Chapter 351

The grand hall of the Listening Fragrance Tower's pavilion.

When Yunhe returned, Ji Liuyun and her two companions, as well as the rescued Ghost Blade Sect members, including the son of the Yellow Springs Ancestor, Xiao Wuxian, were all in the hall.

Several Yuan Ying Cultivators, including Xiao Wuxian, were gathered together, seemingly discussing something, while the remaining seven or eight Ghost Blade Sect disciples at Jie Dan stage or lower sat slumped to one side, looking shaken.

Seeing him return, Feng Qingdan, the host of this place, smiled sweetly and stepped forward to say:

"Daoist Yunhe has returned; thanks to your formation blocking the pursuit, we were able to escape the Abyss Clan's chase."

Yunhe clasped his hands and said, "Daoist Feng overpraises me; this was merely my duty. It is you, fellow Daoists, who braved danger to rush to our aid, earning my admiration."

Brief pleasantries and mutual flattery could almost be considered a required course for Yuan Ying Cultivators.

"Daoist Yunhe, allow me to introduce: this is the Ghost Blade Sect's sect leader, Pi Dao Old Ghost Han Bo. Daoist Han, this is Yunhe, the Yunhe Daoist who set up the formation that blocked the Abyss Clan earlier."

With Feng Qingdan and Ji Liuyun, two people skilled at swaying their sleeves, the atmosphere basically could not grow cold.

The burly Han Bo, though his face remained pale, immediately clasped his fists toward Yunhe and said, "Thank you, Daoist, for your help!"

Being fellow Yuan Ying Cultivators alone commands respect, and Yunhe is also a Fourth-Level formation master—an existence best not offended, for no one knows when one might need to ask for aid.

"I have long heard of Daoist Han's name; seeing you today, you are indeed extraordinary—there's no need for you to stand on ceremony with me." Yunhe smiled and said politely.

"And this is Xiao Wuxian, Fellow Daoist Xiao."

Feng Qingdan then introduced the sole Late Jie Dan Stage cultivator among their group who were discussing matters.

"Xiao Wuxian has paid his respects to Senior Yunhe."

Although his background is not insignificant, he still behaved relatively respectfully toward these Yuan Ying Cultivators, Yunhe included.

Yunhe also returned the salute.

"Fellow Daoist Xiao is indeed young and capable."

I just don't know whether it's Yunhe who is older, or this Xiao Wuxian.

But here, cultivation base determines seniority.

After the brief introductions and pleasantries ended, the few of them returned to the previous topic.

"This matter seems somewhat strange," said the Lotus Flower Ancestor, frowning.

"'It seems I'm not the only one who feels this way.'"

Yunhe pondered silently.

"Indeed." Ji Liuyun gave a slight nod, her brows also furrowed in thought.

Their rescue operation this time went far too smoothly.

Although they encountered an ambush by the Abyss Clan, no matter how you look at it, the ambush seemed hastily thrown together—so hasty it almost seemed as if it were deliberately meant to let them escape so easily.

"Fellow Daoists, perhaps you could relate the events in detail so we may discuss them together."

As the guardian stationed at the Listening Fragrance Tower, Mu Ya Zi should be the one least informed about prior events, so he spoke up.

Moreover, his age and seniority were fitting for the responsibility of being in charge.

Thereafter, Pi Dao Old Ghost Han Bo began, recounting how the Ghost Blade Sect encountered the Black Abyss Mist and the Abyss Clan attack, how they were forced to deviate from their original escape route, and finally how they came to the Listening Fragrance Tower for aid.

After that, Ji Liuyun took charge of recounting what happened before and after their rescue.

After speaking, the hall fell silent, each person's mind pondering where the clues lay.

"Perhaps there was never any ambush or trap to begin with; encountering the Abyss Clan might have been merely a coincidence," Mu Ya Zi said hesitantly.

For only in that way could it be explained.

Yunhe couldn't help but furrow his brow, lightly rubbing his chin.

He felt the matter would not be that simple.

His gaze swept, one by one and subtly, over the few people before him.

"'Strange, could that earlier palpitation possibly also be an illusion?'"

He has always trusted his own spiritual sense fairly.

But now, as he faced those few people, he sensed no palpitation from any of them.

"'Did they sense my perception and hide even deeper? Or could there be a traitor among them?'"

Actually, it wasn't just Yunhe who had such thoughts arise.

And precisely because of that, the atmosphere in the hall grew somewhat strange.

"Hehe, perhaps it truly is as Fellow Daoist Mu Ya Zi said; fellow Daoists, you have labored on this journey, and I have prepared fine spiritual liquor and food for you—why not"

Feng Qingdan, sensing this, showed a hint of embarrassment and tried to ease the situation.

Yet the faint worry deep in her eyes did not escape everyone's notice—at the very least, it did not escape Yunhe's eyes.

It was quite obvious.

If one of them had truly defected to the Abyss Clan, the impact on her Listening Fragrance Tower would be too great, very likely following in the Ghost Blade Sect's footsteps.

"Master of the Tower!!"

At that moment, a disciple of the Listening Fragrance Tower rushed in, her pretty face full of panic, shouting, "Outside, outside"

Before she could finish speaking, several strands of divine sense swept out.

Immediately.

Everyone's expression changed at once.

The Abyss Clan has actually pursued them here!

This is highly unreasonable and abnormal!

It added another layer of suspicion to the already doubtful crowd.

Yet no one spoke.

Several streaks of light shot out from the hall.

Upon a vast plain outside the Listening Fragrance Tower, a large throng of Abyss Clan and Abyss Beasts, rolling in black mist, arrived at this spot.

They directly faced the Sect-Protecting Grand Formation of Listening Fragrance Tower, even taking up an offensive stance.

