Chapter 373: The Uneasy Surroundings

The person Zhang Nuo was thinking of in his heart was none other than Nanxuan Laozu; the matter of how he had framed him back then was still vivid in his mind! He would even think of it while sitting in meditation to practice his arts!

Before, Zhang Nuo hadn't sensed anything, but as his cultivation level improved, this feeling had become increasingly intense!

"Old dog Nanxuan! Where exactly are you now?"

He cursed in a low voice and made this matter a priority to handle! After returning to his Cave Abode, Zhang Nuo remained behind closed doors! In secret, however, he asked Liu Qingshan to send disciples to scout out the whereabouts of the Nanxuan Sect group!

In the blink of an eye, a month later, a ball of fire flew into Zhang Nuo's Cave Abode. He gently opened his slightly closed eyes and suspiciously grabbed the fire into his hand! After hearing the words within, a trace of unease appeared on Zhang Nuo's calm face!

This Sound Transmission Talisman was sent by Yang Huzi. According to him, in these past few days, there had always been cultivators of unknown origin wandering around Yulong Immortal Mountain! Judging by their intentions, it seemed they did not harbor good intentions!

After thinking for a moment, Zhang Nuo got up and left the Cave Abode, flying directly toward the direction of Yulong Hall! When he arrived at the hall, he saw only Zhou Huizheng there. Seeing Zhang Nuo appear, a faint smile appeared on Zhou Huizheng's gloomy face!

"Pavilion Master, what has happened?"

"Number Four! You have been in seclusion and not coming out for this period of time, so you are not clear about the matters outside! According to the news brought back by the disciples, it is very likely that these cultivators appearing around Yulong Immortal Mountain are disciples of Taixu Palace! It seems they are about to take action!"

Hearing this, Zhang Nuo's expression turned uncertain.

"Hehe! So they finally came! Pavilion Master, rest assured; I, Zhang, do not even take the mere Taixu Palace seriously!"

Since the matter was half caused by himself, Zhang Nuo was definitely not someone who would shirk responsibility.

"Number Four! Things are not as simple as you think. Right now, there are at least three sect forces wandering around Yulong Immortal Mountain! It is very likely that Taixu Palace has joined forces with other powers!"

His expression sinking slightly, Zhou Huizheng said with some worry.

"There are other forces involved?"

This time, Zhang Nuo also felt that the situation was not ordinary. If it were only the Taixu Palace faction, relying on the current strength of Yulong Immortal Mountain, they could fully handle it, but if several not-so-weak forces were to attack simultaneously, things would be very thorny!

"Number Three has already gone down the mountain to scout! I believe there will be results before long!"

Nodding, Zhou Huizheng sighed lightly and said!

"Since that is the case, I will also go down the mountain to take a look! I will first make sure I know what is going on!"

After pondering for a moment, Zhang Nuo suddenly said.

"Alright! But remember! If you encounter a strong opponent, return immediately; you must absolutely not get entangled in the fight!"

Zhou Huizheng understood Zhang Nuo's temper very well; the stronger the opponent, the more it could stimulate his fighting spirit, but the current situation was very unfavorable for Yulong Immortal Mountain! The enemy was in the dark while they were in the light; if things went wrong, they would suffer a great loss!

"Understood!"

After Zhang Nuo gave a simple reply, his figure exited the hall directly, and with a surge of his escape light, he disappeared into the distance!

Two days later, Zhang Nuo appeared on the top of a small mountain thousands of miles away from Yulong Immortal Mountain. He looked up toward the surroundings and, finding nothing unusual, slowly sat down cross-legged!

During his two days of flying, he had indeed discovered many cultivators. These people were mostly around the Golden Core Stage, in groups of three or two, very systematic! Their walking routes were mainly focused around the perimeter of Yulong Immortal Mountain!

"It seems I can only catch a few to ask!"

Thinking this in his heart, the Nine Dragon Sword Case within Zhang Nuo's body turned slightly, concealing all his aura, and then he stared at the distant sky, quietly waiting for cultivators to appear!

He waited until the evening of the third day! Two streaks of light suddenly streaked across the sky. Zhang Nuo raised his eyebrows slightly, and a cold sneer could not help but appear on his face! Just as these two escape lights were about to pass the small mountain where he was located.

Zhang Nuo's figure stood up abruptly, and as his escape light surged wildly, he shot into the sky! He intercepted the two incoming escape lights exactly. The two people in the escape lights were both at the Golden Core Middle Stage; with their Divine Sense, if there had been someone on the top of the small mountain below, they should have discovered it long ago!

Suddenly seeing an escape light appear out of thin air, the two were so frightened that their figures stalled, and one of them shouted loudly:

"Who is it?"

Zhang Nuo stood in mid-air, his gaze sweeping slightly toward the front. He saw that the two cultivators opposite were one dressed as a scholar, with a fair and clean face, looking to be in his early thirties, and the other was a thin and weak old man. The person who spoke just now was precisely the cultivator dressed as a scholar.

Without answering immediately, Zhang Nuo released the full Spirit Power fluctuations of his Nascent Soul Stage! In an instant, the expressions of the two in front changed drastically! The man in the scholar's guise who had spoken just now turned even paler, and he hurriedly said:

"I did not know a senior was here! Please forgive me for my lack of manners!"

As they spoke, the two bowed deeply to Zhang Nuo simultaneously!

