Three days later.
Qingchuan Merchant Association.
A long caravan gathered at the gate, dozens of carts laden with valuable goods, their flags of the Thunderfire Hall and Qingchuan Merchant Association fluttering on the carts.
Five Great Divine Ability Practitioner arrived at the Thunderfire Hall, and Lu Ming was one of them.
" A-Ming, this is Brother Lü Feng. He is the most senior member of our Thunderfire Hall. He has now cultivated twenty-three Divine Ability Dharma Mark and is quite famous among the Great Divine Ability Practitioner in Qingyuan Market. In previous years, he always led the caravan missions." Lu Qingyan led Lu Ming to a middle-aged man. The man's hair was slightly gray, his face was rugged, and he looked much older than Lu Qingyan.
"Uncle Lü," Lu Ming greeted him with a fist and palm salute.
"This must be Lu Ming, the top-tier prodigy of our Thunderfire Hall, known as the ' Thunderfire Killing Prodigy, ' right? Qingyan, you've raised a fine son. The future of the Thunderfire Hall rests on him." The middle-aged man named Lü Feng sized up Lu Ming, then patted him on the shoulder with his large hand and laughed.
Lu Ming's lips twitched. How come after all this time, the nickname " Thunderfire Killing Prodigy " is still circulating?
"Haha, Lu Ming is now the star of our Thunderfire Hall. He possesses High-Grade Divine Ability Bone and became Great Divine Ability Practitioner in just one month. Such a cultivation speed is even better than that bastard Zhang Yue back then. At this rate, we might have a second Divine Ability Master in a few years. At that time, we might really become the first Fourth-Tier Divine Ability Hall in the Thunderfire Hall Qingyuan Market!" The speaker was a burly, long-haired man named Lu Song, who was also Great Divine Ability Practitioner from the Thunderfire Hall. Moreover, he had been invited back by Lu Jin to serve as the hall's instructor.
"If that day ever comes, those of us who left the Thunderfire Hall will also benefit from it," Lü Feng remarked with emotion.
"Brother Lü, Old Lu, we'll have to trouble you with this mission," Lu Qingyan said, clasping his hands in a fist salute.
"Hey, we're family, no need to be so polite. Besides, we'll benefit a lot from this deal too." Lü Feng waved his hand.
At this moment, Steward Xu from the Qingchuan Merchant Association came over to greet everyone. When he saw Lu Ming, his smile widened even more, "Oh my, the Thunderfire Hall has actually sent out this top-grade prodigy. It seems this trip will be without any problems."
Lu Qingyan smiled and chatted with him about some matters concerning the caravan before dismissing him, then turned and exchanged a glance with Lu Ming.
Because they did not inform the Qingchuan Merchant Association of the potential attack by the Peach Mountain Band. Otherwise, if the guild had known about this potential threat, they would have preferred to postpone the caravan's departure. Of course, they would also have been more likely to terminate their escort cooperation with the Thunderfire Hall.
This is not the outcome that Thunderfire Hall) wanted to see.
The reason why the Peach Mountain Band has been rampant for so many years is mainly because after looting, they hide deep in the mountains shrouded in peach miasma, making it difficult to find their lair. So even though the herb garden was robbed before, the gang was helpless, and even Lu Jin could not pursue them.
With the help of Zhou Xuan, they obtained this crucial intelligence in advance, which they could use to set a trap, lure the Peach Mountain Band, cut off their limbs, severely damage them, and solve the problem once and for all.
After making all the preparations, the caravan set off, passing through the main street of the town, and finally exiting the city gate, heading west.
Lu Ming sat cross-legged on a truck, his gaze sweeping over the caravan. The caravan was quite large, with many people accompanying them. In addition to the five Great Divine Ability Practitioner from their Thunderfire Hall, the Qingchuan Merchant Association had also sent two Great Divine Ability Practitioner to accompany them.
Therefore, all told, their caravan was protected by seven Great Divine Ability Practitioner.
Such a lineup is already quite formidable, capable of deterring most of the Bandit Cultivator who covet the wealth.
"Judging from the map, the caravan should leave Qingyuan Market by tomorrow evening. After that, there's a no-man's-land about three hours' journey away, which will be the best place for the Peach Mountain Band to make their move."
Lu Ming took a deep breath. Although it was his first time facing such a murder scene, he felt neither nervous nor apprehensive. Instead, a fierce glint appeared in his eyes.
If the Peach Mountain Band really dares to attack.
Then his reputation as a " Thunderfire Killing Prodigy " will truly be confirmed.
The caravan moved along the road at a leisurely pace, and soon night gradually enveloped the land.
Traveling at night was inconvenient, so the caravan naturally sought out places to camp, and clusters of campfires were lit in the night to dispel the darkness.
Everyone ate dry rations and drank water. Then Lu Qingyan and his men began patrolling the caravan. As night deepened, the camp gradually became quiet.
