Tang Bai Li

Chapter 185 The Traitor

The earth was torn asunder, revealing crimson light that ignited the entire space. Almost everything that touched that thermal energy turned to ash. The transparent air surged upwards like a wave of heat, forming a colossal mushroom cloud.

"Senior, are you alright?" After an unknown period, Xu Mu disengaged his defenses. Standing within the manifestation of the Wine Immortal Daoist, he swallowed hard, his voice trembling slightly.

"I'm alright," the Wine Immortal Daoist replied, his voice hoarse. He silently wiped a trickle of blood from his lips, smearing it across his face due to his trembling hand.

A realm-ranking expert at the Half-step Human King realm, his hand was shaking?

The Wine Immortal Daoist exhaled heavily. Just moments ago, he had witnessed domain lords, who were only half a realm below him, instantly vaporized by that terrifying red light, leaving only their souls. But then, from beneath the mushroom cloud, a mass of green mist emerged, corroding the anomalous ability users who attempted to escape with their souls into dust.

Dozens of domain lords, over a hundred lords, and anomalous ability users of the three-stage Huacai realm all perished.

"This destructive power is already infinitely close to that of a Human King." He stared at the kilometer-long crater and the ten-kilometer-high mushroom cloud, his gaze lost in thought. Then he corrected himself, "No, this is already an attack befitting the Human King realm."

"Human King, then how many of them died?" Xu Mu's shock gradually receded as he asked the Daoist, eager to know the outcome.

"Ninety-nine percent." The Daoist's calm voice seemed to suppress something. He took a deep breath and continued, "Except for a few domain lords on the fringes, and the two you wanted to kill, as well as Yaohuo, everyone else is dead."

"Ancestor Wang and Jin Dafu are still alive?" Xu Mu raised an eyebrow, seemingly puzzled.

"Yes, one of them forcibly repaired his physical body with blood coral, defying fate, and the other used magical treasures to withstand the explosion. Though severely injured, they are both alive," the Wine Immortal Daoist said gravely, looking towards the dust-filled area.

"What a pity. What about Yaohuo?" Xu Mu pursed his lips and asked, "If Yaohuo died, then the remaining two..."

"He's not dead." The Wine Immortal Daoist interrupted Xu Mu grimly, "He's alive and well, so we need to retreat."

With that, the Wine Immortal Daoist prepared to lead Xu Mu away.

"Wait!" a not-so-loud voice echoed in the space. The hearts of both the Wine Immortal Daoist and Xu Mu sank.

The mushroom cloud began to dissipate, and the blinding red glow gradually faded. The temperature that could evaporate everything gradually cooled. Then, amidst a burst of violent coughing, a tall, utterly disheveled figure slowly emerged from the space.

"You truly... surprised me." Yaohuo controlled his manifestation, slowly revealing himself in the space. He met the Wine Immortal Daoist's gaze from a distance and smiled brightly. "You caused a ruckus in the merchant guild, shook Luobudao City, and then deliberately exposed a weakness to lure us here, all to annihilate us? What a stratagem!"

As Yaohuo spoke, his form became clearer. The Wine Immortal Daoist observed him with a grave expression. Yaohuo was covering his chest with one hand, blood still trickling from his lips. The armor on his brilliant manifestation was reduced to mere fragments, and the body of the manifestation was broken and no longer emitted light, appearing incredibly dim.

The Daoist was shocked again. He had not expected Yaohuo to be so heavily injured. Damage to his manifestation's great dao was almost irreversible. Yaohuo might never have any hope of further advancement in his life!

"What are you going to do?" the Wine Immortal Daoist asked, his heart tightening, his voice cold.

"Of course, I'm going to kill you!" Yaohuo roared in fury. He had nearly been blown to death moments ago, and he was severely injured. All of this was because of Xu Mu!

"You caused me to injure my foundation; if I don't kill you, I, Yaohuo, swear I'm no man!" The man's face contorted with hatred as he raised his hand towards the Wine Immortal Daoist from a distance. The pressure in the area instantly intensified, as if he were about to unleash some terrifying anomalous ability.

Hearing this, Xu Mu couldn't help but shout:

"I harmed you? Isn't this all your own doing!"

