Poverty

Chapter 1834 Hostages
The Stone Dao Master sensed an extremely powerful force of the Great Dao from Li Yanchu's punch, which was in no way weaker than his own.

His gaze was filled with suspicion and uncertainty. As the supreme ruler of the alien realm, he originally possessed the power to crush all conspiracies and schemes, but now, this rebel from the lower realm seemed to have gained momentum.

Master Shi thought to himself, "If he really colludes with the innate rebels or the envoys of the Dao Domain, Fellow Daoist Guan could very well be harmed by him."

Master Shi did not suspect that Li Yanchu was lying out of fear of his enemy. The punch he had just received made him realize that Li Yanchu's cultivation level was now far beyond what it used to be.

After hesitating for a moment, Master Shi retreated, realizing that the other party's realm was already so close to his own.

He should go back first, find out the truth, and then make a decision.

When Master Shi returned to the foreign land, he quickly learned that Master Guan had indeed been suppressed.

Master Shi was shocked. Master Chen's whereabouts were unknown, and now that Master Guan had been suppressed, he was afraid that he had also been ambushed.

He felt a chill run down his spine as he carefully examined the killing formation set up by Li Yanchu.

Although Master Shi and the other two Daoists were not of one mind, with a powerful enemy at the door, he was unwilling to fight alone at this time.

He mobilized his supernatural powers to the fullest extent, and the Pure Yang Dao was activated, with the radiant light of the vast universe continuously converging on him.

He charged into Li Yanchu's killing formation, but the next moment, thousands of sword lights appeared in the formation and kept surging towards him.

Master Shi frowned deeply as he tried to deflect the sword lights, but he was forced to retreat in a sorry state after only a short while, covered in numerous injuries.

"Damn it! He set up this trap to kill the Dao Master. I don't think breaking through the formation will be easy."

At this moment, the Dao Master Guan sensed the aura of the Dao Master Shi and exclaimed with delight, "Fellow Daoist Shi, please help me! If I continue to be refined by this killing formation, I will be refined to death!"

The killing formation kept getting stronger, making it impossible for him to escape.

Master Shi said, "Don't panic!"

He then channeled his cultivation and used innate spiritual treasures to pave the way.

Of the three Dao Lords, only he still possessed innate spiritual treasures. One by one, these innate spiritual treasures were activated, striking the enemy to defend against the killing formation and opening a path for Dao Lord Shi.

Several days later, he finally broke through Li Yanchu's killing formation and successfully entered the center of the formation.

The Daoist Master said urgently, "I need to bring some offerings to help me restore the Great Dao."

He didn't have to do this, but Li Yanchu's killing formation was too powerful, consuming a lot of his energy, and he had to rely on some offerings to recover.

Master Shi nodded slightly and said, "Leave this matter to me."

However, this forbidden area had already become known beyond the realm, and sending someone to seize the treasure was no easy task; no one dared to go.

After several unsuccessful attempts, Master Shi had no choice but to take matters into his own hands and capture many Immortal Dao Lords, sending them into the killing formation.

Fortunately, there are still powerful beings in the vast universe who can enter other realms; otherwise, the only way to capture them would be to travel to the vast universe again.

After sacrificing over a hundred immortal Dao Lords, the Dao Lord finally revived, reformed his body, and restored his Dao to its original state, his Dao injury being healed.

The Dao Master said in a deep voice, "Damn it! In the previous battle, the hidden injury left in my body by the innate rebels erupted. Li Yanchu tricked me and trapped me here, wanting to use the killing formation to refine me to death. He truly deserves to die."

Master Shi said, "Master Chen and I entered the Star Sea to search for the whereabouts of the Jingjie Universe. We finally found it, but just after that day, I was punched by Li Yanchu. He told me that you were suppressed."

Upon hearing this, the Daoist Master exclaimed in surprise, "What? Did Li Yanchu tell you this?"

He had a vague feeling that something was wrong.

Master Shi said, “That’s right. I lost my way in the Star Sea and did not return to the Other Realm. I did not know that you were trapped here. It was Li Yanchu who provocatively told me about this. I did not want to fight him to the death, so I returned to the Other Realm to find out the truth. Sure enough, I found you trapped here.”

The Daoist Master said, "Thank you, Daoist Master Shi, for risking your life to save me and break through this killing formation."

Master Shi said, "That's only right."

The Taoist master then said, "Would this lowly barbarian be so kind?"

Master Shi said, "Perhaps he was too proud of suppressing you, or perhaps he was unwilling to fight me to the death and deliberately lured me here to break the formation. I have been on guard against him these days, thinking that he would trap you and me in the killing formation together, but he has not shown himself yet, which is surprising to me."

The Daoist Master frowned, then asked, "Where is Daoist Master Chen?"

Master Shi shook his head and said, "I don't know where he went either."

The Daoist Master asked, "Do you still have that Hunxing Sect spiritual treasure of yours?"

Master Shi was taken aback and said, "You are talking about the spiritual root of the Star Realm Universe, which is still in my hands and has not been controlled by this traitor."

