Chapter 1416: Fan Ruoruo

Wang Qingshan unleashed his spiritual sense, his brow furrowing. There were special restrictions here, severely impacting his spiritual sense. He had no topographical map and didn't know where he was, let alone which direction would lead him out.

Wang Qingshan put away his nine Azure Glaze Swords and cautiously flew forward.

Suddenly, a deafening boom echoed. Wang Qingshan was startled. After a moment of hesitation, he flew towards the source of the sound.

Not long after, a golden light flew towards him, followed by a black light.

Wang Qingshan quickly stopped. He clearly saw the true form of the golden light: it was a shapely young woman in a golden dress. The young woman in the golden dress had an alluring figure, with prominent, shapely breasts, a slender waist, and a curvaceous derriere. Her sleeves were embroidered with a black flame pattern. The black flame was the symbol of the Nine Underworlds Sect. Judging by her aura, she was clearly an early Nascent Soul cultivator.

A sharp screech echoed, and a giant black scorpion pursued her. The giant scorpion had two pairs of thin black wings on its back, two light-gold tail stingers, and pincers about ten feet wide. It spewed black poisonous mist from its mouth, appearing very menacing. This was a Tier 4 low-grade Gold-tailed Soul-chasing Scorpion, incredibly venomous.

Encountering a Nascent Soul cultivator from the Nine Underworlds Sect in the Sunset Desert surprised Wang Qingshan. He frowned slightly, forming a plan.

The Gold-tailed Soul-chasing Scorpion gently flapped its two pairs of ten-foot-wide black wings, vanishing like a wisp of wind. The next moment, it appeared above the young woman in the golden dress. Its two tail stingers twitched, transforming into a large array of golden threads that struck at her.

A vast golden light erupted from the young woman's body, and countless golden runes flew out from her, spinning rapidly to form a pale golden light barrier that enveloped her entire body.

"Clang! Clang!"

A muffled clanging sound followed, but the golden light barrier remained unmoving. The Gold-tailed Soul-chasing Scorpion opened its mouth and spewed out a large cloud of black poisonous mist, striking the golden light barrier. The barrier hissed and sizzled, emitting a puff of green smoke. A thick beam of black light, about the size of a baby's arm, shot from its mouth, striking the golden light barrier. The barrier's spiritual glow dimmed, flickering in and out of view. The Gold-tailed Soul-chasing Scorpion's massive pincers struck the golden light barrier, tearing it apart. The young woman in the golden dress was terrified out of her wits.

A loud whooshing sound rent the air as two streaks of azure light shot forth, striking the Gold-tailed Soul-chasing Scorpion's pincers.

"Clang! Clang!"

Two muffled thuds, and two shallow marks appeared on the Gold-tailed Soul-chasing Scorpion's pincers. The young woman in the golden dress seized the opportunity to flee.

As the Gold-tailed Soul-chasing Scorpion attempted to pursue, an azure sword-dragon over ten feet long lunged at it. Before it could get close, a strong gust of wind assailed it. The Gold-tailed Soul-chasing Scorpion opened its mouth, and a thick beam of black light shot out, accurately striking the azure sword-dragon. The sword-dragon immediately exploded, unleashing a vast shower of azure sword qi that relentlessly struck the Gold-tailed Soul-chasing Scorpion, producing a series of muffled metallic clangs. Dozens of faint slashes appeared on the Gold-tailed Soul-chasing Scorpion's body, barely noticeable without close inspection.

A flash of azure light, and the nine Azure Glaze Swords surrounded the Gold-tailed Soul-chasing Scorpion. Each sword emitted a clear hum, resonating with the others. Wang Qingshan's expression turned cold. With a sword chant, the nine Azure Glaze Swords immediately burst with azure light, transforming into nine azure lotus flowers, each over ten feet wide. The azure lotus flowers shimmered with azure light, as if crafted from exquisite jade.

