A red bamboo slip streaked across the night sky, then landed like a dragonfly touching water on Yan Yu's arm, hovering silently as if a marker.
The Wine Immortal Taoist remained silent, withdrawing the divination altar.
"This is the truth," Yao Huo said with a slight smile. "Yan Yu is the inheritor of your senior brother."
"Since the result is here, Senior Wine Immortal, you have no reason to block us now," the Wang family ancestor stated.
The Wine Immortal Taoist made no move upon hearing this, standing rooted like a sculpture.
Seeing this, the Wang family ancestor narrowed his eyes.
The smile on Yao Huo's face also froze abruptly.
"What do you mean!" Yao Huo demanded.
"Let me think," the Wine Immortal Taoist replied, his voice hoarse.
"I don't understand, what's so difficult about this?" Jin Da Fu asked with great confusion. "Xu Mu is not related to you, and the matter of inheritance was just a misunderstanding. Why must you risk your life to protect him!"
"That's none of your business," the Wine Immortal Taoist responded.
"This concerns me, of course," Jin Da Fu said coldly. "Whether one or several die here depends entirely on your choice!"
"This is very unwise," the stone giant Malphite added.
"Senior, perhaps it's best to let it go," Xu Mu said with a dry voice, clutching his chest and leaning against the tree trunk, slowly pushing himself up.
"Don't move carelessly, it will worsen your injuries!" the Wine Immortal Taoist exclaimed in alarm, rushing forward to help him.
"It's fine." Xu Mu frowned and refused the support, as his physical body had already begun to recover. The cracks in his shattered Glazed Heart were slowly mending themselves. Though not fully healed, he had regained basic mobility.
"In truth, I don't care who the inheritor is," Xu Mu said earnestly to the Wine Immortal Taoist after catching his breath. "What we should consider now is how to survive."
"Since I am not your senior brother's successor, and you have already helped me too much, I cannot drag you down further."
"So, Senior, please leave this to me this time."
"Nonsense, these are all Domain Lords. How can you possibly deal with them on your own..." The Wine Immortal Taoist gritted his teeth, but before he could finish, Xu Mu shouted loudly:
"Everyone!" Xu Mu scanned his surroundings, his voice cold. "The cause of this enmity started with me, and it shall end with me. Those who wish to kill me may come, but it has nothing to do with Senior Wine Immortal or anyone else. Do not harm the innocent!"
*Clang!*
He said this and drew the hunting knife at his waist.
"You!" The Wine Immortal Taoist looked at Xu Mu before him, his heart trembling.
"Xu Mu, if that's how you feel, then don't hide behind the Wine Immortal. Come out and accept your death!" the Wang family ancestor declared sternly, shouting loudly.
*Rumble!*
He was eager to kill Xu Mu, so as he spoke, his incredibly powerful physical domain pressed down towards Xu Mu, intending to crush him.
"Scram!"
Xu Mu's expression was grave, but before he could react, the Wine Immortal Taoist waved his hand abruptly, blocking the physical domain mid-air, preventing it from advancing an inch.
"Senior!" Xu Mu cried out in surprise. He hadn't expected the Wine Immortal Taoist to help him, even when he knew Xu Mu wasn't his senior brother's disciple!
"Are you sure!" the Wang family ancestor's face contorted, not withdrawing his domain but increasing its pressure, as those behind him also began to move!
"Wine Immortal, don't be foolish!" Yao Huo, controlling his Dharma form, took a step forward filled with killing intent. Crimson flames and dark golden Dao Origin clashed, the space crackling like firecrackers. Annie and the other Domain Lords also surrounded them, their pressure terrifying.
"Xu Mu, are you willing to become my junior brother?" the Wine Immortal Taoist asked, turning his head amidst the overwhelming pressure.
"Junior brother?" Xu Mu, who was about to wake Grey-White Pupils, was taken aback. What did that mean?
"You are too exceptional, and I am not worthy to be your master," the Wine Immortal Taoist sighed and continued, "My White Cloud Daoist Temple lineage is passed down singularly, but our seniority is calculated collectively. I know of a deceased powerful expert who had no successor. If you accept his inheritance, then you will be my junior brother and will also receive the protection of the White Cloud Daoist Temple."
