Who else could it be but Bai Zih He?
Just now.
Bai Zih He could have escaped. Why would he set up a formation here?
Moreover, the moment I broke through the formation, Bai Zih He chose to self-detonate, without the slightest hesitation.
He didn't even give me a chance to attack his divine sense with my clone!
Why did he do that?
At first, the Heavenly Sword Elder couldn't figure it out.
But now, he understood.
The main force of their Heavenly Mountain Sword Sect was all held back here by Bai Zih He's formation, precisely when the Heavenly Mountain Medicine Garden was most vulnerable.
And.
Bai Zih He must have possessed treasures that could evade divine sense detection, allowing him to flee right under my nose without me noticing any clues.
Not only that.
He had also successfully broken through the Heavenly Mountain Golden Lotus's restrictions and stolen the Heavenly Mountain Golden Lotus!
Everything fell into place!
"Go!"
The Heavenly Sword Elder's face turned extremely grim. With a command, he transformed into a streak of light and sped towards the Heavenly Mountain Sword Sect.
The Heavenly Mountain Golden Lotus was heavily protected.
He believed.
Zhao Qian Kun would have activated the restrictions immediately, so Bai Zih He must be trapped within the Medicine Garden.
As long as he returned in time, Bai Zih He would have no chance to escape.
There was another point.
If Bai Zih He was truly trapped within the Medicine Garden's barrier, it would actually be a great boon for the Heavenly Mountain Sword Sect.
This way...
There would be no other rogue cultivators or sect forces involved.
Bai Zih He's Xuanyuan Sword and spirit stones would become spoils for their Heavenly Mountain Sword Sect!
"Whoosh!"
"Swoosh..."
"Huala—"
Streaks of light vanished into the sky.
As the people of the Heavenly Mountain Sword Sect departed, the place instantly became much quieter.
"Alas..."
"It seems Bai Zih He already made his escape. We were still too late."
"Indeed. With the vastness of the world, if Bai Zih He hides and cultivates to the Tribulation Stage, even if we find him, with the Xuanyuan Sword in hand, we wouldn't be his match."
"Don't you find it strange that we didn't see anyone from Xuanyuan Palace?"
"Right. By rights, the Xuanyuan Sword is the sacred artifact of Xuanyuan Palace, and with Ji Xian Yuan's ambition and strategy, how could she let the Xuanyuan Sword fall into the wrong hands?"
The cultivators present.
They dispersed while discussing.
And above the clouds.
Qi Tian He was also stunned when he saw nothing inside the formation.
He had come as quickly as he could, yet he still couldn't figure out when Bai Zih He had fled, and how he had managed to trick so many people.
Including himself.
"Interesting, very interesting."
"As expected of the young man whom even the Penglai Immortal would bestow opportunities upon..."
Qi Tian He shook his head and silently departed.
He needed to report everything that had happened here to Ji Xian Yuan.
At the same time.
On the outermost perimeter of the crowd.
A woman dressed in a pure white flowing immortal dress let out a sigh of relief, then sped towards the provincial capital of Jiangdong.
If Yue Ruo Shuang were present, she would undoubtedly recognize her.
This was her third senior sister!
After leaving the South Sea Divine Temple, she had been inquiring about Bai Zih He's whereabouts.
Previously, upon hearing that Bai Zih He had killed Qin Chang Kong and was being besieged by countless cultivators, she had been genuinely worried.
Therefore.
She had rushed here immediately, anxiously waiting and observing.
Fortunately, the worst-case scenario had not occurred.
What she needed to do now was to rendezvous with Bai Zih He. She had extremely important news to tell him.
Heavenly Mountain Medicine Garden.
"This restriction... doesn't seem like much either."
Bai Zih He sheathed the Xuanyuan Sword and said nonchalantly.
"Let's go..."
The small pagoda urged, "I've already sensed a tremendously powerful force flying this way."
A tremendously powerful force...
Bai Zih He understood in his heart that it must be the Heavenly Sword Elder.
"No rush."
