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In the Li Fire Formation passage, Ling Jizi explained his intentions to the Jade Tablet, while Yun Jiuzi remained silent for a long time.
Ling Jizi's heart raced. Everyone knew that Yun Jiuzi had the closest relationship with that traitor. Was it too much to ask him not to let Chu Hongzi leave? He continued, "Great-Granduncle, Chu Hongzi is indeed a traitor of our sect. He colluded with the Yandao Demon Lord, nearly leading to the destruction of our Nine Li Sect! With the Sect Master and Emei Sect Leader, Kongtong Sect Leader here as witnesses, this is a serious matter. You must think carefully. If you insist on letting that traitor go..."
Before he could finish, a cold voice emerged from the Jade Tablet: "If I let him go, does that make me a traitor as well?"
Ling Jizi was taken aback, cold sweat dripping from his forehead. He searched for words and tried to be as tactful as possible: "Great-Granduncle, that's not what I meant. If you are considering old ties, I have nothing more to say. I'm just afraid that the millennia-old foundation passed down from our Ancestor will be destroyed!"
"You go first; I have my own plans."
After saying this, there was no further sound from the Jade Tablet. Ling Jizi felt anxious and truly did not understand what this Great-Granduncle meant, so he had no choice but to leave.
The atmosphere in the underground Formation Room was extremely oppressive and solemn.
True Microbe and the other eight did not sit on the central Bagua Jade Platform but instead surrounded it. Yun Jiuzi sat alone on the platform, looking down at them with a stern gaze that swept across True Microbe, Yueyangzi, and the others one by one. He solemnly asked, "You all heard Ling Jizi's words just now. What do you think about this matter?"
True Microbe and the others frowned in silence. In the hazy glow of Eternal Candle, their faces looked grim, showing an unusual iron-gray color with hints of strange black energy flickering beneath their skin, indicating they had not yet cleared the residual poison.
True Microbe was the chief elder of the Array Hall but had a lower generation than Yun Jiuzi and had to address him as Great-Granduncle. Since Yun Jiuzi arrived, he had been managing the affairs of the Array Hall.
The events had unfolded too suddenly; the Demon Sect attacked unexpectedly, and Sect Master Ling Xuzi was killed by Yandao Demon Lord. The Chu Hongzi whom Ling Xuzi had always favored turned out to be a traitor selling out Nine Li Sect. One incident after another left True Microbe and the other eight elders feeling overwhelmed and pressured.
True Microbe sighed and spoke first: "Yueyangzi, since Ling Jizi is your disciple and he is so confident that Chu Hongzi is a traitor, let's trust him for now. We won't let Chu Hongzi leave!"
After hearing this, Yueyangzi's frown deepened. Although Ling Jizi was his eldest disciple, Yueyangzi had never thought highly of him or particularly liked him. That was why he passed on the position of Sect Master to his second disciple Ling Xuzi and demoted Ling Jizi to Elder Brother at Nine Mystic Peak.
Yueyangzi understood that Ling Jizi had always been narrow-minded and acted rashly since childhood. Over these years, especially after failing to compete for the position of Sect Master, Ling Jizi must have vented all his frustrations on Ling Xuzi. He would surely have made things difficult for his younger brother who ultimately became Sect Master. Ling Xuzi had always favored Chu Hongzi and even mentioned several times wanting to appoint him as the next Sect Master. Now that Ling Xuzi's body was barely cold, Chu Hongzi—who could have been seen as his successor—was immediately labeled a traitor by Ling Jizi. How could Yueyangzi not be suspicious?
Yueyangzi finally shook his head and said, "Although I have never seen that Chu Hongzi, I trust my disciple Lingxu's judgment! This matter is very suspicious." By saying this, he clearly expressed his disbelief in Ling Jizi's words.
No one’s opinion mattered more than his, as he was Ling Jizi's master.
True Microbe was also in a dilemma. It was said that Chu Hongzi was the most talented and rapidly progressing individual since the establishment of the Nine Li Sect thousands of years ago. His achievements even surpassed those of Yun Jiuzi's master, the extraordinary Heavenly Danzi Ancestor. Ling Xuzi had always regarded him highly and wanted to make him the next sect leader. Even before his death, he passed on the Vermilion Bird Nine Li Blade to him. How could such a person possibly be a traitor who brought the Demon Sect into Nine Li Cave Heaven? There must be more to this story.
Thinking of this, True Microbe immediately said, "I also find this matter suspicious. Chu Hongzi even led the Immortal Sect reinforcements into the gate; we witnessed it ourselves. How could he suddenly be labeled a traitor? What are these kids really up to?"
As they spoke, the other elders nodded in agreement.
Yun Jiuzi secretly let out a long sigh of relief but quickly narrowed his eyes, making his gaze sharper. "Right now, everyone outside denies that Chu Hongzi is the sect leader and wants him dead. Although we are suspicious, we are stuck here. At this point, we can only let Chu Hongzi go into battle; given time, the truth will surely come to light. What do you all think?"
True Microbe sighed heavily and nodded solemnly; Yueyangzi and the others also nodded in agreement.
