Interception, Five Foundation Establishment Cultivators

The one who spoke was Ji Haoyuan.

Indeed.

If some other Tier 2 spell had been up for auction, he might not have cared so much.

But a Tier 2 Lightning Law was something one could only stumble upon by chance, never seek out. It was among the most offensively powerful of all Tier 2 spells.

Especially in the possible War of the Two Sects to come.

Lightning Law was an unrivaled means of restraining those Demonic Cultivators.

Therefore.

So long as there was a chance, he had no intention of letting that Tier 2 Crimson Firmament Heavenly Thunder slip away.

When those present heard the name Earthen Profound Fruit, many of their expressions shifted, surprise rising in their hearts.

Clearly, most of them knew that the Earthen Profound Fruit was no ordinary Second Order Earth-element spiritual item.

Not only could it serve as an auxiliary ingredient for refining Foundation Establishment Pills, it could also help cultivators rapidly comprehend Earth-element spells. Among all Second Order Earth-element Natural Spiritual Items, it was one of the rarest and most valuable.

Even Xue Yuling, standing on the auction stage, could not help glancing toward Ji Haoyuan.

Very soon, she smiled and said, "Is there anyone else who wishes to offer a price higher than the Earthen Profound Fruit?

"If not, then Earthen Profound Fruit, once. Earthen Profound Fruit, twice. Earthen Profound Fruit, three times!

"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist. This Jade Slip containing the Second Order Lightning Law, Crimson Firmament Heavenly Thunder, is yours."

Before long, someone delivered the Jade Slip inscribed with Crimson Firmament Heavenly Thunder to Ji Haoyuan.

Ji Haoyuan gave it a brief inspection. Once he confirmed that the contents of the Jade Slip were correct, he put it away.

After the visitor left, Ji Haoyuan and Ji Bochang did not delay any longer and immediately prepared to leave.

However, as they stepped out of the Private Room, Ji Haoyuan could not help looking at Bai Qingshuang, who had remained outside the entire time. After some thought, he said to her,

"Qingshuang, you and I have met twice in succession. That counts as fate, more or less.

"What do you plan to do next? Continue staying in Crimson Cloud Immortal City, or return with me?"

He knew very well that after their performance at the Auction, the chances of being targeted were practically one hundred percent.

Bai Qingshuang had been their guide. If they simply left her here, she would inevitably run into trouble afterward, perhaps even misfortune.

Moreover, she had left a good impression on him.

Ji Haoyuan did not mind giving her an opportunity.

Bai Qingshuang had clearly not expected Ji Haoyuan to invite her to leave with him.

Earlier, she had still been worrying about where she should hide for a while after this Auction ended.

After all, although she did not fully understand what had happened at the Auction just now, she had still picked up on some of it.

She guessed that Ji Haoyuan and Ji Bochang would most likely be targeted.

And as their guide, if those people could not find Ji Haoyuan and Ji Bochang, they might turn their attention to her instead.

After all, she was merely a Qi Refining Novice. If someone truly wished to do something to her, then even in Crimson Cloud Immortal City, she would have no room to resist.

But now...

Upon hearing Ji Haoyuan's words, she almost did not need to think before nodding happily.

"Many thanks, Senior. Qingshuang is willing to go with Senior!"

"Good!

"Then there is no time to lose. Let us set out at once!"

Ji Haoyuan said no more. After nodding in agreement, he quietly left the Auction venue with Bai Qingshuang and Ji Bochang.

The moment they stepped out of the Exquisite Treasure Pavilion, Ji Haoyuan's Spiritual Sense sharply detected several exceedingly concealed auras appearing behind them.

Ji Haoyuan paid them no heed.

Instead, he continued onward with Ji Bochang, swiftly heading out of Crimson Cloud Immortal City.

After they left Crimson Cloud Immortal City and flew onward for some time, two figures suddenly blocked their path.

The newcomers were a man and a woman, each wearing a Silver Mask.

The masks seemed capable of blocking Spiritual Sense, making it impossible to see their true faces for the moment.

Ji Bochang's expression immediately changed.

He knew that once the two of them left Crimson Cloud Immortal City, they would inevitably encounter someone blocking their way.

But he had not expected the enemies to come from ahead rather than behind them.

Did that not mean...

The instant the thought arose, Ji Bochang and Ji Haoyuan simultaneously sensed three Foundation Establishment auras rapidly closing in from behind them.

Those three also wore masks capable of concealing them from Spiritual Sense.

A full five Foundation Establishment cultivators had surrounded Ji Haoyuan's group of three from five different directions.

Ji Bochang's expression immediately turned extremely grim.

Clearly, he had never expected so many people to target them this time.

Five Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Though none of their auras had reached Foundation Establishment Late Stage, there were three at Foundation Establishment Middle Stage and two at Foundation Establishment Early Stage.

Such a lineup was enough to cause even a Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivator considerable trouble.

"Fellow Daoists, what is the meaning of this?"

Ji Bochang was the first to speak in a deep voice.

At the same time, he did not forget to transmit his voice to Ji Haoyuan, telling him to act according to the circumstances.

If there was truly no other option, he was to use that Talisman Treasure.

No matter what, Ji Haoyuan had to leave this place alive.

Ji Haoyuan did not reply. Instead, his gaze suddenly fell upon a burly man among the five, and a trace of chill entered his voice.

"You are Han Penghu of the Han Family?

"What? Since when did the dignified Han Family, a Foundation Establishment Family, learn to play at being Rogue cultivators?"

The moment he spoke, the burly man and the other cultivators surrounding them all showed slight tremors in their eyes.

Clearly, none of them had expected Ji Haoyuan to expose one of their identities at a glance.

Ji Bochang's face filled with anger as he stared coldly at the burly man.

"Han Penghu, it really is you?"

Though Ji Bochang was not surprised in his heart that members of the Han Family would take part in this interception against them.

On the surface, however, the appropriate reaction could not be lacking.

But Han Penghu—the burly man—quickly recovered from his initial shock and burst into laughter. In a hoarse voice that did not belong to him at all, he said,

"What Han Penghu? I do not know what you are talking about.

"But I do know that there is only one reason we have stopped you this time."

At this point, a vicious gleam suddenly flashed in Han Penghu's eyes.

"Hand over every Storage Pouch on you, along with all your spiritual artifacts and treasures!

"If you do, we may yet let you leave.

"Otherwise..."

In that instant, Han Penghu and the other four all erupted with icy killing intent.

Terrifying fluctuations of spiritual power firmly locked onto Ji Haoyuan and Ji Bochang.

Bai Qingshuang, however, was not targeted by the five.

Clearly, in their eyes, a mere Qi Refining Novice was not worth their attention.

Ji Bochang was about to say more, but Ji Haoyuan beside him had already ceased speaking and directly chose to strike.

In an instant, a spear resembling a Fire Serpent, blazing with raging flames, ignored everyone's aura locks and pierced through the chest of a Tall and Thin Man at Ji Haoyuan's side before anyone could react!