"I... may not be qualified," Xu Mu said, shaking his head. He already knew how harsh the conditions were for inheriting from the White Cloud Daoist Temple.
"No, you are qualified," the Wine Immortal Taoist said with complex eyes. "I didn't tell you this at first because I mistakenly believed you were my senior brother's inheritor. But now I can tell you."
"What is it?" Xu Mu asked.
"The Five Thunder Rectification Method you cultivate was actually passed down from that person's lineage. Therefore, perhaps you should inherit his mantle more than my senior brother's."
Upon hearing this, Xu Mu couldn't help but be surprised:
"If that's the case, I am naturally willing."
"Good." The Wine Immortal Taoist nodded, then turned around.
"I have given you enough chances. Since you still choose this, then die!" Yao Huo, having overheard their conversation, immediately roared in anger. His Dharma form slammed down, and violent flames erupted instantly.
*Boom!*
Dense flames ignited, ravaging the night sky.
"Go quickly, I'll hold them off here!" The Wine Immortal Taoist pushed Xu Mu away, instantly crushing the wine gourd in his hand. A sea of wine erupted and formed a vast domain barrier, swallowing the flames. It trapped everyone inside, except for Xu Mu!
"Senior!" Xu Mu exclaimed, his eyes reddening. He knew the Wine Immortal Taoist was fighting with his life on the line, and returning would be useless. Thus, he could only run with all his might.
"You court death!" The numerous Domain Lords attacked in unison. Yao Huo pulled down a river of flames, Annie summoned a giant bear, Malphite charged with his body... The Wang family ancestor also furiously hurled a punch at the Wine Immortal Taoist, but it was blocked by the vast sea of wine.
"Stay put, or I'll detonate the sea of wine, and we'll go to the underworld together!" The Wine Immortal Taoist, blood trickling from his lips and his clothes tattered, laughed wildly.
"Madman!" Yao Huo, seeing that ordinary attacks had no effect on the sea of wine, was at a loss. He could only watch Xu Mu escape.
"Kill the Wine Immortal, and this sea of wine will dissipate!" the Wang family ancestor declared, then unleashed a punch towards the Wine Immortal Taoist. The others also attacked.
"You are not worthy of killing me!" the Wine Immortal Taoist said as the vast sea roared, and countless murky energies attached themselves to his Dharma form. As he swung his wooden sword, countless towering sea tornados were stirred up, shredding all their domains.
"Break!" The Wang family ancestor roared, unleashing a punch that turned the heavens and earth blood-red. The incredibly violent fist strike landed on the sea tornado, like the earth splitting apart. The vast sea of wine was cleaved in two by this punch, and a lightning-fast fist strike bypassed all obstacles, hitting the Wine Immortal Taoist's Dharma form.
*Dong!* The waist of the Wine Immortal Taoist's Dharma form shattered from the impact, and he fell to one knee with a thud. However, the wooden sword in his hand did not stop, slashing directly at Yao Huo.
Yao Huo's expression grew grim as he crouched down, grabbing countless fire veins from the earth and pulling them up sharply. The fire veins writhed like countless loaches in the sea of wine, causing white mist to rise everywhere.
"Die!" Yao Huo bound the fire veins together, forming a pillar as thick as a celestial pillar, and slammed it down.
*Boom!*
Fire veins collided with the Dao sword. This was the ultimate strike of two half-step Human King realm, Earthly Ranked powerhouses. An indescribably terrifying power erupted from the collision. Fire and wine intertwined and exploded, creating a fresh mushroom cloud in the sky.
*Rumble!*
The vast and terrifying aftermath pushed outwards. The other Domain Lords had no choice but to temporarily cease their attacks and mobilize their energies to resist the explosion.
"Is this your full strength? How much longer can you last?" The Great Dao rules within Yao Huo's Dharma form seemed to have been consumed in this strike, becoming transparent. The Wine Immortal Taoist fared no better; his Dharma form had vanished, as if beaten away, leaving him kneeling on one knee.
However, the dense sea of wine had not yet dissipated.
