All is lost

Boom!

The force of the fist stirred the air, spiritual pressure directly bearing down on Donggua.

With extreme instinct, Donggua raised the bone sword in her hand to block. The attacking cultivator from the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect wore an indifferent expression, his long sword aimed straight for Donggua's face.

At such close range from a Deity Transformation cultivator, this strike was absolutely impossible to dodge.

Donggua mobilized her source power, strange inscriptions appearing on her body. With a fierce shout, she thrust her bone sword forward to meet it.

The blades clashed. Donggua felt an overwhelmingly powerful spiritual pressure crash down, the terrifying force contorting her expression into something slightly savage.

The Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect cultivator opposite her remained as calm and unruffled as ever.

These cultivators who advanced through piling up resources... were truly strong... frighteningly so.

It was just too unfair...

However, after pressing down with his sword, the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect cultivator was in no hurry to follow up.

Donggua quickly understood why. In the next moment, an aura approached rapidly from behind.

An intense pain spread from her back throughout her entire body. The body of a Deity Transformation cultivator was nearly broken in half on the spot. Before Donggua even had a chance to look back, she was stomped down by a foot, followed immediately by a long sword piercing through the hand holding her sword.

A sealing force spread from the sword, violently shredding the spiritual power within Donggua's body.

The cooperation among these Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect cultivators was nearly seamless, their tactics of baiting and switching extremely practiced, especially since they held the advantage in cultivation level.

Moreover, the cultivator who ambushed her was at least a top-tier Deity Transformation Peak cultivator, his aura far too profound. For Donggua, it was more likely he was a Unity Stage cultivator.

This was undoubtedly a method for capturing someone alive.

The power of a Deity Transformation cultivator was subdued in an instant.

The relentless, severe pain reminded Donggua that everything before her was real.

The world turning upside down happened in a mere moment.

It felt surreal, like a dream.

"Just a bunch of small fry, no ability to resist at all."

The Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect cultivator stomped heavily on Donggua, continuing to apply seals as he spoke:

"Observed for half the day, didn't expect the leader to be useless too."

Donggua hurriedly tried to activate the blooming flower within her divine sea. Initially, it was how Xu Linglong had used to contact her.

If she could manipulate this flower to let Xu Linglong know something was happening here...

If the Honored One were to arrive personally.

These Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect cultivators would be nothing but ants!

But after just a brief attempt at manipulation,

Another sword pierced through Donggua's shoulder blade.

"Hmph..." Donggua gritted her teeth, letting out a cold snort.

"Trying to play tricks right in front of us? Do you take us for fools?" The Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect cultivator used the sword to seal the flow of Donggua's divine sense, saying coldly,

"Your third-rate methods don't mean ours are third-rate too."

"Keeping you alive is a mercy. Learn to appreciate it."

Donggua's divine sense was completely suppressed by the spiritual sword through her shoulder blade, unable to move.

The leading Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect cultivator swept his gaze over the now pacified Ant Ditch, then looked towards the east where the scout sent a signal indicating safety.

"Filthy places are indeed the breeding grounds for insects like you." The Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect cultivator snorted coldly, then instructed a team member beside him,

"Finish the cleanup. Have Team Leader Cui come over. Remember, safety in all matters is paramount."

"Yes, sir." The Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect disciple acknowledged the order and withdrew.

Enduring the pain, Donggua forced her head up, watching the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect cultivator depart as a streak of light.

For some reason, hearing the surname 'Cui'

made a figure she would never forget in this life surface in Donggua's heart — Cui Hao.

The ultimate swindler she wished she could skin, debone, burn, and feed to the dogs.

However, Cui Hao was only a Golden Core cultivator. No matter how much face Chu Xingchen had, it was impossible for a Golden Core cultivator to lead a team of such powerfully cultivated Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect members.

If it were a Tianyan Sect cultivator, Donggua might have believed it somewhat.

After all, Chu Xingchen and Bai Xuanling were extremely close.

It was probably just a Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect cultivator with the same surname as Cui Hao.

Donggua naturally wanted to see Cui Hao, to have a pleasant heart-to-heart exchange — in the physical sense.

