615: backlash

"First Elder!"

Previously, Xu Lan had been fighting for a long time without ever seeing the opponent's face.

First, he was slapped out by a palm strike, and then sucked back in from behind and smashed by another palm strike.

From head to toe, Xu Lan actually didn't know what the opponent looked like.

And because of the opponent's obvious Ninth Transformation strength, he never considered them to be someone from his own Sect.

Now that the opponent had just recovered, Xu Lan naturally recognized their appearance.

But he never expected that the person who interrupted him was actually his own First Elder.

In an instant, Xu Lan conjured up many scenarios in his mind.

For example, the First Elder secretly broke through to the Immortal Law Realm Ninth Transformation and then coveted his position as Sect Master.

Thus, he wanted to secretly strike, causing him trouble during the Slaying Three Corpses process.

Since he had handed the Three Corpses Severing Method to the three Elders, they also knew which step was most prone to problems.

Moreover, given the First Elder's current cultivation, it wouldn't be strange to say that he could break through to the Ninth Transformation.

If the perpetrator was an internal member of the Yuanxu Sect, First Elder Ye Xi would have the strongest motive.

The only thing that felt strange was this bizarre recovery ability.

However, the person before him, whether in terms of aura or fluctuation, was exactly the same as the First Elder.

Based on his familiarity with the First Elder, the person was indeed the genuine Ye Xi.

Nevertheless, Xu Lan still stared intently at Chen De and asked in a deep voice, "Who are you?"

"Ye Xi." Chen De never lied, and answered the question truthfully.

As the saying goes, anyone can be the Holy Mother, so the Holy Mother can also be anyone.

What's more, Chen De was the Supreme Holy Mother.

Saying that he was Ye Xi truly presented no problem at all.

"Fine."

Xu Lan nodded, no longer furious or angry, his face completely calm. "You should leave."

Chen De understood his meaning. Although Xu Lan failed his breakthrough today, he still had the strength to fight.

Even if Chen De broke through, he was only newly entering the Ninth Transformation and couldn't kill Xu Lan yet.

They were all people from the same Sect; even if they were fighting to the death one moment, they might still have a chance to cooperate the next.

Of course, there might be another meaning hidden within.

That is, 'My current condition is poor, so I'll let you off for now.'

'Once I recover, we'll settle the score.'

In response, Chen De merely shook his head. "Sect Master, you have committed too many wicked deeds. I am an Emissary of justice and will never condone evil."

"Therefore, only one of us two will be able to leave this place today."

"Are you sure?" Xu Lan asked.

Chen De stated firmly, "I am sure!"

"Good."

Hearing this, Xu Lan stopped talking, using the yuanxu plate with one hand to affect Chen De while the other hand swiftly ran outwards.

He had just witnessed Chen De's recovery ability; even when crushed by him, it wasn't enough to kill him.

If he were in his temporary three corpse state, he could still wear him down and destroy him.

But with his power plummeting, and only the strength of a newly entered Ninth Transformation remaining, he lacked that capability.

In the end, he could only reluctantly let him go, watching helplessly as he gradually recovered before his eyes.

Now, in a straightforward one-on-one fight, even if he could win, he couldn't kill him, so why not flee quickly?

Chen De merely watched him with a smile, making no move.

Xu Lan had laid down so many measures in this Small World, and although all the ones Chen De found had been disabled by him.

Chen De was certain there shouldn't be any battle assistance layouts here, otherwise they would have been used just now.

But there might still be something non-combat related used for escape, or perhaps something for mutual destruction.

Since that was the case, it was better to fight outside before clarifying the situation.

In the blink of an eye, relying on his control over this Small World, Xu Lan escaped outside the world.

However, what he didn't expect was that outside, Chen De had already set up a Vast Net.

The Grand Arrays covering the area were actually nothing significant.

Even with his severely reduced strength, he couldn't be suppressed so easily.

What truly surprised him was...

"Second Elder, Third Elder, Fourth Elder... have you all gone mad?"

Everyone presiding over these Grand Arrays was someone he knew well.

He had only gone into seclusion for a bit; why had everyone suddenly betrayed him?

Aside from himself, the entire Sect had betrayed him.

If it weren't for the auras on these people, which were identical to their original ones, Xu Lan would have thought they were fake.

A dragon trapped in shallow waters is mocked by shrimp; a tiger fallen to the plains is bullied by dogs!

However, today he should let them see what it means to have a difference of a single transformation—a world of difference.

Although there were still threats later, he still had time to conveniently deal with these guys.

"As the Sect Master, I am asking you one last time: surrender, or perish!"

All the Elders spoke in unison, their voices shaking heaven and earth and echoing across the Universe. "No surrender! Come and fight! Seek death!"

"Very well, very well."

Xu Lan hadn't expected these guys to be so resolute today; he never noticed it before.

"Since you are courting death and stubbornly refusing to repent, you cannot blame me."

"Today, I shall properly purge the Sect."

"As long as I don't die, the Yuanxu Sect will not perish!"

Subsequently, Xu Lan's aura raged, sweeping over everyone on the field with unparalleled ferocity.

Without a doubt, he was about to strike with full force and finish the fight quickly.

Then... then Xu Lan spotted what he believed was a weak point and attempted to rush out from there.

Did they really think he was stupid!

If Ye Xi placed such a group of people here to block him, they certainly weren't meant for him to kill or serve as mere decoration.

Even if they couldn't defeat him, they could at least obstruct him momentarily.

They might even surround him and join forces with Ye Xi to finish him off.

After all, Xu Lan's current state was too poor—it was a rare opportunity.

"Sect Master, where are you trying to go?"

Ahead, Ye Xi's figure was quietly waiting for him, a gentle smile on his lips.

Xu Lan wondered when this started; he had never seen the First Elder act like this before.

Moreover, no matter how he looked at it, the smile felt fake and hypocritical.

Getting back to the main point.

From the moment he saw Ye Xi's figure, he understood that a confrontation was unavoidable.

A thought flashed through Xu Lan's mind. Staring at Chen De, he said, "Then let me properly measure the abilities of our Yuanxu Sect's First Elder after his breakthrough."

He immediately activated the yuanxu plate, using it both to slow his injuries and stabilize his condition, and as a means of attack.

Seeing this, Chen De also pulled out his world-descending demonic blade, which was wrapped in countless streams of Bloody Aura.

"Immortal-grade Innate Supreme Treasure!"

Seeing that blade, Xu Lan felt a sense of familiarity, as if he had seen or heard of it somewhere.

But there was no doubt that the might of the blade the opponent produced was likely on the level of an Immortal-grade Innate Supreme Treasure.

Even if it hadn't reached that level itself, it was very close.

Xu Lan narrowed his eyes. In this battle, he was at a disadvantage in every respect, and the fight ahead would likely be difficult.