Junior sister, keep forbear for a while, I almost become invincible as soon!

Salt Mountain, deep within!

Zi Yan's smile was manic, with a touch of ferocity. "Let this young master think carefully about how to torture you—hmm, chopping you up with one sword stroke after another? Or slowly slicing off your flesh? Wow, wow, wow... Just thinking about it is thrilling!"

The number one young genius of the Saint Tao family was like a demon at this moment, describing those terrifying scenes.

The five people trapped in the Array turned pale; Liu Yuting, in particular, retched several times.

"Senior Brother, am I... am I very useless?" Liu Yuting's voice trembled.

"It's okay, we still have a chance," Li Qi said. "The elders said that my cultivation realm does not match my true combat strength. I will definitely be able to defeat him."

He had always been suppressing his realm, from the very beginning until now. The intention of the Sect's higher-ups was for him to take each step solidly, to grasp the foundations firmly, which was why his progress was slower than that of typical geniuses.

He was convinced! The elders hadn't lied to him, nor had his Master, and everything that the unseen Martial Uncle had said was true.

Li Qi's eyes ignited with fighting spirit as he gazed at Zi Yan.

The latter sneered, "This young master despises that look in your eyes." He couldn't understand it. Why, in a situation that spelled certain death, was Li Qi not afraid? Why did he gaze at him with eyes full of fighting spirit?

It defied logic. Thinking about it made him feel unsettled.

"Contract the Array! This young master wants to see whether your bones are harder or if my Array is stronger," Zi Yan said coldly.

CRACK!

The Array constricted, and the invisible Power Path rapidly intensified, as if Mount Tai were pressing down upon their heads. They couldn't bear it and were terribly injured on the spot, blood trickling from the corners of their mouths.

Zi Yan burst into laughter upon seeing this.

However, Li Qi was not visibly injured; he stood straight, the fighting spirit in his eyes never diminishing. On the contrary, it grew stronger as he stared intently at Zi Yan, like a beast from the depths of darkness eyeing its prey.

That look made Zi Yan afraid.

He became instantly enraged. "Kill him! Kill him for this young master, damn it..."

A mere cultivator of the Breaking Sun Ninth Heaven daring to gaze at the number one genius of the Saint Tao family like this. What right did he have? He wasn't worthy. Li Qi must die.

In that instant, Zi Yan's heart was in turmoil. He had a premonition that if Li Qi did not die today, he would surely become a powerhouse who would crush him.

That was unacceptable.

On this side, Nangong Jue was itching to act. But a Saint Tao family powerhouse kept an eye on him, his smile unabated. "Are you going to make a move?"

The latter remained silent. He'd considered it, but he didn't dare!

Yet, if he didn't make a move, relying on the strength of Li Qi and the other four, they absolutely couldn't contend with a powerful Array, not to mention the covetous Saint Tao family genius.

Nangong Jue's eyelids drooped heavily. He was hesitant, pondering the consequences that would befall the Wuji Sect if he acted. Would they be attacked en masse? Would the Wuji Sect be destroyed? And would he also perish? The cost was too great. If Li Qi and the other four could survive, it would be fine, since the Wuji Sect had already fallen into dire straits. But what if they couldn't?

In just a few breaths, he considered dozens of possibilities before finally deciding to act. Regardless of the consequences, Li Qi and the other four could not die. He had to find a way for them to escape, to get far away from Nan Zhanbu Province. As long as they reached Central Continent, they would be safe because Chen Pingping and the others were there.

MOO!

Suddenly, a long moo awakened Nangong Jue. He abruptly lifted his head, his heart pounding, as he stared intently behind him.

So familiar!

He started to tremble all over. His vision blurred, obscured by tears. He tried hard to wipe them away, wanting to get a clear view in that direction.

They're here!

An old yellow ox.

And two figures: one was Guang Xiaoyu, and the other... Why wasn't it Chen?

The hope that had just ignited was instantly extinguished. Nangong Jue's face turned deathly pale, and he forced a smile uglier than tears.

No, wait! He suddenly remembered something: if Lao Huang and Guang Xiaoyu were both present, then Chen Pingping must be there as well.

"Oh? A cow, hahaha..."

"Interesting!"

"And two little girls," someone sneered.

HEHE!

Guang Xiaoyu glanced over, chuckling, "Nangong Jue, long time no see!"

"Yes!" Nangong Jue smiled awkwardly. "Chen is back too, right?"

"Hmm, he's back, but he's not here," Guang Xiaoyu replied. "I can see you're disappointed, aren't you?"

"..."

How could he not be disappointed? Only Chen Pingping could likely handle the situation at Salt Mountain. If he wasn't here, they simply couldn't face the two major powers by themselves!

Nangong Jue forced a smile. "No, it's good that you're back!"

"So, you came back to die, did you?" a Saint Tao family powerhouse laughed. "Not bad, not bad. You, girl, are quite pretty. Entertain this young master for a bit later, and perhaps I'll let you live."

The group of people snickered lewdly.

Nangong Jue's expression stiffened. "You all should leave, quickly."

Laugh? Guang Xiaoyu scoffed. "Using The King of Medicine to set up an Array in advance, planning to slay the Wuji Sect's young talents? Very well, this young lady has seen it all."

"What advance arrangement? Do you have any evidence?" a Saint Tao family powerhouse retorted. "Besides... this is a clash and competition between the younger generation. The older generation, or even the more powerful elders, must not interfere. If you wish to break this rule, fine, but only if your Wuji Sect can withstand the punitive expedition from the four great forces."

"Oh?" Guang Xiaoyu said in surprise. "A joint punitive expedition from the four great forces? That sounds quite terrifying."

She smiled.

These people were so foolish, trying to suppress a Demon Emperor with a mere rule. Could that work? Definitely not. In the past, she would have slapped them down immediately, annihilated this group first, then their backing forces, to show them what a true punitive expedition was. But now, she couldn't. Her Senior Brother had given an order; she must not act. Forget it, forget it!

Guang Xiaoyu raised an eyebrow, smiling. "Little Junior Sister, you go! Don't show any mercy. Look at those five trapped in the Array; they are all your junior brothers and sisters!"

Zi Ji nodded and stepped forward.

Seeing this, many powerhouses were stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Interesting, truly interesting! Sending out a ten-year-old little girl to fight, hahaha... Has the Wuji Sect run out of people?"

Hearing this, Zi Ji couldn't help but turn her head and retort, "I'm thirteen."

Hahaha? Thirteen?

Their laughter grew even more unrestrained.

Guang Xiaoyu blinked. "A thirteen-year-old girl joining the fight isn't against the rules, is it?"

"Of course not..." the Saint Tao family member chuckled. "But if something really happens later, you can't just intervene as you please, HEHE!"

"Naturally!" Guang Xiaoyu nodded.

Nangong Jue was full of worry, but seeing her confident expression, he couldn't say much.

At this point, Zi Ji had already reached the outside of the Array. Her small figure drew much attention.

"Little girl, are you here to seek death?" Zi Yan asked rudely.

"My Senior Sister told me to come," Zi Ji said after a thought, then pointed at the five people inside the Array. "Can you let them go?"

She was very serious.

Zi Yan and his group were momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter. "Little girl, this young master will give you a chance. Leave here quickly, or else..."

"I can't leave!" Zi Ji declared. "I'm here to rescue them. My Senior Sister said they are all my junior brothers and sisters, and I must protect them." With that, she walked step by step towards the Array.

Arrogant!

The smiles on the faces of the Saint Tao family geniuses froze, replaced by sneers. Exchanging glances, they immediately moved to attack.