The sandstorm expanded rapidly, soon spreading out and reaching nearby. The sandy dust was vast before my eyes, the wind whistled by my ears, making it hard to keenly sense the surroundings.

  Suddenly seeing a drastic change, Gu Kongshan didn't have time to think much. The wind around him was swirling and the clouds were surging, just about to rush into the sandstorm, to rescue the Supreme Elder of Zhai Xing Lou.

  Just then, a long and powerful hand blocked his line of sight.

  "Old master, don't be impatient, beware of ambush." Meng Qi said in a low voice.

  Gu Kong Shan, an old man from the rivers and lakes, heard the sound of the zither and understood the elegant meaning. Suddenly, he secretly scolded himself for being too rash. If the demonic sect's people were to launch a surprise attack on the Supreme Elder of the摘星楼 (Zhāi Xīng Lóu), it would be fine. But if they were to create a diversion elsewhere and take advantage of the wind and sand covering their senses, lying in ambush along the way, he would be in grave danger if he was not careful, and would likely meet his demise on the spot.

  Although he is the number one master of the righteous path, he also knows that he and the leader of the demonic sect, Hu Buwei, are evenly matched. If he were to be ambushed by him, there would be an 80% chance of being injured. Furthermore, with the addition of the three strong reinforcements from the Heaven, Earth, and Man realms, it's unlikely that he could even escape if he wanted to.

  So, we cannot rush forward rashly and must proceed with caution.

  Taking a light breath, Gu Kongshan said with great demeanor: "Thank you, Master Fa, for reminding us. We will proceed with caution."

  With this group of extraordinary people, even if they encounter an ambush, it won't be so dangerous.

  However, he didn't let his guard down either. What if these people were spies from the demonic sect? Therefore, when Meng Qi and others were about to enter the sandstorm in a file, Gu Kongshan opened the small box in his bosom.

  In an instant, a brilliant light flashed, shooting straight up to the ninth heaven. The white clouds in the sky gathered together, and the winds around coalesced into dragons, sweeping away all dust and dirt in one fell swoop.

  As a master of the sword, Meng Qi couldn't help but gaze at it intently. It was a long sword with a layer of bright light enveloping it. The hilt was simple and unadorned, seemingly made of ordinary wood. On one side of the blade, a faint blue pattern shone with a captivating light, forming a five-clawed dragon with a long and elegant demeanor. Under its claws, clouds swirled and billowed.

  Gu Kongshan took out the Wind Cloud Knife, with the scabbard on his back, and made a light, false slash forward. Suddenly, a strong gust of wind rose up, blowing away the sand and dust, revealing a broad and clear road.

  Until this time, Meng Qi saw the other side of Fengyun Knife. Dark red light condensed into a majestic tiger, its body surrounded by clear wind.

  It's indeed a treasured sword... Meng Qi silently praised, following Jiang Zhiwei and others, they stepped into the road of no sand opened by Gu Kongshan, crossing through the sandstorm.

  …………

  The residence of the Star-Picking Building was not spared, with many tents being blown away directly. Many disciples were lost in the sandstorm and couldn't see or hear anything, making it impossible for them to rescue each other. They could only guard the entrance carefully and slowly move towards a place where the wind and sand were slightly weaker.

  Near the main tent, a dark and eerie aura lingered, and a group of elders, disciples, and the master of the Star-Picking Pavilion, who had just arrived, were blocked outside.

  The three sages of heaven, earth and man, some flashed in the wind and sand, some were stained with a star that had fallen from the sky, some were filled with demonic energy, fearless of pain, unafraid of injury, flesh and blood constantly squirming and regenerating, blocking the desperate rescue efforts of the master of Xianzhi Tower and others.

  In a flash, although the number of masters who rushed to the Star-Picking Pavilion was superior, they found it difficult to advance even an inch.

  Inside the tent, a white-haired old man's eyebrows and beard were all standing on end as he glared angrily at the middle-aged man in front of him. His eyes, nose, mouth, and ears all had streaks of fresh blood flowing out, and the silver-white metal gloves on his hands were being entwined and bound by strands of deep, dark black magic, making it difficult for him to exert his strength.

  The middle-aged man opposite him was exceptionally slender, with his palms pressed into the strands of dark and mysterious magic, as if he had merged into it.