The Taoist Master said, "Lend me this, and I will search for the whereabouts of Taoist Master Chen."

Although the Pure Yang Dao cultivated by Master Shi was domineering and fierce, and its attack power was unmatched among the three, it was somewhat clumsy and lacked variation, making it inferior to Master Guan Dao.

Upon hearing this, Master Shi took out the Chaos Star Gate, a wooden door that was ten feet tall and looked very old.

The gate contains terrifying stellar power, with countless galaxies rising and falling within it.

After Guan Dao Master obtained the treasure, he activated it with all his might, and the Hun Xing Gate opened, continuously searching for the whereabouts of Dao Master Chen.

But Master Chen seemed to have vanished into thin air, not even in the sea of ​​stars.

Previously, the Dao Master used the Mother Tree to connect the vast universe, and this Chaos Star Gate also has a similar wondrous use. It is one of the very few treasures that can connect to the vast universe.

However, Master Shi didn't know how to use it, and even after Master Guan activated it, he was still unable to find Master Chen's whereabouts, which surprised him greatly.

It took some more time for Guandao Master to find the whereabouts of Chen Dao Master.

Master Chen's voice was somewhat weak at this moment.

The Daoist Master asked, "Fellow Daoist Chen, where are you now?"

A moment later, Master Chen's voice came back.
"I was suppressed by him in the Chaos Abyss, how did you find me, fellow Daoist?"

The Daoist Master said, "I was also ambushed by Li Yanchu before and was suppressed in the killing formation by him. Fortunately, I was rescued by Daoist Master Shi and borrowed his magic weapon, Hunxingmen, which is how I found you."

Master Chen said, "The new technique this boy has comprehended is even more advanced than the Nine Paths of Proof. I wanted to destroy his Undying True Spirit, but he took the opportunity to pull me into the Chaos Cave and suppress me."

Suddenly, his voice became intermittent, and the magical treasures kept changing positions, their light surging, severing the connection between the two.

Seeing that Daoist Guan's expression was strange, Daoist Shi quickly asked, "How is it? Have you found Daoist Chen's whereabouts?"

The Daoist Master's face turned extremely ugly at this moment, and he said in a deep voice, "We found him, but the connection between us was later severed."

Master Shi asked anxiously, "Where is he?"

The Dao Master slowly said, "He was killed by Li Yanchu and is trapped in the Chaos Cave Abyss. It will be difficult for him to escape."

Upon hearing this, Master Shi was greatly shocked. "What! He also fell victim to Li Yanchu's poison?"

The leader of the Guandao sect said, "Li Yanchu has now become quite powerful, and I suspect that he has someone backing him."

Master Shi said, "I have the same concern, but I don't know whether he is in league with the innate rebels or with the overseas envoys."

The Master of Guandao said, "The most urgent task now is to rescue Fellow Daoist Chen. Otherwise, if this goes on for too long, his life may not be spared."

Master Shi exchanged a glance with him and said in a deep voice, "In that case, let's join forces to go to the Jing Realm and kill him. Even if it means fighting to the death, we must force him to release the people."

The leader of the sect said, "Good."

He is now somewhat wary of Li Yanchu.

Although the leader of the Guandao sect believed that Li Yanchu had found a weakness in his defenses and thus suppressed him.

However, the fall of Master Chen made him begin to worry about the forces behind Li Yanchu.

Soon the two arrived at the scenic area together.

Li Yanchu had been waiting in the sea of ​​stars for a long time. He was standing on a ship, dressed in a blue robe.

Upon seeing the two of them arrive, Li Yanchu smiled and said, "Master Shi, you are truly skilled; you can even break the killing formation I left behind."

Master Shi snorted and said, "Your killing formation is strong, but it is not difficult to break through it from the outside."

Li Yanchu nodded slightly.
"Indeed, it was already difficult enough to trap the Dao Master, but this power is slightly insufficient to trap you as well."

The leader of the Guandao Sect looked at Li Yanchu with a fierce glint in his eyes and said, "You brat! You suppressed the leader of the Chen Dao Sect as well."

Li Yanchu smiled slightly and said, "I sensed something was amiss when a divine thought was sent out from the Chaos Cave earlier. It turns out it was really you. I'm very curious, how did you manage to establish contact with Daoist Chen, whom I suppressed?"

The leader of the Guandao sect sneered, "You frog in a well, what extraordinary abilities have you ever seen? It's better not to talk about barbarians like you."

Li Yanchu said indifferently, "Whether I am a frog in a well or a barbarian, what brings you two here today?"

He appeared calm and unhurried, leaving Guan Daozhu, Shi Daozhu, and the others completely bewildered.

The Daoist Master said, "There's no need for this pretense. Hand over Daoist Master Chen, or we will wipe out the entire Jing Realm today, leaving no one alive!"

Li Yanchu said, "Why don't we give it a try? You kill people in the Jing Realm, and I'll go to the foreign lands to set fires. Let's see who kills faster."

"..." The Daoist Master was speechless for a moment, glaring angrily, and said, "Fine, you want to perish with me. I don't care if hundreds of millions of people die in this foreign land, but if your homeland is destroyed, let's see where you go to find another one."

