Chapter 65: To the Death

Liang Ying’s confidence stemmed from his own strength and the Small Forbidden Array in his possession.

He had made a special trip to Yellow Crane Immortal City just to buy this Array.

He had bought it several months ago.

But he hadn’t acted immediately.

After all, his previous attempt had triggered Li Chang’an’s Array, which would surely have put him on alert.

Now, several months had passed.

Li Chang’an had likely let his guard down.

"Li Chang’an, the Treasures in your Storage Pouch better not disappoint me!"

Liang Ying stared at Li Chang’an’s courtyard, a glint of greed flashing in his eyes.

He hid quietly in the darkness, waiting for time to pass.

Before he knew it,

it was deep into the night.

The entire Marketplace had fallen silent, with only the moan of the late-night wind remaining.

"It’s time!"

Liang Ying’s figure blurred, moving like a falcon.

SWOOSH!

In the span of just a few breaths, he drew close to Li Chang’an’s courtyard.

With a light leap, he entered the courtyard.

"Array Activation!"

Liang Ying moved swiftly. In what felt like an instant, he threw out over a hundred palm-sized Array Flags, which then melted into the surrounding void.

If all went according to plan, the Small Forbidden Array formed by these Array Flags would soon suppress the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Power. It would then interrupt the flow of Magical Power within the House Protection Array, breaking it open.

However,

a moment later,

the expected outcome did not occur.

The surrounding void seemed to distort for an instant before returning to normal.

’What’s going on?’

His heart sank, and a sense of unease washed over him.

The faint killing intent in the air was still present; it hadn’t dissipated.

Clearly,

the House Protection Array had not been broken!

’The Small Forbidden Array is said to be able to break any Array below Tier Two. Why can’t it break Li Chang’an’s House Protection Array? Could it be... Could his House Protection Array be a Tier Two Array?’

At this thought,

Liang Ying’s heart lurched, and his unease grew.

Even a Foundation Establishment Ancestor would have to treat a Tier Two Array with caution.

Let alone a mere Junior Cultivator like him, who was only at the Late Stage of Qi Refining.

’This is bad!’

Liang Ying hastily retreated, trying to leave the courtyard.

But it was too late!

In an instant,

four auras at the Late Stage of Qi Refining erupted simultaneously, locking onto him completely!

Two Tier One Late Stage Puppets and two Tier One Late Stage Spirit Pets appeared at the same time, attacking Liang Ying in unison.

"Four Late Stage Qi Refining experts!"

The color drained from Liang Ying’s face.

He had thought that

as long as he broke the Array, he could easily capture a mere Qi Refining Fourth Layer Li Chang’an.

But now, it seemed,

even if he had succeeded in breaking the Array, only death awaited him!

’How could this Li Chang’an be hiding so much strength? Damn that Zheng Jinbao, why didn’t he mention this before?’

Liang Ying was both shocked and terrified, cursing Zheng Jinbao furiously in his heart.

He wished he could bring Zheng Jinbao back to life just so he could kill him again with his own hands!

But it was useless to dwell on it now.

BOOM!

Dahuang, with a ferocious expression and bared fangs, was the first to charge.

Its strength alone was enough to suppress Liang Ying, not to mention the assistance of the Profound Water Turtle and the other two Puppets.

The outcome of this battle was already decided!

’Looks like there won’t be any problems.’

Li Chang’an, hidden underground, nodded to himself.

That Small Forbidden Array

had indeed greatly affected his Cloud Mist Hidden Killing Array.

Right now, the Cloud Mist Hidden Killing Array could only trap the enemy; it had lost its killing power.

But that didn’t matter.

A single opponent at the Late Stage of Qi Refining could be taken down without the Array’s help.

In just a short while, the battle was over.

In the courtyard,

Liang Ying looked miserable. He was covered in wounds with a fading aura, trapped within the Shadowless Net like a lamb waiting for the slaughter.

"Li Chang’an, spare me! This is all a misunderstanding..."

His voice was weak as he looked at one of the Puppets.

Li Chang’an controlled the Puppet to slowly crouch down. It looked at him and asked,

"What’s your name?"

"My name is Liang Ying."

"Oh?"

Li Chang’an thought for a moment.

Previously,

he had interrogated the sixth master of Black Wind Mountain and learned about all of its key members.

"So you’re the fifth master. I’ve heard so much about you."

Li Chang’an said casually.

Then,

with a casual gesture, he took Liang Ying’s Storage Pouch into his hand.

’He’s really poor. There are barely any Spirit Stones.’

Li Chang’an understood, though. After all, the man had bought an expensive Small Forbidden Array set.

