69: Climbing the Dragon Pond to Rescue the Fox

The bloody battle on the outskirts of the Star Palace temporarily came to an end. Lin Xuan, with Lie Tian Divine Tiger, used a teleporting lightning storm that almost made the three Immortal Monarchs, Bone-Eroding, Heart-Corroding, and Soul-Shattering, explode on the spot. Their Asura elite forces were cut down by a full thirty percent!

Without these core strengths, the remaining miscellaneous soldiers and bugs were quickly cleaned up by the Star Palace disciples, who were fighting with bloodshot eyes.

However, Lin Xuan showed no joy on his face. He knew this was at most a scratch. If he couldn't kill those three cunning Immortal Monarchs and couldn't repair the breach they had opened, the Asura Clan's reinforcements would pour in endlessly.

Not to mention, the old dog Xuan Gu was still hiding in the Immortal Alliance Headquarters, controlling Bai Li and holding the lifeline of the Immortal Alliance's resources.

"We must get Bai Li out," Lin Xuan tapped the table in the main hall, his brows furrowed into a knot. "Not just to gain another helper, but also to stir up the muddy waters of the Immortal Alliance, so they can't keep tripping us up from behind."

Below him sat core disciples like Yun Qingyao, Su Yuan, and Chu Xinghe, all with solemn expressions.

"Master, the Immortal Alliance Headquarters is a dragon's den now," Su Yuan's Heavenly Evolution Array Disk screen flickered, displaying the dense, layered defensive arrays and patrol teams of the Immortal Alliance Headquarters.

"Xuan Gu has been operating for tens of thousands of years, and his roots are deeply entrenched. He himself is at the late Immortal Monarch stage. Including the previous three, there are at least six Immortal Monarchs who have explicitly pledged allegiance to him! Possibly more, and countless Golden Immortal and True Immortal level pawns.

A frontal assault is not realistic."

"And the location where Alliance Master Bai Li is imprisoned..." Su Yuan switched the screen, pointing to a solitary peak shrouded in black malevolent energy deep within the headquarters. "The Immortal Binding Grotto beneath the Demon Suppression Hall.

That was a place used in ancient times to imprison and refine peerless great demons. The restrictions are incredibly vicious, specifically designed to counter the Nine-Tailed Immortal Fox bloodline. Furthermore, there are at least two early-stage Immortal Monarchs and a team of Heavenly Punishment Guards watching over it day and night.

Once a strong attack causes too much commotion, we will be instantly surrounded."

Chu Xinghe scratched his messy hair, "Space jumps won't work either. The space there is locked down by Space-Fixing Divine Stones and at least three layers of space-locking arrays.

Lie Tian Divine Tiger can get in easily, but to bring a living person out without a sound is as difficult as ascending to heaven. Unless we can paralyze one or two of the array cores over there..."

Yun Qingyao's clear eyes looked at Lin Xuan, "Master, this matter requires careful deliberation and waiting for the right opportunity."

"Can't wait," Lin Xuan shook his head. "Xuan Gu captured Bai Li not just to seize power; it seems he wants to use Bai Li's essence blood and immortal soul to open some Ten Thousand Fox Cave and retrieve treasures.

If we wait any longer, we'll only be able to collect her corpse."

A heavy silence fell in the hall, the pressure immense.

Lin Xuan's fingers unconsciously tapped the table, countless threads of law in the depths of his Law-Breaking Chaos Eyes furiously deducing. A frontal assault was courting death, waiting was waiting for death, so there was only one option left: play dirty.

"Su Yuan," he suddenly looked up, "What does that old bastard Xuan Gu want most?"

Su Yuan was startled, then quickly replied, "According to intelligence, he's blocking our materials and is eager to open the Ten Thousand Fox Cave. What he lacks most should be supreme treasures that can quickly enhance cultivation and compensate for the depletion of his origin caused by cultivating demonic arts, or rare treasures that can withstand heavenly tribulations.

