Name Shakes the World, Forced Retreat

Chapter 705: Name Shakes the World, Forced Retreat

“It seems Fellow Daoist You has run into trouble. But since only two Dharma Warriors have appeared, let us all move together!” Nanlong Hou said decisively. His form transformed into a streak of golden light as he shot into the sky.

The others exchanged glances and, raising no objections, revealed themselves one after another.

Eight beams of light in various colors rose from the hillock, hurtling toward the white rainbow fleeing toward them.

The white rainbow, already heading their way, accelerated at the sight of them. In the blink of an eye, it arrived before Han Li and the others. The light converged, revealing the cold-faced cultivator, You.

His face was somewhat pale, suggesting he had lost a measure of his vitality.

“My thanks to all for coming to meet me. I am deeply grateful!” The cold-faced cultivator clasped his hands in salute. The anxious look on his face vanished, replaced by a hint of gratitude.

“Think nothing of it! Are you unharmed? But why are two Dharma Warriors pursuing you? I recall there was only one originally,” Nanlong Hou said, also halting his遁光. His form materialized as he floated in midair, his tone seemingly concerned.

“I am fine. I fought with one of them for most of the day. When his companion arrived, I had no choice but to lead them in circles for two days and nights. I have expended a bit of vitality,” the cold-faced cultivator said with a wry smile and a trace of helplessness.

“No wonder you fled all the way here. Facing two Dharma Warriors of the same rank at once—aside from Fellow Daoist Nanlong and Fellow Daoist Yun among us, anyone else would have had to avoid their edge as well,” the old woman said with a sigh.

“But these two pursuing you—leaving aside their cultivation and abilities for a moment—have considerable nerve. Even now, they show no sign of retreating. Do they truly believe they can smash a stone with an egg?” Han Li gazed into the distance and suddenly chuckled softly.

He did not need to point it out; the others had already seen it for themselves.

The two Dharma Warriors opposite, upon seeing Han Li and the others appear, had halted far away. Yet they did not flee immediately. Instead, they stood in place, coldly observing the group.

Under the formidable spiritual sense of Han Li and the others, the two’s features were perfectly clear.

One had a golden-yellow face, wore a feathered crown, and was dressed in coarse linen robes. The other had a ferocious countenance and was clad entirely in green. Both were Early Nascent Soul Dharma Warriors.

Nanlong Hou gave a cold snort and addressed them in an icy tone:

“You two still refuse to leave. Do you truly force us to make a move? Are you not afraid of perishing here, body and soul extinguished?”

Nanlong Hou’s words were laced with menace.

“Big words! Though the two of us are no match for you, claiming you can destroy us is going a bit too far. We have no intention of fighting you head-on. If we can delay you by half a day, do you think you will still have a chance to leave this place? It would be wiser to surrender now. Perhaps this High Preceptor will allow you to reincarnate!” the linen-crowned Dharma Warrior retorted sharply, his eyes rolling upward.

“Delay us for half a day? Do you take us for statues of mud?” Nanlong Hou laughed in fury.

At the same time, golden light flared around him, nearly blinding to behold.

“Perhaps not, perhaps yes. So many high-level cultivators have come to the Moulan Plains. As hosts, we ought to receive you properly,” the other green-robed Dharma Warrior said expressionlessly.

“Hmph! It seems you two will not weep until you see the coffin. Brother Yun, let us act,” Nanlong Hou’s expression darkened as he turned to address the white-robed elder in a flat tone.

The white-robed elder showed a trace of helplessness.

“I had hoped to conserve a bit of mana before handling more important matters. But we cannot allow these two to keep tailing us. We have no choice but to act,” the elder said with a light sigh.

Having said this, he opened his mouth, and a silver Dharma wheel shot out from within.

The wheel was the size of a fist, radiating crystalline light as it revolved slowly several feet in front of his chest.

Seeing this, the two Dharma Warriors immediately retreated a short distance. Light surged around them as they watched the elder with full vigilance.

Nanlong Hou, without a word, flicked his wide sleeve, and a golden flying sword flew out from within.

Han Li and the others silently raised their mana, beginning to drift forward.

But at that moment, in the distant sky behind the two Dharma Warriors, a flash of red light appeared. A streak of flame rapidly approached from afar.

Nanlong Hou and the others were taken aback, their movements pausing involuntarily.

