21: Unlucky neighbor

Looking at the bright red word "Calamity" on the divination, Zhou Wannian took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the urge to immediately pack his belongings and run.

"I can't run."

"The divination says 'the source of the disaster is next door,' but I'm implicated. This means that group of Robber Cultivators must have already set up lookouts around Cuizhu Lane before they strike. If I run out in a panic now, I'll be like a firefly in the dark, telling them 'I have a problem,' which will only invite pursuit."

"Since I can't escape, I can only... keep them all here."

A hint of ruthlessness flashed in Zhou Wannian's eyes.

He looked at the sky outside; there was less than an hour until the midnight.

Time was pressing.

Without the slightest hesitation, he got up and rushed out the door, jumping directly over the wall into the neighboring Courtyard Jia 15.

"Who is it?!"

Gu Fan, who was inside studying a broken Formation diagram, was startled. He pinched a low-level Talisman in his hand, ready to throw it.

"It's me."

Zhou Wannian grabbed his hand and said in a low voice, "Don't make a sound, listen to me. You're in big trouble."

Gu Fan was stunned: "Fellow Daoist Zhou? What big trouble?"

"That Formation Plate you were repairing earlier—did you discover something you shouldn't have seen?" Zhou Wannian stared into his eyes.

Gu Fan's face turned pale: "How... how did you know? I didn't tell anyone!"

"Don't worry about how I know. People from the Old Black Junk Shop have already targeted you; they're coming to silence you tonight at the midnight." Zhou Wannian spoke extremely fast, "And because our houses are close together, they plan to kill me as well."

"Wha... what?!"

Gu Fan was scared out of his wits, his legs going weak as he almost knelt. "Then what do we do? Report it! Find the Law Enforcement Team!"

"It's too late. The Law Enforcement Team might even have their informants."

Zhou Wannian interrupted him, "If you want to live, listen to me. Now, immediately, right away, take all your valuables and go hide at my place."

"Go... go to your place?"

"Yes. If you don't want to die, hurry up!"

Under Zhou Wannian's overbearing power (scratch that, presence), Gu Fan didn't dare ask more. He hurriedly packed his Storage Pouch and followed Zhou Wannian over the wall back to Courtyard Jia 16.

After throwing Gu Fan into his secret room and activating all the defensive Formations, Zhou Wannian didn't stay idle.

He flipped back into Gu Fan's courtyard.

"Since I'm turning this place into a battlefield, I have to decorate it a bit more 'warmly'."

Zhou Wannian pulled a thick stack of Talismans from his robe.

Inside, there were not only his stock of thirty "Spiral Ascension Talismans" but also a dozen or so "Scabby Vajra Talismans," as well as... that "Poison Talisman" with the Devilish Qi Seal.

"Fellow Daoist Gu, I'll borrow your courtyard for a bit. I'll pay you back for the renovation costs later."

Zhou Wannian nimbly began planting mines.

He buried five Spiral Talismans at Gu Fan's doorstep, ten in the center of the courtyard, and five more in the corner. Every Talisman was connected using an extremely hidden technique; as long as one was triggered, it would cause a chain explosion.

After finishing this, he set up a small "Phantom Array" (learned from Gu Fan's books) at the junction of the two courtyard walls to confuse their vision.

Everything was ready.

Zhou Wannian hid in the shadows of his own courtyard wall, restraining his breath like a lifeless stone, quietly waiting for the prey to arrive... The night was as dark as ink, and the wind was high under a moonless sky.

Just after the midnight, three dark shadows drifted out like ghosts from a bamboo forest outside Cuizhu Lane.

The leader was a One-Eyed Dragon with a Qi Refining Sixth Layer cultivation, followed by two experts at the Qi Refining Fifth Layer. All three wore special night-walking clothes, their auras restrained to the limit.

"Big brother, it's this house, Jia 15."

The shadow on the left whispered, "That Formation Master surnamed Gu is inside. Old Black said the thing should be on him; we must get it back."

"What about the house next door?" The shadow on the right pointed to Courtyard Jia 16.

"Just an ordinary Talisman Master, Qi Refining Second Layer, a piece of Trash. If the commotion is too loud later, we'll just kill him too and make it look like a home invasion robbery," the One-Eyed Dragon said coldly.

"Understood."

The three exchanged looks and skillfully pulled out several small black flags, planting them around the two courtyards.

Buzz—

A faint black light curtain rose, completely enveloping both courtyards.

"A Soundproofing Barrier?"

Hiding in the dark, Zhou Wannian almost laughed out loud when he saw this.

"Truly professional Robber Cultivators, they even provide their own soundproofing service. This is great; I can blow things up as much as I want without worrying about disturbing the neighbors."

