362: Ghost Rider

Just as the Late Golden Core Stage Rat Demon with only its upper body remaining dove into the spatial portal, the young Sword Cultivator behind it seized the opportunity to dive in as well, disappearing together with it.

Liu Xuan took one last look at him and suddenly realized it was an old acquaintance—none other than True Person Li Xuanxuan of the Heavenly Sword Sect.

A Late Golden Core Stage Rat Demon from the Peach Blossom Sect, a Golden Core True Person from the Heavenly Sword Sect, and a Bone Fiend True Person—how did these three get together? And why would they risk danger to encircle and kill him?

Liu Xuan stored the half-body of the Rat Demon into his spatial ring, then looked toward the Bone Fiend True Person trapped by the grand array.

With a flash of escape light, Liu Xuan flew to the side of the Bone Fiend True Person, raised his hand, and flicked a golden flame onto him.

"Ahhh!!!"

A shrill scream rang out. Golden flames ignited on the Bone Fiend True Person. His already fragile skin and flesh were instantly burned to ashes, leaving only a pitch-black, gleaming skeleton.

Golden flames burned upon the skeleton, which was still draped in a top-grade Spiritual Artifact magic robe. He looked a bit like... a Ghost Rider?

The Bone Fiend True Person was actually not weak; he was even a notch stronger than the Genius Sword Cultivator Li Xuanxuan.

This pitch-black, gleaming skeleton of his was no ordinary object; it was a Divine Bone comparable to a Magic Treasure, containing not only the power of the yin fiend but also terrifying blood energy.

However, all of this was suppressed by the grand array, especially the Fourth-Tier Great Sun True Fire contained within the Yin and Yang Transformation Array, which he simply could not resist.

If Liu Xuan hadn't been deliberately controlling the Great Sun True Fire, he could have burned him to death and refined him in mere moments!

"Senior, spare my life!"

"I know who wants to kill you. Spare my life, and I am willing to say anything!"

When Wang Qiao and the Late Golden Core Stage Rat Demon were fighting earlier, the Bone Fiend True Person had watched the whole time. With Wang Qiao's strength, even if he were to detonate his Golden Core now, he wouldn't be able to injure the other party much. Apart from admitting defeat, there was no other path to take.

"Willing to say anything?" Liu Xuan smiled faintly and nodded, saying, "It's not impossible to spare your life, but how does this seat know whether you will deceive me?"

The Bone Fiend True Person said anxiously, "This Junior's life and death are in Senior's hands; how would I dare to deceive you? As long as you spare my life, I can agree to any condition!"

Liu Xuan's eyes lit up, but a moment later, they returned to normal. He pretended to ponder, saying, "This... I must think about it carefully!"

Seeing a chance, the Bone Fiend True Person fawned humbly, "Senior, take your time thinking. Just give me the order when you're ready!"

Liu Xuan smiled and nodded, then carried him in flight to the roof of the Pill Refining Tower and tossed him directly into the purple poison cauldron to slowly refine him with the Fourth-Tier Great Sun True Fire.

Since the Bone Fiend True Person's will to survive was so strong, Liu Xuan planned to first use the Great Sun True Fire to wear down his magic power and weaken his Divine Soul, so that when he later used the Puppet Gu, the success rate would be higher!

Even if it didn't succeed in the end, he could still use the purple poison cauldron to suppress him from detonating his Golden Core and refine him directly into a Medicinal Pill.

After dealing with the problem of the Bone Fiend True Person, Liu Xuan used Wang Qiao's identity to stabilize the morale of the entire city, then returned to his original form to preside over the restoration of order in the Liu Family.

'Exposing my strength while using Wang Qiao's identity this time means I must hide a bit more in the future!'

If anyone from the Beast Taming Sect came to inquire, Liu Xuan intended to use the excuse of being injured and in seclusion to decline all visitors, and if necessary, he could even discard this persona.

"Junior Brother!"

"Junior Brother!"

"Are you hurt? Let me see."

An Yunxi ran over to see Liu Xuan immediately, her small face full of nervousness and worry.

"I'm fine, Senior Sister, don't worry. The enemy has already been beaten back by True Person Wang Qiao!" Liu Xuan comforted her with a smile.

