Laying an Ambush

Xu Yan had just been planning to strike first and kill Tuoba Kan.

Rather than let others carve him up, he would rather fight to the death. Those Aristocratic Clansmen changed their minds faster than they turned the pages of a book, especially in the Immortal Treasury, where life and death were no concern and there were no rules.

Xu Yan didn't believe that once the people from Nine Star Kui Island arrived, they would talk things over amicably with Rogue Cultivators like him.

The sudden appearance of these three Demon Cultivators had thrown Xu Yan's plans into disarray.

He clutched the Green Pattern Sword tightly, his thoughts racing as he considered his options.

The leader of the three Demon Cultivators belonged to the Celestial Fox Lineage of Taihang Mountain. The other two had strange horns on their heads, surging blood qi, and powerful bodies. They were Kui Ox demons from Big Horn Island.

Of course, they claimed to be descendants of the Primordial Era's great demon, the Kui Ox. In truth, there was pitifully little Kui Ox blood in their veins. Their lineage had fled from another province tens of thousands of years ago and taken shelter under the Taiyuan Divine Sect, serving at its every beck and call. They were, quite literally, "working like oxen and horses."

The three demons eyed Xu Yan and the others with ferocious gazes.

The scene froze. No one dared be the first to enter the area of the Ancient Teleportation Array. Activating the ancient array took time, and if someone launched a sneak attack while they were wholly focused, they would be courting death.

"We'll take three spots in this Teleportation Array."

Tushan Jing spoke crisply, with an unmistakable note of authority.

He came from an ancient Aristocratic Clan and was confident in his backing.

Tuoba Kan pursed his lips and replied in a relaxed, even tone, "Friends from Taihang Mountain, there's no need to rush."

Tushan Jing glanced at him and said sharply, "Don't think I won't kill you just because you're a disciple of Nine Star Kui Island."

His Dao Attainment had reached the Fifth Pulse Opening Stage. His body was powerful and his mana vast, while the two Kui Ox demons beside him were at the Fourth Pulse Opening Stage. If he weren't wary of Tuoba Kan's background, he would have attacked long ago.

"Such bold words." Tuoba Kan turned a gloomy gaze on him and sneered. "If Miss Jiu Yuan were here, that would be one thing. But you're just a member of a collateral branch, and you dare to spout such nonsense?"

"You're asking for death!"

At those words, Tushan Jing exploded with rage.

The words he hated most were "collateral branch." It was as if his fate had been decided from the moment he was born.

The bloodline oppression within the Demon Race was far more terrifying than among humans. Those from collateral branches were doomed to serve the direct line all their lives unless they possessed exceptional talent.

Boom!

His eye twitched. He stamped on the ground, crushing a huge crater into the mountaintop as dust billowed around him. Then he charged at Tuoba Kan at astonishing speed.

Tuoba Kan narrowed his eyes. He had no intention of fighting him head-on. Stepping into an evasion technique, he retreated and vanished in an instant.

Tushan Jing's attack struck empty air. His face turned livid as he scanned the surroundings.

Just then, Xu Yan suddenly called out, "Northeast corner, ten zhang away."

Tushan Jing reacted swiftly. He swept his hand out, sending a giant palm formed from mana crashing toward the spot. His immense mana roared, making even the air shriek.

Bang!

Tuoba Kan was forced to reveal himself in a panic. A thunderous crash erupted as the rocks there exploded. He barely managed to dodge, breaking into a cold sweat. Then he glared at Xu Yan with a dark expression and shouted, "Half-Immortal Xu, we're both human! Why are you helping this monster?"

"Who are you calling a monster?"

Tushan Jing flew into a rage and lunged at him, his claws tearing through the air with a terrifying, razor-sharp force.

Tuoba Kan vanished again, his presence disappearing without a trace.

Xu Yan's thoughts stirred. He stepped into Chaos Step and darted away, sending the Green Pattern Sword flying from his palm. It split into six swords, each wrapped in rolling, dark Primordial Chaos Mana and the Green Pattern Sword's own Gale Wind Breath, as they struck toward the southeast.

The attack covered the surrounding area, its power immense!

Tuoba Kan was forced to reveal himself. His eyes widened as he slapped the Qiankun Bag.

