Above, Lei Fei’s gaze had fallen on a dozen figures, all flying on their cultivation devices, hovering in the sky.They wore flame-red Daoist robes—undoubtedly members of the Fire-Gold Sect.At their forefront, standing with proud bearing, was Ren Yongnian himself.From his aerial vantage, Ren Yongnian looked down upon Lei Fei and used his amplification technique to project his voice:“Lei Fei, surrender now! For old times’ sake as Thundercliff’s scion, I will grant you a dignified death!”Lei Fei, remaining on the ground, showed no change in expression. He simply looked at Ren Yongnian with quiet reserve, his lips curling into a faint, reluctant smile.In the next instant, shadowy silhouettes emerged around Ren Yongnian—white-robed figures marked with lightning insignia. They were unmistakably disciples of Thundercliff!The Fire-Gold Sect disciples below, surrounded on all sides, displayed alarm—but not a single one backed down. They were the sect’s elite: each had been trained by Fire-Gold Sect, and even in the face of certain doom, they would never retreat. They knew if they fell, their families and friends would be cared for by the sect and spared from mistreatment.Ren Yongnian swept his eyes over the circle, quickly assessing the surrounding foes. All were elite cultivators of Foundation Establishment rank, numbering more than twenty.Impossible—Thundercliff could not field so many elite disciples; this matched Fire-Gold’s strength. A sudden insight struck him.A closer look revealed that nearly half of these disciples carried a dishonorable, mercenary aura. They were not true Thundercliff disciples but scattered free cultivators hired for this fight!Understanding this, Ren Yongnian loudly declared, “Has Thundercliff no real disciples left? You’ve resorted to mercenaries—and these dogs will not stop us!”His amplified words rang clear to all. The Fire-Gold acolytes showed faint smiles: paid mercenaries would never die for Thundercliff. The moment the tide turned, they would flee—an advantage for Fire-Gold.The Thundercliff mercenaries encircling the Fire-Gold disciples showed no reaction—they knew their role.Unmoved by Ren Yongnian’s taunt, Lei Fei tersely commanded the mercenaries, “Attack.”At his order, the ring of Thundercliff disciples erupted forward. Half crackled with bursting lightning light, while the rest—a motley array of colors—were the hired free cultivators.As the two sides clashed, Lei Fei abandoned any thought of pursuing Fang Qing and her companions. Levitating on his spear, he shot back into the sky—his true target Ren Yongnian and the sect’s elite.Watching this unfold, Fang Qing turned to Gu Yuan and Yin Mo, saying, “Let us go—there’s no purpose in staying.”They both nodded. In their weakened state, lingering only slowed the sect’s true forces. Gu Yuan understood that if Lei Fei were to redirect his attack at them, Ren Yongnian would be forced into an impossible choice—so Lei Fei would not.Without hesitation, the three departed the battlefield at top speed, retracing their steps toward Weiping City’s path.Weiping City lay under Fire-Gold Sect’s control, guarded by several elders. Reaching its walls meant safety.From his vantage above, Ren Yongnian watched them leave and nodded inwardly. If Fang Qing’s party had lingered, he would have been in a bind; their departure, while the journey ahead remained uncertain, was far safer.Ren Yongnian had led his elite here because Thundercliff’s spies had reported an unexpected mobilization: elders and top disciples were marching on Baldrock Mountain. Alarmed, Fire-Gold had swiftly dispatched two contingents—elders and disciples under his command—to intercept them. Whatever Thundercliff’s designs, they would be thwarted.Ren Yongnian drew a resplendent red sword from his waist, pointed it at Lei Fei, and calmly said, “Lei Fei—one year since our last duel. Show me what progress you’ve made!”Lei Fei scoffed, sneered, and charged with his spear.Meanwhile, en route to Weiping City, Fang Qing, Gu Yuan, and Yin Mo felt something was amiss: despite moving fast, the terrain seemed endless. They must be in a detour.Convinced none of them were lost, they halted on a flat plain. Fang Qing asked, “Gu Yuan, what do you think?”“I—” Gu Yuan began but then heard Master Mo’s voice echoing in his mind:“You brat! I looked away for a moment and you’ve stumbled into a trap! You’re caught in a formation. You must destroy its core eye to break free!”Hearing this, Gu Yuan’s heart leapt. He had been °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° calling for Master Mo since the beast tide struck. Though Mo had been busy, his response now meant their chances had risen.Feigning thought, Gu Yuan told Fang Qing, “I believe we’re inside a formation—we need to break its eye to escape.”Before Yin Mo could react, Fang Qing interjected, “Then let’s find the eye! Do you have any sense of its direction?”Fang Qing trusted the World’s Progeny implicitly. Gu Yuan silently asked Master Mo, ‘Where is the eye?’‘To your upper right—go until you reach a blackened plain. There you will find a great white stone. Smash it and the formation collapses. But beware: it is guarded.’Nodding, Gu Yuan said, “I have a vague sense of direction—though I cannot be certain.”“Then let’s follow it,” Fang Qing decided without hesitation.With her agreement and Yin Mo’s silent consent, Gu Yuan set off toward the formation’s eye, guided by Master Mo’s instructions.They soon arrived on a charred plain where faint lightning arcs danced above the soil. There, rising from the blackened earth, stood a massive white stone twice their height, stark against the ash-dark ground. And before the monolith sat a lone figure, meditating in silence.

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