Beyond spirit realm of the starry sky

Lee Xiao distanced herself from Song Tu and regained her balance. Her blood-red eyes locked onto Song Mian with nothing but pure killing intent.

Meanwhile, Lee Mo flew over to her and handed her a healing pill.

"Are you alright?" Lee Mo asked.

"I'm fine," Lee Xiao replied. "It's just a minor injury."

Under the light of the red moon, the power of ghost cultivators and spirits was amplified. That was the only reason the attack hadn't proven lethal.

She swallowed the pill, and before their eyes, the charred skin on her hand regenerated rapidly until it was fully restored.

"Haa... haa..." Lee Xiao took a deep breath. "Fortunately, that woman recently broke through to the Creation Realm. She hasn't yet adapted to her new power. If she had... things might've turned out worse."

At the same time, Song Tu retreated to Song Mian's side.

"Are you injured?" she asked.

"Haha! What could possibly happen to me?" Song Tu laughed. "If you hadn't arrived just in time, though, I might've met my ancestors!"

"Let's talk later," Song Mian replied with a sigh. "We still have a situation to handle."

"You're right," Song Tu agreed, turning with her to face Lee Xiao and Lee Mo, who had landed on the ground.

After regrouping with the others, Song Mian addressed them. "Are you two alright?"

"We're fine, Elder Song Mian," Song Yan and Ye Kaishan answered, bowing in respect.

Ye Kaishan couldn't help but marvel silently.She's a Creation Realm expert... and that thunder law—such a high-level lightning technique!

"You've advanced to the Creation Realm?" Elder Yang asked, eyes wide with surprise.

"I had some adventures... and a few fortunate encounters," Song Mian replied vaguely, keeping the details to herself.

Li Xu and Wang Li also bowed and offered respectful greetings.

Then, Song Mian turned to Lee Xiao and Lee Mo, her face emotionless. "Why don't we end it here?"

"Haha! You want to end it? Are you really saying that to me?" Lee Xiao laughed coldly. "Even if there are two Creation Realm cultivators, so what? Are you sure you can defeat us?"

"No, you misunderstand," Song Mian said calmly. "I'm not threatening you. I simply mean this fight is now meaningless. From what I've heard, my juniors acquired their items through luck and effort—and they've already used them. Fighting now gains you nothing."

"Under the red moonlight, do you really think you can take on two Creation Realm and three Soul Star Realm cultivators?" she continued. "Besides, our reinforcements are on the way. Are you really going to risk everything for resources that are already gone?"

"You…" Lee Xiao clenched her fist, gripping her sword tightly. Her soul force surged as she prepared to strike.

"Wait." Lee Mo grabbed her wrist. "What are you doing? Let go of me!" she snapped.

"You're losing control. Think clearly. Even if we win, the casualties will be too great. We should retreat."

Lee Xiao stared at him in silence for several moments... then released her soul force and exhaled sharply.

"…Let's go," she muttered.

She summoned her flying tool, and with Lee Mo entering her soul subspace, the two vanished into the sky toward the Northern Continent.

"Was it really alright to let them go?" Song Yan asked Song Mian.

"We had no choice," Song Mian replied. "Even if we killed them, the consequences would be dire."

She looked up at the crimson sky.

"I'm sure many saw your battle in the Ghost Territory. If a Ghost Sect elder dies—even an outer sect elder—it won't go unnoticed. The Ghost Sect is notorious for its vengeful nature. Our Song Clan is small. Even a single inner disciple could wipe us out."

"She was only an outer sect elder," Song Mian added.

But what if she comes back for revenge someday? Ye Kaishan wondered silently.

"Don't worry—she won't return," Song Mian said, reading the worry on his face.

Ye Kaishan blinked. Was I that obvious? He gave a wry smile.

"Besides, the Ghost Sect won't care much if an outer sect elder was defeated," Song Mian continued.

Yang Mon and Luo Xuan both sighed in relief.

Some time later…

"We should leave this place now," Yang Mon said, stepping forward.

"Yes," Wang Li agreed. "We can't return to the Ghost Territory, so we're heading for the Northern Continent."

She turned to Song Yan, Ye Kaishan, and the others with a bright smile.

"It was a pleasure meeting you all."

Li Xu joined her, and together, they set off.

"Oh—and if you ever visit the Northern Continent, don't forget to come see us at the Wang Clan," Wang Li called out before disappearing into the sky.

Exhausted from battle, Ye Kaishan entered Song Yan's soul subspace to rest.

"We should take our leave too," Elder Yang said.

"We'll return here after we escort the juniors back to the clan. Then, we'll wait for the others to emerge from the Ghost Territory."

With that, Elder Yang and Elder Luo departed with Yang Bing, Yang Mon, and Luo Xuan.

Now only Song Tu, Song Mian, and Song Yan remained. Ye Kaishan was still resting inside the soul subspace.

Stroking his beard, Song Tu turned to Song Mian. "We should return to the clan with Song Yan."

Song Mian nodded in agreement. After a short rest, the three of them set off toward the Song Clan.

Two days later — Song Clan