Chapter 609: Chapter 55: Ambushed
"Snow?"
Fang Zheng halted his escape light, reached out to catch a snowflake drifting by his side, and his eyes rippled with surprise.
Before he knew it...
He had already been in the Yama Secret Realm for several months, most of which was spent on refining the Divine Bone.
He remembered promising Qiuchan that he would take her up the mountain to see the first snow this year. Was it snowing outside?
Would he make it in time?
He looked up.
The sky was pitch black.
The white snowflakes were hidden within, floating down with the wind, and an inexplicable sense of loneliness and sadness welled up in his heart.
"Hoo..."
Exhaling a long breath, Fang Zheng focused his gaze, cleared his mind of distractions, and transformed again into escape light, flying along the Sanzu River.
Several days later.
The escape light landed on a low hill.
This hill was not tall, dark yellow in color, distinct from other peaks. Upon closer inspection, it was found to be mixed with a lot of gold.
This was actually a gold mountain!
On the mountain, a dozen people held pickaxes and shovels, while two lavishly dressed individuals occasionally urged them to hurry.
"Swoosh!"
The escape light landed, Fang Zheng let his aura unfold, looking at the two:
"You came from outside?"
Cultivators from the outside world and those from the Yama Secret Realm were completely different; they lacked that gloomy aura.
Nor did they have the presence of the Yama Heart Sutra.
"Senior."
One tall and one short, facing the pressure of a Martial Arts Grandmaster, both turned pale and kneeled down in unison.
"Yes."
The tall one hurried to speak:
"This junior is a disciple of the Encounter Immortal Sect, under the tutelage of Yuan Gu from Sorrowful Mountain, Master Yuan, ordered to excavate a gold mine here."
Gold.
Not only a hard currency among mortals, but also a necessary consumable in cultivating certain magic, indispensable.
Such a gold mountain was enough to warrant the presence of a mage for excavation.
On the contrary, in the Yama Secret Realm, transactions often involved bartering goods; gold was used but was not common.
A gold mountain was freely benefiting outsiders.
"Ordered?"
Fang Zheng’s expression remained unchanged:
"By whose order?"
"This..." The two lifted their heads, hesitance appeared on their faces, pausing before clenching their teeth and speaking:
"By the Commandery Princess’s order."
Currently, in the Yama Secret Realm, there were roughly three major forces.
The Three Sages Manor, Princess Qingyuan, and the local force Yama Sect formed by the Nie Family and the Ethereal Celestial Palace.
The three forces were mutually hostile, and if the visitor was not an expert from their side, they were in trouble nine times out of ten.
"No need to be nervous."
Fang Zheng spoke slowly:
"Do you have a map of the vicinity? Where is the secret realm’s entrance and exit?"
Encounter Immortal Sect?
Master Jiuyuan had also cultivated in this sect; he had heard of Yuan Gu’s reputation as a master in divining the celestial mechanisms.
However,
Not better than Jiuyuan.
"Yes."
The short one breathed a sigh of relief, though not recognizing who the visitor was, the demeanor suggested they weren’t an enemy.
He took out a scroll and pointed behind him:
"The exit is seventy miles south of Ethereal Celestial Palace; senior, you just need to report to the Commandery Princess to leave."
"Hmm..."
"Currently, the passage is somewhat unstable, requiring specific times to enter or exit. A master attempted to force through and was severely injured."
"Hmm."
Fang Zheng nodded, took the scroll, and casually asked:
"Is there any contact outside?"
"Yes."
The short one repeatedly nodded:
"There is a large army stationed outside, but besides our people, the Three Sages Manor has also gathered tens of thousands of troops."
?
Fang Zheng slightly frowned.
Pausing, he turned his gaze to the tall cultivator, speaking in a strange tone:
"Killing intent?"
"Have I offended you?"
"No, no." The tall cultivator’s face changed drastically, hurriedly waving:
"This is the first time I have seen senior."
