242: Chapter 242 Encirclement and Slaughter, Swift Victory

It was impossible for a Nascent Soul True Lord to strike across prefectures for the sake of a few Foundation Establishment Disciples and a third-rank strange fire.

The spheres of influence and resource territories between prefectures had long been clearly demarcated; except for those Forbidden Grounds, perilous areas, and unclaimed territories, the boundaries of every faction were governed by established rules.

If a Nascent Soul True Lord stepped into the designated territory of another prefecture, unless the Nascent Soul Sects on both sides had negotiated and informed each other beforehand, the local Nascent Soul powerhouse would view it as a provocation, regardless of whether you came to find someone or to kill someone.

At best, it would lead to diplomatic negotiations between the two prefectures; at worst, it would result in open warfare. This consequence was not something a single Earthfire and a few Foundation Establishment lives could compensate for.

Golden Core Cultivators also didn't dare to strike across prefectures openly. Each prefecture had its own rules, and for a Golden Core powerhouse to act wantonly on someone else's turf was a provocation to the local forces; no one would do something so foolish.

But that didn't mean they couldn't come in secret.

If a great Golden Core Cultivator changed his appearance, hid his cultivation, and quietly slipped into Tianlan Province to find the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce's storefront and strike it down under the cover of night, who could stop him?

His Su Family had no Golden Core, and neither did the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce.

Su Chengyuan's thoughts pulled back and forth between these ideas, the veins on his temples throbbing slightly.

He thought back to the reactions of those people across from him just now; this hatred likely wouldn't dissipate but would instead take root and sprout in the shadows. When it finally surfaced one day, they would probably find it very hard to defend against.

It's not the thief you fear, but the thief who keeps you in mind. Rather than constantly worrying about being retaliated against, it would be better to...

Su Chengyuan's gaze inconspicuously swept over the thirteen temporarily recruited Loose Cultivators behind him.

Since these people had followed him into the valley today and seen things they shouldn't have seen, they were already in the same boat.

Regardless of what they thought, objectively, they were already accomplices.

Rather than worrying later that these people might have loose lips and leak information, it was better to take this opportunity to tie them completely to the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce's line.

With Chenger's status in the Danding Sect, the long-term supply of supreme grade Medicinal Pills, and today's events, it would be difficult for these people not to be tied to the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce moving forward.

Su Chengyuan finally made up his mind. His Divine Sense quickly swept over everyone behind him, and then he began to send voice transmissions.

First to Li Shi and Zhao Shan: "We cannot let the tigers return to the mountain. If any problems arise from today's matter, I will take responsibility."

Li Shi remained silent for a breath, not trying to persuade him further, which served as tacit consent.

Zhao Shan was even more direct, replying with a single word: "Understood."

Then, to the twelve temporarily recruited Loose Cultivators, Su Chengyuan's voice transmission entered everyone's Sea of Consciousness without exception.

"Everyone, I know what you are concerned about. But there is one thing I can tell you: my son is a Core Disciple of the Danding Sect.

You are all from Tianlan Province, so I don't need to say more about the weight the Danding Sect carries.

After today, as long as you follow me, the protection you deserve will not be lacking, and the rewards will be even better.

But the premise is that this matter must be handled cleanly."

The pale-faced Loose Cultivators in the back row glanced at each other.

The Danding Sect was a top-tier Nascent Soul Great Sect in Tianlan Province. Although it wasn't known for its combat power, its profound foundation and vast network of connections were unrivaled in the entire Tianlan Province.

As the father of a Danding Sect Core Disciple, it was no wonder he threw out Medicinal Pills and Talismans as if they cost nothing.

The expressions of a few people improved slightly, but only slightly.

After all, the opponents were Disciples of a Nascent Soul Demonic Sect. If they truly fought for their lives, even the Danding Sect might not necessarily be able to protect them.

But then again, was there any way back at this point?

They had already participated and seen the items. If they turned around and ran back to Luoxia City now, would the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce settle scores later? And what about the Xuanyin Sect's side?

If trouble arose in the future, as Loose Cultivators with no backing on either side, who would protect them? Moreover, Su Chengyuan hadn't given them another choice.

