CHAPTER 519: CHAPTER 518 ARRIVAL _1

Zhong Ziqi was taken aback when he saw his Fist Strength pierced. He quickly looked up to see a woman in black, poised and elegant, who had appeared in mid-air at some unknown point. The powerful jet of black Air Energy from before had clearly come from her.

"It’s the Demon Sect Saintess, Liu Xiling!"

The upper echelons of Sky Void Palace, including Dong Shenglong, were all shocked. Had Liu Xiling actually charged straight into their Sky Void Palace?

"Master has finally arrived!"

A touch of joy surfaced in Xia Yunxin’s beautiful eyes. It seems she received my message, she thought. Thankfully, she isn’t too late.

"Liu Xiling? You dare to barge into my Sky Void Palace alone? Truly audacious. But since you’re here today, don’t even think of leaving."

Zhong Ziqi’s expression darkened slightly. From Liu Xiling, he could sense a powerful fluctuation no weaker than his own. It appeared this Demon Sect Saintess had also reached the Fifth Level of Sky Apex Realm.

Dong Shenglong, Feng Chi Yu, Sky Thunder Wandering Cultivator, and other Sky Apex Realm experts quickly moved to surround Liu Xiling. This was no longer just a Sky Void Palace affair; Liu Xiling’s appearance signaled the start of a battle between the Righteous Path and the Demon Way.

"This is bad! The Demon Cult’s army is storming the mountain!"

Just then, a Sky Void Palace disciple, panic-stricken and covered in blood, stumbled into the assembly area, shouting at the top of his lungs.

Soon after, earth-shattering war cries and the sounds of battle echoed from the foot of the mountain.

"What?"

Everyone in the assembly area was aghast, their faces etched with terror. Did this demoness actually bring a large contingent of forces?

"Demoness, are you trying to incite a war between the Righteous Path and the Demon Way today?"

A flicker of apprehension appeared in Zhong Ziqi’s eyes. If a war between the Righteous Path and the Demon Way erupted here today, it would undoubtedly be a catastrophe for the Sky Void Palace.

"If you don’t want your Sky Void Palace reduced to ruins, don’t you dare touch my son. Otherwise, this Sky Void Palace will surely see a river of blood today," Liu Xiling declared, her beautiful face impassive.

"This little beast first ruined the wedding, then killed Ye Nantian, the Vice-Head of the Divine Intent Sect, and many disciples of my Sky Void Palace! His crimes are heinous! Great Elder, we absolutely cannot let this boy escape today, no matter what!" Seeing Zhong Ziqi hesitate, Dong Shenglong urged fiercely from the side.

"This Ling Chen is deeply demonic and exceptionally talented! If we don’t eliminate him today, he will undoubtedly become a great scourge to the entire Martial World in the future!" a Sky Void Palace Elder also exclaimed.

"Everyone, ignore this demoness! Kill the boy, Ling Chen, first!"

Zhong Ziqi seemed to have finally resolved to kill Ling Chen. He, Feng Chi Yu, Sky Thunder Wandering Cultivator, and other Sky Apex Realm titans attacked simultaneously, all targeting Ling Chen.

"Splitting Void Divine Fist!" Zhong Ziqi roared, unleashing a devastating punch that seemed capable of shattering the Void itself, blasting directly towards Ling Chen.

"Fire Feather Heavenly Attack!"

"Thunder Roaring Thousand Miles!"

"Breaking Void Saber!"

Feng Chi Yu, Sky Thunder Wandering Cultivator, and the others all unleashed their ultimate killing techniques, intending to deliver an Absolute Kill to Ling Chen on the spot.

"Hmph!"

With a cold snort, Liu Xiling’s figure flickered, and she appeared beside Ling Chen. Then, with a wave of her sleeve, a torrent of Black True Qi surged forth, coalescing into an ancient altar that shielded the three of them.

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

Several ferocious attacks slammed into the altar, causing it to tremble violently as cracks spiderwebbed across its surface.

BOOM!

The altar exploded, leaving behind a large crater. However, Liu Xiling, Ling Chen, and Xia Yunxin, who had been beneath it, had vanished.

