"That damnable old man is far stronger than what we were told about! Not to mention, now that he has some idea about the fact that we are targeting him, the chances of getting him to leave his capital protected by his guardian formation is close to none! How in the world are we supposed to do anything to him in such a situation... Hah... It looks like we will have to inform an exalted pope if we want to ensure a continued flow of faith from the Sky Empire..." At the same time Xuan Hao was making his way back towards the Star Shattering Sect, one of the two foreign Soul Ascension Realm Experts that had been chased away by the ancestor of the imperial family was filled with anger as he said this.
The two foreign Soul Ascension Realm Experts had indeed planned to ambush him like the ancestor from the imperial family had guessed. Not only that, but they had indeed also been from one of the three religions like he had suspected.
"Involving an exalted pope!? Are you crazy!? Do you really think an exalted pope would care about a small Sky Empire located outside the core of the continent...?" Beside the angry Soul Ascension Realm Expert, the other Soul Ascension Realm Expert could not help exclaiming loudly with a shocked expression on his face upon hearing an exalted pope being casually brought up.
"This... Indeed... Looks like we will have to find another way to deal with that old man from the imperial family. Maybe the other two would be interested in joining in. After all, it not only affects our flow of faith, but also their flow of fate...!" Understanding how difficult it was to get a pope to move, the other Soul Ascension Realm Expert quickly changed his approach as he brought up the remaining two religions that had yet to take action to deal with the imperial family.
"Hm... Good idea. Considering how they would also be affected if the imperial family ended up destroying their branches in the Sky Empire, it is indeed plausible that we can convince them to work together to deal with the ancestor from the imperial family. Even if the old man from the imperial family is powerful and has managed to go through five or six tribulations, I doubt he will be able to fight a combined force of six Soul Ascension Realm Experts that have gone through four tribulations!" Nodding his head in agreement after thinking about the matter for a short moment, the other Soul Ascension Realm Expert agreed that working together with the other two religions was a good idea.
"Great! Then let's get going and find them before coming out with a way to get that old man to leave the capital city again!" Feeling a wave of excitement after hearing the agreement, the other Soul Ascension Realm Expert didn't waste any time before pulling out a communication talisman to get in contact with the experts from the other two religions.
"..."
Not saying anything upon seeing how excited his friend was to get back at the ancestor from the imperial family, the more cautious among the two Soul Ascension Realm Experts decided to just remain silent for now. Part of him understood that the reason for his friend's behavior was not only because they were about to lose their branch inside the Sky Empire, but instead because of how he had been sent running by the ancestor of the imperial family a short time ago.
Although the injuries they had received would heal within a few hours due to the powerful healing ability of the divine power from their god coursing through their bodies, the humiliation of being beaten up and sent running in a single attack, was not something that his friend was willing to endure. To be honest, deep down, he also wanted to get back at the ancestor from the imperial family!
...
"To think I managed to survive..." After Xuan Hao left him and he began making his way towards the direction that the group of elders and disciples from the different independent sects had gone in, Xu Bao could not help letting out a quiet sigh as he muttered this to himself.
If not for the fact that Xuan Hao had shown up just in time to save him back there, he doubted that he would have been able to make it out alive. Even if he noticed that the fighting had come to a stop shortly after he had left the area, he also understood that there was a chance for the people who had ambushed him would return to check on whether or not he died.
Considering that he would have spent all of his energy trying to survive the terrifying shockwaves from the battle between the two Soul Ascension Realm Experts, he would have no way to defend himself and would only be able to motionlessly wait for them to kill him...
"Hm? What are they doing stopping here!?" Spotting the group of independent sects appearing in the distance, Xu Bao could not help quietly muttering this to himself as surprised expression appeared on his face after realizing that they had come to a stop not too far away from the place where he and Elder Scarlet Flame had first confronted the ambush by the major sects and their backers.
Given how he and Elder Scarlet Flame had both risked their lives to buy time for them to escape, Xu Bao could not help feeling that something was wrong after spotting them having stopped only a short distance away from where he and Elder Scarlet Flame had split off from them.
Whoosh~
Not wasting any time after realizing something was wrong, Xu Bao directly flew forward before landing a short distance away from the small camp that had been set up by the independent sects-
"Everyone! Look! Senior Xu is back!"
"Senior Xu is back? Haha, those major sects have nothing on us independent sects!"
"Senior Xu!? To think even the combined forces of the major sects can't do anything... Senior Xu is truly powerful!"
Not even a second after he landed on the ground, the other Domain Lords present spotted him before calling out with joy upon seeing him return alive.
"What happened, why are all of you here? Didn't I tell you to escape while me and Elder Scarlet Flame held back the major sects!?" Narrowing both of his eyes as he said this, Xu Bao stared directly at the elder that had come forward first to greet him.
. "Senior, it's not that we don't want to leave... It's just that Elder Scarlet Flame stopped us from leaving after he returned and told us to wait for you..." Feeling Xu Bao focusing his attention on him, a shiver ran down the elder's spine as he quickly said this before pointing towards Elder Scarlet Flame who was standing a bit further away.
"Hm? Elder Scarlet Flame did?"
"He is telling the truth; it was Elder Scarlet Flame that stopped us from leaving."
"Yeah, it was indeed Elder Scarlet Flame! All of us wanted to escape, but he forced us to stay and wait for you to return!"
"Indeed, Elder Scarlet Flame returned shortly after you two went off to stop the Domain Lords from the major sects and told us that everything was going according to plan and we just had to wait for your return, he even told us that everything had already been predicted by you and was under control...!"
Hearing what the elders around him said, Xu Bao had no idea whether to laugh or cry as he looked towards Elder Scarlet Flame smiling proudly towards him while giving a small thumps up like he had done a good job at stopping the group of elders from the different independent sects from leaving.
"What do you- Ah...!" Suddenly remembering how he had told Elder Scarlet Flame that everything had been under control, and he had already had some idea about what was happening and had plans to deal with it, Xu Bao could not help stopping himself from saying anything as he felt a wave of embarrassment washing over him.
Out of everything he thought might be the reason that the independent sects had not moved any further, he had never expected that the reason for all of this, was the few careless words he had said to Elder Scarlet Flame. After all, back then, he had just said those words so as to make him leave. Not wanting him to get caught up in his fight with the three Seventh Stage Domain Lords Realm Experts that had already surrounded him at that point in time.
"Senior Xu, I'm sure you took care of those people from the major sects already. Hehe, to think they dared to underestimate us independent sects! Serves them right!"
"..."
Hearing what Elder Scarlet Flame said with a respectful expression on his face as he came over, Xu Bao once again felt like crying. Elder Scarlet Flames words causing him to remember the past few days of him escaping with his tail between his legs before getting one-sidedly beaten up by the experts behind the major sects...