Seeing that they all agreed, Yun Jiuzi closed his eyes and sat cross-legged without speaking further. No one knew that he felt a strange mix of excitement, joy, and worry inside.
The face of his master Heavenly Danzi slowly surfaced from deep within his memories, gradually overlapping with Li Hong's face.
********
In the sky, the giant dragon and white tiger were engaged in fierce combat.
Xuan Xuzi's white tiger continuously spewed out massive scorching fireballs, turning everything they touched into a Fire Sea. Below, the Gorge was ablaze with red; countless rare birds and beasts raised by the Nine Li Sect were screaming as they fled. They had previously escaped the clutches of the Demon Sect but now found themselves falling victim to the sect master's white tiger.
Ling Jizi's expression turned grim as he watched; it alternated between green and pale as he occasionally cast furtive glances at Xuan Xuzi.
Xuan Xuzi and Yiyang Bai Juzi were both indifferent, showing no expression as they focused solely on the battle in the sky.
Amidst the rain of fireballs, a massive black dragon darted through the flames with an agility that belied its size. Suddenly, it swung its tail, a mountain-like Dragon Tail Whip, crashing down towards the White Tiger with tremendous force. The White Tiger dodged like lightning, retreating a distance before unleashing a series of fireballs.
Black Abyss was a water-element dragon, and what it spewed forth was not ordinary water but rather true elemental water combined with the three thousand weak waters from the abyss of Nine Separation Peak. Just one drop could extinguish large swathes of mundane fire. However, the fireballs emitted by the White Tiger were not ordinary flames either; they were True Sunfire. As a result, Black Abyss's elemental water was consumed rapidly, depleting even the weak water it had accumulated in its belly. Now, it had no choice but to unleash its most powerful move—a devastating strike against the White Tiger.
The dragon's body served as its weapon; its form was its most prized treasure. The incredibly tough scales covered in formidable armor made it unmatched in hardness. Even the proud White Tiger of Kunlun Xuanxu could not withstand Black Abyss's might and dared not confront it head-on, opting instead to evade.
Li Hong quickly realized this and had a sudden idea. Using Dragon Language, he said, "Black Abyss, hold on for a moment while I take them away. I'll give you a signal later; shrink down and come to us as fast as you can."
Black Abyss nodded vigorously, roaring as it continued to tangle with the White Tiger, flying further away.
Li Hong bid farewell to Chulin and tossed Big Silver Ball, Small Silver Ball, and Soul Devourer onto Chuxiong before scooping up Little Fei. Together with Chuxiong, they transformed into two beams of golden light and shot straight into the entrance of Li Fire Formation.
While calling out to Black Abyss in Dragon Language, Li Hong took out the Passage Token and formed a seal with it, feeling somewhat anxious about whether Yun Jiuzi would be present and guide him.
As the red light flashed from the Jade Tablet in his hand, Li Hong immediately heard Yun Jiuzi's voice emanating from it. His tone seemed steady, but only Li Hong could detect a hint of excitement in his voice. "You really made it inside! Don't say anything now; just follow my instructions."
"Okay, but we need to wait for Black Abyss to come in before we leave together."
"That's fine."
Yun Jiuzi was succinct, not asking any questions or saying anything more.
Li Hong found this strange but quickly remembered that he wasn't alone on Yun Jiuzi's side; there were others with him—elders from Array Hall, including Ling Xuzi's master and the previous sect leader, Ancestor.
A flash of insight crossed Li Hong's mind as he whispered, "Great-Granduncle, the Heaven and Earth Platform has been destroyed by them. Don't worry, as long as we hold the Li Fire Formation, those Demons won't be able to get in."
There was no response from the other side.
Li Hong continued, "Elder Yao's Fire Origin Pill has issues," pausing for emphasis, he added, "his people are also problematic! Although I don't believe it, he accused me of being a traitor in front of Sect Master Xuan Xuzi and others. Please take note of this, Great-Granduncle. Additionally, I have taken the Vermilion Bird Nine Li Blade. If Ancestor wants it, please come to the Southern Wilderness to find me. Do you understand, Great-Granduncle?"
After a long pause, Yun Jiuzi slowly replied, "I understand."
Li Hong thought that the earlier hints should have been comprehensible to Yun Jiuzi. It was not convenient to elaborate further; he simply called out for Black Abyss.
After a while, a bolt of lightning in the form of Black Light shot towards him. Black Abyss shrank and landed on Li Hong's crown, panting as it spoke in Dragon Language, "Hurry! They are coming after us!"
Originally, there were people from the Disciplinary Hall guarding this place, but after the major battle, their numbers were severely depleted. Now, several entrances to the Li Fire Formation were almost unguarded, relying solely on the formation itself for defense. This situation conveniently opened a path for Li Hong's escape. Following Yun Jiuzi's instructions, Li Hong and his companion swiftly flew deeper into the Passageway without encountering any guards along the way.
However, those who followed closely behind—Xuan Xuzi, Ling Jizi, Yue Mangzi, and others—were not so fortunate.
They rushed into the Li Fire Formation's Passageway after Black Abyss. Yue Mangzi possessed a high-level Passage Token; he cast a spell to call for directions from those inside the Array Hall but was met with an unsettling silence. The group found themselves stuck at the entrance of the formation with no way to advance or retreat.
