"It is indeed this old man." The white-robed elder smiled gently, his expression kind, seemingly without ill intent.
But at this moment, Jiang Weiyang was extremely wary of this guide of her father, not daring to relax in the slightest.
The State Preceptor Xingming's origin was extraordinarily mysterious; no one knew where he came from.
Although the State Preceptor Xingming had assisted her father in establishing the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty, Jiang Weiyang always had a feeling that this State Preceptor was not as well-intentioned as he appeared on the surface.
During these years in the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty, he had also been elusive, with ordinary people rarely able to trace his whereabouts.
At this critical juncture, the State Preceptor Xingming suddenly appeared and sought her out — how could this not make her wary?
Logically, she had used the Heaven-Deceiving Array Runes left by the Weiyang Emperor Lord to conceal all her heavenly secrets and aura. How had the State Preceptor Xingming found her?
Moreover, could that mysterious great enemy her father had never mentioned to her be related to the State Preceptor Xingming?
During her flight from the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty, Jiang Weiyang had run through all the people she knew in her mind, suspecting each in turn, trying to figure out who her father's great enemy was.
Among them, this State Preceptor Xingming was the most suspect.
Zhu Fuyi was also watching the State Preceptor Xingming warily, unsure of his intentions and purpose.
If he had come to capture the Weiyang Princess and return her to the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty, then he would have to stop him no matter what, even if his own strength was insufficient, like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
"I wonder why the State Preceptor Xingming has suddenly come? If it is to persuade me to return to the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty, then there is no need for that at all."
Jiang Weiyang remained calm, her tone very peaceful.
"Of course, this old man has not come to persuade the Princess to return to the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty. The current Weiyang Immortal Dynasty is not a place for the Princess to return to, either." The State Preceptor Xingming said with a smile, his expression amiable, his face childlike with white hair.
"Then for what matter has the State Preceptor come?" Jiang Weiyang asked calmly.
The State Preceptor Xingming still smiled and said, "This old man has merely been ordered to come and take the Weiyang Princess to a place to stay temporarily."
Jiang Weiyang's pupils contracted slightly, but her expression did not change. She shook her head and said, "Then I am afraid the State Preceptor will be disappointed. Weiyang has no intention of staying anywhere temporarily. During this time away from the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty, traveling around, I have gained a great deal. I still wish to continue traveling through more mountains, seas, rivers, and the majestic landscape."
Upon hearing this, the State Preceptor Xingming sighed and said, "This old man is merely following orders. I hope the Weiyang Princess will not make things difficult for this old man."
Jiang Weiyang's expression did not change, and she asked, "Then would the State Preceptor tell Weiyang who ordered you to take me away? Was it Father?"
The State Preceptor Xingming shook his head and said, "Please forgive this old man; I am not at liberty to say."
A look of understanding flickered across Jiang Weiyang's face. She nodded and said, "It seems there is indeed another mastermind behind the State Preceptor Xingming."
The State Preceptor Xingming did not deny it. Instead, a look of approval appeared in his eyes as he said, "Her Highness the Princess is truly clever and perceptive. So, it would be best if you do not try to resist. Otherwise, this old man will have no choice but to offend you."
Jiang Weiyang fell silent.
With her strength and the emergency kit left by her father, she would be no match for the State Preceptor Xingming before her.
Many years ago, the Weiyang Emperor Lord had said that even he would not dare to claim he could surely defeat the State Preceptor Xingming.
From this, one could see the State Preceptor Xingming's power and unfathomable depth.
"Even if you are the State Preceptor Xingming, if you want to take Her Highness the Princess away, you will have to step over my dead body first."
Seeing that the State Preceptor Xingming was about to reach out and seize Jiang Weiyang, Zhu Fuyi, who had been watching warily from the side, gritted his teeth, mustered his courage, and stood in front of Jiang Weiyang.
He knew very well that the gap between his strength and the State Preceptor Xingming's was as vast as clouds and mud, but he still resolutely stood in front.
