Half-step Energy Gathering Realm

From afar came a voice. Hearing her Elder Brother's furious roar, Shangguan Xiyun in the prison cart immediately put on an utterly heartbroken expression.

Her hands gripped the cage bars as her body trembled slightly, before her head finally drooped helplessly.

All of this fell into Liu He's eyes in the distance, and the last trace of suspicion in his gaze finally dissipated.

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

The people around her noticed something strange and could not help looking at Shangguan Xiyun, only to see her sitting casually in the cage. Where was the grief and terror from before on her face?

"Where is Wan Sanhuo?"

The moment Shangguan Xiyun spoke, the people around her were all startled. This woman actually knew?

Feng Hui Mountain had already been burned to ashes. Naturally, these people could not be Fierce Wind Bandits—they were the ones who had set the fire.

Li Yan had told them to masquerade as Fierce Wind Bandits. Their line of work was a perfect match, and they did not even need to act to make it look utterly convincing.

Before long, the cart turned into a patch of woods, and Shangguan Xiyun saw familiar faces.

"Elder Brother Wan!"

The moment the cage was unlocked, the girl actually threw herself straight at Li Yan, crashing into his arms.

Li Yan was startled by her action as well. Holding her was wrong, but not holding her was wrong too.

The few people nearby instead exchanged glances, meaningful looks flickering through their eyes.

"Enough, get down quickly. It still isn't safe here."

"Oh..."

Perhaps realizing that she had lost her composure, Shangguan Xiyun hastily jumped down from Li Yan, lowered her flushed little face, and said nothing more.

"Did everything go smoothly?"

Li Yan looked toward the people behind him. They nodded repeatedly. "Smoothly. After all, we're quite skilled at this sort of thing."

They had originally been outlaws from Three Fiends Ridge, so there was nothing wrong with saying that.

Li Yan nodded in understanding and casually tossed them a porcelain bottle. "This is your reward."

The group hurriedly caught the porcelain bottle in a flurry of hands, afraid that it might get chipped or damaged.

They had been in contact with their brothers and sisters and knew how terrifying the Three Corpses Brain God Pill was when it acted up. Thus, they did not dare entertain any other thoughts now.

"Take the carriage below Feng Hui Mountain and burn it. Then wait outside for the time being."

"Once this matter is completely settled, we'll be quits."

At those words, they were all stunned, followed by joy so great they could scarcely believe it.

They had originally been free and unfettered outlaws, kings of their own mountains. Yet now they had become dogs at another's beck and call. How could they possibly accept that?

Now that Li Yan had plainly said he would let them leave, how could they not be thrilled?

"Don't celebrate too early. If I die, all eighteen of you brothers and sisters will be buried with me."

Killing intent surged toward them head-on. Their hearts tightened, and they immediately wiped the smiles from their faces.

Li Yan then turned and left with Shangguan Xiyun.

"You don't seem afraid at all?"

Looking at Shangguan Xiyun, Li Yan felt that this girl did not resemble someone who had been kidnapped in the slightest.

"That's right, because the people who kidnapped me were from a household close to my Shangguan Family."

"Hmm?"

"Hehe~"

Shangguan Xiyun chuckled and explained a few things.

The Shangguan Family had put down roots in Dongjiang City for many years. How could there be no common folk on good terms with their family?

That day, when Xu San incited the residents to storm the Shangguan Family, Shangguan Liuyun had received the news long ago. Through deliberate arrangements, the people who abducted Shangguan Xiyun became people they had arranged beforehand.

Since they already knew the other side's plan, rather than being watched day after day, Shangguan Xiyun chose to enter the game herself, making the other side believe they would refrain from rash action for fear of harming the hostage and thereby lower their guard, buying time.

Fortunately, they had bought enough time. Li Yan had ultimately returned before the matter erupted.

Before long, inside a cavern deep within the woods.

"There will soon be a result, but before that, I'll have to trouble you to stay here for a while."

"There'll soon be a result?"

Shangguan Xiyun's brows furrowed deeply. "The current situation is very unfavorable to the Shangguan Family. Although we control the trade routes, as long as Huang Lingyan is willing, it will not take long before merchant caravans are willing to deal with him."

