Chapter 3579: Confirming the Trap

"Including that Illusion Array, once you go in you can't get out, and eventually you'll be worn down to death inside. It forces those people to have no choice but to enter the Secret Realm to explore…"

Qiong Qi's words, although all speculation, made Ye Liuyun think the possibility was great.

"If that's really the case, then the faction that issued this mission is highly suspicious. But since we're already here, we have to send someone in to see the situation!"

Ye Liuyun immediately summoned a captured bandit, used a Slave Seal to control him, and sent him into the Secret Realm. As soon as the bandit entered, contact with Ye Liuyun was cut, likely a fatal outcome.

Ye Liuyun didn't send anyone else to die, but asked those bandits: "What kind of faction is Duanmu Hall?"

The mission they were carrying out was issued by Duanmu Hall. Ye Liuyun and his group aren't familiar with the situation here; they only know Duanmu Hall is a major faction.

"Duanmu Hall is usually low‑key, a family that runs a medicinal herb business. They previously dealt with the Demon Race, and only in recent years have they expanded here."

"It's said the Duanmu family is a Demon Cultivator family. Yet they are rarely seen; it's their hired people who handle affairs."

"Duanmu Hall's strength is said to be terrifying; several mercenary groups and major factions offended them, but disappeared shortly after. Some say Duanmu Hall did it!"

The mercenaries chattered anxiously to Ye Liuyun, fearing he would send them into the Secret Realm to die.

"Let's withdraw; staying here is useless. We can't enter this Secret Realm; it seems someone is controlling it!"

Ye Liuyun made a decision, then led the group back to the city to settle accounts with Duanmu Hall. But before they got far, a batch of Black‑clothed, masked Demon Cultivators charged at them.

"Prepare for battle!"

Seeing their fierce momentum and murderous aura, Ye Liuyun knew they were coming after him. Though he couldn't be sure they were from Duanmu Hall, they were clearly connected.

Ye Liuyun's group had uncovered Duanmu Hall's plot; the bandit who entered was likely already controlled by the other side. Moreover, they may have set traps in the Formation, and once the Formation breaks, they can detect it.

When those Black‑clothed people rushed over, they glanced at Ye Liuyun's group and, without a word, struck immediately.

"Are you people from Duanmu Hall?" Ye Liuyun asked, but received no reply; their coordination was seamless, clearly trained assassins.

However, their training level wasn't high, and their realm was low too—only a Demon Cultivator of the Eighth Realm led them, clearly underestimating Ye Liuyun's strength.

Among Ye Liuyun's side, the highest visible realm was Taixu Seventh Layer. Yet at that moment Ye Liuyun released a Metal Puppet, instantly turning the tide.

The leading Demon Cultivator, seeing the unfavorable situation, didn't hesitate and released his Soul source, charging into Ye Liuyun's Sea of Consciousness, only to be marked with a Slave Seal by Ye Liuyun for a Soul Search to assess the situation.

Ye Liuyun's speculation was correct: Duanmu Hall was setting a trap to capture Demon Cultivators. They originally belonged to the Demon Race and were infiltrating bit by bit.

They possess a control technique similar to the Slave Seal; if they capture a sufficiently strong Demon Cultivator, they enslave them for their own use. If not, they kill them outright as cultivation resources.

Using this method repeatedly, they've grown rapidly. This time, the bandit who entered was controlled by the Secret Realm's master; when the plot was exposed, they immediately sent people to assassinate Ye Liuyun's group.

But that bandit didn't know Ye Liuyun's strength, so the wave of people they sent was misled by the bandit and wasn't strong enough.

The leading Demon Cultivator has already transmitted the information back to Duanmu Hall; they will likely send more forces soon to encircle them.

This is Duanmu Hall's secret; it must never be leaked by Ye Liuyun's group, or their

reputation will be completely destroyed, and they'll have to start from scratch.

After confirming this was a trap set by Duanmu Hall, Ye Liuyun also searched the Demon Cultivator's Sea of Consciousness for Duanmu Hall's strength and location.

Then, after annihilating the Black‑clothed people before them, he had Qiong Qi set up a Formation.

"Duanmu Hall's strength is somewhat greater than that Demon Cultivator Liu family's. With Xu Rong absent, we would be outnumbered, so we also set them an Illusion Array and a trap Formation, letting them taste their own brewed bitter wine."

"Ha ha, fine, just watch me; I'll make sure they can't see it." Qiong Qi also felt he finally had a place to exert his power, and was very enthusiastic.

Moreover, this time arranging the Formation, he was extremely meticulous, disguising it flawlessly, as if it were naturally formed.

Before long, Duanmu Hall's large force arrived, splitting into three routes, each with nearly a hundred people, surrounding Ye Liuyun's group.

Each contingent had a Demon Cultivator of the Ninth Realm leading. The strongest contingent not only had two Ninth Realm Demon Cultivators but also a Demon Race, seemingly the leader of these people.

That Demon Race was also very cautious, letting the other two contingents charge in first, not acting directly. Because the other two contingents were numerous enough to wipe out Ye Liuyun's group.

"This Demon Race is indeed cautious!" Ye Liuyun could only helplessly let Lei Ming use Zhenmo Tower to subdue that Demon Race first, then release a Demon Beast to slaughter the outside Demon Cultivators.

As for the Demon Cultivators already inside the Formation, they have lost their bearings; Ye Liuyun will slowly clear them with his group.

The two Ninth Realm Demon Cultivators this time were not killed by Ye Liuyun; he kept them as assistants.

When they head south later, they'll encounter more Demon Race and Demon Cultivators; having a few Demon Cultivator mercenaries in hand won't draw much attention.

Li Qianjiao, as battles increased, grew more familiar with the people around Ye Liuyun. She discovered that some of the Monster Beasts accompanying Ye Liuyun could emit Black and White Light, saving lives at critical moments.

Moreover, that light seemed to shatter anything; no material could block the white Technique's dissolution. The Black Light also could not be stopped by any Defense Artifact, directly annihilating an opponent's Soul.

Li Qianjiao also gradually realized that these Monster Beasts, having lived and died alongside Ye Liuyun, were already his partners, and Ye Liuyun treated them very generously.

She also knows that the Transformation God Fruit and Twin Bloom are prepared for these Monster Beasts. Even though Li Qianjiao's family is wealthy, she never thought to give such good resources to her own pets.

Thus Li Qianjiao became increasingly curious about Ye Liuyun, finding him extraordinary.

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