In the Ancient County city, inside an ordinary residence.
In the main room, beside an old desk, Duan Qiaofeng held a turquoise-purple brush, carefully painting complex Runes on a piece of yellow paper.
He looked tense, his eyes bright, focusing intently on the yellow paper as if pouring all his essence, energy, and spirit into it.
Suddenly, footsteps could be heard. Duan Qiaofengâs moving arm paused slightly, and in the next moment, the yellow paper under the brush spontaneously combusted, turning into ashes.
Duan Qiaofengâs face instantly turned extremely gloomy, his eyes coldly watching the figure entering the door.
It was a woman wearing a straw hat. Her figure was petite, dressed in ordinary dark green attire, with a white gauze straw hat, appearing just like a normal Martial Artist.
"Who let you in?" Duan Qiaofeng asked coldly.
The woman glanced at the ashes on the desk, undeterred by Duan Qiaofengâs anger, and said with a giggle, "Elder Duan, your own talisman making skill isnât up to par, you canât blame me!"
Duan Qiaofeng was even more furious upon hearing this.
He almost completed the First Rank Top Grade spiritual talisman, just missing a little bit, but was ultimately disturbed by this woman, causing it to fail.
Noticing the anger in Duan Qiaofengâs eyes, the woman quickly stopped laughing, "Elder Duan, shouldnât we get down to business?"
"The Evil Soul Gathering Array is almost complete, shouldnât we discuss when to make our move?"
She dared not really anger Duan Qiaofeng, lest he turned against her, in which case sheâd have to escape.
Duan Qiaofengâs gloomy expression eased a bit, but his tone was still laced with annoyance.
"Has the Lu family made any moves?"
"No, ever since Lu Fusheng returned, everything has been normal with the Lu family!" the woman replied.
The man before her, Duan Qiaofeng, was an official of the Nether Prison Sect, plotting the attack on Three Counties Market with three major dynasties.
Before her was the petite woman, a ghostly female immortal cultivator from the Soul-breaking Blade, also skilled in Array Dao.
Their purpose here was naturally directed at the Lu family and Lu Fusheng.
Duan Qiaofeng took out a black jade box, its surface pitch-black and emanating a chilling aura, which made even a glance at it spine-chilling.
However, when the ghostly woman saw the jade box, a flush appeared on her pale face, and her dark eyes shone with joy.
"Itâs yours! Just donât mess things up!" Duan Qiaofeng said coldly.
The ghostly woman accepted the jade box, feeling the cold aura emanating from it, and giggled, "Elder Duan still doubts our Soul-breaking Bladeâs reputation? Rest assured, I will extract Lu Fushengâs Divine Soul! Hee hee hee~~"
"I hope so," Duan Qiaofeng replied coldly.
...
At the Lu family, in the study of the front courtyard.
Lu Youâan and Lu Youning stood in front of Lu Fusheng.
"Father, those people are deeply hidden. Weâve only found a few insignificant figures, digging them all out in a short time is impossible!" said Lu Youâan.
Lu Fusheng stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the robust old osmanthus tree outside the window, his eyes slightly narrowed.
"Do you notice that this yearâs osmanthus flowers are much fewer than in previous years?"
Lu Youâan and Lu Youning were slightly taken aback, seemingly not understanding why their father brought up the osmanthus tree in the courtyard.
"Father, maybe this yearâs weather is a bit cooler than usual!" Lu Youâan replied, puzzled.
Lu Fusheng frowned; he felt something was amiss, yet couldnât pinpoint what specifically felt wrong.
Did the Nether Prison Sect provoke the three major dynasties just for the market?
Attacking the market aligned with the interests and modus operandi of the three major dynasties.
But was it necessary for the Nether Prison Sect to go to such lengths?
What was the Nether Prison Sectâs goal?
Was it merely to cause the Lu family some trouble?
Impossible!
Lu Fushengâs eyes narrowed slightly, "How much do you know about this Duan Qiaofeng?"
Lu Youâan thought for a moment and said, "Not much. We only know heâs an official of the Nether Prison Sect, but as for his exact age, cultivation level, and status within the Nether Prison Sect, we have no idea!"
"I asked the Illusion Moon Sect, and they also didnât know much about Duan Qiaofeng. Perhaps, in the Nether Prison Sect, heâs an insignificant figure!"
Lu Fusheng shook his head slightly, "Maybe heâs an Immortal Cultivator!"
"An Immortal Cultivator!"
Lu Youâan and Lu Youning exchanged glances, showing solemn expressions.
"Perhaps Duan Qiaofeng is in the city right now. His target might not be just several workshops, but me!" Lu Fusheng speculated.
The Nether Prison Sect wouldnât go to such lengths for a few workshops, but it would be worthwhile for someone like him, Lu Fusheng.
If Duan Qiaofeng were an insignificant figure, he might be trying to cause the Lu family some trouble.
But if Duan Qiaofeng is an Immortal Cultivator, then his target must be me.
"An Immortal Cultivator!" Lu Fusheng felt a bit uneasy.
Despite his confident talk about Immortal Cultivators in front of Yang Zhenshan, in truth, he was very wary of their methods.
He had only really encountered two Immortal Cultivators: one was Yang Zhenshan, and the other was an Immortal Cultivator from the Illusion Moon Sect.
His understanding of Immortal Cultivators was only based on hearsay, just enough to bluff someone like Yang Zhenshan who knew nothing.
It was naturally more suitable to have an Immortal Cultivator deal with another.
"Youning, go to Lingxi Mountain and invite Yang Zhenshan!"
Although he couldnât confirm if Duan Qiaofeng was an Immortal Cultivator, it was better to invite Yang Zhenshan just in case.