"If you hadn't coveted that illusory Celestial Tome, if you had been willing to first listen to what the merchant guild and the Wang family had done to the common people, you wouldn't have ended up in this state!"

"In what state have I fallen that you are qualified to lecture me?" Yaohuo's movements faltered. He looked at Xu Mu with hatred in his eyes. He had been outmaneuvered time and time again by this young junior. If he didn't kill him today, he wouldn't be able to quell his resentment!

"Lord Yaohuo, why don't we join forces and eliminate this fellow!" Ancestor Wang emerged from the dust, his voice filled with pain. Half of his body was destroyed, and he had barely survived by relying on the vast amount of blood coral he carried.

"If you old geezers are tired of living, this poor Daoist will send you on your way!" the Wine Immortal Daoist said, his dao sword slashing down with terrifying power. However, Yaohuo also unleashed two streams of fire dragons from his hands, which surged and collided with the dao sword. Beneath the roar, the sky was filled with a hurricane of flames and dao origins.

RUMBLE!

A moment later, the Wine Immortal Daoist's manifestation stumbled back, withdrawing his dao sword. The two fire dragons also dissipated, suggesting Yaohuo had gained the upper hand.

"My strength has regressed too much!" Yaohuo's expression was grim. Although it seemed he had the advantage in the previous exchange, the Wine Immortal Daoist had merely unleashed a casual sword strike, while he had used his anomalous ability.

Even so, the two of them had almost fought to a draw.

"Lord Yaohuo, so many lives have been lost. Even if it means fighting to the death, you must act!" Jin Dafu also emerged from the dust. Seeing Yaohuo hesitate, he grew anxious.

"If you act, Lord, I am willing to offer the blood coral from my home to help you recover your strength," Ancestor Wang said.

"The rare treasures of my Jinjin Silver Merchant Guild are also yours to take!" Jin Dafu gritted his teeth. "Those still alive who wish to exact revenge on Xu Mu, come quickly! I, Jin Dafu, will bear the cost of your healing after this is done!"

Upon hearing this, four more domain lords appeared in the space. Their injuries varied in severity, but they all possessed a certain combat capability.

Yaohuo looked at the Wine Immortal Daoist and Xu Mu, then at the few individuals beside him, and spoke with killing intent:

"Since that's the case, there's nothing more to say."

"Everyone, charge with me!"

"Wait!" Just as Yaohuo was about to lead the charge against Xu Mu, a righteous voice suddenly echoed in the space.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a middle-aged man, dressed in a long robe and a yellow vest, slowly flying from the side.

His features were like mountains, and his aura was incredibly domineering. He was none other than the patriarch of the former imperial family, Changsun Wuji, a lord-level expert.

"Changsun Wuji, Yan Yu?" Xu Mu blinked in surprise upon seeing the arrival, then noticed Yan Yu in his arms. "What's going on? Didn't I ask you to take him to Moon City at the border?"

Everyone watched Changsun Wuji float towards Xu Mu, their expressions growing grave. They dared not act rashly, as they were unsure of the situation and assumed this was a contingency plan set up by Xu Mu.

"The family transmission said there was an accident at Moon City. I didn't know what to do, so I had to come here to find you," Changsun Wuji said with a helpless expression. He descended about ten meters in front of Xu Mu, carrying the unconscious Yan Yu.

"An accident?" Xu Mu frowned. He had left a note asking Changsun Wuji to take Yan Yu to Moon City and depart immediately, but it did not mention his own whereabouts tonight.

Could Changsun Wuji have tracked him here with the pursuers?

Xu Mu frowned, then shook his head. If that were the case, Changsun Wuji would have already been vaporized.

"His condition doesn't seem good. Please take a look quickly." Before Xu Mu could sort out his thoughts, Changsun Wuji approached, carrying Yan Yu. He extended his arms and handed the unconscious white-haired young man in his embrace to Xu Mu.

"Oh." Xu Mu, already distracted, instinctively reached out to take Yan Yu when he heard that his condition had worsened.

But the moment he took him, an accident occurred.

"Careful!" the Wine Immortal Daoist's face changed drastically. He sensed danger and wanted to intervene, but it was too late. Changsun Wuji's incredibly domineering palm had already slammed into Xu Mu's chest!