Jiang Che, hiding in the alley nearby, wasn’t surprised by the current situation.
After all, this was within the Shenxiao Sect’s territory; it would have been strange if no one noticed what was happening.
Judging by the methods used, the attackers should be disciples from the Shenfu Peak branch.
At this, Jiang Che breathed a sigh of relief—his luck didn’t seem too bad after all.
Now he only needed to wait for this unknown Shenfu Peak disciple to deal with the evil cultivator, and then he could rest easy and return to his ordinary life.
At this moment, Xie Xuan clenched his teeth in rage upon seeing Xu Yan.
He had struggled so hard to reach this level; there was no way he wanted to die here.
Damn it!!!
That bastard actually betrayed me!!!
And that scoundrel Wu Qing couldn’t even stop this guy!!!
Just as Xie Xuan was contemplating how to escape, Xu Yan raised his hand, ready to activate the talisman in his palm.
But Xu Yan seemed to sense something. His brow twitched faintly, and suddenly his figure shot upward, drifting back like a wisp of smoke!
Shh—!
Almost simultaneously with his leap, a sharp, refined pale green spiritual power dart sliced through the night, tearing apart the air where he had just stood, leaving a deep scar about an inch long on the ground and kicking up a small cloud of dust.
Xu Yan’s robes fluttered as he landed lightly, his gaze sharp as lightning, instantly locking onto a spot beneath a nearby eave.
There stood an elegant figure quietly waiting—it was Wu Qing, folding up his fan.
“You still caught up?”
Xu Yan’s tone was calm but carried an unmistakable coldness.
“I told you, you weren’t originally an evil cultivator. Leave now, and I can spare your life.
If you persist in this… then I will have no choice but to kill you.”
Wu Qing flicked open his folding fan with a soft swish, lightly waving it as a trace of helplessness appeared on his face.
“Sigh, when you take money, you naturally have to take on troubles. But… the spot you’re standing on is rather dangerous, you know.”
Before the words had fully left his mouth—
“Vzzz—”
A heavy oppressive force suddenly pressed down from above Xu Yan’s head.
A towering, mountain-like figure hurtled down like a black meteor, engulfed in fierce momentum, crashing from the night sky like a cannonball!
It was Wu Meng!
Xu Yan seemed to have anticipated this; a faint trace of annoyance flickered across his brows.
He remained calm, not even lifting his head, only raising his hand to snap his fingers.
“Vzzz…!”
A talisman silently slid from his sleeve, instantly transforming into a golden rune circle about a foot above his head.
The rune rippled like water, rapidly expanding and solidifying into a pale golden translucent dome, firmly enveloping him!
Boom—!!!
A dull, heart-stopping explosion erupted!
Wu Meng’s fist, capable of shattering stones and splitting monuments, carried immense force and slammed hard against the seemingly fragile dome!
However, the pale golden dome only flickered violently with bright flashes, while the floor beneath Xu Yan instantly caved in and cracked.
Ripples on the dome spread rapidly.
“Ugh…!”
Wu Meng’s mouth twitched involuntarily, and in an instant, he was flung backward.
That single hit left Wu Meng’s arm tingling numb.
He had waited a long time at a distance before Wu Qing finally allowed him to strike.
“Boss, why did you have to warn him? Do you think I’m an evil cultivator or something? I was holding back all this time at a distance because of you.
And why only let me out now?”
Wu Meng shook his numb arm. By this time, Wu Qing had already leapt to his side.
His fan lightly tapped Wu Meng’s head as he lowered his voice and said, “Are you stupid? Didn’t you watch that kid closely? If you’d gone out immediately, that guy would have been suspicious.
Besides, we’re not evil cultivators. No need to go all out—just support this Young Immortal Lord, and that’s enough.”
“Oh yeah, haha! Look at my brain.”
Wu Qing glanced at his brother and sighed helplessly.
They clearly shared the same genes, after all.
But he quickly shifted his gaze back to Xu Yan.
At this moment, Xu Yan was casually brushing dust off his robes, his expression utterly calm.
“I’ve heard that in recent years, the Shenfu Peak branch of the Shenxiao Sect gained a genius.
He entered the sect already in the Foundation Establishment Stage and, although he cultivates Sword Dao, quickly surpassed many senior brothers in talisman crafting and has now reached the late Foundation Establishment Stage.
I assume you must be this new prodigy of the Shenxiao Sect—Xu Yan, the third young master of the General’s Estate of the Dayan Dynasty, right?”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Che, still hidden in the alley, was secretly startled.
He had only left the Shenxiao Sect three years ago but was still aware of some developments.
The Xu Family of the General’s Estate—General Xu Zhan was already at the level of Martial Arts Grandmaster, a key contributor to the current Female Emperor’s territorial expansion in the Dayan Dynasty.
Rumor had it that he did have a third son, but this son was born to a courtesan in a brothel.
After Xu Yan was taken back home, although his father granted him status, his mother was not given any official recognition, and his identity was forbidden from being spoken about.
Don’t ask how Jiang Che knew this—there was someone he struggled to face, who would tell Jiang Che these things when leaving him behind.
Xu Yan now looked at Wu Qing with a hint of surprise.
He hadn’t expected someone here to know so much about him, but he didn’t think the other party was a fan.
He pinched another talisman between his fingers.
“Looks like the two of you really want to tangle with me to the end…”
Just as Xu Yan prepared to strike.
Suddenly!
A chill swept down his back.
Then, a withered, ugly hand “pshht” pierced through his chest.
Blood sprayed out like a bursting water sac, instantly staining Xu Yan’s black Dao robe crimson.
The wrinkled, grotesque face behind him twisted into a crazed grin.
“Hehehe, I say, Young Immortal Lord! You’re only late Foundation Establishment Stage, and you’re fighting three of us, all Foundation Establishment as well. How can you be so careless?”
Xie Xuan’s heart raced wildly. Finally! He’d succeeded! What was the Shenfu Peak prodigy now?
Wasn’t this a sacrificial offering delivered right to his hands?
But the sensation at his fingertips… felt strange.
Xie Xuan’s triumphant grin instantly froze.
Xu Yan suddenly vanished from where he stood.
He ground his teeth in fury.
“Damn! I hate talisman cultivators the most—so many tricks!”
At this moment, Xu Yan’s figure silently hovered in midair.
Clearly, he had just used a Substitute Talisman.
Jiang Che by now had formed a rough picture of the scene.
It seemed that the three evil cultivators were about to be in serious trouble.
He could already sense the killing intent quietly emanating from the calm Xu Yan.
But Jiang Che didn’t want Wu Qing to be killed.
After all, Wu Qing had helped him in the end, and he still owed him a favor.
Suspended midair, Xu Yan’s dark robe moved as if stirred by a breeze that wasn’t there.
He no longer spoke, nor did he glance at the three on the ground with their varying expressions.
His left arm lifted slightly.
Vzzz—
An invisible tremor radiated outward from him, as if the air itself had been instantly compressed.
In an instant, dozens—perhaps hundreds—of talismans materialized out of thin air!
Pale yellow talisman papers pulsed with flowing rune patterns, strands of dangerous energy waves converging and emitting a visible, eerie spiritual light.
Wu Qing’s face grew grave.
He understood—this time, Xu Yan was truly going all out.