The Great Dao arrow hovered at Wulan's brow, no more than a palm's distance away.
Xu Mu could have killed Wulan with a flick of his finger.
The people of the Royal Court looked on with panic, some even in despair, as if Wulan's death would bring upon them unimaginable retribution.
Boom!
Agudamu raised his bone staff and took a heavy step forward. Savage power erupted, pressing down on Xu Mu's hand like a collapsing sky.
Under the savage assault, the Great Dao's rule was shattered. Xu Mu grunted, his face turning pale as he spat out a mouthful of blood. But in the next instant, he endured the pressure, drew his bow, and condensed a second Great Dao arrow.
This time, he let go.
"You dare!" Agudamu roared. His Heaven and Earth Dharma Manifestation appeared, his domain spread out, and the shadow of a ten-thousand-foot-tall club smashed down, stirring up an endless hurricane.
Xu Mu could not withstand the attack of a half-step Human King realm expert. But the problem was, the moment Agudamu moved, the Wine Immortal Daoist and the Heavenly Water Daoist also made their move.
"Rumble!!!"
The sea of wine merged with the clear blue elemental ocean, transforming into colossal waves that could submerge the heavens, crashing down upon Agudamu's Dharma Manifestation. He tried to stand, but the earth-shattering ocean churned, making it impossible for him to gain a foothold, and he could only barely maintain his posture.
Meanwhile, Xu Mu's second arrow did not hit Wulan. Wulan was rescued by a woman shrouded in dense black mist, and then instantly teleported to the side of the Royal Court's people.
Seeing this, Agudamu gritted his teeth and forcibly broke through the sea of wine and water condensed by the Wine Immortal and Heavenly Water, then stood guard before Wulan.
His eyes were bloodshot, and his voice hoarse as he roared:
"Whoever dares to touch her, I will kill them!"
The Wine Immortal Daoist let out a cold snort and stepped forward. With a bang, the Dao sword in his Dharma Manifestation's hand flashed with a dark golden light. Angrily, he roared:
"So what if I kill her? You dared to attack Mu Xu in front of me. Do you really think my Wine Immortal's gourd is just for show!"
"Agudamu, with that move you just made, everyone from your Royal Court will stay here today. No one can save you!!!"
As the Wine Immortal spoke, his Dharma Manifestation clenched its Dao sword and attacked towards the Royal Court's people with almost frenzied intensity. As it charged, countless clouds trembled, and the Great Dao's rules were torn apart, causing everyone to flee in terror.
Facing the Wine Immortal charging head-on, and Heavenly Water having already bypassed them to cut off their escape route, Agudamu's expression became extremely grim. He pulled out an ancient bell, enveloped the people behind him within it, and then faced the Wine Immortal's Dao sword alone.
"Boom!!"
The Dao sword collided with the club, and the resulting energy wave swept away all the surrounding clouds. Countless cultivators who hadn't managed to escape were swept away. Even the Domain Lords could barely withstand the aftershocks, let alone ordinary esper users, who were directly knocked unconscious.
Agudamu, buffeted by the wind and waves, suddenly sensed a booming sound from behind him. He turned to see that Heavenly Water Daoist was already fighting that mass of black mist, the aftershocks of their battle even more terrifying than his and the Wine Immortal's.
"Stop quickly, do you want to start a war with the Royal Court!"
Agudamu's face was grim. He pushed the Wine Immortal away from him, simultaneously holding up the treasure pagoda and preparing to flee. But he was immediately engulfed by the pursuing sea of wine.
"What do you think your Royal Court is? You have repeatedly provoked the dignity of the Daoist sects. Even a half-step Human King on the world rankings must pay a price!"
As the Wine Immortal spoke, the sea of wine in the heavens and earth suddenly surged, transforming into murky dragons made of wine that charged towards the treasure pagoda, igniting a series of violent explosions.
Behind them, Heavenly Water Daoist had also firmly suppressed the mysterious woman shrouded in black mist. However, the woman's strength was not to be underestimated. She unleashed countless dark energies from her hands, effectively blocking Heavenly Water.
Seeing this, Agudamu quickly shielded the treasure pagoda behind him and roared at the woman behind him, "What are you doing? Hurry and take us away!"
"If Wulan suffers the slightest mishap, your plan will fail, and our king will surely be enraged!"
The woman's delicate face, shrouded in darkness, slightly stiffened at this remark. Then, with a wave of her small hand, she instantly appeared beside Agudamu.
Heavenly Water Daoist, with a solemn expression, summoned the endless sea to press down again. The Wine Immortal also brought down another sword strike. But in the next moment, the people of the Royal Court, caught between the two of them, vanished into thin air.
