Chapter 697: Regression Again
ointed."You’ve been acting very mysterious lately," Zhao Jiayin kicked the upper bunk bed from below.Hao Ren was also at a loss. He usually had no secrets to hide from his three brothers, but he reall...Chapter 697: Regression Once Again
Duan Yao had a pouting face, as if Hao Ren owed her several hundred dollars and hadn't paid back yet.
"I want to take Yaoer on a trip to the Heavenly Mountain Sect; we just happened to pass by here so I dropped by. Since you're here, Xiao Mingzi [dear nephew], Yaoer can be your responsibility." Consort Zhen smiled with her flirtatious eyes curved.
Hao Ren stared at Consort Zhen in surprise, not expecting the arrival of Cao Cao right when he mentioned him.
Zhao Yanzi blinked and watched Consort Zhen confusingly yet very vigilantly. She was pondering over what Consort Zhen's words meant—would it be that she forcibly handed Duan Yao to Hao Ren
She glanced at Duan Yao, only to discover with astonishment… the cultivation realm Duan Yao emitted was Core Formation Stage!
"Hahaha... Little girl, here is what I promised you last time." Consort Zhen smiled and flicked a small robe out of her palm. Immediately after, it flashed in colors before disappearing.
Zhao Yanzi dumbly held the delicate robe while happily fitting herself with it, discovering that its length was just right!
The robe even had a few gems embedded into it, exactly identical to Duan Yao's one!
"I'm going to the Sixth Heaven Realm and settle things." Duan Yao looked at Hao Ren and said word by word.
Gulp… Gulp…
Little White curled on the grass, trying his best to refine a Tier 10 Demon Core. He bent his waist toward Duan Yao and made threatening sounds.
However, Duan Yao ignored Little White completely and continued staring at Hao Ren.
"Mm-hmm." Hao Ren nodded slightly.
"You… accompany me," Duan Yao then said.
"Y-You…" Zhao Yanzi clenched her teeth, immediately unwilling. She hurriedly stood beside Hao Ren and used half of her body to shield him.
Hao Ren thought for a moment and realized that it was because Duan Yao had not completely severed ties with the Heavenly Mountain Sect in her heart, affecting her cultivation. Therefore, Consort Zhen brought her back once so she could get rid of this mental demon.
Back then, the Heavenly Mountain Sect sent Duan Yao to Hao Ren's Mystic Peak; from their perspective, Duan Yao was still under the old ancestor’s tutelage. So if Hao Ren were here and led her back to Heavenly Mountain Sect, that would be better.
"Alright." Hao Ren nodded in agreement.
Since Duan Yao had helped him retreat enemies during the incident at Demon Sea of Ten Thousand Demons, he owed her a favor. It was only fair for him to take her back to Heavenly Mountain Sect once.
Zhao Yanzi did not expect Hao Ren would agree and quickly stepped out another half step, "Me too!"
As she spoke, she drew out the Purple and Azure Treasure Sword. “Let’s spar! You can't be at Core Formation Stage!”
Unlike Duan Yao before, who was irascible and would make a move without warning, Zhao Yanzi made sure to give a verbal cue beforehand.
Duan Yao stepped back slightly and tapped the side of the Purple-Green Treasure Sword with her knuckles.
A crisp sound rang out, and Zhao Yanzi, holding the sword, suddenly lost her balance and tumbled onto the grass.
With just this action, Zhao Yanzi was convinced that Duan Yao had indeed reached the Core Formation stage!
At the base cultivation level she was at, she couldn't even match a single finger of Duan Yao’s!
In the night, Duan Yao seemed even more beautiful than before! Although there was still an air of mischief in her eyes, her entire being exuded the aura of a little witch!
Her heart raced with anxiety, but she knew that Duan Yao had long surpassed her. For Duan Yao not to reclaim the Purple-Green Treasure Sword was an act of kindness towards her!
Or perhaps, Duan Yao simply didn't care for this sword anymore!
Zhao Yanzi, who moments ago had been confident and thought herself formidable, suffered a severe blow to her self-esteem.
