Chapter 203: Ye Lingyun's Scheme

As the refined middle-aged man's voice fell, the great hall grew quiet.

Everyone's expression tightened as they looked toward the refined middle-aged man.

The handsome youth's gaze swept over those present before falling back onto the refined middle-aged man, and he said in a deep voice, "Can you calculate what this crisis is, sir?"

Upon hearing this, the refined middle-aged man extended his palm, his thumb tapping rhythmically against his other four fingers.

Each tap caused a flash of starlight.

A star pattern manifested on his brow, and an unfathomably profound aura diffused outward.

A moment later, the refined middle-aged man slowly opened his eyes and looked at the handsome youth, "Daoist Friend Ye, do you still remember Wang Jianqiang, the number one Pill Dao expert in Shenfeng City, whom Daoist Friend Dan Lingzi mentioned to us after returning to Shenhuo City?"

"This crisis may be related to him."

"Wang Jianqiang!"

Hearing this name, one person among the group exclaimed in surprise.

This person was none other than Dan Lingzi.

After his trip to Shenfeng City, his ambitions had completely dissipated.

Nowadays, he was quite satisfied with the rank of second in the Pill Tower.

In order to draw a clear line between himself and Long Aoyu and the others, and to make Ye Lingyun's group drop their hostility toward him, he had thrown himself into Ye Lingyun's team the moment he returned to Shenhuo City.

He had also laid out everything he had seen while following Long Aoyu and the others, as well as all his experiences within Shenfeng City.

He had barely managed to exchange this for Ye Lingyun's trust.

He hesitated for a moment, unable to stop himself from looking at the refined middle-aged man.

"Sir, could you have calculated wrong? Although that Wang Jianqiang's achievements in the Pill Dao are astonishing, he is, after all, just an Alchemist."

"What kind of threat could he pose to us?"

Hearing Dan Lingzi's words, the others also reacted.

How strong could an Alchemist be?

Aside from a few specific types, the combat power of a Specialized Cultivator is generally quite low.

Alchemists are the classic example of this.

Cultivating the Pill Dao is extremely time-consuming, and Alchemists who have wasted their cultivation base due to studying the Pill Dao are everywhere.

Being able to advance in the Pill Dao without letting one's cultivation base fall behind is already considered the mark of a genius.

Even for those rare few Pill Dao Monsters, being able to ensure their cultivation and combat power reach the level of ordinary geniuses of their generation is already considered quite good.

Not to mention the strongest, Ye Lingyun.

Among those present, who is not a top-tier existence among the prodigies of a city?

Could they really be afraid of a mere Alchemist?

Unless he could hire all the powerhouses of Shenfeng City with Pills, that might be somewhat interesting.

But even then, they would not fear him.

Thinking of this, everyone looked toward the refined middle-aged man, waiting for his explanation.

However, before the refined middle-aged man could explain, a cold voice suddenly came from beside him.

"No, sir is right. Wang Jianqiang's strength cannot be underestimated; he must not be taken lightly."

Hearing this, everyone looked at Ye Lingyun in astonishment.

Noticing the gloom on Ye Lingyun's face, everyone froze simultaneously.

Looking at this expression...

Has Daoist Friend Ye suffered a loss at the hands of that Wang Jianqiang?

Once this thought emerged, everyone's heart could not help but tremble.

Someone as strong as Ye Lingyun has actually suffered a loss?

How did that Wang Jianqiang manage to do it?

Ye Lingyun could sense the surprise in everyone's eyes; he did not continue to explain, but let out a long breath, regained his composure, and looked at the refined middle-aged man, "Sir, the previous preparations can be initiated."

"Just leave it to me."

The refined middle-aged man nodded, then looked at the others, "Fellow Daoists, this Xuan will take his leave for now."

Having said this, his figure flickered and vanished from the great hall.

The crowd watched in a daze.

"Brother Ye, what exactly is going on with that Wang Jianqiang?"

