169: The Xuan Yin cultivators were wiped out.

At the same time, deep within the abandoned dyehouse district in the west of East Lin City, inside a dark and damp underground secret chamber.

Several Cultivators dressed in Xuan Yin Sect attire were gathered around a crude table, their expressions solemn.

On the table lay a transmission Jade Talisman that had just dimmed.

A Cultivator with a scar on his face spat and said indignantly:

"That idiot Wang Cheng is catching people everywhere like a mad dog! Especially our Xuan Yin Sect people; isn't he afraid of retaliation from our Xuan Yin Sect's Golden Core Cultivators? If we hadn't been clever and received word in advance, even this last stronghold of ours wouldn't have been saved!"

"Wang Cheng..."

The leader was a middle-aged Cultivator with a sinister face. He rubbed a jade pendant carved with eerie runes at his waist, his eyes flickering with wariness and malice.

"There is also a masked Late Golden Core Stage assassin helping him deal with us. Now, only a few of us are left in East Lin City! The mission assigned by those above... I'm afraid it will be difficult."

"Then what do we do now? Abandon the East Lin City stronghold?" another Cultivator asked anxiously.

"Abandon it?"

The sinister Cultivator sneered:

"If the mission fails, returning is also a dead end! The higher-ups have given a death order; if we can't secure the harvest of the Tianqi Dynasty's Spirit Plants, even our families in the secular world will be implicated."

A light of madness flashed in his eyes:

"Let's just kill Wang Cheng! Let East Lin City fall into chaos, and we'll take the Opportunity to go to the Southern Border to seize an Opportunity. When the time comes, we'll hand over some treasures to report back, and the higher-ups will surely show some leniency."

Inside the secret chamber, a cold and bloody aura suddenly permeated the air.

The scarred Cultivator slammed the table, and the wooden table cracked with fine lines at the sound:

"Kill Wang Cheng? That's a great idea! That dog has been relying on an unknown Golden Core assassin for support and has ruined many of our plans these days!"

"Kill Wang Cheng? Easier said than done!" Another Cultivator licked his dry lips, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes.

After scanning the room, he said gloomily:

"That fellow has over a dozen Middle and Late Foundation Establishment Stage Guards in his manor, not to mention that masked Late Golden Core Stage assassin in the shadows. All of us added together are only two Late Foundation Establishment and three Middle Foundation Establishment stages. Charging in with this little strength is no different from seeking death!"

The sinister Cultivator slammed the table again, and several more cracks appeared on the wooden surface:

"Not taking a risk is the true dead end! Recently, to hunt us down, Wang Cheng personally leads men to patrol the west of the city every morning. That is the only time he lets his Guard down. If we set up a 'Mist Formation' here and then detonate three 'Bone-Corroding Poison Gas Pills,' we might have a chance of winning!"

He pulled a yellowed Formation map from his robes, which had twisted runes drawn in cinnabar, faintly emitting black Qi:

"This Formation can briefly suppress a Golden Core Cultivator's Qi and Spiritual Sense. As long as we can trap Wang Cheng for a moment, once the poison smoke spreads, even if he is a Golden Core Cultivator, he'll have to surrender!"

"But that Golden Core assassin..."

"What of the Golden Core assassin?"

A trace of ruthlessness flashed in the sinister Cultivator's eyes:

"He can't possibly be hiding near Wang Cheng at every moment. As long as we finish the battle quickly and flee to the Southern Border immediately after succeeding, he might not be able to catch up!"

"This plan is feasible!"

Another tall, thin Cultivator licked his lips, greed flashing in his eyes:

"Once we kill Wang Cheng, East Lin City will be leaderless. We can then double back and take the chance to loot the City Lord's Manor. I bet that Golden Core assassin would never expect someone to target the City Lord's Manor!"

Hearing this, the sinister Cultivator rebuked him sharply:

"Idiot! Do you think the Manor Soldiers of the City Lord's Manor are just for show? If we are delayed by them and the Golden Core assassin returns, we will have absolutely no chance of survival!"

The tall, thin Cultivator shrunk his neck after being scolded, but he still hadn't given up: "Then... we have to get some benefits before leaving, right? Otherwise, wouldn't this risk be for nothing?"

The sinister Cultivator's gaze was dark as he said coldly, "Don't be insatiable! Killing Wang Cheng, throwing East Lin City into chaos, and taking the chance to head south to the Southern Border is the real business! If we miss the timing, no one will survive!"

Seeing this, the scarred Cultivator quickly tried to smooth things over: "Big brother is right. Let's act according to the plan first; kill Wang Cheng before talking about anything else. Are the Mist Formation and the Bone-Corroding Poison Gas Pills ready?"

