Chapter 260: Encountering Sangmu Outside Ding'anju

Ever since they parted ways, Hanyang had been searching for Lingxiang's trail without a moment's rest.

Although Lingxiang was his martial aunt in terms of seniority, she had been raised by Hanyang's own hand; compared to that, they were more like siblings.

Hearing that the Demon Race was on the move, Hanyang immediately grew worried for Lingxiang. It just so happened that the Sect Leader had ordered someone to bring Lingxiang back, so he naturally volunteered to take the lead.

He had personally promised Fairy Tumi that he would protect Lingxiang well!

Just as Hanyang was rushing about, he inadvertently noticed that a tree nearby was somewhat unusual.

It was currently early summer, and the spring breeze had not yet fully faded; the surrounding trees were all swaying and rustling in the wind, yet this one tree stood perfectly still, as if it were not in the same place as the others.

He hurriedly leaped onto the tree and, sure enough, discovered that one of the leaves was marked with a Dingfeng Seal. He hurriedly searched around some more and found a Sound Transmission Talisman on a new leaf, which appeared to be in the handwriting of True Person Chengxin.

Hanyang performed a hand seal to undo it, and heard a voice come from the talisman: "Lingxiang has been found; come to Ding'anju quickly to rendezvous."

It really was Martial Uncle Chengxin!

Ding'anju was the small courtyard where Long Qi was currently staying. It was originally the residence of Fairy Tumi. After Fairy Tumi settled in the Yuanqing Sect, she had Yuanqing Disciples come to move her belongings, so the place became vacant and later served as a resting place for passing Yuanqing Disciples.

Come to think of it, when Fairy Tumi married into the Yuanqing Sect, it had truly been a hardship for True Person Chengxin and his group.

At that time, the several Elders, including True Person Chengxin, were still in the disciple generation of the Yuanqing Sect. After Fairy Tumi married the former Sect Leader, she sent these disciples to move her items.

But Fairy Tumi had been a wanderer before; no matter where she went, she would build a small courtyard herself. In the vast Tianchao, she really had these disciples running all over the place, and she even called it "training."

Those were old stories that the group of Elders were unwilling to mention.

Now, as soon as Hanyang heard that True Person Chengxin had found Lingxiang, he hurried to rush to Ding'anju, but he hadn't run more than a few steps before he turned back—he had just undone the Sound Transmission Talisman, so he had to leave a clue for Chiyanzi.

After some preparations, he hurried toward Ding'anju, but just as he was not far from the residence, he heard a series of roars and howls.

Hanyang was all too familiar with this sound; thirteen years ago, when the Yuanqing Sect suffered a great disaster, this sound could be heard everywhere.

It was monsters!

Hanyang was instantly alert. He hurriedly pinched his fingers to cast a seal to hide his aura, using the trees to cover himself as he quietly crept toward Ding'anju. But he hadn't gone more than a few steps when he saw that the area outside the Ding'anju courtyard was surrounded by swarms of monsters.

Beyond that thin boundary, monsters were piled up one after another, dense and numerous, all scrambling to strike at the invisible wall that blocked them. The scene was enough to strike fear into one's heart—with so many monsters, if the Dharma Array were to be broken, the consequences...

Would be unthinkable...

Fortunately, the Dharma Array looked extremely sturdy; he figured it must have been set up by Martial Uncle Chengxin.

It was fortunate that Martial Uncle Chengxin was there; that was at least one thing to be comforted by.

But Hanyang thought again: the search for Lingxiang this time was an order from his master, specifically naming Martial Uncle Chengxin to go in person. Yet, according to sect rules, Martial Uncle Chengxin should not have left the Yuanqing Sect.

Could it be that...

Hanyang couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. Sure enough, the recent actions of the Demon Race were all aimed at Lingxiang. But Lingxiang's cultivation was shallow, and she had never publicized her identity; what could the Demon Race possibly want with her?