  This middle-aged thin man had a strange blood sweat on his forehead, looking not relaxed at all, but with a relaxed smile on his face, watching the back of the white-haired old man.

  Behind the white-haired old man, Yun Feng's long hair was scattered, his thick eyebrows relaxed, and his palms grasped the other person's shoulders.

  It can be seen that the old man's muscles are constantly twitching, as if something is rapidly pouring into Yunfeng's body.

  Next to the slender middle-aged man, Su Yuan Ying's eyebrows were raised, and his eyes were eerily green. He covered his mouth and coughed lightly, with two female disciples from the Star-Picking Tower lying at his feet. Gu Xiao Sang in a white dress floated gently, smiling as she watched all this, seeming rather nonchalant.

  After a few gasps, the white-haired old man's muscles shriveled up, his entire body losing energy as he slowly fell to the ground, his eyes dazed and his voice hoarse: "Demon head, demon head..."

  A middle-aged, slender man was not careless, and the profound and terrifying demonic energy had always enveloped those silver-white metal gloves until he took them off the old man's hands, then let out a gentle sigh.

  Yun Feng's face flashed a bright red, then disappeared, and he satisfiedly stroked his palm, saying: "Master, what do we do next?"

  This middle-aged thin man was none other than Hu Buwei, the leader of the Demon Sect.

  Hu couldn't help but reveal a hint of a smile: "Three masters with unparalleled martial arts skills, I'm fortunate to have your assistance this time."

  After a brief praise, he said seriously: "Gu Kongshan and others are about to arrive, we don't have the strength to confront them head-on yet, we must withdraw immediately. As long as we pass the day of the Maofeng seal, they will be powerless."

  "In order to avoid being chased by them and taking back the 'Star Plucking Hand', we divided our troops into four routes, feigning and actual, dispersing their forces. As long as we bring the Star Plucking Hand back to Holy Fire Mountain and suppress it in the Demon's Tomb, everything will be settled."

  "At that time, the sect will be extremely grateful to the three of you, no matter whether it's divine weapons, elixirs, secret manuals, or beautiful disciples, and will not hesitate to offer them."

  "But I will follow the Master's orders."

  "Gu Xiang said with a faint smile: 'The young lady has exactly this intention.'"

  …………

  Fierce winds howled, clouds and air cleared the sky, Gu Kong Shan wielded his Wind Cloud Knife, finally opening up the path to Xian Xing Lou, where he saw a chaotic and turbulent scene.

  "Is that Lord Luo? And where is Elder Qi?" Gu Kong Shan saw the master of Zhai Xing Lou who was just about to rush into the sandstorm.

  Upon hearing Gu Kong Shan's voice, Luo Lou Zhu was taken aback, and excitedly turned around to say: "Gu Zhuang Zhu, our Qi Chang Lao has been surrounded and killed by the demonic head, and the Star Plucking Hand has also been snatched away!"

  "What?" Although they had expected it, Gu Kongshan and Meng Qi couldn't help but be shocked.

  At this moment, swords were flying horizontally and ribbons were fluttering, the leader of the Wan Jian Sect and the Guardian Elder of the Xiao Yue Sect each brought a few elders from different directions to rush over.

  "Who has the Star-Plucking Hand? Which direction did they escape in?" Gu Kongshan asked loudly, without even greeting Luozhu.

  The leader of the Wan Jian Sect was a middle-aged woman with an elegant and noble demeanor, while the old man guarding the Xueyue Gate was hunched over with wrinkles that could crush mosquitoes. They didn't interrupt, but instead listened intently with their ears perked up, asking others about what had happened.

  The master of Luo Lou was asked by Gu Kong Shan and was stunned for a moment, saying vaguely: "They divided their troops into four routes and escaped in all directions. I don't know who has the Star Plucking Hand either."

  The strategy of virtual and real... Gu Kongshan understood as soon as he heard it, but such things can't be predicted in advance. The Star Plucking Hand is on which road, nor can we go gamble. Once miscalculated, there will be no chance to recover: "Since that's the case, let's split up and chase after him. Which direction did Hu Nuo escape? Who else went with him?"

  At this time, the wind and sand had gradually subsided, he decided to pursue the Demon Cult Master Hu Buwei by himself.

