Encirclement of Ye Zhirou

Ye Zhirou's brows were lowered as she looked at the well-prepared Zhang Ziling before her. She had no idea how she had been exposed.

She clearly had a Qi-Concealing Artifact. Unless a Golden Core Realm cultivator had examined her, there was absolutely no way she could have been discovered.

And she had arrived here less than two hours ago.

Judging by the stance of the group across from her, why did it seem as though they had known from the start that she was coming?

"I have long heard that Fellow Daoist Zhang Ziling, the Violet Beauty Immortal of the Hehuan Seven Beauties, possesses beauty beyond compare. Now that I see you today, your reputation is indeed no exaggeration. Even a woman like me cannot help but be moved!"

Ye Zhirou spoke gently, but she had to think of a way to stall for time.

Even she could not easily break this formation.

And if she directly used her trump card, the Talisman Treasure, to break the formation, how would she later struggle for a chance at survival from the hands of these three...

She had to find a way to seize someone hostage first.

At that moment, Elder Meng chuckled softly and stepped forward. "I heard long ago that the Jade Maiden Sect had a female cultivator who disowned even her own kin. To prevent anyone from using her commoner origins against her, she went back and killed her own parents! All because she did not want anyone threatening her with her mortal father and mother! Hehe, I believe her surname was Ye?"

Elder Liu also laughed, holding out an orchid-finger gesture. "Oh my~ Could this possibly be the Fellow Daoist Ye before us? Fellow Daoist Ye looks like a lotus blooming from the water. Surely you would not possess such a serpent-and-scorpion heart, would you?"

Elder Meng grinned. "Then you do not know. In the Jade Maiden Sect, the one with the most vicious heart is this Ye Zhirou before us. I think that compared to her, we of the demonic path are nothing but clowns leaping on a beam!"

"Previously, when she was injured by someone and saved by a rogue cultivator couple, their son merely said that the righteous path was no different from the demonic path. She slaughtered that entire family of three because of it!!!"

"If that rogue cultivator couple's friend had not escaped into the mountains, he probably would have been wiped out as well. Though the righteous path suppressed the matter, everyone in our demonic path knows about it~"

Hearing this, Elder Liu hugged himself with a look of lingering fear. "Oh my~ How terrifying. She even killed the entire family of her saviors. What a prestigious righteous sect~"

When Ye Zhirou saw that the two of them dared expose her past, she flew into a rage. "Demonic scoundrels, do not try to provoke me! If you have the guts, then come at me!!!"

After saying that, Ye Zhirou released her signature Dharma Artifact: the Three-Leaf Azure Light Sword.

Elder Meng's expression turned grave. Looking at that High-Grade Dharma Artifact, he instinctively retreated to Zhang Ziling's side.

Elder Liu nervously released his Dharma fan. "Elder Zhang... The three of us shall join hands and exterminate this villain here today!!!"

Zhang Ziling made her move, releasing the Ghost Wolf Chain to guard before her.

The chains spun in circles, forming layer upon layer of barriers.

Ye Zhirou raised her head and roared, "Three-Leaf Shadowless, One Becomes Three Thousand!!"

In an instant, a single Three-Leaf Azure Light Sword split into nine.

Then ninety-nine!

Nine hundred and ninety-nine!

They turned into layer upon layer of sword formations, standing behind her.

Fear rose in Elder Meng's heart, and he hurriedly brought out his Wind-Controlling Seal to shield himself. "Hurry!!! What are you standing around for?"

The moment he finished speaking, Zhang Ziling turned the formation disk in her palm.

Ye Zhirou immediately felt heaven and earth spinning, her vision thrown into disorder.

The surroundings before her instantly turned into a boundless desert, with a sandstorm tornado rushing straight at her.

Ye Zhirou snorted coldly and thrust out her sword. Hundreds of Three-Leaf Azure Light Swords shot into the sandstorm like living creatures.

Azure light covered the sky.

With one move, she shattered the desert illusion before her.

"A mere Bewildering Trail Formation thinks it can trap and kill me?"

