Benevolent Elder

After a while, blood seeped from the corners of Chen Huan's mouth, but his vision suddenly cleared—he had broken out of the mountain forest!

"Hahahahahahaha..." Although the Human-Faced Spider was still pursuing him relentlessly, Chen Huan felt an immense sense of relief.

Once out of the forest, it was at most ten miles further to the range of the Yin Underworld Demon Subjugation Array.

If the Human-Faced Spider didn't stop then, it would surely die.

"Pei Ling, that little bastard, almost caused me to fail years of effort." Chen Huan took a moment to glance back, seeing the Human-Faced Spider's eyes were blood red and it showed no signs of giving up. He couldn't help but sneer inwardly, "When I find him later, I'll chop him up and feed him to the Soul Summoning Banner!"

"However, this little bastard accidentally did something good."

"The Human-Faced Spider hasn't calmed down to weigh the pros and cons yet. It's very likely to chase me into the city's protective formation next."

"At that time, I'll collect its corpse. Even if a Foundation Establishment stage demonic beast is annihilated under the formation, any remnant, no matter how small, will be enough for me to make a fortune... just enough to repair the Soul Summoning Banner."

As he thought this, his heart grew even more joyful, and even his injuries seemed to ease slightly.

Just then, a gentle breeze brushed past from the side, and City Lord Duanmu appeared in mid-air.

"City Lord?!" Chen Huan was startled, immediately realizing he probably wouldn't be able to pick up the Human-Faced Spider's spoils. However, he quickly reconsidered: the Blood Burning Great Technique's effect was about to end. Even if he managed to escape into the formation's range, what if the Human-Faced Spider, in its desperation, struck him one last time? Or what if other risks arose? It might lead to unforeseen complications.

Meeting City Lord Duanmu at this moment was not necessarily a bad thing.

He immediately showed a smile and quickly changed direction to greet him, shouting, "City Lord, save me! For some reason, that Human-Faced Spider left its nest and has been chasing me all the way here. It must be exhausted from its long journey, making it a perfect opportunity for the City Lord to strike!"

City Lord Duanmu swept his gaze over Chen Huan and smiled when he saw the Soul Summoning Banner. "Good."

Upon hearing this, Chen Huan's face lit up with joy. He accelerated his pace towards City Lord Duanmu, only to see the latter raise his hand and strike down with a palm.

The strike seemed effortless and weak, yet Chen Huan was violently sent flying back several yards, blood gushing from his mouth! He couldn't even hold onto the Soul Summoning Banner, and it fell from his grasp.

"City Lord, what do you mean by this?!" Chen Huan was greatly alarmed, but still held a sliver of hope. After all, if City Lord Duanmu had wanted to kill him, that blow would have been fatal. The fact that he was only severely injured suggested the City Lord had no intention of killing him.

Thinking this, he focused on studying the other's expression. Seeing that City Lord Duanmu ignored his question and was fixated on the Soul Summoning Banner, Chen Huan's face twitched. Just as he was about to speak, a hand formed from spiritual energy rose behind City Lord Duanmu, grabbed the Soul Summoning Banner, and brought it before the City Lord.

"A good item!" The Soul Summoning Banner had been refined by Chen Huan. In City Lord Duanmu's hand, it naturally resisted, struggling and crying out, trying to fly back to Chen Huan. City Lord Duanmu examined it calmly, stroking his short beard, and praised, "As expected of a high-grade talisman artifact! A mere Qi Refining Stage talisman artifact dares to resist a Foundation Establishment cultivator."

"With such ferocity, it will surely become a cultivator's aid in time."

With that, he flipped his hand, and a formation disk appeared, emitting a dark glow that enveloped the Soul Summoning Banner. In just a breath, Chen Huan felt as if a steel knife had pierced his mind, as if something had been forcibly severed.

He let out a heart-wrenching scream!

Immediately after, he discovered that his connection to the Soul Summoning Banner had been completely severed.

City Lord Duanmu leisurely put away the Soul Summoning Banner, then pointed his finger. From the previously empty ground, several vines as thick as bowls suddenly emerged, binding Chen Huan tightly.

Afterward, he summoned a mass of dark clouds, sat upon it, and floated in mid-air, waiting with a leisurely air.

Not long after, the Human-Faced Spider arrived, its pursuit having led it here. Sensing the aura of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, it hesitated for a moment but then advanced instead of retreating, its ferocity fully unleashed!

