Chapter 842: Beauty Saves

A fierce wind swept up countless yellow sand particles. These particles gathered, forming a colossal yellow python covered in yellow scales. It opened its gaping maw and lunged towards Wang Mingren and his group.

"Form the array!" the green-robed elder commanded. "And send a communication talisman to Senior Martial Brother Li and the others!"

The green-robed elder was prepared. He summoned hundreds of verdant array flags, which revolved around the group, transforming into a massive blue-green light barrier that enveloped everyone.

Wang Mingren and the others dared not delay. They all summoned their magical treasures and artifacts, attacking the yellow python.

The yellow python seemed as solid as a physical entity. When magical treasures or artifacts struck it, there was a dull clang, like metal hitting metal.

*Rumble!*

Three colossal black pythons burst from beneath the desert sand. Their heads bore yellow markings, and a pair of black fleshy wings adorned their backs, each spanning several meters when unfurled.

"Black-winged Sand Pythons! Aren't these unique spirit beasts of the Nine Nether Sect?" the green-robed elder exclaimed, his brows furrowed deeply.

The three black pythons flapped their wings and lunged towards them.

The green-robed elder didn't dare to be slow. He swiftly summoned twelve verdant flying swords, which multiplied into thousands, assaulting from all directions.

Wang Mingren conjured a gleaming red bronze mirror and channeled a magical incantation into it. The mirror's surface erupted with blinding red light, unleashing a torrent of crimson thunderfire that surged outwards, striking all around.

Xi Menfeng summoned a short ruler, glowing with continuous red light. It transformed into thousands of red ruler-shadows that shot out in every direction.

*Boom!*

A dazzling interplay of spiritual light from various spells created rolling airwaves, powerful gusts that swept up vast amounts of sand.

A howling sound intensified. Countless yellow sand particles were swept high into the sky by the fierce wind. They coalesced into a yellow sand sword over a hundred meters long, which menacingly slashed towards Wang Mingren and his group.

The yellow sand sword was unstoppable, cutting through everything in its path.

The green-robed elder's expression changed drastically. While controlling his flying swords to meet the attack, he simultaneously pulled out an imposing silver talisman. It was covered with countless rice-grain-sized silver runes, faintly forming the shape of a small silver sword.

A Tier 4 Spirit-Breaking Sword Talisman.

A look of reluctance crossed his face as he tossed the silver talisman into the empty space ahead.

With a flash of silver light, the talisman burst open. Countless silver runes flew out, swirling rapidly to form a silver greatsword over ten meters long. It carried an aura of destruction as it slashed towards the desert.

The ground shook violently. A powerful wave of air rapidly spread outwards, kicking up a large amount of flying sand and debris.

*Rumble!*

After a deafening roar, the yellow desert vanished, and Wang Mingren and his group found themselves on a plain.

Over a dozen streaks of light flew in from the distant horizon. It seemed their adversaries didn't know their exact route and had set up ambushes on multiple paths, using simple arrays.

"Split up and escape! To each his own destiny!" the green-robed elder ordered. The enemies consisted of over a dozen Core Formation cultivators. In such a situation, scattering was their only option; it was a matter of who would be unlucky.

Each leader took several Foundation Establishment cultivators and fled in different directions.

Wang Mingren stood on two crimson circular wheels, flying at a rapid speed.

The dozen-plus streaks of light fanned out. Three of them pursued Wang Mingren, moving even faster than he was.

Ripples suddenly appeared in the empty space ahead. A colossal blue-green palm, over five meters in size, materialized. Its surface was enveloped in a layer of blue-green flames, emitting astonishing heat waves.

A loud tearing sound pierced the air. A blue light and a white light shot from behind, both targeting Wang Mingren.

Wang Mingren's face changed dramatically. He swiftly summoned the Mother-Child Dragon-Phoenix Rings, which transformed into two streaks of spiritual light to protect him.

*Clang! Clang!*

Two dull metallic clangs echoed. Wang Mingren felt a massive force strike him, sending his body flying forward. The Foundation Establishment cultivators accompanying him suffered terribly, struck by the blue-green fiery palm and reduced to ashes.