"That's good, that's good!" An Yunxi's small face relaxed, but a moment later, an angry expression rose on it. "What is Second Senior Brother doing? To let a Golden Core Great Demon slip to the rear and attack me! I'm going to go complain to Father right now!"

She directly framed the Great Demon's siege as being targeted at her. Regardless of whether this had anything to do with Yunhe, she was going to vent for Liu Xuan.

After saying this, she left in a huff with Dashan. She wasn't just going to tell her father; she was going to tell her sister too.

...

Three days later.

The people sent by the Beast Taming Sect arrived. The leader was none other than True Person Qin Mo.

As soon as he arrived, he wanted to pay his respects to True Person Wang Qiao. To him, a True Person who could injure a Late Golden Core Stage Great Demon was also a Senior.

According to the information he received, this Wang Qiao was only an Early Stage Golden Core True Person who had just advanced to the Golden Core stage not long ago. How could he possess such terrifying strength?

During the incident at the Black Leopard Fortress last time, Wang Qiao and Xiao Changfeng had worked together to kill a Mid Golden Core Stage Great Demon. The Beast Taming Sect had always assumed Xiao Changfeng was the lead; now it seemed they had been mistaken. Wang Qiao was the real powerhouse hiding his cultivation.

"True Person Qin, please forgive me. True Person Wang has been injured and has gone into seclusion. I don't know where he has gone either," Liu Xuan said politely.

Qin Mo looked deeply at Liu Xuan. Based on the information he had, he didn't believe for a second that Liu Xuan didn't know where Wang Qiao had gone; he simply didn't want to see him!

However, he didn't expose him. Liu Xuan had the support of Wang Qiao, a Late Golden Core Stage or even Peak stage expert, and the favor of the Second Young Miss An Yunxi. He was also the Academy Head's Personal Disciple; there was no need to offend him!

"I came here this time mainly to discuss the investigation regarding this Yao Beast siege," he said, looking at An Yunxi beside Liu Xuan, and continued to explain:

"That Late Golden Core Stage Rat Demon is named Wu Xu. It specializes in concealment and spatial escape techniques and is extremely difficult to deal with."

"However, it did not infiltrate from our northern battlefield front line. Instead, it infiltrated from another direction into the Heavenly Sword Sect and circled around from the Heavenly Sword Sect to Bone Fiend City."

An Yunxi frowned, clearly unsatisfied with this explanation, and said bluntly, "What evidence do you have?"

"I was almost killed by a Yao Beast. Don't think you can just brush it off with a few words, Second Senior Brother!"

Qin Mo reached up to rub his forehead and sighed, explaining patiently, "The Great Demon Wu Xu had previously been on the battle line near the Cloud Top Sect to the east. That is not the area Second Senior Brother is responsible for. If you send someone to check, you will know. Would I lie to you?"

"Cloud Top Sect?"

"The direction the Grand Elder is responsible for?"

An Yunxi's expression turned ugly. "The Grand Elder colluded with the Yao Race to harm me. I'm going to find Father to get revenge for me."

"Senior Sister, don't be impulsive!" Liu Xuan quickly grabbed her and advised.

Regardless of whether what Qin Mo said was true or false, this matter could not be allowed to escalate to True Lord Haoran. The Rat Demon was not targeting An Yunxi. If Liu Xuan hadn't guessed wrong, even if their plan to kill him had succeeded, they wouldn't have touched a hair on An Yunxi.

Qin Mo also hurriedly explained, "This matter doesn't have much to do with the Grand Elder. Liu Xuan buys large quantities of Yao Beast Essence Blood and bones for Alchemy; it is perfectly reasonable for the Peach Blossom Sect to send someone to kill him!"

Before An Yunxi could lose her temper, Qin Mo continued, "Before I came, I went to Zhengqi Tower to pay respects to Revered Master. He has already ordered Third Senior Sister to personally bring people to protect you. Such a situation will not happen again in the future!"

Hearing that Third Senior Sister was coming to protect Liu Xuan herself, An Yunxi finally dissipated her anger, and her complexion slowly recovered.

Qin Mo offered more pleasantries and spent quite a while before finally pacifying her and sending her away.

After An Yunxi left, Qin Mo's expression turned serious. He looked at Liu Xuan and said in a business-like, calm tone:

"Revered Master intends to support your Liu Family's Alchemy and Artifact Refining business. Third Senior Sister will discuss the details with you when she arrives. You should prepare well!"