High above in the sky, two unsuspecting immortal cultivators were caught off guard. There was no scene of flesh and blood flying; instead, ripples spread around them as an invisible force blocked the tide of bullets.
"Hmm, what kind of artifact is this?" Faced with the sudden assault by thousands of mortals, the two immortal cultivators remained calm. Kou Hong extended his right hand, capturing a soldier into the sky. As he examined the rifle in the soldier's hand, he casually tossed the soldier aside.
"Interesting, using intricate mechanical structures to replace spell formations, and the explosive force of mundane objects to substitute spiritual power, it can actually unleash the power of the early Qi Refinement stage..." Kou Hong understood the principle of the rifle with just a glance.
He shook his head, "Unexpectedly, after thousands of years, the mortals exiled to the Immortal-Forsaken Land have managed to develop such a sophisticated object. Unfortunately, it only works in this land where the Great Dao is incomplete. Outside the Immortal-Forsaken Land, it's nothing but useless scrap metal." With that, the rifle in his hand suddenly vanished, clearly stored away by him.
"Mere mortals dare to attack us immortal cultivators. I initially felt a bit guilty, but now it seems you are courting death!"
Kou Hong looked down from above, gazing at the countless mortal soldiers in the darkness with disdain in his eyes.
He quickly traced mysterious marks in the void with his right hand.
Countless sparks suddenly appeared in the darkness, expanding instantly into massive fireballs like a prairie fire.
"Dao Technique: Fire Dragon's Roar!"
With Kou Hong's cold shout, crimson flames extended outward from the massive fireballs, connecting them like flesh and blood in an instant.
A menacing giant dragon composed of crimson flames appeared, coiling above Xuanjing City.
The fire dragon raised its head and let out a resounding roar, then charged downward.
"Boom!"
The sound of violent explosions echoed continuously.
The buildings of Xuanjing City were like flimsy toys, easily destroyed without any resistance.
The crimson flames, as if possessing their own will, devoured and burned everything they touched upon landing.
In the blink of an eye, Xuanjing City turned into a blazing inferno!
However, Kou Hong, who caused all this, frowned, his expression uncertain.
He discovered that although Xuanjing City appeared devastated, the majority of the soldiers had survived his attack!
It must be known that his Fire Dragon's Roar, unleashed in fury, was a full-force strike.
The power of a cultivator at the peak of Foundation Establishment was not something mortals could withstand!
Even if those soldiers were well-trained, taking out protective gear and hiding in the corners of buildings for protection the moment they saw him casting spells, their casualties should have been much higher than they were!
What was going on!?
Kou Hong was both shocked and puzzled. In an instant, he seemed to realize something. Kou Hong beckoned with his hand, retrieving the small metal objects that had rained down on him but were easily repelled by his protective spiritual energy.
"This is..." Kou Hong's expression changed dramatically, and he scanned the surroundings warily, the disdain in his eyes turning into dread.
"These hidden weapons have been soaked in mortal blood, it's the immortal miasma..." Dao Xuanzi's voice came through, his expression grim.
"We were ambushed as soon as we arrived here. Moreover, the opponent used the immortal miasma, clearly prepared. Could there be an immortal cultivator guiding these mortals?" The two exchanged glances, and several thoughts flashed through their minds. "In any case, this place is strange and not suitable for a prolonged stay."
Although Dao Xuanzi and Kou Hong could confront each other with blades for the Foundation Establishment technique, that was a matter between them.
Now that unexpected changes had occurred, facing mere thousands of mortals, the two, who had a century-long tacit understanding, instinctively chose to flee first.
Perhaps realizing their intention, the gunfire that had paused due to the Fire Dragon's Roar resumed!
However, this only deepened Dao Xuanzi and Kou Hong's suspicions.
These mortals clearly had ulterior motives!
"Go!" Just as the two were about to escape, a voice rang out from below.
"Dao Xuanzi! Kou Hong! If you two flee today, news of you obtaining a Foundation Establishment technique will spread throughout the cultivation world tomorrow!"
The voice echoed from all directions in Xuanjing City, reverberating in the night.
The voice was somewhat aged, but the tone was resolute and cold.
Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi's figures halted, their expressions filled with shock and disbelief.
"How is it possible? The matter of obtaining the Foundation Establishment technique was known only to us two, how could the news have leaked?" For a moment, the two were plunged into deep fear.
They had ventured together to explore a cave dwelling, then Kou Hong seized the technique and fled, with Dao Xuanzi in relentless pursuit. Kou Hong took a desperate risk, entering the Immortal-Forsaken Land in search of a chance for survival...
Scenes of people and events they encountered flashed through their minds.
Who could it be!?
As the two were shaken to their core, unable to regain composure, dozens of cannonballs flew at them from unexpected positions, trailing long tails of flames.
"Courting death!" Kou Hong recovered from his shock, then became even more furious.
"Dao Technique: Flame Ash Explosion!"
A massive ring of fire faintly formed out of thin air.
"Not good, Kou Hong, dodge!" At this moment, Dao Xuanzi's urgent voice rang out.
"Hmm?" Kou Hong was taken aback, and as he scanned with his divine sense, his expression turned to shock.
Just as he was about to dodge, it was already too late.
Dozens of cannonballs exploded around them.
There was no deafening explosion, only dark red liquid bursting around them, forming a small-scale blood rain that drenched the two immortal cultivators!
"Ah..."
