Encirclement of Ye Zhirou

Ye Zhirou's brows and eyes darkened 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 cultivator of the Golden Core Realm investigated her, it should have been absolutely impossible for anyone to discover her.

Besides, she had arrived here less than two hours ago.

Judging by the stance of the people opposite her, how did it seem as though they had known from the start that she was coming?

"I had long heard that Fellow Daoist Zhang Ziling, Fairy Zi among the Hehuan Seven Beauties, possessed beauty beyond compare. Seeing you today, your reputation truly does not disappoint. Even I, a woman, find my heart moved."

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

Even she could not break this formation easily.

And if she directly used her trump-card talisman treasure to break the formation, how would she then fight for a chance of survival against these three people...

She had to find a way to take one of them hostage first.

At that moment, Elder Meng smiled softly and stepped forward. "I heard before that the Jade Maiden Sect had a female cultivator who recognized neither kin nor kinship. To keep others from using her commoner origins against her, she personally went back and killed her own parents! All so no one could threaten her using her mortal father and mother! Hehe, I believe her surname was Ye?"

Elder Liu also smiled, holding up an orchid finger. "Oh my~ Could this be Fellow Daoist Ye before us? Fellow Daoist Ye looks like a lotus blooming from the water. Surely she could not possess such a serpent's and scorpion's heart, could she?"

Elder Meng grinned. "Then you do not know. In the Jade Maiden Sect, the most vicious-hearted person is this very Ye Zhirou. I think our demonic path looks like a troupe of clowns before her!"

"Previously, she was injured by someone else and rescued by a Rogue Cultivator couple. Just because their son said that the righteous path and the demonic path were not much different, she slaughtered all three members of that family!!!"

"If that Rogue Cultivator couple's friend had not fled into the mountains, she would likely have exterminated him too. Though those righteous hypocrites suppressed the matter, everyone in our demonic path knows about it~"

Upon hearing this, Elder Liu hugged herself with a frightened expression. "Oh my~ How terrifying. She even killed the entire family of those who saved her life. What a fine righteous sect indeed~"

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

After speaking, Ye Zhirou released her signature artifact: the Three-Leaf Azure Light Sword.

Elder Meng's expression turned grave. Looking at that high-grade artifact, he instinctively retreated to Zhang Ziling's side.

Elder Liu nervously released her magical fan. "Elder Zhang... the three of us must join forces and destroy this thief here today!!!"

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

The chains spun, forming layer upon layer of barriers.

Ye Zhirou raised her head and roared, "Three-Leaf Shadowless, one becomes three thousand!!"

In an instant, one Three-Leaf Azure Light Sword abruptly became nine.

Then ninety-nine!

Nine hundred and ninety-nine!

They transformed into layers upon layers of sword formations, standing behind her.

Alarm rose in Elder Meng's heart. He hurriedly took out his Wind-Controlling Seal and held it before himself. "Hurry!!! What are you standing around for?"

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

Ye Zhirou immediately felt the sky spin and the earth turn, her vision thrown into chaos.

The surroundings before her instantly became a boundless desert, with a sandstorm tornado charging straight at her.

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

Azure light blotted out the sky.

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

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

After Ye Zhirou spoke, her two helpers behind her also released their artifacts.

One on the left and one on the right, they intended to break the formation.

But just then, an unusual fragrance suddenly appeared in the air.

It was incomparably sweet.

Ye Zhirou's heart suddenly trembled. "Heavenly Fragrance Physique..."

In that instant, she seemed to see the first light of dawn, with mountain mist curling through the air.

A wisp of exotic fragrance drifted in on the wind.

Fine as silk, ethereal as smoke, it curled and wound through the air, refreshing the heart and mind.

It seemed to drift down from the Ninth Heavens, yet also seemed to escape from the depths of a secluded valley, making one feel open and at peace, forgetting the troubles of the mortal world.

At first scent, it was as though she stood amid a sea of flowers, petals dancing gently while floral fragrance washed over her.

Ye Zhirou froze for a moment.

She unconsciously took two breaths, and upon savoring it carefully, it carried the charm of hidden orchids, serene and unworldly.

The fragrance was neither overpowering nor pungent. It teased one's sense of smell with perfect restraint.

It made one unable to resist seeking its source.

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

"Ahhh!!! Save me..."

Only when someone behind her let out a heart-rending scream did Ye Zhirou abruptly come back to her senses.

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

Blinding sparks erupted as the artifacts collided.

That was close...

She had nearly let that damned woman succeed.

Ye Zhirou suddenly swept her sword, knocking aside Zhang Ziling's attack.

But Elder Meng and Elder Liu were attacking as well.

The Hehuan Sect disciples in the distance began reinforcing the formation again.

The formation's environment changed once more.

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

A bone-piercing cold wind lashed against her face.

Ye Zhirou turned back toward her two helpers again, only to find that their figures had vanished.

"You actually dared to scheme against me... you bunch of 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 gave Elder Liu a meaningful look.

The two nearly simultaneously reduced the spiritual power they were channeling.

They were repelled by Ye Zhirou in a single move.

Ye Zhirou's brows darkened. Why did these two seem to be deliberately letting her win?

The next moment, Zhang Ziling charged in.

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

The two immediately became locked in battle.

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

A mere Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivator actually dared to duel her alone...

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

Could it be that those two intended to sell Zhang Ziling out?

But why...

Could those two possibly think that once Zhang Ziling died, they could smoothly take her down together?

The corners of Ye Zhirou's lips rose. She could not be bothered with the other side's open and secret strife.

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

She began pretending to be outmatched, trading blows with Zhang Ziling back and forth.

As long as she made those two think her strength was lacking, they would not intervene.

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

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

Zhang Ziling fought with increasing vigor, but she vaguely sensed that something was wrong.

How could she possibly suppress her opponent by herself?

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

Yet she could not simply stop fighting.

At the same time, Xiao Yu, who had already hidden himself in the distance, saw this scene as well.

Looking at those two shameless freeloaders slacking off, Xiao Yu was deeply annoyed. "Damn it... are these two dogs or what?"