496: Chapter 496 Setting up the formation, inviting the masses into the trap

Xu Ruyu finally realized and explained with a chuckle: "That's not what I meant, I..."

"What 'what you'?" Xiao Nianyin interrupted him, her voice full of grievance and anger. "You don't need to explain to this Bed-warming maid of yours. Anyway, in your eyes, I'm just a dispensable Bed-warming maid."

"Wait until that Lady Qingli finds you, then you will... Hmph!"

She turned her face away, refusing to look at him.

Her eyes were slightly red, but she held back, not letting the tears fall.

Xu Ruyu was a bit bewildered.

How could this woman change her face so quickly? Just a moment ago, she was perfectly fine, leaning in his arms, soft as a ball of cotton, like a lazy cat.

Now, she was like a cat with its fur bristling; whoever touched her would get scratched.

He had only said a joke in passing; why did she take it so seriously?

But he couldn't afford to overthink it, because those people behind them were getting closer and closer.

He could feel that their aura was within a hundred miles and was still closing in.

He could even vaguely see a few black dots on the horizon, moving rapidly.

"Continuing to flee like this isn't a solution." Xu Ruyu looked into the distance, his brows tightly furrowed. The smile on his face vanished, replaced by a grave expression. "It would be better to wait here and see who is chasing us."

"Hmm, just in case, I need to set up a few major formations for defense..."

Saying this, he turned and began to set up the major formation.

He took out the Formation Flag, Formation Plate, and Spirit Stone from his storage ring, placing them on the ground one by one.

His hands were fast, and his movements were nimble; clearly, he was already well-versed in setting up formations.

But as he set up the formation, he secretly glanced at Xiao Nianyin, feeling a bit anxious inside.

Xiao Nianyin stood to the side, watching him huffily.

Her arms were crossed over her chest, her lips pursed, and her brows knitted, looking like she was saying, "I'm very angry, don't provoke me."

Her foot ground against the ground, digging out a shallow pit.

But she didn't leave.

She just stood there, watching Xu Ruyu work.

Watching him bend down to insert the Formation Flag, watching him crouch to place the Formation Plate, watching him embed the Spirit Stone into the key nodes of the Array Pattern.

His movements were focused, and fine beads of sweat seeped from his forehead, glistening in the sunlight.

In her heart, she wasn't actually as angry as she appeared.

She certainly knew that what Xu Ruyu said was just a passing remark and didn't take it seriously.

She even knew that when he mentioned Su Mei, it was just a slip of the tongue, without any other meaning.

But she couldn't help but be angry. She was his woman; she had the right to be angry.

Moreover, she knew in her heart that now was not the time to fuss over these things.

Those pursuers were getting closer and closer, and she had to be prepared.

Xiao Nianyin's Divine Sense spread out again; this time, she perceived the pursuers' aura more carefully.

Their Sword Intent was very pure, carrying the distinct sharpness and righteousness of the Tianshu Sword Sect.

She was too familiar with that kind of Sword Intent.

Zhao Qian had it, and Tian Jianzi had it too.

This was the unique Sword Dao Legacy of the Tianshu Sword Sect.

Tianshu Sword Sect.

She could almost be certain that they were people from the Tianshu Sword Sect.

It was rumored that the Tianshu Sword Sect possessed a Thousand-Mile Tracking Mirror. As long as someone had Karma with the Tianshu Sword Sect, by using a secret technique, they could track the person's tracks from a thousand miles away.

Unless the person died—and in a way where both body and soul were scattered—otherwise, even if they fled to the ends of the earth, they couldn't escape the lock of the tracking mirror.

This mirror was the Tianshu Sword Sect's treasure, said to have been passed down for ten thousand years, never failing.

Xu Ruyu killed Tian Jianzi and killed Zhao Qian; this Karma was too great.

The Tianshu Sword Sect would not let this matter rest.

They would definitely spare no cost to take revenge.

These pursuers were merely the vanguard. Later, even more experts would arrive.

But Xiao Nianyin was not panicked.

On the contrary, there was even a faint sense of anticipation in her heart.

She had just achieved a Breakthrough to the Mid-stage True Immortal, and she was looking for an opponent to verify the reality of this Realm.

The Tianshu Sword Sect was undoubtedly the best whetstone.

Those so-called experts of the Righteous Path were nothing but clay chickens and pottery dogs before her.

She was even eager to see just how strong the power of a Mid-stage True Immortal really was.

However, she also had some doubts in her heart.

How did she achieve the Breakthrough?

From the Half-step Saint Realm, overnight, she achieved a Breakthrough to the Mid-stage True Immortal.

This wasn't just a step to the sky; this was a direct Ascension.

And there were no strange phenomena.

No Heavenly Tribulation, no thunderclouds, no changing winds and clouds, no fluctuations in the Laws of Heaven and Earth.

She was like someone who slept, and upon waking up, she had become a Mid-stage True Immortal.

How was this possible?

And then there was Xu Ruyu.

His Breakthrough was also silent.

The 49th level of the Qi Refinement Stage was equivalent to the Peak of the Mid-Stage Saint Realm.

Such a massive Breakthrough also had no strange phenomena.

No Heavenly Tribulation, no thunderclouds, and no one noticed.

That vast energy fluctuation, that terrifying increase in Cultivation, actually didn't attract the attention of any Laws of Heaven and Earth.

This was too inconceivable.

Xiao Nianyin watched Xu Ruyu's back, and a complex emotion welled up in her heart.

He was crouching on the ground, seriously carving the Array Pattern, his fingers sliding across the rock, leaving behind silver-white patterns.

Those patterns flickered with a faint light in the sunlight, as if they were alive, flowing slowly.

She certainly knew that all of this had to do with him.

His Physique, his Cultivation Technique, his "True Explanation of Taixu Source Energy" — these secrets were hidden within him.

Lady Qingli was right; he hid a great secret.

That secret was so great that it could allow one to reach the sky in a single bound, so great that it could allow one to go from the Half-step Saint Realm to the Mid-stage True Immortal overnight.

But she did not intend to ask.