Translator: CinderTL
Xu Sanyan traveled alone through the darkness, occasionally consulting his map to avoid losing his way.
The mountain path was treacherous, so he chose to travel on foot rather than fly. Even so, he moved with remarkable speed, his toes barely touching the ground as he propelled himself dozens of steps forward with each stride.
After an indeterminate amount of time, a faint glow appeared on the horizon, dispelling the darkness. However, the dense foliage still cast the forest into deep shadow.
The endless, undulating mountain range stretched before him, its boundaries obscured by the terrain. He couldn't pinpoint his exact location; the map only provided a general direction, lacking specific details. But as long as he maintained the correct course, he would eventually reach his destination.
He cradled the secret realm fruit in one hand, remaining vigilant for any signs of danger.
After a day and a night of relentless trekking through the mountains, Xu Sanyan was striding forward at midday when he suddenly froze. He instantly suppressed his aura, darting behind a tree and remaining motionless.
He heard voices ahead.
A man's voice hesitated, "Your Highness, shouldn't we wait for Mr. Mei? The Wang Family isn't to be trifled with. If you were to be injured... I would never forgive myself."
Then came the woman's resentful voice, "Hmph, I never ordered you to attack the Wang Family. The Feng Clan's strongest cultivator is only at the Soul Refinement stage. How dare they kidnap citizens of Great Qian? If we don't teach them a lesson today, they'll think we're weak and easily bullied!"
The man sighed softly and continued to reason, "But Your Highness, you're only at the Dao Seeking Realm yourself..."
He couldn't understand why a Dao Seeking Realm cultivator would look down on someone at the Soul Refinement stage. Moreover, the Soul Refinement Realm wasn't weak; even in the Qian Kingdom or the Five Great Sects, it was considered mid-to-high-level, typically held by those in positions of power.
Perhaps the woman's noble status and familiarity with more powerful cultivators had made her take such strength for granted. She replied matter-of-factly, "What's there to fear about the Soul Refinement Realm? We have you, don't we? You and Xiao Bai will keep the Feng Clan Patriarch occupied while I lead the others to slaughter the rest. Then we'll return to help you finish off that old Feng bastard."
The man's brow furrowed deeply. A life-or-death battle wasn't as simple as she made it sound, as if condemning the Feng Clan to death with a few casual words.
"Your Highness, once Miss Mei arrives, the Feng Clan will be crushed with a mere flick of the wrist. Why risk such a dangerous operation? Besides, we have more pressing matters to attend to. If we suffer too many casualties, it will be difficult to explain to Miss Mei when he arrives."
The woman's voice was resolute. "No, I want to resolve this before Sister Mei arrives. I want everyone to see the might of Zheyun!"
The man tried to reason with her, but she cut him off. "My mind is made up. If you're afraid, stay back and watch. I'll lead the troops myself."
The man sighed deeply. "Alas..."
He couldn't bear to watch the Princess risk her life.
Xu Sanyan, hidden in the shadows, pondered the conversation. He gleaned several key pieces of information:
First, they were from the Qian Kingdom, and the woman was addressed as Princess.
Second, their attack on the Feng Clan was merely opportunistic; they had other urgent matters to attend to.
Third, they were expecting reinforcements, and these reinforcements were formidable, though delayed for some reason.
Xu Sanyan mused that encountering people from Great Qian here wasn't surprising, given the region's proximity to the Qian Kingdom's border. The question was, what were they doing here?
Perhaps...
Xu Sanyan lowered his gaze to the secret realm fruit in his hand. Could they have come for this as well?
The more he considered it, the more likely it seemed. If the secret realm fruit fell into Great Qian's hands, it would have a tremendous impact.
The blessing it granted could directly enhance one's strength. If Great Qian used this as a foundation to build an army, their overall power would ascend to a new level.
Although no one besides him knew what the secret realm was like, the fruit's immense value was beyond question.
At that moment, the group ahead stirred, silently and swiftly darting deeper into the dense forest. Xu Sanyan unfolded his map and saw that the Feng Clan's territory was nearby.
After a moment's hesitation, his figure flickered, following the group to see if he could seize any opportunities for profit.
He was currently short on spirit stones and magic artifacts, so obtaining some treasures amidst the chaos would be ideal.
Even if no opportunities arose, it wouldn't matter—it wouldn't cost him anything.
Xu Sanyan peered ahead. The group numbered around forty or fifty people, each possessing formidable strength.
The weakest among them possessed cultivation levels at the Dao Seeking Realm, while four were at the Soul Refining Realm. These four unconsciously formed a protective circle around the woman in the center.
Princess Zheyun whispered, "I'll outline the battle plan. We'll charge in shortly. You two, keep the Feng Clan Patriarch occupied. The rest of you, swiftly eliminate the demonfolk. Let's make this quick and decisive."
"Understood, Your Highness. Be careful."
One handsome man nodded slightly, then signaled the other three with his eyes to protect the princess.
"Attack!"
The group surged forward, charging straight toward the mountain stronghold.
"Enemy attack!"
A piercing shriek erupted as someone in the stronghold spotted them. The guard whirled around and shouted a warning. Princess Zheyun flicked her wrist, sending a sharp beam of light that pierced through the chest of the nearest guard.
More figures poured out of the stronghold, led by an old man—the Feng Clan Patriarch, a Peak Stage Soul Refinement cultivator.
"Who are you?!" the patriarch roared.
"Hmph! You dare kidnap the citizens of Great Qian? Today, this princess has come to collect the debt!" Zheyun retorted coldly.
The Feng Clan Patriarch's heart skipped a beat. Had Great Qian truly sent forces into the Chaotic Cloud Mountains?
A few days earlier, when the Wang Family came to collect their goods, they had mentioned that the Qian Kingdom had sent people into the mountains. At the time, the Feng Clan Patriarch had dismissed it, believing the Qian Kingdom wouldn't go to such lengths for mere mortals. Yet here they were.
The Feng Clan Patriarch never imagined this was merely Princess Zheyun's impulsive decision.
"Hmph! The Chaotic Cloud Mountains are no place for you to run wild!"
With the situation beyond words, the Feng Clan Patriarch drew a longsword that materialized in his hand, and the battle erupted.
Xu Sanyan, hidden in the treetop, calmly observed the battlefield through the gaps in the branches.
The Feng Clan lacked any Mountain-Protecting Formation or similar defenses, as they couldn't afford such luxuries.
Great Formations were notoriously expensive—not only to construct but also to maintain. Even the Harmonious Heart Demonic Sect, one of the Five Great Sects, found the annual spirit stone expenditure for maintaining their formation a painful burden for each Hall Master.
As the holy son of the demonic sect, Xu Sanyan was intimately familiar with these matters.
The battle raged with increasing ferocity. Princess Zheyun had already entered a killing frenzy, closely guarded by two Soul Refining Realm cultivators who ensured her safety.
The Feng Clan, relying on their numerical advantage, showed no immediate signs of defeat. However, Xu Sanyan knew this situation couldn't last. He needed to enter the fray quickly and claim his spoils.
He secured the secret realm fruit to his back and darted into the battlefield like a phantom.
Meanwhile,
The Feng Clan Patriarch, his face twisted in madness, watched helplessly as his descendants were slaughtered. His rage burned hotter with each passing moment.
He raised his sword with one hand and spat a mouthful of essence blood onto the blade, preparing to unleash a desperate, life-threatening technique.
"Hurry!"
The sword glowed fiercely, a rainbow light shooting skyward. The patriarch soared into the radiant arc, his robes billowing in the gale.
Xu Sanyan glanced over, frowning slightly. Something felt off about this.
(End of the Chapter)
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