His lifespan is nearing its end; he's very afraid of death."

"Supreme treasures, rare treasures..." Lin Xuan's eyes narrowed, and a dangerous curve appeared at the corner of his mouth. "Tell me, if right now there was a freshly fallen, newly produced Blood Hell King's heart, containing vast vitality and a fragmented Immortal Monarch's origin, plus a small bottle of Chaotic Tribulation Lightning Liquid that can refine the soul and resist inner demons, would it tempt that old turtle?

Would it be enough to make him leave his lair for a while?"

Everyone gasped! A Blood Hell King's heart? Chaotic Tribulation Lightning Liquid? These were peerless treasures that could cause Immortal Emperors to fight over them! Master was really going all out!

"Master, this plan is too risky!" Yun Qingyao said anxiously, "What if Xuan Gu doesn't fall for it, or he sends someone else..."

"He will come," Lin Xuan said with certainty. "He would never dare to entrust such a thing to anyone else! Moreover, he is confident in his late Immortal Monarch cultivation and believes he has me cornered.

As long as I choose a trading location that he feels he can control and isn't too far from the headquarters, for example, Starfall Cliff?"

Starfall Cliff, a ruin where space was relatively weak and a powerful being once fought, shattering stars. It wasn't too far from the Immortal Alliance Headquarters, but not too close either, enough for Xuan Gu to make a round trip, and enough for certain people to make some small moves.

"Xinghe!" Lin Xuan looked at Chu Xinghe. "I'll give you a finger bone of the Blood Hell King. Can you replicate an energy source similar to a heart's pulsation and create a one-time 'big firework' that can unleash an Immortal Monarch-level energy impact?"

Chu Xinghe's eyes instantly lit up, shimmering with extreme excitement: "Yes! Absolutely! Add a little more, and I guarantee it'll explode with more force than a real heart's self-detonation! It's just the materials..."

"Materials are plentiful! Use the best! What we need is realism, what we need is a bang!" Lin Xuan then looked at Su Yuan. "Spread the news, secretly, but make sure it reaches Xuan Gu's ears.

Say that Lin Xuan, the master of the Star Palace, unexpectedly discovered a hidden treasure of the Blood Hell King at Starfall Cliff, containing great treasures, but due to powerful restrictions, he can't take it all at once and is trying to break the seals."

"Linglong!" Lin Xuan looked at Linglong, whose injuries had just stabilized. "Your Demonic Sound Sect is skilled in disguise and infiltration. Pick a few of the most astute ones, disguise them as rogue cultivators scattered by the Asura, and infiltrate the outskirts of the Immortal Alliance Headquarters to spread rumors.

Just say that the guards of the Demon Suppression Hall seem a little more lax than usual? Just create a sense of alarm."

"Kong Ming, Xue Li!" Lin Xuan continued to call names. "You two lead a team of elites to stealthily infiltrate the vicinity of Starfall Cliff in advance and set up interference arrays.

No need for strong ones, just enough to temporarily disrupt divine sense probing and communication."

Instructions were issued clearly, and the outline of an extremely bold and perilous rescue plan gradually emerged. The core was: use heavy bait to lure Xuan Gu, this old turtle, out of his shell, and during the brief window when he was away and the headquarters' attention was diverted, forcibly break into the Immortal Binding Grotto to rescue the person!

Every step was on a knife's edge! Any mistake in any link would lead to eternal damnation!

"Master, then you..." Yun Qingyao looked at Lin Xuan worriedly. Lin Xuan himself was going to be the bait at Starfall Cliff!

"I'm fine," Lin Xuan waved his hand. "If I can't beat him, I can still run. Lie Tian Divine Tiger will go with me. I'll leave the home front to you all; guard it well, don't let it be raided."

With the plan set, action was immediate.

Soon, news of the Starfall Cliff secret treasure spread as if on wings, precisely reaching the depths of the Immortal Alliance Headquarters, propelled by some unseen force.

