Crossing to Douqi Continent and walking sideways

The eerie laughter, like the cry of a ghost from the Netherworld, swirled and echoed in the air, turning into a cold wind that was as solid as a substance, penetrating everyone's bones, causing them to feel a bone-chilling chill in their hearts. Xiao Muchen and the others were instantly alert, their eyes shot towards the direction where the laughter came from. In the distance, smoke and dust were billowing, as if the end of the world had come. In the diffuse smoke and dust, a group of figures slowly emerged.

The leader was a middle-aged man in a purple robe, who was none other than Zi Yan, the leader of the Yanshen Sect. He was imposing and his posture was as straight as a pine tree. Every step he took made the ground tremble slightly, as if the earth was also intimidated by his majesty. His eyes were as sharp as an eagle, as if he could see through all the disguises and conspiracies in the world. The powerful and mysterious aura emanating from his body was like an unfathomable towering mountain, which made people feel awe and curiosity. Behind him, followed Elder Feng Yichen, holding an ancient fan with runes flickering faintly on the fan. Feng Yichen had a kind face, but his eyes revealed the wisdom and vicissitudes of life that had been accumulated over the years. In addition, there was a group of Yanshen Sect disciples dressed in different costumes, but equally imposing. They walked in unison, with firm eyes and a well-trained and fierce aura. Their appearance instantly made the originally tense battlefield atmosphere even more solemn.

"Who are you?" Xiao Muchen subconsciously tightened his grip on the sword, his joints turning white due to the force, and the sword trembled slightly, as if sensing the owner's inner vigilance and uneasiness. He stared at Zi Yan intently, his eyes like torches, trying to catch even the slightest clue from the other party's expression, secretly speculating in his heart what purpose these people had in mind when they appeared at this critical moment, whether they were enemies or friends, it was still difficult to judge at this moment.

Zi Yan smiled slightly, and that smile was like the warm spring sun, but it was also a bit mysterious and hard to understand. "Xiao Muchen, I have heard of your name for a long time. I am Zi Yan, the leader of the Yanshen Sect. I have led everyone here today with no ill intentions. I am here to lend you a hand and fight against the Soul Palace together." His voice was steady and powerful, like the sound of a huge bell, with an unquestionable majesty, and it echoed clearly on this battlefield full of war and smoke.

Xiao Muchen frowned slightly. The doubts in his heart did not dissipate because of Zi Yan's words. Instead, they became thicker like fog. "Master Zi Yan, why do you want to help us? As far as I know, Yanshen Sect has never had any dealings with Wujing, and what grudges do you have with Soul Palace that are worth your risk?" There was a hint of caution in his tone. After all, in this complex and ever-changing situation, any negligence could cause a catastrophe like a domino effect.

Zi Yan's expression became solemn and serious, and he slowly said: "Sect Master Xiao, the Soul Palace has become more and more arrogant in recent years, and their behavior is outrageous. They are like greedy wolves, expanding their power everywhere, and using all means to plunder cultivation resources. Our Yanshen Sect has also suffered greatly. Many branch halls have been secretly destroyed by them, and many innocent disciples have been attacked and killed. They are trying to control the entire continent's cultivation world in their hands. This behavior is really despicable. Our Yanshen Sect upholds justice and takes it as our responsibility to protect the righteousness of the world. How can we sit idly by? When we heard that Wujing was in trouble, we came to help without hesitation."

Ye Feng, who was standing aside, could no longer hold back and shouted, "I don't care why you are here, as long as we can work together to beat up those bastards in Soul Palace! I, Ye Feng, am not afraid of anything else but not having a fight! I'm willing to do anything to beat the Soul Palace to a pulp!" As he said that, he swung the mace in his hand vigorously, and the shaft of the mace rubbed violently against the air, making a whirring sound, as if showing everyone present how excited he was that he couldn't wait to fight.