The Wine Immortal and Heavenly Water were forced to interrupt their powers and stop with grave expressions.
"Where are they?"
Not only them, but Xu Mu and Nangong Huaitian, protected behind Nangong Maoguan, were also curious. There was no sign of Agudamu and the others within their line of sight.
Where had they gone in an instant?
"Below."
Suddenly, the old monk from the West spoke. The Buddhist beads in his hand radiated Buddha's light, piercing through the miles of mist and revealing the figures of the Royal Court's people standing on the land of Shenzhou.
"Don't celebrate too early." Agudamu gazed at them from afar, his expression exceptionally grim, his voice filled with rage. "Wine Immortal, while I have no intention of going to war with the Daoist temple, your actions have angered me."
"It is not convenient to fight today. I will come to find you some other time."
"Go!"
With that, the woman shrouded in darkness waved her hand, and after a wave of illusory fluctuations, everyone's figures instantly disappeared, vanishing to an unknown location.
Heavenly Water Daoist, seeing this, calculated for three breaths with a blank expression, then retracted his Dharma Manifestation and sighed towards Xu Mu and the others, "They're gone."
"They didn't even leave a trace of their aura. This ability is somewhat similar to my uncle's 'Shrink the Ground to an Inch' technique, but that technique has been lost."
The heavens and earth were in disarray, with esper users everywhere injured by the aftershocks, their cries of pain echoing.
The old monk saw this and chanted Amitabha. The phantom of Buddha's light protected each injured person, and he began to recite scriptures and pray for their healing.
Heavenly Water saw this, cupped his hands in thanks, and said:
"Thank you, Master. My rash action caused harm to innocents; I was not considerate enough."
The old monk shook his head, clasped his palms together, and said, "It's nothing. Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. This is what this humble monk should do."
"Moreover, Agudamu of the Royal Court was too provocative. It is reasonable for Heavenly Water to become angry and act."
Heavenly Water Daoist nodded in agreement and said no more. The Wine Immortal Daoist, however, floated to Xu Mu's side with a serious expression and asked:
"They will definitely come back for you. What will you do?"
Xu Mu heard this, waved his hand helplessly, and said, "Being targeted by a half-step Human King, what else can I do? Of course, I have to run."
"It's just that woman..."
Xu Mu's pale face carried a hint of solemnity, his words trailing off.
The aura emanating from the woman shrouded in black mist was too similar to the fluctuations of the Dark Elves.
"From what Agudamu said, that woman doesn't seem to be from the Royal Court," Xu Mu hesitated for a moment, his eyes filled with worry. "Her aura and abilities are very similar to the Dark Elves I encountered in the Elf Kingdom, but I can't be sure."
"Dark Elves..." The Wine Immortal Daoist's expression also became extremely grave upon hearing this. After pondering for a moment, he looked at Xu Mu and said, "As for the specifics, when we return to the temple, we can ask my senior brother."
"And this matter, you must keep it a secret for now, otherwise, I fear it will cause panic among the various races."
Xu Mu nodded and sighed, "I understand."
Nangong Maoguan watched Xu Mu whispering with the Wine Immortal, his gaze filled with an inexplicable emotion.
He was very curious about Xu Mu's identity, to have his old friend from Baiyun Dao Temple value him so highly, even to the point of fighting Agudamu for him.
"Forget it." Nangong Maoguan thought for a moment, then suddenly snapped back to attention and immediately coughed and stepped forward, saying, "Two esteemed sirs, if there is nothing else here, I will take the Saintess and leave. My clan must need us greatly right now."
The Wine Immortal Daoist heard this and nodded, saying:
"Return quickly. However, you don't need to worry too much. Huaitian won first place this time, and many forces will help you."
"Yes, I know, but I fear the people of the Royal Court will not give up so easily." Nangong Maoguan sighed, then shook his head and said, "Time is of the essence, I will take the Saintess back to our clan. We will meet again if there is an opportunity."
"Huaitian, do you have anything else to say?"
Nangong Huaitian heard this, removed her veil, revealing her devastatingly beautiful face. Her eyes held a complex gaze as she looked at Xu Mu and softly said:
"If I can survive, I will go to the Jiang family to repay your kindness."
Xu Mu was startled, then waved his hand and laughed, "No need. I have no connection with the Jiang family."
"And you don't need to look for me. I will find you myself."
Upon hearing this, a cute blush appeared on Nangong Huaitian's cheeks. She didn't say anything more, turned around, stepped on the white clouds, and gradually disappeared into the horizon.
Xu Mu watched like this, until the supreme crown slowly vanished, and he was still lost in thought.
...