Back at the cavern.
"Lei – dead –" The sobbing grew louder. Her cries wavered, fading into silence.
Xu Yun had been covering her mouth ever since the voice message began playing. Her eyes were swollen, her hands trembling as she listened to Lin Qian's ragged breathing.
Tears streamed down her face the moment Lin Qian broke into sobbing.
But when silence fell, both Xu Yun and Ling Yu screamed, "Lin Jie-Jie!" Their voices cracked with grief as they clung to each other, breaking down in uncontrollable sobs.
Ling Yu hadn't known Lei Wen and Lin Qian for long, but in their presence, she had felt something rare—the same warmth and safety she had always known at home. Yes, a family. A bond she never imagined she'd find outside her own. And now, the thought of losing not one, but two members of that newfound family…
It didn't just hurt.
It shattered something inside her. Because this was a pain she had never known before—the kind that came with losing someone you weren't ready to let go of.
Zhao Zhi's mind reeled. No. No, this couldn't be right. His breath hitched as he took an unsteady step back, his vision blurring.
Lei Wen was dead.
His best friend was dead.
Dead.
A hollow, numbing cold spread through his chest, making it hard to breathe. His hands clenched at his robes, gripping tightly—too tightly—like he was trying to hold onto something that had already slipped through his fingers. But there was nothing. Only silence.
Chen Zhaoyun had never lost anyone. His life had been smooth. Among his Shixiong and Shidis, he was loved. Everyone was one big happy family. Lei Wen and Lin Qian were strangers to him. He didn't really know them. But he could see that the doctors, Ling Yu, even Shengzun, were close.
And he had grown to care about Ling Yu, Xu Yun, and Zhao Zhi. Seeing them grieving broke something in his heart.
Gu Tianzhu stood silently. Only he understood the gravity of the situation. He didn't want to break their grieving moment, but he had to. Their grieving would have to wait.
"I'm sorry," he started. "But we need to continue with our preparations."
"This message was for Shengzun," he continued. "Meaning when Dr. Lin made this, Shengzun hadn't reached there yet. And now, Tie Yanfang is already trapped inside the maze. He might not be able to break out, but we need to prepare for the worst."
Gu Tianzhu's words fell heavily in the room. His unsaid message was clear—Xuan Tian might not make it back in time.
Ling Yu sniffed, trying to control her sobs. "Gu Zhenren is right. We can't falter now. We need to make sure Tie Yanfang doesn't get his way!"
Everyone nodded in unison.
Gu Tianzhu went back to check on Tie Yanfang in the maze.
Xu Yun and Zhao Zhi returned to setting up decoys.
Chen Zhaoyun turned to tear-streaked Ling Yu and handed her a talisman.
"Here. This is Azure Veil in talisman form. Activate it with your spirit energy, and your presence will disappear too. But you'll still be able to move around."
Ling Yu took the talisman. She wanted to join the fight, but she understood that she wasn't strong enough. She nodded.
Both she and Chen Zhaoyun continued to hide everyone, including the Warriors and the four cultivators from Lingxu Sect.
-------------------------
Outside the cavern, back at the vantage point, Gu Tianzhu was alarmed. He saw Tie Yanfang swallow a handful of pills, circulate his spirit energy, and launch several powerful attacks toward the maze entrance.
Oh no! He's trying to break out!
Gu Tianzhu kept his eyes locked on Tie Yanfang. He circulated his own spirit energy, ready to move.
BOOM!
BOOM!
The citizens of Baishan City, who were sleeping soundly, were jerked awake by the loud explosions. Even the earth beneath them vibrated.
"What is that?"
"What's going on?"
"Earthquake?"
"The sound came from the mountain!"
------------------------------
At the inn, Xuan Tian also felt it. He was listening to Elder Mo's words when he heard the explosion. For the second time that night, Xuan Tian's heart sank. This time, desperation was added.
Xuan Tian stood and rushed back to the cavern, Elder Mo's words still lingering in his ears.
"This lowly Immortal – didn't – know – Tie Yanfang – showing off."
He remembered the way his whole body went cold upon hearing Elder Mo's revelation. And now, something had really happened on the mountain!
Be safe. Please be safe!
------------------------------
Tie Yanfang stood outside the maze, glaring at the formation that had cost him several of his precious pills. Annoyance simmered beneath his skin—someone would pay for this!
Suddenly, he felt a gaze on him. He looked up and locked eyes with Gu Tianzhu, who stood at the vantage point above. Tie Yanfang smirked, his lips curling into something twisted and mocking.
"Ah, it's really the ever sore loser—Ziyu Sect."
Then, he vanished.
Gu Tianzhu tensed. He's heading this way! No—wait. That's not possible. If he were coming straight for the cavern, he'd have to pass through the maze.
His sharp gaze darted across the labyrinth, scanning for any trace of Tie Yanfang outside the formation. But he saw nothing.
His anxiety deepened with every breath he took.
------------------------------
Chen Zhaoyun had just finished activating another Azure Veil array and was heading to another chamber when he felt something flash by behind him.
He snapped around, but there was nothing.
Chen Zhaoyun didn't believe in false gut feelings. A chill ran down his spine—he was sure someone had passed him. He was sure it was Tie Yanfang. But how? How had he bypassed the maze? How had he gotten past his Shizun?
