"It seems that Elder Li is determined to target Xiao Mu to the end..." Zhao Xu glared at Li Qi.

Li Qi showed no fear, responding earnestly, "This elder has no intention of targeting anyone specifically, everything ultimately has to speak through facts."

Wu Yan continued, "In that case, does Elder Li believe that Xiao Mu's departure from the city was just an escape?"

Li Qi spoke confidently, "That depends on whether he comes back or not. If he leaves and never returns, even if I didn't say he was escaping, would you believe me?"

Wu Yan was at a loss for words; Li Qi's statement left him unable to respond for a moment.

Whether Xiao Mu would return or not, not to mention his inability to predict, even Zhao Xu, the elder involved, couldn't be certain.

Subconsciously glancing at Zhao Xu, who seemed lacking in confidence, Zhao Xu himself didn't make a sound.

Encouraged by the response, Li Qi smiled and said, "Since that's the case, let's let the facts prove it."

"If Xiao Mu truly went searching for resources, he will definitely return after, unless he gets killed by extraterrestrial evil beings."

"If he doesn't come back after leaving... Haha! If that's really the case, even if I die in this battle, before I die, I would report to the Alliance that this person fled before the battle!"

Zhao Xu's expression changed slightly, and the faces of Wu Yan and Mei Jun also couldn't help but alter.

Li Qi's words brought pressure to them; after all, the three of them knew well that Xiao Mu's departure from the city was not actually to search for resources, so it was indeed uncertain whether he would come back in the end.

"Haha!"

Observing their reactions, Li Qi's face revealed a sneer of triumph.

Buzz buzz buzz!

Wu Yan's cellphone suddenly vibrated with incoming information.

All eyes in the vicinity turned toward Wu Yan.

Wu Yan took out his cellphone, glanced at it, and his face immediately showed ecstasy. He glared fiercely at Li Qi and said coldly, "It seems Elder Li is about to be disappointed. Xiao Mu is on his way back, asking us to meet him."

"Xiao Mu is coming back?" Zhao Xu was surprised but also filled with joy.

Mei Jun, equally ecstatic, asked, "Is Xiao Mu really coming back?"

Wu Yan shook his cellphone, "Xiao Mu just sent me a message; he's on his way back. This is the message he sent, Elder Zhao, Elder Mei, and Elder Zhu, please take a look."

With that, he handed the cellphone to Zhao Xu, who after looking, passed it to Mei Jun, and after Mei Jun looked, he passed it to Zhu Yun.

Zhu Yun had just read the message when he noticed Wu Yan, Mei Jun, and Zhao Xu from the Great Tang Ruins glaring angrily at Li Qi.

"Elder Li, do not speak of Xiao Mu's escape again!"

Zhu Yun instructed Li Qi as he passed the cellphone back to Wu Yan.

"Is that it? Just like that, you slander our Great Tang Ruins, accuse Xiao Mu of fleeing, and that's settled with just one sentence? Elder Zhu, you can't be partial to your people from the Capital City of Ghosts. We need an apology!" Wu Yan looked dissatisfied at Zhu Yun.

Thinking of Li Qi's constant targeting of the Great Tang Ruins and slandering Xiao Mu as a fugitive, Zhu Yun felt Wu Yan's request was very reasonable.

But as a fellow elder from the Capital City of Ghosts, not being Li Qi's superior, he couldn't manage Li Qi but could only persuade, "Elder Li, indeed Xiao Mu is coming back. Please, apologize to Team Leader Wu, Elder Mei, and Elder Zhao for your remarks just now!"

Li Qi shouted, dissatisfied, "Apologize to them? Don't even dream of it!"

As an elder of the Capital City of Ghosts, his status was prestigious. Was apologizing for a simple wrong remark worth it?

Zhao Xu's expression darkened as he angrily said, "Elder Zhu, if this is Elder Li's attitude, we truly cannot continue working with him."

Zhu Yun was conflicted. The threat in Zhao Xu's words was clear, and he knew that if Li Qi did not apologize, then Zhao Xu and the others from the Great Tang Ruins would affect the joint efforts ahead, even if it did not lead to them withdrawing from Azure Sky City.

He had no choice but to persuade Li Qi again, "Elder Li, please consider the bigger picture! Otherwise, don't blame me for reporting to the Great Leader!"

Li Qi recognized the threat in Zhu Yun's words and sank inside.

He knew that if he was the cause of upsetting the united front in Azure Sky City, the report Zhu Yun would make to the Great Leader of the Capital City of Ghosts after would result in severe punishment.

He could only bow his head, resentful, to Wu Yan, Zhao Xu, and Mei Jun, "Team Leader Wu, Elder Zhao, Elder Mei, I was indeed wrong earlier and shouldn't have spoken out of turn. Please see the bigger picture and don't hold it against me!"