A bone-chilling scream echoed through the sky.
At the same time, the awe-inspiring aura that intimidated mortals rapidly diminished.
After only a moment, the two could no longer sustain themselves and fell from the sky.
Thousands of soldiers surrounded them with rifles.
At this moment, the state of the two "immortals" made even these specially trained death warriors, who could disregard their own lives, feel a chill in their hearts.
Originally, Dao Xuanzi and Kou Hong appeared as young men in their twenties or thirties, but after being drenched by the blood rain, their hair turned snow-white in an instant. Within a few breaths, they aged dramatically, their faces covered in dense wrinkles, looking utterly terrifying.
The two hunched over, slumped on the ground. Kou Hong was on the verge of death, barely holding on. Dao Xuanzi, with slightly higher cultivation, seemed a bit better off, but was also barely clinging to life.
The once lofty immortal masters had turned into such a state!
Not only the soldiers present, but even Li Fan, who was secretly commanding from behind, felt an inexplicable chill upon hearing the report from his subordinates.
"Two immortal masters, our Grand Tutor has ordered that if you surrender, your lives will be spared!" A soldier shouted from a distance.
"Surrender..." Severely injured, Dao Xuanzi looked at his friend beside him, whose eyes were filled with unwillingness, wanting to say something but unable to, and suddenly let out a cold laugh.
Seeing Dao Xuanzi's actions, Kou Hong already guessed what he intended to do.
He shook his head slightly, then used his last bit of strength to hand the storage ring in his hand to Dao Xuanzi.
"Go..." Kou Hong mouthed silently, then his head drooped, and he passed away.
High in the sky, a phenomenon occurred!
A crimson horned dragon appeared in the sky. It seemed to be in great pain, struggling, roaring, trying to break free from something.
However, all efforts were in vain.
It slowly became emaciated, and in the blink of an eye, only skin and bones remained.
Moments later, the entire horned dragon was devoured completely, not even leaving behind bones or flesh.
At this moment, people finally saw clearly that it was an ordinary-looking brown branch that had taken root and sprouted within the horned dragon, consuming it entirely!
Though a mundane wood, it could devour a dragon!
This magnificent scene, like brilliant fireworks, illuminated the sky for thousands of miles.
All beings who witnessed this scene, whether human or otherwise, naturally had such words appear in their minds.
"Foundation Establishment cultivator Kou Hong, who cultivated the Dao for two hundred and five years, achieved his Dao foundation with the extraordinary item [Horned Dragon Branch]. In the Immortal-Forsaken Land, he was besieged by thousands of mortals and was accidentally injured by the immortal miasma."
"His cultivation was lost, and his lifespan was nearing its end."
"Now, he has perished, returning his Dao to the heavens!"
Grieving for their kind, feeling sorrowful, unable to rely on oneself...
Around Xuanjing City, all beings enveloped by this phenomenon were immersed in such emotions, unable to extricate themselves.
The splendid scene lasted for nearly half an hour before gradually dissipating.
The soldiers finally regained their senses, silently watching the other elderly immortal cultivator in the field.
"Immortal Master Dao Xuanzi, our Grand Tutor has no intention of fighting to the death with you. If you cease resistance, our Grand Tutor guarantees your safety..." The soldiers continued to shout according to Li Fan's instructions.
Li Fan sighed inwardly in the shadows, knowing that this attempt to capture immortals had failed.
He never expected the immortal miasma to be so lethal to immortal cultivators.
Indeed, Dao Xuanzi paid no heed to the shouts.
He still looked up at the sky that had already dissipated, his eyes filled with nostalgia.
"Horned Dragon Branch..."
After a long time, he withdrew his gaze and struggled to straighten his hunched body.
Scanning the surroundings, Dao Xuanzi tried to find the mastermind behind the scenes.
"I don't know who you are," he said to Li Fan. "I also don't know what your purpose is."
"Perhaps it's for this Foundation Establishment technique, or perhaps for something else." Dao Xuanzi glanced at the storage ring in his hand and said calmly, "Now that my brother and I have fallen into your trap, perishing and returning our Dao to the heavens, we have no words to say."
"But I am not convinced," Dao Xuanzi said coldly.
"To be able to follow us all the way, knowing our affairs so well, yet not being discovered, your cultivation must be quite high."
"Such a person, not daring to confront us directly is one thing. But to always act stealthily, hiding behind mortals, even using the despicable immortal miasma that all immortal cultivators disdain..."
Dao Xuanzi took a deep breath.
"My brother Kou Hong, dying at the hands of someone like you, I feel it's not worth it for him."
Dao Xuanzi slowly ascended into the air, looking down at the suddenly wary crowd, his face devoid of joy or sorrow.
"You have already seen my brother's Foundation Establishment treasure, now, I would like to show you mine."
"With the wonders of heaven and earth, I establish my Dao foundation." Dao Xuanzi chanted loudly.
"My Dao foundation is named: Dao Xuan."
A gigantic, broken iron sword appeared above Xuanjing City.
All beings under the shadow of the giant sword felt their thoughts become sluggish and slow, like a rusted machine.
"I have a sword, please take a look!"
The world suddenly brightened, and everyone in Xuanjing City seemed to fall into absolute stillness.
Then, like glass cracking, the entire Xuanjing City shattered in an instant!
"Return to Origin."
The charging progress plummeted, and in the moment before consciousness faded, Li Fan silently recited in his heart.
(End of Chapter)