Half-Step Energy Gathering Realm

From afar, a voice called out. Shangguan Xiyun, inside the prisoner cart, heard her elder brother's furious roar and immediately put on an extremely sorrowful expression.

She gripped the bars of the cage with both hands, her body trembling slightly, before finally letting her head droop listlessly.

All of this was observed by Liu He in the distance. The last trace of doubt in Liu He's eyes finally vanished.

Only after they could no longer see each other did a sigh of relief sound from within the cage.

The few people around noticed something was amiss and looked towards Shangguan Xiyun. They saw her sitting casually in the jail cell, but her face showed no sign of the previous sadness and fear.

"Where is Wan Sanhuo?"

When Shangguan Xiyun spoke, the people around were shocked. This woman actually knew?

Feng Hui Mountain had already been burned to the ground. These people clearly weren't the Fierce Wind Bandits; they were the ones who set the fire.

Li Yan had these men impersonate the Fierce Wind Bandits. Since it was their specialty, the men didn't need to act at all, appearing incredibly convincing.

Before long, the cart turned into a forest, and Shangguan Xiyun saw familiar faces.

"Elder Brother Wan!"

As soon as the cage was opened, the young woman actually lunged straight at Li Yan, throwing herself into his arms.

Li Yan was startled by her actions, unsure whether to hug her back or not.

Meanwhile, the people around exchanged glances, a knowing look flashing in their eyes.

"Alright, get down quickly. It's not safe here yet."

"Oh..."

Realizing she had lost her composure, Shangguan Xiyun quickly jumped off Li Yan, her small face flushing as she lowered her head and fell silent.

"Did everything go smoothly?"

Li Yan looked back at the men behind him. They nodded repeatedly, "Smoothly. After all, we're very good at this sort of thing."

They were originally strongmen from Three Fiends Ridge, so their words were entirely accurate.

Li Yan nodded in understanding and casually tossed a porcelain bottle to them, saying, "This is for your trouble."

The men scrambled to catch the bottle, afraid of damaging it.

They had already communicated with their brothers and sisters and knew how terrifying the 'Three Corpses Brain God Pill' could be when it acted up. Therefore, they didn't dare to harbor any other thoughts at that moment.

"Burn the carriage at the foot of Feng Hui Mountain, and then you all wait outside for now."

"Once this matter is completely resolved, we'll be even."

Upon hearing this, the men were stunned, then filled with disbelieving joy.

They were originally free spirits, mountain-claiming overlords, but now they had become dogs that others could summon and dismiss at will. How could they accept this?

Now that Li Yan had explicitly said he would let them go, how could they not be excited?

"Don't celebrate too soon. If I die, all eighteen of you siblings will be buried with me."

A surge of killing intent washed over them, and their hearts tightened. They immediately suppressed their smiles.

Then, Li Yan, with Shangguan Xiyun, turned and left.

"You don't seem scared at all?"

Looking at Shangguan Xiyun, Li Yan felt that she didn't seem like someone who had been kidnapped.

"Yes, because the family that kidnapped me was from my own Shangguan family."

"Hm?"

"Heh~"

Shangguan Xiyun chuckled and explained some things.

The Shangguan family had been established in Dongjiang City for many years. How could they not have citizens with whom they had close relationships?

The day Xu San incited the residents to attack the Shangguan family, Shangguan Liuyun had already received the news. Through deliberate arrangements, the person who abducted Shangguan Xiyun was someone they had intentionally chosen.

After all, knowing the opponent's plan, rather than being constantly worried, Shangguan Xiyun chose to enter the game herself, making the opponent believe they were hesitant to act and thus lowering their guard, buying time.

Fortunately, the time gained was sufficient. Li Yan had returned before the situation escalated.

Before long, inside a karst cave deep in the forest.

"The matter will be resolved soon, but until then, I'll have to trouble you to stay here."

"It will be resolved soon?"

Shangguan Xiyun's brows furrowed deeply. "The situation is very unfavorable for the Shangguan family right now. Although we control the trade routes, as long as Huang Lingyan is willing, it won't take long for merchants to be willing to deal with him."

