Chapter 42: Chapter 42: You Must Be Careful, It Seems There Will Be a Delay

The sudden turn of events stunned everyone in the midst of the chaotic battle within the Earth Palace, plunging them into a brief, deathly silence.

No one had expected someone else to be here.

In the crumbling, collapsed passageway.

Jiang Lan stood there, wisps of crimson haze swirling around him like steaming vapor.

His face was obscured and blurry, with only a pair of eyes showing through, exuding indifference.

’I didn’t sense his aura at all before. And there’s another passageway over there...’

Even Ye Ming, who was fighting the disciples from the Ten Thousand Laws Sect, looked grave. His mind raced as he sent an opponent flying with a palm strike, then drifted a short distance away to observe the situation.

Above one of his palms, a crimson pattern shimmered faintly, from which the aura of a soul seemed to emerge.

His gaze was filled with apprehension as he looked deeper into the Earth Palace, at the slender figure shrouded in crimson haze.

If the man hadn’t suddenly made a move, Ye Ming wouldn’t have even been able to sense his cultivation level.

He just stood there, yet it was as if he had become one with the world, returning to a state of original simplicity, like an ordinary man.

’This man is truly bizarre. Even I can’t see through him. You must be careful.’

A raspy, low voice echoed in Ye Ming’s mind, making his expression darken and his wariness deepen.

’For even the Old Ghost to say so... it just proves how terrifying that man is.’

"Are you looking to die?"

A nonchalant voice suddenly broke the silence.

Jiang Lan glanced at the figures that had been sent flying.

A few of them were struggling to their feet, blood trickling from the corners of their mouths. But now, as they looked at him, their expressions were filled with an inexplicable fear and trepidation.

They hadn’t even seen how Jiang Lan attacked. They had only felt the world around them suddenly constrict.

A boundless power had crushed down on them, as if they were caught in the grip of a giant, invisible hand, unable to even budge. Then, they were swatted away, their internal organs feeling like they had been displaced.

Even the elders from their sect might not be capable of such a feat.

And to top it off, his voice sounded so young.

’What kind of young monster from what faction is this...?’

"Ahem... Please forgive them, Young Master. They were just anxious and worried just now. They meant no offense, no malice..."

Just then, the figure who had scrambled to dodge Jiang Lan’s kick coughed a few times and struggled to her feet from a pile of rubble. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Her wooden hairpin had fallen from beneath her jade coronet, letting her black hair cascade down. Her clear, bright eyes could not conceal her shock.

A corner of the sallow, plain Human Skin Mask had shattered, revealing a patch of fair, delicate, snow-white skin beneath.

"Miss..."

The bloodied and injured figures hurried to her side.

A young woman with her hair in a servant’s bun quickly helped support her.

"Miss? Heh, so it turns out even you, Junior Sister Song, were harboring ill intentions, hiding your identity and lying low in our Ten Thousand Laws Sect all this time."

In the distance, the burly man couldn’t help but sneer when he heard this.

His robes were torn and there was blood at the corner of his mouth. He had clearly been ambushed by Ye Ming during the battle and suffered a serious injury.

Around him, many disciples of the Ten Thousand Laws Sect had fallen, lying in pools of blood, their status unknown.

He then looked at Ye Ming, who was observing the situation from a distance, and said resentfully,

"And I thought you were honest and trustworthy, Ye Ming! I treated you with sincerity this entire time, but I never expected you to be so devious, scheming against us."

"Wang Yan, you’re mistaken. Fortuitous encounters belong to the fated. Along the way, you had me scout the terrain for you, putting me in mortal danger multiple times. Don’t pretend to be some good guy now. We’re all cut from the same cloth."

Ye Ming just sneered at his words, killing intent flickering across his seemingly honest, tanned face.

"Hmph. Just a sharp tongue," the burly man named Wang Yan snorted.

Jiang Lan’s gaze remained calm and indifferent. He had no interest in taking part in this dog-eat-dog spectacle.

If this incident hadn’t blocked his path, he wouldn’t have lingered for even a moment.

The woman hiding her face had clearly sensed his aura. That’s why, as she was sent flying, she had deliberately crashed into the stone wall beside the passageway to force him out.

’I had planned on quietly taking the Blood Immortal Sect’s inheritance, but it seems I’ll be delayed for a bit.’

"Young Master, I am Wang Yan, an Inner Sect Disciple of the Ten Thousand Laws Sect from Danzhou County. I am here under my master’s orders to investigate the cause of the unusual Demon Beast activity on the Blood Red Plateau. I have no ill intentions."

"As for these two, the woman has been lying low in my Ten Thousand Laws Sect for a long time. I don’t know what her purpose is, but I suspect she may be connected to the remnants of the old Blood Immortal Sect."

"And this man, though he claims to be a Loose Cultivator, is devious and ruthless. I’m afraid he also has deep ties to the Blood Immortal Sect."

"Furthermore, as I understand it, the Blood Red Plateau is connected to the Blood Immortal Sect that once brought chaos to the Nine Provinces Land. Judging by their motives, this place might well be the location of its ruins..."

"The Blood Immortal Sect is a scourge upon the world that cannot be tolerated. If they are allowed to make a comeback, they will surely plunge the Nine Provinces Land into misery and despair once more."

"Why don’t you and I join forces, Young Master, to eradicate these remnants of the Blood Immortal Sect and restore peace to the world?"

Wang Yan looked at Jiang Lan and spoke with a cupped-fist salute. His gaze was sincere and earnest, his tone firm and full of righteous conviction.

Although he couldn’t sense any fluctuation of Magical Power from Jiang Lan, he knew better than to treat him as an ordinary person.

The move from just now was enough to make him cautious and wary.

"The Blood Immortal Sect?"

Jiang Lan seemed slightly surprised, then gave a faint smile. "Indeed. The Blood Immortal Sect is a scourge upon the world, and all should unite to destroy it. Since these two are connected to the Blood Immortal Sect, I naturally cannot let them leave."

Hearing this, the expression on Ms. Song’s face changed slightly.

Nearby, Ye Ming’s brow furrowed, and the apprehension on his face deepened.

A flicker of joy crossed Wang Yan’s face. He cupped his hands again and said, "You are right, Young Master. If we let these two leave, who knows what disasters they will bring upon the world..."

But before he could finish his sentence, the joy on his face vanished, replaced by a ruthless resolve.

He transformed into a streak of light, lunging toward Jiang Lan in an instant.

Radiant light surged between his palms, Runes flickered, and the aura of a Daoist Technique manifested, forming what looked like a shower of glowing mist that rained down.

The other Ten Thousand Laws Sect disciples behind him reacted quickly, deploying all sorts of Talismanic Treasures and Magical Artifacts as they charged at Jiang Lan in unison.

For an instant, the dim Earth Palace was filled with brilliant, flowing colors that banished the darkness.

The sudden attack did not surprise Jiang Lan in the slightest.

The fluctuations in Wang Yan’s breathing, heartbeat, and Life Force had been within his perception the entire time.

He knew exactly what the man’s intentions were.

He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his expression perfectly calm.