172: The Celestial King blocks the way, but karma protects me.
Icy despair, like a poisonous vine, coiled around Liu Qingtian's demonic soul. The life-claiming Annihilation Qi behind him grew closer, and the unknown forbidden land ahead seemed not far, yet also separated by an insurmountable chasm. He could feel Luo Jiuxuan's patience wearing thin; the next strike would likely be a thunderous blow, leaving no chance of survival.
Just as he was about to give up, preparing to turn and burn everything for a final desperate fight—
Buzz!
The Void Realm ahead rippled like water. A clear, ethereal, yet supremely majestic figure, without any warning, blocked the path between him and his pursuers.
The newcomer was a woman, dressed in an elegant Palace-Attired, with peerless beauty and an otherworldly temperament. Her entire body exuded boundless Power Of Will and a magnificent aura of controlling the Laws of heaven and earth! She merely stood there, and it was as if she became the center of this Star Domain, even calming the chaotic Law currents.
Liu Qingtian's Demonic Pupils suddenly contracted, and he abruptly stopped, looking at this back figure in disbelief.
This aura... he would never mistake it! It was the true body of the mysterious female Cultivator who conceived No Return with him during his Mortal Transformation in the Qingyuan Realm! However, the pressure she exuded now was tens of millions of times more terrifying than the Divine Thought manifestation back then! This was... Dao Mastery Realm! And it was the Peak of the Dao-Master Realm! An existence corresponding to an Immortal King's Peak!
Why would she appear here? And why would she block Luo Jiuxuan?
The Palace-Attired Woman looked calmly at Luo Jiuxuan, who was chasing from behind. Her vermilion lips parted slightly, her voice clear and resonant, yet carrying an undeniable power:
"Fellow Daoist Luo, please stop. This person and I... have a great Karma connection. I hope Fellow Daoist can show mercy and allow me to take him away."
Her words seemed polite, but the majesty of an Immortal King at their Peak acted as an invisible barrier, standing between Liu Qingtian and Luo Jiuxuan.
Luo Jiuxuan's figure slowly solidified from the Void Realm, still clad in black, holding burying netherworld. He looked at the suddenly appearing Palace-Attired Woman, and in his indifferent eyes, for the first time, a faint trace of... annoyance flickered, as if seeing something unpleasant.
He scrutinized the woman from head to toe, his gaze disdainful, as if examining an object, his tone cold and sharp:
"Peak of the Dao-Master Realm? A waste that has been stuck in this Realm for countless epochs, unable to glimpse the true meaning of Reincarnation. Do you really think you're worthy of me showing mercy?"
The contempt and disdain in his words were undisguised, as if standing before him was not an Immortal King who traversed the universe, but merely a mediocre talent with dull Aptitude, beyond redemption.
Upon hearing this, the Palace-Attired Woman's exquisite face showed no anger, but a hint of coldness flashed in her clear eyes. The vast Power Of Will around her subtly fluctuated, causing the surrounding Great Dao Laws to resonate with it.
"Fellow Daoist Luo, perhaps your future self will be supremely powerful throughout the universe, but your current self, before me, is no different from an ant. Do not court disaster."
Her words also carried a sharp edge, displaying the Immortal King's majesty without reservation, and the entire Star Domain seemed to solidify under her will. She had this confidence and strength; after all, the current Luo Jiuxuan, no matter how strong, was only in the Star Shattering Realm, separated from the Peak of the Dao-Master Realm by an insurmountable chasm.
However, Luo Jiuxuan's reaction was beyond common sense.
He didn't even raise burying netherworld. He simply stared intently at the Palace-Attired Woman with eyes that seemed to pierce through eternity, speaking each word as if countless eons of ice were colliding, carrying an undeniable decisiveness and... a chilling madness:
"I'll say it one last time."
"Move aside."
"Otherwise, today I will communicate with the future, borrow a wisp of the Dao Fruit, and... kill you here!"
"Communicate with the future?!" The Palace-Attired Woman's pupils constricted slightly, and true astonishment finally appeared on her usually calm face. She clearly knew what this meant, and she understood that with Luo Jiuxuan's background and his terrifying Chaos Annihilation Dao, he might indeed be able to do it! That would be an obliteration across space and time, with a huge price, but equally terrifying results!
She stared intently at Luo Jiuxuan, as if trying to discern the truth from his eyes. Luo Jiuxuan's gaze did not waver in the slightest, containing only an icy stillness and seriousness, as if if she obstructed him for another moment, that declaration of destruction would immediately become reality.
Silence, oppressive as if tangible.
A moment later, the magnificent pressure around the Palace-Attired Woman slowly receded like a tide. She took a deep look at Luo Jiuxuan, her eyes complex, containing apprehension, helplessness, and a hint of veiled humiliation.
She moved aside.
It wasn't fear of the current Luo Jiuxuan, but apprehension of the unpredictable consequences of "communicating with the future." She couldn't afford to gamble.
However, the moment she stepped aside to clear the path—
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!
Dozens of powerful auras suddenly surged out from the Void Realm behind her, blocking Luo Jiuxuan's front!
These people, both male and female, were all dignified and energetic, seemingly not old in age, yet their cultivation had all reached the Peak of the Star Shattering Realm. Their energy levels were at least Stellar Level Peak, and the most outstanding among them had even reached Stellar Remnant Level! They were clearly the peerless Prodigies under this Palace-Attired Woman's command or from her affiliated power!
"Do not harm those connected by Karma to our master!"
"Luo Jiuxuan, your opponents are us!"
These young Cultivators were filled with high Battle Intent, their eyes carrying scrutiny and challenge towards Luo Jiuxuan, seemingly not fully realizing what kind of existence they were facing.
The moment the Palace-Attired Woman moved aside, her sleeve had already swept up the heavily injured Liu Qingtian, transforming into an invisible stream of light. With a speed transcending space and time, she instantly vanished from this Star Domain. The next moment, she had already appeared in a strange great world, countless billions of miles away.
She knew that she couldn't directly attack Luo Jiuxuan; that would give him an excuse to "communicate with the future." But she could leave behind these carefully cultivated young Prodigies, who had shallow Karma with her, to obstruct him.
She understood the arrogance of an existence like Luo Jiuxuan. Facing a challenge from peers, if he still had to rely on a near-cheating method like "communicating with the future," it would be an insult to his Dao Heart. As long as she didn't interfere, Luo Jiuxuan would most likely choose to... personally crush these obstructors.
This was cruel, but it was the only way she could think of to save Liu Qingtian without completely offending Luo Jiuxuan.
However, it was a pity for these young talents she had painstakingly nurtured... At the edge of the Hundred Battles Star Tomb, Luo Jiuxuan looked at the group of young Cultivators blocking his way, brimming with Battle Intent. He also sensed that the Palace-Attired Woman had already fled far away with Liu Qingtian, completely disappearing from his lock-on range.
There was no expression on his face.
No anger, no anxiety, not even a hint of displeasure at being outmaneuvered.
Only a bottomless... coldness.
He slowly raised burying netherworld in his hand, his gaze sweeping over the dozens of Prodigies with Stellar Remnant Level combat power in front of him, as if looking at a group of... annoying insects.
"Since you seek death..."
"Then, I shall grant it to you."
Before his words fully fell, the black-clad figure had already transformed into a flash of Annihilation Qi that tore through the Star Domain, charging into the crowd!
The next moment, terrifying Law collisions and desperate wails erupted in that Star Domain.