True Disciples Capture an Enemy

One month later, at the border of White Sand and Pingrong counties

With a clang, Wang Wu flicked his finger, and a humanoid puppet wielding a giant sword sliced a disheveled female cultivator in two.

The scorching heat from the sword's edge instantly cooked the female cultivator's internal organs, releasing a greasy and fishy odor that made it difficult for Wang Wu to open his eyes.

"Senior Brother Wang, save me!!" A fellow inner disciple from Ingenious Craftsman Fort cried out in alarm.

Wang Wu had no time to worry about it. This puppet was a First-Tier Superior-Grade puppet that he had painstakingly created, and it consumed a great deal of his Divine Sense, so it wouldn't be long before he could save it. He was too busy taking care of himself on the battlefield to save anyone else.

"Sizzle"

The large, pot-bellied giant in front of Wang Wu must have practiced Body Refining Cultivation Method, but he hadn't mastered them. The giant sword puppet swung its heavy sword again, and the giant, clumsy as it was, couldn't dodge. It was evenly split apart along with the large shield in its hand, splashing liquid everywhere—a truly unpleasant sight.

"Pfft"

Meanwhile, the inner disciple of Qiaogong Fort who had previously sought help from Wang Wu was also pinned down by a cultivator's spirit pet and had his abdomen cut open.

Wang Wu ignored it as usual. Their Ingenious Craftsman Fort team had been ambushed. The family opposite them had made thorough preparations. If he still cared about camaraderie at this point, it would be strange if he didn't perish here.

"These scoundrels, they always pick on the weak! The Chongming Sect's group passed through here without incident the other day!" Wang Wu cursed inwardly. He then spotted the gap in the encirclement out of the corner of his eye and was about to leave when he heard shouts from beside him:

"Senior Brother Wang, please save me!"

Wang Wu initially intended to ignore it, but then he felt the voice was very familiar. He couldn't help but take a moment to peek out while fleeing for his life. He saw a scholarly-looking young man in white robes, who was also an inner disciple. He was manipulating two mid-grade puppets and struggling against a late-stage cultivator.

A conflicted look appeared in Wang Wu's eyes, and within a few breaths, several thoughts swirled in his mind.

"This man needs to be saved!"

This Xiu Ming is not only a disciple of Mo Wen, the sect leader of Ingenious Craftsman Fort, but more importantly, he is also very familiar with several Foundation Establishment True Cultivator of the Chongming Sect. If we don't help him now, things might not go well for him when he runs back to his masters and elders after the incident comes to light; he might even suffer some consequences.

Once Wang Wu made up his mind, he no longer hesitated to use the little remaining Divine Sense he had.

He muttered a few words, his ten fingers forming two lotus flowers. The giant sword puppet turned around and shattered the late-stage cultivator's top-grade talisman with a single strike, causing the cultivator to break out in a cold sweat and have no choice but to withdraw his attack and give way.

Wang Wu didn't try to gain credit, so he dragged Xiu Ming along and left. The late-stage cultivator considered it for a moment, but still didn't want to provoke Wang Wu, a tough nut to crack, so he turned away and went to find other prey in the arena.

The two fought and fled along the way, and narrowly escaped four or five enemy cultivators.

They only stopped when they could no longer hear any shouts of battle. Neither of them had time to speak, each holding Restore Spirit Pill in their mouth, feeling a surge of spiritual energy flowing into their bodies, gradually nourishing their parched meridians.

About an incense stick's worth of time passed before Xiu Ming finally spoke, asking, "Senior Brother Wang, where are we going now?!"

"Let's go to White Sand County as usual. The sect leader and all the True Cultivator from the Chongming Sect are there, so it's the safest place." Wang Wu replied to Xiu Ming while applying spiritual ink to the joints of the giant sword puppet and taking two pills to nourish the Divine Sense. Then he got up with Xiu Ming.

Just as the two were about to continue their journey, they saw a terrifyingly imposing Blood Shadow rushing towards them, so frightened that they dared not move.

Wang Wu is considered one of the top ten disciples in Ingenious Craftsman Fort. Due to his meritorious service in guarding the military camp in previous years, he ranks high in the sect's list of candidates for Foundation Establishment Spiritual Being.

The identity of someone who could make him hesitate to approach speaks volumes.

"Foundation Establishment, it's Foundation Establishment!!" Wang Wu exclaimed in surprise. Now, he couldn't even give face to the Golden Core cultivators, let alone those True Cultivators from the Chongming Sect. He abandoned Xiu Ming and ran away.