A beautiful young woman with a petite and exquisite figure stood up and came to Ye Lingyun's side.

This woman was named Yun Xin.

She was the number one Pill Dao Specialized Cultivator in Shenhuo City.

Hearing Yun Xin's inquiry, Ye Lingyun was silent for a moment, then shook his head, "Yun Xin, this is a long story, but what I can tell you is..."

"I have clashed with Wang Jianqiang several times, and I have fallen behind each time."

Although they had expected it.

But when they heard Ye Lingyun admit it himself, everyone still could not help but show expressions of shock.

In Shenhuo City, Ye Lingyun was practically a legend.

When he first entered Shenhuo City, he was not the strongest; he had barely even made it onto the Battle Stele.

But in just three short years, he had defeated many powerhouses along the way and climbed to the top of the Battle Stele.

He had staged a dramatic comeback.

To this day, it is still talked about with relish by the many Cultivators of Shenhuo City.

It is hard to imagine that a hero like Ye Lingyun would actually suffer repeated setbacks at the hands of one person!

Just who exactly is this Wang Jianqiang??

……

After the refined middle-aged man left the great hall, he went straight to a patch of ruins.

This place was located at the edge of the North City District, where human tracks were rare.

In the center of these ruins, there existed a Trapping Array.

The coverage of the Trapping Array was very small, with a diameter of only about three zhang.

Inside the Trapping Array, a woman sat cross-legged.

Her hair was disheveled, her complexion pale, and a streak of dried blood still hung from the corner of her mouth.

Her aura was weak and fluctuating.

Clearly, she was in a state of serious injury.

"Daoist Friend Xuan Xingzi."

As the refined middle-aged man looked at the woman in the Trapping Array, a thin, dark-skinned youth flashed into existence beside him.

"Why did you suddenly think to come to this place, Daoist Friend?"

"Did Daoist Friend Ye worry about Liang Zhai, and specifically send you to investigate?"

"You go back and tell Daoist Friend Ye to rest assured."

"Since I have already accepted his benefits, I will certainly handle the matter he entrusted to me well."

"You are overthinking it, Daoist Friend; Daoist Friend Ye is not such a petty person."

Xuan Xingzi smiled, "I came here only to tell you, Daoist Friend, that very soon you will no longer need to keep watch here."

Upon hearing this, Liang Zhai's eyes lit up, "You mean to say……"

Xuan Xingzi nodded, "That powerful enemy of Daoist Friend Ye is about to arrive at Shenhuo City."

"When the time comes, we will lure them here."

"Daoist Friend Liang only needs to activate the surrounding Killing Array in time to fulfill the agreement."

"If you can wound that person, Daoist Friend Ye will have additional heavy rewards."

Hearing Xuan Xingzi's words, Liang Zhai raised an eyebrow.

"Daoist Friend Ye had me set up the strongest Killing Array in the vicinity just to wound his enemy?"

Seeing the look of indignation on Liang Zhai's face, Xuan Xingzi smiled, "Daoist Friend Liang, there is no need to be angry; Daoist Friend Ye does not look down on you."

"It is just that that powerful enemy is not simple, otherwise Daoist Friend Ye would not treat them with such caution."

Hearing Xuan Xingzi's explanation, Liang Zhai still felt somewhat unconvinced in his heart.

He was, after all, the strongest Specialized Cultivator of the Array Path in Shenhuo City.

He believed that if given sufficient time to set up an array, no one in the entire Shenhuo City could withstand his Killing Array.

Now that he had exhausted his efforts to set up an array at his peak level, only to be so slighted,

how could he be convinced?

Seeing this, Xuan Xingzi smiled and did not continue to explain.

He exchanged a few more words with Liang Zhai and then left.

……

Amidst Ye Lingyun's active preparations for battle.

Very quickly, two days passed in a flash.

On this day.

Outside Shenhuo City, four figures descended from the sky.