Before he could regain his balance, a vast expanse of white radiance illuminated a section of the empty space, revealing a tall man in a white robe.

The white-robed man held a white plantain fan. With a gentle flick, a fierce gale erupted, unleashing a torrent of chilling winds.

Wang Mingren hadn't anticipated someone hiding in the shadows. He quickly opened his mouth and spewed a stream of crimson-gold flames, forming a wall of crimson-gold fire in front of him. Simultaneously, his body glowed with golden light, turning brilliant gold—it was the defensive spiritual art, the Glazed Golden Body.

*Rumble!*

The crimson-gold fire wall crumbled, and the chilling wind dissipated.

At the same time, a five-meter-large blue-green fiery palm reappeared above Wang Mingren's head. This time, Wang Mingren couldn't evade it and was struck by the palm. The spiritual light on his body instantly shattered. Fortunately, he had the protection of the Glazed Golden Body; even so, his body fell uncontrollably towards the ground.

*Thud!*

Wang Mingren crashed to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood. Four Core Formation cultivators had attacked him in concert, and it was a sneak attack; he was no match for them.

The sky suddenly darkened. A mountain-sized golden seal appeared above his head, about to smash down.

A mound suddenly rose from the ground. A graceful figure emerged from it—it was Xi Menfeng. With a gentle flick of the red short ruler in her hand, countless crimson ruler-shadows flew out, striking the golden seal.

She grabbed Wang Mingren. A dazzling fiery light erupted from her body, and the two of them transformed into specks of fire and vanished.

Dozens of miles away, in the empty space, a dazzling fiery light suddenly flared, and Wang Mingren and Xi Menfeng reappeared.

Xi Menfeng took out a yellow short ruler. With a gentle wave, a large expanse of yellow light streamed out, enveloping both of them. They then burrowed into the ground and disappeared.

"Take this pill; it will help your injuries." Xi Menfeng tossed a blue porcelain bottle to Wang Mingren, her tone cold.

Wang Mingren felt a mix of emotions. So many years had passed, and Xi Menfeng's cultivation was higher than his. On second thought, it made sense; she had connections, and her innate talent was already considerable.

He poured out a blue pill and swallowed it.

"Aren't you afraid I'll harm you? Do you really think I wouldn't?" Xi Menfeng asked coldly.

Wang Mingren gave a wry smile. He said, "I believe you wouldn't harm me. Even if you wanted to, I wouldn't resist. This is what I owe you."

"You saved my life before, and now I've saved yours. We are even. Neither of us owes the other anything. Next time, even if you die in front of me, I won't save you." Xi Menfeng's tone was flat and devoid of any emotion.

Wang Mingren sighed deeply, about to speak but then hesitating.

"By the way, how did you get away? Wasn't anyone chasing you?" Wang Mingren asked, somewhat puzzled. The enemies had over a dozen Core Formation cultivators, while the Taiyi Immortal Sect only had five. With the enemies splitting up to pursue, Xi Menfeng shouldn't have escaped so easily.

"I have the Jade Wolf Ruler, which makes Earth Escape Art convenient, and I'm fast. Why? Do you suspect I'm an internal spy?" Xi Menfeng frowned, a hint of displeasure in her voice.

Wang Mingren quickly shook his head. He said, "That's not what I meant. I was just asking. When we get back, we'll certainly be questioned by the Law Enforcement Elder. I was just worried you might encounter trouble."

"A clear conscience needs no explanation. My conscience is clear; there's nothing to explain. I don't need you to worry about me. Just take care of yourself."

Wang Mingren hesitated briefly before speaking. "My wife works in the Law Enforcement Hall, and she's not easy to deal with. If you encounter her, be careful."

Xi Menfeng gave Wang Mingren a cold glare and said coolly, "I haven't violated any sect rules or precepts, so what do I have to fear? If I do nothing wrong, I fear no one. From now on, you go your broad path, and I'll go my narrow one. After this mission is over, I'll apply to be transferred elsewhere, so we won't encounter each other."

Hearing this, Wang Mingren sighed deeply in his heart but said nothing.