Chapter 648: Chapter 452: Heavenly Punishment Strikes, A Deadly Predicament

On the other side of the Star River, the Heavenly Punishment Martial Ancestor sat cross-legged, suspended, with the Blood Jade Armor flowing in a somber glow under the starlight.

His gaze penetrated the walls of time and space, locking onto the two Great Immortal Emperors hidden in the dark void.

When his gaze fell on Xi Youyue, it paused for a moment and instantly saw through her original qi aura.

This aura… shares the same origin with Moonlight.

It’s not just sharing the same origin; the purity of its essence and the flow of immortal veins within her body are almost identical to Moonlight.

In the eyes of the Heavenly Punishment Martial Ancestor, a flash of realization appeared. Chu Zheng, as a Qi Cultivator, had been stable in the Immortal Alliance for such a long time, assuredly with the Ancestral Realm escorting him.

It now seems that this person is Moonlight.

To possess such pure Immortal Charm, almost equivalent to the true Moonlight, her identity must be of the direct lineage under Moonlight, perhaps even a bearer of the core Taoist Orthodoxy.

Moonlight unexpectedly deployed her direct heirs, guarding Chu Zheng like a shadow, indicating Chu Zheng’s status in Moonlight’s heart couldn’t be judged by mere value.

This had transcended the role of a ‘pawn’, becoming more of a guard of some crucial hope.

In an instant, numerous thoughts flashed through his mind, forming a decision, his gaze deepening.

The Dao War has been stalled, always lacking a blazing fire, and now the spark has appeared.

……

……

Song Lingxue stood firm under the starry dome, her hand clad in Dark Gold Arm Armor gripped tightly on the Blood-colored Battle Halberd, her fingers imperceptibly tightening for an instant, the knuckles slightly pale.

Even with numerous preparations beforehand, she still felt somewhat unsettled at the moment.

Chu Zheng’s expression was indifferent, with a faintly complex ripple deep in his eyes.

Hundreds of years had passed, husband and wife, yet today they met on the battlefield, seemingly becoming mortal enemies.

Under the starry sky, only the starlight flickered, leaving a dead silence.

After a long silence, Chu Zheng slightly furrowed his brows, turned away without the slightest hesitation.

Behind him, two Great Immortal Emperors followed secretly, holding the heavy treasure bestowed by the Moonlight Immortal Ancestor. Even Song Lingxue wouldn’t benefit from a frontal confrontation.

Moreover, whether it was Song Lingxue or those two Great Immortal Emperors behind him, he wished none to be injured, for that held no advantage for him, making confrontation unnecessary.

A deadly fight with Song Lingxue, no matter the victor, meant enormous internal consumption and irreversible losses. Such pointless conflict lacked any necessity.

“Chu Zheng, why retreat? Just a Martial Emperor Perfection, seemingly unfamiliar, probably relatively young and favored by Martial Arts Heavenly Fortune. Letting them go like this, is it not a pity?”

Seeing Chu Zheng turn and leave, Xi Youyue questioned, somewhat puzzled.

Just a Martial Emperor Perfection, she and Lei Chen joining forces could take down this person without much trouble.

Chu Zheng remained silent, merely continuing on his path, swiftly fleeing toward the sixth defense line.

Within the Martial Hall’s camp, due to Song Lingxue’s shockingly powerful strike and Chu Zheng’s sudden appearance, alarms had long been ringing, and now seeing Chu Zheng intending to retreat, a sudden commotion erupted.

The sound of void smashing echoed through the star universe, more than ten Divine Martial Heavenly Generals clad in Battle Armor erupted out, followed closely by a group of Martial Hall Cultivators, forming a blood-colored torrent, charging toward Chu Zheng, intending to follow and kill.

“Halt.”

A cold voice sounded, like a stabilizer, instantly overshadowing all the clamor.

Song Lingxue still stood where she was, the Blood-colored Battle Halberd pointing obliquely at the stars, she did not look back, merely raised her hand, the pressure of the Great Martial Emperor exploded like an invisible giant wall, blocking all the Martial Cultivators rushing out from behind.

Her gaze still fixed upon Chu Zheng’s distant departing figure, her brows slightly furrowed, suppressing numerous thoughts in her mind, her voice cutting through the chaotic battlefield, ordering with a deep voice:

“Don’t pursue, return to camp!”

“General Song, why stop?”

A somewhat impatient Martial Monarch couldn’t help but urge, pointing in the direction of Chu Zheng’s disappearance, his expression full of puzzlement:

“Seeing that person’s face just now, surely it must be none other than the commander of the sixth Immortal Pass, Chu Zheng. Alone out here, fleeing in panic, before Immortal Alliance reinforcements arrive, is the perfect time to kill this thief and break through the Immortal Pass, a great deed for you! How can you…”

Before finishing his words, Song Lingxue had already turned, her eyes blazing with a cold flame mixed with violent killing intent and extreme impatience:

“Get back!”

Song Lingxue did not even spare him a glance, coldly speaking:

“Disobeying orders at the front, I’ll sever your head.”

The Martial Monarch twitched at the corner of his eyes, but ultimately didn’t dare speak any rebellious words, slowly bowing:

“…As you command.”

A group of Martial Hall elites, including more than ten Heavenly Generals, also suppressed the surging emotions within them, bowing to accept the orders, not a single one daring to object.

The commander at the front naturally held the power of life and death, and Song Lingxue, being the Martial Ancestor’s personal heir, confronting her would be tantamount to seeking death.

Song Lingxue no longer looked at them, turned once more, her gaze last directed toward the place where Chu Zheng vanished, which was empty of any figure.

……

……

On the other side of the Star River, the Heavenly Punishment Martial Ancestor, who sat cross-legged, slowly stood, his tall figure, covered in Blood Armor, like a waking Ancient Divine Mountain, whose pressure momentarily thickened the flowing passage of time around him.

He slightly lowered his gaze, looking at Song Lingxue retreating back to the Martial Hall camp below.

“Deep bond between husband and wife, rather interesting.”

A faint voice laced with a bit of sarcasm echoed softly through the silent Star River.