Chapter 134: Gathering

Yan Xi followed her instructions, slipping into her sleeve, and whispered directions to lead the way forward, avoiding the areas where the fire raged most fiercely.

Qu Yiqiu moved with agility, quickly dashing toward a collapsed mountain cave that had been scorched charcoal black.

"There is a scale here." Controlling everything within the secret realm, Yan Xi sensed a shimmering scale beneath a pile of rubble almost instantly.

Qu Yiqiu pried apart the broken stones and retrieved a fiery red scale that still held residual warmth.

"A true dragon's scale is truly extraordinary. If one could collect a pile of them and refine them into a magical robe, I fear that even all the fires of the world would struggle to harm the Immortal in the slightest," Yan Xi remarked with sincere admiration.

Unexpectedly, her words struck a chord with Qu Yiqiu.

She had once harbored fantasies of a dragon-scale robe, but the more she understood about Mu Yunjin, the more she realized the significance of those scales. They were not something that could be plucked at will.

If a scale had fallen off here, Mu Yunjin must be injured.

Qu Yiqiu’s brows knit together as she gazed toward the direction where the Divine Dragon and the Taotie were locked in battle.

Sensing something different in her expression, Yan Xi asked curiously, "Does the Immortal know this dragon?"

Matters having reached this point, and with Qu Yiqiu still needing her assistance, she did not hide anything. She nodded and said, "Yes, he is my junior brother. Do you have a way to bring me close to him? I have a few words I wish to say to him."

Yan Xi’s eyes widened, her face full of astonishment. "The true dragon is the Immortal's junior brother! The Taotie is currently in a towering rage; if the Immortal wishes to get near the true dragon, there is only one way."

"What way?" Qu Yiqiu’s expression shifted, and she asked hurriedly.

***

In a vast forest devastated by the beast and the divine creature, Huo Tangsheng sat composedly inside an inverted, multicolored glazed chalice.

A tiny, inconspicuous bee-sparrow hovered in the sky, acting as another pair of eyes, monitoring the battle between the Taotie and the Divine Dragon.

Roars echoed incessantly. Thick, ancient trees collapsed one after another. The Feiling Secret Realm had become a battlefield of rolling flames.

Huo Tangsheng removed the jade talisman from his waist with one hand, and a series of urgent pleas for help emanated from it.

"Senior Brother Huo, where are you? Save me!"

"Help me, Senior Brother, I don't want to die yet!"

"Only Senior Brother Huo is not here; Senior Brother Huo must be able to find a way out, please save us, Senior Brother!"

Huo Tangsheng’s handsome lips curled into a cold, indifferent smile. Just as he was about to lower his arm, another clear male voice came through.

"Fellow Daoist He, I have a way to lead everyone out, but it will require your cooperation." It was a gentle, refined voice, spoken with a measured, unhurried tone—only Chi Yushu could say such things at a time like this.

"So young, yet so unruffled by change; he does have some potential." Huo Tangsheng set down the jade talisman and closed his eyes, showing no intention of intervening.

***

"Fellow Daoist Chi, what did you say? You can lead us out?" He Yuman’s face revealed shock.

Chi Yushu nodded. "Yes, I have found a path of survival within the formation."

"Why did you only say so now?" You Ruoying, clutching He Yuman’s jade talisman, glared at him in annoyance.

Qu Youyou glared back indignantly, "Who do you think you are? Whether my Senior Brother chooses to speak is none of your business!"

"You!" You Ruoying was so angry she couldn't speak, pointing her finger at Qu Youyou.

He Yuman silently pushed her finger down and gave Chi Yushu a charming smile. "I believe Fellow Daoist Chi certainly didn't intend to delay saying this. Everyone has been trapped in this sinister, gloomy formation; surely Fellow Daoist Chi has also wanted to leave for a long time. It is just that the strange barrier blocking our spiritual sense only dissipated a moment ago. Fellow Daoist Chi must have only just discovered the path to survival, right?"

You Ruoying’s dissatisfied expression shifted as she stared at him, dazed.

Chi Yushu’s ethereal face remained calm, and he said gently, "Fellow Daoist He is observant; I did indeed just discern the path to survival."

Qi Yongfeng and Zou Peng could no longer contain themselves and brought their respective disciples over.

"Junior Brother Chi, what do you need us to do?"

Qu Youyou cast a proud glance at the others from the side and, holding her head high, said to Chi Yushu, "Senior Brother, hurry and lead us out!"

Chi Yushu looked at the group, now reduced to half its original size, and, ignoring the lingering unease in his heart, nodded. "Very well, listen to my commands."

At this moment, whether they were disciples of the Tianyan Sect or the remaining disciples of the Xuanyi Sect, they tacitly set aside their grievances and gathered together with the group led by Chi Yushu.

***

With Yan Xi’s help, Qu Yiqiu withstood the scorching heat and reached the center of a dead tree located ten zhang away from Mu Yunjin.

The ancient tree, which would have taken five people to encircle, was now reduced to a bare, black trunk.

Qu Yiqiu hid in the center of the carbonized wood, which was on the verge of crumbling, retrieved several spiritual herbs, and sat cross-legged on the ground.

Yan Xi looked puzzled. "What is the Immortal trying to do?"

Qu Yiqiu pursed her red lips and said, "I did not expect my junior brother to have lost control. He is currently delirious and will not listen to my voice transmission. I have no choice but to find another way to persuade him. I must trouble you to protect me."

Having said this, Qu Yiqiu suddenly closed her eyes, and a cluster of incredibly brilliant spiritual fire danced in her fair, outstretched palm.

Yan Xi jumped back in fright.

She recognized that flame; it was the dark purple Quehuang Fire, capable of subduing vengeful spirits.

A look of amazement appeared in Yan Xi’s eyes as she watched Qu Yiqiu’s skillful alchemy techniques, and a profound sense of admiration welled up in her heart.

Xiao Yan, aware of Qu Yiqiu’s intentions, released his perception, scanning the situation in all directions.

"Huh, these two are actually still alive."

He whispered to himself, shifting most of his attention toward Xia Changhan and Huo Tangsheng.

Compared to Huo Tangsheng, who was sitting openly in the forest, Xia Changhan was much more disheveled.

He was covered in dust and grime as he navigated the scorched woods, hiding behind a rock while secretly observing the battle between Mu Yunjin and the Taotie.

"A true dragon has manifested. What other secrets does this secret realm hide?"

Xia Changhan muttered to himself, filled with astonishment.

Just as he thought he had carefully avoided all gazes, the spiritual senses of Xiao Yan and Huo Tangsheng were already silently lurking around him.

Huo Tangsheng’s lips curved upward. "In the southeast direction, there is another group of people; this is truly interesting."

As his soft voice faded, Xiao Yan and Xia Changhan simultaneously spread their spiritual senses, rushing toward the southeast.

"These people must be the fellow disciples the master is looking for," Xiao Yan immediately recognized their faces.

Xia Changhan quickly retracted his spiritual sense and lowered his head slightly, hiding his form more deeply.

His eyes flickered, and he wondered, "Why are the people from the Xuanyi Sect staying with the disciples of the Tianyan Sect?"

Ever since he emerged from the ancient tomb, he had been on the run.

Beyond his fear of the ancient beast Taotie, there were also zombies reeking of rot hunting him down. This had left him without a moment of rest, let alone the ability to inquire about the whereabouts of his fellow disciples in the secret realm.