Outside the Spirit Subduing Mountain. 

In a hidden mountain forest, there were several figures gathered. Their eyes were solemn and blazing as they stared at the Spirit Subduing Mountain in the distance.

At this time, there was dark green toxic qi rising and spreading around the Spirit Subduing Mountain. Even from a distance away, the aura could still be felt.

“It's been half a day, could something have happened to Yaoyao?!” In the center of the several shadows was a beautiful figure whose face was crossed with worry. 

It was Zuoqiu Qingyu.  

Beside her were Blind Sword Li Chunjun and Ning Zhan, whose brows were also knitted in a tight frown. 

“Is Luluo not back yet?” Ning Zhan asked. 

Zuoqiu Qingyu shook her head. The reason they had gathered here was because they had received a message from within the Heavenly Ghost Sect. They knew that the source of the information should be Zhen Xu.  

Recently the Heavenly Ghost Sect and the Sacred Palace were acting very close. Since Yaoyao was trapped in an area close to the Heavenly Ghost Sect, it most likely involved the Heavenly Ghost Sect.

Therefore, Zhen Xu did not appear, but he still secretly passed the information to Zuoqiu Qingyu, Li Chunjun and the others.   

Zuoqiu Qingyu and the others both understood Zhen Xu’s reason for acting this way. Given his status in the Heavenly Ghost Sect, there weren’t many things he could change. Moreover, given the circumstances, he still took a risk to pass them a message, which, given his cold and detached personality, was already a sign that he valued his friendship with Zhou Yuan. 

“Wait another half an hour.”  

After a period of silence, Li Chunjun said, “If nobody from the Cangxuan Sect comes to the rescue, then we will prepare to break into the mountain.” 

Zuoqiu Qingyu exclaimed in shock, “Are you crazy? There are two Sacred Palace Chosen standing guard!”    

“So what?” Li Chunjun stroked the heavy black sword on his back, grinning. “I have cultivated a sword qi in the Sword Seeker Sect for a period of time and want to try it against a Chosen.”  

“The Accumulation Sword technique of your Sword Seeker Sect mustn’t be used recklessly! Otherwise all your efforts will go to waste!” Zuoqiu Qingyu reminded him in a serious voice.

Li Chunjun smiled and did not answer, but his curved lips were a sign of his unwavering determination.

Ning Zhan sighed, slowly pulling up his sleeve to reveal a sinister-looking black serpent pattern on his arm. It exuded a terrifying and ferocious qi.   

“Since Blind Sword is trying so hard, I must also do the same,” Ning Zhan said.  

“My master has sealed the soul of a black serpent spirit into my arm and asked me to gradually control its vicious nature so that I will be able to use it one day. But it seems I might need to unseal it earlier than I imagined.”   

If it was unsealed early, however, even he might not be able to withstand its power. Furthermore, even if he could, once the black serpent spirit was released, it would inevitably flee and he would not be able to recapture it since he lacked the strength to do so. This time there were no sect elders nearby to aid him.   

When he returned to the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall, it would no doubt be difficult to explain his actions.   

Li Chunjun darted his eyes that were wrapped in black cloth over to Ning Zhan and asked with a smile, “No regrets?”  

Ning Zhan shrugged and grinned. “Who would I be afraid of?”  

Seeing this, Zuoqiu Qingyu let out a sigh. How could she not know that both Li Chunjun and Ning Zhan had trump cards? Even so, their odds of beating a Chosen weren’t high. They were also evidently aware of this, yet they were still choosing to take action. This warmed Zuoqiu Qingyu’s heart a bit. The friends from the Cangmang Continent did not become cold and detached with one another as a result of separating into different sects.

“While you are distracting them, I'll sneak into the Spirit Subduing Mountain to see if I can get Yaoyao out,” Zuoqiu Qingyu said.

Li Chunjun nodded, turned to Ning Zhan and asked, “Ready?”  

Clasping the scarlet-and-gold stick on his back, Ning Zhan’s eyes blazed with intense battle intent. 

“Let's do it!” he said.    

They all knew that once they acted they couldn’t turn back.