Since it was a matter of life and death, the latter knew he couldn't complain, so he could only haphazardly stick a few life-saving talismans on his body.

These talismans were high-quality items specially bestowed upon him by Sect Leader Kang Da because he appreciated his honesty and integrity. He hadn't been willing to use them in the previous emergency, but now he couldn't bear to part with them.

The Blood Shadow's Foundation Establishment speed was much faster than the two had expected. Xiu Ming's talismanic aura had barely appeared when the Blood Shadow caught up with him.

"Oh no!! I'll never be able to go home to pay my respects to my grandfather again! I wonder if those descendants of my Xiu Household who have joined the Chongming Sect can bring honor to the Xiu Household!"

Xiu Ming was overcome with grief, tears welling in his eyes, unable to hold back his emotions. But the Blood Shadow didn't even glance at him, continuing to rush forward.

All of Wang Wu's preparations were in vain; the Blood Shadow Foundation Establishment cultivator merely slapped him away because he was in the way, without leaving him behind to take his life.

What's going on?

Xiu Ming quickly walked to Wang Wu, whose body was covered in sores, and helped him up.

"That Foundation Establishment seems to be running for his life?" Wang Wu's eyesight was always Xiu Ming than Xiu Ming's. Even though he was dazed and confused, he still noticed something strange.

"Escape? Could Foundation Establishment True Cultivator escape?!" Xiu Ming widened in surprise. "Then behind them, could it be an even more powerful Foundation Establishment?!"

"Most likely. They don't even know which side is friend and which side is foe. We can't get involved in this. Master Xiu." Wang Wu only got halfway through his sentence before he narrowed his eyes again.

"They're here!"

His exceptional Divine Sense was his greatest asset, allowing him to stand as True Disciple of the Ingenious Craftsman Fort.

"Junior Brother Xiu, let's pray for our own good fortune!" Wang Wu sighed, and was about to leave again after randomly choosing a direction, when he saw Xiu Ming beside him suddenly look at the few somewhat blurry figures in front of him and exclaim in surprise.

"Brother Duan!? Brother Kang?!"

"Brother?!" Wang Wu paused, took a closer look, and recognized the person as Duan Anle and Kang Rongquan, two True Disciple the Chongming Sect.

"The two of them joined forces to ambush Foundation Establishment?" Wang Wu was so shocked that he couldn't believe it, and a look of astonishment immediately appeared on his face.

"So it's Brother Xiu," Kang Rongquan said with a casual bow, glancing sideways at Wang Wu beside Xiu Ming. He was quite displeased with Wang Wu's earlier attempt to ditch Xiu Ming, and his tone was somewhat flippant. "And this gentleman is?"

"I am Wang Wu from Ingenious Craftsman Fort. Greetings, fellow Daoists." Wang Wu dared not be negligent and bowed respectfully.

"Wang Wu in White, I've heard Uncle Yuan mention you before. You were there last time..." Kang Rongquan's words were interrupted by Duan Anle, who said with some displeasure, "Let's get down to business first, then we can reminisce."

"Are you two brothers chasing after that Blood Shadow Foundation Establishment? Which direction did he head in?"

After Xiu Ming finished speaking, he hurriedly pointed, and Kang Rongquan and Duan Anle, without stopping or saying thank you, rushed in the direction Xiu Ming was pointing.

Duan Anle was more cautious, and even on the way, he didn't forget to remind Kang Rongquan: "Third Uncle said earlier that we don't need to rush. This True Cultivator has only just entered the Foundation Establishment. If he hadn't relied on his self-destructing Spirit Artifact to save his life, how could he have survived after taking one of his swords? Now he has used Blood Escape to deplete the last bit of his vital energy. As long as we don't lose him, we can take his life."

Kang Rongquan showed little interest after hearing this. He was already Qi Refinement Ninth Layer cultivator, and since childhood he had never lacked cultivation resources. His Daoist techniques and Cultivation Method were all of the Higher Vehicle, and he had been praised by his elders many times.

These factors combined to create a persistent sense of arrogance in Kang Rongquan's heart.

They pondered that while Duan Anle's method was prudent, it lacked brilliance. If the two of them could use their own methods to subdue this Foundation Establishment whose vital energy had been severely depleted, they wondered how their teachers would praise them.

"Senior Brother Duan, Foundation Establishment True Cultivator possess formidable skills. If we lag behind, many unforeseen events may occur. Let's keep up!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the silver ring on Kang Rongquan's feet shone even brighter, indicating that his speed had increased even further. Duan Anle, not wanting to be outdone, naturally also urged his Law Power to give chase.