A clay-colored jade ruler flew out. With a forceful sweep, he gathered his mana into a rushing torrent that formed a massive shield, blocking Xu Yan's six killing swords!

"Xu Yan, once the people of Nine Star Kui Island arrive, you'll die without a doubt! Stop now and leave, and you may yet survive!" Tuoba Kan shouted, trying to sound fierce.

"You'd better worry about yourself first."

Xu Yan spoke coldly and stirred his divine sense again, splitting off four more Green Pattern Swords!

After reaching the Second Pulse Opening Stage, his divine sense had grown stronger. This was the most swords he could form.

Swords filled the sky, shrieking as their sharpness made the air hum. They fell on Tuoba Kan's mana shield like a violent storm, clanging against it.

At the same time, Tushan Jing charged in, his pupils blood-red.

The two Kui Ox demons also flew over, but they didn't attack. Instead, they blocked Tuoba Kan's escape routes.

Tuoba Kan glanced aside and felt his blood run cold.

He regretted taunting this demon earlier, but there was no remedy for regret in this world.

Tushan Jing held nothing back. His bloodline power burst forth, the veins in his arms bulging as his blood qi and Mystic Qi erupted together. His terrifying palm smashed straight into the shield.

Then he immediately closed in and seized Tuoba Kan by the throat.

"Wait!"

Tuoba Kan cried out in terror. The instant the words left his mouth, Tushan Jing snapped his neck, killing him on the spot.

Tushan Jing removed his Qiankun Bag, then kicked him away like a dead dog. Tuoba Kan fell from the sky and smashed into a heap of bloody pulp.

"Know your place, fool."

A cruel glint flashed in Tushan Jing's eyes as he tossed out the insult.

Elsewhere, Yan Qihu and Yao Yu flew over and landed beside Xu Yan. Their faces were shaken, and they swallowed hard.

After killing Tuoba Kan, Tushan Jing ignored Xu Yan and started walking toward the Ancient Teleportation Array.

"Friends, please wait."

Xu Yan called after Tushan Jing in an even tone.

The murderous look still lingered in Tushan Jing's eyes as he sized Xu Yan up and said coldly, "Don't think I don't know what you're up to. You used me to kill him because you're afraid Nine Star Kui Island will come after you."

"You've misunderstood me, friend. I was going to make a move myself." Xu Yan shook his head with a smile. "But before he died, he used a Gold Whistle Talisman to inform Huangfu Ziyang. That young master of an Aristocratic Clan is at the Sixth Pulse Opening Stage, and he has a group of disciples with considerable strength under his command. They'll probably be here soon. If we use this Teleportation Array to get ahead of them, we'll be in for trouble."

At this, Tushan Jing's expression shifted slightly.

"Judging by the terrain and the flow of the mountain winds, this Teleportation Array can send away at most thirteen cultivators. Rather than let the disciples of Nine Star Kui Island take those spots, we should let others go first."

Xu Yan had just examined the area carefully with his Spirit Eye. Thirteen secondary peaks surrounded the main peak, so he estimated the array could transport thirteen people at most in one go.

If the six of them left first, it was unclear who would get the remaining spots.

Tushan Jing drew a deep breath, his brows furrowing slightly.

He fell silent for several breaths, then asked, "How long until your people arrive?"

"By my estimate, they'll be here in an hour at most."

The three of them hadn't traveled at full speed. They had walked while observing the terrain and the flow of the mountain winds.

After reaching this stone forest, they had taken many detours. Just locating the Ancient Teleportation Array had cost them a great deal of time, so the whole journey had taken nearly half a day. But now that they knew where it was, it wouldn't take long to get here.

"Friends, why don't we set an ambush here together? If the people from Nine Star Kui Island arrive first, we can kill them on the spot and eliminate any future trouble. What do you say?"

Xu Yan laid out his plan.

The people from Nine Star Kui Island had posted notices all over the city and sent their men out to search for Teleportation Arrays. Only that young master and a few subordinates had remained in the city.

Xu Yan reasoned that if the young master planned to come as soon as he received the news, he wouldn't bring many men.

If he planned to wait until his people had gathered before setting out, Fang Che and the others could reach the place first.