This message made Chen Ye’s steps immediately halt.
He could see the grand array of Moon Rhinoceros Lake District right before him, but his heart suddenly grew uneasy.
The He Family is precisely one of the five major families of Moon Rhinoceros Lake.
Though their strength might not compare to the Xu Family, they are almost on par with the Mao Family.
The clan has two Foundation Establishment cultivators in the early period on the surface, and there’s a second-tier grand array arranged in the clan territory.
Unless a Golden Core True Man makes a move, how could this vast foundation be wiped out overnight?
"Damn it! Did a Golden Core True Man make a move? But with the grand array of Moon Rhinoceros Lake, even with strong Concealing Qi, how could such cultivators infiltrate?"
Chen Ye was utterly shocked and uncertain.
The array of Moon Rhinoceros Lake is special, prohibiting entry for high-tier cultivators.
Even if the Golden Core True Man could easily destroy the grand array of Moon Rhinoceros Lake, as long as the array is still in place, he couldn’t sneak in silently.
This array is like a vast net, with numerous mesh holes.
Unless the Golden Core True Man destroys the net, big fish like him can’t slip into the mesh holes.
And to reduce array consumption and facilitate trade and personnel flow, the Lingyin Sect made various compromises.
As a result, cultivators like those in the Foundation Establishment and Qi Cultivation can easily sneak into the array as long as it isn’t on lockdown.
"Has the He Family been exterminated?"
Zhiwei received the jade pendant from her master, probing into the divine sense to accept the message.
She didn’t need to ask much; just by looking at her master’s solemn expression, she knew the situation was severe.
The three gourd swords hanging at her waist seemed to sense something, emitting a low hum.
"Master, don’t worry."
Zhiwei gently caressed the slightly vibrating three gourd swords at her waist, calming them completely. Her indifferent voice carried a soothing power,
"Though this matter is frightening, upon careful thought, it may not be a dead end."
Chen Ye acted as if he was listening attentively.
His disciple, always meticulous, might be able to analyze aspects from these brief messages he hadn’t noticed.
Zhiwei lifted her ink-black eyes and clearly analyzed:
"Firstly, if the Emotion Crossing Sect indeed has thunderous means to bypass the grand array of Moon Rhinoceros Lake and exterminate the He Family— If they possess such strength, why not seize the opportunity to uproot the Li Family, Ji Family, and even the Mao Family together? The five major families of Moon Rhinoceros Lake have close ties, sharing the lips and teeth’s fate. If the Emotion Crossing Sect truly has such subversive power, only exterminating the He Family instead reveals their inadequate strength."
Chen Ye’s expression shifted.
Zhiwei’s thoughts were in line with his, signaling that the Emotion Crossing Sect hadn’t yet had the strength to penetrate Moon Rhinoceros Lake District.
But the means they used to first eradicate the He Family were unknown.
"Secondly,"
Zhiwei’s gaze swept toward the direction of Moon Rhinoceros Lake District,
"Steward Sun and a dozen people from the Herb Pavilion disappeared rather than being killed on the spot. This point is notable. If the intention was just to create panic, wouldn’t complete slaughter better instill fear? Taking people away likely harbors another purpose. Zhiwei speculates it’s targeting Master..."
Zhiwei meant this matter might not be related to the extermination of the He Family, but likely to target Chen Ye.
"Could it be Mei Suxin again..."
Chen Ye’s brows furrowed tightly; this person is like a parasitic worm, pestering him all the way from Yunxi District.
This female demon’s desire for Qing Jun remains undying. Ever since the mishap at Songyang Cave Heaven, she has been lurking in the shadows.
However,
She was first hunted by Lingyin, suffering severe injuries.
Later, she got involved in the assassination of Bai Susu at Songyang Cave Heaven.
She never had the chance to deal with him personally, instead using others’ hands.
But it seems that this time, she’s going to make a personal move, even possibly assisted by a crowd of Emotion Crossing Sect cultivators.
"Mei Suxin?"
Zhiwei’s eyes condensed cold frost; she intensely disliked this person.
In the world, she cares mainly about her master and junior sister.
Yet this woman, repeatedly targeting her and her sect mates, coveting her junior sister, and intending harm to her master.
This treacherous being, if not eradicated, will be a constant threat!
