123: Chapter 123 Surrounded Again

"Young Sect Master, the target should be nearby." Deacon Huang looked up at the wisp of pale green Spiritual Qi floating in mid-air.

"It is within a ten-mile radius."

Ling Tian nodded slightly, his cold aura not diminishing in the slightest.

Subsequently, he waved his hand.

The people behind him immediately fanned out, launching a meticulous, carpet-like search.

Every rustle of the grass and trees was filled with a murderous intent.

Meanwhile, inside the hidden cave, the atmosphere was suffocatingly oppressive. Everyone wore a grave expression.

Their gazes fell in unison upon Chen Yan, who was lying on the ground with a faint breath.

"Xiang Tian, do you have a way to save Chen Yan?" Princess Zhou Zhiyan stepped forward quickly, her eyes locked tightly on Xiang Tian, who was crouching down to examine Chen Yan's condition.

Xiang Tian's brows knitted together. As soon as his fingertips touched Chen Yan's lapel, he felt a bone-chilling Yin Qi spreading along the Meridians, and his heart sank instantly.

[Host, do not waste your effort. His symptoms are exactly the same as Duanmu Hongdie's back then; they are all caused by the Yin poison of the Yinshi Sect.]

"System, I already took out a loan of 500,000 face-slapping points last time; can't you throw in a free rescue Opportunity?" Xiang Tian's heart tightened. This lackey was about to kick the bucket only a few days after following him. Could it be that he was naturally cursed to kill his own lackeys?

[No deal. The difficulty of saving him far exceeds that of Duanmu Hongdie. He is a Martial Emperor Realm Cultivator; what was Duanmu Hongdie's Realm compared to his?]

The System's tone was devoid of ripples, leaving no room for negotiation.

"He is my lackey, and he will be a capable helper under my command in the future. Who knows, he might even help you boost your performance!" Xiang Tian deliberately squeezed out a pitiful expression.

[It is useless to act pitiful.]

How could the emotionless System be moved by such tricks? Its tone remained indifferent.

The grievance on Xiang Tian's face vanished instantly, and his eyes became sharp. He said in a deep voice, "One word: can you save him or not?"

[Host...] The System's voice paused for a rare moment.

"Give me a straight answer. Can you save him or not?" Xiang Tian's tone was tough, giving the System no chance to make excuses.

[Fine. This System will show mercy once. I will stabilize his injuries first, and when you have saved up enough face-slapping points in the future, we will proceed with the complete cure.]

Xiang Tian's eyes lit up suddenly. As long as the injuries could be stabilized, there was still a chance.

"Good! As long as you can keep him from dying, any condition is fine."

[This System states in advance: treating his injuries will require deducting one million face-slapping points from you.]

Xiang Tian almost jumped up to curse, but he forcibly suppressed the anger in his heart. Gritting his teeth, he said, "One million it is! Once my cultivation reaches the next level, obtaining face-slapping points will be as easy as pie."

Settling his mind, Xiang Tian stood up slowly. He said to the others, "Chen Yan can still be saved. Protect him carefully."

Hearing this, everyone revealed expressions of doubt.

Even though Xiang Tian had deep Opportunities and extraordinary methods, the Yin poison of the Yinshi Sect was tyrannical and fatal; one would collapse upon contact. How could it be so easy to stabilize?

"Are you sure?" Princess Zhou Zhiyan frowned deeply.

"Why would I lie to you?" Xiang Tian spread his hands. "In a few days, when he no longer deteriorates, it will naturally prove that what I said is true."

Having said that, he turned and walked toward Xiahou Yun. The matter of taking care of Chen Yan was left to the others.

"Xiang Tian, you even understand medicine?" Xiahou Yun's eyes were full of suspicion as she looked him up and down.

In her impression, no one in the Xiang Family or the Xiahou Family had ever dabbled in medicine, let alone been able to neutralize the Yin Qi of the Yinshi Sect.

"Xiao Yun, I have my own Opportunities." Xiang Tian stepped forward and, without saying a word, grasped her hand. "Just wait and see. In the future, your husband will definitely become the strongest person in this Lingyun Continent."

"Lecher!" Xiahou Yun's cheeks grew hot, and she snorted softly. Her gaze subconsciously swept over Yan Linfei and the others nearby, her expression somewhat unnatural.

"You must believe me." Xiang Tian raised an eyebrow at her, implying something. "Your Immaculate Sword Body is becoming increasingly powerful now; that is the best proof."

As soon as these words were spoken, Xiahou Yun's cheeks were instantly flushed with a rosy glow, and she lowered her head in shyness.

The world had many misunderstandings about the Immaculate Sword Body, simply because this Physique was too rare. No one dared to try touching it easily, so it was rumored that one needed to maintain a virgin body. Only Xiang Tian had broken this absurd shackle.

As the two were whispering, a raspy voice suddenly came from outside the cave. It had strong penetrating power: "Young Sect Master, the target must be in this cave!"

"Oh no, we've been discovered!" Princess Zhou Zhiyan's expression changed drastically. She drew her sword and shouted urgently, "Everyone follow me and rush out! Staying here to defend will only make us sitting ducks!"

