Chapter 477 Vanished in the Chaos
Chapter 477 Vanished in the Chaos
The Earth Immortal Ancestor clutched his severed shoulder, blood cascading down his torn sleeve.
His qi surged desperately to seal the wound, but even that required effort-the Saint-Grade Sword's intent lingered within the cut, suppressing regeneration. His pupils trembled.
Continue?
How could they continue?
Behind him, the other three Immortals were pale, their auras unstable. Their Heaven-grade artifacts-treasures refined over centuries-lay in shattered fragments across the courtyard like discarded scrap metal. One exchange.
That was all it had taken.
They had not even managed to stall him.
The Earth Immortal's breathing grew heavier.
Originally, even if they could not defeat Bai Ren, they believed they could at least delay him.
Four Immortals against one-even with a Saint-Grade Weapon-should have bought time.
Time for others to deal with the other Bai Clan members.
But reality had crushed that illusion mercilessly.
They had not delayed him.
They had not pressured him.
They had not even forced him to take a single serious step.
He had walked through their attacks as if strolling through falling petals.
Bai Ren didn't even use the powerful technique that had slain the Half-Qilin and was instead defeated by his casual attacks.
Moreover, across the battlefield, the situation elsewhere was no better.
The Bai Clan forces were advancing steadily.
Even though the Azure Sun Sect held numerical superiority-disciples filling the skies in waves of golden robes-they were being destroyed mercilessly. The was clear.
They were losing, with no sign of victory.
The Earth Immortal Ancestor clenched his jaw.
They had miscalculated from the beginning.
They had underestimated not just Bai Zihan-
But the entirety of the Bai Clan.
If they continued-
At best, they might injure Bai Ren slightly before dying.
At worst-
They would all perish here without being able to even touch his hair.
And the Azure Sun Sect would lose its foundation entirely.
Without Immortals-
What was a Top Sect?
Nothing!
A carcass waiting to be divided.
His pride screamed in protest.
Surrender?
To kneel before the Bai Clan?
Unthinkable!
Yet-
He looked again at his severed arm.
At the shattered artifacts.
If they persisted, the sect would truly be destroyed.
Bai Ren's earlier declaration echoed in his mind.
"For trying to lay your hands on our heir, it shall be your Sect's destruction."
It had not been arrogance. It had been a statement of fact.
The Earth Immortal Ancestor slowly exhaled.
The rage in his eyes dimmed.
He lowered his head slightly.
"We..."
The word tasted like ash.
He forced it out.
"We surrender!"
The battlefield seemed to freeze.
The remaining three Immortals stared at him in disbelief; however, no one
objected.
After all, they had pride, but before the mountain that was Bai Ren, it amounted
to nothing.
His voice rang across the battlefield, infused with qi.
"All disciples of the Azure Sun Sect-cease fighting immediately!"
He continued,
"We lost!"
The word echoed across the mountains.
Some disciples faltered mid-strike.
Others froze in horror.
But when they saw their Immortal Ancestors-bloodied, defeated, weapons
shattered-
Resistance crumbled.
One by one-
Golden-robed figures lowered their weapons.
The blazing formations in the sky flickered.
Then dimmed.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Weapons fell to the stone ground.
Silence replaced chaos.
The Bai Clan forces halted, though they did not lower their guard.
Bai Ren watched the Earth Immortal Ancestor calmly.
"You surrender? So easily?"
Bai Ren sounded disappointed rather than pleased to see them give up so
quickly.
The Earth Immortal nodded stiffly.
"We acknowledge our defeat."
His voice was heavy.
"We will accept whatever terms the Bai Clan imposes."
The courtyard wind stirred faintly.
Bai Ren studied him for a moment longer.
Then-
He withdrew the Saint-Grade Sword slightly.
The oppressive killing intent eased, though its presence remained undeniable.
"You made the correct choice."
Behind him, Bai Ruhong finally spoke for the first time since the battle began.
"If you had continued," he said mildly, "there would be no Azure Sun Sect left by
sunset."
The statement was delivered without mockery.
