111: Ambush

As Chen Xuan and his group disappeared at the end of the bluestone-paved street outside Qionglu Hall, the carved wooden window on the third floor of the pavilion silently swung open.

A man in green robes leaned against the railing, his gaze sharp as an eagle's, fixed on the retreating figures until they vanished completely. Only then did he slowly reach into his robe.

His fingers brushed against a faintly glowing message talisman!

"Grand Elder, Xiao Yun and the others have left Qionglu Hall. The ambush can commence. However, there are four additional people with them. Their cultivation Realms are unknown, but judging by their demeanor, they seem to be subordinates of that mysterious Nascent Soul Cultivator in white robes."

Two hundred li south of Heavenly Secret Pavilion's jurisdiction, in a valley hidden within mist and clouds.

Immortal Master Lingchen stood with his hands behind his back at the cliff's edge. The evening breeze stirred his jet-black, glossy hair, though the frost-white at his temples hinted at the passage of time. His tall, broad-shouldered, and narrow-waisted frame was as sturdy as an ancient pine.

If Xiao Yun were here, he would surely glare with fury!

This man was the Grand Elder of Zixia Holy Land, the very person who had personally expelled him from the Sect and forced him to abandon all the cultivation achievements he had gained at Zixia Holy Land.

Beside him, the coquettish and alluring Yang Jingyuan, wearing a light red dress, frowned slightly and asked, "What does the message talisman say? Show it to me quickly."

The Grand Elder had no choice but to obediently hand her the message.

After scanning it, Yang Jingyuan suddenly let out a delicate snort, pinched the talisman paper between her fingers, and crumpled it into shreds.

"We already spared Xiao Yun's life back then. I never expected he'd dare to cozy up to other Cultivators to seek revenge on me." She extended a slender arm, wrapping it around the Grand Elder's arm and pressing it against her chest as she said, "You must stand up for me."

The Grand Elder felt the softness transmitted through his arm. Even through the thin dress, he could imagine how smooth the skin beneath must be.

"Darling, what do you want to do?"

A faint smile curled at the corner of Yang Jingyuan's lips, and a flash of malice gleamed in her eyes. "In my opinion, to eliminate weeds, you must uproot them. Leaving none alive is best."

She paused, then showed a hint of worry. "But that Man in White Robes—even Lianyang Zhenren of Tianhuo Sect chose to avoid confronting him. And now he's brought four subordinates. It might be..."

The Grand Elder pulled the delicate figure beside him into his embrace, comforting her. "Don't worry, darling. For this ambush, I've made thorough preparations."

"It's just four additional subordinates. Even if I overestimate them as four Nascent Soul Fifth Layer experts, they won't leave here alive today."

"For this plan, I even borrowed the Sect Master's high-grade earth-rank Magic Bell."

Hearing this, Yang Jingyuan narrowed her eyes slightly. She hoped the Man in White Robes was even more capable, ideally enough to result in mutual destruction. That way, she could seize the opportunity to eliminate the man beside her, letting him die in this 'accident.'

If the Man in White Robes was too weak, she'd just have to find another way to deal with the man beside her later... Chen Xuan and his group slowly made their way toward Wanbao City.

Just under a hundred li outside Heavenly Secret Pavilion's jurisdiction, Xiao Yun suddenly stopped his wind-riding. Chen Xuan narrowed his eyes slightly, looking at the two people blocking the path ahead, and asked, "Do you know them?"

Wang Er and the other two sensed their surroundings, their faces flashing with surprise.

"Boss?!"

Qin Tianxing waved his hand. "Brother Chen already noticed those ants earlier. Let's wait and see for now."

Xiao Yun clenched his fists, but his expression remained calm and unruffled. He nodded gently and said, "The man is that Grand Elder of Zixia Holy Land, Immortal Master Lingchen."

"The woman is Elder Yang, who once framed me in the Sect's Cultivation Technique Hall."

Chen Xuan recalled briefly and remembered—these were the two who had set up the scheme to frame his little brother. They were the ones who caused this diligent and dedicated Elder, who had devoted himself wholeheartedly to the Sect, to end up in such a pitiable state.

Upon learning the identities of the two before him, Chen Xuan was even more puzzled. His little brother hadn't even sought to settle scores with them, yet they came to block the path?

