Pathway

The flaming sword collided with the descending glaive, creating a deafening thunderous sound. The enormous blast from the impact of the collision vibrated throughout the area leaving blared of echoes. Some of the villagers who were still watching the proceedings from a distance, quickly vanished from sight. It had gone beyond any curious observation they could ever imagine having. Now, their lives were on the line, even from such distances. After all, theirs was a small village which had never seen a battle of such power before. 

The sudden appearance of the sword that blocked his glaive surprised Lang Hai as he returned to the midair. He already saw himself delivering the killing blow, until the sword had come out of nowhere to block his glaive. Who in their right minds would get involved in others dealings as such? With anger, he keenly stared at the flaming sword as it returned to its owner who was standing at a distance from him. Examining the new figure, Lang Hai disvovered there was a divine presence, blanketing the vicinity of the newcomer. That could only mean one thing.

A demigod!

Oh, how much he hated those demigods. Yes, there was no denying their powers, but thinking the universe belonged to them? That was simply annoying. They were only half deities, but they were already thinking they were heavenly deities. Maybe, due to the traits of divinity they possessed? Pathetic. But as annoying as they demigod were, they weren't the main problem. The major issue was the exceedingly powerful figures behind them.

The heavenly gods.

How could he know which demigod was related to a powerful god, and which one wasn't? He didn't want any situation where he would have to face the anger of a god if he managed to ascend to the heavenly plane. Yes, he had powerful ancestral gods too. But what was the assurance of him surviving a war between gods? That was why he had been trying to avoid encounters with them to the best of his capabilities. Yet, they would seek him out. Disputes with a demigod could only mean big troubles for any cultivator if an opposing demigod was related to a mighty god. 

Even if he could avoid ascending to the heavenly plane, the involved gods could employ a more powerful cultivator on the mortal plane to deal with him. How could he survive a confrontation with an hegemon? Oh, how much he hated all of them. And here was one who wasn't minding her own matters, but interfered in his own important dealing. 

Scrutinizing his sorrounding in a flash, he realized Cao Wang Xiu was no longer there. She and the kids had simply vanished. She must have used a seal. And the seal must have left traces behind. He could've pursued and located her. If not for the new development. The demigod's divine aura was covering Cao Wang Xiu's after-images and traces. That must be a delibrate attempt on the part of the demigod to help Cao Wang Xiu. Was the demigod trying to be his true enemy?

He knitted his brows tightly together as he sent his awareness into his divine eagle. Carefully observing Zhang Xiu Ying through his eagle's eyes, Lang Hai gave a low growl. He was annoyed to find out that the demigod was only a nascent soul. A late-stage nascent soul for what it meant. But how would he know about her ancestral lineage? Maybe, she even had a highcelestial as an ancestor.

With a scowl, he recalled his awareness from his divine eagle and used his mindvoice.

"Why do you interfere in my matter, demigod?"

His brows became tightly knitted together in a fierce frown.

"Leave now, and I'll let this be."

Zhang Xiu Ying stared at the blue-robed man standing in the midair, a distance from her. A Xue Ku! He was a rogue blood cultivator, albeit an extremely powerful and dangerous one. She had seen a bit of his power in his battle with Cao Wang Xiu, and realized the enormity of the rogue blood's powers. But how could she just leave when it involved her son? 

But where, even, were they? She had seen the group of the disciples including her son, knocked back from the impact of the collision. She had also seen elder Wang Xiu kneeling as the blood cultivator was descending to deliver what seemed to be the killing stroke. She had used her divine presence with the intention of masking their visibility. Thereby, shifting the focus of the blood cultivator to herself. 

But all of a sudden, they were no longer where they were. Could it be a seal? If it was, their passage would leave traces behind.

She used her divine sight and discovered their after images that streaked in a direction behind her. How did they manage to do get a seal like that? It must be the work of the sect elder. The elder was definitely prepared for the fight. Nonetheless, Zhang Xiu Ying knew the elder couldn't have escaped the rogue blood for long without help arriving. But the traces were taking longer time to dissipate, so she left her divine aura in place. At least, it would make it difficult for the blood cultivator to see beyond her unless she was no longer in the vicinity. But she had no intention of doing that.

"Leave? How can I just leave?" 

She knew she couldn't leave yet, if she did, the blood cultivator would be able to trace them eventually. She would have to delay him for as long as possible despite the considerable danger it entailed.

"Don't you think you're taking advantage of the situation?"

"Huh?!"

"You saw her, she was already defeated. Why do you seek her death?"

"Do you think it was an act of sparring or who was a better fighter?!"

"Can't you let it be?"

"For the last time, demigod. Stop interfering, and I won't hold this against you."

Zhang Xiu Ying knew the rogue blood was more powerful than her. She had seen his martial arts skills and moves, and knew he wasn't someone she could ignore. Any martial artist in possession of a supreme move, mastered or not, should be taken seriously. She could easily loose her life, demigod or not. With a worried look on her face, Zhang Xiu Ying looked at him and shook her head.

"I really can't do that."

Lang Hai's eyes started to dilate in anger and his glaive began to throb aloud as he gathered blood energy. There were times when the ancestral lineage of a demigod wouldn't matter much to an opponent. He was at that point now. When he reached the heavenly realm, he would face the wrath of any god. More so, it wasn't his fault that a demigod wouldn't let him be.

"Then, this is on you."