Without threat.
Just the truth.
The Earth Immortal Ancestor's shoulders sagged slightly.
He believed it.
Completely.
Bai Ren turned his gaze toward Bai Zihan.
"Zihan," he said calmly, "how do you wish to proceed?"
Bai Zihan did not answer immediately.
But a sovereign passing judgment. He clenched his jaw.
"There is... only one explanation."
Bai Ren's eyes narrowed.
"Speak clearly."
sect possesses a Heaven-Grade artifact."
The Bai Clan elders' expressions shifted subtly.
A Heaven-Grade artifact was not rare for a Top Sect.
But the tone in which he spoke-
Made it clear this was no ordinary treasure.
"It is called the Void-Obscuring Mantle," the Earth Immortal continued hoarsely.
"An artifact designed specifically for concealment."
Bai Ruhong's brows furrowed. "Concealment?"
The Immortal nodded.
"It can erase one's presence completely."
He swallowed.
"Qi fluctuations and everything related to one's aura. Even an Immortal's
spiritual sense would not be able to detect the user once it is activated."
A faint ripple passed through the Bai Clan ranks. Such a treasure was absolutely rare and precious.
Right now, Wen Haoyu had used it to escape-but what if it were used for
assassination?
Wouldn't an assassin never fail their mission if they possessed such a treasure?
After all, with guards down even Nascent Soul Real Cultivator might be able to
kill Immortals.
Bai Zihan's gaze darkened faintly.
"So Wen Haoyu used it to run away."
The Earth Immortal lowered his head.
"It seems likely."
He answered, though he wasn't fully confident.
After all, the Sect Leader abandoned everyone and ran away by himself-he
didn't believe Wen Haoyu was someone like that.
"He must have activated it during the chaos... when all attention was focused
on the battle between us and Elder Bai Ren."
Bai Ren's aura subtly cooled.
"You mean to say... your Sect Leader fled before his own Ancestors
surrendered?"
The words were quiet.
But they struck harder than any blade.
The three remaining Immortals closed their eyes briefly.
Humiliation burned hotter than their wounds.
After all, Wen Haoyu must have thought that his Ancestors would lose the fight. Otherwise, he wouldn't have done so.
That means Wen Haoyu didn't believe in them.
"Yes!"
The Earth Immortal forced it out.
"He likely judged that once defeat was certain, he would not be able to escape
afterward."
Bai Ruhong's voice was icy.
"So he ran."
"Hmph! Coward!"
Even they could not defend that.
Bai Zihan stood silently. His thoughts moved swiftly.
A Heaven-Grade artifact capable of erasing presence completely.
He lifted his gaze slightly.
"How long does it last?"
"Three days at most," the Earth Immortal replied immediately. "After that, its
concealment effect weakens."
Bai Ren's eyes narrowed.
"Three days of absolute concealment is more than enough for someone at his
level."
The Earth Immortal did not argue.
Within three days, Wen Haoyu could cross several regions. With his strength,
even going into a different Empire was a possibility. There was no easy way to catch someone like him during that period.
Bai Zihan's expression remained composed.
Bai Ren looked toward Bai Zihan.
"Shall I tear open space and pursue?"
His tone was calm.
But beneath it lay killing intent.
If Bai Ren personally pursued with the Saint-Grade Sword-
Even three days of concealment might not guarantee safety.
Bai Zihan was silent for several breaths.
The wind brushed across the ruined courtyard.
The surrendered disciples knelt in rows.
Azure Sun Sect's fate now rested entirely in the Bai Clan's hands.
Finally-
Bai Zihan spoke.
"No!"
Bai Ren raised an eyebrow slightly. He didn't think Bai Zihan was kind enough
to let go of someone who had tried to kill him.
Bai Zihan's voice was steady.
"Let him run."
He continued calmly,
"A Sect Leader whose Sect is no more-what can he even do? Even if he
survives, there is nothing he can accomplish."
His gaze shifted slightly toward the kneeling Immortals. "We already have their strongest in our hands. There is no need to trouble yourselves in finding someone like him."
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