251: rescue

Those Loose Cultivators had clearly lost themselves in the bloodlust, not only attacking the Family disciples frantically but also blasting the road with overflowing Spell energy until it was riddled with potholes. The originally smooth road was now covered in deep trenches and rubble, completely blocking passage.

What was even more alarming was that several of the Loose Cultivators' gazes would occasionally sweep toward Situ Jun's convoy.

The carriages in the convoy were all crafted from high-quality red sandalwood, with exquisite cloud patterns carved on the exterior. Although the Guards wore common martial artist attire, each possessed a steady aura, marking them as Cultivator Guards trained in Cultivation Techniques; the group clearly appeared wealthy.

Within the Loose Cultivators' eyes was undisguised greed and malice, like jackals eyeing their prey.

Situ Jun stood beside the carriage, his brow furrowing slightly as his gaze swept over the potholed road and rubble.

He turned to the Guard captain beside him and said in a cold voice:

"How long would a detour take?"

The Guard captain immediately stepped forward and bowed, his tone urgent yet organized as he reported:

"Reporting to Your Lordship, the map I carry shows another small path across the mountain stream. We would need to double back ten li and then cross the stone bridge below the stream. However, that path is already narrow, and it was caught in a battle between Cultivators last month. Several sections of the road collapsed and might not have been repaired yet, so I cannot be certain if a carriage can pass through."

Situ Jun's brow furrowed even deeper.

Their journey was to Daoist Ming Ya's Nether Crow Cave Mansion, and time was already tight. Taking a detour would not only consume a lot of time but could also lead to more unpredictable risks.

Such as damaged roads, Yao Beast blockades, or harassment from bandits and Evil Cultivators.

Just then, a sudden change occurred on the battlefield ahead!

The Defensive Formation formed by the Family disciples finally gave way, as a burly Loose Cultivator forcefully smashed a gap into it.

That Loose Cultivator appeared to be the leader; a scar ran from his left eye down to his jaw, making him look hideous and terrifying.

Grinning malevolently, he summoned a black banner embroidered with distorted ghostly shadows. Even before it drew close, one could feel a sinister, bone-chilling coldness.

As he chanted, the banner surged violently, and several strands of ink-black Qi flew out like venomous snakes, lunging straight at an injured young disciple lying on the ground within the formation.

The black Qi carried a dense, sinister aura, clearly an Evil Technique specifically designed for soul extraction!

"Big brother, save me!"

The Family disciple's Face was deathly pale. Having exhausted his spiritual power, he didn't even have the strength to struggle. Seeing the black Qi about to entwine him, he let out a desperate scream filled with terror.

The youth at the head—apparently the leader of the Family disciples—was dressed in a moon-white brocade robe and had a handsome Face, but he was covered in blood, with a broken arrow lodged in his arm.

His eyes nearly burst from their sockets as he tried to rush to the rescue, but he was pinned down by two Loose Cultivators. Sword light fell around him like a rainstorm, making it impossible for him to break free.

At the critical moment!

A cold light flashed in Situ Jun's eyes, and his aura instantly became sharp. Without even appearing to move, he simply pointed his fingers like a sword toward the strands of black Qi!

Buzz!

A highly condensed, nearly transparent golden Sword Qi appeared out of thin air, tearing through the atmosphere with a faint, sharp whistle.

The Sword Qi was incredibly fast, arriving first despite being launched later, accurately striking those strands of black Qi!

Sizzle!

Like boiling water poured onto snow, the foul and sinister black Qi was instantly annihilated and evaporated by the purest Yang Sword Qi, leaving not a single trace behind.

Even the black banner trembled violently. The ghostly shadows on it let out shrill shrieks, and its spiritual light dimmed significantly, as if it had suffered a heavy blow.

The Loose Cultivator leader who had attacked—the burly man holding the banner—was struck even harder. He violently spat out a mouthful of black blood and retreated three steps before barely steadying himself.

Clutching his chest, he looked toward Situ Jun in horror, his voice raspy and filled with unbelievable rage:

"Who are you?! How dare you ruin my business!"

This scene instantly stunned everyone present.

Whether it was the Loose Cultivators attacking frantically or the Family disciples struggling to hold on, all stopped their movements and looked in disbelief at the black-robed man standing by the carriage with his hands behind his back—Situ Jun.

He stood tall and straight like a pine, his black robes fluttering slightly in the mountain wind. Though he just stood there, he seemed to carry an invisible pressure that silenced the entire battlefield.

Ignoring the Loose Cultivator leader, Situ Jun took a slow step forward. His gaze swept across the chaotic battlefield like a sharp sword. His voice wasn't loud, yet it carried the unique pressure of a Half-step Nascent Soul Cultivator, ringing clearly in everyone's ears like a thunderclap:

"Clear the way for me."

Six simple words, yet they struck the hearts of all the Loose Cultivators like a heavy hammer.

The Loose Cultivator leader—the man known as Village Elder Gongsun—his expression shifted repeatedly.

He could clearly feel the other's bottomless Cultivation and the terrifying power contained in that Sword Qi strike just now; it was definitely not something a Mid Golden Core Stage Cultivator like him could contend with.

But with the fat prize he'd almost secured now gone and being publicly intimidated, he was both angry and resentful, and his pride was taking a hit.

He roared with blustering bravado:

"Which path does Your Excellency follow? I, Village Elder Gongsun, am conducting business here. Please show some consideration! I will surely reward you handsomely afterward and won't treat you poorly!"

"Village Elder Gongsun?"

Situ Jun was slightly taken aback upon hearing the name.

He suddenly remembered a message from Bai Yu a few days ago, mentioning a Sect Cultivator who specialized in hunting low-level Cultivators and extracting their souls to refine a Soul Refining banner. His methods were extremely cruel, and Situ Jun hadn't expected it to be the person before him.

Under normal circumstances, he would have definitely stepped in to eliminate this pest, break the villain's bones, and destroy his evil banner!

Making him pay with his life for those Cultivators whose souls had been taken.

But now he needed to hide his Cultivation and reach the Nether Crow Cave Mansion as quickly as possible. It wasn't suitable to cause more trouble, so he suppressed his killing intent and said coldly:

"Never heard of you. I'll say it one last time: clear the way. Or, I'll clear it for you."

The moment his words fell, he briefly released and then retracted his aura!

Boom!

A terrifying Spiritual Pressure, like that of an awakening prehistoric beast, descended instantly. Although it vanished in a flash, it made all the Loose Cultivators feel as if they had fallen into an ice cellar, their bodies turning cold.

The Loose Cultivators with lower Cultivation even felt their legs go weak, falling to their knees with a thud, trembling all over and not even daring to look up!

Village Elder Gongsun's scalp tingled, his heart and gallbladder quaking, and his back was instantly drenched in cold sweat.

Only then did he realize that the person he had provoked was no ordinary Cultivator. The opponent's strength far exceeded his own; he was definitely a Late Golden Core Stage Perfection, or even a Half-step Nascent Soul powerhouse!

Someone like this could crush their group of Loose Cultivators with just a flick of a finger.

How could he dare to have even the slightest thought of resistance? He quickly wiped the ferocity from his Face, replaced it with a fawning smile, and bowed deeply, his tone full of flattery:

"Senior, please appease your anger! This Junior failed to recognize your greatness and offended you; I hope Senior can be magnanimous! We will move aside immediately! Right away!"