"Indeed, it’s the first time." Fang Zheng squinted:
"You were very tense when you saw me for the first time, and just now accidentally leaked killing intent, afraid you already recognized who I am."
"Knowing who I am, yet harboring killing intent..."
"Swoosh!"
The tall cultivator’s figure blurred, turning into a stream like water, seeped into the ground, disappearing from the spot.
Earth Escape Technique!
And it was executed so swiftly, obviously well-versed in this technique.
Fang Zheng’s eyes lowered, a trace of mystical light appearing at the back of his head, transforming into a large hand reaching underground.
Profound Yin Qi Grand Capturing Hand!
The large hand ignored mountain rocks and soil, chasing the fleeing figure below at an astonishing speed, gripping firmly.
"Poof!"
Blood and flesh exploded.
When the large hand retracted, only a few magical artifacts and sundry items remained.
"This person is a spy."
Tossing aside the sundry items, Fang Zheng looked at the short one:
"Report to the Commandery Princess truthfully."
"..." The short cultivator turned pale, legs trembling, forced a dry smile at the words:
"Yes."
"He was a spy."
"He indeed was a spy." Fang Zheng rolled his eyes:
"Forget it!"
With a wave of his sleeve, he left with his escape light.
*
*
*
"Here’s some good news."
"I have no grievances with the Three Sages Manor or Princess Qingyuan, and can even establish connections with Princess Qingyuan."
"There is a theoretical chance with any of them."
"The bad news is..."
"I have no ties with either party, and having saved Li Shu, I might have already offended Princess Qingyuan."
"Choosing either side makes it hard to ensure against mishaps."
"Sigh!"
Fang Zheng sighed lightly:
"Take it one step at a time, if it doesn’t work, I’ll go to the Reincarnation Hall, after all, it’s not far."
The escape light pierced through layers of dark clouds, pausing in midair as it was about to pass over two adjacent peaks.
"Who?"
Fang Zheng revealed himself, looking ahead:
"Since you are here, why not show yourself?"
"Such keen perception!"
The air on the left peak shimmered, and a figure appeared as if walking out of a painting.
This person wore a Daoist robe, a long sword at the waist, a big and round nose, with hawk eyes glaring fiercely.
He cupped his hands towards Fang Zheng, spoke nonchalantly:
"Wine Sword Bai Jin, greeting Shopkeeper Fang of Gu’an County!"
"And me."
The right peak also revealed a person, dressed in white, more brilliant than snow, with an extraordinary aura, looking at Fang Zheng with a slight smile:
"Julian Blythe, at your service!"
"So it’s the two friends from the Bai Family." Fang Zheng’s eyes flickered, recalling their background:
"May I ask why you are blocking my path?"
"Mr. Fang!" Wine Sword Bai Jin shouted:
"Manor Master Baili has a discerning eye and has taken a fancy to your Gu’an County, wishing to invite you for a grand discussion."
"Don’t refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit!"
"Oh!"
Fang Zheng raised an eyebrow:
"And if I’m unwilling?"
"Unwilling?" Julian Blythe chuckled softly:
"That would be even better; we brothers have long heard of Shopkeeper Fang’s renown, today we wish to learn from you."
"Ha..." Fang Zheng shook his head:
"With such harsh words and exposed killing intent, I doubt you truly want me to meet Manor Master Baili?"
If the invitation were sincere, why block the way with an array and act so ferociously?
"Haha..."
Wine Sword Bai Jin laughed towards the sky:
"Exactly so!"
"Swoosh!"
His words had barely fallen when a sword light crossed the void, cutting through the clouds, slashing straight towards Fang Zheng.
Julian Blythe flicked his fingers, an electric arc preceded, shooting towards him.
They mean it?
These two really intended to kill him!
Fang Zheng’s heart tightened, he turned and fled.
Though he had some confidence in himself, he wasn’t blindly arrogant. Not to mention that the Bai Family Brothers were not kind, skilled in their own right, and an array had been laid here. Fighting here would lose him the geographical advantage.
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