His mind went blank.
Shizun!
Gritting his teeth, Chen Zhaoyun turned and rushed to help Gu Tianzhu.
It was indeed Tie Yanfang who had flashed by. He had reached the cavern through a secret passage he had built months ago as an escape route. Never had he imagined that he would one day use it as an entrance.
He entered the stone bed chamber, his eyes scanning the empty room. His frustration surged.
Where is Feng Hailin? Did he really betray me for Ziyu Sect? Just wait until I get my hands on him!
Tie Yanfang closed his eyes and extended his senses, scanning the cavern.
He frowned.
No Low Immortals?
He could sense the presence of Immortals, but none of them were Low Immortals. His smirk returned, twisting into something sinister.
"Well, well, well, look who's here. A sore loser."
He turned—and locked eyes with Gu Tianzhu.
"Tie Yanfang! You are despicable! Harvesting cores?! It ends here!" Gu Tianzhu barked, his voice ringing with fury.
He wanted to attack, to strike Tie Yanfang down where he stood. But he held back. His main priority was to stall—for Xuan Tian to return.
Tie Yanfang laughed maniacally. "And who's going to stop this Saint? You?!" He threw his head back and laughed again, the sound sharp and mocking.
Suddenly—
Tie Yanfang hurled a series of powerful spirit energy waves at Gu Tianzhu. He may not have been skilled in combat, but as a master of pill refinement, he had vast reserves of spirit energy. Overwhelming Gu Tianzhu with sheer force was enough to kill him.
Gu Tianzhu swiftly dodged, weaving left and right. He needed an opening—just one—to get close enough to strike at Tie Yanfang's vitals.
Tie Yanfang's eyes narrowed. He hadn't expected Gu Tianzhu to be so agile. His lips curled in irritation as he launched even larger waves of spirit energy, forcing Gu Tianzhu into a tighter defensive stance.
HIT!
Gu Tianzhu staggered back, blood spraying from his lips as he crashed to the ground. He pushed himself up, wobbling on his feet. With his sword fingers formed, he retaliated, launching a sharp burst of energy toward Tie Yanfang.
"Boring," Tie Yanfang scoffed, dodging with ease. In a flash, he closed the distance, gripping Gu Tianzhu by the neck and slamming him against the cavern wall.
Gu Tianzhu's back hit the stone with a sickening thud. He collapsed to the ground, pain radiating through his body.
Tie Yanfang sneered. "It seems like it's you that ends here."
He raised his hand, summoning another powerful spirit energy wave.
"Shizun!"
A figure flashed in front of Gu Tianzhu.
"Zhaoyun!" Gu Tianzhu screamed.
Chen Zhaoyun felt the spirit energy wave crash into him, his insides twisting as if they were being violently rearranged. He staggered, a sharp, searing pain spreading through his body before his knees gave out. Blood spewed from his mouth as he collapsed to the floor, unconscious.
"Zhaoyun!" Gu Tianzhu gasped, forcing his battered body forward. He crawled to his fallen disciple, hands trembling as he pressed his fingers against his wrist. A weak pulse. Faint. Flickering. Zhaoyun!
"Oops. This Saint missed." Tie Yanfang giggled like a madman, eyes gleaming with sadistic delight.
Gu Tianzhu gritted his teeth, fury burning through his veins. Forcing himself up, he launched another attack at Tie Yanfang.
Once again, Tie Yanfang dodged effortlessly.
Gu Tianzhu was not a poor fighter. He was a good sword cultivator. But right now, his mind was chaos. Zhaoyun was barely hanging on. He had to finish this quickly—he had to end this fight before it was too late.
But he was facing an Immortal Saint.
Gu Tianzhu was strong, but the power gap between a High Immortal and a Saint was a chasm that could never be bridged. That was why cultivators feared Saints.
And right now, that fear was becoming reality.
Injuries upon injuries rained down on Gu Tianzhu's body, but he persisted. He could not fall here. Too many lives depended on him.
Gu Tianzhu crashed against the cavern wall, blood dripping from his lips. He refused to collapse. His body slumped forward, his legs twisted, his breathing ragged, his vision blurred—but he was still standing.
Tie Yanfang scoffed. "Hmph! A cockroach that refuses to die! You know what? Keep standing there. Watch as this Saint extracts your beloved disciple's core! I've never harvested a Mid Immortal Core before. I wonder how strong a Shengtian Pill it will make! Hahahahaha!"
Gu Tianzhu heard every word. Every syllable from Tie Yanfang's mocking voice cut deeper than any wound, but he could do nothing. His body refused to move. His injuries had pushed him beyond his limits, his limbs heavy, unresponsive.
Yet, the pain that truly crippled him wasn't physical. It was in his heart.
If it were just him and Chen Zhaoyun, he would have chosen self-destruction without hesitation. A final act to take Tie Yanfang down with him. But he couldn't. The explosion would destroy the cavern, annihilating everyone inside—his disciples, the hidden survivors, the people he had sworn to protect.
Tears slipped from Gu Tianzhu's weary eyes, blurring his vision. Zhaoyun… His voice trembled in his mind. Shizun is sorry. Shizun failed to protect you. Yet all Shizun can do now… is beg for your forgiveness.
With a final, shuddering breath, Gu Tianzhu closed his eyes. Shengzun, please.