Chapter 129: Confronting a Fifth-Order Transcendent

Elsewhere, at the campsite.

Su Yao and Xu Jiya shared a tent. They were currently discussing the Full Moon Secret Technique that Meng Qingwan had taught them recently.

"Up, up, down, down, left, right... let's try it again... up, up, down, down, left, right... Ugh, this feels a bit awkward."

"How about this? I’ll help you, and you help me. That should make it smoother, right?"

"Alright, let’s try that... It does feel much smoother, and more comfortable too... Use more force... more..."

"Mmm~ It’s warm, it feels swollen, I think it’s actually working... keep going."

"I wonder how Qingwan practiced it all by herself? She’s grown so much. I’m so envious!"

"Let’s go call Qingwan over to study with us."

The two were about to go find Meng Qingwan when they unzipped the tent.

"Who’s there!" Xu Jiya shrieked, spotting several figures moving between their tents.

Hearing the noise, the figures turned around. It was Lu Yu, Lu Ming, and two other members of their team.

The moment Lu Yu saw Xu Jiya, all his old grudges resurfaced. "Xu Jiya, I’ve been looking for you. You were lucky enough to escape last time, but I won’t let you off so easily this time!"

Before Xu Jiya could speak, Su Yao lunged out from behind her, her face filled with rage. "Oh, you never learn, do you? It seems Xiang Nan didn’t teach you a harsh enough lesson. I don't mind stepping in to teach you how to behave!"

Su Yao made a move as if to strike, and Lu Ming and the other two members closed in.

"Just you?" Lu Yu sneered, emboldened by their superior numbers.

At that moment, Meng Qingwan and Li Xiang, who were not far away, poked their heads out of their respective tents. Seeing that the situation was dire, they rushed over.

Upon seeing the Lu brothers, Li Xiang curled his lip and laughed coldly, "So it’s Brother Nan’s defeated foes. How did you get the nerve to act so brazenly after entering the Spirit Void?"

Lu Ming walked forward slowly. "Li Xiang, I never found you this annoying before, but since following Xiang Nan, you really have grown ignorant of the heights of heaven and the depths of the earth."

He scanned the group, adding with disdain, "You think you’re safe just because Xiang Nan is shielding you? That guy is struggling to save himself right now. No, not struggling—he’s as good as dead. I’ll spare your lives for a moment so you can collect his corpse later."

The group turned pale at these words.

"What did you do to Xiao Nan?!" Su Yao demanded anxiously.

"We didn't do anything to him. It’s just that he made too many enemies. He was so arrogant upon arriving at the Spirit Void; there are no laws here, and no military or police to protect him. If he wants to court death, no one can save him. What do you think?"

"That’s not true! Don’t try to scare us!" Xu Jiya tried to keep her gaze steady as she turned to Su Yao and the others. "We must have faith in Brother Xiang Nan. He isn’t someone who can be taken down by just anyone. I absolutely believe that no one can kill him."

With the Resurrection Grass in his possession, it wouldn't be easy for him to die.

Everyone nodded heavily, though their hearts remained troubled. Even with the self-healing properties of the Resurrection Grass, it took time. If someone were by his side to look after him, they wouldn't worry, but everyone else was at the camp while Xiang Nan had disappeared, which was ominous.

"We’ll hold them off. Qingwan, go find Brother Xiang Nan; he can’t be far." As Xu Jiya spoke, she released her hidden weapons.

*Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...* Several short arrows tore through the air.

The opponents were all at least Second-Stage Spirit Warriors, so dodging such projectiles was easy. However, Xu Jiya’s surprise attack forced them to retreat several steps. The others also engaged in combat.

Meng Qingwan moved to slip past the crowd to support Xiang Nan, but Lu Ming, who had already pegged her as the most powerful among them based on her aura, moved to intercept. He activated his ability, sprouting a pair of wings, and soared into the air. He drew a bow carved with dragons and phoenixes, blocking Meng Qingwan’s path from above.

*Swoosh!* An arrow imbued with the spiritual power of a Third-Stage warrior whistled toward her.

Distracted by her worry, Meng Qingwan hesitated, and the arrow grazed her arm, slicing a hole in her sleeve. In the next second, she gathered her spiritual energy and pushed both palms toward Lu Ming.

Her ability was to nullify the powers of others. Suddenly, Lu Ming’s wings retracted, and he lost his balance, tumbling from the sky. As a Third-Stage expert, however, he recovered quickly and landed steadily on the ground.

"I didn't expect you to have such a powerful field-control ability. I underestimated you!" Lu Ming said, firing continuously. Meng Qingwan was forced to dodge, the power within the arrows too great to ignore.

Meanwhile, Li Xiang, Xu Jiya, and Su Yao were each locked in their own battles.

Lu Yu was fighting Xu Jiya. With his Second-Stage cultivation and ruthless nature, he held a deep grudge and struck without mercy. Xu Jiya, only at the First Stage, relied on her exquisite hidden weapons, but they were less effective now that the enemy was prepared. Fortunately, her golden soft armor allowed her to barely hold her own.

Li Xiang and Su Yao were matched against Third-Stage experts. Li Xiang’s ability was primarily defensive, making him less effective on the offensive, so the burden of attacking fell on Su Yao. She had partially beastified, darting back and forth like a phantom, unleashing a flurry of attacks. However, the two Third-Stage warriors were equally formidable, keeping them occupied.

Anxious to reach Xiang Nan, Meng Qingwan channeled her spiritual energy: "Soul-Breaking Arrows!"

A white light erupted around her as seven spectral arrows materialized, aimed like bullets at Lu Ming. They not only deflected his incoming arrows but also struck directly at him. Lu Ming, caught off guard by her spiritual artifact, was forced to dodge with all his might.

Seizing the moment, Meng Qingwan dashed toward the darkness in the distance.

The surroundings were shrouded in thick, smoky darkness, and she had no idea which way Xiang Nan had gone. She focused her senses; her control ability heightened her perception. After calming her breathing for a moment, she could hear movements within a five-mile radius.

Soon, her eyes sharpened—she had located Xiang Nan. To the west, intense combat vibrations echoed—the power levels involved were far beyond her own.

Without a second thought, Meng Qingwan gathered her strength and rushed headlong toward the sound of the battle.