"They've been ready for a long time." The sinister Cultivator patted the Storage Pouch at his waist. "The Formation is set up in that narrow alley in the west of the city, the path Wang Cheng must take during his daily patrol. The poison gas pills are hidden in the shadows, just waiting for him to step into the Formation to be detonated."

As the few of them were discussing the details in low voices, they suddenly heard a soft "crack" from the ceiling of the secret chamber, and a tiny crack began to spread along the rock wall.

"Who?!"

The scarred Cultivator reacted the fastest, slamming his Storage Pouch as a short blade glinting with cold light appeared in his hand. He looked toward the ceiling warily.

Before his voice could fade, the floor of the entire secret chamber shook violently, and soil and rubble fell from above with a crash.

Accompanied by a deafening boom, the heavy stone door was actually smashed to pieces by a massive force from the outside. Amidst the billowing dust, Wang Cheng, dressed in black martial attire and holding a long sword, led over a dozen Guards with sharp auras as they filed in.

"A bunch of rats hiding their heads and tails, actually daring to plot the assassination of an official and the seizure of the manor in East Lin City—you truly are tired of living!"

Wang Cheng's voice carried an icy fury.

As he spoke, the long blade in his hand suddenly left its sheath, its cold light piercing:

"Take them down! Kill anyone who resists!"

The sinister Cultivator's face turned pale instantly. He couldn't understand how the plan, which was clearly foolproof, could have been intercepted by Wang Cheng.

"Retreat!"

He made a snap decision, grabbing the Formation map on the table to activate it, but he saw Wang Cheng wave his long sword, and a sharp Sword Qi tore through the air, accurately striking the Formation map.

The yellowed Formation map instantly turned to ashes, and even his palm was struck by the residual Sword Qi, leaving it dripping with blood.

"Want to run? Too late!"

The Guards behind Wang Cheng had already formed a battle array, their crossbows loaded with arrows. The arrowheads, flickering with a faint blue light, were pointed directly at the group—those were specially made crossbow arrows inscribed with runes, designed specifically to break through a Cultivator's Qi defense.

The scarred Cultivator roared, his short blade carrying the Qi of the Late Foundation Establishment Stage as he slashed at the nearest Guard, only to be steadily blocked by the other's shield, which left his arm feeling numb from the shock.

Another Guard took the Opportunity to slash back, the blade's light sharp and cold, pressing directly toward his face.

"Let's risk it!"

Madness flashed in the sinister Cultivator's eyes as he violently threw the three 'Bone-Corroding Poison Gas Pills' into the air, while simultaneously crushing a black Talisman.

In an instant, thick dark-green poison smoke filled the room, carrying a pungent, fishy stench, as he attempted to obstruct the vision of Wang Cheng and his men.

"Hold your breath! Fall back!"

Wang Cheng was well-prepared. While shouting the command, he took out a gourd-shaped defensive treasure from his Storage Pouch and activated it, blocking the poison smoke in front of him and sucking it into the gourd.

The Guards behind him retreated one after another, taking out and swallowing detoxification Medicinal Pills, their gazes not affected in the slightest.

Amidst the poison smoke, the tall, thin Cultivator tried to take the Opportunity to slip away through a secret passage. Just as he touched the hidden door in the corner, a silent Flying Sword struck.

"Puchi—"

The sound of a blade entering flesh was exceptionally clear in the poison smoke. The tall, thin Cultivator didn't even see the direction the Flying Sword came from before he clutched his neck and collapsed to the ground, his eyes full of disbelief.

Seeing this, the sinister Cultivator's Soul Flew Away and Spirit Scattered. Knowing there was no chance of escape today, he actually turned and lunged at his companion, attempting to use the other as a meat shield to break through.

But Wang Cheng's Flying Sword suddenly rose from the tall, thin Cultivator, splashing out streaks of sword light like a curtain of thunder and lightning.

A moment later, the sinister Cultivator, who had nowhere to hide, had his chest pierced through.

"Uh..."

The sinister Cultivator looked down at the sword hole in his chest as blood gushed out. The malice and resentment in his eyes gradually faded, and he finally collapsed powerlessly to the ground.

By now, the poison smoke in the secret chamber had been cleared.

"Go!"

Wang Cheng wasted no more words. With a wave of his hand, the Guards charged in, and an intense fight instantly broke out in the secret chamber.

The remaining few Xuan Yin Sect Cultivators already had low Cultivation levels and had lost their reliance on the Formation and poison gas pills. Faced with the well-trained Guards, they retreated step by step.

In just a few moments, the Xuan Yin Sect Cultivators in the secret chamber were completely wiped out.

Wang Cheng waved his hand, signaling the Guards to clean up the scene.