The result is evident upon careful consideration.
Zhang Chuxi was here waiting for him; Chen Ye deduced that someone had disguised themselves as him and suddenly struck, killing a cultivator.
"After all, with five Foundation Establishment cultivators joining forces, an ordinary middle period Foundation Establishment wouldn’t stand a chance against Zhang Chuxi. So... this demon cultivator first secretly took out one."
Chen Ye observed another cultivator’s corpse.
This cultivator’s eyes were wide with anger, having experienced a fierce magical battle before death, leaving only half of the upper body.
"This person must have been left behind to cover Zhang Chuxi and the others’ escape; before dying, he tried to explode his spiritual power."
Chen Ye pressed his fingers against the corpse’s abdomen, clearly sensing the chaotic spiritual power within.
Unfortunately, his self-detonation was unsuccessful; it was halted by some magic used by the demon cultivator, causing his body to be split in half instead.
"The spiritual power was forcibly interrupted, the divine soul shattered at the last moment... What a ruthless technique."
Following the trail behind this cultivator, one could feel the residue of spiritual power.
The group was actually being herded eastward by the demon cultivator!
Chen Ye exhaled deeply, first taking out the jade pendant left by Bai Susu to transmit his divine thought.
The message was sent, but no reply had been received yet.
But Chen Ye couldn’t sit still any longer.
The Canghai County was half a day’s journey from the Moon Rhinoceros Lake District, and cultivators’ battles could even end within a few breaths.
If he stayed here waiting for Bai Susu to send people over, by then it would be too late!
"Can’t wait any longer..."
Chen Ye glanced at the tracks of their escape,
"The demon cultivator is toying with them... he’s shepherding them!"
This demon cultivator did not immediately strike, obviously intending to drive them to a place more suitable for him to act.
His figure flickered as he stepped onto the Jade Treasure Sword, transforming into a stream of light and chasing after them.
...
Somewhere in Canghai County.
Little Qingjun was earnestly studying chess, biting her finger as she carefully examined the chessboard:
"What’s going on... why can’t I beat her?"
She was truly upset!
Despite studying diligently for so long, she still couldn’t beat Zhang Chuxi, which made the little girl very dissatisfied.
Aunt Lan’s face remained unchanged as she flipped through a book in her hand: "My lady possesses the spirit body of Wall Constellation, naturally intelligent, far beyond what mortals can compare."
Of course.
Actually... she was secretly transmitting advice to Zhang Chuxi all this time.
With her Foundation Establishment stage divine sense dealing with Qing Jun, it was naturally easy.
Even if she couldn’t win, she could ensure a draw.
Otherwise, her lady truly couldn’t beat Xu Qingjun.
She secretly thought: "It’s just because you, this little girl, seek amusement, playing chess every day; otherwise, how could my lady possibly lose to you?"
The little girl couldn’t detect the sarcasm in Aunt Lan’s words; she blinked her big eyes: "But I’m not a mortal."
This instead choked Aunt Lan, her expression displeased: "Then why can’t you beat my lady?"
The little girl counted on her fingers: "Old granny, look, I’m not a mortal, yet I can’t beat Zhang Chuxi. This shows the problem isn’t with me! It’s with Zhang Chuxi! Did she cheat?"
She puckered her little mouth, hesitating.
Did Zhang Chuxi cheat? She is a bad kid who likes to falsely accuse, so it’s possible she might!
Hearing this, Aunt Lan’s face turned ugly: "Hmph! Cheat or not cheat, don’t make baseless accusations. Besides, when you encounter a demon cultivator in the future, if you can’t beat them, you can’t just say they’re cheating, right?"
Truly a rude child, calling her an old granny, does she look that old?
Qing Jun still lacked insight, she curled her lips into a slight smile: "Old granny makes sense! So... Qing Jun doesn’t care if she cheated or not, just knows in her heart. Otherwise, why would I keep playing with her foolishly?"
Still claiming not to be foolish?
Aunt Lan was amused; how foolish was this child, being played with all day and not realizing it.
Besides, this so-called five-in-a-row is just child’s play.
If there are no special conditions, whoever plays first, will win.
"It’s about time..." The little girl boredly poked at the chess pieces, murmuring.
Aunt Lan frowned: "What do you mean ’about time’?"
"Zhang Chuxi! Why hasn’t she come back yet? I still want to keep playing with her!" Qing Jun frowned, looked puzzled at Aunt Lan.
