516: a frantic escape

Yu Chi Shang brought out a giant tower and smashed it directly toward Dong Xuanji.

The giant tower grew larger and larger in mid-air, descending upon Dong Xuanji with overwhelming force.

Seeing this, Dong Xuanji’s willow-like brows furrowed slightly. She instantly threw out a massive wheel, blocking it in front of her.

“Boom... Boom... Boom!”

With a thunderous roar, the two massive energies collided. Dong Xuanji spat out a mouthful of blood and was sent flying backward.

Before she even hit the ground, Dong Xuanji turned into an afterimage and rushed toward Yang Lingchen's direction.

“You still think you can escape before me?”

Yu Chi Shang snorted coldly. With a leap, he quickly chased after Dong Xuanji.

However, he was ultimately a step too slow. Dong Xuanji had already rushed into the crowd, grabbed Yang Lingchen, and flown toward the palace on the mountain peak.

“Dong Xuanji is already injured. Catch them! Don't let them escape!”

Yu Chi Shang shouted coldly and took the lead, rushing to the very front.

Yang Lingchen was very calm at this moment. He was tucked under Dong Xuanji's arm, but he didn't resist, knowing she was saving him.

However, Yang Lingchen immediately recalled Nie Xiaoyu into the yellow springs diagram. As for the other Ghost Soldiers, they could only be used to cover the retreat.

After entering the palace, Dong Xuanji rushed into her room like a gust of wind. She flipped open a stone bed and jumped into a small Teleportation Array inside with Yang Lingchen.

Just as Dong Xuanji and Yang Lingchen disappeared, Yu Chi Shang burst in.

“You can't run. The yellow springs diagram can only belong to me.”

Looking at the damaged small Teleportation Array, Yu Chi Shang's expression turned incredibly grim.

“Old Ancestor, what should we do?” At this moment, the Grand Elder of the Eastern Emperor Pavilion walked in.

“Chase them. The range of this small Teleportation Array isn't far. They must still be nearby.”

After saying this, Yu Chi Shang's figure flashed as he quickly gave chase outside the Dong Xuan Pavilion.

The edge of the East Profound Mountain Range.

A flash of white light appeared, and Dong Xuanji and Yang Lingchen instantly manifested there.

“Pfft...!”

Dong Xuanji spat out a mouthful of blood. Her once peerless face was now pale, and her snow-white robe was stained red with blood, making her look poignantly beautiful.

“Are you alright?”

Seeing this, Yang Lingchen quickly supported the swaying Dong Xuanji.

“I'm fine, you should go!” Dong Xuanji shook her head, signaling she was okay.

“Pfft...!”

But before she could finish, she spat out another mouthful of blood.

“I'll take you with me.”

Yang Lingchen frowned and pulled Dong Xuanji into his arms. His figure then turned into a streak of white light as he dashed quickly into the depths of the East Profound Mountain Range.

Yang Lingchen had considered escaping alone, but Dong Xuanji had treated him reasonably well recently. Moreover, she hadn't abandoned him during such a critical moment.

If he were to abandon Dong Xuanji now, he would be less than human.

Seeing that Yang Lingchen hadn't abandoned her, Dong Xuanji's beautiful eyes closed slightly. The corners of her mouth curled up into a faint smile as she leaned her head gently against his chest and whispered:

“Why didn't you leave me behind?”

“I haven't had enough fun yet!” Yang Lingchen said with a smile as he fled.

“Then how long do you want to play?” A faint hint of charm curled at the corner of Dong Xuanji's mouth.

“If possible, I'd like to keep playing forever.” Yang Lingchen chuckled.

“Don't you think I'm old? I'm hundreds of thousands of years old,” Dong Xuanji said calmly.

“For us Cultivators, age is just a number. Besides, the older you are, the more of a sense of accomplishment I feel in conquering you.” Yang Lingchen gave a wicked smile.

“Stinky brat! To think you have such a fetish.” Dong Xuanji let out a charming cry. “Go left, and go faster. That old fogey is about to catch up.”

“Mm.” Yang Lingchen nodded and sped up even more, dashing toward the left... The camp of the Great Zhou Sacred Dynasty.