At the forefront of the Abyssal side, a leader completely cloaked in a black robe rode forth on a ferocious Abyssal Beast, stepping out slowly, accompanied by six or seven others.

They were all Fourth Level Abyssals!

"Abyssal Priest."

Seeing the strange ink-black staff held by the leading Abyssal, Blade-Warding Old Ghost Han Bo's expression darkened, and he spoke in a low voice.

Through prior communication and what he had seen with his own eyes, Yunhe also gained a rough understanding of the Abyssals' situation.

Unlike the Sea Clan, which exists as a tribe, and unlike human cultivators, who exist as sects or families, the rulers of the Abyssals are a group that calls themselves "Abyssal Priests".

They worship the "Abyss", believing it to be the source of their power and also their destination after death.

Thus, among the Abyssals, there are ranks of High Priest, Priest Elder, and Priest.

The priest title represents a status symbol, but it is not entirely tied to one's strength.

One thing is certain: Abyssals who hold the priest title are harder to deal with than ordinary Abyssals, and their abilities are more bizarre.

"What do they mean, intending to assault the grand formation head-on?"

Feng Qingdan's face sank, and he involuntarily looked toward Yunhe.

Seeming to understand his meaning, Yunhe shook his head and said, "As long as the spirit veins are not cut off, with internal stability and our garrison, even months would not allow them to easily break the formation."

Hearing this, everyone breathed a little easier.

With the formation in place, they need not worry; they are already invincible.

However.

One sentence in Yunhe's words stimulated everyone's nerves.

Under conditions of internal stability.

Thus, the doubts everyone already had about this rescue were further amplified.

"Forget it." Mu Ya Zi sighed, the mature and steady-minded one thought of a way to dispel their doubts, and he stepped.

"Please, fellow Daoists, assist me in covering the formation while I go meet those Abyssal people."

Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes lit up slightly.

Exactly, to prove one is not a 'traitor', just go up and fight them!

This would allow one to witness the abilities and peculiarities of Abyssal cultivators, gather more intelligence on them, and later exchange it for greater contribution points.

If one could be the first to slay several Fourth Level Abyssals, the contribution would surely be immense.

And it would also prove one is not a 'traitor'—why not do it?

This would be difficult for Blade-Warding Old Ghost Han Bo, whose condition is likely the worst among the Yuan Ying cultivators present, and he is also the most suspect.

Having him go out now to fight the Abyssal cultivators would be tantamount to sending him to his death.

And the mature and shrewd Mu Ya Zi apparently also noticed Han Bo's grim expression, and spoke gently:

"Among the fellow Daoists present, Daoist Han should be the one who understands the Abyssal cultivators' abilities best; if they have any strange techniques, please advise us."

Upon hearing this, Han Bo's expression improved somewhat, and he nodded in reply:

"Good."

Seeing this, Mu Ya Zi gave a slight signal, after which Feng Qingdan drove the formation disk to open a gap in the Sect-Protecting Grand Formation, allowing passage.

To be frank, doing this entails great risk.

If there truly were a human 'traitor' among those present who had defected to the Abyssals, then the risk of his going out this time would be enormous.

But this also indicates, from another angle, that Mu Ya Zi has great confidence in his own life-preserving methods.

Watching Mu Ya Zi walk out of the formation.

Yunhe revealed a thoughtful expression.

He glanced toward the Abyssals, then looked back at Listening Fragrance Tower behind him, his thoughts churning incessantly.

"It seems the key lies in the palpitation I felt earlier; facing the Abyssals, that sensation did not appear, indicating it was not because of them. What difference is there between now and then?"

Actually, one just needs to filter out the variables.

The difference between now and then.

Setting aside location and formation, as the differences are not significant.

Then only two points remain.

First, back then Yunhe had a Yuan Ying refining corpse and a group of Golden Core refining corpses beside him.

Second, during the escape, Ji Liuyun and company also brought along a bunch of non-Yuan Ying cultivators from the Ghost Blade Sect!

Thinking of this, Yunhe's heart jolted.

"I think I've roughly found the cause."

However, he did not announce it.

The matter needs further confirmation, on one hand.

He also genuinely wanted to see the methods of the Fourth Level Abyssals, and he was curious about those 'spirit-sense peculiar ones'.

Since he had roughly guessed the Abyssals' 'trump card', dealing with it would not be difficult, and he still had that confidence.

Otherwise.

At this point they could not remain so composed facing the Abyssal cultivators, and those Abyssal cultivators would not merely take up a stance—they would have already launched a fierce assault.

Meanwhile, on the Abyssal side.

"Great Priest, the earlier consumption of those human cultivators along the way was probably insufficient; should we attack the formation?" an Abyssal suggested involuntarily.

The Abyssal priest riding the Abyssal beast showed a contemplative expression.

He raised his hand.

The Abyssals and Abyssal beasts behind him became restless, ready to launch a full-scale assault on the Sect-Protecting Grand Formation of Listening Fragrance Tower.

Although they absolutely could not break through this great formation in a short time, they never actually intended to break through it anyway.

From the earlier ambush, the subsequent pursuit, and now pressing up to the formation, all of this was within their plan.

Just that.

Before the Abyss tribe priest could give an order, they saw Mu Ya Zi walk out from within the sect-guarding grand formation.

Immediately afterwards, his expression became somewhat strange.

After a moment's thought, he guessed the reason for their actions, and the hand he had raised slowly lowered.

"Looks like it's unnecessary; human cultivators, cleverness backfires."

Sorry, everyone; lately at year-end things have been busy, yesterday in the middle of the night a customer suddenly drank paraquat and ended up in the ICU—how to put it, sigh, a troublesome autumn.

(End of chapter)