Chapter 1768: Surprise Transformation

Wang Youjun sighed in relief, thinking that the dust had finally settled. He even regretted bringing Yun Jianyue and Xie Daoyun, as it had introduced unforeseen variables. However, without them, they wouldn't have been able to pass through the Sea of Mist earlier. Fortunately, the outcome was good in the end.

It wasn't that he believed father-son affection would be so strong; rather, Wang Neishi, that playboy, primarily excelled at dealing with women. Even with those three divine talismans, he was no match for Wang Youjun, who could easily manipulate him.

Yun Jianyue and Xie Daoyun's hearts sank. At this point, they had no time to stop him and could only watch helplessly as Wang Neishi seized the three divine talismans.

"Hahaha, I can't believe they ended up in my hands! It seems I truly am the chosen one." Wang Neishi's breathing became rapid and excited. With these three divine talismans by his side, not only could he outcompete his brothers, but he might even be able to challenge his father for the family head position.

Suddenly, his face contorted in horror. He desperately tried to shake off the three talismans, but no matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't break free. The three individuals who had been fighting involuntarily ceased their attacks and turned their gaze towards the high platform.

Wang Neishi extended a hand towards Wang Youjun, his eyes filled with supplication: "Save..."

Wang Youjun was startled and quickly looked at the three talismans. He saw that the cinnabar images on the yellow paper were unusually eerie and crimson, as if they had been freshly painted with blood. At the same time, Wang Neishi's entire body shriveled up at a visible rate. In the blink of an eye, the previously plump man had completely turned into a mummy.

Wang Youjun was aghast. Yun Jianyue was speechless. Xie Daoyun looked utterly bewildered. She couldn't help but feel fortunate; if she hadn't been replaced by the other party just now, she would have been the one sucked dry into a mummy this time.

Wang Youjun had no time for regret; he focused his gaze on the high platform. The three divine talismans glowed with a scarlet, blood-like radiance, spinning frantically around the charred corpse in the center. Streaks of blood-red threads extended from the talismans and connected to the charred corpse, as if the talismans were transfusing vital essence into it.

Gradually, the shriveled corpse began to swell. The black charcoal-like skin on its surface slowly peeled away, revealing faint glimpses of new flesh growing beneath.

Witnessing this astonishing sight, Yun Jianyue lost all desire to continue fighting. She retracted her Blood Sea domain and couldn't help but swallow, "I remember you said earlier that your Grand Master Sun was struck dead by lightning after failing his tribulation?"

"Theoretically, yes," Wang Youjun replied, his voice equally dry.

Sensing an inexplicable aura beginning to rise, both their faces changed dramatically, and they turned to flee. As Yun Jianyue ran, she also brought along a bewildered Xie Daoyun. However, the three soon had to stop because the terrifying thunderstorm in the stone forest behind them blocked their path; they couldn't leave even if they wanted to.

Just then, a creaking sound emanated. The three turned to look and saw the black charred skin flaking off the corpse piece by piece, until finally, a tall figure stood up from the stool. With wide eyes and a broad nose, the entire figure exuded an inexplicable aura of majesty. He had seemingly found a Taoist robe from somewhere and draped it over himself. The three divine talismans, which had been rapidly circling him, now merged into the robe and vanished.

He lowered his head and scanned the surroundings, his gaze sharp and piercing, almost tangible, causing a faint stinging sensation on their skin. Xie Daoyun might have been less affected, but Yun Jianyue, with her higher cultivation, felt it more clearly: this person's aura was even comparable to Zhao Hao's!

With a thud, Wang Youjun, who had been swaggering moments before, dropped directly to his knees: "Your subordinate greets the Grand Master! Grand Master, your civil and martial virtues bless all living beings! May you live for thousands of years and unite the martial world!"

Yun Jianyue and Xie Daoyun exchanged glances, both seeing the shock in the other's eyes. This person was actually Sun En, the Grand Master of the Divine Firmament Sect? As for making them kneel and kowtow, that was absolutely impossible. Not to mention Yun Jianyue's arrogance, Xie Daoyun didn't even prostrate herself before her own teacher; how could she possibly kneel before a stranger?

"Hmm, so it's Elder Wang," Sun En said, glancing at him. "What are you doing here?"

Feeling his gaze, Wang Youjun felt his clothes soaking with sweat on his back: "After your disappearance, Grand Master, your subordinate has been searching for your whereabouts all these years. Not long ago, I finally found some clues. I originally intended to retrieve your dharma body to take back for a grand burial, but I never imagined you were still alive! This is truly a joyous occasion. With your return, our Divine Firmament Sect will no longer be fragmented."

"Fragmented?" Sun En's gaze sharpened.

Wang Youjun didn't dare wipe the sweat from his forehead and quickly explained: "It's mainly because you've been missing for many years, Grand Master. Elder Sun, Elder Qian, Elder Li, and others all wanted to become the Grand Master, refusing to yield to each other, which led to..."

