It was indeed a coincidence that Tao Qian had just blended into the crowd when he noticed some familiar faces.
These were the female cultivators from the Daughter Palace who, after the turmoil of the "Longevity Star Transit" and the "Annihilation of Nature and Spirit," had dispersed from their original group—yet here they were again.
However, whether before or now, none of the female cultivators recognized him.
Tao Qian didn't intend to do anything in particular; he simply stood silently. This time, his disguise required no further acting, for apart from his face, all other details matched perfectly with the appearance that Tao Qian should have at this moment.
He had barely landed and merged with the crowd when—
The sensation of palpitation in his mind peaked directly.
A terrifying aura materialized out of the void, and the next moment, it descended fiercely.
Not far ahead, within the raging rage—bereft of power—of the Meiling area.
The void, without any warning, split open.
A blazing white brilliance, starting from that crack, surged tumultuously across the entire territory of Meiling.
In an instant, everyone, including "Tao Qian," along with numerous commoners, loose cultivators, and sect cultivators, were engulfed in this white light.
It was as if an additional full moon had suddenly appeared above Meiling.
Indeed, it was the moon.
For in everyone's perception, although the white light submerged everything, it was not blinding and didn't obstruct visibility at all.
Though there was no Moon Toad, no enormous Osmanthus tree, and neither Moon God nor the Guanghan Palace existed here.
Curiously, everyone felt as though they were in the Moon Palace during those vague moments.
Subsequently, the powerless rage and screams ceased, followed by a rustling sound as the thousands, nearly ten thousand members of the Demon Suppression Army, along with the foundation establishment and transcend mortality cultivators, all involuntarily knelt down.
Especially the leading elder immortal, who actually had a higher cultivation level than the giant troll baby demon.
But at that moment, he had no room to resist. His demeanor had long since lost its divine-like grace, instead resembling a trembling old eunuch with a face vibrating and eyes filled with intense fear, kneeling on the ground.
Above his head, an inexplicable force seemed to appear, pressing him lower and lower as he knelt.
Yet he dared not resist at all, only conforming to the force, letting his head and face progressively approach the ground until they gently contacted the soil.
But it didn't stop there; the force continued to press the old immortal down into the dust.
This scene was witnessed by all.
Whether it was the frailest commoner, a cultivator like Tao Qian, or some alien ghosts, everyone watched as a stunning figure appeared out of nowhere in the place where the moonlight-like white light was densest. They watched this figure tread on the elder immortal's head, grinding it into the dirt, forcing him to swallow copiously.
Towards the end, everyone could even clearly hear the sound of the elder immortal's facial bones breaking.
Under normal circumstances, such a cruel scene, involving an old man with the appearance of a sage, should have elicited immense sympathy from the crowd.
Regrettably, it was this same old man.
With the upheavals that had occurred earlier, those who had witnessed this old man's cruel deeds couldn't muster a shred of sympathy.
This was the thought flashing through everyone's minds at that moment.
Also, because of this scene, although those slightly wiser could discern that the noble and beautiful figure deep within the moonlight was actually associated with the group of cruel cultivators and the Demon Suppression Army, many still couldn't help but feel a fondness for that figure.
Of course, it could also be due to the charisma of the figure.
Even Tao Qian had to admit at this moment.
That lofty and mysterious figure had a demeanor that made one feel this was definitively a divine being descended from heaven.
He should never touch the ground, should never be tainted by the worldly mud.
Among the crowd, Tao Qian felt as if he could hear the calls in the hearts of those around him:
"An immortal, this is a true immortal."
"Is this what a true immortal looks like? Carrying moonlight, stunningly beautiful and aloof, just like the Moon Palace God from the legends."
"How could such a being exist in this world, with such a posture, such grace? If not an immortal, then what?"
As many commoners and loose cultivators got enchanted by this figure.
Suddenly, as if he had tormented the greedy old immortal enough, that indiscernibly faced figure suddenly turned toward a direction.
His figure then flickered, making the moonlight seem even colder.
When people looked again, they saw two demons appearing mysteriously in that figure's hands.
One demon, shaped like a snake, was coiled around an ancient mirror.
The other demon, resembling a green-clothed child, was surrounded by star dust.
Upon seeing this scene, the others felt it strange.
Tao Qian's spirit violently trembled.
Deep within his mind, thoughts surged wildly:
"Master Xiao was right—Qin Wuxiang has a mysterious background, but he is definitely a Cavernous Mystery Cultivator, holding exceptionally strange and numerous Divine Power Skills, and his Escape Skill is extremely astonishing. His speed has already surpassed Master Xiao's Great Innate Infant Mother Escape Technique. Fortunately, he was previously entangled by other urgent matters; otherwise, Master Xiao would have fallen into his hands long ago."