Immortal Master Lingchen, with Yang Jingyuan, slowly rose into the air, sizing up this ethereal and elegant Man in White Robes.

Indeed, his cultivation Realm was unfathomable—no wonder even Lianyang Zhenren held him in high regard. But it didn't matter. No matter how high your Realm, today you won't escape death.

He slowly spoke, "Xiao Yun, your private conduct is corrupt. Abusing your position as an Elder, you repeatedly harassed female Cultivators in the Sect. Back then, the Sect Master spared your life, merely expelling a beast like you from the Sect. Who would have thought you'd show no remorse, even daring to collude with outsiders to harm our Zixia Holy Land?"

Yang Jingyuan's gaze swept over the tense Xiao Yun, her eyes filled with mockery. In a soft, delicate voice, she said, "Elder Xiao, back then, the Sect Master considered how many years you'd spent at Zixia Holy Land—if not for merit, at least for toil—and showed mercy by sparing your life. And what did you do? After being expelled, you went around the Central Region gossiping and spreading falsehoods about our Zixia Holy Land. Truly an ungrateful ungrateful wretch!"

Xiao Yun took a deep breath, completely unprepared for how shameless these two could be.

He raised his head, glaring furiously at the two in the air. "For years in the Sect, I was loyal and devoted, yet you framed me, crippled my cultivation, and expelled me! Now you dare to turn the tables? Are you really determined to take my life?"

Hearing this, Immortal Master Lingchen sensed the Spiritual Qi fluctuations around him. Seeing that the killing array was already fully set up, there was no need to delay any longer.

He threw his head back and laughed, pointing a finger at Chen Xuan and Qin Tianxing's group of four. "Exactly! Not just you, but all five of you—daring to interfere in Zixia Holy Land's affairs—none of you will escape today!"

As his words fell, eight Nascent Soul Stage Experts around them no longer concealed their auras. They erupted with the terrifying pressure of Nascent Soul experts, flying in to surround Chen Xuan and the others, blocking their retreat.

Chen Xuan: "???"

Well, well... to think we'd run into such enthusiastic Fellow Daoists coming to deliver gifts. They're really in a hurry to be reincarnated, huh.

Qin Tianxing and the other three were even more dumbfounded. They remembered that during their last visit to the Lesser Exquisite Grotto-Heaven, the Sect Master of Zixia Holy Land had been as timid as a quail.

How could the Cultivators within this Sect be so arrogant?

During the last Heavenly Selection Grand Ceremony, this Immortal Master Lingchen happened to be in seclusion, attempting a Breakthrough to Nascent Soul Sixth Layer, so he hadn't seen the several Profound Realm Emissaries.

At that moment, Immortal Master Lingchen suddenly formed hand seals and uttered a low chant, "Soul-Locking Annihilation Array, rise!"

As his voice faded, the ground cracked open with countless spiderweb-like fissures. Bluish-black runes emerged from the cracks, followed by massive amounts of black mist spraying out. The black mist in the sky gradually condensed, forming enormous cages that trapped Chen Xuan and the others.

Seeing this, Wang Er seemed eager to act. "Boss?"

Qin Tianxing tentatively asked, "Brother Chen, with a few ants blocking the way, perhaps I could help clear them out?"

Chen Xuan gave a slight nod. "Approved!"

As his words fell, Wang Er, having received permission, suddenly turned stern, his aura abruptly shifting.

"Hum!"

Without any flashy movements, Wang Er simply stood in place as a vast surge of spiritual power erupted from within him!

The terrifying aura exploded like thunder, surging outward from him in all directions. The gravel on the ground levitated into the air, only to be crushed into dust by an invisible force!

Even more astonishingly, as this spiritual power fluctuation touched the black mist cages in the air, the mist, which had been as solid as substance, began to dissolve instantly, as if scalding water had been poured over snow!

The killing array Immortal Master Lingchen had meticulously set up was destroyed almost as soon as it was completed.

His pupils contracted sharply, his eyes wide with shock. He stood frozen in place, as if struck by lightning.

Chen Xuan reminded them, "Leave these two alive. Hand them over to Xiao Yun to deal with."