Over ten meters behind the crater, the three of them reappeared.

"Kill!"

The four Sky Apex Realm experts, including Zhong Ziqi, had raging murderous intent in their eyes. Gathering their True Qi, they erupted with their full power and ruthlessly pursued Ling Chen and the two women.

But just then, a surge of black light erupted in the distance, and several imposing figures rushed over.

"Old fiend Zhong Ziqi, ganging up on the few with superior numbers? Such actions are hardly honorable."

"With us here today, you won’t lay a single finger on the Saint Child!"

These individuals were Experts from the Saintess Hall: Elder Beiming, the Fire Crow Taoist, the Black Swordsman, and others.

"So many Demonic Cult Leaders!"

The guests in the assembly area were terrified, their faces pale. With so many major figures gathered, a massive battle was undoubtedly imminent. They feared becoming collateral damage; these powerhouses could kill them with a mere flick of a finger.

"Great Elder, the Demon Cult is formidable. I suggest we stand down for today," Dong Shenglong quietly transmitted via True Qi to Zhong Ziqi. If this war truly erupts, the Sky Void Palace will likely be torn apart. As the Sky Void Palace Master, I’d become a commander with no troops.

Zhong Ziqi’s gaze flickered with indecision. The Sky Void Palace is a prominent sect of the Righteous Path. If Liu Xiling just waltzes in here and rescues the Saint Child, it will be a devastating blow to our prestige. However, if we clash head-on with the Demon Cult, the outcome will likely be mutual destruction, and our Sky Void Palace would probably suffer even greater losses. Between two evils, choose the lesser. We have no choice but to endure it today.

Zhong Ziqi made his decision. However, for the sake of appearances, he couldn’t just let the Demon Cult members leave. He instantly shot forward, launching a punch at Liu Xiling.

What a stubborn old fool, so obsessed with saving face, Liu Xiling shattered Zhong Ziqi’s Fist Strength with a single sword strike. She guessed the old man was merely putting on an act; he wouldn’t dare risk an all-out confrontation with her.

"Retreat!"

Liu Xiling had no intention of fighting the Sky Void Palace to the death. If the Sky Void Palace had killed Ling Chen, she would have undoubtedly bathed it in blood. But Ling Chen was still alive, and rescuing him was paramount. Moreover, she hadn’t brought many people on this excursion—only a little over a hundred, all elites from the Saintess Hall. The Sky Void Palace was thousands of miles from the Saint Witch Religion, making it impossible for a large army to arrive quickly. An all-out battle was out of the question. Naturally, it was best to withdraw when they had the advantage.

Seeing this, Elder Beiming, the Fire Crow Taoist, and the others also directed the Experts of the Saint Witch Religion to withdraw. Only a few dozen Experts from the Saint Witch Religion were currently at the foot of the mountain, shouting and setting fires. The Sky Void Palace had thousands of disciples; if this dragged on, the situation could turn unfavorable.

"Go!"

Liu Xiling forced Zhong Ziqi back, then reached out, grabbed Ling Chen and Xia Yunxin, and soared into the air.

With Sky Apex Realm experts like Elder Beiming providing cover, naturally, no one in the assembly area dared to make a move. At this point, unless someone had a death wish, they wouldn’t dare approach and court disaster.

Watching Liu Xiling and her group swiftly depart, Zhong Ziqi and Dong Shenglong both let out heavy sighs of relief. However, as they surveyed the chaotic scene in the assembly area, their expressions turned grim.

"Everyone present, listen well!" Dong Shenglong’s eyes were cold as he bellowed to the crowd in the assembly area. "From this moment on, our Sky Void Palace will issue a wanted order for Ling Chen throughout the entire Martial World! Whoever brings me Ling Chen’s head will immediately be appointed a Core Elder of the Sky Void Palace!"

However, very few responded to his declaration. Everyone understood this was merely the Sky Void Palace trying to save face. They had all witnessed Ling Chen’s capabilities today. Even Dong Shenglong, a titan of the Martial World at the Sky Apex Realm Third Layer, had been thoroughly routed by Ling Chen. Who else would dare to make a move on him? Wouldn’t that be tantamount to suicide?