Disturbances Arise

"It's her? Situ Qingqing!"

When Fang Xi saw Situ Qingqing, his movements didn't falter for a moment. He passed by her as if he were an ordinary passerby.

However, after she passed, Fang Xi suddenly felt a bit nervous.

This was because several Qi Refining cultivators in the mid to late stages were gathered around Situ Qingqing, forming a circle and heading towards the cave dwelling area.

"Enforcement team cultivators? And they're acting sneakily instead of openly... a secret mission?"

Fang Xi felt his scalp tingle and instinctively moved towards the marketplace exit.

Something big might be happening. His first reaction was to run away to Da Liang and stay there for a few years.

However, his reaction was a bit too late.

He had just reached the edge of the thin mist when his expression suddenly sharpened, and he quickly retreated!

Buzz buzz!

The faint mist that had been shrouding the marketplace was rapidly thickening. A powerful spiritual energy fluctuation emanated outwards, and numerous colorful talismans, like little fish, swam leisurely in the dense fog, each carrying extreme danger.

"What's going on?"

"This is Green Bamboo Mountain Market's protective array—the second-tier Azure Water Array! Why would it suddenly activate at full power?"

A rogue cultivator exclaimed anxiously on the spot.

Green Bamboo Mountain Market's array normally operated at minimum consumption, only activating when something major occurred.

Now, with it suddenly operating at full power and sealing the entire marketplace, something was clearly wrong!

Especially some rogue cultivators who had been hiding their identities became as anxious as ants on a hot pan: "Where are the Situ Family members? Come out and give us an explanation! Let us out!"

"Everyone, please don't panic!"

At this moment, a group wearing uniform black robes and flying on swords, clearly Situ Family enforcement cultivators, appeared in mid-air. They shouted loudly using amplification spells: "The array in the marketplace is being activated today solely to apprehend rogue cultivators. All fellow cultivators, please remain where you are and do not move about!"

Within the fully activated second-tier array, even cultivators at the peak of Qi Refining couldn't fly their magic tools.

Only the Situ Family enforcement team, with authorization and recognition, could!

Upon hearing this, Fang Xi suddenly thought of Situ Qingqing, whom he had just met, and his expression became even more solemn.

Not long after, he saw those enforcement cultivators surrounding several buildings, including the Hundred Skills Tower.

Boom!

Clang clang clang!

The sounds of spell explosions and magic tool clashes erupted!

Suddenly, another loud noise was heard. The entire Hundred Skills Tower collapsed, turning into ruins.

Several streams of light shot out from the ruins, with Steward Qi Liu at the forefront!

"Hmph, your Qi Family dares to make a move against my Situ Family?"

The leader of the Situ Family enforcement cultivators roared angrily.

"Hahaha... The Situ Family is unrighteous. Our sect has issued an order, and all families shall join forces against it!"

Although Qi Liu had some bloodstains on his chest, he wielded a bronze bell magic tool, firmly protecting himself and those behind him. His voice spread far and wide: "Red Leaf Valley has already been annihilated... Your Situ Family is next!"

Not long after, several other voices rang out simultaneously: "By order of the sect, we shall exterminate the Situ Family!"

Looking at the locations from which the voices originated, they were the Heavenly Talisman Hall, Ming Qing Pavilion, and other major buildings.

From these buildings, several late-stage Qi Refining cultivators rushed out and engaged in battle with the Situ Family's enforcement team.

"These major powers have actually joined forces..."

An old cultivator murmured in astonishment, "The heavens... are about to change!"

Those who could open shops in Green Bamboo Mountain Market had at least Foundation Establishment forces backing them.

Now, with several of them causing trouble for the Situ Family simultaneously, didn't that mean the Situ Family would face several enemies of equivalent strength?

Moreover... the mention of a sect order was truly thought-provoking.

"Yes... the heavens are about to change, and this is precisely our opportunity! Brothers? What are you waiting for? Let's loot!"

A cultivator who had concealed his appearance had a blood-red glint in his eyes, clearly cultivating an unorthodox technique. After letting out a jubilant roar, he charged towards a certain magnificent building.

For countless rogue cultivators, a chaotic marketplace was an opportunity they might never encounter in their lifetime!

'Damn it... why is it such a coincidence?'

Fang Xi felt incredibly frustrated.

He never expected that his trip to buy pills would coincide with the Situ Family's confrontation with these rebellious forces.

Fortunately, with his golden finger for escaping, Fang Xi wasn't too panicked.

He carefully observed his surroundings. In the marketplace, only the Situ Family enforcement team and the rebellious forces were engaged in fierce combat.

The rogue cultivators, who were not affiliated with either side, actually accounted for over eighty percent!

But someone's shout threw everyone into disarray, causing scattered unrest to emerge, with greater chaos brewing.

Seeing this, Fang Xi did not, as he had in his dreams, go to seize the Pill Cauldron Pavilion. Instead, he walked towards a less crowded area.

He had a cheat, and immortality was within reach, so he wouldn't risk it for a small profit.

Even if there was a Foundation Establishment Pill in the Pill Cauldron Pavilion... he wouldn't consider it!

After all, his cultivation was too low!

As he walked, Fang Xi activated his Camouflage Cloak, doing his best to lower his presence.