Immortal Monarch Xuan Gu sat on his bone throne, listening to his confidant's report. The muscles on his withered face twitched, and greed and suspicion intertwined wildly in his eyes. A Blood Hell King's heart! Chaotic Tribulation Lightning Liquid! This was too tempting for him! But was it a trap?

Naturally suspicious, he immediately sent people to investigate from multiple angles. The reports came back quickly: there were indeed abnormal energy fluctuations near Starfall Cliff, similar to high-level Asura origin.

The guards at the Demon Suppression Hall seemed a bit lax? And Lin Xuan had indeed left the Star Palace, his whereabouts pointing towards Starfall Cliff!

Greed ultimately overcame caution. Especially as he felt his lifespan draining away like an hourglass, his desire for longevity treasures triumphed over everything!

"Hmph! Lin Xuan, you little brat, even if you have an ambush, this Monarch wants to see what you can do to me!" Xuan Gu ultimately couldn't resist. He personally led two confidant Immortal Monarchs and quietly left the Immortal Alliance Headquarters, rushing towards Starfall Cliff.

He was confident that with his late Immortal Monarch strength, even if there was an ambush, he could retreat unscathed and even counter-kill to seize the treasure!

Shortly after Xuan Gu left.

In the Immortal Alliance Headquarters, in the shadows outside the Demon Suppression Hall. Space rippled like water, and Lie Tian Divine Tiger quietly appeared, carrying Lin Xuan.

"Now! Xinghe, detonate the firework!" Lin Xuan whispered through a special communication talisman.

In the direction of the distant Starfall Cliff, a dazzling, massive energy sphere, mixed with blood-red light and chaos, suddenly erupted! Even from afar, the terrifying shockwave could be felt! It was as if some peerless treasure had truly appeared or been detonated!

The Immortal Alliance Headquarters was instantly alarmed! Countless divine senses swept towards Starfall Cliff!

"Now! Lie Tian Divine Tiger! Charge!" Lin Xuan slapped the tiger's back!

Lie Tian Divine Tiger let out a low roar, its spatial power burning to the extreme, transforming into an almost invisible phantom. In the instant all attention at the headquarters was drawn to the Starfall Cliff explosion, it fiercely crashed into the layered restrictions of the Demon Suppression Hall!

Screech! Screech! The protective restrictions were forcibly torn apart, emitting a piercing alarm! But the alarm had barely sounded before it was drowned out by the earth-shattering explosion and the subsequent chaotic cries from the distant Starfall Cliff!

"Enemy attack! Uh..." The two early-stage Golden Immortals and a small team of Heavenly Punishment Guards guarding the entrance to the Immortal Binding Grotto had just reacted when a gray, hazy sword qi, imbued with Nirvana Sword Intent, swept past silently like the scythe of death!

Puff! Puff! The two Golden Immortals didn't even see who came. Their protective immortal light, along with their heads, was instantly shattered! Their souls were annihilated! The team of Heavenly Punishment Guards was turned to ashes by the fiery golden divine flames subsequently unleashed by Lie Tian Divine Tiger!

Fast! Ruthless! Precise!

Lin Xuan and Lie Tian Divine Tiger tore open the entrance like lightning and rushed into the eerie and terrifying Immortal Binding Grotto!

Inside the grotto, the malevolent energy was so dense it was almost tangible. Countless vicious restrictions targeting the fox clan shimmered with a faint glow. In the deepest part, Bai Li was bound to a rune-engraved stone pillar by black Asura chains, her aura weak, her veil long gone, revealing a pale but still stunningly beautiful face, now filled with pain and weakness.

Seeing Lin Xuan appear like a divine soldier descending from the heavens, her glazed eyes erupted with disbelief, then turned anxious: "Daoist Lin? Go quickly! This is a trap! Xuan Gu, he..."

"I know it's a trap, otherwise how would that old turtle agree to leave?" Lin Xuan interrupted her, his Chaos Sword Intent ruthlessly striking the black chains!