This statement stunned Aunt Lan.
Hmm?
Why hasn’t Chuxi come back?
She nodded: "You’re right... I’ll ask."
Aunt Lan took out the jade pendant to transmit her divine thought, but the message sank like a stone in the sea, receiving no reply!
"Wait... it’s been blocked by someone!"
The blood drained from Aunt Lan’s face in an instant.
The divine thought connection on the jade pendant belonging to Zhang Chuxi just now was forcefully severed by a cold and domineering power!
"My lady... Something’s happened to my lady!"
She trembled all over, unable to keep standing.
If something happens to Chuxi, she would be guilty beyond forgiveness!
But how did they get targeted?
They just arrived at Moon Rhinoceros Lake District, who knew they were now in Canghai County?
Moreover, Chuxi had four Foundation Establishment cultivators, within this Mortal County, how could there be danger!
But now... the connection is broken!
"Ah?!" Qing Jun was shocked too, clenched her little fists, utterly astonished, "What’s going on? Zhang Chuxi is the daughter of the Fourth Elder, who dares to bully her!!"
Within the Yan Kingdom, of course, nobody dares to target Zhang Chuxi.
But to the Emotion Crossing Sect, the title of Fourth Elder holds no deterrence?
The two are mortal enemies by nature.
This foolish little girl truly doesn’t understand the situation!
"Demon cultivator... it’s demon cultivator!" Aunt Lan was utterly terrified, "She... she chose the place at Canghai County! It must be the demon cultivators from Qi Kingdom who found out..."
As she immediately prepared to control her sword to go after them.
"Don’t go yet! If you go now, you’ll just be like a headless fly, where would you find Zhang Chuxi? Moreover, what if you can’t win against them?"
Qing Jun sighed, she grabbed Aunt Lan, speaking earnestly,
"Now, let’s first transmit to my master! Bai True Inheritor is still in Moon Rhinoceros Lake District, but my master should be here now, explain the situation to him first."
The little girl naturally knew her master was coming.
However, given the master’s speed, he should just have arrived by now...
"Yes! Guardian Chen!"
Aunt Lan calmed down, back then Chen Ye could stop her, indicating his true strength must be above her own.
She quickly transmitted a divine thought separately to Bai True Inheritor and Chen Ye.
When conveying to Chen Ye, she hesitated slightly but ultimately secretly transmitted:
"Guardian Chen! Chuxi and Qingjun are both missing! Hope Guardian Chen will wholeheartedly aid!"
As long as Chen Ye mistakes Qing Jun for being missing too, he would surely give everything... preventing him from cowardly fleeing, disregarding the Fourth Elder’s promotion!
Although Qing Jun didn’t know what Aunt Lan said, seeing her having already transmitted, she quickly added: "Aunt Lan, let my master come over first, then we can join forces to save Zhang Chuxi! Right now in Canghai County, only my master can really help you!"
Aunt Lan forced a smile: "Your master already knows. You wait here for him while I go ahead!"
"Hey, wait..."
But Aunt Lan wasn’t going to wait any longer, she immediately stepped on a flying sword and flew away.
"That old witch! Master always says you can’t rush things, why not wait for my master?"
The little girl puffed out her cheeks.
Oh well.
She thought of her master, stared blankly, supporting her chin, bored while waiting for her master:
"But with master, master is even more impatient than her, right?"
However, when will master come to take her home?
...
Although the little girl understood the world was dangerous, she was still too inexperienced, somewhat underestimating human nature.
Even.
She remained complacent: "Indeed it’s me! Master’s most treasured disciple, easily solving a problem for master!"
Yet unaware that now the master-disciple pair was being deceived by Aunt Lan.
"Damn it, why take Qing Jun along for this mess!"
Receiving Aunt Lan’s transmission, Chen Ye almost crushed the jade pendant.
This pursuit lasted half a day.
Though he possessed the Jade Treasure Sword, granting extremely fast sword flight.
But Zhang Chuxi carried escape methods left by the Fourth Elder, and the demon cultivator came specifically to chase them, surely preparing beforehand for corresponding pursuit methods.
Therefore, although Chen Ye rushed with all his might, he still couldn’t catch sight of them!
Chen Ye restrained his anger, carefully put away the jade pendant.
His eyes gazed far ahead.
In the distance, the city wall of the Qi Kingdom border was already faintly visible!