Lin Wan'er gently pulled the corner of Xiao Muchen's clothes and reminded him softly: "Muchen, don't be credulous. People's hearts are hard to predict. You need to be careful. Although they said they came to help, we still have to be more careful. In this world, there is no help without reason, we have to be on guard." Her beautiful eyes moved like the twinkling stars in the night sky, carefully sizing up this group of uninvited guests, trying to find even the slightest flaw in their words, actions, and expressions.

Just when everyone was deadlocked, the frozen black-robed old man suddenly laughed crazily: "Haha, do you think that a few more helpers can turn the tide? Today's Wujing is still doomed and destined to be turned into ruins! You will all die without a burial place!" After that, a powerful and almost terrifying force suddenly erupted from his body. The force was like a surging tsunami, instantly impacting the surrounding ice layer with overwhelming force. Countless cracks suddenly appeared on the ice layer, like a broken spider web that could collapse completely at any time. The black-robed old man was named Mo Sha, one of the masterminds of the Soul Palace's action. He was quite powerful and his status in the Soul Palace should not be underestimated. His strange skills made it even harder to guard against.

Seeing this, Zi Yan snorted coldly, and a trace of disdain and anger flashed in his eyes, as sharp as a cold star: "Hmph, you dare to be stubborn when you are about to die! Elder Feng, you take a rest for a while, and watch me deal with this old man first!" After that, he danced his hands quickly, and his ten fingers were like agile butterflies, quickly forming seals. As the seal was completed, a dazzling purple flame shot out from his hands. The flame was like an extremely sharp sword, and the sword body was burning with blazing purple flames. With the momentum of destroying the world, it pierced straight towards Mo Sha.

Mo Sha's face changed, and his arrogant expression was instantly replaced by fear. He quickly waved his staff to resist. A black barrier instantly appeared in front of him. The barrier was like an indestructible shield, and an evil and powerful aura flowed on the surface. However, at this moment, under the attack of the purple flame, the black barrier seemed to be a little shaky, like a candle in the wind. The purple flame collided with the black barrier, and in an instant, a deafening roar broke out, as if the world was trembling, and there were cracks in the space. The powerful energy fluctuations were centered on the collision point and spread out like ripples. The surrounding ground was instantly cracked again. The cracks spread in all directions like a giant dragon with bared fangs and claws. Wherever they passed, stones flew and dust flew.

Xiao Muchen seized this critical moment, circulated his whole body's fighting spirit, and performed "Star Splitting Sky Slash". The long sword in his hand shone brightly, as if it had gathered the power of the stars in the sky. Stars flickered around the sword, and a sword energy containing the vast power of the stars whistled out, like a falling meteor, dragging a long tail of light, cutting through the air, making a sharp whistling sound, coordinating with Zi Yan's attack, and hitting Mo Sha with a thunderous force.

Ye Feng waved the mace and shouted, "Old Xiao, I'm here to help you! Look at my rage!" He raised the mace high with both hands, and the flames on the mace instantly burned fiercely. The flames were like the fire from purgatory, with a high temperature that destroyed everything. It quickly turned into a huge pillar of fire and rushed towards Mo Sha with overwhelming force. Wherever the pillar of fire passed, the air was ignited and made a sizzling sound, as if groaning in pain. The ground was also scorched black and emitted a pungent smell.

Lin Wan'er also shouted: "Let me show you my sword shadow spectroscopy!" She was light and graceful, like a petal fluttering in the wind, dancing in the flames of war. The long sword in her hand danced quickly, and the sword flowers flickered. In an instant, countless sword qi shot out from under her sword. These sword qi were like bright starlight, shooting at Mo Sha from different angles. The sword qi crisscrossed in the air, weaving into a dense sword net, flashing with cold light, leaving Mo Sha nowhere to hide.

Ling Shuang quickly formed seals with his hands, and the ice-type fighting spirit surged in his body like a surging tide. He shouted, "I won't stand idly by! Ice spike storm!" The temperature around him dropped sharply, as if he had instantly entered an ice cellar that had existed for thousands of years. The moisture in the air quickly condensed into countless sharp ice spikes. These ice spikes formed a powerful storm around Mo Sha, like an angry ice dragon, pouncing on Mo Sha with its fangs and claws bared, attacking him from all sides. Wherever the ice spike storm went, the ground was instantly covered with ice, as if the whole world was frozen, and Mo Sha's figure was looming in the ice spike storm.

