After all, facing two against many, and having to confront the unfathomable strength of the Ying family patriarch, their physical strength was greatly depleted.
Just then, something unexpected happened.
The once clear sky suddenly became covered with dark clouds, and lightning flashed and thunder roared.
A bolt of purple lightning, as thick as an arm, tore through the inky sky, carrying a destructive force, and struck straight at the Ying family patriarch.
Although the Ying family patriarch managed to avoid a fatal blow, the residual force of the lightning caused his blood and qi to surge, leaving him in a sorry state.
In that split second, Xu Yuehuai seized the opportunity, broke free from his restraints, and ran toward the shimmering barrier.
"Master! Quickly!" he screamed, his voice hoarse from struggling for so long.
Zisangyi and Qi Guze exchanged a glance and followed without hesitation.
The tree spirit's massive body followed closely behind, almost grazing the tail of the lightning as it flashed into the barrier.
Zisangyi quickly formed hand seals, and strands of spiritual energy wrapped around the barrier like threads. The barrier, which was originally on the verge of collapse, instantly stabilized and emitted a shimmering white light, keeping the Ying family members outside.
The Ying family patriarch steadied himself, his face ashen as he looked at the newly reinforced barrier. He spoke in a sinister tone, "Zisangyi, are you truly willing to become an enemy of the Ying family for the sake of a mere girl?"
Zi Sangye sneered, her brows furrowed with frost: "Old man Ying, stop with your crocodile tears! Xu Yuehuai is my disciple, how could I abandon him? As for being an enemy of your Ying family... ha, who have I, Zi Sangye, ever feared?!"
The patriarch of the Ying family was so angry that his beard trembled, but he was also wary of the power of the barrier and dared not attack rashly.
He took a deep breath and adopted a serious tone: "Zisangyi, why are you so stubborn? Is it worth risking yourself and Qingtao Valley for a girl? As long as you obediently hand over Xu Yuehuai, I promise to forgive and forget, and I will even respectfully send you away. How about it?"
Inside the barrier, the atmosphere was so oppressive it was suffocating.
Xu Yuehuai's face was pale, and tears streamed down his face silently. He bit his lower lip tightly, trying not to make a sound.
“Master…” he choked up, his heart filled with self-blame and guilt.
It's all her fault for being so useless; she dragged Master and Senior Brother Qi down with her.
The tree spirit's thick branches gently brushed against Xu Yuehuai's head, emitting a deep voice: "Little girl, don't cry, it's not your fault."
Looking at the dejected crowd, Zisangyi felt a little annoyed.
She reached out and handed a pill to the tree spirit: "It can heal your wounds."
The tree spirit didn't refuse and put it directly into its mouth.
Instantly, I felt that my injury had healed by more than half.
Zi Sangyi knew that the Ying family patriarch was stalling for time, waiting for them to run out of spiritual energy.
hateful!
Qi Guze walked to Zisangyi's side and said in a low voice, "This can't go on. We need to think of a solution."
Zisang rubbed her temples, her thoughts in complete disarray.
Should she really give up on Xu Yuehuai? No, she couldn't do it!
Just then, the tree spirit suddenly spoke up, "I have an idea..."
Everyone turned to look at the tree spirit, a glimmer of hope igniting in their eyes.
"Tell me about it," Zisangyi said in a deep voice.
The tree spirit stretched out a branch and pointed to a mountain peak outside the barrier: "Look at that mountain, doesn't it look like... a giant beast that's sleeping?"
Following the tree spirit's guidance, everyone looked in that direction and saw a towering mountain peak that resembled a giant black shadow in the night, its outline indeed somewhat similar to that of some kind of behemoth.
"So what?" Qi Guze asked, puzzled.
The tree spirit's rough, hoarse voice, like sandpaper rubbing together, carried a strange excitement: "This is no ordinary mountain; it connects to—the territory of Wutong."
This barrier is the entrance to that place.
It swayed its branches and pointed to the outline of the mountain peak. "My roots have already explored the area. As long as we follow my instructions, we can move freely within the barrier."
Qi Guze raised an eyebrow, quite skeptical: "Wutong territory? I've never heard of it before. Also, how large is the barrier? Where can we go?"
The tree spirit seemed to enjoy being questioned. It let out a low laugh, causing the leaves within the barrier to rustle: "Ignorant, aren't you? This Wutong territory is naturally unknown to ordinary people. As for its extent..." It deliberately dragged out its words, keeping everyone in suspense, "...the entire Wutong territory is within the barrier, enough for you to cause trouble."
"What about leaving the barrier?" Xu Yuehuai asked timidly, "The Ying family..."
The tree spirit's tone shifted, becoming sinister: "Leave the barrier, hmph, those old bastards from the Ying family are probably already waiting outside to chop you into mincemeat."
Zisangyi pondered for a moment. She had witnessed the ruthlessness of the Ying family patriarch before. This time, he had brought few disciples, and a head-on confrontation would definitely result in a loss.
"So, we're stuck here in Wutong for the time being?"
"Temporary? I think it's long-term."
The tree spirit's tone carried a hint of schadenfreude, "If you want to get out, you'll have to find a way to leave this secret realm, or... have the ability to wipe out the Ying family."
Zi Sangyi glared at the tree spirit: "Destroy the Ying family? You make it sound so easy!"
She rubbed her throbbing temples, pondering: the Ying family is powerful, and she only brought a dozen or so disciples. If she wants to escape unscathed, she must plan carefully.
This area of Wutong might become a safe haven for them, at least temporarily escaping the Ying family's pursuit.
“Alright,” Zisangyi said, looking at the tree spirit. “Lead the way and let’s go to this Wutong territory.”
The tree spirit swayed its enormous body and let out a smug laugh: "That's more like it. Follow me, and I guarantee you'll live a life of luxury."
Its thick root system meanders across the ground like a winding path, guiding people forward.
The area around Wutong is completely different from the outside world; it is rich in spiritual energy.
Exotic flowers and rare herbs abound, and you can even see some rare and exotic animals frolicking in the forest.
The abundant spiritual energy invigorated Xu Yuehuai and her disciples, sweeping away their previous fatigue.
"This place... is simply a treasure trove!" one disciple exclaimed in amazement.
However, the deeper one goes, the more eerie the surrounding scenery becomes.
The towering ancient trees blocked out the sun, and a strange fragrance filled the air, making people drowsy.
“Be careful,” Zisangyi warned everyone, “This place looks peaceful, but there’s something strange about it.”
Suddenly, a rustling sound came from ahead, and then a huge black shadow darted out of the bushes and pounced on the group!
The dark figure was incredibly fast; before anyone could react, a stench of blood rushed towards them.
"Watch out!" Qi Guze shouted, shielding Xu Yuehuai behind him, and at the same time summoned his flying sword to meet the dark figure.
With a crisp clang, the flying sword collided with the dark figure, sparks flying everywhere.
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