Outside the cave, Deacon Huang bowed to Ling Tian and said in a deep voice, "Young Sect Master, please step aside for now. My subordinates and I will join forces to break the Formation and capture the people inside alive."

After saying this, he turned to look at the other five deacons. They nodded one after another, and their figures gathered quickly.

The six of them pinched incantations with their fingertips simultaneously, and thick Spiritual Qi gathered in their palms. It formed a brilliant ball of light, about to be slapped toward the concealment Formation at the entrance of the cave.

Unexpectedly, "Bang! Rumble—" Two loud noises exploded in succession. The stone door of the cave was actually blasted open from the inside by someone. Dozens of figures rushed out from within.

"Young Sect Master, they are trying to escape!" Deacon Huang shouted sharply.

Ling Tian's brows knitted tightly, and a hint of cruelty flashed in his eyes. He said coldly, "Chase! Do not let a single one of them go!"

Everyone immediately gathered their Qi and gave chase; the distance between the two sides was constantly closing.

"Princess, this is bad, their speed is too fast!" Xiang Yuan looked back at the pursuers who were hot on their heels, his tone anxious.

Princess Zhou Zhiyan's brows were locked tightly, her heart heavy: "Run as far as we can. Try to delay as much time as possible; perhaps there is still a turning point."

There was no other way right now; every extra second they held on meant a shred more hope.

But after only a moment, three old figures appeared out of thin air in front of them, blocking their path.

The old man in the lead had sinister eyes. He sneered, "Since you have come, where else do you want to run?"

All three of them had the cultivation of the Peak of the Martial Emperor Realm. The pressure radiating from their bodies was as heavy as a mountain, causing everyone's breathing to hitch.

Even though Xiang Tian's side had the advantage in numbers, they appeared vulnerable in the face of such an absolute gap in Realm.

"Princess, what should we do?" Everyone's faces were pale. They all cast their gazes toward Princess Zhou Zhiyan, their eyes full of despair.

Let alone three Peak Martial Emperors, they could hardly even contend with one.

Princess Zhou Zhiyan took a deep breath, suppressing the panic in her heart. She said slowly, "No need to run anymore; everyone stop."

She knew very well that if they continued to run, they would only die more miserably.

"Xiang Tian, we are quite fated; we have met again so soon." Ling Tian's figure approached slowly. His gaze swept through the crowd and finally fixed on Xiang Tian.

And at this moment, Xiang Tian was busy arguing with the System in his mind. "System, is this what I got in exchange for my loan of 500,000 points?"

[Host, your face-slapping points are limited to use within the Phantom God Forest and cannot be transferred across Realms.] The System crossed its arms, its tone indifferent.

"Why do I feel like I've been scammed by you?" Xiang Tian's anger flared up.

[According to this System's calculations, you are not in any danger of losing your lives this time.]

"Oh?" Xiang Tian's brows moved slightly. The System's calculations had never been wrong; could there be a hidden variable?

Thinking of this, he steadied his mind, stepped forward, and looked directly at Ling Tian. "Ling Tian, you are merely after the Dragon. I can give it to you, but you must release everyone."

What he needed to do right now was to delay as much time as possible, waiting for a turning point to appear.

"You are worthy of negotiating conditions with me?" Ling Tian snorted coldly. "Now that you are sitting ducks, do you still have the qualifications to bargain?"

"I may not have the qualifications, but I can control the life and death of this Dragon."

As Xiang Tian spoke, he moved his fingertips, and Xiao Hei's figure appeared out of thin air. As soon as it appeared, it drew the attention of the entire audience.

"It is actually a Dragon capable of shapeshifting!" Someone exclaimed in shock.

A Dragon capable of shapeshifting was definitely not of an ordinary Rank. It was far more noble than the mixed-blood dragons recorded in ancient books. Even the lowest-ranking Dragon was not something an ordinary Human Race Cultivator dared to provoke easily.

"Since you can feel its Dragon Might, you should know that I have signed a contract with it." Xiang Tian's tone was icy, and his eyes were as sharp as knives. "If I am in a bad mood and erase its Divine Sense on the spot, it will become a worthless dead dragon. A dead dragon is far worse than a living one, isn't it?"

Ling Tian's brows knitted tightly, his expression uncertain.

Just at this moment, the old man nearby quietly stepped forward and whispered a few words into his ear.

Ling Tian's gaze shifted instantly to Xiahou Yun, and the corner of his mouth curled into a smile. He licked his lower lip and said in a deep voice, "Xiang Tian, if you dare, I will make your Dao Companion wish she were dead."

Xiang Tian's expression sank instantly, and the aura around him became cold. He could disregard the safety of others, but he could not allow Xiahou Yun to suffer even the slightest harm.

Now, he was caught in a dilemma. Did he have to make another deal with this "skin-flaying ghost" of a System?

As he was secretly pondering a countermeasure, a voice as cold as ice suddenly came from afar. "Hmm? Who dares to have designs on my Junior Sister?"