The trio from the Great Tang Ruins didn't even spare him a glance, walking past him one by one.

Li Qi raised his head, feeling belittled, a flash of anger in his eyes.

***

Xiao Mu, Senior Zun, and Huang Yuan used their Escape Art to rush to Azure Sky City. A day later, they left the Capital City of Ghosts and arrived at the Ruins of the Yin Dynasty.

From the borders of the Yin Dynasty Ruins, they continued northward, heading to the intersection of the Yin Dynasty Ruins and the Ruins of the Great Tang within the Canglin Region.

Along the way, Xiao Mu sent a message to Wu Yan, asking him to prepare to receive them.

After all, due to the invasion of Extraterrestrial Evil Beings, Azure Sky City had raised the Great Array, and it would be difficult to enter without someone to receive them.

After sending the message, the three used their Escape Art again to continue toward the Canglin Region.

All three were masters of the Five Elements United and adept at the Five Elements Escaping Technique. As they united their arts, three orbs of Five-Color Light Spectrum flew forward at a speed that nearly exceeded human sight.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

The sound of the Escape Art suddenly came from within the Canglin Region, and a burst of the same Five-color Escape Light soared out to meet the three.

"Who goes there?"

Senior Zun bellowed, and the three simultaneously retracted their Escape Light, turning their gaze toward the source of the Five-color Escape Light emerging from the Canglin Region.

"People of the human world, if you want to support Azure Sky City, get through me first!" The figure of a tall man gradually appeared not far in front of the three. He was a regular-looking man in his twenties, radiating intense Five Elements Brilliance and an imposing momentum. Judging by his Realm, he seemed to be a True God.

Moreover, this man emanated intertwining Silver Light and Golden Light, with the Thunderbolt flickering above his head—without a doubt, a being who possessed the Thunder God Position.

"Divine Spirit from beyond?" Senior Zun's eyes flashed with a cold light, as he tentatively questioned the ordinary man while remaining inwardly alert.

Given the ordinary man's Realm, they guessed he might be a Divine Spirit from beyond, but the situation seemed otherwise.

"Divine Spirit from beyond? You think you're worth Divine Spirits' intercession? I am Zou Zhi of the Five Elements Sect, here on divine command to stop any strong warriors from the human world trying to support Azure Sky City," said the True God Realm's ordinary man, Zou Zhi. He appeared to disdain Senior Zun and Huang Yuan, speaking in a tone that made it clear he didn't take them seriously. "Who are you? State your names... Eh! Xiao Mu!"

His words were only half-finished when his gaze swept over Xiao Mu. He recognized Xiao Mu's identity immediately, his face lighting up with excitement and ecstasy, "Haha! My luck truly is remarkable, to have encountered Xiao Mu!"

"Excellent, excellent. The edict from the Heavenly Court states that anyone who captures Xiao Mu will have performed a great service, worthy of being declared a True God!"

His eyes shone with an excited and ecstatic Brilliance.

"Zou Zhi of the Five Elements Sect, what is your relationship with the True Master of Five Elements?"

Xiao Mu cursed internally, as nobody knew better than him why Zou Zhi was so excited upon seeing him.

Feigning calm and feigning indifference, Xiao Mu probed for the identity of Zou Zhi of the Five Elements Sect.

"The True Master of Five Elements? He's my Junior Brother."

Zou Zhi looked at Xiao Mu with interest, his heart filled with curiosity, "I'm very curious, Xiao Mu, as to what makes you so valuable that the Heavenly Court holds you in such high esteem. Your strength is merely that of a late-stage Yin God Realm."

Xiao Mu intentionally asked, his voice tinged with tease, "If I tell you why the Heavenly Court values me, will you let us go?"

Zou Zhi replied seriously, "No, Xiao Mu, you must die! For me, capturing you, Xiao Mu, equates to a great service—you must be killed for me to become a True God."

"Senior Zun, Senior Huang, leave this man to you."

Xiao Mu turned to Senior Zun and Huang Yuan.

"Don't worry, we can handle it. Xiao Mu, you don't need to worry about us—take the opportunity to escape and head back to Azure Sky City!"

Senior Zun replied with a smile.

"The overall situation is paramount, young Xiao. During the Great War, you should seize the chance to break free!"

Huang Yuan followed up with a warning.

Both were aware that Xiao Mu possessed an entire set of Netherlord Divine Treasures; only by getting to Azure Sky City promptly could he find someone suitable to wield the Divine Treasures, thereby enhancing the human world's strength.

In the battle with Zou Zhi of the Five Elements Sect, Xiao Mu wouldn't be of much help, and staying would only delay things. Therefore, they urged him to go ahead.

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