58: Fixed plan

After the crowd chuckled, no one paid any further attention.

Xia Chuxue felt disheartened, as she had been here for several months straight, yet could not find anyone willing to help.

Unwilling to give up, she was about to say something more, but her words were interrupted by another Cultivator.

Xia Chuxue silently put away the fragment. Since no one was willing to help, staying here no longer held any meaning.

She quietly stood up and left the place alone, her figure forlorn.

Seeing Xia Chuxue leave, Zhou Liyue felt a surge of urgency, recalling Xia Chuxue's recent request.

Sixth Layer of Qi Refining... Zhou Liyue calculated constantly in her heart: If she could set up a Formation in advance, lay an ambush, and use the heart-bewitching bell and the crimson gold bangle, she might just have a chance to fight.

This fragment had been in her family for so many years, and this time she finally had the opportunity to clear the fog. If she let it go now... Zhou Liyue's thoughts raced. In a moment, she made up her mind: Stop this person first.

Immediately, she quietly stood up, preparing to follow.

"Fellow Daoist Mingyue, surely you don't intend to..."

Seeing Zhou Liyue stand up and prepare to leave, Xu Hongyuan and the other two asked in hushed voices.

Hearing this, Zhou Liyue nodded and cupped her hands toward the three:

"This object is fated to be mine."

"I want to give it a try."

Having spoken, she said no more, bowed to the three, and quietly retreated.

"This..."

The expressions of the three, including Xu Hongyuan, shifted uncertainly. Chen Shuyun looked resolute and was about to stand up and follow Zhou Liyue, but Xu Hongyuan held him down.

"Fellow Daoist Mingyue must have her own reliance. We are merely in the Qi Refining Early Stage, how can we get involved in this matter?"

Xu Hongyuan's voice was heavy as he cautioned Chen Shuyun, and Zhao Xuanfang also voiced her agreement.

"I..."

Chen Shuyun's expression changed when he saw that Zhou Liyue's figure had already vanished.

Gritting his teeth, he said:

"Big Brother, Xuanfang, you two stay here. I'm just going to follow and watch; nothing will happen."

Having said that, he broke free from Xu Hongyuan's restraint and quietly retreated into the shadows, chasing after her.

"Alas~"

Xu Hongyuan felt helpless, yet he could not abandon Chen Shuyun.

Thus, he exchanged a look with Zhao Xuanfang, and they both left the area.

Seeing the four people leave, the crowd in the valley paid them no mind.

Some people mocked internally: Truly seeking death.

Finishing their thought, they cast aside what had just happened and carefully examined the venue to see if there were any treasures they needed.

Outside the valley.

Zhou Liyue moved quickly, catching up to the rapidly moving Xia Chuxue ahead.

Xia Chuxue felt someone pursuing her from behind, and she became extremely vigilant, slightly tightening her grip on the Talisman she had been holding.

She stopped, turned around, and asked Zhou Liyue, who was not far behind:

"Who are you?"

Seeing that she had stopped, Zhou Liyue ceased approaching and halted her figure.

"My name is Mingyue. I can accept your request, but you must give me that item first."

"Heh..."

Hearing this, Xia Chuxue glanced at Zhou Liyue, laughing slightly with disdain:

"Although you are much stronger than me, your cultivation hasn't reached the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining yet, has it?"

"Are you perhaps looking at my youth and assuming I'm naive, hoping to take the treasure from me for free?"

After speaking, her eyes turned fierce, glaring angrily, displaying an Aura that suggested she would strike if their conversation went poorly.

In reality, she was thinking that if this person was exposed by her and became enraged, attempting murder and theft, she should be able to escape safely relying on the Talisman in her hand.

Zhou Liyue felt somewhat depressed upon hearing this. Seeing her guarded posture, did she really look like a rogue Cultivator who murdered and stole treasures?

"I certainly haven't reached the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining yet."

"However, since I dare to take on this task, I naturally have something to rely on."