He also took out his Ghost Head Saber and held the Bone Piercing Nail in his hand, ready to strike at any moment.

Only when he reached the edge of the array, far from the marketplace, did Fang Xi stop and begin to ponder:

"Before, the Ming Qing Pavilion was also among the rebel forces... As far as I know, Yunmeng Fairy seems to have some connection to this pavilion... And Shen Haoran, this person has a deep connection with the Heavenly Talisman Hall... Chen Ping... It's possible that Situ Qingqing found a clue from Chen Ping and then uncovered evidence of the rebel forces?"

Although the rebel forces were making a lot of noise now, Fang Xi was certain that the Situ Family still held the upper hand!

The evidence was the Azure Water Array, fully activated before him!

With the aid of this Tier 2 array, even a Foundation Establishment cultivator would be severely injured within it!

Not to mention that the main figures of the major powers in the marketplace were only at the late Qi Refining and Great Perfection stages.

Rumble!

As expected, it wasn't long before dense clouds and mist rolled in again.

Innumerable restrictive runes converged, transforming into small, colorful balls that descended from the sky, precisely striking the rebel cultivators.

These small, colorful balls appeared unremarkable, but each hit was equivalent to the full power attack of a Great Perfection Qi Refining cultivator!

Buzz!

Qi Liu's bronze bell magic tool let out a mournful cry as its light shield was hit. The magic tool itself even showed a crack.

"Damn it... Yunmeng Fairy, why aren't you making a move yet?"

He looked in the direction of the Ming Qing Pavilion.

Over there, Yunmeng Fairy was manipulating a colorful ribbon, conjuring countless flower petals to trap Situ Qingqing and the other law enforcement cultivators.

And her cultivation had surprisingly reached the late Qi Refining stage!

It was clear that her previous cultivation might have been a disguise!

This woman must have mastered an extremely advanced technique for concealing her aura!

"Hehe... Shopkeeper Qi, no need to rush, our reinforcements have arrived!"

Yunmeng Fairy smiled charmingly.

As if to echo her words, the Azure Water Array suddenly rippled, and a layer of mist dispersed, revealing colorful, translucent restrictions.

Outside the restrictions, a black giant sword several dozen feet long was fiercely attacking the entire array!

The one controlling this giant sword was a barefoot man in black. His scruffy stubble framed eyes that shone with sharp light, exuding a terrifying aura.

"Foundation Establishment cultivator!"

Seeing this, Fang Xi instinctively flinched.

The barefoot man in black's face was as cold as iron. He suddenly beckoned, and the black giant sword hovered above the magic array. The tip of the sword began to burn with black flames, and terrifying magical fluctuations spread out.

"Alas... it's been decades, Daoist Long, and you've indeed advanced to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage!"

At this moment, a figure in green flew out from the marketplace, standing against the wind. His voice spread in all directions.

It was a Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Situ Family!

He wore a green Daoist robe, was gaunt, and often had a look of distress on his face. He said loudly, "Since Daoist Long sees me here, you should know that your plans have all come to naught... I am not talented, and although I am only at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage, with this Tier 2 great array, blocking you poses no problem whatsoever!"

As this Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Situ Family appeared, all the rogue cultivators in the marketplace felt as if they had been doused with a bucket of cold water. All thoughts of rebellion vanished, and the original trend of chaos was quickly halted!

That's right!

Even if they could rob their way to wealth, they were still within someone else's array, and the Situ Family had a Foundation Establishment cultivator guarding it. How could they escape?

Once rationality took over, the chaos gradually subsided.

'Wrong!'

At this moment, Fang Xi felt his hair stand on end.

'It seems the Situ Family received news and took the initiative, even ambushing a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator beforehand. But that barefoot man in black shows no intention of retreating. He must have another trump card!'

Just as Fang Xi was contemplating what that trump card might be, he suddenly saw a beam of blood-red light fly out from the marketplace and land on the Azure Water Array.

The blood-red light exploded, revealing a talisman within, emitting streaks of silver ripples that distorted the array's operational fluctuations...

"This is..." Fang Xi voiced his guess: "A Forbidden Breaking Talisman?! A Tier 2 Forbidden Breaking Talisman?! How is that possible?"

If Tier 1 Forbidden Breaking Talismans were considered relatively common, Tier 2 Forbidden Breaking Talismans were practically strategic resources. They rarely appeared on the market, and once sold, relevant news and intelligence would inevitably spread.

At least, the Situ Family wouldn't be caught off guard!

But all of this was happening before his eyes!

Buzzing!

The Forbidden Breaking Talisman is specifically designed to break arrays, let alone this one, which detonated from within the array, making its power even greater!

In an instant, amidst the roars of the Situ Family's Foundation Establishment cultivators, the Azure Water Array collapsed layer by layer. Countless wisps of mist dispersed, and the colorful restriction runes shattered into pieces...

"The Situ Family's luck has run out!"

The burly man in black with bare feet, who had been waiting outside, let out a cold laugh. His massive black sword fell straight down!

Boom!

Within the marketplace, the largest building was instantly split in two.

The rogue cultivators, who had been intimidated earlier, now had red eyes and began to fight wildly again. True chaos had erupted, and... it could no longer be contained!

Under the lure of great profit, any rogue cultivator can become a bandit cultivator!

This is the world of cultivation!