"Young Master Zhu, you need not do this…" Jiang Weiyang sighed slightly in her heart.
Along the way, she had repeatedly urged Zhu Fuyi to leave, to extricate himself early from this vortex, but Zhu Fuyi seemed to have a one-track mind. He said he was entrusted by his grandfather to serve as a guard and protect Jiang Weiyang's safety, refusing to leave no matter what.
This left Jiang Weiyang quite helpless.
She was extremely clever and could naturally see Zhu Fuyi's feelings, but with such a major event happening in the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty, the situation turbulent and the undercurrents treacherous, and even her father's safety and situation unknown,
how could she focus on romantic matters?
Moreover, she only felt gratitude toward Zhu Fuyi and had no other thoughts or intentions.
No matter how much Zhu Fuyi did for her, it would only move himself.
"Truly commendable courage. You should know that even your grandfather, Zhu Cangning, would not dare speak to me like this, let alone stand in front of me."
The State Preceptor Xingming looked at Zhu Fuyi with appreciation, then his eyes turned cold.
He flicked his wide robe lightly, and a surge of majestic power shot over, directly sending Zhu Fuyi flying, causing him to spit out a mouthful of blood. He fell to the ground like a torn sack, unable to get up for a long time.
"If not for the personal item your grandfather gave you, it would have been very difficult for me to find your trail. For the sake of that favor, I will forgive your discourtesy." The State Preceptor Xingming's gentle smile faded, turning as cold as ice.
Zhu Fuyi's vision was covered in red, his throat tasting of blood. Hearing these words, he found them even more hard to believe.
How could this be? Had even his grandfather joined forces with outsiders to betray the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty?
"Young Master Zhu and my three maidservants are innocent. I hope the State Preceptor will not harm them. I will surrender without a fight and follow you away." Jiang Weiyang's eyes half-closed, her face returning to an expressionless calm, her tone very composed.
She knew today there was no retreat. Unless an existence like her father appeared, no one could stop the State Preceptor Xingming.
"This old man is not one to indiscriminately kill the innocent. The Princess may rest assured." The State Preceptor Xingming nodded slightly, a smile appearing on his face.
With that, he was about to reach out with his withered, branch-like, wrinkled hand to take Jiang Weiyang away and leave this place.
"Hmm?"
But at that instant, the smile on the State Preceptor Xingming's face disappeared, and his brows furrowed.
He suddenly turned his head to look at a certain spot. In his usually narrowed eyes, something like golden light seemed to flash and vanish. A terrifying aura of primordial creation and cosmic collapse emanated from him, as if this frozen time-space was about to be crushed.
"I never expected there to be another living person right under this old man's nose." His tone was somewhat surprised, but more so cold.
Hearing this, Jiang Weiyang, who had closed her eyes, also opened them, equally astonished.
Could it be that besides her and Zhu Fuyi, there was another living person within this extracted and frozen time-space?
This reignited the flame of hope that had already been extinguished in her heart. Could there still be a turn of events?
"How much longer does Fellow Daoist intend to hide? Must this old man drag you out?"
The State Preceptor Xingming looked toward the frozen caravan, specifically at one carriage within it, his gaze carrying a hint of scrutiny and caution. "If Fellow Daoist's emotions had not fluctuated, allowing me to perceive them, I would not have discovered that there was another person in this time-space created and frozen by myself."
The occurrence of this situation meant either the other party had extremely profound attainments in time-space,
or their cultivation far surpassed his, or they possessed some special extraordinary treasure that could conceal their own karmic existence, merging their body into the void, making them nearly unfindable.
"I'm really sorry. Actually, I didn't mean to eavesdrop. I just didn't expect that your technique of freezing time-space, Senior, seems to have no effect on me."
A clear, tinkling voice sounded from within that carriage, seeming to carry a hint of apology.