Or to see Cui Hao tied up, full of terror, tear-stained, begging for mercy.

But she absolutely did not want to meet him in her current state as a prisoner. Especially with that mouth of his. If she had to endure a few mocking words from the person she hated most...

That would really...

be worse than death.

Donggua raised her head, looking forward, wanting to see who was coming.

But a foot stomped down, pressing her head firmly to the ground.

The Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect cultivator coldly shouted:

"Stay still."

Donggua struggled fiercely to lift her head, but couldn't raise it at all. Her divine sense was also completely sealed, unable to probe.

After a moment, she heard footsteps approaching, followed by a male voice:

"Thank you for your trouble, everyone. But if you could kindly lift your foot, it's hard to have a proper conversation with someone pressed down like this."

"Yes, sir." The Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect cultivator complied, then lifted his foot.

Donggua could finally raise her head, but upon hearing that all-too-familiar voice,

she ultimately lacked the courage to look up, instead pressing her face tightly against the ground.

The male voice spoke again:

"Is it safe? She won't suddenly throw a punch at me, will she?"

The Mysterious Purity cultivator answered:

"Her divine sense and spiritual power are completely sealed. Her body is also immobilized by the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect's secret technique. She showed no means of struggle during the capture, and her cultivation foundation is only slightly stronger than a wild cultivator's. She shouldn't be able to break free."

"If needed, I can cripple her on the spot."

The male voice quickly interjected: "That won't be necessary."

Then came the sound of someone crouching down.

Donggua kept her face turned sideways, eyes shut, not daring to look.

This way of speaking and tone...

"Although your appearance has changed quite a bit, I still recognized you, Team Leader Donggua. I remember you used to be quite fond of cleanliness."

Hearing this, anger surged in Donggua's heart. She lifted her head, meeting the gaze of Cui Hao, who wore a gentle smile.

To think, after thousands of escapes, ten thousand evasions,

she still couldn't escape fate, and this damned Cui Hao!

Donggua said fiercely: "Kill me!"

Cui Hao raised his hand slightly, signaling to help Donggua up first:

"I remember you used to really want to live. How come your temperament has changed so much upon meeting? Have you become as enlightened as Xigua?"

Donggua was pulled up by the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect cultivator, her various spiritual meridians sealed in the process.

Her expression was disdainful, her eyes full of contempt as she looked at Cui Hao:

"I have nothing to say to you. It's only your death or my life!"

Donggua certainly wanted to live, but that didn't mean she would beg Cui Hao for mercy.

She would employ every means to survive for herself, but she would never lose her last shred of dignity.

Donggua considered herself someone who had gotten this far through her own ability and by risking her life.

If she only wanted to wag her tail and survive, why would she have gone to such lengths?

Donggua's face was like frost, killing intent churning in her eyes.

Looking into Donggua's eyes, Cui Hao felt that in her mind, he had probably already died a hundred times over.

A smile appeared on his face, his tone still relatively gentle:

"What's all this about death and life? We're old acquaintances. We just have different tasks. I don't actually dislike you that much."

"After all, you're kind of adorably foolish."

Donggua stared back coldly:

"Don't try to fish for information. I won't say anything."

Cui Hao gently stroked his chin:

"You seem to hold quite a grudge against me."

"Hmph!"

"What happened before... I admit I didn't handle it honorably. I owe you a favor." Cui Hao said, lightly clapping his hands. "How about I save your life?"

"That way, I could be considered your life-saving benefactor."

Donggua let out a mocking laugh. "Cui Hao, do you think I'm a fool? I told you, you won't learn anything from me."

Cui Hao shook his head with a smile.

"Who said I wanted your information?"

"How do you think we found your location?"

"I actually know far more than you do. I'm aware of things you don't know, and what you consider news is outdated to me."

"When I say I'm saving your life, I mean it quite literally."

Cui Hao pointed into the distance.

"You can leave right now. No one will track you, and no one will ambush you. Once you go, you'll find a way to recover from your injuries, right?"

"But the next time we meet, or if you fall into my hands again, you'll have to..."

As he spoke, Cui Hao raised an eyebrow slightly and smiled.

"...call me your savior."

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