Clang! Clang! Clang! Sparks flew! The chains were incredibly tough, only chipping in a few places! "It's useless... these are ancient God-Binding Chains, specifically..." Bai Li said anxiously.

"They specialize in restraining you, not me!" Lin Xuan roared, his Chaos Nascent Soul furiously operating. His Law-Breaking Chaos Eyes instantly found the weakest point in the restriction flow on the chains!

"Lie Tian Divine Tiger! Help me!"

Lie Tian Divine Tiger roared, pouring its immense spatial power into Lin Xuan's body!

"Break for me!" Lin Xuan condensed all his power to his fingertip, transforming it into an ultimate Chaos Nirvana Sword Intent, and fiercely struck that weak point!

Crack! — A grating sound of shattering! One chain broke in response!

Lin Xuan repeated the process with extreme speed, his fingers bleeding and torn from the immense recoil, but he didn't stop for a moment!

Crack! Crack! The other few chains were successively severed!

The instant the last chain broke, the entire Immortal Binding Grotto suddenly shook! On the grotto's ceiling and surrounding walls, the vicious restrictions that had originally targeted Bai Li flared brightly, then suddenly reversed!

A more terrifying, destructive energy, targeting all intruders, began to gather! Xuan Gu had indeed left a contingency plan!

"Go!" Lin Xuan scooped up the extremely weak, almost unable to stand, Bai Li and leaped onto Lie Tian Divine Tiger's back!

Lie Tian Divine Tiger dared not delay, burning its essence blood and tearing through space once more!

Boom! The next second after they vanished, the entire Immortal Binding Grotto was completely engulfed and collapsed by that destructive energy! The terrifying energy impact even reached the Demon Suppression Hall outside, causing violent explosions and chaos!

Starfall Cliff. Xuan Gu looked at the gradually dissipating 'firework,' which now only left behind violent energy aftershocks and faint traces of the Blood Hell King's essence. His face was terrifyingly pale!

He had been tricked! A feint to lure the tiger from its mountain lair!

Just then, he received an urgent message from the headquarters: the Demon Suppression Hall had been attacked! The Immortal Binding Grotto was destroyed! Bai Li had been abducted!

"Lin! Xuan!!!" Immortal Monarch Xuan Gu let out an earth-shshattering roar, trembling with rage, almost spitting out a mouthful of old blood! What a humiliation! He had actually been played for a fool by a junior at the Heavenly Immortal stage!

Not only did he not get the treasure, but he also lost his biggest bargaining chip!

Star Palace Main Hall. Lie Tian Divine Tiger staggered out of the spatial passage, with several deep, bone-deep wounds on its body, its aura weak. Lin Xuan jumped down, holding the unconscious Bai Li, his face also pale, his right hand's fingers a bloody mess, constantly dripping blood.

Yun Qingyao, Qing Xuan, and others who had been waiting there immediately gathered around.

"Quick! Take Alliance Master to heal! Use the best elixirs!" Lin Xuan carefully handed Bai Li to Qing Xuan.

Qing Xuan immediately called the disciples of the purification team, who carefully carried Bai Li away.

Lin Xuan finally breathed a sigh of relief, slumping onto the steps. He looked at his still bleeding hand, grimacing: "Damn it, those broken chains were really tough..."

Yun Qingyao took out healing immortal medicine and silently knelt to treat his wounds. Looking at his pale profile and those fingers where bone was almost visible, an extremely complex light flashed in her clear eyes: admiration, worry, and an indescribable emotion.

This time, Master had truly taken an extraordinary risk and suffered a great loss to save this Alliance Master.

This life-saving grace, Alliance Master Bai Li would surely remember it deeply.

Outside the hall, from the direction of the Immortal Alliance Headquarters, Xuan Gu's furious roar could faintly be heard, so clear even from this distance.

Lin Xuan listened to that impotent rage, grinned, gasped in pain, but laughed heartily nonetheless.