She harbored hatred: "If you fall into my hands, I’ll make sure you are skinned, your six senses extinguished, leaving only a fragment of your soul, forever trapped in torment..."
However,
Currently, she is only a cultivator at the eighth layer of Qi Cultivation.
To help her master, she still needs to wait until Foundation Establishment.
Zhiwei took a deep breath, calmly said: "Master, Mei Suxin is relentless. This time, she’s certainly coming for Qing Jun. To prevent mishaps, the urgent task is to immediately contact the Xu Family!"
Chen Ye nodded; indeed, this was the most prudent choice.
But considering the past disruptions within the grand array of Moon Rhinoceros Lake, and with the He Family now exterminated...
He suspected there might be spies within Lingyin, the interjection of personnel during the sects’ conflicts is normal.
Thinking of this,
Chen Ye contacted Xu Changhe separately, as Xu Changhe had originally come to protect Qing Jun. But since he entered Divine Mist Valley, Xu Changhe had to wait outside.
Not long after,
Xu Changhe came stepping on the wind, and as soon as he landed, he significant focus on Qing Jun.
Seeing him unharmed, he then solemnly said:
"As the ancestors anticipated! Qing Jun’s divine uniqueness cannot be concealed. If spotted by a Demon Cultivator, it will surely be coveted."
He clapped his hands, and suddenly, from behind appeared two pitch-black figures stepping out from thin air.
These two were covered in dense black scale armor, their helmets concealed their faces, exposing only a pair of cold iron-like eyes.
The evil qi emanating from them had visibly reached the pinnacle of the early stage of Foundation Establishment!
They were absolutely the Profound Scale Guard of the Xu Family, nurtured as death warriors from the family’s bloodline.
Xu Family’s bloodline endowed them with extraordinary talent and combat strength, albeit with impaired consciousness.
Over centuries, the Xu Family had accumulated only five Profound Scale Guards, and they were intimate protectors of key figures.
And now, they directly dispatched two to guard Qing Jun!
Xu Changhe’s eyes flashed coldly, his tone was resolute:
"With me, Xu Changhe here, together with the close guard of two Profound Scale Guards, even if a mid-stage Foundation Establishment demon made a move, they could be slain on the spot!"
Chen Ye slightly relaxed.
Now, in terms of strength, status, or background, he far surpasses his past self.
The resources and connections he can utilize are deep and extensive.
It is expected.
At this moment, around him, Chen Ye’s position has become the safest place in the Moon Rhinoceros Lake District, except for the ancestral lands of the families.
...
Returning to the Moon Rhinoceros Lake District.
As soon as he entered the market area, a tense and oppressive atmosphere rushed toward him.
The streets were sparsely populated, with people hurrying along, faces filled with panic.
Many shops had their doors tightly closed, and the patrolling guards had noticeably increased, with each appearing solemn,
Yet, order still prevailed.
The Moon Rhinoceros Lake District, unlike Yunxi District, had many Foundation Establishment Cultivators stationed, preventing any major disturbances.
Occasionally, a low-tier demon beast ran amok, but it was easily suppressed.
"Head directly to the Herb Pavilion!" Chen Ye said in a deep voice.
After all, he was the Guardian of the Herb Pavilion.
Since Steward Sun was missing, he had the responsibility to investigate, even though the situation was dire.
He thought to himself:
"If this is Mei Suxin’s doing, she might want to use this opportunity to lure me out... But Zhiwei has already guessed her intention, and with the Xu family accompanying me, I want to see what tricks Mei Suxin can pull!"
Xu Changhe’s expression was cold: "Very well, regardless of what the Emotion Crossing Sect intends, let’s kill this rat first to prevent her from causing trouble in secret!"
Although he was only in the early period of Foundation Establishment, he held a high position and had participated in ambushing mid-period Foundation Establishment cultivators before.
Now he had two Profound Scale Guards by his side, along with him and Chen Ye, naturally fearless of Mei Suxin.
The group raised their spiritual power stealthily, maintaining a highly vigilant formation as they quickly moved toward the Herb Pavilion.
The two apprentices were protected within the group.
Qing Jun, the carefree little girl, seeing everyone worried about her safety, also composed herself, a hint of determination flashing in her eyes.