Looking at it this way, it was better to commit fully to this path and gamble for a future.

Zheng Bei was the first to reply via voice transmission: "I'm with Mr. Su."

Ma Qian was the second.

The remaining people looked at each other and could only grit their teeth: "Let's do it."

Su Chengyuan withdrew his Divine Sense transmission and looked at Tao Qianfang.

"Fellow Daoist Tao, I've considered your words."

Tao Qianfang looked at him, waiting for what came next.

"But the intentions of those Junior Brothers behind you are likely different from yours."

Tao Qianfang's expression changed slightly, but before he could speak, Su Chengyuan was no longer looking at him.

"Attack."

At Su Chengyuan's command, seventeen people struck simultaneously.

Tao Qianfang had known from the other's long silence that this outcome was likely unavoidable, so just as Su Chengyuan and the others moved, he moved as well.

With a loud shout, his remaining spiritual power surged frantically. The Spiritual Pressure of the Foundation Establishment Peak poured out from his body, crushing the gravel beneath his feet and sending it flying.

His left hand formed a seal, and a dark grey Spiritual Shield expanded, protecting the ten Junior Brothers behind him.

"Form a Formation!"

Though the eleven were injured, they quickly shifted their Formation, standing back-to-back in an irregular circle.

Zhong Tang stood by Tao Qianfang's side, his injured arm hanging uselessly in front of him, but his Divine Sense drove a Flying Sword to hover three feet before him, its tip pointing straight ahead.

In the back row, Liu Feng formed a seal to set up a simple spiritual barrier, while the others used their Divine Sense to sacrifice their Magical Artifacts. Sabers and shields hovered in the air, spiritual light interlaced, and two others set up defensive Formations at their feet.

They didn't flee. It wasn't that they didn't want to, but the enemy was numerous and their cultivation levels suppressed them; running with their backs to the enemy would only lead to a faster death.

Like cornered beasts fighting back, Su Chengyuan gave them no time to breathe.

"Surround and kill them, make it quick."

Li Shi and Zheng Bei both activated their Divine Sense, their Flying Swords piercing through the air as two sword glows slashed at Tao Qianfang from both sides simultaneously.

Tao Qianfang used his remaining spiritual power to take Li Shi's sword strike head-on, causing a fine crack to appear on his dark grey shield. He retreated two steps and formed a seal to drive a spiritual palm print toward Zheng Bei.

Zheng Bei shifted his Divine Sense, causing his Flying Sword to veer off and avoid the palm print, carving an arc to cut in from under Tao Qianfang's ribs.

Tao Qianfang used his right hand with its severed fingers to form half a seal, barely driving a damaged Spiritual Shield to block in front of him. The Flying Sword slammed into the shield, and blood splattered from between his fingers, but he forced the sword glow back.

With less than thirty percent of his spiritual power left, every move was an overextension.

But the combat experience accumulated over decades at the Foundation Establishment Peak was evident; his moves were precise and ruthless, and the speed and accuracy with which he controlled his Magical Artifacts with Divine Sense were far beyond those of ordinary Cultivators.

He blocked Li Shi's Flying Sword three times in a row and dodged Zheng Bei's thrust with his movement technique; for a moment, they were unable to take him down.

But that was all.

Su Chengyuan didn't deal with Tao Qianfang personally. Instead, he activated Talismans one after another—Attack Talismans, Binding Talismans, and Soul-Shaking Talismans. Guided by spiritual power, they turned into streaks of light, shooting toward the Late Stage and mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators behind Tao Qianfang, each one landing precisely on a vital spot.

What he wanted to do was slice up the battlefield, separating Tao Qianfang from the others and then taking them down one by one.

Zhao Shan led the twelve Late Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators into the fray, dividing them into four small teams of three, pressing in from four directions simultaneously.

Flying Swords, flying daggers, and Spiritual Hammers interlaced and crisscrossed in mid-air. The metallic clanging of Magical Artifacts colliding mixed with the muffled explosions of Talismans.

Tao Qianfang's Junior Brothers were already injured and had consumed more than half of their spiritual power. Under the charge of the four teams, their defensive Formation was immediately torn open.