With a light smile, Zhang Nuo waved his hand, signaling that they need not do so, and then he said indifferently:

"Which sect do you two belong to?"

"Replying to Senior, we two are from the Heaven Sword Sect!"

Almost without any hesitation, the thin old man answered immediately.

"Heaven Sword Sect?"

Zhang Nuo frowned slightly. He seemed to have heard Yang Huzi mention this sect. When he had just arrived at the Xianhuan Continent, it was also a sect with no weak strength. Later, after several battles for immortal mountains, they had lost many disciples, and even three Nascent Soul Stage cultivators had fallen!

Now they were lingering on the Xianhuan Continent, still wanting to find an opportunity to make a comeback!

"I wonder why Senior stopped us two; is there something you need?"

Seeing Zhang Nuo frowning and remaining silent, the scholar-man and the old man looked at each other before tentatively asking. Meeting a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator in the middle of the night made the hearts of these two pound incessantly! However, seeing that Zhang Nuo did not reveal any killing intent, they did not have the intention to flee immediately.

"What are you doing here?"

As if he hadn't heard their question, Zhang Nuo asked on his own.

"We two have business; we are just passing through this place!"

While saying this sentence, Zhang Nuo's pair of eyes stared at them. He saw the white-faced scholar startle for a moment, and then a trace of imperceptible strangeness flashed across his face. Although it was fleeting, it did not escape Zhang Nuo's sight!

"Passing through? I think you had better tell the truth! Otherwise, this place might become your graveyard!"

His expression suddenly turned cold, and Zhang Nuo's gaze became as sharp as a knife!

"What does Senior mean by this! We are telling the truth!"

Hearing this, the thin old man's heart jumped wildly, his face turned ashen, and he said tremblingly.

"Still want to play dumb? Do you insist that I use the Soul Searching Technique on you?"

Zhang Nuo's tone became increasingly cold, and at the same time, he flicked his robe sleeve lightly. Dozens of Flying Swords rushed out, instantly surrounding the two. It looked like if they showed the slightest intention of resisting, he would strike them down!

"Senior! We are really just passing through this place!"

Seeing this, beads of sweat rolled down the old man's forehead, and his teeth chattered, making a 'clack-clack' sound!

"I'll give you three counts! If you tell the truth, I might be able to spare your lives; if not... hehe!"

He did not continue the rest of his words, Zhang Nuo just gave a cold laugh, which made the old man and the scholar-dressed cultivator opposite feel chilled to the bone, with cold air rising up their spines!

"One!"

Giving the two of them almost no time to consider, Zhang Nuo began counting down directly.

"Senior, wait a moment!"

The old man glanced at the scholar, and at this moment, the scholar was also looking at him; the two reached an agreement in an instant!

"What! Have you decided?"

Zhang Nuo looked at them sideways, but his Divine Sense was already locked onto the two of them; if they showed the slightest sign of misconduct, he would strike immediately!

"We were sent to spy on Yulong Immortal Mountain!"

The old man's words took Zhang Nuo by great surprise; he had not expected to extract the truth just by intimidating them. However, he did not show too much astonishment, and with a calm expression, he continued to ask:

"Who sent you here?"

"It was the Sect Master of the Heaven Sword Sect! We were also forced into this against our will!"

Just as the old man wanted to absolve himself, Zhang Nuo did not let him continue speaking at all.

"Why does the Heaven Sword Sect want to spy on Yulong Immortal Mountain?"

"This... this! Sigh! Since things have come to this, I will tell you everything! I only ask that Senior can show mercy and spare the two of us!"

Putting on a troubled look, the old man heaved a long sigh.

"As long as you are willing to tell the truth! I will certainly not go back on my word!"

"I presume Senior is also a person of Yulong Immortal Mountain. To tell you the truth, several days ago, Palace Master Wei Shang of Taixu Palace found our Heaven Sword Sect's Sect Master, saying they wanted to plot a great matter together. The two of them conspired for a long time, and I don't know how, but the Sect Master agreed. Later, we found out that Taixu Palace wanted to unite several forces to deal with the Giant Spirit Pavilion together!"

Hearing this, Zhang Nuo frowned tightly; it seemed Zhou Huizheng had guessed correctly. Taixu Palace was indeed afraid their strength was insufficient and had actually united with the Heaven Sword Sect!

"Who else have you united with?"

"As far as I know, besides my Heaven Sword Sect, Taixu Palace also sought out the Tiangui Sect!"

Seeing Zhang Nuo's expression shifting between cloudy and clear, the old man dared not hide anything anymore!

"Just you three forces?"

Zhang Nuo found it hard to believe! Taixu Palace, the Tiangui Sect, and the Heaven Sword Sect—although these three forces were not weak before, after fighting for such a long time on the Xianhuan Continent, they were already hollow shells. Even if they joined forces, they would likely be unable to forcibly break through the Yulong Immortal Mountain's defensive line!

"Not only that! I heard that Taixu Palace has also recruited many cultivators from various scattered forces!"

After the old man finished this sentence, Zhang Nuo's expression changed drastically! The scattered forces on the Xianhuan Continent were nothing if taken individually, but if they were truly gathered under Taixu Palace, it would be a force that could not be underestimated!

Zhang Nuo felt more and more that something was wrong! It seemed Taixu Palace was going to stake everything on one throw this time!