"Besides, I've heard... that City Lord Huang may be about to break through to the Energy Gathering Realm..."

Though the two sides seemed to have been plotting against each other during this period, in the final analysis, it was because they each feared the other.

If two Ninth Level of Meridian Opening cultivators were truly driven into a dead end and fought a battle that completely tore off all pretenses, Dongjiang City could not bear the consequences.

But if one side's cultivation suddenly broke through, the situation would become entirely different!

Once high-level combat power was suppressed, no amount of scheming below would become nothing but empty air. Now that news of Huang Lingyan's breakthrough had spread, Shangguan Xiyun could not help being anxious.

"Alright, rest first. I still have some matters to handle."

With that, Li Yan turned and left.

However, he did not go far, only to another small cave near this cavern.

He was going to break through the fifth layer of the Flower Cultivation and Leaf Nurturing Art!

On the other side, having learned that the Fierce Wind Bandits had already taken the person away, Shangguan Liuyun and the other man could only depart separately. There was no point in continuing the fight.

After returning to the Shangguan residence, Shangguan Liuyun walked to an empty place with a gloomy expression.

Pfft!

He suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, mixed with tiny crystals of blood.

In their exchange just now, he had been suppressed by Huang Lingyan's True Qi!

The two had fought many times in the past. If not for his regard for the City Lord's dignity, Huang Lingyan would not have been his match.

But today, even with the unfathomably deep True Qi of the Flower Cultivation and Leaf Nurturing Art to rely on, Huang Lingyan's True Qi had still injured him...

The good news was that Huang Lingyan had not yet reached the Energy Gathering Realm.

The bad news was that he had reached the Half-step Energy Gathering Realm.

If Shangguan Liuyun wanted to stop Huang Lingyan, he truly could only risk his life!

At this moment, Huang Lingyan's expression in the City Lord's Mansion was not good either. The unfathomable nature of the Flower Cultivation and Leaf Nurturing Art had far exceeded his expectations.

Even Beifeng Shahan, at the Half-step Energy Gathering Realm, had failed to succeed in one stroke. Shangguan Liuyun must have been prepared, so dealing with him next time would be rather troublesome.

Just then, applause sounded outside the room.

"Who is it?"

Huang Lingyan suddenly turned around. A man in black slowly walked in. "City Lord Huang, your divine art has advanced greatly. This is truly cause for celebration."

"Who are you? Do you know the crime for trespassing into the City Lord's Mansion?" Huang Lingyan spoke coldly, specks of ice crystals already gathering in his hand as he prepared to strike at any moment.

The man remained unhurried. He took a token from his robes and tossed it into Huang Lingyan's hand.

When he saw the character "Martial" on the token, Huang Lingyan's entire body trembled, and he looked at the newcomer with a face full of panic.

"You! You are from the Martial..."

"Hmm?"

"You are one of Grand Commandant's people?"

"Hehe, you do have some discernment. Remember, disrespecting me is one thing, but if you disrespect Grand Commandant..."

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare. My lord, please see clearly—how could this subordinate dare commit such a treasonous act?"

"You know what's good for you... Today, there is something I need your help with."

"Please speak, my lord. This subordinate will certainly do everything in his power."

"Mm... Outside Duobao Town is a place called Dark Cloud Peak. There is a Black Wind Stockade on the mountain. Though those people were merely bandits, they were quite respectful toward Grand Commandant."

"However, a few days ago, those people were slaughtered to the last man, and the entire mountain was burned."

"Murder and arson—no whole corpses were left behind. They even took away the things meant to be offered to Grand Commandant."

"Is it too much to ask City Lord Huang to help find such vicious criminals?"

"Not at all, of course not." Huang Lingyan answered in fearful trepidation.

"Very good. Then I'll leave it to you. I heard that the one who murdered and burned the mountain was called Li Huo. Help find him."

With that, the black-robed man turned to leave. But before departing, he spoke again. "Oh, right, there's something I should tell you... those Fierce Wind Bandits had their mountain slaughtered last night as well, and it too was burned clean with a single fire~"

Hearing this, Huang Lingyan raised his head in astonishment, his face filled with disbelief.