The Blood Shadow Foundation Establishment's vital energy was insufficient, and the two had only been practicing for half an incense stick's time when they saw the former's staggering back.

"Hey, you dog, don't run away!" The silver ring under Kang Rongquan's feet lit up with spiritual patterns. Although this silver ring Law Artifact was only a high-grade magic Law Artifact, it was bestowed by Yuan Jin many years ago. After being nurtured for so many years, it was no exaggeration to say that it was connected to his mind and spirit.

After Kang Rongquan shouted, the silver ring Law Artifact split into nine layers, with nine silver rays—one real and eight fake—slamming fiercely towards the Blood Shadow Foundation Establishment. Although the latter had suffered great losses, he was not about to surrender.

He didn't even need to turn around; just hearing the wind, he knew that the Qi Refining Qi Refinement behind him was quite skilled. If this attack landed, half of his body would probably be shattered here.

If he were still alive and his spiritual power were intact, he could come up with at least eighteen methods and calculate forty-nine variations to deal with this Law Artifact.

But the current predicament is proving difficult to manage.

The sound of the wind behind him grew closer and closer. Blood Shadow Foundation Establishment felt a chill in his heart. With a low shout, Foundation Establishment a hand seal with his left hand and flicked his right fingers, instantly drawing out a blood whip.

Eight of the nine silver rays dispersed in an instant, and the silver ring Law Artifact emitted a buzzing sound before falling back into Kang Rongquan's hand. The latter's palm was burned, leaving a deep mark, the skin melted, and his five fingers were stuck together with mucous membranes and blood.

Pain flashed in Kang Rongquan's eyes, and then a crisp sound came from his hand. The silver ring Law Artifact that he had nurtured for many years had exploded, leaving his palm in a mess.

"That old thief still has strength!" Kang Rongquan knew that he had underestimated the Foundation Establishment True Cultivator. He cursed under his breath as the "Azure Wood Treasured Light Guide" unleashed a large amount of Spiritual Qi, rapidly healing the wound on his palm.

This defeat wasn't entirely bad, though; at least it completely shattered the confidence on Kang Rongquan's face. As a disciple personally instructed by the Sect Leader Kang Da, his arrogance vanished in an instant.

"I don't believe you can whip me again!" Kang Rongquan simply stopped Law Artifact to fight, and with a wave of his hand, twenty-one vine seeds took root on the ground.

Thick branches suddenly burst forth from the ground, as if they had smelled a bloody stench, and rushed swiftly toward the Blood Shadow Foundation Establishment.

At the same time, Duan Anle also made a move. He simply reached out and pulled, and the spirit beast pouch at his waist opened wide. Immediately afterwards, a stream of light floated by, and a spirit bird with brightly colored wings swooped out.

Duan Anle has put a lot of effort into raising the Gray Spirit Falcon over the years, and in such a short time, it has already become First-Tier Superior-Grade spirit bird. With a sudden flap of its two powerful wings, it is much faster than those vines and branches.

Blood Shadow Foundation Establishment cultivator was severely injured; even breathing was excruciatingly painful, and he struggled to cope with the endless vines before him.

This opening was immediately spotted by the sharp eyes of the Gray Spirit Falcon. It closed in, its steel claws outstretched, ready to tear off the right eyeball of the Blood Shadow Foundation Establishment, skin and flesh.

Blood Shadow Foundation Establishment cultivator sneered, realizing he was like a tiger fallen into a pit, forced to such a state by a mere First Tier weakling.

His veins bulged, his eyes protruded, and his already emaciated body shrank even further. Then, he activated the Blood Shadow Foundation Establishment Technique several times, channeling his energy into his chest, causing his entire chest to swell and bulge. Immediately afterward, a beam of black light shot out from his mouth.

"Refining evil within the abdomen!!"

This was the first time Duan Anle had ever seen such a powerful Sha Qi. Duan Anle Gray Spirit Falcon, nimble and agile, was grazed by the mysterious light, losing a chunk of flesh but barely surviving. Its owner dared not urge it on any longer and put it back in its Storage Bag to raise it. Then, he summoned a shield in front of him, slapped five talismans on his body, and then approached the Blood Shadow Foundation Establishment cultivator with Kang Rongquan.

Blood Shadow, Foundation Establishment, narrowed his eyes, cursing inwardly. "What an arrogant junior! Does he really think I'm powerless just because I took one sword strike from Jiang Qing? Even if I take another sword strike, I'm not someone you two mere Qi Refinement can underestimate."