The night was deep, and before anyone knew it, a mist began to appear.
Lu Ming, who was fast asleep with his eyes closed, suddenly felt a faint, sweet and pungent smell enter his nostrils. But the next moment, the Flame of Life within his body emitted a gentle heat, instantly evaporating the pungent smell that had entered his body.
Lu Ming suddenly opened his eyes.
Then he saw that a thick black fog had appeared around the camp at some unknown time. The fog had a fishy smell and was clearly a kind of poisonous miasma.
Lu Ming's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately realized that this fog was not normal!
Those are... the Peach Mountain Band!
They didn't wait for the caravan to leave Qingyuan Market before making their move; instead, they launched a surprise attack on the very first night!
What a bunch of unscrupulous villains!
The whistling arrow that Lu Ming had been holding tightly in his hand was ignited by his Primordial Qi at this moment. The arrow shot out with a burst of light, and the next moment, a piercing roar exploded, completely shattering the silence of the forest where the camp was located.
The caravan was awakened from its slumber, and in an instant, roars and shouts rose and fell.
Chaos reigned.
Lu Qingyan, Lu Jinglei, and the others awoke with a start. They immediately surrounded Lu Ming, then stared coldly at the surrounding black mist. "How dare they attack on the very first night! They're really impatient."
Everyone thought the Peach Mountain Band would only make their move after the caravan left Qingyuan Market territory, but they unexpectedly struck tonight, catching everyone off guard.
"Whoosh!"
As chaos erupted in the camp, the black mist that had enveloped the camp was immediately swept towards it by a gust of wind.
The poisonous gas filled the air, and many members of the caravan felt a violent dizziness and collapsed one after another.
Only the Great Divine Ability Practitioner immediately activated their own Primordial Qi to envelop their bodies, preventing the miasma from invading.
But they soon discovered that the poisonous gas seemed to be constantly increasing in intensity and becoming more and more concentrated. The poisonous gas even began to erode their Primordial Qi, greatly increasing the rate at which their Primordial Qi was consumed.
"No, this poison gas is being amplified. They've set up a ' Divine Ability Restriction ' in this forest to enhance the poison!" The experienced Lü Feng said urgently, his face darkening.
"Heh, you have a good eye, but it's a pity you followed the wrong person."
"No prey that the Peach Mountain Band has its eye on can escape."
Just as Lü Feng finished speaking, a sinister laugh echoed from the black mist ahead.
The black mist rippled, footsteps sounded, and figures radiating powerful Primordial Qi emerged from the mist.
These figures were all dressed in black, blending into the black mist, but on their faces they wore different beast-face masks, the masks were blood red and exuded a strong, pungent stench, adding to their terror.
" The Peach Mountain Band?!"
The two Great Divine Ability Practitioner from the Qingchuan Merchant Association both paled and gasped in shock. Clearly, they hadn't expected that the ones who attacked them this time would be the infamous Peach Mountain Band.
However, the Peach Mountain Band appeared did not immediately take action. Instead, they looked up at the sky above the forest, their eyes behind their masks filled with awe.
Lu Ming and the others were all slightly shaken.
I looked up and followed the direction.
Then they saw a figure standing in the air like a ghostly owl in the night, its cold and indifferent eyes looking down at them.
Outside that figure's body, a Primordial Qi Feather Robe, like a black cloak, fluttered in the wind, emitting a pungent poisonous gas.
A terrifying pressure of Primordial Qi descended from the sky, making people feel slightly suffocated.
"That, that is..."
The Great Divine Ability Practitioner figure from the Qingchuan Merchant Association turned deathly pale, his eyes filled with despair, and he cried out in horror, " Divine Ability Master, he is... he is Guo Kui, the leader of the Peach Mountain Band!"
"For me to personally send you on your way, you're not at a loss..." A figure like a ghostly owl whispered coldly in the night.
boom!
But in that instant, the pitch-black night was suddenly torn apart by dazzling lightning. A bolt of lightning and fire arrived with unimaginable speed. The Thunderfire Whip, wrapped with powerful Primordial Qi, brought up a piercing sonic boom and slammed into Guo Kui's figure.
Guo Kui's pupils reflected the raging Thunderfire Whip. He waved his sleeve, and a torrent of pitch-black Primordial Qi roared out, transforming into a black poisonous handprint several meters in size, which clashed fiercely with the Thunderfire Whip.
Boom!
A violent surge of Primordial Qi swept out like a storm.
As the Primordial Qi roared, Guo Kui's gloomy voice rang out shrilly in the darkness, his violent killing intent making the night even colder.
" Lu Jin, I knew it! How could you bear to release the top-tier prodigies in your family!"
So, you were hiding behind that!
"It's good that you've come. You're just an old man, barely clinging to life. This desolate wilderness is the perfect burial ground for your whole family!"