271: Chapter 271 Entrapment

The grey-robed Cultivator led Su Mo and the other four through the crisscrossing alleys of Zhenbei Pass, making many twists and turns.

The further they walked, the more remote it became. The surrounding civilian houses were gradually replaced by solemn, black buildings, and the killing intent permeating the air grew heavier.

When the towering military flag of the Huangji Immortal Dynasty came into view and the rolling military camp ahead was fully revealed before them.

The expressions of the other three Cultivators changed drastically. They stopped abruptly, looked at the grey-robed Cultivator in shock and anger, and shouted sternly:

"Stop! Why did you bring us to the city defense army garrison?! Could it be that you want to double-cross us and sell us to the military for a reward?!"

Facing their questioning, the grey-robed Cultivator remained calm. He turned around, his raspy voice carrying a hint of reassurance:

"Fellow Daoists, please calm down and do not misunderstand. The secret passage I mentioned is not some underground tunnel; it is passing right through this city defense army garrison in a perfectly upright manner."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over their suspicious faces, and lowered his voice:

"Eighty percent of the immortal essence stones you paid will ultimately be handed over to the important figures stationed here. Without their approval, how could this road leading out of the pass be unobstructed?"

"Is that true? How can we believe you?"

One of them was still full of doubt.

The grey-robed Cultivator didn't say much more. He directly took out a palm-sized, pitch-black token from his robe. On the front was carved a pattern of a tiger descending a mountain, and on the back was the ancient character for 'Order'.

The token emitted faint fluctuations of a military-standard Magic Treasure, which could not be faked.

He continued:

"Fellow Daoists, don't forget that my name is also on that Soul Contract."

The three Cultivators looked at each other and finally gritted their teeth, choosing to believe him.

"Let's go. Keep close to me and don't look around. I will handle everything."

The grey-robed Cultivator put away the token and turned to lead the way.

With uneasy hearts, the group entered the heavily guarded city defense army garrison.

Everywhere around them were soldiers in black heavy armor with fierce auras. Their cold gazes swept over them like knives, making the three Cultivators feel like they had needles in their backs. They were terrified, and even their breathing became light.

Only Su Mo remained as calm as ever, walking with a composed pace as if he were strolling through his own courtyard.

He even had the leisure to observe the camp's layout and the soldiers' cultivation. This composure secretly surprised the grey-robed Cultivator walking in front.

Before long, the grey-robed Cultivator stopped in front of an unremarkable yet centrally located black tent.

"Fellow Daoists, please wait here for a moment. I will be right back."

After leaving those instructions, the grey-robed Cultivator lifted the tent flap and slipped inside.

Outside the tent fell into a brief silence, broken only by the sound of the cold wind whipping the military flags.

The three Cultivators looked nervously at the tent before them, a faint sense of unease growing in their hearts.

Not long after, the tent flap was lifted again.

The first person to walk out was not the grey-robed Cultivator, but a young general clad in Black Coiled-Dragon Armor. He wore no helmet, and his handsome face bore the coldness and majesty of a veteran of many battles.

His figure was as straight as a pine, and his gaze was as sharp as an eagle's. Just by standing there, a powerful sense of pressure emanated from him, making the three Cultivators feel as if they were being stared down by a primordial Vicious Beast. Their bodies stiffened, and their blood felt as if it were about to freeze.

The grey-robed Cultivator followed closely behind the young general, his posture humble and subservient to the extreme.

The grey-robed Cultivator bowed to the young general and said:

"General, these are the Cultivators who wish to leave Zhenbei Pass."

"General?"

Hearing that title, the faces of the three Cultivators instantly turned as pale as paper, and their hearts sank.

The young general's indifferent gaze swept over the four people. When it passed over Su Mo, it seemed to pause for a fraction of a second, but it quickly moved on.

A cold arc curled at the corner of his mouth. His voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly:

"Four spies of the Xuan Ye Immortal Dynasty..."

"Men, seize them!"

These words were like a bolt from the blue!

The three Cultivators were scared until their Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering. Their legs went weak, and they almost collapsed to the ground.

"No! General, please be discerning! We are not spies!"

"He was the one who said he could take us out of the city!"

"We are being framed!"

They cried out in terror, trying to defend themselves.

However, the surrounding fierce black-armored cultivators paid them no mind. Holding chains imbued with the power of a Seal, they closed in with sinister smiles.

Seeing that their explanations were useless and their identities were about to be exposed, the three previously panicked Cultivators looked at each other, a flash of ruthlessness and determination instantly crossing their eyes.

"Let's fight for it!"

One of them suddenly let out a low growl:

"Old Third, I'll clear a path for you. Find a chance to escape!"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Three powerful True Immortal auras suddenly erupted from their bodies like long-suppressed volcanoes. The violent spiritual energy instantly dispersed the surrounding killing intent.

These three were actually all at the True Immortal cultivation!

The leading burly man struck out with both fists, his fist-winds transforming into two roaring fire Dragons that slammed violently into the black-armored soldiers rushing forward.

Most of these soldiers were only at the Tribulation Crossing Stage cultivation. Facing the full-scale explosion of a True Immortal, their formation was instantly thrown into chaos, and a gap appeared in the blockade.

"Go!"

The burly man roared, buying time for his companions.

The other two moved like lightning, about to break through the gap.

However, just as the burly man tried to follow up his success and strike the crown of the head of a black-armored soldier he had knocked back, intending to take his life—

An aura far more vast and majestic than that of a True Immortal suddenly descended.

Everyone felt a blur before their eyes. Li Xinghe, the young general who had been watching coldly from the sidelines, had appeared at the edge of the battle at some point.

He made no extra movements; a pure and brilliant halo of Five Elements dao rhyme naturally bloomed around him.

The Five Elements cycled, generating a powerful force of suppression.

A Profound Immortal!

This general was actually a Profound Immortal!

The movements of the three True Immortal Cultivators instantly froze, their faces filled with desperate terror.

"Seize them!"

Li Xinghe ordered indifferently.

The surrounding black-armored soldiers swarmed forward again. This time there were no obstacles, and the chains containing the power of a Seal bound the three of them tightly.

After dealing with the three spies, two black-armored soldiers holding chains walked coldly toward Su Mo, who had remained motionless from beginning to end, as if he were watching a play.

Just as the chains were about to touch Su Mo's body—

"Wait."

Li Xinghe's voice rang out again, stopping his subordinates.

He slowly walked up to Su Mo, his eyes, sharp as a hawk's, scrutinizing and probing Su Mo without concealment.

"Tribulation Crossing Stage cultivation, yet possessing six types of dao rhyme..."

A glint of interest flashed in Li Xinghe's eyes:

"Interesting. Which family are you from?"