Under the combined attack of everyone, Mo Sha's black barrier finally couldn't bear the heavy load and made a crisp cracking sound, like glass breaking, and it completely shattered. Mo Sha suddenly spurted out a mouthful of blood, which splashed in the air like blooming blood flowers, and sprinkled on the charred ground. His body was shaky, like a candle in the wind, which could be extinguished at any time. But he was still unwilling to fail, and with a crazy light flashing in his eyes, he tried to make a final attack and fight like a trapped beast.

At this moment, Elder Feng Yichen stepped forward quickly. He looked calm, holding an ancient fan in his hand and gently waved it. A gentle breeze with powerful force gushed out from the fan. The breeze seemed gentle, but it was like an invisible sharp blade, carrying strands of mysterious power, attacking Mo Sha. The breeze instantly hit Mo Sha, and Mo Sha's body was directly knocked out like a kite with a broken string. He fell heavily to the ground, splashing a cloud of dust, and then he fainted, and it was unknown whether he was alive or dead.

After dealing with Mo Sha, everyone turned their attention to the other black-robed men. At this time, those black-robed men saw that the situation was not good, and they tried to escape like frightened birds. Zi Yan shouted: "Want to leave? It's not that easy! Yan Shen Sect disciples listen to my order, don't let any of the Soul Palace remnants go! Make sure to catch them all in one fell swoop!" He waved his hand, and the Yan Shen Sect people behind him quickly dispersed, like a well-trained wolf pack, and surrounded the black-robed men in a flash.

A fierce fight started again. The Yanshen Sect was very powerful, and they cooperated well with Xiao Muchen and others. For a while, shouts and screams intertwined and resounded through the sky. The Yanshen Sect disciples showed their magical powers. Some used exquisite swordsmanship, and the sword flowers flickered like stars. Each sword contained a sharp sword energy; some used powerful palm techniques, and the palm wind whistled like a tidal wave. Wherever they went, the black-robed people fell to the ground; others used strange spells, and the light flashed, making the black-robed people defenseless. Xiao Muchen and others were not inferior. Ye Feng swung his mace vigorously, and each blow was with a thousand pounds of force, smashing the approaching black-robed people into a bloody mess; Lin Wan'er's swordsmanship was flexible and changeable, and the swords went straight to the vitals, which frightened the black-robed people; Ling Shuang's ice spells turned the battlefield into a world of ice and snow, making it difficult for the black-robed people to move, and they were stabbed by ice spikes if they were not careful. With everyone's concerted efforts, the black-robed man was soon beaten to a pulp and fell to the ground. The remaining people saw that the situation was hopeless, and fear spread in their hearts, drowning them like a tide. They knelt down and begged for mercy, their eyes filled with despair and fear.

The crisis in Wujing was temporarily resolved, and the people and soldiers in the city burst into a deafening cheer. The cheers were like surging waves, one after another, resounding throughout Wujing. People poured into the streets, their eyes full of joy of surviving the disaster and gratitude to everyone. Some of them cried with joy, some raised their arms and cheered, and some knelt in the direction of Xiao Muchen and others to express their inner gratitude. The soldiers lined up neatly on both sides of the street, paying the highest respect to Xiao Muchen and others, their eyes full of admiration and gratitude.

Xiao Muchen and the others breathed a sigh of relief, with gratified smiles on their faces. They turned to face Zi Yan, and Xiao Muchen stepped forward, cupped his hands and said, "Master Zi Yan, this time thanks to the Yanshen Sect's help, if you hadn't arrived in time, Wujing would have been in danger today, and the whole Wujing is grateful. If there is a need in the future, Wujing will definitely do its best to repay you. We in Wujing will remember this kindness in our hearts." His tone was sincere, his eyes were full of gratitude, and he bowed deeply to express his gratitude.

