Shadows of trees swayed, streams murmured, and the roars of wild beasts rang out from time to time, filling this dense forest with the untamed wildness of a primordial jungle.
But this land of Ling Province was far more than a mere primordial forest. Massive carnivores, ranked Demon Beasts, and cultivated spirits were spread throughout it.
Not to mention mortals—even cultivators risked losing their lives when traveling through it.
Song Luding and the others did not wish to delay too long on the road, so they moved swiftly without pausing for a moment.
Yet amid the swaying shadows of the trees, black-robed figures had already formed a pocket, intending to swallow them whole in a single bite!
Song Changsheng seemed to sense something. Frowning, he glanced around and said to Song Luding beside him, "Clan Uncle, I have a bad feeling. It seems as though eyes are watching us."
"Is that so?" Song Luding's heart abruptly sank. A cultivator's intuition was often accurate. Though he had not detected anything unusual for the moment, he was still willing to trust Song Changsheng.
He quietly took out a yellowed talisman from his Universe Bag and said softly to Song Changsheng, "If anything happens later, immediately take the children and leave. We will hold them back."
"No. How could Song Clan Disciples flee in the face of battle? I want to fight alongside you." Song Changsheng firmly refused. He could not be a deserter.
"Foolish! These younger generations are the Lineage's hope for the future. You must bring them safely back to the Lineage. This is an order!" Song Luding roared with a grim expression.
Song Changsheng's expression changed several times before he finally agreed.
Only then was Song Luding satisfied. There was something else he had not said aloud: Song Changsheng was the most important among them. As long as he could return safely, then so be it if these old bones of his were thrown away.
Beneath the gloomy tree shadows, a sinister cold laugh appeared at the corner of the Masked Person's mouth. He shouted, "Attack!"
Boom!
A sheet of bloody light instantly shrouded the sky above Song Changsheng and the others, like an inverted Blood Sea, thick with Killing Intent.
"Break!"
Song Luding had been prepared. At the very first moment, he activated the talisman in his hand. The yellowed Talisman Paper instantly turned to ash, and a brilliant sword light burst forth from it, splitting the Blood Sea overhead into two and reducing it to nothingness.
"A Second-Tier Low-Grade Heaven Sword Talisman. That old thing actually carries such a treasure on him." Seeing his carefully prepared move broken, fury immediately appeared on the Masked Person's face.
Since the ambush had failed, they could only take them head-on!
Black-robed figures emerged from every direction, the Blood Fiend Qi radiating from their bodies startling flocks of forest birds into flight.
"Demonic cultivators." Seeing the black-robed figures slowly closing in, Song Luding's heart immediately sank to the bottom.
There were ten of them in total. Four alone were cultivators at the Qi Condensation Stage, Late Phase, while the masked black-robed figure had reached Qi Condensation Great Perfection. They were simply no match.
They had already discussed matters beforehand, so they did not panic now. Only the children huddled together in terror. How could they ever have seen such a scene?
"Clan Brother, what do we do now?" Song Luzi took out a longsword and asked with a grim face.
"We have already called for aid from the Fifth Elder. We will hold these Demonic Cultivators back for a while and let Changsheng take the children and leave first."
Song Luzi did not respond, merely nodding with a grim expression.
Changjiu and Changying exchanged a glance, each seeing the panic in the other's eyes. But at a time like this, they had no other choice.
"You audacious Demonic Cultivators! Our Song Clan Foundation Establishment Elder is only two hundred li away. Have you grown tired of living?" Song Luding shouted.
"The Song Clan is worth shit." The Masked Person waved a hand dismissively.
"Kill!"
The black-robed figures pounced like tigers descending the mountain. All manner of spells and Magic Artifacts swept over them like a flood.
Song Changsheng immediately brought out the Water-Fire Treasure Gourd, which sprayed roaring flames and instantly forced back several people blocking the path ahead.
"Changsheng, do not linger in battle! Leave at once!" With a great cauldron above his head, Song Luding blocked the Masked Person while shouting.
