237: ambush site

【Three days later, three Divine Senses swept over simultaneously. Instead of avoiding you, the three individuals flew directly towards you.】

【In an instant, they arrived before you and bowed in unison.】

【"Greetings, Saint."】

【You slowly walked out of the pavilion, stood on the deck, your eyes slightly narrowed, your expression arrogant, and your tone cold:】

【"What is it?"】

【"Saint, I am Tan Yun," the leading man introduced himself, then gestured to the two beside him, "This is Yan Nuo, and this is Xiang Feng. May we accompany the Saint on his journey? An extra person means an extra layer of protection."】

【Thoughts whirled in your mind—if you had a few companions, it would be easier to gain others' trust.】

【Always traveling alone would inevitably arouse suspicion.】

【Besides, who would dare to easily inspect the Saint's life-saving jade token?】

【And who would have thought that someone would be so audacious as to impersonate the Saint?】

【So you spoke indifferently: "Come in."】

【The three were overjoyed and followed you into the pavilion on the top floor of the void-breaking boat.】

【The top floor was arranged like an elegant hall. You sat in the main seat, and the three sat in the guest seats on either side.】

【They then exchanged pleasantries with you, trying their best to build rapport.】

【For a time, you all acted like long-lost relatives, conversing happily.】

【However, only each of you knew how much of it was genuine and how much was pretense.】

【In the following days of your journey, you encountered many Yao Beasts.】

【But these low-level Yao Beasts, sensing your aura, fled in fear.】

【Five days later, a surge of spiritual power suddenly erupted a hundred miles away, immediately alerting you.】

【Your Divine Sense spread out like a tide, instantly revealing the situation—Liu Ruyan was being jointly attacked by two people.】

【The man and woman had ruthless Moves, and their cultivation was extraordinary.】

【Without hesitation, you flicked your sleeve, and the void-breaking boat immediately changed direction, streaking towards the center of the battle like a meteor.】

【In a flash, the void-breaking boat hovered above the three.】

【You stood on the deck with your hands behind your back, while Tan Yun, Yan Nuo, and Xiang Feng stood silently behind you.】

【The three combatants stopped fighting and looked up, surprised and uncertain.】

【You asked indifferently: "Why are you fighting here?"】

【Although mutual elimination was allowed in the assessment, their fight just now was exceptionally fierce, as if driven by personal vendetta.】

【Moreover, these Prodigies were not foolish. Why would they not conserve their strength and instead fight to the death with others so early?】

【The male cultivator who was attacking Liu Ruyan was the first to bow: "Greetings, Saint, I am Chu Hong, and this is Sima Jing."】

【After introducing them, he continued, "Just now, we kindly invited her to join us in killing Qin Chen, but she suddenly attacked us."】

【Liu Ruyan snorted coldly, her gaze sweeping over Chu Hong like frost.】

【"Oh?" you asked with a smile, "You know Qin Chen's whereabouts?"】

【Sima Jing quickly interjected: "My cousin Sima Tao once fought with Qin Chen, but that cunning fellow escaped with the help of a Formation."】

【"Exactly," Chu Hong echoed, "Qin Chen also ambushed my clan brother Chu Fan, causing him to be eliminated."】

【"The Secret Realm is so vast, where do you plan to find him?" you pressed further.】

【"Qin Chen will definitely go to the Supreme Peak to meet with the Saintess," Sima Jing hastily replied, "My cousin Sima Tao has already set up a grand Formation at the entrance, just waiting for him to walk into the trap."】

【Liu Ruyan's expression suddenly changed upon hearing this, a sharp glint in her eyes.】

【"Good, very good!" You laughed heartily, looking at the three, "Since that's the case, please board the boat and come with us."】

【Sima Jing and Chu Hong were overjoyed, immediately transforming into streaks of light and landing on the deck.】

