Chapter 297: Protect Your Own Brother
"What?! Tianze’s ancestor is long gone?"
Below the altar, He Yong was aghast. He looked at He Qian in disbelief. "Sis, is this true?"
He Qian froze, then shook her head firmly. "No, that can’t be. The ancestor is definitely still protecting us."
"Then why hasn’t the ancestor appeared?"
He Yong demanded.
He Qian was suddenly at a loss. "I... I don’t know."
She turned and looked at the surrounding Snow Trees. Legend had it that when the nation of Tianze faced a crisis, the Snow Trees would blossom. That would be the sign of the ancestor’s return.
But right now, the Snow Trees remained perfectly still.
Just then, the disciples from the Celestial Profound Sacred Land also spotted Shen Daoxing and slowly turned their gazes toward him.
"Young Master, the Celestial Profound Sacred Land has found us."
Elder Mu and Xin hurried to Shen Daoxing’s side. "We have to leave, now! This Xu Hong is an expert at the Ninth Layer of the Earth Profound Realm! Within the Profound Realms, every layer marks a world of difference in power. An expert at the Ninth Layer of the Earth Profound Realm is a top-tier powerhouse on the East Continent! Young Master, no matter how skilled you are, you’re no match for him!"
"We have to get out of here!"
Elder Mu said urgently, "And that Refining Dust Realm expert from the Celestial Profound Sacred Land we ran into earlier will probably get word of this and rush over here any second."
’He’s right. Even within the Earth Profound Realm, the power gaps are immense, to say nothing of the Ninth Layer. Xu Hong is on a completely different level from Wei Zhi and Yuwen Wuji. Even with the Venerable Dharma Seal, it would be difficult to win. The disparity in cultivation was just too vast.’
Just then, He Qian resolutely stood up. She struggled to take Shen Daoxing’s hands, her eyes filled with apology.
Suddenly, He Qian gave a self-deprecating laugh. "How ridiculous. Young Master Yang, just a moment ago I was saying that Tianze would protect you, and now we’ve dragged you into our mess. I’m afraid I, He Qian, will never be able to repay you for saving my life."
She paused and fell silent for a moment before suddenly speaking again. "Young Master Yang, you must go! Don’t worry about us. The people from the Celestial Profound Sacred Land are here for us. They won’t bother you. Run!"
Then, without a second thought, He Qian turned to face the disciples of the Celestial Profound Sacred Land.
Shen Daoxing was taken aback. He hadn’t expected this.
He Qian took a single step, then suddenly spun around and grabbed Shen Daoxing again.
She looked up at Shen Daoxing, her face filled with apology. "Young Master Yang, it seems Tianze will never be able to repay our debt to you. But I have one more shameless favor to ask."
With that, she pulled He Yong over. "Young Master Yang, please take my brother with you. Tianze cannot be wiped out completely. Please, take my brother and escape this place."
He Yong was shocked. "Sis, I’m not leaving!" he exclaimed. "How can I run away by myself? I’m staying to fight with you to the very end!"
He then forcefully broke free from He Qian’s grasp.
However, just then, a figure stepped forward to block He Yong’s path. It was the Eldest Prince, He Yu.
"Yong! Your sister is right. The bloodline of Tianze must not end! Someone has to survive to avenge us!"
Eldest Prince He Yu said, his expression grim.
He then turned to Shen Daoxing. "Yang Xing, I may not like you, but I acknowledge your strength. You must take my brother and get him out of here."
As he spoke, Eldest Prince He Yu reached into his robes, pulled out a black iron token, and tossed it to Shen Daoxing. He explained,
"This is the command token for Tianze’s entire merchant guild on the East Continent. If you can get my brother to safety, the guild will be yours."
He Yong cried out in alarm,
"Sis! Big Brother! What are you saying? I’m not going! I’ll fight with you to the end! How can you be so cruel as to make me run away and live in shame?"
With that, he charged forward resolutely, heading straight for the Celestial Profound Sacred Land disciples.
But he had only taken a single step,
when He Yu raised a hand and struck him hard on the back of the neck.
He Yong swayed and collapsed, unconscious.
Eldest Prince He Yu quickly caught the fainting He Yong and turned, placing him in Shen Daoxing’s arms.
"Yang, I’m entrusting my brother to you."
Finally, Eldest Prince He Yu gave Shen Daoxing a deep, solemn bow. He then turned, joining He Qian to face the disciples of the Celestial Profound Sacred Land.
Seeing the disciples of the Celestial Profound Sacred Land closing in to surround them, Elder Mu rushed forward. "Young Master, we have to go now!"
Shen Daoxing glanced down at the unconscious He Yong, then at He Qian and He Yu, who were advancing without a hint of fear. He let out a sudden sigh.
Then, Shen Daoxing turned to Elder Mu. "Elder Mu, without the Wind Source Ore, we won’t be able to escape the Sacred Land’s pursuit, will we?"
Elder Mu paused, then said, "That’s right. But if we can just get away, we can figure something out. It’s still safer than staying here."
Shen Daoxing grunted in acknowledgment and nodded. "Good enough."
’What talk of cultivating the Great Dao, of becoming an Immortal and living forever? In the end, it all comes down to self-interest!’
Elder Mu glanced up at Xu Hong, who shone with a golden light like an Immortal, and shook his head. He then turned back. "Young Master, let’s leave this place now."
With that, Elder Mu turned to head down the mountain.
But he had only taken a single step when he realized Shen Daoxing was gone. He whirled around to see Shen Daoxing charging resolutely toward the summit.
???
Elder Mu.
...
Watching the menacing disciples from the Celestial Profound Sacred Land approach, Eldest Prince He Yu smiled faintly and turned to He Qian beside him. "Royal Sister, these fellows from the Sacred Land are no slouches. Can you still fight?"
He Qian’s eyes sharpened as she stared ahead coolly. "Big Brother, don’t underestimate your little sister. I’m a master at the Ninth Layer of the Spirit Transformation Realm, you know."
With that, He Qian charged forward.
Five disciples from the Celestial Profound Sacred Land met their charge. Each one radiated a sharp, murderous aura. They were all masters at the Ninth Layer of the Spirit Transformation Realm, and not a single one was weaker than He Qian or He Yu.
But He Qian and He Yu showed no fear, charging decisively into the group.
But in that very instant.
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
Suddenly, black arcs of light flashed through the air.
ARGH!
Streams of crimson Blood Arrows shot into the air.
The five Spirit Transformation masters’ eyes went wide. With a heavy THUD, they collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
The next moment, Shen Daoxing’s figure slowly materialized before He Qian and He Yu. His white robes fluttered as he held a massive, black sword in one hand.
"Young Master Yang?"
"Yang?"
He Qian and He Yu were startled to see him. "Where’s He Yong?"
"Protect your own family."
Shen Daoxing said simply.
Before He Qian and He Yu could even process what he said,
Shen Daoxing’s figure vanished, streaking toward the ancestral altar—toward Xu Hong and the Emperor of Tianze.
!!!
He Qian.
!!!
He Yu.