The One-Eyed Dragon didn't know he was doing someone else's work. He waved his hand: "Go! Make it quick!"

The three figures flashed, easily breaking through Gu Fan's simple Cloud Mist Formation and landing in the center of the courtyard.

"Old Third, break the door. Old Second, stay on guard."

The One-Eyed Dragon gave the order in a low voice.

The Robber Cultivator called Lao San gave a cruel laugh, gripped his Dharma Blade, and rushed toward the door.

However, the moment his foot stepped onto the stone steps in front of the door.

*Click.*

A very subtle crisp sound.

Lao San was stunned, feeling like he had stepped on something soft and protruding.

Before he could react.

"BOOM!!!"

A violent pillar of red fire, appearing in a strange spiral shape, drilled directly out from under his foot!

"AAAHHH!!!"

A shrill scream instantly pierced the night sky (but within the Soundproofing Barrier, only they could hear it).

That spiral fire pillar was not only immensely powerful but also had incredible piercing force, instantly drilling through Lao San's protective Spiritual Qi and grinding his legs into powder!

"An ambush!"

The One-Eyed Dragon's face changed drastically. "Retreat!"

But he shouted too late.

That one explosion was like knocking over a row of dominoes.

The ten Spiral Talismans buried in the center of the courtyard were triggered next.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

In the cramped courtyard, countless red spiral fire dragons instantly rose, wildly darting, drilling, and exploding throughout the courtyard without distinction between friend or foe!

It was like throwing a handful of bouncing mines into a closed room.

"What the hell kind of Talisman is this?!"

Lao Er screamed. He had just summoned his Protective Dharma Shield when he was hit by two spiral fire pillars simultaneously. The fire pillars were like electric drills, pressing hard against the shield with a "zizi" sound. After holding on for only two breaths, the shield was pierced, and the fire pillars drilled into his chest.

"Pfft!"

Lao Er spat out a mouthful of blood mixed with organ fragments and fell backward.

In just one encounter, two Qi Refining Fifth Layer experts were one dead and one crippled!

The One-Eyed Dragon was, after all, at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer and had quick reactions. At the moment of the explosion, a thick earthy-yellow light shield (a High Grade defensive Magical Artifact) lit up on his body, stubbornly withstanding several stray streams of fire.

"Who is it?! Get out here!"

The One-Eyed Dragon's eyes were nearly bursting with rage. A cold, glinting Flying Sword appeared in his hand as he warily scanned his surroundings.

He didn't believe that destitute Formation Master could have such means. This kind of powerful and bizarre Talisman was definitely not common goods!

"You want my life?"

A raspy voice came from the top of the neighboring wall.

The One-Eyed Dragon snapped his head up to see someone crouching on the courtyard wall... Uh, what kind of thing was that?

The person was entirely enveloped in a dusty-gray light shield that looked like it was covered in scabs, and he was holding a large handful of red "cow dung."

It was none other than Zhou Wannian.

"It's only polite to return the favor."

Zhou Wannian didn't waste any words and threw all fifteen remaining "Spiral Ascension Talismans" down at once, like heavenly maidens scattering flowers!

"Holy shit!"

Looking at the "cow dung" falling like a shower, the One-Eyed Dragon's scalp instantly went numb.

He might be able to withstand one or two, but this was freaking fifteen!

"Run!"

The One-Eyed Dragon no longer had any thoughts of silencing anyone; he turned to rush out of the courtyard.

But since Zhou Wannian had shown his face, how could he let him escape?

"Explode!"

BOOM!!!

Fifteen Talismans detonated simultaneously.

The entire Courtyard Jia 15 was instantly transformed into a sea of red fire. Those spiral fire forces collided and squeezed against each other, creating a terrifying force field similar to a meat grinder.

The One-Eyed Dragon's earthy-yellow light shield shattered with a bang after holding on for half a breath.

"NO!!!"

Amidst desperate howls, his figure was swallowed by the raging fire dragons... A long time passed.

The firelight gradually faded.

Courtyard Jia 15 was completely ruined. Half the house had collapsed, the ground had been plowed three feet deep, and viscous flames were still burning everywhere.

Zhou Wannian, protected by the "Scabby Vajra Talisman," cautiously jumped into the courtyard.

Three charred corpses lay on the ground.

Lao Third's legs were gone, Lao Er had a large hole in his chest, and the One-Eyed Dragon was the most miserable—there wasn't a single piece of intact flesh on his body, which was riddled with holes as if drilled by countless bits.

"Tsk tsk, how tragic."

Zhou Wannian shook his head without the slightest pity.

He who lives by the sword shall die by the sword.

He skillfully began looting the bodies.

