"It seems Fellow Daoist You has run into trouble. But since only two Dharma Masters have appeared, let's all attack together!" The Marquis of Nanlong said decisively, then his body transformed into a streak of golden light and shot skyward.
The others exchanged glances and, without objection, revealed themselves one after another.
Instantly, eight streaks of light in varying colors rose from the hill and hurriedly flew toward the white beam of light fleeing toward them.
The white beam, already headed in their direction, accelerated further upon seeing this. In the blink of an eye, it arrived before Han Li and the others. The light withdrew, revealing the cold-faced cultivator surnamed You.
His face was somewhat pale, seemingly having suffered some damage to his vitality.
"Fellow Daoists, I'm grateful for your coming to my aid. You has my deepest thanks!" The cold-faced cultivator clasped his fists together, the anxiety on his face vanishing as he spoke with a touch of gratitude.
"Think nothing of it! Are you all right, Fellow Daoist? But how did two Dharma Masters end up chasing you? I recall there was only one originally?" The Marquis of Nanlong also halted his light and materialized, hovering in the air as he asked with apparent concern.
"I'm fine. I fought with the one behind me for the better part of a day, then his companion arrived as reinforcement. I had no choice but to lead them on a chase for two days and two nights, which cost me a bit of vitality." The cold-faced cultivator gave a bitter smile and said with some helplessness.
"No wonder you've been fleeing all this way. Facing two Dharma Masters of the same rank simultaneously, none of us besides Fellow Daoist Nanlong and Fellow Daoist Yun could do anything but temporarily avoid them." The old woman sighed and said.
"Still, these two who've been chasing you — setting aside their cultivation and abilities — they're remarkably bold. They haven't retreated even now. Are they truly so foolish as to court death?" Han Li glanced into the distance and suddenly chuckled.
Not that Han Li needed to point it out — everyone else had already noticed.
The two Dharma Masters on the other side had seen Han Li and the others appear. Though they had halted at a distance, they showed no intention of fleeing, instead observing them coldly from where they stood.
At the same time, under Han Li and the others' powerful spiritual sense, the appearances of these two were perfectly clear.
One had a golden complexion and wore a feathered crown and linen robe; the other had a fierce, hideous appearance and was clad in green. Both were early Nascent Soul Dharma Masters.
The Marquis of Nanlong gave a cold snort and addressed the opposite side in icy tones:
"Fellow Daoists, you still refuse to leave even now. Would you really have us take action? Aren't you afraid of body and soul perishing together right here?"
The Marquis of Nanlong's words were thick with menace.
"What bravado! We may not be your match, but to say you can destroy us — that's going a bit too far. We have no intention of fighting head-on. If we delay you for just half a day, do you think you'll still have a chance to leave? You'd be better off surrendering now. Perhaps this Grand Master will even grant you the mercy of reincarnation!" The linen-crowned Dharma Master rolled his eyes and replied with extreme acerbity.
"Delay us for half a day? Do you think we're all made of clay?" The Marquis of Nanlong was so furious he laughed.
At the same time, the golden light blazing from his body was so brilliant it was nearly impossible to look at directly.
"Perhaps we can, perhaps we can't! With so many high-level cultivators coming to the Mulan Grasslands, we as the hosts ought to extend you a proper welcome!" The other Dharma Master, the one in green, said with an expressionless face.
"Hmph! It seems you two won't shed a tear until you see the coffin. Brother Yun, let's strike!" The Marquis of Nanlong's face darkened as he turned to the white-robed elder and said coolly.
But upon hearing this, a trace of resignation appeared on the white-robed elder's face.
"I had hoped to conserve some of my Magical Power before getting down to business. But I suppose we can't just let these two keep trailing behind us. I suppose there's no choice but to act!" The elder sighed softly.
The moment he finished speaking, he opened his mouth, and a silver Dharma wheel shot forth.
The wheel was about the size of a fist, gleaming with brilliant light, rotating slowly a few feet before his chest.
Upon seeing this, the two Dharma Masters on the opposite side immediately retreated a step, their surrounding radiance flaring as they watched the elder with guarded expressions.
The Marquis of Nanlong, without a word, flicked his large sleeve, and a golden flying sword shot out from within.
Han Li and the others silently marshaled their Magical Power, their figures inching forward.
Just then, in the distant sky behind the two Dharma Masters, a red light suddenly flickered. A moment later, a streak of fire shot toward them from far away.
The Marquis of Nanlong and the others, who had been about to strike, froze in surprise, their actions momentarily halted.
The two Dharma Masters naturally noticed the anomaly behind them, but the linen-crowned one remained composed and beckoned toward the streak of fire.
The red light circled once a few zhang above his head before descending steadily into his hand. It then burst apart, and a ball of flame blazed fiercely in his palm.
It was a voice transmission talisman that had flown in from who knew where!
"What?"