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The next morning, a large number of disciples from the six sects gathered on a small hill west of Yanling Fort. A massive formation loomed overhead, casting a thin veil of light, resembling an inverted jade bowl.
As Qi Yuan walked, he carefully observed his surroundings, scanning with his spiritual sense. He detected no unusual presence, yet a faint sense of unease lingered. The enemy's discretion and patience only made the situation more concerning.
"Junior Brother, you seem troubled. Is something on your mind?"
Dong Xuan'er clung to Qi Yuan's arm, her gaze soft and affectionate. After last night, their relationship had deepened, and she now felt a sense of ownership over him. A triumphant thought crossed her mind—once she returned, she would make sure to flaunt this to Junior Sister Chen.
Qi Yuan glanced at the beauty beside him. Her charming eyes stirred something within him, and he had to suppress the rising heat in his blood. The Huachun Technique Dong Xuan'er practiced had an intoxicating effect, pulling him into its grasp like a spring breeze. Even after just one night, he had barely managed to get up in the morning.
If not for Nangong Wan's pearl, which helped him resist the allure, he might have missed the treasure hunt and ruined Nichang's plans.
He spoke in a steady voice. "No matter what happens later, stay close to me."
Dong Xuan'er responded with a soft hum, her eyes gleaming with happiness.
Meanwhile, Han Li deliberately distanced himself from them. The sight of a handsome man and a beautiful woman together was too eye-catching, and he had no desire to get involved in unnecessary trouble. He moved toward a quieter area, away from prying eyes.
Just then, a voice echoed in his mind. "Brother Han, don't stray too far. Come over and chat with me."
Han Li's face darkened with frustration. He scanned his surroundings for any danger before reluctantly making his way toward Qi Yuan.
On a high platform, a handsome young man observed the gathering below. His eyes lit up when they landed on Dong Xuan'er, but the moment he noticed the man beside her, his expression twisted with jealousy and resentment.
Tian Buque could not tolerate the presence of any man more handsome than himself. That man had to die.
Beside him, Wang Chan, masked in silver, sensed Tian Buque's emotions and found them laughable. How childish.
An old man approached Wang Chan and bowed. "Sir, the Yin Fire Formation is ready. Shall we begin refining the disciples?"
Wang Chan's tone was serious. "Are the two Jindan-stage cultivators in the city being watched? We can't let them interfere."
"The Black and White Impermanence and Patriarch Yan of the Hehuan Sect have already positioned themselves. If those two make a move, they will be intercepted," the old man assured.
Wang Chan smirked. "Good. Then let's proceed. We'll weaken the six sects first and clear the way for our army's assault."
The old man nodded and retreated.
Tian Buque stepped forward. "Brother Wang, leave those two over there to me." He pointed at Qi Yuan and Dong Xuan'er.
Wang Chan chuckled. "As you wish." He, too, disliked men more attractive than himself.
Below, Qi Yuan suddenly sensed a murderous intent directed at him. His eyes narrowed as he glanced around, then smiled faintly. The enemy had unknowingly exposed themselves.
Dong Xuan'er, noticing his silence, didn't press for details and simply stayed by his side.
Meanwhile, Han Li's intuition warned him that something was terribly wrong. His unease grew stronger, and he quietly attempted to slip away into the crowd.
Qi Yuan, however, swiftly grabbed his wrist. "Junior Brother Han, the treasure hunt is about to start. Where are you going?"
Han Li's expression stiffened. His lips moved as if forming an excuse, but in the end, all he could say was, "Senior Brother Qi, I… I need to use the restroom…"
Qi Yuan smiled knowingly. "Brother Han, we cultivators can expel water vapor through our techniques. Why the sudden urgency?"
Han Li felt like crying. "Brother Qi, please, let me go. Something feels wrong here. I need to leave…"
At that moment, a blood-red light shield suddenly enveloped the entire gathering. Shocked exclamations erupted from the disciples.
"What's happening?"
"That formation looks sinister—could it be a demonic array?"
"A magic formation? We need to get out of here!"
"People of Yanling Fort, explain yourselves!"
A cold voice responded from above. "An explanation? The explanation is that you will all die today."
Wang Chan emerged, standing high above the crowd. He signaled his subordinates, and the refining process began.
Dong Xuan'er turned pale but quickly steadied herself when she saw Qi Yuan's calm expression.
Han Li, on the other hand, felt like cursing. If only Qi Yuan had let him leave earlier, he wouldn't have been caught in this disaster.
Qi Yuan pulled out the Qingxuan Jade Bead from his storage bag. Following Nichang's instructions, he poured his spiritual power into it, causing it to float and emit a brilliant green light.
Across the battlefield, two other locations glowed with the same green radiance.
Seeing this, Wang Chan's expression darkened. He shouted, "Activate the Yin Fire Array! Destroy those beads!"
Three black beams shot toward the Qingxuan Jade Bead, but the bead sank into the ground, evading the attack.
The earth trembled violently, forcing everyone to lose their balance.
A massive column of green light burst into the sky, shattering the Yin Fire Array in an instant.
On the high platform, a middle-aged man in Yan family robes sneered. "You think your petty tricks can break my Yanling Fort's Flying Crane Formation? You're dreaming."
He raised a white token, and moments later, a colossal crane descended from the sky, stepping onto the green light column to suppress it.
For a brief moment, the disciples of the six sects felt hope—only for it to be shattered once again.
Another explosion rang out from within the city. A second, even larger beam of green light shot upward, its energy overwhelming the first. The moment the two beams merged, the massive crane vanished, and Yanling Fort's protective formation collapsed.
(End Of Chapter)