Sun En gave him a deep look: "I suppose you were involved in that too, weren't you?"

More cold sweat broke out on Wang Youjun. He hastily said, "I merely wished to prevent the Divine Firmament Sect from splitting apart. Had I known you were still alive, Grand Master, such thoughts would naturally never have arisen."

Sun En sneered, "Very well. Considering your arrival led to my revival, I won't hold it against you."

"Thank you, Grand Master!" Wang Youjun kowtowed, inwardly filled with bitter regret. This time, he had suffered heavy losses in manpower and resources; more than half of the elites guarding Wangjiawu were gone, and even his son had died. All his painstaking efforts had led to this outcome! Of course, he dared not show any of this outwardly.

At this point, Sun En looked at Yun Jianyue and Xie Daoyun: "Who are they? Why do they not kneel before me?"

Yun Jianyue stated proudly, "I've traveled the world and never knelt, not even before an emperor. Why should I kneel before you?"

Wang Youjun quickly interjected, "These two women are not members of the Divine Firmament Sect. We invited them to help dismantle the formation in the Sea of Mist outside, but they proved to be ambitious and harbored malicious intentions towards your three divine talismans, Grand Master." He was worried the two women might say something that would endanger him, so he decided to strike first. Moreover, he deeply resented them for spoiling his plans. If they hadn't intervened, he might have succeeded, and Sun En wouldn't have had the chance to revive.

Hearing his words, Sun En's face darkened: "You dare call yourself 'this seat' in my presence?" No sooner had he spoken than he suddenly pulled out a talisman. He muttered incantations, and soon, winds surged around them. Dozens of ethereal figures, gleaming with golden armor and radiating a sacred, powerful aura, materialized in the clouds, like legendary heavenly soldiers and generals.

Wang Youjun gazed at the heavenly soldiers and generals in the clouds, each so powerful, filling him with intense envy. The Northern Emperor's Demon-Subduing Talisman truly was incredibly potent.

At that moment, the heavenly soldiers and generals, wielding various weapons, charged directly at Yun Jianyue. Yun Jianyue's heart tightened. Each of these heavenly soldiers and generals possessed strength no less than that of a Grandmaster, and the sacred aura radiating from them seemed to subtly restrain her. However, she was someone who grew stronger with challenge, showing no fear on her face. Her Crescent Wheel spun out, and she plunged into the midst of them like a tiger among sheep.

The Crescent Wheel moved with unpredictable grace, drawing incredibly profound arcs. This prevented the heavenly soldiers and generals from ever finding an opportunity to encircle her, allowing her to defeat them one by one. Within a few breaths, all the heavenly soldiers and generals were completely slaughtered. Although these heavenly soldiers and generals possessed Grandmaster-level strength, they were ultimately inanimate constructs and couldn't exert the true power of a Grandmaster, otherwise, she wouldn't have defeated them so easily.

Wang Youjun's heart trembled as he saw the palpable killing intent in Yun Jianyue's eyes. He thought to himself that this woman's unusual weapon was wielded with incredible dexterity. If they had truly fought earlier, he probably wouldn't have had many opportunities to use his talismans before being wounded by her.

After being struck down, the heavenly soldiers and generals dispersed into wisps of mist and vanished.

Sun En let out a surprised "Oh." "It seems I underestimated your cultivation. To have condensed such terrifying killing intent at such a young age, you truly are a prodigy." He quickly changed his tone: "However, you are merely mortal, incapable of withstanding true heavenly might."

Yun Jianyue sneered, "I just heard Mr. Wang say you were struck dead by lightning after failing your ascension. What right do you have to represent true heavenly might?"

Sun En's face darkened. "Presumptuous!" With another wave of his hand, he once again conjured a new batch of heavenly soldiers and generals. Unlike last time, there were now hundreds, even thousands, as if an entire army had surrounded her.

Yun Jianyue's heart skipped a beat. Although these heavenly soldiers and generals weren't as agile as real people and couldn't fully exert their inherent strength, quantitative change leads to qualitative change. So many attacking at once, their sheer numbers alone would be enough to overwhelm her.

Just then, a soft hum sounded. It was Xie Daoyun, whose hands moved rapidly to form seals, sending streaks of blue magical formations towards the heavenly soldiers and generals. Surprisingly, however, the heavenly soldiers and generals were not attacked in any way.

As Yun Jianyue was puzzling over this, Xie Daoyun's anxious voice sounded in her ear: "Quick! I've split those fellows into several sections, so they can't coordinate their attacks against you for a short while, but I can't hold on much longer."

"Thanks!" Yun Jianyue instantly understood. Her figure shot out like a streak of light, her Crescent Wheel in hand resembling the Grim Reaper's scythe, harvesting head after head.

Seeing the heavenly soldiers and generals being massacred, Sun En remained unconcerned. Instead, he meticulously observed Xie Daoyun.