Three Storage Pouches, several relatively intact Magical Artifacts, and a black token that fell from the One-Eyed Dragon's robe—carved with the words "Black Wind."

"As expected, they're from the Black Wind Stockade."

Zhou Wannian put away the spoils but didn't find the so-called "demonic path map."

"It seems the map isn't on them; it should still be in Gu Fan's discarded Formation Plate."

After confirming nothing was missed, Zhou Wannian glanced at the surrounding "Soundproofing Barrier."

This thing was still running, meaning the Formation Flags weren't damaged.

"Good people."

Zhou Wannian sighed with emotion and conveniently collected those Soundproofing Formation Flags as well.

Once the barrier was removed, the commotion here would definitely attract the Law Enforcement Team.

"Need to finish cleaning up quickly."

Zhou Wannian pulled out a handful of Cleaning Talismans and cleaned the scene of any residual unique aura from his own Talismans (though they were all blown away, he did it just to be safe).

Then, he made an even bolder move.

He took out the jade box containing the sealed Devilish Qi, opened it, and threw the discarded Talisman soaked in Devilish Qi onto the One-Eyed Dragon's corpse.

"Since you're looking for a demonic cultivator, I'll give you one."

As the Seal was released, the compressed Devilish Qi instantly erupted, coiling around the corpse and creating the illusion of "demonic cultivator infighting" or "Demonic Technique backlash."

Having done all this, Zhou Wannian quickly flipped over the wall back home.

Back in the secret room.

Gu Fan was huddled in a corner shivering. Although most of the explosion sounds outside had been blocked, the vibrations of the ground still terrified him.

"Fellow... Fellow Daoist Zhou? Is it over?"

Seeing Zhou Wannian return, Gu Fan hurriedly came forward.

"It's over."

Zhou Wannian removed his disguise, restored his terrified expression, and said while panting heavily, "It was too scary! Fellow Daoist Gu, in your courtyard... three demonic cultivators came!"

"De... demonic cultivators?" Gu Fan's eyes widened.

"Yes! They seemed to be looking for something, and then for some reason, they started fighting among themselves, or maybe they suffered a Qi Deviation? Anyway, they just blew up!"

Zhou Wannian had a face that said "I don't know anything," "I just took a peek, and they're all dead! The leader was covered in Devilish Qi!"

Gu Fan listened, stunned.

"They're... they're all dead?"

"It's good they're dead! If they're dead, no one will kill me!" Gu Fan wept with joy.

Zhou Wannian patted his shoulder: "Fellow Daoist Gu, you can't live here anymore. Before the Law Enforcement Team arrives, hurry up and clean up your pile of scrap (referring to the Formation Plate hiding the map) so no one catches you."

"Right, right, right! Clean it up! Must clean it up!"

Gu Fan snapped out of it and pulled out the troublesome Formation Plate core from his robe (the one Zhou Wannian had helped him fix before), "This thing caused all the trouble! Fellow Daoist Zhou, this is yours! Don't you collect junk? Take it! I don't want it anymore!"

Zhou Wannian laughed inwardly; this was exactly what he wanted.

He didn't refuse and took it directly: "Fine, then I'll help you throw it away."

...A quarter of an hour later.

The Chen Family Enforcement Team finally arrived.

The leader was still that Chen Li. Looking at the devastated courtyard and the corpses emitting Devilish Qi, his face was so dark it could drip ink.

"Demonic cultivators fighting each other?"

"Or killing for treasure?"

He examined the corpses, his brow furrowed. The wounds were very strange, showing both burn marks and signs of Devilish Qi erosion.

"Investigate! Call out all the neighbors for questioning!"

However, when he reached Courtyard Jia 16.

He only saw a Qi Refining Second Layer, sallow-faced, sickly-looking young Loose Cultivator, huddling and shivering with a similarly terrified, destitute Formation Master.

"My lord... we don't know anything... we just heard a boom..."

Zhou Wannian (acting like an Oscar winner) said with a sob, "It scared me to death... my heart is about to jump out..."

Chen Li swept his Divine Sense over Zhou Wannian.

Weak breath, clogged Meridians, a typical low-level piece of Trash.

"Useless."

Chen Li withdrew his gaze in disgust and waved his hand, "Get back inside! Don't come out without my order!"

"Yes, yes, yes..."

Zhou Wannian submissively closed the courtyard door.

The moment he turned around, his cloudy eyes instantly regained their clarity and coldness.

Pinching the newly acquired Formation Plate core in his hand, the corner of Zhou Wannian's mouth curled into an arc.

"Crisis averted."

"Now, let me see what kind of treasure this 'demonic path map' is that the Black Wind Stockade was willing to kill for."