After speaking, she swept her right hand across her waist, and an oddly shaped bell appeared in her hand. As she slightly vibrated her spiritual power, a mysterious fluctuation emanated from it.

"This is..."

"A Tier One High Grade Magical Artifact?"

Xia Chuxue cried out in astonishment, her tone excited. Even when she was with her parents, she had never seen a Magical Artifact of such High Grade.

Before Xia Chuxue could recover from her surprise, Zhou Liyue placed the heart-bewitching bell into her Storage Pouch, took out a Formation Plate, and said with a smile:

"I am also a Tier One Medium Grade Formation Master."

"In that case, is it enough?"

Xia Chuxue's mind was blank. Thinking of the Tier One High Grade Magical Artifact she had just seen, and then looking at the Formation Plate, she felt that the person before her must be extremely capable.

If this was the case, then she still had hope. Thoughts intertwined in her mind, and Xia Chuxue spoke blankly.

"It should... be enough."

Seeing that she had indeed stunned the other party, Zhou Liyue felt slightly satisfied.

She put the Formation Plate into her Storage Pouch and dispersed her spiritual power.

"Since that is the case, please tell me the details of that person's situation so we can plan carefully."

Although she was confident, the target was, after all, two minor cultivation stages higher than her.

Although the gap was not as large as between the Late Qi Refining Stage and the Mid-stage Qi Refining, it could not be underestimated.

If she lost her life due to complacency, she would deserve it.

Xia Chuxue finally calmed her mind and relaxed slightly.

After so many fruitless attempts, having finally found someone willing to help, she could only take the gamble.

Xia Chuxue bit her lip slightly, made up her mind, and approached Zhou Liyue.

She arrived near Zhou Liyue. Seeing that Zhou Liyue made no other movements and was still watching her leisurely, she felt slightly relieved but maintained her vigilance.

"The person I want to kill is named Wang Xingyuan. He lives on Xiaopan Mountain and usually cultivates in seclusion there, only venturing out once every two months."

"Two months, venturing out..."

Zhou Liyue pondered. Since he went out, that was good. If he hid inside an Immortal Cave, relying on a direct assault by herself would likely be insufficient, and she would have to go back and call for reinforcements.

But if it came to that, setting aside whether this person in front of her would believe her, even if she did, she probably wouldn't dare to make this deal with her anymore.

After all, the difference in strength was too vast. Trading with the Zhou Family, she would be like fish on a cutting board, completely at their mercy. The life-saving item in her hand would be utterly useless in front of the Zhou Family.

Fortunately, she didn't have to go that far.

Zhou Liyue contemplated for a moment and spoke:

"If I set up a Formation while he is out, do you have the confidence to lure him into the Formation?"

Hearing this, Xia Chuxue nodded fiercely.

"This person was severely injured and was found by my parents. My mother was kind-hearted, so she asked my father to bring him home for treatment. Who knew that this person's heart would be so vicious?"

"When his injuries healed, he relied on his profound strength to murder my parents. His goal was likely to seize my family's resources."

"If my father hadn't desperately held him back before dying, and if I didn't have a life-saving item in my hand, I probably would have died by his hands too."

She paused, then continued.

"Therefore, as long as I appear before him, he definitely won't let me go."

"I will personally lead him into the Formation."

Xia Chuxue's hatred flared up. Every word she spoke seemed intent on engraving this enmity into her very bones.

Zhou Liyue listened, falling silent for a moment. Although she already knew that human hearts were treacherous in this world, and even she and her father couldn't be called good people, she couldn't bring herself to do something to this extent.

She felt a sense of melancholy, yet also a touch of pity for the person before her.

"Then let's settle it for now. However, before we act, you must hand that item over to me."

"Alright."

Xia Chuxue pondered briefly, then agreed.

Seeing that the agreement was reached, Zhou Liyue felt a slight lift in her spirits and asked:

"Fellow Daoist, what is your name?"

"Chuxue."