【Only Liu Ruyan remained still in her original spot, unmoving.】

【Your gaze turned to her, your tone peaceful yet unquestionable: "Liu Ruyan, why aren't you coming up yet?"】

【Her expression was indifferent, her voice distant: "Our Daos differ, so we cannot conspire together. You claim to be Prodigies, yet you resort to ganging up on the weak. Attacking one person today will become a laughingstock in the Immortal Domain tomorrow, a great joke!"】

【Chu Hong was enraged by her words, pointing at her and shouting sternly: "Presumptuous! How dare you speak so wildly in front of the Saint, are you tired of living?"】

【"Liu Ruyan, do you really think that because we can't take your life in the Secret Realm, you can be so arrogant? Just wait until we leave the Secret Realm, and we'll see how you fare!" Sima Jing also spoke coldly, his voice laced with threat.】

【You lightly waved your hand, then secretly transmitted a message to Liu Ruyan: "Come up, and play along with me."】

【Before your voice faded, you had already activated the Slave Contract deeply embedded in her Divine Soul.】

【Her body trembled slightly, and she immediately sensed your presence.】

【In an instant, the coldness in her eyes turned gentle as she looked at you, a hint of unconcealed joy flickering within.】

【But she quickly returned to normal, lowered her head slightly, and bowed: "Please... Saint, forgive me."】

【With that, she leaped lightly onto the void-breaking boat.】

【Afterward, your group entered the void-breaking boat's pavilion, each taking a seat in the elegant parlor, conversing happily.】

【After several hours of pleasant conversation, you arranged accommodations for them.】

【This void-breaking boat's pavilion had three floors, with several quiet private rooms on the second floor.】

【After they all returned to their respective rooms, you quietly went to Liu Ruyan's room.】

【Seeing you arrive, Liu Ruyan immediately hurried forward and gently threw herself into your embrace.】

【"Young Master, I've missed you so much these past few days..." Her voice was soft, with a hint of a sob.】

【You gently patted her shoulder and said warmly: "First, lend me your life-saving jade token."】

【Without hesitation, she flipped her palm, and the shimmering jade token appeared.】

【Although the jade token was useless to you, she neither questioned nor hesitated.】

【You put away the jade token, then conversed with her in detail for nearly a day.】

【From her, you learned that the Liu Clan Immortal Family had recently almost exhausted all its clan's power, searching everywhere for the qingming mirror.】

【However, how could the qingming mirror be easily found?】

【The Immortal Domain is vast and boundless. As long as the qingming mirror does not appear on its own, finding it is like searching for a needle in a haystack.】

【Time flew by, and another ten days passed in a flash.】

【You soon arrived at the location where Sima Tao had laid his ambush.】

【This was the entrance to a mountain range, a long and deep canyon—】

【Steep cliffs stood on both sides, piercing the clouds, their tops out of sight; the abyss at the bottom emanated a cold aura, bottomless.】

【To reach the Supreme Peak in the center of the mountain range, one could only pass through this deep and narrow passage.】

【You stood on the deck, gazing at the mountains before you—peaks embraced, mountains like coiled Dragons rising into the clouds.】

【Your void-breaking boat traveled among them, as tiny as a fly, navigating through the towering mountains.】

【You could clearly feel that the space here seemed to become stagnant, and the flying speed seemed to be suppressed by some invisible force.】

【All of this originated from a grand Formation that had already been laid—this was exactly where Sima Tao had set his ambush, and the grand Formation was laid by their own hands.】

【The moment your void-breaking boat appeared, dozens of figures flew out from all directions, hovering in mid-air.】

【Your group quickly appeared, standing on the deck.】

【Your gaze swept over, and you immediately saw Sima Tao and Nangong Feiyan among the crowd.】

【However, this time, Nangong Feiyan did not suspect you—after all, you were accompanied by many people.】

【She could never have imagined that you would be so bold as to impersonate the Saint.】

【So they warmly welcomed you into the Formation, waiting here together for the arrival of "Qin Chen."】