A young girl in a red skirt lifted the curtain and stepped out. Her skin was as white and delicate as lotus root, her features exceptionally exquisite and beautiful. A peach blossom mark adorned her brow. Her black hair cascaded like a waterfall, with a simple bamboo hairpin stuck diagonally through it. Her attire was fresh and simple, without any extra ornaments.
In this frozen time-space, she was completely at ease, moving naturally, entirely unaffected.
The State Preceptor Xingming frowned, scrutinizing her, his expression puzzled.
"Not yet entered the Dao Realms?"
After clearly assessing the young girl's strength, his puzzlement seemed to deepen. He murmured to himself, "Without even Dao Realms strength, how is she able to break free from my time-space rules? Even if she carries some extraordinary treasure, without the strength to activate it, how can it work?"
"It's her?"
Zhu Fuyi, who had fallen in the distance, was also looking at this red-skirted young girl in astonishment.
He had some impression of this red-skirted young girl. She seemed to be the patron who had commissioned this caravan to escort the goods. Back when they wanted to follow this caravan, the caravan leader had sought this red-skirted young girl's opinion.
Only after she agreed were they allowed to follow behind the caravan.
"She's not even in the Dao Realms, and still far from the Immortal Emperor realm — just a little girl like this?" The State Preceptor Xingming's expression darkened slightly, as if he hadn't expected that after living for countless ages, he would one day be bluffed by such a little girl.
The red-skirted young girl was not intimidated or frightened by the State Preceptor Xingming's aura. Her expression remained calm as she explained, "I just happened to be here by chance. I didn't mean to eavesdrop on your conversation, Senior, nor do I intend to interfere in matters between you. What happened today, I will keep my mouth shut and not tell anyone. If you want to take the person away, Senior, then please do so quickly. If you take too long, variables may appear."
Seeing the red-skirted young girl put on this seemingly kind appearance, the State Preceptor Xingming's expression grew uglier.
Jiang Weiyang and Zhu Fuyi were also full of shock and surprise, never expecting this mysterious red-skirted young girl to speak so naturally.
Did she think the State Preceptor Xingming was a three-year-old child, so easily fooled? Or was she too naive, thinking that if she kept her mouth shut, the State Preceptor Xingming would let her go?
The words the State Preceptor Xingming had just spoken, if overheard by someone with ulterior motives, would be enough to stir up boundless waves.
How could the State Preceptor Xingming allow her to leave easily?
"Little girl, are you toying with this old man? Even if you have an extraordinary background and carry exceptional treasures, this old man does not care what connections you have…" The State Preceptor Xingming's expression returned to normal, as if he only thought the red-skirted young girl had been spoiled by the sect behind her, traveling outside without understanding respect or the gravity of different situations.
"I am merely offering a kind suggestion to Senior, with no ill intent." The red-skirted young girl remained calm as she explained. "You should know that once we leave this place, we will be close to the border of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance. If Senior continues to delay and the high-ranking members of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance sense the disturbance and arrive, things will become unfavorable."
The State Preceptor Xingming's face darkened. "Are you threatening me? Are you from the Heaven-Slaying Alliance?"
The red-skirted young girl did not say much, only replying, "I have no intention of courting trouble, and I imagine Senior feels the same. If you are worried that I will leak what happened today, I can swear by my Dao heart."
"There's no need for that. Even if you swear by your Dao heart, in the eyes of those with profound cultivation, it is no different from speaking frankly. Only the truly dead can keep secrets."
"Blame your bad luck for hearing things you should not have heard."
The State Preceptor Xingming snorted coldly, his expression very cold. As his eyes opened and closed, a terrifying aura spread out, and one could even see strands of Chaotic True Thunder annihilating within his pupils, as if at any moment they could surge out mightily, destroying heaven and earth.
Seeing that the State Preceptor Xingming had moved to kill and intended to slay the red-skirted young girl before him, Jiang Weiyang's expression changed. Ignoring that she could not see anything, she quickly walked over, spread her hands, and stood in front of the State Preceptor Xingming, her voice slightly cold. "State Preceptor, you promised me you would not harm the innocent. This young lady was only accidentally drawn into this matter. Why must you kill her?"