He had already expected as much and didn’t have high hopes.

But soon,

his eyes lit up as he took out a cluster of azure sand.

"Weak Water Spirit Sand!"

Previously,

Li Chang’an had wanted to trade for the Boiling Blood Crystal in Chen Qianya’s possession, but he lacked the Weak Water Spirit Sand she required.

’This is a pleasant surprise. I’ll go ask Chen Qianya if she still wants to trade in a few days.’

The corner of Li Chang’an’s mouth lifted slightly as he put away the Weak Water Spirit Sand.

In the Storage Pouch,

the remaining items were not very valuable.

He quickly finished looking through everything and then began to interrogate Liang Ying.

Before long,

he had learned the full story from Liang Ying.

’So it really was Zheng Jinbao. That guy is still causing trouble for me even after he’s dead!’

Everything was more or less as Li Chang’an had guessed.

Before his death, Zheng Jinbao had indeed hired the Tribulation Cultivators of Black Wind Mountain, but the group had been too busy to act at the time.

Now,

Black Wind Mountain had been inexplicably framed for Zheng Jinbao’s murder.

"Big Master was furious. He ordered us to investigate thoroughly, and the trail led to you. He demanded that I bring you back."

Liang Ying’s voice was hoarse as he recounted everything in detail.

Li Chang’an frowned slightly and asked, "Has your Big Master broken through to Foundation Establishment?"

Liang Ying shook his head. "Not yet."

’That’s good.’

Li Chang’an breathed a small sigh of relief.

Originally, Black Wind Mountain was a problem for the Zheng Family to worry about.

But now,

he too had become their target.

Naturally, he didn’t want the Big Master of Black Wind Mountain to reach Foundation Establishment.

"Does he have a Foundation Establishment Pill?"

"Well..."

Liang Ying thought for a moment before answering, "Big Master’s plans for Foundation Establishment are very secretive. I only know that he obtained one of the main ingredients for the Foundation Establishment Pill in his early years. I don’t know anything else."

’Is that so?’

Li Chang’an pondered for a moment.

After so many years,

even if the Big Master of Black Wind Mountain hadn’t managed to get his hands on a Foundation Establishment Pill, he must have gathered most of the materials needed for refining one.

This was not good news.

A faint sense of urgency rose in Li Chang’an’s heart.

Just then,

Liang Ying suddenly spoke up.

"Li Chang’an, we don’t have to be enemies. You’re not part of the Zheng Family."

He swallowed, his lips dry and cracked.

But for a sliver of hope, he persisted in his attempt to persuade him.

"As long as you let me go, I promise I’ll speak to Big Master on your behalf when I get back and make you a friend of our Black Wind Mountain."

"A friend of Tribulation Cultivators?"

Li Chang’an couldn’t help but laugh.

This group of Tribulation Cultivators from Black Wind Mountain had next to zero credibility.

Even a complete fool wouldn’t believe their words!

Liang Ying immediately grew anxious.

"Li Chang’an, aren’t you afraid of my Big Master breaking through to Foundation Establishment?"

"We can talk about it after he breaks through!"

Li Chang’an’s tone suddenly turned cold as he continued his interrogation.

Before long,

the interrogation was over.

Liang Ying was of no more value.

Li Chang’an was about to strike and end his life.

Suddenly,

the Cloud Mist Hidden Killing Array was triggered again.

’Another enemy?’

Li Chang’an’s expression hardened as he looked toward the spot where the Array had been disturbed.

As far as he could see,

there was no one there.

Only a thumb-sized, strangely shaped insect.

’A Gu Insect?’

Li Chang’an grew vigilant.

Just then,

the insect surprisingly spoke in a human voice.

"Li Chang’an, release Old Five."

"Skilled in the Gu Insect Technique... could you be the fourth master of Black Wind Mountain, Fourth Lady Mei?"

"That’s right!"

The other party didn’t hide her identity, admitting it directly.

Its insect eyes stared fixedly at Li Chang’an as it delivered a threat:

"Release Old Five immediately, and this matter can still be resolved. Otherwise, Black Wind Mountain will hunt you to the death!"

"Oh?"

Li Chang’an seemed to pause for a moment.

He looked at the insect and asked, "If I let him go, Black Wind Mountain will let me off?"

"Correct! Stop wasting time and release him now!"

Fourth Lady Mei’s tone was icy, as if giving a command.

"Or else—"

BOOM!

Before she could finish her sentence,

Li Chang’an suddenly flicked out a finger of Magical Power.

Right in front of her, he obliterated Liang Ying’s head!