Blood Shadow Foundation Establishment, having just begun to devise a countermeasure and was about to continue dealing with the two juniors, suddenly caught a whiff of sweetness. This made him realize something was wrong, and he immediately became tense.

He endured the pain from his injuries and activated his divine vision. The pain was so intense that he could barely see, yet he could still make out the countless tiny pollen grains scattered on the vines in front of him.

"This kid is using poison!"

By the time Blood Shadow Foundation Establishment realized it, it was too late.

His body suddenly went limp, and his already meager spiritual energy scattered like a headless fly. Then, thick vines in front of him sprouted long, sharp thorns that were enough to make people take notice, and they closed together to form a dense cage that was two zhang high, locking the yellow-robed cultivator firmly inside.

Blood Shadow Foundation Establishment was clearly caught off guard by this unexpected turn of events, and was thrown into a panic, losing his composure. With his current limited spiritual power, he was powerless against the vine cage.

The spikes on the vines were fine and sharp, not weaker than ordinary magic weapons. They scratched the body of Blood Shadow Establishment to pieces and started to bleed. Duan Anle put more force on Kang Rongquan, took out a Zhenzi Square Seal, and placed it heavily on Blood Shadow Establishment's body.

"Boom!" Blood Shadow Foundation Establishment felt a jolt in his head, followed by shortness of breath. It seemed as if his meridians were locked and unable to function, making it difficult to use any of his methods.

"The 'Suppressing Character Seal' has really made a name for itself. I never imagined it could actually intimidate a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator with such a top-grade magic Law Artifact." Duan Anle looked at Kang Rongquan, who was clearly injured, with a satisfied expression, and warned, "Junior Brother Kang, stop your injuries first. If the elders see this, you might get a scolding."

"Hehe, no need, no need, Senior Brother, don't worry, Martial Uncle Jiang doesn't care about this!" Kang Rongquan laughed nonchalantly.

Capturing Foundation Establishment alive is something many Foundation Establishment True Cultivator could never accomplish in their entire lives. Even though this Foundation Establishment had already been severely wounded by Jiang Qing, capturing him alive is still capturing him alive, and onlookers could only feel envy and admiration.

More than worrying about this matter, Kang Rongquan was concerned about this one. "Sigh, I did break the silver ring Law Artifact that Uncle Yuan gave me. I wonder if he'll blame me next time we meet."

"Why don't we just pick something from this guy's Storage Bag?"

An even more nonchalant voice reached Kang Rongquan's ears, causing him to immediately look around. Before long, he saw a short, stocky man walking towards him.

"Uncle-Master Yuan, you've come too?" Kang Rongquan's face immediately showed a friendly expression, and his finger seemed to be pointing in the direction of the vine cage.

Unexpectedly, Yuan Jin completely ignored him. His face darkened, and his tone was far from calm. "Third is being ridiculous. He lost two Foundation Establishment, and now you have to chase after one of them?! You two are really something, daring to take on such a deadly task!"

Yuan Jin seemed to have suffered some injuries, and his voice sounded weaker. Seeing the shape of Kang Rongquan's palm filled him with lingering fear; if something had happened, how could he explain it to Senior Brother Pei and the Sect Leader?

His complaints about Jiang Qing were undisguised, but he also knew that Jiang Qing's actions could not be considered framing or making things difficult for him. In his view, it was not very risky for Kang and Duan to pursue a Foundation Establishment with a weakened body.

Even so, among his fellow disciples, he was probably the only one with the guts to let go like this.

"Second Uncle, did Master send you?" Duan Anle stepped out from behind Kang Rongquan, helping the latter out of the predicament and also calming Yuan Jin down temporarily.

"Yes, the Zheng Household is under pressure at the front lines recently and can't hold the fort properly. I'm afraid some members of the Yuan Household might leak out and spread poison everywhere. My senior brother only called the Third and you guys back, but he wasn't at ease, so he asked me to come back with him to take a look," Yuan Jin replied calmly.

"Don't torture that Yuan Household family servant boy to death; he's still useful." Yuan Jin glanced at the Blood Shadow Foundation Establishment locked in Kang Rongquan's cage, sparing no praise, and spoke in a commanding tone.

"Okay, I understand." Kang Rongquan agreed without complaint. Then he asked, "What's the use of not knowing?"

Yuan Jin didn't answer this time, but looked in the direction of White Sand County, thinking to himself, "I wonder how my senior brother's talk with Yuan Buwen went?"