204: Chapter 204 Blocking the Way

Qingyuan Market was as bustling as ever. Since the Third-Order Array was set up, there had been no news of evil Cultivators harming people.

The market was abuzz with discussions about this.

Some speculated that the Third-Order Array had intimidated the petty villains, causing the evil Cultivators to flee in fear. Others believed that the Su Family had used the Formation to secretly eradicate these tumors entirely.

Regardless of the truth, this peace ultimately benefited the people of Qingyuan.

The market showed increasing vitality; the long streets were brightly lit and filled with the clamor of voices, dispelling the biting cold of winter.

The most reassuring sight was that of children chasing and playing in the alleys, their crisp laughter and cheers flying freely over the snow.

If this were before, what child would dare to run out of the house so carefree? They could only huddle at home, anxiously waiting for their parents to return.

The chasing and playing children ran past this group of black-robed Cultivators, carrying crisp laughter with them.

Watching this prosperity and peace, which was almost a luxury in these chaotic times, the leading black-robed Cultivator paused slightly, his gaze flickering with complexity.

This place was tucked away in a corner and protected by a Third-Order Array, making it a tough nut to crack; anyone with a brain would choose to take a detour.

Yet, their Young Lord...

"Senior Brother, are we really going to follow the Young Lord's order and waste time and energy to break this Third-Order Array?"

A black-robed person behind him couldn't help but transmit his voice, his tone suppressing agitation, "This is completely the act of a madman, it's simply incomprehensible!"

How difficult it was to break a Third-Order Array; not only did they have to avoid the eyes and ears of the Su Family, but they also had to destroy all the Formation eyes simultaneously. If even one Formation eye failed to be destroyed, all their previous efforts would be wasted, only inviting trouble upon themselves.

The leading black-robed Cultivator was silent for a moment, then transmitted his voice back in a low tone: "Do you dare to defy the Young Lord's command?"

The questioner's mouth twitched, "But the original plan didn't include Qingyuan Market at all! If we delay too long here and miss the big matter, how will we answer to the Elders when we return?"

"I have already advised against it just now."

The black-robed Cultivator sighed almost inaudibly, his voice revealing a hint of resigned helplessness, "If trouble really arises because of this, the responsibility lies with the Young Lord, not us."

"Fine..."

Upon hearing this, the others behind him knew that further discussion was useless, so they could only suppress the helplessness in their hearts, follow the instructions, and quietly disperse, sneaking towards the predetermined Formation eye positions throughout the market.

They knew clearly that the biggest difficulty in breaking the Formation was the need to destroy all core Formation eyes simultaneously.

The Cultivators of Qingyuan Market were by no means stupid; once they detected abnormal movement in the Formation, they would definitely do their best to stop it.

Therefore, their movements had to be swift; they had to disintegrate the big Formation in one go before the market's Cultivators could react.

Once this Third-Order Array was broken, with the foundation and strength of the people from Netherworld Hall on this trip, slaughtering this market would be but a snap of the fingers!

The black-robed person and a companion silently blended into the crowd of the market.

The Formation Plate tightly gripped in the black-robed person's palm was emitting an imperceptible spiritual light, its pointer turning slightly according to the deduction results, leading them towards a dark alley far from the main street.

The alley was silent, with only the wailing of the cold wind rolling past the corners.

Just a few steps ahead, in an inconspicuous corner, was the location of the Formation eye indicated by the Formation Plate.

The two exchanged a glance and were about to step forward when they suddenly stopped at the same time.

They saw two sword-wielding figures standing in the shadows.

The man leaning against the wall had a tall and straight figure, his face as cold as ice, and his eyes flashing with undisguised killing intent. He was like a sharp sword about to be drawn, causing even the air to stagnate slightly.

On a clutter box nearby, the woman sat casually with a dashing posture. She leaned on her long sword with one hand, a slightly mocking smile on her lips, casting her gaze from above as if she had been waiting here for a long time.

"Tsk."

Wei Yan leaped lightly, landing gracefully on the ground, her long sword slanting towards the ground, emitting a soft 'zheng' sound.

"The rats hiding in the sewer, have you finally found your way?"

Her voice was crisp, but her tone was as flat as if she were discussing the weather, "I thought this Third-Order Array would at least make you petty villains wake up a bit and retreat in the face of difficulties..."

"It seems I still overestimated your brains and underestimated your greed."

The moment her voice fell, a cold, tangible Sword Intent, accompanying her understated words, quietly locked onto the two black-robed Cultivators at the alley entrance, and the chill instantly crawled up their spines!

They were waiting for us?!

How is this possible?!

The black-robed person's alarm bells rang wildly in his heart, and a layer of fine cold sweat instantly seeped out on his back.

Their operation this time was entirely due to the Young Lord's whim; how could the opponent have known beforehand and set an ambush here?

"The two Fellow Daoists must have misunderstood."

He suppressed the surging waves in his heart, pretended to be calm, and squeezed out a stiff smile, "The two of us were just passing by this place by chance and have never done anything to harm the interests of the market. I think you two might have mistaken us for someone else."

"Still being stubborn?"

Wei Yan's lips curled into a cold arc, but there was no smile in her eyes.

The moment these evil Cultivators entered the market, their every move was under the surveillance of the Su Family; no matter how they concealed their cultivation and aura, it was all useless under the Third-Order Insight Array.

"Yaner, there is no need to say more to them."

Su Xuanheng, who was nearby, had a deep and focused gaze, his voice calm yet revealing an unquestionable resolution.

Since they are determined to be enemies, just kill them directly; why waste more breath on them?

There is no need for a reason to attack an enemy.

If the opponent likes to play dumb, then let them play dumb in their next life!

Before his voice had even faded, the air in the alley suddenly solidified.

Su Xuanheng's sword at his waist suddenly left its scabbard, and the clear sword chime resonated through the narrow alley.

Almost simultaneously, Wei Yan's sword edge turned into a streak of stunning, fleeting light.

The two's Sword Qi came from left and right, like the sun and moon shining together, fiercely strangling towards them with sharp edges!

At the very instant the Sword Qi erupted, complex Formation patterns instantly lit up on the ground and walls of the alley, and an invisible barrier suddenly rose, completely sealing off the entire space.

Oh no!

The two black-robed Cultivators' expressions changed drastically, and the last shred of luck was completely shattered. Their identities had already been exposed, and their retreat was also sealed by the Formation. Besides fighting to the death, they had no other choice.

The black robes on their bodies fluttered without wind, and their Foundation Establishment Stage spiritual power was no longer concealed, erupting with a roar. Spells and Sword Qi collided fiercely.

Boom!

A dull, thunderous roar exploded within the Formation barrier, and violent spiritual power turbulence raged. The eaves and brick walls on both sides of the alley were as fragile as paper, crumbling inch by inch under the impact of the spiritual power and turning into powder!

Fortunately, a Formation had been raised in the alley; otherwise, the residual power of the Foundation Establishment Cultivators' Dao arts would have been enough to flatten most of the streets in an instant.

At the same time, one after another, Formation light screens lit up in every corner of the market.

Those Netherworld Hall evil Cultivators who had quietly sneaked into the market were all intercepted by Cultivators in different alleys, courtyards, or street corners...