655 I Will Never Submit! (1/2)

Mie Liezi and Daoist You Ran's appearance stunned Wang Baole. His shock grew when he saw the dozen figures lined behind Daoist You Ran in the next moment!

They were all familiar faces. Most of them were Nascent Soul realm cultivators who belonged to both You Ran's and Mie Liezi's factions. Daoist You Ran's disciples Zhou Chudao and Huang Yunshan appeared amongst them!

Their faces were dark with solemnity. Most were pale as if suffering from heavy blood loss. Their spirits seemed suppressed. However, they were all standing behind Daoist You Ran, in support of him!

Wang Baole recalled whatever he knew about Daoist You Ran, as well as his instinctive wariness towards the man. The scene before him confirmed his guesses—the truth was right before his eyes!

Daoist You Ran had betrayed the Dao Palace!

The thought surfaced in Wang Baole's mind as he witnessed Mie Liezi forming a series of hand seals and pushing as he continued running. The resultant explosion blocked an invisible attack that had been aimed at his retreating back. He was clearly grievously injured. Even though he managed to fight off the attack, blood still found its way out from his mouth. He staggered, then began to laugh almost manically.

”You Ran, why are you doing this?”

Daoist You Ran stood in mid-air, then laughed out loud when he heard that. His laughter was tinged with something dark and unfathomable. He didn't unleash a second attack. Instead, he replied coolly.

”Mie Liezi, why are you still playing at ignorance? You should've known the answer the moment I ambushed you. Why else would you unleash your most powerful attack in your injured state just so you could escape to the second level… Do you really think that I don't know you're trying to draw Feng Qiuran over and join forces with her?”

”We've been friends for so long. You can just let me know if you're thinking of stalling for time. I'll let you do it, too.” Daoist You Ran smiled and told Mie Liezi.

The pained and haggard look on Mie Liezi's face was replaced with something dark when he heard what Daoist You Ran said. The latter had guessed right. He had known the answer when Daoist You Ran had ambushed him. Daoist You Ran had betrayed the Dao Palace. He had immediately thought about the techniques the Never-Ending Clan had possessed in enslaving their opponents when he had witnessed how Daoist You Ran seized control over the majority of Dao Palace cultivators with a strange spell.

That was why he had fought with tooth and nail to rip the earth apart and flee to the second level. His goal had been to find Feng Qiuran, join forces with her, and overpower Daoist You Ran. Daoist You Ran had chosen to ambush him instead of engaging in an open battle with him. That meant that he wasn't so powerful as to be completely invincible!

There was still hope!

However, Daoist You Ran had just exposed Mie Liezi's intentions. His nonchalance was beginning to make Mie Liezi panic.

Wang Baole and Zhao Yameng were hidden at a nearby mountain while Mie Liezi and Daoist You Ran hovered in mid-air. They observed the battle with shock and alarm. Having heard what Wang Baole had discovered on the third level, Zhao Yameng quickly came to a conclusion.

There was a great likelihood that Daoist You Ran was involved in the battleship's appearance. In fact, he was likely the mastermind behind this entire thing. The appearance of the earlier Never-Ending Clan elder made it easy to guess Daoist You Ran's true identity.

Wang Baole had come to the same conclusion and panicked silently. His true form was frantically trying to suck the battle robes dry. It didn't matter how much spirit fat he was accumulating—nothing mattered as long as he could speed up his absorption of the battle robes' spirit energy!

Wang Baole secretly sped up his absorption rate. In the skies, Mie Liezi's eyes suddenly flashed with a fierce light. He stared at Daoist You Ran, then asked suddenly, ”Where's Feng Qiuran?”

”I like your straightforward questions,” Daoist You Ran smiled and said as he shook his head slightly.

”Feng Qiuran isn't dead. How can I bear letting both of you die? But there's no chance of her arriving in time to help you. She's trapped in an array formation that I've prepared specially for her. Besides…” Daoist You Ran's eyes narrowed as he took a sudden step forward. Mie Liezi retreated immediately.

However, Mie Liezi was clearly injured seriously. He had reacted swiftly but was still caught up to by Daoist You Ran. Explosions rumbled in the air as the two engaged in an aerial battle.

The battle was short-lived. Daoist You Ran's skin was suddenly torn apart by the emergence of an additional four arms, and his six hands came together to form a series of hand seals. A black mist materialized and transformed into a huge cauldron that smashed into Mie Liezi.

Amidst a loud boom, Mie Liezi spat out a mouthful of blood. He stumbled and was flung straight into the mountains, which caved in under the sudden force. As Mie Liezi struggled to his feet, the huge cauldron turned into countless thin threads that forced themselves into Mie Liezi's body.