Boom!
Fist wind surged, spiritual pressure bearing down on Dong Gua.
Dong Gua instinctively raised her bone sword to block. The attacking Xuanqing Heavenly Sect cultivator wore a cold expression, his long sword driving straight toward her face.
At such close range from a Spirit Transformation cultivator, this strike was impossible to dodge.
Dong Gua activated her source power, strange markings surfacing across her body. With a sharp cry, she thrust her bone sword forward.
The swords clashed. Dong Gua felt an almost absurdly powerful spiritual force pressing down on her. The terrifying power twisted her expression into something ferocious.
But the Xuanqing Heavenly Sect cultivator across from her remained utterly calm.
This kind of cultivator, raised through resource stacking… was truly strong… terrifyingly so.
It was unfair…
But the Xuanqing Heavenly Sect cultivator's sword pressure didn't immediately follow up with another strike.
Dong Gua quickly understood why. The next instant, another aura bore down from behind.
Searing pain spread from her back throughout her entire body. A Spirit Transformation cultivator's body was nearly broken in half. Before Dong Gua could even turn to look, she was stomped down, and a long sword pierced through the hand gripping her weapon.
Sealing energy spread from the sword, frantically shredding the spiritual power within her body.
This group of Xuanqing Heavenly Sect cultivators worked with near-perfect coordination, their one-two attacks practiced and smooth, all while holding the advantage in cultivation.
Moreover, the ambush cultivator was at least a peak Spirit Transformation expert—their aura too dense, possibly even an Integration realm cultivator for Dong Gua.
Without question, this was a capture method.
Her Spirit Transformation power lasted only an instant before she was swiftly subdued.
Dong Gua was constantly reminded by the searing pain that everything before her was real.
The world turned upside down in an instant.
Like a dream, like an illusion.
"They're just small fry, not even putting up a fight."
The Xuanqing Heavenly Sect cultivator stomped down on Dong Gua, continuing to apply seals as he spoke.
"After observing for so long, I didn't expect the leader to be just as useless."
Dong Gua quickly tried to activate the blooming flower within her sea of consciousness. Xu Linglong had originally used this flower to contact her.
If she could manipulate this flower to make Xu Linglong aware that something had happened here…
If Her Eminence came personally…
These Xuanqing Heavenly Sect cultivators would be nothing but ants!
But she had only been manipulating it for a moment.
Another sword pierced through her shoulder blade.
"Hn…" Dong Gua gritted her teeth and let out a cold grunt.
"Trying to pull something right in front of us? Do you take us too lightly?" The Xuanqing Heavenly Sect cultivator's sword sealed her spiritual senses, his voice cold.
"Your third-rate tricks don't mean we're third-rate too."
"Spare your life. Whether you treasure it is up to you."
Dong Gua's spiritual senses were pinned by the spiritual sword through her shoulder blade, unable to move.
The Xuanqing Heavenly Sect leader swept his gaze across the now-pacified Ant Ditch, then looked toward the eastern side where the scouting cultivator signaled that all was clear.
"Sure enough, filthy places are where insects like you nest." The Xuanqing Heavenly Sect cultivator snorted, then instructed a nearby team member. "Once you're done cleaning up, have Captain Cui come over. Safety first."
"Yes." The Xuanqing Heavenly Sect disciple acknowledged and withdrew.
Dong Gua endured the pain, forcing her head up to watch the Xuanqing Heavenly Sect cultivator depart in a streak of light.
For some reason, hearing the name Cui…
A person she would never forget in this life surfaced in her heart—Cui Hao.
The ultimate swindler she wished she could skin, strip to the bone, burn, and feed to dogs.
But Cui Hao was merely a Golden Core cultivator. No matter how much prestige Chu Xingchen had, he couldn't possibly make a Golden Core cultivator the captain, leading this group of powerful Xuanqing Heavenly Sect cultivators.
If it were a Tianyan Sect cultivator, Dong Gua might have believed it.
After all, Chu Xingchen and Bai Xuanling were extremely close.
It was probably just a Xuanqing Heavenly Sect cultivator who shared Cui Hao's surname.
Dong Gua naturally wanted to see Cui Hao, to have a pleasant heart-to-heart—physically.