A middle-aged man of extraordinary bearing, dressed in a golden dragon robe, was studying a map of the area surrounding the Eastern Emperor Pavilion inside a tent.

This middle-aged man was none other than Zhou Wuche, the Emperor of the Great Zhou Sacred Dynasty.

“Your Majesty.” At that moment, a guard in fresh armor walked in.

“Is there any intelligence?”

“Your Majesty, the latest news: internal strife has broken out in the Eastern Emperor Pavilion. Dong Xuanji has fled with Yang Lingchen.” The armored guard reported.

“Is this true?” A sharp light flashed in Zhou Wuche's eyes.

“Replying to Your Majesty, it is absolutely true. According to our reports, Dong Xuanji was heavily injured before she fled. Currently, the Old Ancestor of the Eastern Emperor Pavilion is chasing after her toward the East Profound Mountain Range. I estimate she is fleeing into the mountains.” The guard said.

“The Old Ancestor and I will personally capture Dong Xuanji. You all stay and guard the camp.” After speaking, Zhou Wuche's figure flashed and he vanished from the tent.

Meanwhile, Tai Jingtian, the Hall Master of Tiandu Hall, and Valley Master of Heartless Valley, Valley Master, also received the news of Dong Xuanji and Yang Lingchen's escape at the first opportunity.

The leaders of these two great super factions didn't hesitate for a moment. They ordered their disciples to stay behind while they and their respective Old Ancestors quickly gave chase toward the East Profound Mountain Range.

After all, the yellow springs diagram was a Heaven-Defying divine artifact! Whoever obtained it would possess the power to rule the Archaic Star Domain in the future.

Such temptation was not something anyone could resist.

At this moment, the leaders of the Four Great Super Factions acted with tacit understanding, closing in on the East Profound Mountain Range from different directions... In an Immortal Cave deep within the East Profound Mountain Range, Dong Xuanji sat cross-legged, continuously tending to her injuries.

After about two hours, she suddenly opened her eyes. Her face had gradually regained some color.

“How are you?” Yang Lingchen asked with concern.

“I've recovered a bit for now.” Dong Xuanji's brows furrowed slightly. “We must leave quickly. It will be troublesome if we are surrounded.”

“Surrounded? What do you mean?” Yang Lingchen asked.

“The other Three Great Super Factions were already planning to lay siege to our Eastern Emperor Pavilion to force me to hand over you and the yellow springs diagram. Now that we've left, they certainly won't let it go. We might already be surrounded.” Dong Xuanji said gravely.

“Our luck can't be that bad, can it?” Yang Lingchen's face darkened.

With his current strength, he was at most comparable to the Seventh Layer of the Myriad Illusions Realm. Even if he transformed into a True Dragon, he could only defeat a Cultivator at the Eighth Layer of the Myriad Illusions Realm.

With this kind of strength, he would undoubtedly be defeated if he encountered the leaders of the Four Great Super Factions.

“Are you afraid?” A charming smile played on Dong Xuanji's lips.

“There's nothing to be afraid of. I've never been afraid of anyone in my life!” Yang Lingchen said, “Let's go! I'll carry you on my back.”

“Mm... mm.” Dong Xuanji gave a Tiantian smile and nodded.

For some reason, after being with Yang Lingchen for a while, she found herself gradually becoming a bit more like a young woman in love.

Although Dong Xuanji had lived for hundreds of thousands of years, she had never had contact with men.

Regarding romantic feelings, she was still in a state of ignorance.

However, Dong Xuanji was certain of one thing: whenever she was with Yang Lingchen, she always felt a heart-fluttering sense of shyness.

Although she didn't know how to describe her feelings, her intuition told her that this must be what first love felt like.

“Yang Lingchen, how old are you?” Dong Xuanji whispered.

“Almost forty,” Yang Lingchen replied.

“Do you often carry women on your back like this?” Dong Xuanji asked curiously.

“Cough... cough, of course not. Aside from you, I've never carried another woman on my back.” Yang Lingchen said solemnly.

“Your mouth is so sweet, you must have deceived many women, haven't you?” Dong Xuanji teased.

“Cough... cough! How could that be? My nickname is the Honest Young Master.” Yang Lingchen chuckled.