However, in reality, Duan Yao wanted to reclaim the sword that belonged to her, but Zhen Fei had warned her beforehand. This brief departure from Demon Sea was for repaying a debt at Heaven Mountain Sect, and if she encountered Hao Ren’s group, she wasn't allowed to cause any trouble.
"Let's go!" Hao Ren raised the golden treasure ship and pulled Zhao Yanzi aboard.
Zhao Yanzi was a small pot of vinegar. Having her follow could dispel her doubts. Heaven Mountain Sect, now severely weakened, wouldn't dare to do anything rash. Although Duan Yao had reached the Core Formation stage, she wasn’t considered particularly powerful by Hao Ren’s standards.
Duan Yao didn’t board Hao Ren's treasure ship; wearing the colored robe Zhen Fei gave her, she levitated without wind and followed Hao Ren’s ship out of the boundary to the Sixth Layer Heaven.
Zhao Yanzi aboard the treasure ship was very much不喜歡Duan Yao. However, since Zhen Fei always sent her gifts, her impression of Zhen Fei wasn't bad.
While Hao Ren operated the treasure ship from the bow, Zhao Yanzi hid behind and quietly put on the robe given by Zhen Fei, then used spiritual energy to activate it. She felt as if she was floating and about to take flight!
This robe, personally crafted by Zhen Fei, was exceptionally beautiful. As Zhao Yanzi spun around, her skirt fluttered, gems gleaming like a mythical fairy’s attire.
With Hao Ren's golden treasure ship traveling at high speed, they quickly arrived at Heaven Mountain Sect. Duan Yao, using the Core Formation stage to propel herself with the colored robe, could barely keep up with Hao Ren’s pace.
The Heaven Mountain Sect, which had its structures demolished by Hao Ren's rage last time, was now mostly restored and filled with disciples diligently training in the light.
Thanks to assisting Hao Ren in setting up the Illusory Peak boundary, three mid-Core Formation cultivators at Heaven Mountain Sect recovered their cultivation levels. However, they had only three Core Formation cultivators compared to their peak era's one late-stage and four mid-stage total strength, which couldn't hold a candle to that.
During these days, Heaven Mountain Sect managed to acquire an extremely precious Spirit Revival Talisman through various means; however, when applied to the body of Venerable Ancestor Martial Virtue, there was no reaction at all.
The current Sixth Layer heaven sects were busy gathering medicinal herbs required by Patriarch Medicine King and focusing on cultivating intermediate disciples. Each additional Core Formation cultivator added another layer of deterrent power!
As for those impatient sects, they had already broken out into battles, taking advantage of some sects' late-stage Core Formation Ancestors yet to recover their cultivation levels to battle over Spirit Veins and snatch up Spirit Herbs and Spirit Mines!
With three Core Formation cultivators guarding Heaven Mountain Sect, it could temporarily maintain stability. However, this didn't guarantee that other sects wouldn’t unite against them!
Everyone knew that Heaven Mountain Sect had the most Spirit Herbs, best spiritual beasts, and possessed several high-quality Spirit Veins.
In the current Heavenly Mountain Sect, from the venerable Lingwu Ancestor at the top to the outer disciples at the bottom, everyone regrets offending Piaomiao Peak. However, they also cannot bear to see their thousand-year-old foundation be destroyed!
When all the disciples inside and outside the sect were on high alert, suddenly two beams of light came from afar.
Dozens of Core Formation cultivators immediately boarded flying swords and went out to meet them proactively.
In this situation, even a small mistake could lead to the destruction of their entire sect! In just these few days, two sects had already been overthrown!
If it weren’t for Seventh Level Heaven sects intervening, there would be only around ten Sixth Level Heaven sects left. They would have continued merging with each other!
"It’s… Senior Apprentice Sister Duan!" A Core Formation cultivator who charged forward first shouted loudly.
Hao Ren slowed down the treasure ship intentionally and lagged behind on purpose.
“Senior Apprentice Sister Duan is back… Senior Apprentice Sister Duan is back…”
The news quickly spread throughout Heavenly Mountain Sect, which was based in the mountain range.
Swoosh swoosh swoosh...