Song Changsheng unwillingly glanced at the battlefield, then swept his sleeve and used Spiritual Power to wrap up the dozen or so children, fleeing at top speed through the opening they had just created.
The Masked Person immediately shouted, "Capture them and bring them back!"
Five black-robed figures immediately gave up their siege of Song Luzi and the others, pursuing Song Changsheng's group in the direction they had fled.
"Not good, stop them!" Song Luding cried out anxiously.
But they had already been at a disadvantage. How could they possibly stop these Demonic Cultivators? Song Luzi could only risk his life to hold back one Qi Condensation Eighth Layer cultivator, and could do nothing but watch the other four pursue them.
Song Luding was both shocked and furious. He wanted to break away from the battle, but the Masked Person's every move was vicious, leaving him hard-pressed to cope and unable to get away...
Song Changsheng sped through the forest with the others. He only hated himself for not being powerful enough. On his first trip down the mountain, he had already been chased like a stray dog.
Seeing the pursuers draw ever closer, Song Changsheng understood that this could not continue. With so many people in tow, he held no advantage in speed at all.
"One Qi Condensation Ninth Layer, one Qi Condensation Eighth Layer, and two Qi Condensation Fourth Layer cultivators. They really think highly of me." Song Changsheng's expression was ugly.
Splash.
Song Changsheng took out the Talismans he had exchanged before leaving and hurled them at the Demonic Cultivators behind him in a storm.
He did not expect these Talismans to do much to them. It would be enough as long as they delayed their steps for a moment.
Sure enough, the dozen or so Talismans left them scrambling in confusion for a moment. Song Changsheng seized the chance to use a Speed Talisman, widening the distance between himself and the Demonic Cultivators.
The scenery around him swept backward at tremendous speed. Song Changsheng's thoughts raced, and in the end, he decided to make a last stand with his back to the water. As long as he could arrange an Array, he might not be unable to fight them.
His Divine Sense swept out, and he finally discovered a mountain cave. He hurried over, placed all fourteen children inside, and said sternly, "No matter what happens, do not leave this place. Do not make a sound. Understand?"
He left behind all the food and water on him, then took out Formation Flags and swiftly arranged a First-Tier High-Grade Concealment Formation at the cave entrance.
No one below Qi Condensation Great Perfection would ever be able to detect it. They only needed to wait a little longer, and his mother would arrive. Then they would be safe.
After finishing all this, Song Changsheng immediately ran in the opposite direction. As expected, the Demonic Cultivators soon discovered his trail.
"You brat, you can really run. Tell me, where did you hide those children?" The Qi Condensation Ninth Layer Demonic Cultivator asked in a sinister tone.
"Hmph, no comment!" Song Changsheng swept his sleeve, flinging out twelve Formation Flags. The flags swiftly merged into the ground around him according to a mysterious pattern.
He held his breath and focused his mind. With every step he took, a Formation Pattern flashed and disappeared on the ground.
"Not good, he's setting up an Array! Kill him first!" The leading Demonic Cultivator held a jet-black chain. With a forceful swing, it transformed into a nimble venomous snake and shot straight toward Song Changsheng's face.
The others also brought out their own Magic Artifacts, striking at Song Changsheng's vital points.
Facing the attacks rushing toward him, he took out a small silver-white shield to protect himself. It was a First-Tier Mid-Grade Magic Artifact, the Water Element Shield. Once activated, it could transform into an enormous water shield with extremely powerful defensive power, blocking all of their attacks.
Song Changsheng then brought out the Treasure Gourd again, spewing blazing flames that turned the surroundings into a sea of fire and left the others in a wretched state.
His own steps remained steady. As his figure shifted, Formation Patterns gradually linked all the Formation Flags together. He then took out ten Spirit Stones and swiftly threw them into designated positions.
Amid a burst of dazzling radiance, the First-Tier High-Grade Blazing Sun Formation was complete!
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