Bai Zih He's heart stirred. At the gap in the restriction he had just broken, he placed a spirit stone and carved on it.
"To the Sect Master of Heavenly Mountain Sword Sect, thank you for the Golden Lotus."
"This spirit stone is my compensation. You have nurtured it for me for so long, and you have gone through so much trouble. Thank you for your hard work."
Afterward.
Bai Zih He, along with the Hao Tian Pagoda, made their grand exit.
A moment later.
They exited the Medicine Garden's perimeter and flew rapidly, skimming close to the ground.
At the scene.
"Whoosh..."
The Heavenly Sword Elder descended from the sky and landed outside the Medicine Garden.
"Sect Master!"
Zhao Qian Kun's face was extremely grim. He said in a low voice, "Your subordinate failed to guard properly. Please punish me, Sect Master."
The Heavenly Sword Elder said nothing. He merely placed a palm on the restriction above the Medicine Garden with a cold expression. The unique true essence of the Heavenly Mountain Sword Formation fused with the restriction, opening a gap.
The Heavenly Sword Elder stepped inside.
This step...
Immediately turned the Heavenly Sword Elder's face ashen!
The numerous mountain ranges, which had been packed with medicinal herbs, had been almost completely cleared out.
What remained...
Were only in obscure corners, looking worthless, and were merely young seedlings.
Prior to this.
Thanks to the Heavenly Mountain's advantageous geographical conditions, the Heavenly Mountain Sword Sect's Medicine Garden was the most renowned and unparalleled among all the Longevity Sects.
All sorts of rare herbs, all sorts of precious medicinal ingredients.
Countless, stretching as far as the eye could see!
But now...
Only a handful remained, returning to square one overnight!
How could this not enrage the Heavenly Sword Elder?
"Ahhhhh..."
The Heavenly Sword Elder roared to the sky and bellowed, "Bai Zih He, I will surely kill you!"
"Hmm?"
At this moment, the Heavenly Sword Elder noticed some clues.
His strength was far greater than Zhao Qian Kun's, hence his divine sense was also exponentially more powerful. He detected traces of the restriction being damaged by the Xuanyuan Sword.
"Shua..."
With a thought, the Heavenly Sword Elder vanished from his spot.
When he reappeared, he was already on a mountain peak at the edge, his expression becoming extremely unsightly.
"Shua!"
"Swoosh!"
"Huala!"
Numerous experts also arrived at that location.
"Bai Zih He escaped from here!"
The Heavenly Sword Elder beckoned, and the spirit stone flew out from beneath the earth. In a short time, it was in the Heavenly Sword Elder's hand.
"Eh..."
"There seem to be words on it!"
Some expert from the Heavenly Mountain Sword Sect exclaimed.
Everyone focused their gaze.
Upon seeing this...
The Heavenly Sword Elder's nose almost exploded with anger on the spot.
It was indeed Bai Zih He!
He had tricked everyone!
He had stolen the Heavenly Mountain Golden Lotus!
And left behind such an ordinary, or even inferior, spirit stone with these words...
This was a provocation!
This was humiliation!
This was sheer hatred!
"Ahhhhhh..."
At this moment, the Heavenly Sword Elder could no longer suppress the rage within him and let out a sky-shattering roar.
"Rumble!"
"Rumble!"
"Rumble!"
The surrounding mountain peaks all exploded at this instant.
A gale roared.
Thunder rumbled.
It was as if the end of the world was about to arrive.
The true essence released in this instant made Zhao Qian Kun, the Great Elder, and others standing nearby change their expressions and immediately circulated their true essence to protect themselves from injury.
"Issue my command!"
After a long while, the wind ceased and the clouds cleared.
The Heavenly Sword Elder roared, "Mobilize all the power of my Heavenly Mountain Sword Sect, use all our connections, and spare no expense..."
"To capture Bai Zih He!"
"I will flay his skin, bind his soul, and sear him day and night in the fires of purgatory, making him regret ever being born into this world."
"Otherwise..."
"I will never be able to quell the hatred in my heart!"