  Luo Lou's master settled down and spoke extremely quickly: "Hu Buwei is alone, heading in that direction... Tian Zun and the eyebrow-opening stranger are on one road... Ren Zun and the disheveled-haired man are on one road... Di Zun and the white-robed woman are on one road..."

  Gu Kongshan didn't hesitate and directly said: "I'll go with you all the way to chase after Hu Buwei."

  One man and one horse may not necessarily win back!

  Then he looked at the leader of the Wan Jian Sect and said, "Lady Huan, please take the sect's elders to chase after Tian Zun. Be careful of that strange person with a third eye on his forehead, he can directly attack one's soul."

  Madam Huan's face was serious as she nodded: "Don't worry, Taihua Sword can behead the primordial spirit and soul."

  She didn't hesitate and immediately led the two elders to chase after Tianzun and Su Yuan Ying, while the remaining two returned to arrange for strict guarding and advancing matters.

  "The old master of the manor, we are chasing after a fugitive." The elderly gatekeeper at Xiaoyue Gate said bluntly without wasting any time.

  "Be careful of the man with disheveled hair," Gu Kong Shan nodded and said, "He can absorb internal energy through physical contact."

  The old man guarding the gate remembered it in his heart and turned around to leave, also leaving some elders behind to stabilize the people's hearts.

  The ancient empty mountain originally intended to let the several elders of the Star Plucking Building go and chase after the Earthly Lord, but as soon as he thought about it, Meng Qi and his group had a mysterious origin and couldn't be trusted. If they stayed here, something unexpected might happen, so he said in a low voice: "Please trouble you all to chase after the Earthly Lord, and have two fellow daoists from the Star Plucking Building assist."

  One is surveillance, and two is vastness, people who are unfamiliar with the terrain can easily get lost.

  "Alright, Gu Zhuangzhu." This time, Luo Shengyi did not intervene. After exchanging a glance with Zhang Yuanshan and others, they immediately agreed.

  "This is a great opportunity to get rid of Gu Xiao Sang! It's rare for them to be separated and acting on their own!"

  Gu Kongshan didn't dare to delay any longer, lightly nodding his head, the winds and clouds surged, as he brought Luo Louzhu in pursuit of Hu Buwei.

  "Zhang Shixiong, you and Zhēnzhēn return to the Wind Cloud Manor's base. She has just opened her eyes, her lightness skills are not yet mature, this kind of pursuit is hard to keep up with. And she is alone, we can't be at ease."

  At this critical moment of chasing the enemy, she didn't hesitate, didn't turn around, and didn't care about saving Zhenzhen's face.

  Meng Qi felt a pang in his heart, fortunately he had taken her advice to heart and worked hard on his lightness skills, exchanging them for the Divine Steps of the Wind God and the Wind Spirit Legs, otherwise he would have been left behind at this time.

  Zhang Yuanshan nodded and said, "If there's something going on, send out a signal."

  Jiang Zhiwei is about to go down the mountain for a tour, and she can't lack the special signal items of Xianjian Pavilion on her body.

  Fu Zhen's face was slightly dim, but he could understand, without saying a word, and each took a small candle for Meng Qi, Qi Zhengyan and Jiang Zhimiao.

  Afterwards, Meng Qi and others followed the two elders of the Star-Picking Tower to the direction where Gu Xiao Sang and Di Zun escaped.

  Along the way, Luo Shengyi and Jiang Zhimiao's ability to distinguish between tracks benefited Meng Qi and Qi Zhengyan greatly. It turned out that the difference between them was not just in their martial arts skills, but also in the expertise of the two Star-Picking Tower elders in tracking desert trails, which made Meng Qi feel a sense of regret. If he had such experiences earlier, why would he be worried about being chased by Anguo Xie?

  Perhaps it was because Di Zun and Gu Xiao Sang escaped in a hurry, although they obviously dealt with the traces, but still left behind some clues, so that several people did not lose their way. By dusk, the setting sun shone on a relic covered with thick yellow sand.

  The ruins stretch for dozens of miles, with all sorts of desert-specific buildings, only to have long since decayed and been buried in the yellow sand, leaving only outlines. In the center of the ruins, a dilapidated temple stands as if unchanged for hundreds of years.

  Dark red dusk falls on the ruins, a "burning" scene, magnificent, desolate and majestic.

  "What is this ruin? How did Gu Xiao and his party escape here?" Meng Qi and others had the same question in their minds at the same time.