Or to see Cui Hao bound up, face full of terror and tear stains, begging her for mercy.
But she absolutely didn't want to meet him in her current state as a prisoner. Especially with that mouth of Cui Hao's—if he mocked her even a couple times…
That would truly…
It would be better to just die.
Dong Gua raised her head, looking forward to see who was coming.
But a foot stomped down, forcing her head back down.
The Xuanqing Heavenly Sect cultivator shouted coldly:
"Stay still."
Dong Gua struggled to lift her head, but couldn't raise it at all. Her spiritual senses were completely sealed, unable to probe further.
After waiting a moment, she heard footsteps approaching, followed by a male voice:
"Thank you all for your trouble. But please, raise your foot—stepping on her doesn't seem like the best way to have a conversation."
"Yes." The Xuanqing Heavenly Sect cultivator agreed, then lifted his foot.
Dong Gua could finally raise her head, but hearing that familiar voice…
She ultimately didn't have the courage to look up, pressing her face tightly against the ground.
The male voice spoke again:
"Is it safe? She wouldn't suddenly punch me, would she?"
The Xuanqing cultivator replied:
"Her spiritual senses and spiritual power are completely sealed. Her body is also stabilized by Xuanqing Heavenly Sect's secret techniques. She has no means to resist, and her cultivation depth is only slightly better than a rogue cultivator. She shouldn't be able to break free."
"If needed, I can cripple her right now."
The male voice quickly interjected: "That won't be necessary."
Then came the sound of someone crouching down.
Dong Gua turned her face to the side, eyes closed, not daring to look.
This way of speaking and tone of voice…
"Though your appearance has changed quite a bit, I still recognized you, Captain Dong Gua. I remember you used to be quite neat and clean."
Hearing these words, fury surged within Dong Gua. She raised her head and looked directly at Cui Hao, who wore a gentle smile.
She hadn't expected that after fleeing through a thousand escapes…
She still couldn't escape Wukong, and this damned Cui Hao!
Dong Gua's voice was sharp: "Kill me!"
Cui Hao raised his hand slightly, signaling for her to be helped up first:
"I remember you used to want to live so badly. How come your temperament changed the moment we met? Did you somehow see things clearly, like Xi Gua?"
Dong Gua was pulled up by the Xuanqing Heavenly Sect cultivator, her spiritual meridians sealed at the same time.
Her expression was disdainful, eyes full of disgust as she looked at Cui Hao:
"I have nothing to say to you. It's either your death or mine!"
Dong Gua certainly wanted to live, but that didn't mean she would beg Cui Hao for mercy.
She would use every means to fight for her survival, but she would never throw away her last shred of dignity.
Dong Gua asked herself—she had clawed her way here through skill and risking her life.
If she just wanted to wag her tail and survive, why would she have gone to such lengths?
Dong Gua's face was like frost, killing intent churning in her eyes.
Cui Hao looked into Dong Gua's eyes and felt that in her mind, he had probably died a hundred times over.
A smile appeared on his face, his tone still relatively gentle:
"What's this about death and life? We're old acquaintances. We just have different tasks to handle. I don't actually dislike you that much."
"After all, you're kind of cute in your stupidity."
Dong Gua stared at him coldly:
"Don't try to extract information from me. I won't say a word."
Cui Hao lightly touched his chin:
"You seem to hold quite a grudge against me."
"Heh!"
"I admit I didn't handle things well before. Consider it me owing you a favor." Cui Hao said, lightly clapping his hands. "How about I save your life in return?"
"That way, I could even be considered your savior."
Dong Gua let out a derisive laugh: "Cui Hao, do you think I'm an idiot? I told you, you won't get a single piece of information from me."
Cui Hao smiled and shook his head:
"Who said I wanted your intelligence?"
"Do you know how we found your location?"
"I actually know far more than you do. What you don't know, I know. Your little secrets are all outdated in my eyes."
"When I said I'd save your life, I meant it genuinely."
Cui Hao pointed into the distance:
"You can leave right now. No one will track you, no one will ambush you. Once you're gone, your injuries will naturally heal, won't they?"
"But the next time we meet, or if you fall into my hands again, you'll have to…"
Cui Hao said, slightly raising an eyebrow with a smile:
"Call me benefactor."
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