Xuan Xuzi's expression darkened. Even Yiyang began to feel anxious and blurted out, "They can't all be dead inside, can they? Hurry! We need to get out; Master Zong is here! We don’t want to be trapped in this declining Nine Li Sect with nothing left!"
Upon hearing this, Ling Jizi's face turned a deep shade of purple. Xuan Xuzi lightly coughed and said, "Yiyang, you speak too harshly. It's not that there's a problem with the Array Hall; it's likely that those inside are trying to escape from Chu Hongzi while leaving us behind!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a voice from the Jade Tablet echoed Yun Jiuzi's words: "Master Zong, that's not true. I have already led Chu Hongzi into the Boundless True Fire of the Li Fire Formation. Even a Great Luo Golden Immortal wouldn't last three days and nights inside. You can rest assured!"
Upon hearing this, Ling Jizi's face turned awkward; he opened his mouth but ultimately chose to remain silent. He didn't dare openly accuse Yun Jiuzi of lying in front of so many people.
Xuan Xuzi smiled and said, "Brother Yun Jiuzi, I hope you are well. You aren't still holding a grudge about me not ordering your rescue back then, are you?"
"Haha, I've long forgotten that matter. If I can't get out now, please forgive my rudeness. However, I brought Chu Hongzi into True Fire; Master Zong must be very pleased, right?"
"Is what you say true? Can I trust you?" Xuan Xuzi raised his eyebrows childishly, looking very "innocent" and "surprised."
"Of course you can trust me! My words are more genuine than pearls. You can rest assured, Master. If you don't believe me, you can walk into True Fire yourself to see."
"Haha, since Yun Jiuzi is personally vouching for it, I'll trust you this once. Just remember, if anything happens in the future, you'll have to take responsibility," Xuan Xuzi said with a seemingly amiable smile while clasping his hands behind his back.
"Sure," Yun Jiuzi replied nonchalantly with a chuckle. He then added, "By the way, Master Zong, Yiyang, Bai Juzi, have you three decided to stay at my Nine Li Sect instead of returning to your own territory? That's quite unusual. However, if you want to leave now, I can show you the way. If you're not leaving, then don't call for me anymore! I need to oversee the entire formation and really don't have time for idle chatter!"
Even a pig could sense the sarcasm in Yun Jiuzi's words. While the earlier exchange was merely a verbal sparring match between the two, this later part clearly indicated that Yun Jiuzi was openly tearing their relationship apart. Xuan Xuzi could not pretend not to understand any longer; his face darkened as he waved his sleeve and said angrily, "Yiyang, Bai Juzi, let's go back and gather our disciples to leave their Nine Li Sect. In the future, if they have any issues, we must not intervene! Lest someone tears down the bridge after crossing it!" He turned and left.
Yue Mangzi and Ling Jizi quietly groaned and hurriedly followed after him to apologize profusely.
Meanwhile, Li Hong had already led Little Fei, Black Abyss, Big Silver Ball, Small Silver Ball, and Soul Devourer out of the South Mountain Exit.
This departure might mean never returning again. Just as Li Hong was about to step out the door, he suddenly paused at that moment and turned around. Deep within the dark Passageway, many familiar faces seemed to be looking at him with reluctance.
Chu Xi, Spirit Stone, Ling Xuzi, Ling Xiangzi...
In a hazy moment, a tender voice sweetly said, "Chu Hong, do you know that even though you're not a dragon, you're almost like one now!"
Suddenly that voice became much more mature and softly said, "My heart only has you; does your heart have me?"
Sworn promises, sweet and resolute: "In life and death, we will never part; through the vicissitudes of time, our bond remains unchanged for thousands of years."
"Chu Xi..." Li Hong murmured to himself, a torrent of fiery, sweet, bittersweet yet unwavering emotions flowing through his heart. "We will meet again in the Immortal Realm, wait for me."
Spirit Stone, Ling Xuzi, and Ling Xiangzi all revealed smiles on their pale faces, their kind expressions fading one by one into the darkness.
Some people never truly die because they will forever live on in our memories.
Li Hong waved his hand, tears welling up as he laughed loudly, " Great-Granduncle, we are leaving. Remember to ask Yue Changzi for help; he must have a way to get you out from the Array Hall underground without having to enter the Chengxian Pavilion's twenty-eighth floor. Take care of yourself."
The voice of Yun Jiuzi immediately came from the Jade Tablet: "Be careful of Yandao Demon Lord's army once you get outside; everything he said was aimed at you. But Li Hong, isn't this also a kind of experience that helps one grow? I know you will make it through! Chuxiong, take care as well; we will definitely meet again in the Southern Wilderness!"
"Take care!"
Stepping out of the South Mountain Exit, the familiar blue sky and white clouds greeted him after a long absence. He exchanged a glance with Chuxiong, and a sense of boldness surged within him.
"When I thought I had gained everything, I unexpectedly lost it all in an instant. When I believed I had lost everything, fortunately, my best brother was still by my side. This is just the beginning. Yandao Demon Lord, let's see what happens!"
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