Immortality and Cultivation: This old man seeks enlightenment through mere survival.

"Who?!"

Sensing the sharp killing intent from behind, Chu Xiao's expression changed slightly.

He suddenly turned around, threw a punch, and smashed it at the enemy!

Clang!

The sword tip and the fist collided, producing a sound like metal clashing.

However, the next moment, Chu Xiao's pupils shrank, and he was blasted several feet away by the huge impact from the fist!

Xu Yan'er took the opportunity to break free from Chu Xiao's control and fell downwards.

At this moment, the Water Moon Sword, formed from magical power, suddenly disintegrated, transforming into a gentle stream of water that swept across the area, carrying Xu Yan'er back to the Xu family members.

Immediately following, a figure left countless blurry afterimages in the sky before flashing into the scene!

Everyone stopped fighting and stared intently.

The newcomer had a weathered and resolute face, with silver hair and white eyebrows. He wore a light blue Taoist robe and rode a flying shuttle, exuding an aura of otherworldly elegance.

His immense Foundation Establishment aura flowed like silver mercury, instantly covering the entire area.

As deep as an abyss, as imprisoned!

"Foundation... Foundation Establishment cultivator!"

"How is this possible? How could a Foundation Establishment cultivator appear in such a remote place?"

"Run! It might be the Demon-Slaying Alliance chasing us here!"

Immediately, the demons in the arena panicked.

Apart from Chu Xiao, all the other demonic cultivators felt as if Mount Tai was pressing down on them, making it difficult to breathe, and their hands and feet turned ice-cold...

"What's there to be afraid of? I'm not a Foundation Establishment cultivator anymore! Things are different now!"

Chu Xiao shook his arm, which was numb from the shock, and shouted to stop his panicked subordinates.

Then Chu Xiao looked at the old man with a gloomy expression.

"Who goes there? Why are you blocking my way?"

At the same time, Chu Xiao quickly searched his mind for information about Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Demon Extermination Alliance, but found nothing about the old man's identity.

On the other side, Xu Yan'er, whose consciousness had cleared, gradually regained her senses.

When she saw the figure of the old man who had saved her, she was immediately overwhelmed with emotion, and a blush rose to her pale face.

"Ahem...Sect Master? Is it really you?!"

The person who came was naturally Lu Zaian.

He rode the Flying Shuttle at top speed, rushing as fast as he could, and finally located Xu Yan'er's position before the restriction broke.

At this moment, Lu Zaian revealed his true form instead of using the alias "Green-Clad Scholar".

Firstly, Xu Yan'er, as a Qi Refining cultivator, only had contact with "Lu Zai'an," a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

If one changes their appearance to come and help, their motives will not be suspected.

Secondly, his clone had recently used the identity of the "Green-Clad Scholar" to cause trouble.

Lu Zaian didn't want to expose any more information and attract the attention of the demonic path...

As Xu Yan'er's voice echoed throughout the venue, it instantly aroused a wave of surprise and doubt among the crowd.

"What? He's the alchemy master that Xu Yan'er once served?"

"Wasn't it said that he was killed by the Twin Bandits? Could the information be wrong?"

The demonic cultivators in the arena whispered among themselves, filled with surprise and uncertainty.

On the other hand, the Xu family members all wore expressions of ecstatic joy.

"Haha, it's a Foundation Establishment cultivator! We're saved!"

"He is Master Lu, the master of the Spring and Autumn Pavilion in Huangze City, the one Yan'er serves! We are saved!!"

Lu Zaian scanned the entire scene with his eyes, clearly in control of the situation. He nodded slightly to Xu Yan'er and flicked his finger, sending a healing pill into her hand.

"You go and heal your wounds first... I'll take care of things here."

Immediately afterward, Lu Zaian turned his gaze to the leader of the demonic cultivators, and said with a forced smile:

"Hmph, you little devil, the one who injured me keeps saying he's after my inheritance, but in the end you don't even know who I am?"

Although Xu Yan'er was not a close relative of Lu Zai'an, she was still a subordinate with whom he had some closeness.

Otherwise, Lu Zaian would not have bestowed upon him the second-tier crocodile puppet.

If Lu Zaian had arrived a moment later, Xu Yan'er would probably have already been murdered, which naturally angered Lu Zaian.