As Ye Zhirou spoke, the two helpers behind her also released their Dharma Artifacts.

They intended to break the formation from the left and right.

But at that moment, a strange fragrance suddenly appeared in the air.

It was incomparably sweet.

Ye Zhirou's heart jolted. "The Heavenly Fragrance Physique..."

In that instant, it was as though she saw the first light of dawn, mountain mist winding through the air.

A thread of strange fragrance drifted in with the wind.

Fine as silk and ethereal as smoke, it lingered and curled about the air, refreshing the heart and pleasing the mind.

It seemed to drift down from the nine heavens, yet also seemed to escape from the depths of a secluded valley, making one feel broad-minded and carefree, forgetting the troubles of the mortal world.

At the first whiff, it felt as though she had been placed amid a sea of flowers, petals dancing gently and floral fragrance sweeping over her.

Ye Zhirou was briefly dazed.

She subconsciously took two breaths. Upon savoring it carefully, it seemed to carry the charm of secluded orchids, pure and refined.

The fragrance was neither overpowering nor pungent, teasing one's sense of smell with perfect moderation.

It made one unable to resist seeking its source.

Ye Zhirou had never smelled anything so sweet before, and for a moment, she lost herself in it.

"Aaaah!!! Save me..."

Only when one person behind her let out a hysterical scream did Ye Zhirou suddenly snap back to her senses.

She hurriedly raised her sword horizontally, blocking the Ghost Wolf Chain before her face.

Blinding sparks burst forth as the Dharma Artifacts collided.

That was close...

She had nearly fallen prey to that damned woman.

Ye Zhirou fiercely swept her sword aside, flinging away Zhang Ziling's attack.

But Elder Meng and Elder Liu attacked as well.

In the distance, the Hehuan Sect disciples began reinforcing the formation again.

The environment within the formation changed once more.

This time, it became a world of ice and snow.

A bone-piercing gale struck her head-on.

Ye Zhirou turned back toward her two helpers again, but their figures had already vanished.

"You actually dared to plot against me... You bastards! Do not think I will let this go!!!"

As Ye Zhirou spoke, she raised the Three-Leaf Azure Light Sword.

Seeing this, Elder Meng hurriedly shot Elder Liu a meaningful glance.

The two of them nearly simultaneously reduced the amount of spiritual power they were pouring out.

They were sent flying back by a single strike from Ye Zhirou.

Ye Zhirou's brows lowered. Why did these two seem to be intentionally yielding to her?

The next second, Zhang Ziling charged in.

The Ghost Wolf Chain directly locked around Ye Zhirou's left leg.

The two immediately became locked in battle.

Ye Zhirou was shocked by Zhang Ziling's methods. If not for the Heavenly Fragrance Physique, there was absolutely no way Zhang Ziling could have lasted three moves against her.

A mere Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivator actually dared challenge her one-on-one...

Looking at Elder Meng and Elder Liu, who had already retreated to either side, Ye Zhirou's gaze lifted.

Could those two be planning to sell Zhang Ziling out?

But why...

Could it be that they believed Zhang Ziling's death would allow the two of them to take Ye Zhirou down smoothly?

The corners of Ye Zhirou's lips curled up. She could not be bothered with their open strife and secret struggles.

Since that was the case, she would play along with those two fools.

She began pretending to be outmatched, fighting Zhang Ziling back and forth.

As long as she made those two see that she lacked strength, they would not intervene.

To be safe, she even shouted, "Damn it!!! If not for this formation, how could I possibly be restrained by you?"

"A mere Bewildering Trail Formation... Damn it!!"

Zhang Ziling fought more fiercely with every exchange, but she vaguely sensed that something was wrong.

How could she possibly suppress her opponent all by herself?

Looking at the two behind her, Zhang Ziling's brows trembled. Those two actually dared play dirty...

But she could not simply stop fighting.

At the same time, Xiao Yu, who had already hidden far away, saw this scene as well.

Seeing those two slackers loafing around, Xiao Yu was thoroughly displeased. "Damn it... Are those two dogs or what?"