"This is...!?" Arriving not far away from the location where Xu Bao had informed him that he had been ambushed, Xuan Hao could not help freezing on the spot as he sensed the terrifying power of the two Soul Ascension Realm Experts fighting in the distance.
Although he had only just entered the range of the shockwaves from the battle itself, he had a far easier time when it came to understanding the strength of the two people fighting in distance... But this only caused a look of fear to appear on his face. The reason for this, was that the people fighting were not someone who had just broken through to the Soul Ascension Realm like the Soul Ascension Realm Experts he had encountered during his time in Great Poison Swamp. Instead, their strength was closer to that of the ancestor of the Sky Empire he had seen in action once during the demonic cultivator incident...!
Feeling a shiver run down his spine when he remembered this, Xuan Hao could not help wondering why these two terrifying Soul Ascension Realm Experts had suddenly appeared inside the Sky Empire.
I shouldn't think about this now! First, I need to find Xu Bao.
Shaking his head as he looked away from the fight that was taking place in the distance, Xuan Hao concentrated back on the reason he had come to such a dangerous place in the first place. Understanding that Xu Bao would not be able to survive for long in a place where he had to endure the terrifying shockwaves produced by the two Soul Ascension Realm Experts fighting with his current cultivation realm.
At the very least, because the two Soul Ascension Realm Experts were busy fighting with each other, they should not have enough time to pay attention to him.
Whoosh~
Not wasting any time, Xuan Hao slowly began searching the area around the battle between the two Soul Ascension Realm Experts with his divine senses for signs of Xu Bao.
...
Looks like this is the end...
Feeling how the last bit of energy coursing through his meridian was about to get exhausted, Xu Bao could not help thinking this as he gazed towards the small talisman floating in the air in front of him while giving off a gentle light that prevented the powerful shockwaves from the clash between the two Soul Ascension Realm Experts from reaching him.
The talisman in question was Xu Bao's last lifesaving measure and had already drained most of the energy that had been left in his body after being hit by the combined attack of the three Seventh Stage Domain Lords who had ambushed him together with the major sects just a short time ago.
To be honest, Xu Bao had at first wanted to escape with his remaining energy instead of ending up in a situation where he could only wait for death, but the three who had placed him in this situation had also made sure that he would not be able to do this. Making sure to keep an eye on him until the terrifying energy from the two Soul Ascension Realm Experts cut off his path of escape and prevented him from moving from his location without ending up dead in the process.
Now, if he wanted to escape, he would have to endure the onslaught of the shockwaves from the battle between the two Soul Ascension Realm Experts without the protection of the talisman floating in the air in front of him, the energy left in his body simply didn't allow him to both escape from the area affected by the two soul Ascension Realm Experts and also keep the protection talisman floating in front of him active at the same time.
I wonder if senior managed to get my message...
Knowing that his time was running out, Xu Bao mindlessly thought about this as he gazed down towards the communication talisman laying on the ground beside him all torn to shreds due to him extracting what little energy was present inside it to supply the protection talisman keeping him alive.
"Xu Bao!"
"Hm? Now I even seem to hear senior talking to me..."
Suddenly hearing Xuan Hao's voice as he felt himself drifting closer and closer to the eternal sleep that would inevitably engulf him if things continued in its current direction, Xu Bao could not help muttering this to himself as he looked up into the sky above him-
"Ah!? Senior!?" Only after mindlessly looking into the sky above him did he discover that the voice he had heard earlier wasn't something he had heard, and Xuan Hao was indeed present!
"Sorry for this, but we have to get out of here as quickly as possible!"
"What do you- Aaaaaaaah-!"
Not having the time to react before he suddenly felt an unknown power grabbing hold of his body before lifting him into the air, Xu Bao suddenly felt the environment around him passing by at a speed that far exceeded his comprehension. Not a second later, he found himself on top of a mountain far away from the fight between the two terrifying Soul Ascension Realm Experts.
"Hm? What happened to my body!? Why do I suddenly feel so full of energy!?" Having come to a stop, Xu Bao suddenly noticed that not only had his surroundings changed, but the inside of his body that had been dried up just a second earlier had been filled up with energy once again.
Although his body had not recovered, the energy inside his body would speed up his recovery and at the same time also allowed him to move around without fear of not being able to defend himself.
"I injected part of my energy into your body just now. Although it won't be able to recover the damage to your body, it should be able to help you return to your sect from here."
Hearing Xuan Hao's voice, Xu Bao could not help turning around with a helpless expression on his face. "This- Senior- I-I don't know what to say..."
"It's fine, just remember to make sure that the Star Shattering Sect doesn't end up getting any attention from any of the major powers of the Sky Empire like we originally agreed on. Although... Given what is happening over there, I don't think I will have to worry about something like that happening for now..."
"This- Indeed, with something this big happening in the Sky Empire, I doubt the imperial family will have time to focus their attention on the border region..." Understanding what Xuan Hao was referring to, Xu Bao could not help smiling wryly while looking in the direction of the fighting taking place in the distance. Understanding that Xuan Hao was not going to ask him for something after saving him.
At the same time, part of him could not help wondering just how strong Xuan Hao was.
Given how he had been able to save him so smoothly so close to two Soul Ascension Realm Experts fighting with each other, Xu Bao speculated that he should at the very least have reached the Peak of the Domain Lord Realm. Maybe even the Soul Ascension realm!
Thinking about how there was a chance that the person standing in front of him had reached the Soul Ascension Realm, Xu Bao could not help but be filled with both happiness and an unknown sense of safety knowing that the independent sects had managed to gain the support of a possible Soul Ascension Realm Expert.
After all, inside the Sky Empire and across the Ewaria Continent, a person who had reached the Soul Ascension Realm could be considered to have reached the peak of power. No matter where they went, they would be considered someone that no one wanted to offend. Even the more powerful empires that stood above the Sky Empire, a Soul Ascension Realm Expert was still considered to be the peak of power... At the very least according to what he knew...
...
This... What is that old man thinking about?
"You should get going, it won't be safe here for long..." Feeling the weird gaze of Xu Bao, Xuan Hao could not help wondering what he was thinking about before saying this. Understanding very well that the fight taking place in the distance would soon start to affect the mountain they were standing on top of.
"Hm? Ah! Yes senior! I will get going now!" Nodding his head in understanding as he also saw the battle between the two powerful Soul Ascension Realm Experts growing closer and closer with each passing second, Xu Bao soon took his leave. Leaving Xuan Hao standing behind alone on top of the mountain.
Now... Should I leave... Or stay and find out what all of this is about...?
Remaining on top of the mountain as the fight in distance got closer, Xuan Hao could not help thinking this to himself. Part of him really wanted to find out what had caused these two powerful Soul Ascension Realm Experts to suddenly appear inside the Sky Empire...