cultivators scattered, their previously tight formation instantly broken. One cultivator, unable to dodge in time, was struck by Ju Jia, his bones breaking, and sent flying.

Before the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge cultivators could reform their formation, a soft weeping sound and the light strumming of a pipa suddenly emerged. Immediately after, from the rooftops on all sides, Xian Yuan Guards appeared one by one, and their Spirit-Binding Locks descended upon them.

Streaks of light from spirit artifacts crossed and struck, harvesting their lives. In just a short moment, this group of seven or eight Ten Thousand Demon Ridge cultivators was decimated.

Lu Ye retrieved his spirit artifact, jumped down from the rooftop, and, followed by a group of ghost servants, approached the blood-soaked Hao Tian Alliance cultivator to check his injuries.

A moment later, Lu Ye sighed inwardly. The man was beyond saving; his injuries were too severe.

At that moment, the eighth-level military cultivator seemed to experience a brief rally, his complexion even flushing slightly. He looked at the surrounding ghost servants with surprise, then at Lu Ye and Ju Jia. A flicker of hope ignited in his formerly dim eyes, and he raised a hand to grab Lu Ye's arm, urging, "Go save them!"

"Understood."

Lu Ye nodded gently.

The hand gripping Lu Ye's arm fell, and life rapidly faded from the military cultivator's body.

Yiyi cleared the battlefield. Ju Jia then approached, holding a Ten Thousand Demon Ridge cultivator who had lost the will to resist, and held him up before Lu Ye.

Lu Ye looked at him, somewhat puzzled.

"You kill him!" Ju Jia said in a low, rumbling voice.

"Kill him yourself," Lu Ye replied, thinking Ju Jia was giving him the credit.

Little did Lu Ye know that when Ju Jia had previously followed Sima Yang, Ju Jia would always lead the charge in every battle, incapacitating and disabling the enemies, while Sima Yang would then collect the achievements.

Ju Jia scratched his head. Although he had killed some members of the Wind-Flower Pavilion in a frenzy before, he had been completely dominated by his inner rage at the time and had no memory of it afterwards. Killing was still too unfamiliar to him.

Valley