206: Chapter 206 What the hell are we waiting for? Strike first!

The cangwu sword was an offensive Magical Artifact. Its blade seemed to be refined and polished from half a section of millennium spirit wood, its surface covered in natural green wood grain and emitting a warm, emerald glow.

This was something Su Cheng had specifically asked the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce to acquire at a high price from the Prefecture City's Treasure Gathering Tower; it had an extremely high compatibility with the wood-attribute spiritual energy Su Chengyuan cultivated.

Spiritual energy flowed through it without any obstruction. Not only was a single slash incomparably sharp, but the Sword Qi could also transform into lifelike shadows of green vines to ensnare enemies, making it impossible to Guard against.

The Golden Toad Armor was a defensive type, a walnut-sized golden toad-shaped Magical Artifact. Once activated by spiritual energy, it would deploy a thick golden light shield around the body, capable of withstanding a full-strength strike from a Foundation Establishment Peak Cultivator without shattering.

The Wind-Chasing Plume was a speed-type artifact, a foot-long white feather. Upon activation, it could transform into a streak of light, lifting the user to fly through the air at speeds comparable to a Foundation Establishment Peak Cultivator flying at full power. In critical moments, it was more effective for escaping and saving one's life than any speed-enhancing Talisman.

There were nearly two hundred second-rank Talismans of various types.

There were both defensive and offensive types, and even several High Grade second-rank Trapping Array Talismans.

Not to mention the Medicinal Pills; the Storage Pouch contained at least ten of almost every well-known second-rank Medicinal Pill, such as Spirit Recovery Pills, biling pills, and spirit burst pills, as well as several hundred supreme grade first-rank Medicinal Pills that were better than nothing.

Su Chengyuan stowed the Storage Pouch away again without taking anything out.

He just wanted to confirm that everything that needed to be prepared was there.

The third day.

Su Chengyuan and the others reached a region of continuous low hills.

The official road passed between two stone mountains, forming a narrow corridor about two li long, with rock walls over ten zhang high on both sides, topped with various shrubs.

Just as the group entered the corridor for about a hundred zhang, Li Shi, who was bringing up the rear, suddenly stopped and solemnly summoned his Magical Artifact.

This was because his Divine Sense had captured an anomaly the moment it scanned the top of the corridor; there were subtle spiritual energy fluctuations at the top of the rock walls on both sides.

It wasn't just one or two, but many.

"On Guard! Ambush!"

Li Shi's roar echoed through the corridor, and at the same time, his Magical Artifact flew out, his spiritual energy fully unleashed.

Before his voice had even faded...

At both the entrance and exit of the corridor, two figures leapt down from the rock walls and landed steadily, blocking the way forward and back.

Following that, more people stood up at the edge of the rock walls at the top of the corridor.

One, two, three... ten.

Ten spiritual energy fluctuations were released almost simultaneously. The Spiritual Pressure of the Foundation Establishment Realm intertwined and stacked, crushing down from all directions and enveloping the entire corridor tightly.

The Late Qi Refining Stage Guards were the first to buckle, cold sweat breaking out on their foreheads; the surrounding Spiritual Pressure was simply too terrifying for them.

Su Chengyuan flicked his wrist and tapped his Storage Pouch, and the cangwu sword was already unsheathed.

Emerald Sword Qi flickered incessantly as the blade immediately pointed diagonally upward, directly assuming a posture for a life-and-death struggle.

Aided by the reflection of the sword light, he scanned his surroundings, quickly counting the heads.

Two blocking the way ahead, two blocking the rear, and six standing atop the high rock walls on both sides.

A total of ten Foundation Establishment Cultivators. (Foundation Establishment Cultivators' flying speed is certainly fast, and with only this road, an ambush in advance was quite logical.)

The newcomers made no attempt to hide their levels, as ten surging Spiritual Pressures poured down recklessly toward the bottom of the corridor.

Three Late Foundation Establishment Stage, three Foundation Establishment Mid-stage, plus four Early Foundation Establishment Stage.

These guys clearly had no intention of testing the waters or giving warnings; they only sought to crush this merchant caravan on the spot.

In terms of a comparison of cultivation and numbers, this was a contest of overwhelming strength with no suspense. The pressure formed by ten Foundation Establishment Cultivators working together made Su Chengyuan hesitate to strike first, hoping to see if there was any other turn of events.