Zi Yan smiled and waved his hands, saying, "Sect Master Xiao, you are too polite. We all share the same hatred and fighting against the Soul Palace is our common wish. As long as the Soul Palace is not eliminated, this continent will never be at peace. This help is also for our common future. Only by working together can we fight against the evil forces like the Soul Palace."

Elder Feng Yichen also smiled and said, "Yes, Sect Master Xiao, the Soul Palace is now so powerful that it is corroding this continent like a cancer. We can only fight against it if we unite as one. If we fight alone, we will only be defeated one by one."

After a conversation, Xiao Muchen learned that Zi Yan had been committed to fighting against the evil deeds of the Soul Palace. Yanshen Sect upholds justice and cannot stand what the Soul Palace has done, and has clashed with the Soul Palace many times. This time, they came to help Wujing in order to weaken the power of the Soul Palace and maintain peace and stability on the continent.

Afterwards, Xiao Muchen and the others discussed the next plan with Zi Yan. Zi Yan said solemnly, "Sect Master Xiao, Soul Palace will not give up after this defeat. With their vengeful character, they will come back with great force. We need to strengthen the defense of Wu Realm as soon as possible, and at the same time look for opportunities to take the initiative to completely destroy the power of Soul Palace and eliminate future troubles. Otherwise, Wu Realm will never have peace."

Xiao Muchen nodded in agreement: "Brother Zi Yan is right. After this incident, Wujing was seriously injured. The most urgent task is to restore strength and strengthen defense. As for taking the initiative to attack, we need to think long-term and formulate a detailed strategy. After all, the Soul Palace has a deep foundation. They are in the dark and we are in the light. If we are not careful, we will fall into an irretrievable situation. We must act with caution."

Ye Feng scratched his head and said, "I don't understand anything about strategy. I just know that I have to beat them hard when the time comes! I won't show mercy with my mace!" He waved the mace with a heroic smile on his face.

Lin Wan'er rolled her eyes at Ye Feng and said, "You only know how to fight. If you don't have a thorough plan, you will only die in vain. We need to discuss it carefully and formulate a foolproof plan. The Soul Palace is not so easy to deal with. We can't act rashly."

Ling Shuang also said: "Yes, the Soul Palace is very powerful, so we must act cautiously. Perhaps we can collect intelligence first to understand their weaknesses and next moves. Only by knowing ourselves and the enemy can we win every battle. Acting rashly will only put us in a passive position."

Chu Li thought for a moment and said, "I heard that there seem to be some powerful techniques and artifacts hidden in the Endless Fire Region. If we can get them, we may be able to greatly improve our strength and be more confident in fighting against the Soul Palace. However, the Endless Fire Region has always been mysterious and full of dangers. I don't know what I will encounter if I go there rashly."

Xiao Muchen's eyes lit up and he said, "This is a clue, but the Endless Fire Territory has always been mysterious and full of dangers. We don't know what we will encounter if we go there rashly. But in order to fight against the Soul Palace and improve our strength, it may be worth a try. But we must be fully prepared."

Zi Yan pondered for a moment and said, "If there is such an opportunity, you might as well give it a try. My Yanshen Sect also has some records about the Endless Fire Region, which may be able to help you. I will arrange for someone to sort out these records for your reference. However, you must be careful when you go there, as the Endless Fire Region is definitely not a good place."

After a long discussion, they finally decided that after the situation in Wu Realm stabilized a little, Xiao Muchen, Ye Feng, Lin Wan'er, Ling Shuang and Chu Li would go to the Endless Fire Territory to look for opportunities, while the Yanshen Sect would assist Wu Realm in strengthening its defenses and jointly deal with possible retaliation from the Soul Palace.

Therefore, after the situation in Wujing stabilized a little, Xiao Muchen and others bid farewell to Zi Yan and the people in Wujing and set off for the journey to the Endless Fire Territory. They knew that there would be unknown challenges and opportunities waiting for them ahead, but for the future of Wujing and for the peace of this continent, they took a step forward resolutely. A new adventure seemed to be waiting for them ahead. What kind of secrets and crises were hidden in the Endless Fire Territory? No one knew...