"As long as I have one breath left, you will not cross this line!" the Wine Immortal Taoist declared in a deep voice. The vast sea of wine began to churn, seemingly preparing for a final assault.
But at this moment, an accident occurred.
"Since you all cannot get out, then I shall," Jin Da Fu, hiding in a corner, chuckled sinisterly. Golden light enveloped him, and what he held in his hand seemed to be some kind of artifact. In the next second, his body became ethereal and transparent, piercing through the sea of wine and chasing after Xu Mu.
"What!" the Wine Immortal Taoist exclaimed in shock. He hadn't expected Jin Da Fu to have such a method. It was unheard of!
"Flying Cloud Shuttle, a treasure I bought at a great price. It's finally time for you to be used," Jin Da Fu said, his body illusory and his speed incredibly fast as he traversed the sea of wine. He emanated immense pressure, his domain expanded, and his distance from Xu Mu grew shorter and shorter.
The Wine Immortal Taoist's face turned grim. He wanted to control the sea of wine to move and intercept, but he was blocked by the overwhelming energy attacks.
"Stop!" Yao Huo and the others attacked again, intercepting the Wine Immortal Taoist, forcing him to deal with them hastily. He immediately sustained numerous wounds.
Meanwhile, Xu Mu, far away, sensed danger. He was stepping on the character Xun, but he simply couldn't outrun Jin Da Fu, who had activated the Flying Cloud Shuttle. Thus, he could only resort to Thunder Law.
"Five Thunder Rectification Method!" Dao Origin surged within Xu Mu, and several thunderbolts, as thick as thumbs, descended from the dark clouds above. Though not thick, these thunderbolts carried immense destructive power. Even a fourth-stage Lord would suffer greatly if struck, but for Jin Da Fu, who was at the peak of the fifth stage, this was merely a tickle.
"A petty trick, break!" Jin Da Fu sneered and waved his hand. As he recalled his artifact and his body reappeared, a giant golden toad materialized in the space. It swallowed all the descending lightning.
*Slurp!* The toad burped, then, carrying Jin Da Fu's body, leaped in Xu Mu's direction.
The toad was a thousand meters tall, and one leap could cover tens of thousands of meters.
"Your death is imminent. I will search your soul. The Heavenly Tome is mine!" Jin Da Fu cackled, his colossal figure descending from the sky, growing closer and closer to Xu Mu.
"No!!!" the Wine Immortal Taoist cried out, charging out of the encirclement regardless of the cost. He released the sea of wine, riding the surging waves to chase, attempting to intercept Jin Da Fu for Xu Mu.
But they were tens of thousands of meters apart; it was too late!
"The sea of wine is gone!" Yao Huo and the others' spirits lifted. With no time to deal with the Wine Immortal Taoist, they all surged towards Xu Mu's direction.
"Wake him up," Charles said.
Xu Mu gritted his teeth. Releasing the thunder law had slightly widened the crack in his heart. Now, not only could he not resist, but it was difficult to even stay conscious. Changsun Wuji's palm strike had been too brutal!
"Alright."
Xu Mu sighed, seemingly resigned, and closed his eyes. Instantly, his consciousness detached from his body, soaring through the sea of consciousness and finally arriving before a vast heavenly palace.
Gazing at the magnificent and grand palace, Xu Mu couldn't help but sigh, realizing he could finally approach it. However, he wasn't exactly happy.
*Dong!*
*Dong!*
*Dong!*
Xu Mu's soul floated in mid-air, bending his index finger and knocking three times on the great door.
*Creak.*
The palace gate opened automatically, emitting dazzling white light, as if storing the sun, causing Xu Mu to squint.
Following this, a youth emerged from the light. He was bare-chested, sculpted like white jade, radiating noble and powerful golden radiance.
"You're awake?" Xu Mu said tiredly, pursing his lips. "It's my turn to sleep."
With that, he walked into the palace, his shadow stretching long on the smooth, noble floor.
Grey-White Pupils remained silent, simply vanishing into the heavenly palace. The next second, when Xu Mu's body opened its eyes, his pupils had turned the familiar grey-white.
"What a big toad."
*Crack!*
He exclaimed, raising his hand and slicing the golden toad in half with a single blow!
...