"Who do you think it is? It turns out to be a despicable old man."

Faced with Lu Zaian's sarcasm, Chu Xiao was not to be outdone and immediately retorted:

"Stop acting like an old man! Even if you managed to escape the pursuit of the two bandits, you haven't shown your face for several years since, probably because you're hiding to recover from your injuries, right?"

"I'm also at the Foundation Establishment stage, why would I be afraid of you, you old codger!"

As he spoke, a hint of greed flashed in Chu Xiao's eyes.

Although Lu Zaian's appearance was outside his plan... wouldn't it be even more rewarding if he could take advantage of the situation to capture this old guy?

Chu Xiao boasted of his mastery of demonic arts and his foundation in body refinement. How could he possibly be no match for an old and frail alchemist?

The previous setback was merely a hasty counterattack...

Upon hearing Chu Xiao's words, Lu Zaian couldn't help but show a strange expression.

"???"

Was he not showing up because he was recovering from an injury?

Indeed, if someone in the early stages of Foundation Establishment were to be pursued and killed by a duo of male and female bandits, their chances of survival would be slim.

But how could Lu Zaian be an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator?

If we're talking about a month ago, he was indeed helping his clone heal.

As for the past three years, Lu Zaian has simply been cultivating diligently and processing his spoils of war...

Seeing Lu Zaian speechless for a moment, Chu Xiao felt even more confident and laughed arrogantly.

"Hahaha, I guessed right, didn't I? How much strength do you still have on your old bones?"

These words calmed the previously agitated demonic cultivators.

Yes! How much strength could an alchemist who had been recuperating for many years after being hunted down by the Twin Bandits possibly possess?

On the contrary, their leader, who had mastered demonic arts, was in his prime and possessed vigorous blood and energy!

The demonic cultivator with a pointed snout and monkey-like face brandished his sword, trying to incite the crowd, and said obsequiously:

"The boss is right! What are we afraid of? How could this old man be a match for the boss?"

"That's right, kill him! Kill this old bastard!"

"This is a second-tier alchemist; he must have a lot of good stuff on him!"

Many demonic cultivators jeered, as if they had transformed into greedy wolves, their eyes fixed on Lu Zaian with ill intent.

On the other hand, the Xu family members all had slightly changed expressions and their eyes flickered.

Clan Chief Xu whispered to Xu Yan'er beside him:

"Yan'er, is what Chu Xiao said true? Is Master Lu really injured?"

The younger members of the clan behind him whispered among themselves, "Yeah, can Master Lu defeat the demonic cultivator?"

"I've heard that alchemists are generally focused on alchemy and their combat strength is usually inferior to that of cultivators of the same level..."

"If all else fails, we can let Master Lu protect Yan'er and escape..."

Seeing the doubts raised by her clansmen, Xu Yan'er's complexion, which had finally recovered a little, flushed up and interrupted them.

"Shut up! How dare you presume to speak of the Pavilion Master's authority?!"

Xu Yan'er had been by Lu Zai'an's side for many years, so she could barely know a little bit about his background.

The sheer magical pressure that the Pavilion Master unintentionally exuded when summoning her was far more powerful and profound than that of most of the early Foundation Establishment cultivators Xu Yan'er had encountered in the Desolate Swamp City...

It's just that the Pavilion Master rarely reveals himself to outsiders.

Therefore, Xu Yan'er firmly believed in Lu Zai'an's abilities.

"You're just a beginner Foundation Establishment cultivator. Has your breakthrough given you the courage to forget that you're nothing more than a rabble under the siege of the Demon Extermination Alliance?"

Half empty.

Lu Zaian took in the arrogance of the demons, but such provocation did not stir up the slightest ripple in his heart.

What's the point of talking to a dead person?

Before he finished speaking, Lu Zaian flicked his finger and shot out several Water Moon Swords, their killing intent chilling, heading straight for Chu Xiao!

"You're asking for it! Take this punch!"

Chu Xiao was hit where it hurt, and his face immediately darkened. He then swung his fist without holding back!

[Mountain-Crushing Demon Fist!]

His massive body unleashed a torrent of vital energy, which converged at the tip of his fist, transforming into a massive, dark red fist blade that slammed fiercely towards Lu Zaian!