But at this very moment, they had no other choice to do otherwise. 

All three drew a deep breath, and the next moment, activated their Genesis Qi.    

Swoosh!    

But instantly, an ear-piercing sonic boom suddenly resounded throughout the heavens and the earth. Zuoqiu Qingyu and the other two raised their heads in puzzlement and saw that in the distance a beam of golden flowing light was speeding over. The beam then hovered above the Spirit Subduing Mountain. 

“The people of Cangxuan Sect have arrived?” Zuoqiu Qingyu exclaimed.     

“Only one person came? I wonder which Chosen of the Cangxuan Sect was sent here. The Sacred Palace has two Chosen guarding the mountain,” Li Chunjun said.

Under their gazes, the golden stream of Genesis Qi light dispersed from the sky, revealing a slender figure standing in the air. 

And when their eyes fell on the face of that figure, all were filled with shock. Losing their voice, they exclaimed, “Zhou Yuan?!” 

Because the young figure standing tall in the air was Zhou Yuan, who came at the fastest speed possible!    

“Is he alone?” Zuoqiu Qingyu’s expression changed. “This guy is too impulsive. Although he has previously defeated a Chosen from the Sacred Palace, the two Chosen guarding the mountain are both ranked higher than that Chai Ying! And there’s two of them!”

They did not expect that only Zhou Yuan would come. 

Li Chunjun's eyebrows were also slightly scrunched together, but he quickly said, “It’s good he came, he can ease a lot of our pressure. I can join forces with Ning Zhan to temporarily obstruct the other Chosen.”

Zhou Yuan cast a glance in the direction of Zuoqiu Qingyu, Li Chunjun and the others. A smile came over his face, and at the same time, his voice was transmitted over using Genesis Qi.

“You are the disciples of other sects. You don't have to help, it may bring you trouble.”   

Li Chunjun and Ning Zhan were after all people of the Sword Seeker Sect and the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall. These two great sects had always maintained neutrality and would not be willing to get involved in the matters between the Cangxuan Sect and the Sacred Palace.

And if Li Chunjun and Ning Zhan were to intervene, their action would inevitably lead to disapproval. 

“Leave it to me now, and thank you,” Zhou Yuan’s soft voice passed into the ears of Zuoqiu Qingyu and the others.  

The fact that they had appeared here already made him incredibly touched. 

Li Chunjun and Ning Zhan exchanged a glance and asked in bewilderment, “Is he planning to take on two Chosen by himself?”

Zuoqiu Qingyu answered with hesitation, “It seems so.”  

“He hasn’t lost his mind because of anger, has he?” Ning Zhan scratched his head.

Zuoqiu Qingyu was taken aback for a moment, but she knew that it was not impossible. Although Zhou Yuan was usually calm and composed, the Sacred Palace had set a trap for Yaoyao, which was undoubtedly considered as touching Zhou Yuan's reverse scale.

“Let’s watch the situation. If Zhou Yuan can’t defeat the enemies, we will help,” Li Chunjun said.    

The other two also nodded gently.    

High in the sky, after urging the three people not to act, Zhou Yuan directed his gaze to the peak of the Spirit Subduing Mountain, his eyes gradually growing cold. It was there that two figures were standing with hands clasped behind their backs, staring at him mockingly. 

“I was wondering who the Cangxuan Sect would send out, but it turns out to be an ignorant boy.” Tie Mo of the Sacred Palace gave a sinister laugh.

Lei Jun also revealed a faint smile. “It seems that Cai Ying’s defeat has made you arrogant. You do know that both of us are ranked higher than Chai Ying, right?” 

Both spoke indifferently, and they evidently saw Zhou Yuan as an easy opponent.   

Zhou Yuan’s face was devoid of expression. He studied the Spirit Subduing Mountain filled with toxic qi for a moment, and with the clench of his fist, the Heaven Yuan Brush appeared in his hand and rapidly expanded.

As boundless killing intent surged, Zhou Yuan’s voice slowly rang out:

“I'm not interested in knowing your rank. All I know is that from today onward, your Sacred Palace will have two unoccupied Chosen positions.”