Li Yanchu said, "You are desperately trying to protect the alien realm. Although you don't care about the death of some people, you will also care if the entire alien realm is destroyed. Everyone knows this, so there's no need to pretend."

Upon hearing this, both the Guan Dao Master and the Shi Dao Master fell silent.

Previously, many powerful figures had fought fiercely, causing the alien realm to collapse, but the three Dao Lords did not care.

Li Yanchu was right. They didn't care about temporary gains or losses, but if the entire alien realm were destroyed, that would be the result they wanted to see. Otherwise, they wouldn't have worked so hard to resolve the calamity and kept defying the world to transfer it.

The leader of the sect slowly said, "What exactly do you want to do?"

Li Yanchu said, "I have already killed Master Chen, but his death is not a true death. I can spare him from complete annihilation, as long as you have enough sincerity."

The leader of the sect asked, "What sincerity?"

Li Yanchu said, "As long as the Jingjie and the foreign lands coexist peacefully, that's all."

The Dao Master sneered, "I can make a great oath: if you release Dao Master Chen, I guarantee I will never invade the Jing Realm."

Li Yanchu said, "At our level, the oath of the Great Dao is nothing but empty words. I believe you have a way to avoid the consequences. If you release him, the three of you can do whatever you want with yourselves."

Upon hearing this, Guan Daozhu suddenly felt a pang of regret. He shouldn't have entered the Star Sea to explore the Realm of Scenery, which led to the three of them being separated and each suffering at the hands of Li Yanchu. Now, he was being blackmailed by Li Yanchu instead.

Master Shi said coldly, "What exactly do you want?"

Li Yanchu said, "Chen Daozhu, please stay with me for now. After the Jing Realm and the foreign lands reconcile, you will restrain the people of the foreign lands from approaching, and I will naturally restrain the people of my Jing Realm. All I want is peace, nothing more. Leaving Chen Daozhu here is also to keep a hostage, so that you won't go back on your word. After all, you are very good at doing this kind of thing."

Upon hearing this, Master Shi's expression turned somewhat ugly, revealing a murderous aura, as if he were about to fight Li Yanchu to the death at any moment.

At this moment, Guan Daozhu suddenly reached out and grabbed him, saying to Li Yanchu, "I hope you can keep your word. I have my own way of finding out whether Guan Daozhu is alive or dead. If he is dead, even if I lose the Holy Domain's foundation, I will turn your Jingjie into a wasteland, leaving no one alive."

Upon hearing this, Master Shi looked at Master Guan, somewhat finding it hard to accept: "With the strength of the two of us, we are more than capable of taking him down. Why waste words with him?"

Master Shi had indeed admired Li Yanchu before, but Li Yanchu had already threatened his very foundation, and there was no possibility of coexistence between the two. Since he was going to take action, he had to be ruthless and decisive.

Therefore, at this moment, Master Shi was determined to kill Li Yanchu to prevent future troubles.

Master Guan shook his head and said, "Fellow Daoist Shi, please calm down. What he said is not entirely unreasonable. Why don't we stop for now and also consider Master Chen's life?"

Just as Master Shi was about to speak again, the voice of Master Guan suddenly echoed in his mind.

The Dao Master said, "It is inevitable that the Jing Realm and the Holy Domain will be separated. At that time, it may be possible to transfer the calamity to the Holy Domain. Before that, if we fight to the death with him, we may both be injured. If we force him to become a bandit with no ties, then who in the vast star sea can control him? Therefore, the Jing Realm must stay unless absolutely necessary."

Upon hearing this, Master Shi suddenly realized: "Master Guan has a deeper and farther-reaching perspective."

He had no further objections at this point.

If Li Yanchu were not bound by the Jingjie and became a bandit, plunging headlong into the vast universe or fleeing into the chaotic star sea, he would surely become a great threat.

Even without powerful backers, if Li Yanchu were to hide somewhere for hundreds of thousands of years, probably no one could subdue him.

Therefore, the Stone Master stopped arguing when he saw this.

The Master of Guandao said to Li Yanchu, "We will leave now. I hope you will keep your word and not harm Master Chen. After all, the four of us have worked together before."

Li Yanchu smiled and said, "Of course, I can never forget the friendship between us. You even invited me to a banquet back then."

When Li Yan first mentioned this matter, both of them looked rather grim.

They invited Li Yanchu to take charge of the Great Luo Heaven, demonstrating the cooperation between the old and new Holy Clans in governing the Holy Domain. However, they secretly ambushed and killed Li Yanchu under the guise of a banquet, which was indeed a very ugly thing to do.

However, since the major decisions had already been made, the two no longer held these verbal conflicts against each other.

The Dao Master said, "Then we shall take our leave. It would be a joyous occasion if the Jing Realm and the Holy Domain were to become one in the future. I hope you can put aside your hatred."

The two of them then left.

These two Dao Lords came together, but then retreated again, without causing the slightest ripple.

Li Yanchu watched them leave, his gaze deep, and murmured to himself:

"It should be in time."