The shadows of the trees danced as water gurgled in a nearby stream. The occasional roar of a wild beast echoed through the air, filling the dense woods with a primeval savagery.
But this corner of Ling Province was far more than a simple primeval forest. It was teeming with all manner of large carnivorous beasts, graded Demon Beasts, and Spirit Monsters that had achieved some level of cultivation.
Never mind mortals—even Cultivators risked their lives just by walking through it.
Song Luding and his group didn't want to linger, so they moved at a rapid pace, never stopping for a moment.
But among the swaying shadows of the trees, figures in black robes had already formed an encirclement, ready to swallow them whole.
Song Changsheng seemed to sense something. He frowned and glanced around, then said to Song Luding beside him, "Uncle, I have a bad feeling. It feels like someone is watching us."
"Is that so?" Song Luding's heart suddenly sank. A Cultivator's intuition was usually sharp, and though he hadn't detected anything unusual yet, he was willing to trust Song Changsheng.
He quietly took a yellowed Talisman from his Qiankun Bag and said to Song Changsheng in a low voice, "If something happens, you take the children and leave immediately. We'll hold them off."
"No! A disciple of the Song Clan would never flee in the face of the enemy. I will fight alongside you." Song Changsheng refused without hesitation. He couldn't be a deserter.
"Foolish! These children are the future hope of the clan. You must get them back to the clan safely. That's an order!" Song Luding roared, his face grim.
Song Changsheng's expression shifted several times before he finally, reluctantly, agreed.
Only then was Song Luding satisfied. In truth, there was something else he left unsaid. 'Song Changsheng is the most important one among us. As long as he can get back safely, it doesn't matter if these old bones of mine are discarded.'
From the dark shadows of the trees, a grim, cold smile appeared on the masked man's lips. He barked, "Attack!"
BOOM!
A bloody light instantly enveloped the space above Song Changsheng and the others, like an inverted sea of blood, thick with roiling Evil Qi.
HUMPH!
Song Luding was prepared. He instantly activated the Talisman in his hand. The yellowed talisman paper turned to ashes in a flash, and a brilliant Sword Light erupted from it, instantly splitting the sea of blood above in two and dissipating it into nothing.
'A Tier Two Low Grade Celestial Sword Talisman! That old bastard actually carried such a treasure on him.' Seeing his carefully prepared attack broken, the masked man's face twisted with rage.
'The sneak attack failed. Now we do it the hard way!'
The black-robed men emerged from all directions, the Blood Evil Qi radiating from their bodies startling the jungle birds into flight.
'Demonic Cultivators.' Seeing the black-robed men slowly closing in, Song Luding's heart sank to the abyss.
There were ten attackers. Four were Late-stage Qi Refining cultivators, and their masked leader had reached Qi Refining Great Perfection. They were completely outmatched.
The adults had already coordinated, so they remained calm. Only the children, who had never witnessed such a terrifying scene, huddled together in fear.
"What do we do now?" Song Luzi asked, drawing a Long Sword with a grim expression.
"I've already sent a request for aid to the Fifth Elder. We'll hold these Demon Cultivators off and let Changsheng leave first with the children."
Song Luzi didn't reply, simply nodding with a grim expression.
Changjiu and Changying exchanged a look, both seeing the panic in the other's eyes. But at a time like this, they had no other choice.
"Audacious Demon Cultivators! A Foundation Establishment Elder of my Song Clan is just two hundred li away! Are you tired of living?" Song Luding shouted.
"The Song Clan is shit," the masked man said with contempt, giving a casual wave of his hand.
"Kill them!"
The black-robed men instantly pounced like tigers descending a mountain, unleashing a sky-blotting torrent of Magic and Magical Artifacts.
Song Changsheng immediately summoned his Water and Fire Treasure Gourd, which sprayed out a torrent of blazing flames, instantly forcing back the several men in front.
"Changsheng, don't get caught up in the fight! Leave, now!" Song Luding shouted while blocking the masked man, a great cauldron floating above his head.
Song Changsheng gave the battlefield a reluctant glance, then with a wave of his sleeve, he wrapped the dozen or so children in his Spiritual Power and fled at top speed through the opening they had just created.
The masked man immediately shouted, "Get them back here!"
Five of the black-robed men immediately broke off their attack on Song Luzi and the others, giving chase in the direction of the escapees.
"This is bad! Stop them, quickly!" Song Luding cried out in alarm.
But they were already at a disadvantage. Stopping these Demon Cultivators was easier said than done. Song Luzi could only desperately hold back one Qi Refining Eighth Layer cultivator, ultimately forced to watch helplessly as the other four gave chase.
Song Luding was filled with a mixture of shock and fury. He wanted to break away from the fight, but the masked man's attacks were vicious, leaving him exhausted and unable to disengage...
Song Changsheng raced through the forest with the children. Right now, he only hated himself for not being strong enough. 'To be chased like a stray dog on my very first trip down the mountain...'
Seeing the pursuers getting closer and closer, Song Changsheng knew this couldn't go on. With so many people, he had no advantage in speed.
'One at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer, one at the Eighth, and two at the Fourth. They really hold me in high regard,' Song Changsheng thought, his expression turning ugly.
RUSTLE.
Song Changsheng took out the Talismans he had acquired before leaving and flung a barrage of them at the Demon Cultivators behind him.
He didn't expect these Talismans to do any real harm; he just needed to slow their pursuit.
As expected, the dozen or so Talismans sent them into a momentary panic. Song Changsheng seized the opportunity to use a Rapid Movement Talisman and increase the distance between them and the Demon Cultivators.
The scenery flew past him as Song Changsheng's mind raced. He finally decided to make a last stand. If he could just set up an Array, he might have a fighting chance.
Sweeping the area with his Divine Sense, he finally found a cave. He quickly herded the fourteen children inside and said sternly, "No matter what happens, don't leave this cave. Don't make a sound. Understand?"
He left all his food and water with them, then took out his Array Banners and quickly set up a Tier One High Grade Concealing Array at the mouth of the cave.
No one below the Qi Refining Great Perfection realm would be able to detect it. They just needed to wait a little while longer for his mother to arrive. Then they would be safe.
After doing all this, Song Changsheng immediately ran in the opposite direction. As expected, the Demon Cultivators soon discovered his tracks.
"You little brat, you can really run. Tell me, where did you hide those kids?" the Qi Refining Ninth Layer Demon Cultivator asked, his tone grim.
"Hmph. You'll get nothing from me!" With a flick of his sleeve, Song Changsheng threw out twelve Array Banners. Following a mysterious pattern, the banners quickly merged with the ground around him.
He held his breath and focused. With every step he took, an Array Pattern would flash on the ground and then vanish.
"Not good, he's forming an array! Kill him first!" The leading Demon Cultivator wielded a pitch-black chain. With a forceful swing, it transformed into a nimble, venomous snake, shooting straight for Song Changsheng's face.
The others also summoned their own Magical Artifacts and attacked Song Changsheng's vital points.
Facing the swift attacks, he took out a small, silver-white shield to protect himself. It was a Tier One Middle Grade Magical Artifact, the Water Element Shield. When activated, it could transform into a huge Water Shield with incredibly powerful defense, blocking all of their attacks.
Song Changsheng then summoned his Treasure Gourd again, which spewed scorching flames that turned the surroundings into a sea of fire, throwing the group into disarray.
His own footwork remained steady. As his figure shifted and moved, Array Patterns gradually linked all the Array Banners together. He then took out ten Spirit Stones and quickly tossed them into specific positions.
With a flash of dazzling light, the Tier One High Grade Fiery Sun Array was complete!
...