"If...I truly went to the Emotion Crossing Sect, that would be like a fish leaping into the high heavens..."
However,
this little girl was too fond of her master.
How could she bear to leave him?
Unless Chen Ye also went to the Emotion Crossing Sect...
"Guardian Chen! Sob...Steward Sun, along with a few disciples, went to Baiyang Manor to handover spirit plants a few days ago. But upon leaving, all contact was lost."
Inside the Herb Pavilion, a disciple, his face pale and voice choking with sobs, was evidently terrified by the recent upheaval.
Chen Ye furrowed his brows, spreading his divine sense wide, carefully scanning every inch of the Herb Pavilion inside and out.
No anomalies were detected.
"Baiyang Manor? Where is that? Is it related to the He family?" Chen Ye inquired.
"To Guardian,"
another, more composed disciple quickly replied,
"Baiyang Manor is located at the northeastern edge of Moon Rhinoceros Lake, near the outer perimeter of the He Clan Territory. It’s an important spirit plant garden under the He family, specially supplying our Herb Pavilion with certain special herbs. Steward Sun went there to receive a batch of pre-ordered Red Heart Grass."
Xu Changhe pondered, "From this perspective, it might also be an unforeseen disaster, not someone targeting Qing Jun. Perhaps, when the demon cultivators exterminated the He family, they took them along incidentally."
"Elder Xu’s statement is flawed. The He family has multiple estates, why is only Baiyang Manor affected? Furthermore, the life tokens of Steward Sun and others have not been extinguished. Since these demon cultivators infiltrated the grand array, why take so many people, merely increasing the risk of exposure? There must be another reason."
Zhiwei directly rebuked sharply, looking toward her master,
"Since their lives are spared, it must be to lure someone in for rescue! And as you are the Lingyin Guardian, you are the one to act!"
In truth.
The suspicion of demon cultivators targeting her master was just her conjecture.
Perhaps Steward Sun was grabbed by a mad loose cultivator during the chaos, or maybe it was the whim of a demon cultivator during a massacre...
But.
Logically, the one to pursue the investigation would eventually be her master.
For her master’s safety, no matter what, she had to persuade the Xu family to assist him!
"Well...indeed. Don’t worry, Little Friend Lu. Since the ancestor has spoken, for Qing Jun’s safety, we will spare no effort!"
Xu Changfeng couldn’t help but find it amusing.
He had previously just speculated casually, but didn’t expect to corner this little girl.
This child was clearly a calm personality, yet when it concerned Qing Jun, her worry made her agitated.
But Zhiwei’s words were reasonable.
Xu Changhe also grew cautious, furrowing his brows: "Even a lion uses all its strength to hunt a rabbit. Though we are numerous, we are all in the early period of Foundation Establishment... But my brother finds it difficult to extricate himself from the Xu family, and the intentions of Xu Buhui’s line are indeterminate, not guaranteed to be wholly supportive. Forget it, I’ll inform my brother first."
Xu Changhe’s brother was Xu Changfeng, who had earlier overseen the Demon Hunting Conference.
...
At this time, elsewhere.
Within Baiyang Manor.
Atop the main seat, Mei Suxin lounged lazily on a grand chair originally belonging to the manor’s lord.
"Ha. Just a spirit plant cultivator in the early stage of Foundation Establishment? When he comes ignorant to Baiyang Manor to investigate, I’ll crush this ant with ease! Perhaps, through him, I might even catch Xu Qingjun..."
Her slender fingers were idly toying with a piece of pale human finger bone.
Currently, after exterminating the He family, everyone’s attention was on them.
And who knows how much chaos had erupted in the Moon Rhinoceros Lake District, making people unlikely to notice the disappearance of a few Qi Cultivators—except that Chen Ye.
Behind and beside her were several people with fierce auras, standing or leaning casually.
"Since Fellow Daoist Mei has spoken, then start with the Herb Pavilion!"
"Tut-tut, in the first Foundation Establishment, encountering you and me. This spirit plant cultivator, bet he doesn’t wet his pants and ruin my appetite."
"Boring, I might as well kill him directly..."
Mei Suxin’s lips curved into a mocking smile:
"This person is not to be underestimated. If we are to kill, we must be truly confident! I want to see what means he has this time!"