"The claim that Star Zha Demon can escape tens of thousands of miles in a thought indeed contains some exaggeration, but just in the span of one or two breaths, it could have taken the Substitute Demon and escaped a distance of two thousand miles. Yet, even so, it was still captured and brought back."
"Fortunately, I had inquired Master Xiao about related information early on, otherwise, it would have been me who fell into his hands."
"This fellow is on the same level as a True Master but can lock on the True Master's vague range with a stronger Prediction Skill. However, he definitely cannot catch someone using the crude method of tracing back through Qi. Especially after I joined Master Xiao, and with the original source of the infant mother disrupting our energies, plus my Abnormal Soul being exempt from that kind of magic, my true body remains hidden and unknown to him."
"I myself am a cultivator who has practiced the Spirit Treasure Root Skill, intending to pass through Mei Pass to go to the Spirit Treasure Mountain Gate, which couldn't be more reasonable."
"It remains to be seen if the Secret Demon Transformation Technique has the legendary effect that can deceive the Daoist and Buddhist Sects unprepared, making it impossible for them to see through it."
"If it does, then there is still hope for my survival."
"Also, those three Star Zha Demons, whose boasting is sky-high, have left so long ago; how have they not successfully escorted Master Xiao to Guanyin Temple yet? The three demons escaped much earlier, and moreover, they were relaying in escape. Such should not have allowed them to be captured, right?"
"After this catastrophe passes, I really must thoroughly reflect. There is definitely a major problem with the way I endure the Spirit Treasure Three Calamities."
"If someone like me, who has obtained the Spirit Treasure Root Skill, must endure such tribulations, then how could the Spirit Treasure Sect ever accept wild cultivator disciples? This path should have been severed long ago."
"So, could it be that I court death too freely, carrying too heavy a karma on myself, which led to such severe Three Calamities? It is indeed miserable."
As Tao Qian watched the display of power emerging from the depths of the moonlight, his mental state became somewhat disrupted.
At the same moment, Qin Wuxiang's thoughts were also not very pleasant.
He still stood trampling on the head of that Transcend Mortality Elder Cultivator, gripping those two demons, while simultaneously turning his head to look in the direction of Fumin Province.
He let out a sigh and then spoke.
This was a voice indescribable, fully aligning with everyone's imagination of an Immortal's heavenly voice, noble and aloof,
"Ah, can't catch up anymore."
"Star Zha Demon, such a rare demon. Xiao Meiniang indeed deserves to be one who practiced the Infant Mother Root Skill, finding a sliver of opportunity to escape even in such dire circumstances."
"But her escape was also thanks to your useless help."
"If I remember correctly, when I laid out the Ten Extremes Array, I specifically instructed to use these one hundred and eight Xuanpin Pearls according to my command—Xiao Meiniang should have had no chance of surviving."
"But you still made a mistake, letting her escape."
"Greed, it was greed that cost you your lives and Dao paths."
As this voice, neither male nor female, seemingly only something a Divine Being could utter, resounded,
the group of Transcend Mortality Cultivators felt as if they faced an impending catastrophe, plunging into utmost terror.
Especially that Transcend Mortality Elder Cultivator, whose skull was broken and still embedded in the dirt.
He dared not struggle at all, only using some divine skill to speak, almost shouting:
"Mercy, Saint Heir, mercy please!"
"This greed was sparked among us, but there was an outsider interfering as well."
"It was that Sword Cultivator who received the heritage of the Secret Demon Sect, using Secret Demon Magic to deceive us and helped Xiao Meiniang to escape."
"We deserve to die, but that Secret Demon Child deserves it even more."
"How dare he, how dared he destroy the Array you personally arranged."
"Please, give us some time, let us bring that demon child before you, then at that time you can do with us as you please."
"We cannot die alongside this child; we cannot reconcile with it..."
As the aloof voice spoke, this time everyone heard the sound of the old man's skull shattering.
Although as Transcend Mortality Cultivators, a broken skull wouldn't kill him.
But now, this Elder Immortal could be said to have lost every bit of his dignity and face.
Meanwhile, the figure in the depths of the moonlight seemed utterly unaware of this subordinate's wailing, only examining the two demons in his hand.
Whether it was the Substitute Demon or the Star Zha Demon, neither felt any malice from Qin Wuxiang's gaze.
In fact, they sensed kindness, a kind of involuntary goodwill, and the Green-clothed Child-like Star Zha Demon couldn't help but rub against the pale hand holding it.
Then in the next moment, the two demons heard a gentle voice asking,
"Little things, is your master hidden here?"
"Come, point them out to me, and I can grant you your freedom."
"The methods of the Secret Demon Sect are indeed the most shameless and cruel, but I happen to have a way to counter the Summoning Demon Technique."