Above the heavens, the tribulation lightning descended from the wrath of the Heavenly Dao, surging amidst flashing lightning and dark, oppressive tribulation clouds. But after coming into contact with the sword intent, it seemed to sense something and then subsided, leaving only faint golden traces before slowly disappearing.
Ruan Qing'an finally relaxed, but she couldn't help but frown, vaguely sensing something.
037: [Ancestors, I think I'm—]
"Let's not talk about this now, let's deal with these people first."
Ruan Qing'an interrupted it in a deep voice and turned to look at the distance—after the lightning tribulation stopped, the Yang family and others who had been terrified and running away had stopped in their tracks. Elder Mei had also regained his previous composure, but his eyes were filled with venom as he looked at Shen Changlin.
His killing intent far exceeded that of the past; he wished he could tear him to pieces!
But soon, Old Master Mei shifted his gaze to Ruan Qing'an, a hint of wariness creeping into his eyes—what on earth was Lou Yunqi doing that he hadn't stopped her?!
Elder Mei said coldly, "Elder Ruan, our Yang family has no intention of being your enemy. We ask you to back down. It is only right and proper that a life should be paid for a life!"
But Ruan Qing'an didn't even look at her. Instead, she looked at Shen Changlin and noticed the wounds and bloodstains all over his body. She took off her storage ring, wiped off the divine imprint, and placed it in his hand.
She whispered, "There are pills inside to suppress the injuries. Take the things and I'll find a chance to let you get out of here."
"Master, then you—"
"I'm fine, Changlin, be good."
Ruan Qing'an abruptly interrupted him, her cool fingertips brushing against the corner of Shen Changlin's eye, wiping away the bloodstains.
When she turned around again, her face suddenly darkened.
Ruan Qing'an's cold, sharp eyes were filled with a chilling killing intent and ferocity: "Shen Changlin killed Yang Lin?"
"Yes, Elder Ruan, you can't be so unable to distinguish right from wrong, can you?"
Ruan Qing'an shook her head, but before Elder Mei could breathe a sigh of relief, she said casually, "I don't care. As long as it's not a fundamental mistake like betraying one's master and ancestors, he is still my disciple, and it's my duty."
"How I teach him is my business. I don't care if he killed Yang Lin, Wang Lin, or whatever Lin he was. You want to kill him—"
"Then I'll kill you."
As soon as he finished speaking, Ruan Qing'an dashed out in an instant. Old Mei hurriedly retreated, his face ashen: "Ruan Qing'an, don't push your luck! If it weren't for the reputation of the Wandao Sect behind you, this old woman wouldn't bother talking nonsense with you!"
"Don't think that just because you've just advanced to the late stage of the Void Refinement realm, you can act recklessly. This old woman has accumulated decades of experience, and by the time I reach the half-step Integration realm, you'll probably still be wasting your life somewhere!"
Ruan Qingan remained expressionless: "Is that so?"
"You've been stuck at the Void Refinement Realm all these years, and you still have the nerve to say that?"
Upon hearing this, Elder Mei flew into a rage. Relying on her status as a senior in the cultivation world, she could not tolerate such insolence from a junior. She unleashed her signature move, the Severed Meridian Yin Claw, once again: "Well, you who wield a knife are like a toothless tiger without a knife. How dare you challenge this old woman like me!"
"So what if we don't have a knife?"
Ruan Qing'an's expression didn't even change. After dodging, he flashed and bypassed Elder Mei's attack in the blink of an eye, instantly appearing behind her. Then—he kicked down!
The elderly woman was slammed hard to the ground!
Before Elder Mei could react, Ruan Qing'an stomped down again.
After nearly stomping her into the ground, she said coldly, "It feels pretty good to beat you up like this without a knife."
"Ruan, Qing, An!!!"
Elder Mei trembled with rage, and his spiritual power surged to its peak once again.
But Ruan Qing'an didn't have time to pay attention to her, because while she was dealing with Elder Mei, the head of the Yang family had already attacked Shen Changlin. She could only turn around to stop him—and in a short while, the scene became extremely tragic.
