: Standoff

Yan Ruyan felt extremely annoyed by Wang Chan's repeated, feignedly affectionate calls of "Ruyan".

Circumstances dictate her actions, so she had no choice but to suppress her disgust, her pale fingertips unconsciously curling into her palm.

Now that things have come to this, we can only place our hopes on Senior Nangong himself.

This elder of the Hidden Moon Sect may possess some secret escape technique or trump card.

However, a hint of doubt arose in Yan Ruyan's heart.

Senior Nangong is a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator, so his strength should far surpass that of Elder Gui and Elder Tong, who are both in the early stage of Core Formation.

It has been quite a while since the battle began. If she is determined to leave, can two early-stage guardians really hold back a mid-stage cultivator?

There is a mountain stream ahead.

Nangong Wan stood suspended in mid-air above the water, the mountain wind whipping her hair and tousling her outer robe to one side, making the already stunning woman's curves even more apparent.

Beneath the veil, a pair of eyes, cold as frost blades, stared intently at two figures dozens of feet away, who were none other than the two Core Formation Guardians of the Ghost Spirit Sect.

If it weren't for the old wounds from the previous fierce battles, how could I have been entangled and dragged on by these two early-stage cultivators until now!

Several attempts to break through the encirclement were thwarted and overtaken by the enemy's cunning combined attacks.

Gui Lao Tong Lao, his name truly reflects his character.

One was as thin as a ghost, the other as short as a child.

Seeing that Nangong Wan suddenly stopped, the two of them did not press her any further.

Both sides knew perfectly well that this amount of time was far from enough for a Core Formation cultivator to recover much spiritual power, let alone escape.

During the stalemate, Wang Chan, on a carriage in the distance, could see everything clearly.

Having received a telepathic message, the old ghost was naturally happy to delay.

The grand carriage slowly approached from afar and finally stopped behind Old Ghost Tong.

Nangong Wan's voice was icy cold, "Junior! Are you all courting death by pursuing me so relentlessly?!"

Wang Chan sat upright in the carriage, her body not moving an inch through the fluttering curtains.

"Senior Nangong, you flatter me. Under normal circumstances, how could I dare to be so presumptuous? However, this place is the heart of my Ghost Spirit Sect. Your quiet appearance here must be due to important business. Why don't you come to our sect and let me offer you a cup of tea so I can explain the reason to my father? It would also allow me to extend some hospitality to Ruyan, since... Ruyan was once a disciple of the Hidden Moon Sect and has some connection with your sect."

Nangong Wan's eyes sharpened. "No interest! No time! No mood! If you don't want to die, get out of here!"

Wang Chan sat upright in the carriage, a cold smile slowly curving her lips behind the gauze curtain, as if she had heard some interesting joke.

"Hehe, what Senior Nangong said is... somewhat within my expectations. It's a pity that you are currently suffering from old injuries. Even with your extraordinary abilities, how much can you exert? Your insistence on pushing yourself is just a waste of your life force. Since you insist on not moving and insist on going down this path to the end... then I will have to trouble the two protectors."

Yan Ruyan spoke up at the opportune moment, "Young Master, I have a long-standing acquaintance with this Senior Nangong. May I go and say a few words of advice?"

Wang Chan clapped her hands gently and laughed, "There are some things that can pique Ruyan's interest, but this person has a grudge against my Ghost Spirit Sect after all. You don't need to get too close. Just keep your distance and be careful."

Yan Ruyan nodded slightly, then gracefully floated out of the carriage.

She was quietly draped in a cloak of shimmering light, its spiritual glow subdued, clearly another top-tier concealment and flight artifact.

These kinds of magical artifacts are even rarer and more precious than ordinary flying implements.

Yan Ruyan spoke each word clearly and distinctly into everyone's ears.

"Senior Nangong, we are old acquaintances. Why don't you explain the whole story clearly, and frankly tell us that the Six Sects are currently negotiating with your sect? Perhaps Ruyan can make the decision to let my sister leave. What do you say?"

But the moment the words fell, a wisp of divine sense transmission, which only Nangong Wan could perceive, silently reached the other party's ear.

"Senior Nangong, if I get a little closer, and if the situation becomes critical later, you can immediately take me hostage. With me in your hands, Wang Chan will not dare to act rashly."

Upon hearing this, Nangong Wan felt a slight sense of relief and replied telepathically, "You are thoughtful, but forget it. Now that you have left the Hidden Moon Sect, you are enemies. There is no need for you to do this. However, I will remember your kindness and consider it as a way of settling our past relationship. From now on, you are you, and the Hidden Moon Sect is the Hidden Moon Sect. There is no need for this anymore."

Then, Nangong Wan's voice remained cold, but the pressure of her Core Formation stage cultivation poured down as if it were a tangible force.

"Your so-called peace talks are nothing but wishful thinking on your part."

Her gaze swept over the Ghost Spirit Sect members with lightning speed.

"Good and evil have been irreconcilable since ancient times! You demonic cultivators have invaded my homeland for your own selfish gain, causing chaos in all directions. This hatred is hard to quell. Although I, Nangong Wan, have never liked conflict, how can I ignore the grudges of those fallen friends and comrades? Today, I will settle this matter here!"

Before she finished speaking, she gently raised her hand, and a bright light suddenly shone from her palm.

A bluish-white flying sword suddenly appeared and hovered in front of him.

The moment this sword appeared, it exuded a chilling sword aura and a rich, precious light. Its blade shimmered with iridescent light and emitted a clear, resonant hum, clearly indicating that it was a magic weapon of extremely high quality.

The sword tip pointed directly at the old ghost and the old boy, and the chilling killing intent, accompanied by the hum of the flying sword, instantly locked onto the two people in front of them.

In an instant, Nangong Wanyu made a hand seal, and the blue-white flying sword floating in front of her suddenly burst out with dazzling light, splitting into a sky full of chilling sword energy.

The white mist, like a burst dam, enveloped the two Core Formation protectors, Ghost Elder and Child Elder, along with Wang Chan's grand carriage and dozens of Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Ghost Spirit Sect.

This overwhelming net of sword energy even reached Yan Ruyan, who was also caught in it.

However, the edges of the sword aura enveloping her were noticeably thinner, appearing rather "just right."

Nangong Wan's face was as pale as paper. This fierce and unparalleled attack was the result of her forcibly activating some kind of secret technique, sacrificing the already limited true essence in her body, in order to barely make this magic weapon unleash power far beyond the ordinary.

"puff!"

She couldn't hold back any longer and spat out a mouthful of blood, staining her pale blue veil red.

The sword energy was as cold as frost, its chill penetrating to the bone, instantly engulfing the space a hundred feet in front of it.

Old Ghost Tong's expression changed drastically. He never expected that Nangong Wan would dare to use her magic weapon so recklessly despite being seriously injured.

The two let out a strange cry and, no longer holding back, each unleashed their most powerful techniques.

Old Tong then summoned a crimson gourd, from which spewed forth a large amount of thick, pungent, and foul-smelling mist in an attempt to dissolve the sword energy.

The withered old ghost clasped his hands together, then waved them outwards. Instantly, a triple barrier formed from dense blood energy solidified and stood in front of him.

A fierce glint flashed in Nangong Wan's eyes, and she hissed, "Stop!"

The cyan-white flying sword dimmed its brilliance and was returned to her dantian.