"Fellow Daoist, I am the City Lord of Luoshan City. Not far behind me lies the Yin冥伏妖阵." City Lord Duanmu said dismissively, cupping his hands in greeting from atop the cloud. "Although I don't know how these juniors offended you, as the saying goes, it's better to resolve enmities than to create them. Along the way, with your abilities, you've likely killed several. Now, I will give you this Qi Cultivation sixth-layer brat. Let's consider this matter settled, at least for today, how about it?"

Chen Huan's soul nearly fled his body upon hearing this. He screamed, "Duanmu Yan! How dare you!!! A Foundation Establishment cultivator harming a Qi Refining cultivator is bullying the weak! According to the sect's regulations, you..."

"Noisy!" City Lord Duanmu's expression remained unchanged. He reprimanded lightly and waved his hand. Chen Huan felt as if his tongue and mouth were glued shut, rendering him unable to speak.

City Lord Duanmu ignored him and earnestly negotiated with the Human-Faced Spider: "Although this Chen Huan may not be able to compensate for your losses, it is at least a gesture from me. Fellow Daoist, you must be greatly weakened after coming out of the deep mountains to lay eggs. Even if you don't enter the Yin-Net-Devouring-Formation, our realms are comparable. Even with your beastly physique, you won't gain an advantage in a fight between us."

"If my Sacred Sect's experts are alerted, you will surely perish."

"Therefore, let's stop here. It's for the best for both of us."

The Human-Faced Spider hissed from its mouthparts, its limbs waving in the air, seemingly refusing.

"Must you insist on a fight, Fellow Daoist?" Seeing this, City Lord Duanmu couldn't help but sneer. "Do you truly believe that my Duanmu Yan yielding to you means I am easily bullied?!"

Before his words could fall, spiritual energy surged around him, and the formation disk in his hand emanated corpse-like energy, exuding a chilling killing intent!

For a moment, it even suppressed the Human-Faced Spider's fierce aura.

The Human-Faced Spider let out a low growl, its four pairs of legs digging deep furrows into the ground. Sparks flew as they scraped against some rocks, indicating its inner turmoil.

A moment later, it raised its head and let out a piercing shriek, then spat out a web!

City Lord Duanmu watched calmly.

The web descended, covering Chen Huan!

The inherent poison in the Human-Faced Spider's silk instantly burned him all over. Although Chen Huan could no longer make a sound, he couldn't help but twitch in pain.

However, this was still not enough to vent the Human-Faced Spider's rage and hatred. It dragged Chen Huan closer, its legs like knives, and in an instant, severed Chen Huan's limbs, even chewing on his arm in front of him!

As it chewed, its fierce, menacing eyes were fixed on City Lord Duanmu.

City Lord Duanmu toyed with the newly acquired Soul Summoning Banner, a half-smile on his face, his expression unchanged.

The Human-Faced Spider deliberately slowed its eating, consuming Chen Huan's limbs bit by bit. Seeing that City Lord Duanmu remained unhurried, it weighed its options and finally, in a fit of rage, flung the mutilated Chen Huan onto its back and retreated with hatred.

"Farewell, Fellow Daoist." Seeing this, City Lord Duanmu also breathed a sigh of relief. He made a hand seal, and the dying Chen Huan found he could finally speak. He struggled to call out, "City Lord, spare me! The Soul Summoning Banner is my filial offering to the City Lord! I am willing to be your slave, your servant... I am willing to swear a heart demon oath, dedicating my life to serving you and Senior Brother Mingyan, willing to go through fire and water without hesitation... Please, City Lord, spare my life!"

"Please, City Lord, show mercy!!!"

"City Lord... City Lord, I delivered a message for Senior Brother Mingyan. Senior Brother Mingyan and I are like brothers, City Lord!"

"As long as the City Lord spares my life, for all eternity, I am willing to be commanded by the Duanmu family!!!"

City Lord Duanmu stood with his hands behind his back, a smile on his lips, unmoved.

Chen Huan's hopes were utterly crushed, replaced by hysterical curses: "Duanmu Yan! You beast!!! As City Lord of Luoshan City, instead of protecting Sacred Sect disciples, you dare to openly steal treasures and murder! May you die a terrible death!!!"

"And you, Pei Ling, you little brat!!!"

"The Sect's Executive Hall will not let you go!!!"

City Lord Duanmu treated the words like mountain winds passing his ears, completely unconcerned.

He chuckled, his mood pleasant, and flicked his sleeve, once again transforming into a gust of clear wind and returning to Luoshan City.