Ruan Qing'an's long sword was not with him, and for a time he was no match for the many opponents. In a situation where he was outnumbered, the people sent by the Yang family were all elites, and Elder Mei was also watching him closely. Most importantly, protecting Shen Changlin was the most energy-consuming task.
The stench of blood lingered, and splattered blood even landed on Shen Changlin's face, blurring the boy's vision—only the slender, tall figure standing in front of him remained clear.
Even so, Shen Changlin could still see that her plain white Taoist robe was stained red with blood, spreading out like red plum blossoms in the snow.
The scattered dots were extremely dazzling.
Even though the Yang family members were all injured, and one of them had already lost his life, Ruan Qing'an was all alone, fighting a desperate battle.
Seeing that Ruan Qing'an's condition was deteriorating, the Yang family patriarch hardened his heart and shouted sternly, "Everyone, listen to my command, form the formation!"
Soon, the remaining members of the Yang family formed a sword formation.
The increasingly powerful auras converged, and after everyone's spiritual power flowed through the formation, it formed an even stronger force, gradually condensing within the formation. When the crystal-clear longsword appeared, Ruan Qing'an felt that he was locked on and unable to dodge.
But even she could only temporarily avoid the attack, unable to withstand its full force, as it was a strike that combined the power of everyone.
This attack almost completely drained the Yang family patriarch.
His face turned pale as he said, "Since you can't distinguish right from wrong and insist on protecting Shen Changlin, then die, Ruan Qing'an!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the array flashed with light, and the longsword shot out rapidly!
Ruan Qing'an's eyes widened slightly as she looked at Shen Changlin, who was standing to the side. She then rushed towards him aggressively.
Shen Changlin didn't react, but the black mist instinctively panicked.
"Be careful, she might use you as a shield—"
"...Stop talking."
Shen Changlin lowered his eyes instead: "You have influenced me too many times, but—I believe her, and I only believe her."
"Changlin, close your eyes."
Just then, a voice that was usually cold and indifferent rang out, but the hidden concern beneath it was hard to conceal. By the time Shen Changlin reacted, he had already closed his eyes. Then, he felt a delicate touch on his arm and was pulled backward.
In an instant, Shen Changlin heard Old Mei's aged voice: "Ruan Qing'an, stop right now—"
What?
Shen Changlin's thoughts froze, and the next moment he suddenly felt a warm blood splash onto his body. He opened his eyes blankly.
Nguyen Thanh An's abdomen was pierced by a long sword.
In that brief instant, Ruan Qing'an led Shen Changlin to rapidly approach the edge of this sealed secret realm. At the edge, the scene had already become completely blurred, but it was still difficult to break through from the inside.
When the long sword locked onto Ruan Qing'an, it pierced through her abdomen and struck the edge of the sealed secret realm.
She was clearly using the combined strength of the Yang family and others, and using herself as bait, to forcefully carve out a way out for Shen Changlin!
Not only that, Nguyen Thanh An raised his hand.
The sound of the blade grew louder and louder, coming from afar. The next moment, Ruan Qing'an grasped it in his hand and fiercely attacked the gap—the entire secret realm trembled, and a gap was suddenly forced open at the edge!
Old Mei's eyes widened: "You fought so hard you almost got yourself killed, and you held back from recalling your weapons, all for this moment?!"
But Nguyen Thanh An ignored Elder Mai.
After cutting the opening, she shoved the longsword into Shen Changlin's hand and pushed him out of the secret realm: "Go, find the others from the Myriad Paths Sect, and leave here immediately!"
"Master, you—"
Shen Changlin couldn't help but clench his long sword tightly. Before he knew it, tears had blurred his vision—the person in his heart, like the bright moon, should be pure and untainted.
At this moment, however, he was covered in blood and riddled with wounds.
But he dared not linger and could only obey Ruan Qing'an's words and immediately go to find the other elders of the Myriad Paths Sect. This secret realm fragment was hidden, and only he knew its location. Only he could lead people to break through from the outside so that he could support Ruan Qing'an as quickly as possible!
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