Chapter 148: The Ambush Unfolds
By midday the following day, after the auction concluded, Xiao Yuan followed Xiao Yan out of the city.
Although Xiao Yan had profited from the auction, most of it had already been spent on supplies. Compared to Xiao Yuan's nearly seven million gold coins in assets, Xiao Yan's purse was practically empty.
All Xiao Yan could do was sigh—alchemy made money fast, but burned it even faster.
"Brother, I need to get my hands on that Purifying Lotus Demonic Flame map fragment," Xiao Yan muttered as they trailed far behind Fan Ling's group.
"Mhm. That guy likely has quite a few valuable items on him. You could also make good use of that Thunder Bat Sky Wings," Xiao Yuan replied, still clad in his white dress.
So long as they remained in Black-Corner Region, the identity of "Xiao Yuan" did not exist.
"Hehe, then I won't hold back!" Xiao Yan grinned. The idea of gaining flight ahead of schedule was too exciting.
"Hmm? They've stopped!" Xiao Yuan said with a curious frown, tugging Xiao Yan back with him.
The two immediately concealed themselves in the dense forest, peering through the branches toward a large tree roughly a hundred meters ahead. There, Fan Ling and a dozen others were resting.
But the brothers didn't act rashly. After all, Fan Ling had three Dou Ling-level experts and numerous capable guards. Without relying on Yao Lao, taking them out quickly would be difficult.
Once a drawn-out fight began, complications would follow.
After ten minutes of rest, however, Fan Ling's group abruptly changed direction, veering west of Black Seal City.
"What are they up to now?" Xiao Yan asked, frowning.
"Heh, looks like we're in for a free show," Xiao Yuan smirked meaningfully.
Xiao Yan blinked, then realized: "You think it's about the Three Thousand Lightning Movement?"
"Or maybe the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill. In any case, let's keep our distance," Xiao Yuan cautioned before darting after them.
Two groups now advanced westward, separated by a hundred meters. After around twenty minutes of pursuit, Yao Lao's voice suddenly echoed in their minds:
"Be careful. There's a powerful presence hidden in the ravine ahead—stronger than the Dou Huang you sensed at the auction, and icy cold like Fan Ling's aura."
"So, it's the Blood Sect's leader," Xiao Yuan and Xiao Yan muttered, then quickly took cover.
Yao Lao continued to mask their auras, but their movements would still need to be stealthily concealed.
"No matter what this is about, looks like we'll benefit either way," Xiao Yuan transmitted via soul voice.
"Hehe, no matter who wins, we won't lose," Xiao Yan grinned.
They suppressed their vital signs and slipped into a vantage point overlooking the ravine. From here, they observed the quiet forest below—one that looked far too still.
Soon, a mounted group arrived. Leading them was a woman in a green dress.
They were clearly from the Heavenly Snake Mansion.
Xiao Yuan was momentarily confused—he'd grown used to flight—but quickly recalled that anyone below the Dou Wang level would still rely on horses.
Though Elder Qing, a Dou Wang, led them, she couldn't abandon her subordinates.
Xiao Yuan's gaze flickered. These Heavenly Snake people deserved saving—after all, Qing Lian was part of their faction.
Despite Elder Qing's experience and a probing counterattack, the Blood Sect launched an overwhelming ambush.
Even ignoring the Dou Huang-level Fan Lao, the Blood Sect simply had too many Dou Ling-level fighters.
In an instant, nearly twenty Heavenly Snake Mansion experts were cut down. Only eight remained around Elder Qing!
Their fate seemed sealed.
Elder Qing parried a sneak attack, her snake sword piercing the throat of an enemy. She surged with green Dou Qi wings and leapt into the sky—only to be intercepted mid-flight.
A shadow passed overhead, and then an overwhelming force crashed down on her from above, shattering her defensive shield and knocking her from the air.
"Ha! Elder Qing, I told you—no one escapes today!" Fan Lao laughed, crimson Dou Qi wings flaring behind him, stinking of blood.
He gave her no chance to recover. He dove like a vampire bat after prey.
Elder Qing gritted her teeth and charged upward. Her Dou Qi flared violently, warping the air around her—she was pushing herself to the limit.
But a Dou Wang was no match for a Dou Huang.
After ten exchanges, she was visibly weakening.
Boom!
Another direct hit sent her vomiting blood.
Fan Lao closed in for the kill—until Elder Qing pulled out a cold jade box and snarled, "Come any closer and I'll smash the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill to dust!"
Fan Lao halted, mid-strike. His red eyes narrowed.
"If you destroy that pill, I'll cripple your Dou Qi and keep you locked up in the Blood Sect like a pig for our men to use!" he hissed.
His calm tone made the threat even more horrifying.
Elder Qing's expression changed despite herself, fingers trembling around the box.
She flinched—just long enough.
Fan Lao vanished. In an instant, he reappeared before her and struck her arm with a crimson palm.
Crack!
Her bone shattered.
"AHH!"
Screaming in pain, she dropped the jade box—only for Fan Lao to snatch it and retreat with a triumphant cackle.
He popped it open to confirm the pill, then sealed it and threw it toward Fan Ling.
"Ling'er! Take it and run! Blood Guards, escort the young master back to Twilight City—I'll hold them off!"
Fan Ling caught the box and stuffed it into his ring. Dozens of Blood Guards disengaged and fled south with him.
"FAN YOU BASTARD! I'll die before I let you enjoy that pill!" Elder Qing howled, her aura surging violently. Blood seeped from her skin as her Dou Qi exploded outward.
With a mad glare, she hurled herself at Fan Lao in a suicidal charge.
"So, you've gone mad. It's useless," Fan Lao said, drawing a long crimson saber that reeked of blood. The two collided in midair, triggering a massive explosion.
BOOM!
Watching Fan Ling flee with the prize, Xiao Yuan sighed.
"Xiao Yan, go after them. If you get a chance, take him down. I'll save the others."
"Brother, are you going to unlock that power again?"
Xiao Yan frowned. That sealed power was potent but not endless. If Fan Lao noticed something, Xiao Yuan could be in danger.
"Heh, I can barely push myself to Dou Huang level—just enough to scare him off and extract Elder Qing. I don't plan to fight him seriously."
"I just hope Fan Lao doesn't catch on," Xiao Yan said, worried.
"He won't," Yao Lao's calm voice echoed. "I can help Xiao Yuan reach Dou Huang level temporarily. With precise control, I won't trigger outside interference."
A pale white flame flickered in Xiao Yan's eyes. He reached out and tapped Xiao Yuan's chest, flooding him with power—yet not a ripple leaked out.
Xiao Yuan marveled at the precision.
Last time Queen Medusa had injected him with power, it nearly wrecked his meridians. But this time, Yao Lao's infusion felt smooth and easy to wield.
With this strength, he was ready.
"Then I'll go. Be careful, Brother," Xiao Yan said, shooting off after Fan Ling.
Watching him go, Xiao Yuan turned toward the battle above.
Elder Qing was on her last legs. In three more exchanges, she would fall.
And sure enough, after three more blows, she faltered. Fan Lao grinned and slashed toward her chest.
Elder Qing shut her eyes, despair blooming.
At that exact moment, Xiao Yuan vanished.
(END CHAPTER)
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