71: To trap a turtle in a jar, invite the guest into the jar.

Five more days passed.

During these five days, Baiyue Prefecture City fell into a frenzy due to the news of the “Nascent Soul Cave Mansion.”

The gates of the Wei Family manor were almost trampled down.

Every day, representatives from various forces came to “visit,” but in reality, they were probing for the truth about the Immortal Cave.

From Seventh-Rank Aristocratic Families to Sixth-Rank, even the Prefectural Governors Mansion sent people, with their words and actions revealing intentions of “cooperation and mutual benefit.”

The Wei Family Old Ancestor, Wei Qianshan, simply announced that he was entering a death seclusion and would receive no guests.

This action not only failed to calm the storm but further convinced the various forces that the Wei Family had obtained immense benefits and intended to keep them all for themselves.

For a time, conspiracies targeting the Wei Family were continuous.

Several of the Wei Family's properties outside the city were attacked by unknown Cultivators, leading to heavy losses.

When Family juniors went out, they were often followed and harassed, and several young juniors mysteriously disappeared, with no sign of them alive or dead.

The entire Wei Family was filled with anxiety and suspicion, everyone feared for themselves, and they were completely isolated, becoming the target of public criticism.

“Bastards! Bastards!”

In the Wei Family Deliberation Hall, Wei Qianshan looked at the urgent secret letters, trembling with rage. He slammed his palm down, instantly turning the desk in front of him into dust.

“They're going too far! Do they really think my Wei Family is a soft persimmon?!”

His eyes bloodshot, he paced back and forth in the hall, overwhelmed with anxiety.

The pressure he had endured these past few days far exceeded that of the past century.

He wanted to explain, but no one believed him.

He showed the incomplete map, saying it was the only clue, but others only thought he was hiding something, intensifying the pressure.

Now, he had suffering he couldn't speak of, caught between a rock and a hard place.

“Old Ancestor, we cannot let this continue!” an Elder said, his face pale.

“If we drag this out, these people will wear us down before the Shen Family even attacks!”

“Yes, Old Ancestor! We must find a way to break the deadlock!”

“As if I don't want to!” Wei Qianshan roared.

“But what solution is there now?! Unless... we can truly find that Nascent Soul Cave Mansion and bring out substantial treasures to shut them up!”

But where could they look?

The map was incomplete, pointing toward the dangerous Baiduan Mountain Range; sending people in was just sending them to their deaths.

The only clue was on that damned Little Beast, Shen Yuanmo!

“Shen Yuanmo! It's Shen Yuanmo again!”

Wei Qianshan ground his teeth; he felt all his dilemmas originated from this name.

“Have you found out?! Where exactly is that Little Beast hiding?!”

“R-reporting... Reporting to Old Ancestor.” The Elder in charge of intelligence replied tremblingly.

“We mobilized all our forces and turned the Prefecture City upside down, but... but we still haven't found a trace of him. He vanished into thin air.”

“Trash! A bunch of trash!”

Wei Qianshan's chest heaved violently with anger.

If they couldn't find Shen Yuanmo, they couldn't get the complete map, and they couldn't break the current deadlock.

This was a vicious cycle!

He felt as if he was tightly trapped by an invisible net; the more he struggled, the tighter it bound him.

Just as Wei Qianshan was distraught and nearing despair.

A scout ran in, looking flustered.

“Report—!”

“What bad news is it this time! Speak!” Wei Qianshan impatiently snapped.

“N-not bad news!” The scout's face showed excitement and disbelief.

“It's good news! Great news!”

“Spit it out!”

“Our... our people found Shen Yuanmo's trace at Black Wind Market in the west of the city!”

“What?!”

Wei Qianshan froze suddenly, and then explosive ecstasy erupted in his eyes.

“Is this true?!”

“Absolutely true!” the scout reported excitedly.

“Our people saw him with another elderly man entering the Black Wind Market's largest Magic Treasure shop, the Pavilion of Wonders! They seemed to be selling something extraordinary, prompting the Pavilion of Wonders' manager to personally come out and receive them!”

“Hahaha! Good! Good! Excellent!”

Wei Qianshan laughed uproariously, his laughter filled with the release and madness of long-suppressed emotions.

“I searched high and low to no avail, yet found it effortlessly!”

“Little Beast, you finally decided to show your face! Did you think you could hide?!”

All the frustration and anger in his heart found an outlet at this moment.

“Old Ancestor! We should take people there right now, kill them, and capture him!” an Elder excitedly requested permission.

“No!”

Wei Qianshan waved his hand. He forced himself to calm down, and a sinister glint flashed in his eyes.

“We cannot act inside the city. That boy is full of tricks, and since he was able to kill Changfeng, I won't be able to subdue him quickly either. Acting inside the city would cause too much commotion. If he escapes, or if it attracts other forces, all our efforts will be wasted.”

“Then... what should we do?”

“His appearance at Black Wind Market means he intends to leave the city.” Wei Qianshan sneered.

“Black Wind Market is the last supply point leading to the Baiduan Mountain Range. If he went there, he is most likely preparing to enter the Baiduan Mountain Range to search for that Nascent Soul Cave Mansion!”

“He wants to go treasure hunting? Dream on!”

“Issue my command!” Wei Qianshan's voice turned chilling.

“Gather all Cultivators in the Family who are at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage or above, and bring all Formation Plates and Magical Artifacts! We will go outside the city and lay an inescapable trap for him!”

“This time, I, Wei Qianshan, will personally take action!”

“I want him to know what the wrath of a Golden Core True Person feels like! I want him to surrender all his secrets in endless despair and pain!”

“Yes, Old Ancestor!”

All the Wei Family Elders responded in unison, and killing intent rekindled in their eyes.

A fatal trap targeting Shen Yuanmo quickly began to operate... Black Wind Market, Pavilion of Wonders.

Shen Yuanmo placed a newly acquired Rank Three Formation Plate into his Storage Pouch, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.

Beside him, Shen Zongdao transmitted a message with some concern.

“Yuan Mo, was it too much commotion when you deliberately leaked your aura and traded a Rank Three Magic Treasure just now? I feel that at least seven or eight malicious Divine Senses have already locked onto us.”

“Not too big. How else can we lure the fish out?” Shen Yuanmo replied via sound transmission, his tone calm.

“Don't worry, Old Ancestor. The bait has been cast. Now, we just wait for the biggest fish to take the hook.”

“Let's go.”

Shen Yuanmo stood up and swaggered out of the Pavilion of Wonders with Shen Zongdao.

The two did not linger at Black Wind Market and walked directly toward the city gate.

Along the way, they could clearly sense more than a dozen faint tails following them.

Shen Yuanmo's lips curved slightly, sneering inwardly.

These were just the small fry sent by the Wei Family to keep watch.

The real feast was yet to come.

The two unhurriedly walked out of the Prefecture City.

As soon as they left the city, they transformed into two streaks of light and sped toward the Baiduan Mountain Range.

And shortly after they left.

Figures also silently darted out of the Prefecture City, hanging far behind them.

Farther away, a black Flying Boat hidden in the clouds silently activated, locking onto the distant targets.

A carefully planned encirclement hunt officially began.

However, it was still too early to say who was the hunter and who was the prey.