The nine azure lotus flowers spun rapidly, and azure petals flew out, like celestial maidens scattering flowers. These petals transformed into three-foot-long azure flying swords, striking towards the Gold-tailed Soul-chasing Scorpion. As time passed, nine massive azure tornadoes rapidly spun into existence around the nine azure lotus flowers, completely encircling the Gold-tailed Soul-chasing Scorpion. Countless black grains of sand were swept high into the air, swirling in the wind. Dense streams of azure sword qi shot out from the nine tornadoes, striking the Gold-tailed Soul-chasing Scorpion in succession. The azure tornadoes spun faster and faster, growing larger and larger, enveloping the Gold-tailed Soul-chasing Scorpion. The azure tornadoes erupted with a vast black light, accompanied by a strange screeching sound.

Ten breaths later, Wang Qingshan performed another sword chant. The azure tornadoes suddenly dispersed, and the Gold-tailed Soul-chasing Scorpion vanished without a trace, its body completely annihilated, not even leaving its soul. The young woman in the golden dress, having narrowly escaped death, watched this scene in stunned silence.

Wang Qingshan smiled, clearly pleased. The power of the sword formation, now complete with the set of Azure Glaze Swords, had significantly increased, far surpassing its previous capabilities. With a single-handed gesture, he recalled the nine Azure Glaze Swords, which transformed into nine streaks of azure light and disappeared into his sleeve.

"This humble one is Fan Ruoruo of the Nine Underworlds Sect. Many thanks for your assistance, Fellow Daoist. May I know your esteemed name?" the young woman in the golden dress said gratefully, her tone sincere.

A streak of red light appeared on the distant horizon, swiftly flying towards them.

"Wang Qingshan," Wang Qingshan replied flatly. "It was merely a small effort." He had saved Fan Ruoruo for two reasons: firstly, other Nascent Soul cultivators were approaching; secondly, he needed to adjust his strategy. Over a hundred years ago, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan had killed a Nascent Soul cultivator from the Nine Underworlds Sect, but not only did they gain nothing substantial, they were also severely injured and almost died. Wang Qingshan planned to do the opposite: he would try to foster good relations with the Nine Underworlds Sect as much as possible, even if only superficially. This would benefit the Wang family's development in the Northern Frontier, rather than confronting the Nine Underworlds Sect directly.

At that moment, the red light also stopped. It was Wuchang and Li Ling'er, their expressions panicked, as if they had encountered something terrifying.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, run! A Tier 4 high-grade demon insect!" Wuchang exclaimed, his voice urgent.

A golden light appeared on the distant horizon—a golden centipede over a hundred feet long. It had a row of sharp golden claws on its underside, and antennae about two feet long on its head. Judging by its aura, it was indeed a Tier 4 high-grade demon insect.

Fan Ruoruo flipped her delicate hand, and with a flash of golden light, a two-foot-long golden jade shuttle flew out. It instantly expanded to over ten feet long, emitting astonishing spiritual energy fluctuations.

"Follow me! I know a shortcut to quickly leave the Sunset Desert," Fan Ruoruo shouted, leaping onto the golden jade shuttle first. Wang Qingshan and the other two swiftly followed.

With a flash of golden light, the golden jade shuttle tore through the air, covering a thousand feet in just a few blinks. The golden centipede pursued relentlessly, looking as if it intended to annihilate Wang Qingshan and his companions.

Wang Qingshan stood at the rear of the golden jade shuttle. A dazzling expanse of azure light burst from his body, and a large wave of azure flames shot from his sleeve, striking the golden centipede. These azure flames were precisely what he had collected from the Myriad Puppet Palace using the Azure Lotus Lamp, making them suitable for dealing with this Tier 4 high-grade demon insect.

The azure flames struck the golden centipede's body and quickly spread. A golden light glowed on the golden centipede's body, and the azure flames flickered wildly. An azure sword-dragon over thirty feet long lunged forward, colliding with the golden centipede's body.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

The azure sword-dragon clashed with the golden centipede. The golden centipede's sharp claws slashed at the azure sword-dragon, producing a series of muffled metallic impacts. After a short struggle, the azure sword-dragon was sliced in half by the golden centipede's claws, dissipating into a sky full of sword qi. Wang Qingshan and the others also vanished into the distant horizon.