Three Spirit Formation cultivators and Heavenly Mountain Sect’s Master Duan Ye along with his wife all swiftly boarded their flying swords and flew out of their respective cave dwellings.
"Yao!" Seeing her daughter, Duan Yao's mother didn't even approach her before tears welled up in her eyes.
Ever since she had sent her own heartless father to Piaomiao Peak and forbade her from going there herself, she had shed countless tears during these days.
Floating high above the sky, Duan Yao saw her mother wobbling on her flying sword as she flew over. Her eyes immediately reddened.
Bang...
High in the air, Duan Yao suddenly exhibited a Spirit Formation realm cultivation!
The three Spirit Formation Elders standing atop their flying swords nearly wobbled off balance. Those Core Formation cultivators floating behind these three elders all staggered, even more shocked!
When Master sent Senior Apprentice Sister Duan out of Heavenly Mountain Sect, she was only at the early stage of Core Formation Realm!
But now, she had already reached Spirit Formation Realm!
No... It couldn't be called Senior Apprentice Sister anymore; it should be called Senior.
A 15-year-old Spirit Formation cultivator was unprecedented! Earth-shaking and awe-inspiring!
"Yao…" The sect master’s wife, who was about to board her flying sword to rush towards Duan Yao, immediately stopped in mid-air in astonishment, wondering if this person really was her daughter.
“Senior!”
Dozens of Core Formation cultivators suddenly called out to Duan Yao in unison. Duan Yao had already reached the Nascent Soul stage, and according to Heavenly Mountain Sect’s rules, she was their senior uncle!
In cultivation sects, most do not determine generation based on the time of entry but rather by realm levels. As long as one is at the Core Formation stage, they are considered a junior to those at the Nascent Soul stage!
"I... am not your senior uncle," Duan Yao gritted her teeth and said.
Seeing these former familiar seniors and juniors, tears welled up in Duan Yao's eyes but she was no longer prepared to return to Heavenly Mountain Sect. This would be the last time she came back.
"Mom..." She looked at her mother and softly called out.
This was the last time she could call like this. Last time, when she was forced away from Heavenly Mountain Sect by her father, she didn’t even have a chance to say goodbye to her mother.
"Yao'er!" Hearing that call, Madam Sect Leader confirmed that it was indeed her daughter and tears immediately welled up in her eyes.
"Since you’ve already left Piaomiao Peak, why not come back" She looked at Duan Yao and advised gently.
"We respectfully invite Senior Uncle Duan to return to Heavenly Mountain Sect!" Dozens of Core Formation cultivators called out in unison.
Today, there were only three Nascent Soul cultivators left in Heavenly Mountain Sect, and the sect was so vast that it was difficult to manage effectively. If another Nascent Soul cultivator returned, it would significantly bolster their self-defense capabilities.
Among these Core Formation cultivators was also Ye Yan, who had once admired Duan Yao.
This senior brother who had severed ties with Duan Yao back then never imagined that she could reach the Nascent Soul stage in such a short time. He simply couldn’t fathom how good her talent actually was.
Could this be... the result of Dual Cultivation...
Looking at Duan Yao’s slightly slender figure, he suddenly thought of this possibility.
Duan Yao didn't pay any attention to this senior brother but instead carefully observed her father.
In just a short period, Duan Ye had become gaunt and thin as the sect leader.
Despite having just reached the Nascent Soul stage, Duan Yao’s experience was not deep enough for her to realize that Duan Ye's appearance of weariness was due to his failure in attempting to breakthrough to the Nascent Soul realm.
The Heavenly Mountain Sect was on the verge of collapse.
"Where is Grand Senior Uncle" Duan Yao held back tears and asked.
"Your grand senior uncle has lost heart. He’s secluded himself in the mountain behind and doesn’t plan to come out again," Duan Yao's mother sighed softly.
Clatter...
Hao Ren stood on a golden treasure ship, carrying Zhao Yanzi, drifting over slowly.
,!wly dispersed without any fluctuations, seemingly even her breathing had stopped. Her closed eyes did not even flicker slightly at the lashes.Hao Ren quietly observed this beautiful woman who looked l...