When the Yuanqing Sect suffered its disaster back then, although Hanyang had experienced it personally, True Person Shangqing and the others had kept their lips sealed, never mentioning to the disciples the reason for the Demon Race's invasion, only saying they were acting on the orders of the Yuan Qing Patriarch to close the mountain gates and bide their time. Looking at it now, it must have been related to Lingxiang.

Or perhaps it was related to Fairy Tumi?

Just as Hanyang was deep in thought, he suddenly felt a murderous intent behind him. He hurriedly dodged to the side, and the moment he moved, a Demon Blade grazed his Daoist Robe and embedded itself straight into the tree trunk where he had just been hiding.

Hanyang was instantly alert. He looked toward the direction from which the Demon Blade had flown and saw a person emerge from the shadows, face covered with a black cloth, their whole body radiating baleful energy.

Lingxiang had an old injury in her leg and could not perform light-body techniques, but fortunately, she had a carriage given by Inspector Liu, though Lingxiang still felt it was too slow.

But her heart was tied to Long Qi, so she thought about letting Xin Yi and the others go ahead. However, the group felt that because Lingxiang had used up most of her Spirit Power to set up the array to capture Guihua, and she was not skilled in Martial Dao or Body Movement, it would be truly dangerous to leave her alone. If they encountered the Demon Race on the road again, she might not even have the means to resist.

After deliberation, they decided that Xin Yi, who had the fastest pace, would go ahead to scout the path. Xin Yi had the highest cultivation and was extremely skilled in concealment; if the small house in Fufeng County was indeed dangerous, they would at least have a choice between helping or protecting themselves.

As for Liu Xia and Banxia, following Lingxiang would, firstly, ensure her safety, and secondly, if the small house in Fufeng County were truly in trouble and Xin Yi could not escape, the three of them could discuss countermeasures or fetch reinforcements. They would not be helpless, which was better than Lingxiang being left behind alone.

Lingxiang felt that Xin Yi's words were reasonable, so she agreed.

But even so, the three of them did not dare to slack off, driving the carriage at full speed.

Although Lingxiang was anxious, she understood that even the best horses could not endure such strain, so the three of them finally stopped to rest.

It was during this break that Lingxiang realized that while Guihua had previously appeared to be forced to flee by her, it seemed as if she had intentionally walked into her own trap, and what awaited them was an even larger trap.

Admittedly, Guihua had once fallen for her scheme and lost cultivation, which was understandable, but she was a Demon General! Not to mention her Daoist practice, just looking at her age, she had eaten more salt than Lingxiang had eaten rice; how could she be so easily tricked?

If that were the case, then what exactly was Guihua plotting?

Forget it, forget it; no matter what, she still had to rendezvous with Martial Brother Chengxin.

Lingxiang thought left and right but couldn't figure it out, so she had to let it go for now.

Although Xin Yi had comforted Lingxiang a few words when he left, he had also quickened his pace while traveling.

Having spent years with Guihua, he understood her best. Guihua might hide something, but she never told lies. Since she mentioned Fufeng County, something must be happening there.

Xin Yi channeled Spirit Power to his feet and used seventy percent of his Cloud Treading Step to fly forward. It wasn't that he wasn't giving his all, but that he was conserving his strength.

Although the Cloud Treading Step was not a very high-level technique, it still consumed Spirit Power. If there were indeed monsters wandering around Fufeng County when he arrived, he would need enough strength to deal with them.

After a dash that crossed shadows and kicked up dust, he finally neared Ding'anju, but the scene before him shocked him—outside the perimeter of Ding'anju, monsters were climbing and trampling, flying and leaping, all striking at an invisible wall.

At a glance, Ding'anju looked as if it had been covered by a bowl!

It was just as he thought!

Xin Yi was terrified, but with such a number of monsters, even he could not handle them!

Just at this moment, he suddenly saw a Witchcraft talisman fly over. Xin Yi hurriedly dodged, and when he looked toward the direction from which the technique had flown, it was Hanyang and...

Wolf Head!