The two Dharma Warriors had also noticed the anomaly behind them. The linen-crowned Dharma Warrior, maintaining his composure, beckoned to the flame.

The red light circled once above his head, then descended steadily into his hand. It burst open, and a cluster of fire blazed fiercely in his palm.

It was a sound transmission talisman from somewhere unknown!

“What?!”

The linen-crowned Dharma Warrior only had to sweep it with his divine sense before exclaiming in shock.

Even from several hundred feet away, Nanlong Hou and the others could clearly see the astonishment on his face.

He abruptly turned his head and, lips moving, transmitted something to the green-robed Dharma Warrior beside him. The ferocious-faced Dharma Warrior listened to just a few sentences, his expression shifting as he too let out a low exclamation.

Then, the two of them carefully scrutinized the group of cultivators, their gazes finally settling on Han Li. Their faces turned grave.

Han Li’s expression remained calm, but inwardly, he had a suspicion.

It was most likely related to the news that the Mu surname elder had been severely injured by him, escaping with only his Nascent Soul. Did these two have some deep connection with that elder?

Han Li mused silently, maintaining an impassive facade. The two Dharma Warriors shot him a fierce glare, then exchanged glances, a flicker of hesitation on their faces.

They transmitted a few more words to each other, then light surged around them. Without another word, they transformed into a red and a green rainbow, fleeing back the way they had come.

Nanlong Hou and the others were taken aback, but after a moment’s hesitation, no one gave chase.

In the blink of an eye, the two had become mere specks of light, vanishing at the edge of the sky.

“Fellow Daoist Han, those two seemed quite interested in you. Do you know these Dharma Warriors?” Wang Tiangu suddenly asked, a faint, enigmatic smile on his face.

“No. This is my first visit to the Moulan Plains. How could I know them?” Han Li replied without hesitation, his demeanor calm.

Nanlong Hou frowned slightly at this, but the expression immediately smoothed out.

“Enough. Regardless of what happened with those two Dharma Warriors, let us leave this place and break the seal so we can claim the treasure quickly. This is Moulan territory; we cannot linger,” Nanlong Hou said, as if nothing unusual had occurred, without further inquiry.

Seeing Nanlong Hou let the matter drop, Wang Tiangu immediately fell silent. The others were equally puzzled but chose not to press the issue.

After all, it had seemed as though those two Dharma Warriors held some grudge against Han Li. They had no desire to meddle in others’ affairs.

And so, led by Nanlong Hou and the white-robed elder, the group transformed into several streaks of light and swiftly departed.

They followed the edge of the plains, heading west.

…

Half a day later, the group of cultivators arrived at a barren little mountain of stone. The peak was only a few hundred feet high, completely devoid of vegetation, covered entirely in grayish-white boulders.

Seeing this mountain, Han Li and the others could not hide their surprise.

Was the cave dwelling of the Celestial Void Sage supposed to be inside this unremarkable stone hill?

The spiritual qi here was meager. If Nanlong Hou had not led the way, they would never have found this place.

“Alright, we are here. Brother Yun and I will first break the outer restrictions. The rest of you will follow closely,” Nanlong Hou instructed gravely. Then, he and the white-robed elder stepped forward side by side, each pulling a small banner from their robes.

Both banners were only a few inches in size. One shimmered with green light, crystal clear and extraordinary. The other was a hazy yellow, with runes drifting faintly across its surface. Clearly, neither was an ordinary item.

Seeing this, Han Li and the others held their breath, watching the two perform their magic with focused attention.

The two began to chant, low and unhurried incantations flowing from their mouths in a continuous stream. At the same time, the two small banners began to flicker and glow, gradually starting to tremble on their own, as if about to fly from their hands.

“Go!”

At nearly the same instant, Nanlong Hou and the white-robed elder released their grip. The small banners shot forth.

With a flash of light, they disappeared into a certain rock on the mountain’s surface, vanishing without a trace.

For a long moment, everything remained as before. Not a sound stirred.

A look of confusion rose, unbidden, on the faces of Han Li and the others.

The old woman cleared her throat and was about to ask something when the ground beneath their feet began to tremble violently. Most of them swayed, nearly losing their footing.

But what happened next made Han Li’s expression shift slightly. A chill ran through his heart.

(Only one chapter today!)