"Also, I heard... that City Lord Huang might be breaking through to the Energy Gathering Realm..."

Although both sides seemed to have been plotting against each other during this time, it was ultimately because they both had reservations about each other.

If two individuals at the Ninth Level of Meridian Opening were truly pushed to a corner and engaged in a full-blown war, the consequences would be unbearable for Dongjiang City.

However, if someone from one side were to suddenly break through in their cultivation, the situation would be entirely different!

Once the high-end combat power was suppressed, any further schemes below would be in vain. With the news of Huang Lingyan's breakthrough spreading, Shangguan Xiyun couldn't help but feel anxious.

"Alright, you rest for a bit. I still have some matters to attend to."

With that, Li Yan turned and left.

However, he didn't go far, heading to another small cave near the current one.

He intended to break through to the fifth level of the Flower Cultivation and Leaf Nurturing Art!

Meanwhile, on the other side, Shangguan Liuyun and his companion, having learned that the Fierce Wind Bandits had already taken their captive and that further fighting was pointless, could only part ways.

Back at the Shangguan Estate, Shangguan Liuyun walked to a secluded spot, his face a mask of gloom.

"Pfft!"

He spat out a mouthful of blood, flecks of blood crystals mixed within.

During their recent exchange, he had been suppressed by Huang Lingyan's True Qi!

In their many previous encounters, if he hadn't been mindful of the City Lord's reputation, Huang Lingyan would have been no match for him.

But today, even with the seemingly bottomless True Qi from the Flower Cultivation and Leaf Nurturing Art as his backing, Huang Lingyan's True Qi had still managed to injure him...

Good news: he wasn't in the Energy Gathering Realm yet.

Bad news: he was Half-step Energy Gathering.

If he wanted to stop Huang Lingyan, he would truly have to risk his life!

At this moment, Huang Lingyan in the City Lord's Mansion also had a grim expression. The unfathomable depth of the Flower Cultivation and Leaf Nurturing Art far exceeded his expectations.

Beifeng Shahan, at the Half-step Energy Gathering Realm, had failed to achieve his goal in one fell swoop. Shangguan Liuyun must have been on guard, making him more troublesome to deal with next time.

Just then, applause echoed from outside the room.

"Who?"

Huang Lingyan spun around sharply. A figure in black slowly entered, saying, "City Lord Huang, your divine art has made great progress. Truly commendable."

"Who are you? Do you know the penalty for trespassing in the City Lord's Mansion?" Huang Lingyan asked coldly, his hand already gathering small ice crystals, ready to strike.

The person calmly took a token from his bosom and tossed it to Huang Lingyan.

Upon seeing the character "Wu" on the token, Huang Lingyan trembled, his face filled with panic as he looked at the newcomer.

"You! You're from the Wu..."

"Hmm?"

"Are you with the Grand Commandant?"

"Heh, you're quite perceptive. Remember, you can disrespect me, but if you disrespect the Grand Commandant..."

"Never, never. Your Excellency, please see clearly. How could your subordinate dare to commit such treasonous acts?"

"It's good that you're sensible... I actually need your help with something today."

"Please, Your Excellency, speak. Your subordinate will do his utmost."

"Hmm... Outside Duobao Town, there's a place called Dark Cloud Peak. On the mountain, there's a Black Wind Stockade. Those fellows, though mere bandits, were very respectful to the Grand Commandant."

"But a few days ago, they were all killed. The entire mountain was burned."

"Murder and arson, not even a whole corpse was left. They even took the tribute meant for the Grand Commandant."

"Such vicious criminals... I'm asking City Lord Huang to help find them. That's not too much to ask, is it?"

"Not at all, of course not." Huang Lingyan replied, filled with trepidation.

"Very good. Then it's up to you. I heard the one who killed and burned the mountain is called Li Huo. Help me find him."

With that, the black-robed figure turned to leave. But before he departed, he spoke again, "Oh, right, one more thing I'll tell you... those Fierce Wind Bandits, their mountain was also wiped out last night. Burned to the ground with fire~"

Hearing this, Huang Lingyan looked up in astonishment, his face a picture of disbelief.