423 - Rebirth of a Star: Another Day, Another Drama

Chapter 423: The Gray Robed Man The sudden voice made Feng Li's hair stand on end. When did the other person enter? Or had he been here the entire time, and Feng Li simply failed to notice? Either scenario hinted at a profound and unfathomable power. Turning around, he saw a seemingly ordinary figure in gray robes standing at the doorway of the cell behind him. There was nothing peculiar about the man’s appearance, yet Feng Li’s fear grew. This only meant that the man’s strength far surpassed his own. "Feng Li, you must leave. You are no match for him," Master Hai's voice sounded from behind. The man squinted, "Leave? Don't you think it's a bit late to say that now?" "You're quite bold to come to the Huo family alone to rescue someone, aren’t you?" Without speaking, Feng Li took two steps back, and with a flare of his Phoenix True Fire, he shattered the chains binding them. He grabbed two people and quickly dashed towards the exit. A faint smile curled up on the gray-robed man's lips, a look of disdain flashing in his eyes as Feng Li approached. He raised a hand, intending to deliver a palm strike powerful enough to gravely wound Feng Li. However, Feng Li swiftly performed an act that left him dumbfounded. With a sudden sidestep, Feng Li revealed a person beside him, wrapped securely, only revealing a pair of eyes—Ye Ling Long's puppet from the Emperor's treasure secret realm, possessing near-imperial level strength. Before coming in, Ye Ling Long had entrusted it to him, stored in his spatial ring, allowing Feng Li the confidence to charge forward. The gray-robed man's eyes widened in disbelief. When had this man arrived without him noticing? The puppet raised a hand to meet the gray-robed man's palm. A resounding explosion of powerful energies ensued, pushing both figures several steps back. Feng Li seized the chance, swiftly ushering Zou Guan Qing and Master Hai out of harm’s way. The gray-robed man attempted to give chase but was immediately entangled by the puppet, erupting into battle in the constricted space. As the saying goes, when the powerful clash, the weak suffer. With no thoughts of lingering, Feng Li hastened, leading Master Hai and Zou Guan Qing out the way they came. Along their path in the Huo family dungeon, they encountered other cultivators, imprisoned for offending the Huo family. Feng Li, adhering to the principle that an enemy’s enemy is a friend, used his Phoenix True Fire to melt the cell doors, freeing them all. Graciously, he also destroyed the collars binding them. Years of resentment from captivity in the Huo family dungeon bubbled over into fury as they regained their freedom. After expressing their gratitude to Feng Li, they began seeking revenge against the Huo family, turning the dungeon into a literal blaze. Taking advantage of the chaos, Feng Li left the Huo family dungeon. Externally, the Huo family estate was in no better state. Emerging from the dungeon, Feng Li saw his master fiercely wielding a sword, pursuing three Immortal Lords. Her domain extended to its utmost, with the temperature dropping to freezing, encasing the entire estate in ice. The temperature continued to plummet, and the snowfall from the sky intensified. The three Immortal Lords from the Huo family found themselves overwhelmed by Ye Ling Long's relentless assaults. "And to think this is my disciple?" Zou Guan Qing was flabbergasted witnessing Ye Ling Long effortlessly dispatching one of the Immortal Lords with her sword. Was this the same adorable apprentice he once had? Master Hai’s mouth twitched slightly. "If only one of us mistook her, it could be excused. But there's no way both of us did." They had known she was gifted in alchemy and formations. Even when Qiu Ze Yuan mentioned Ye Ling Long was a sword cultivator, they hadn’t taken it seriously. They assumed mastering both alchemy and formations was already extraordinary; most wouldn't dedicate their entire life to master even one. Yet, it appeared Ye Ling Long was truly this prodigious. Master Hai recalled Ye Ling Long's original intention to enroll in his formations institute but ended up elsewhere due to an oversight, a thought that made his blood boil, shooting a glance at the still-dumbstruck Zou Guan Qing beside him. "Heh, that's my disciple for you, truly remarkable." Zou Guan Qing chuckled in pride. Soon, Ye Ling Long defeated the remaining two Immortal Lords from the Huo family. "Master, Master Hai! Are you alright?" Ye Ling Long, after resolving everything, landed beside the trio. With concern etched on her face, she looked at Zou Guan Qing and Master Hai. Master Hai, while appearing weak, began to recover his power slowly now that his collar was destroyed. However, Zou Guan Qing’s state was dire. Though his collar was also broken, his cultivation showed no signs of recovery. His visage was pallid, and Ye Ling Long could faintly detect the scent of blood from him. Upon sensing, Ye Ling Long's expression grew grimmer. "Master, you've been forcibly decremented by an entire realm!" Zou Guan Qing, once at the pinnacle of the Immortal King phase, was but a step from reaching the Immortal Lord phase. Now, he had been forcibly reduced to the pinnacle of the Earth Immortal phase, his foundations shattered. "The Huo family!" Ye Ling Long’s eyes burned with fury, her resolve to destroy the Huo family reaching its zenith. Zou Guan Qing’s current injuries required immediate attention, or his cultivation might soon degrade to that of an ordinary person. Fueled by this realization, her killing intent surged. From her spatial storage, she fetched numerous healing pills for Zou Guan Qing and added spiritual water to stabilize his condition. Yet she understood that without addressing the damage to his spiritual roots, Zou Guan Qing would never progress again. Ye Ling Long was engulfed in self-reproach. If it weren't for her... Perceiving her guilt, Zou Guan Qing smiled warmly to reassure her, "My dear disciple, seeing you triumph today fills me with immense pride." Ye Ling Long was about to speak when a massive explosion erupted. Moments later, two figures burst from the ground, seemingly embroiled in a fierce battle, equally matched and inseparable. Ye Ling Long immediately sensed her puppet's aura. Naturally, the opponent was someone from the Huo family. "Looking for death!" Ye Ling Long snorted coldly, her figure shooting into the sky, charging towards the gray-robed man.