Chapter 399: Chapter 26: Villainous Bastard

Where there is oppression, there is resistance.

Even in the cultivation realm where strength reigns supreme, the three states of the Celestial Cyan Domain have never lacked those who rise in rebellion.

However, most of these uprisings are minor skirmishes, easily quashed by the nearby cultivation clans without needing the Holy Palace Upper Sect to intervene, who then seek credit from their own sects.

After all, the initial purpose of most such rebels is merely to resist the oppression of surrounding clans: some out of sheer desperation, some as a last-ditch struggle, and some merely seeking to replace them.

But never before has anyone dared to directly attack a sect disciple—this is nothing short of courting death.

"From the Celestial Origin Province or Cangyun State?" The thought flashed by quickly, and no more was given to it.

Five days later, Xu Xiaochun rushed back to the place where the initial ambush occurred.

There were traces of magical combat at the scene, and a large area of forest was destroyed.

After carefully examining the site, he continued to chase southwards along the mountain range.

This place was already near the southern boundary of the mountain range; going further south would bring him close to the easternmost fringes of the Fire Domain in Cangyun State.

Another ten days later, Xu Xiaochun slowed down as he sensed the presence of cultivators ahead.

As Xu Xiaochun cautiously approached, Li Ji’an’s split soul sensed the faint aura ahead, with at least ten people, including one with a clear Foundation Establishment aura.

From time to time, explosions of magical power could be heard.

Upon hearing the explosions, Xu Xiaochun’s face changed instantly. Without a hint of hesitation, he used the Concealing Breath Technique to accelerate closer.

Soon, a crowd at the bottom of a distant cliff came into view.

Thirteen people were blocking the entrance to a cave under the cliff, each employing their own methods.

The cave entrance was shrouded in a layer of light, within which a woman in yellow garments appeared, looking disheveled and covered with multiple wounds, struggling to maintain the protective light shield at the entrance.

"Wanzhi!" Li Ji’an’s split soul instantly recognized her.

Among the thirteen, the leader was at the early Foundation Establishment stage, while most of the others were mid to late Qi Cultivation stage cultivators, each wearing the same floral pattern mask as the previous five.

Beside the thirteen stood five cultivators dressed in sect robes, with their dantians sealed, their fate unknown.

Upon closer sensing, the light shield at the cave entrance wasn’t a magical shield; it seemed to be condensed from some kind of protective spiritual artifact, with a potency comparable to the Foundation Establishment Stage.

That Guo Wanzhi possessed such an artifact was not surprising to Li Ji’an, considering the financial resources of her family background.

However, at this moment, the artifact shield was clearly at its breaking point, requiring Guo Wanzhi to provide magical power to sustain it, otherwise it wouldn’t be able to maintain its highest protective capacity.

Judging by Guo Wanzhi’s state, it was unlikely she could last much longer.

"Boom~" Suddenly, Xu Xiaochun unhesitatingly acted, launching several fire snakes toward the bottom of the cliff.

"Courting death!" The masked cultivators below were initially terrified but, realizing it was only Xu Xiaochun alone, the leader immediately shouted angrily.

He then ordered the others to continue bombarding the cave shield, while he himself flew toward Xu Xiaochun.

Without the attacks from the Foundation Establishment cultivator, the pressure on Guo Wanzhi’s shield was greatly reduced.

However, Xu Xiaochun found himself under considerable pressure.

A late Qi Cultivation facing an early Foundation Establishment has no chance of victory.

Unless it was with that Second Tier poison.

Unfortunately, Xu Xiaochun managed to escape alive from the hands of those five and returned here, but the Foundation Establishment cultivator was already on guard.

Throughout the ensuing magical combat, he was extraordinarily cautious, keeping his distance from Xu Xiaochun, using the advantage of Foundation Establishment magical power to attack from afar.

Xu Xiaochun had no choice but to evade and escape.

However, about an hour later, Xu Xiaochun was pierced by a ground spike, his shield shattered instantly, and he fell to the ground.

The Foundation Establishment cultivator wasted no time, remotely sealing his dantian with a magical force.

Despite Xu Xiaochun’s expectation of them approaching him directly or taking his artifact, the enemy’s face was full of caution.

"Take him down!" He commanded one of the subordinates.

This left Xu Xiaochun cursing inwardly, yet helplessly.

Quickly, Xu Xiaochun was brought to the bottom of the cliff and thrown in front of the cave’s light shield.

"Hmph! If you don’t want your little lover to die, open the light shield and come out willingly," the Foundation Establishment cultivator threatened Guo Wanzhi, gesturing with a dirt spike at Xu Xiaochun.

"Pah! I’m not familiar with her, don’t pair us up arbitrarily," Xu Xiaochun retorted in advance.

The Foundation Establishment cultivator sneered: "Heh~ Not familiar? Not familiar would mean you wouldn’t risk your life to come back for her?"

"I just want to kill you bunch of bandits!" Xu Xiaochun remained defiant.

However, when Guo Wanzhi saw Xu Xiaochun return half an hour earlier, she was already anxious. Now, seeing Xu Xiaochun captured and at a disadvantage, how could she remain calm?

Before the Foundation Establishment cultivator could speak again, Guo Wanzhi hurriedly pleaded, "No, I’ll come out."

"Fool! Why are you coming out? If you come out, we’re really all dead. Our master will be here tomorrow!" Xu Xiaochun harshly reprimanded.

But Guo Wanzhi simply smiled, filled with tenderness and warmth, without any fear or reluctance in the face of impending death.

The Foundation Establishment cultivator also laughed: "Hahaha, still trying to deceive me with that sect’s worthless brood? This place is ten thousand miles from Biyun Sect, even if your master is a True Man, it would take at least a month, don’t foolishly dream..."

"Ah!" Just then, the masked cultivator who brought Xu Xiaochun down let out a wail, blood oozing from his mouth as his vitality vanished instantly.

"Poison!" Several nearby individuals quickly distanced themselves.

"Despicable little thief!" The Foundation Establishment cultivator was furious, glaring at Xu Xiaochun with rage.

Simultaneously, he launched a dirt-spike attack straight at Xu Xiaochun’s dantian!

"Senior brother!" Guo Wanzhi was struck with horror, instantly retracting the shield and rushing out.

But even if she pushed her speed to the limit, how could she catch up?

She could only watch helplessly as Xu Xiaochun’s dantian was about to be shattered.