"Everyone from the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce."

A voice came from ahead. Among the two blocking the front exit of the corridor, a tall, thin, coarse-faced Cultivator in grey robes stood with his hands behind his back; it was Meng Li.

"Traveling under the banner of the chamber, you've got quite the nerve."

Su Chengyuan narrowed his eyes; he didn't recognize this person.

Zhao Shan stepped forward half a pace, shielding Su Chengyuan as he said in a heavy voice, "Who is Your Excellency? Our Four Seas Chamber of Commerce is not acquainted with your side. Why have you set up such a formation?"

Meng Li didn't answer his question but instead tilted his head to look at the merchant caravan's banner behind Su Chengyuan.

"Four Seas Chamber of Commerce, Qinghe Prefecture's Zhenpin Pavilion," he recited word by word. "Do you still remember the Blazing Fire Sect?"

The moment those words were uttered, Su Chengyuan's pupils constricted violently.

The Blazing Fire Sect—how could he not remember?

During the war between the two prefectures back then, the Blazing Fire Sect had colluded with outside Cultivators to invade Qinghe Prefecture. The Four Sect Alliance had launched a crusade, and the Zhenpin Pavilion had publicly taken a side.

Every single one of those events was inextricably linked to his son, Su Cheng.

But hadn't the Blazing Fire Sect disappeared? Their main force had been moved by a teleportation array, escaping to some unknown location...

Canglan Prefecture. They had actually escaped to Canglan Prefecture, over a hundred thousand kilometers away.

Su Chengyuan's mind raced, recalling the Heavenly Sun Sect Disciples in Tongbao City. The Heavenly Sun Sect, which had three Golden Core True Persons presiding over it, had risen in the last three years...

Heavenly Sun, Blazing Fire.

Damn it, he had been careless. Who could have possibly made that connection?

Su Chengyuan hadn't been involved in the war between the two prefectures at all, so how could he recognize anyone from the Blazing Fire Sect?

He hadn't expected that they would stumble right into the territory of an old enemy that day.

It just so happened that they were traveling under the banner of the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce, and since he was in the group, this battle was unavoidable.

Zhao Shan and Li Shi also reacted after hearing Meng Li's words, their expressions turning ugly in an instant.

Both of them understood the details of the Blazing Fire Sect's downfall; it had all been arranged by that 'Mister'.

Their Four Seas Chamber of Commerce worked for the Mister.

It was a blood feud, and an irreconcilable one at that.

Then what the hell are we waiting for? Strike first to gain the upper hand!

"It seems you remember," Meng Li said with a cold smile, seeing the sudden change in Su Chengyuan and the others' expressions. "Then I shall save my breath."

He raised his right hand.

The nine Heavenly Sun Sect Cultivators on the rock walls simultaneously surged their spiritual energy. Magical Artifacts were unsheathed, Talismans were in hand, and their Aura was like a rainbow.

"Kill..."

The word "kill" from Meng Li's mouth was still hanging in the air.

Su Chengyuan had already moved.

The cangwu sword flew out, carrying thick wood-attribute spiritual energy as it went straight for Meng Li's face.

The shadows of green vines on the sword blade curled and extended, blocking Meng Li's vision and retreat simultaneously.

At the same time, Zhao Shan gave a thunderous shout as his Flying Sword left its scabbard, heading straight for the throat of a Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator on the left.

Li Shi held a second-rank offensive Talisman in each hand, and amidst the bursting spiritual light, he hurled them toward the positions of the two Late Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators opposite them.

The other two Foundation Establishment Mid-stage Guards also summoned their Magical Artifacts at the first opportunity—a Red Copper Spear and a Bronze Mirror—striking out at the Heavenly Sun Sect's ranks without holding back.

Even the dozen or so Late Qi Refining Stage Guards did not shrink back.

Although they knew how great the gap between them was, the speed at which they drew their Magical Artifacts was faster than their minds could process.

Having traveled far and wide with the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce, these people had a streak of death-defying ruthlessness in their bones.

Although the dozen or so streams of spiritual energy were relatively thin, they all surged toward the four Early Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators in unison.

The ten people from the Heavenly Sun Sect perhaps hadn't expected the other side to dare to attack first, and were caught off Guard by this unprovoked preemptive strike.

But only for a fleeting moment.