543: Chapter 53 Following and Confrontation

After Old Nian led the group of Blood Refining Hall Disciples away, Jin Binger pondered for a moment and summoned her confidante, A Cheng.

"A Cheng, a lot has happened today, and I still need to go out later. The business deal probably won't go through. Close the shop, say we're temporarily closed due to business, and then send a few sisters out to inquire about the Madam's whereabouts."

"Yes."

Meanwhile, Lu Xueqi and Tian Linger had not obtained any useful intelligence from the embroiderers at Jinxiu Workshop after making inquiries.

However, they did not give up. Instead, they found a nearby teahouse and kept them under covert surveillance.

Not long after, the two saw Old Nian leading his men away.

Tian Linger immediately whispered to Lu Xueqi, "Senior Sister Lu, the bookstore owner has left with his people. Shall we follow them and see what's going on?"

Lu Xueqi nodded, "Fine."

Thus, the two followed them quietly, maintaining a distance.

However, they ultimately lacked experience, and before long, they were noticed.

"Hall Master, there are two women tracking us from behind," Daoist Wild Dog stepped forward a few paces and reported quietly to Old Nian.

Women?

Old Nian narrowed his eyes and asked calmly, "People from the Hehuan Sect?"

Daoist Wild Dog replied, "Their attire doesn't look like it."

Old Nian thought for a moment and said in a low voice, "First, we leave the city, then find an opportunity to circle around and surround them."

"Yes." Daoist Wild Dog responded and subtly gave a hand signal to the Blood Refining Hall Disciples behind him.

Before long, the group left the city and arrived at a secluded area.

Tian Linger and Lu Xueqi didn't react immediately, assuming Old Nian's group was up to some shady business. Only when a portion of the Blood Refining Hall Disciples vanished did they realize something was wrong. By then, they had already fallen into an encirclement.

Old Nian initiated the attack with the Blood Crow Spell, using his magical power to conjure a swarm of blood-sucking crows that attacked Tian Linger and Lu Xueqi, who were hiding behind.

Tian Linger and Lu Xueqi were startled, then one summoned the Amber Red Silk, and the other drew the Tianya Sword, hastily responding.

Just as they were waving their weapons to destroy the blood crows, Old Nian flashed forward for a surprise attack, seizing an opening, and struck out with both palms.

Lu Xueqi's internal alarm bells rang loudly. Seeing that dodging was difficult, she hastily discarded her scabbard and raised her palm to gather power for defense.

However, she was at the ninth layer of the Yuqing Realm, slightly inferior in cultivation to Old Nian, who was at the Peak of the Yuqing Realm. Moreover, she was reacting hastily and couldn't exert her full strength. As their palms collided, the resulting burst of power made her instantly feel overwhelmed. She was knocked back several steps, and simultaneously, her internal Qi and blood churned, making her expression turn ugly.

On the other side, Tian Linger was only at the seventh layer of the Yuqing Realm, even less capable than Old Nian.

However, her situation was much better than Lu Xueqi's.

This was because as Old Nian's palm approached, Tian Linger's protective spirit butterfly hairpin instantly triggered its defensive effect.

A phantom image of black and white butterflies flashed out, forming a protective shield around her. It not only easily blocked Old Nian's attack but also reflected the force back.

Old Nian was caught off guard and was shaken back several steps, exclaiming in surprise, "A protective Magic Treasure?!"

There were many Magic Treasures in this world, but protective Magic Treasures were exceedingly rare.

Even Mysterious Dao, the foremost figure of the Righteous Path, did not possess one; otherwise, it wouldn't have been so easy for Green Pine to launch a successful sneak attack.

Now that Tian Linger actually possessed one, and its power was considerable, it was no wonder Old Nian was surprised.

At this moment, Lu Xueqi also reacted. While secretly regulating her breath, she said coldly, "Blood Crow Spell—you are fiends from the Blood Refining Hall!"

Fiends from the Blood Refining Hall?

Catching hold of that address, Old Nian narrowed his eyes. Looking at Tian Linger and Lu Xueqi, who were dressed in plain clothes, he was already certain of their identities: If nothing unexpected happened, the two must be from the Righteous Path, otherwise, they wouldn't have recognized their identity and immediately called them 'fiends.'

Then, he took a closer look and found them somewhat familiar. In an instant, he remembered: he had seen them when he was lurking in Heyang City.

Combining the facts, the identities of Tian Linger and Lu Xueqi were self-evident—Disciples of the Qingyun Sect!

Immediately, Old Nian recalled Zeng Shushu and Lin Jingyu he had seen earlier at the entrance of Jinxiu Workshop, and vaguely understood.

One overt and one covert, acting separately—quite a good plan.

It was just that their strength and experience were lacking.

Thinking of this, he gave a cold, sinister smile, "Since you have seen through our identities, then you shall rest here forever."

Hearing this, Lu Xueqi replied with a cold face, "That depends on whether you have the ability to do so."

As she finished speaking, she prepared to cast the Divine Sword Control Thunder Technique.

Through the exchange just now, she knew Old Nian's cultivation was slightly higher than hers. Facing him with ordinary Moves, she feared it would be difficult to win. There were also many Blood Refining Hall Disciples around; if the fight dragged on, it would be detrimental to their side.

Unexpectedly, just as she initiated the stance, a beam of blue-white electric light flashed toward a Blood Refining Hall Disciple.

This startled everyone from the Blood Refining Hall, including Old Nian.

Among all the natural forces, lightning ranked at the forefront in terms of destructive power and deterrent effect. Considering both factors combined, it might even rank first.

Therefore, any Spell that could utilize the power of lightning was extremely astonishing and naturally restrained most evil techniques and Demonic Techniques.

Few evil or unorthodox cultivators who encountered it did not fear it.

That Blood Refining Hall Disciple, due to fear, even forgot to dodge. He was struck squarely by the blue-white electric light. Although he didn't die, his entire body turned charred black, he spat white smoke, and fell straight to the ground, losing his combat ability.

Seeing this, Tian Linger smoothed her hair and muttered softly, "As expected, my cultivation is still a bit low.'

"If Junior Brother were here, one Five Thunder Talisman might be able to strike down several people.'

"But it doesn't matter. We'll just take them one by one.'

Lu Xueqi: "..."

Tian Linger could conjure lightning with a casual gesture of drawing a talisman, whereas she had to set up defenses and cast a Spell to summon the lightning. Although her power would be slightly stronger, compared to Tian Linger, it felt strange, making her seem a bit slow, and the Divine Sword Control Thunder Technique very inconvenient.

Old Nian across from her twitched the corner of his mouth.

One by one?