The red-skirted young girl was somewhat surprised, apparently not expecting Jiang Weiyang to stand in front of the State Preceptor Xingming and plead for her.
She had been unwilling to intervene just now, not wanting to meddle.
"Princess, you cannot stop me. If this young lady came from another force, this old man might still erase her memories and let her live. But her greatest mistake was coming from the Heaven-Slaying Alliance. This old man cannot allow her to leak this matter."
The State Preceptor Xingming's expression was indifferent, looking at the red-skirted young girl as if she were already dead.
An anxious look appeared on Jiang Weiyang's face. She did not want innocent people to be drawn into her own affairs. However, the State Preceptor Xingming clearly did not want her to continue stopping him. With a wave of his large hand, a restriction appeared, sealing Jiang Weiyang in place, rendering her unable to move.
"I have shown enough sincerity. It seems you are determined to kill me."
The red-skirted young girl frowned, but her face showed no panic or unease at the State Preceptor Xingming's murderous intent. On the contrary, she was exceptionally calm and composed.
"Surely you are not hoping that the senior behind you will save you at this moment?"
The State Preceptor Xingming revealed a mocking and disdainful smile. His withered hand under his robe reached out directly — the bones distinct, extremely thin, but containing terrifying power. Fearsome cracks appeared in the time-space before him, torn apart by the driven wind.
He was very contemptuous and indifferent, his expression and movement as if he were about to crush a dog made of earth or a chicken made of clay by the roadside.
The red-skirted young girl simply watched him reach out, standing still without moving. To Zhu Fuyi, she looked as if she had been frightened senseless.
But then, to his wide-eyed astonishment, the expression on the red-skirted young girl's face was even more contemptuous and mocking than the State Preceptor Xingming's.
Hum!
The next moment, a hazy radiance appeared before the red-skirted young girl. A crystal clear jade talisman on her chest flew out into the air. Brilliant immortal light intertwined, and dense chaotic mist spread. A vague, slender figure, like smoke and mist, stepped out from within — its face unclear, the only thing visible was a pair of deep, unfathomable eyes.
This figure had its hands clasped behind its back, its robe spotless. It merely stood there quietly, yet the moment it appeared, the entire frozen time-space began to collapse and disintegrate.
Cracks spread like a tortoise shell across the surrounding void, like a mirror on the verge of shattering.
The State Preceptor Xingming's expression, which had been full of contempt and mockery, suddenly changed drastically. As if seeing something unbelievable, his eyes were filled with horror.
"How is this possible…"
His voice trembled slightly. He turned very decisively, tore through time-space, and fled directly, without any hesitation.
"What…"
Zhu Fuyi, who had witnessed this scene with his own eyes, was also shocked, his eyes wide open, his mouth agape enough to fit an egg. He stood there frozen like a clay sculpture, unable to believe his eyes.
What kind of existence was this? Just its appearance frightened the State Preceptor Xingming into fleeing directly, without a moment's hesitation, as if afraid of being too slow.
No, this was not even the true body, just a phantom.
At this moment, the shock in Zhu Fuyi's heart was overwhelming, difficult to put into words.
After the State Preceptor Xingming fled far away, the restriction on Jiang Weiyang also dissolved. She could not see what had happened, nor did she know what had occurred, but she could vaguely guess.
Her face was also full of shock and surprise. Her long eyelashes fluttered incessantly. Her emotions were so complex that she could hardly contain them.
The State Preceptor Xingming had been frightened away. She was safe…
"You actually wasted the life-saving measure I left for you in a place like this."
A warm, clear male voice sounded, like a clear spring flowing over stones, carrying a gentle, jade-like quality, causing Jiang Weiyang to come back to herself immediately.
But she quickly realized that these words were not directed at her.
"Master…" The red-skirted young girl no longer had her previous calm and composed demeanor. Looking at the phantom before her, her eyes were full of joy, her brows curved, her voice playful and sweet as honey.