Chapter 207: He is actually Lin Xuan?!

The corners of Lin Xuan's mouth lifted slightly, a flash of interest crossing his eyes. He had no intention of revealing himself, and his figure, along with Xiao Bai and Xiao Qing, gradually dissolved into the night. Lao Meng watched the direction in which they departed, lost in thought.

Inside the attic, Zhang Chulan and Feng Baobao finally found the Cultivation Furnace. The massive furnace body appeared exceptionally mysterious under the moonlight, its surface covered in dense, flickering Runes that seemed like living things.

"This thing isn't simple." Zhang Chulan circled the Cultivation Furnace, observing it closely with a furrowed brow. "Every Rune echoes the others, forming a complete energy circulation system. Ma Xianhong put a lot of thought into this."

Feng Baobao tilted her head, a hint of confusion in her innocent eyes: "Do you want me to just smash it?"

"Don't be hasty." Zhang Chulan reached out to touch the furnace body, feeling the energy flowing within. "We have to find its weak point. Acting rashly might trigger an energy backlash."

He began to carefully analyze the structure of the Cultivation Furnace and soon discovered some patterns. Those seemingly chaotic Runes actually formed seven main energy nodes, creating an exquisite balance between them.

"Sister Bao'er, we have to destroy these nodes simultaneously." Zhang Chulan pointed out the key locations. "You take these three points, and I'll use the thunder technique to attack the others. Remember, we must strike at the exact same time."

The first attempt failed. A strange light rippled across the surface of the Cultivation Furnace, easily neutralizing their attack. The second time, the third time... every failure made Zhang Chulan understand the characteristics of this Dharma Artifact even better.

"Again!" Zhang Chulan wiped the sweat from his forehead and formed seals with his hands. "We have to succeed this time."

The light of the Yang Five Thunders condensed in his palms, and Feng Baobao also assumed an attacking stance. This time, their coordination was seamless, and seven attacks landed on the key nodes simultaneously.

"Boom!"

After a loud crash, the Runes on the surface of the Cultivation Furnace began to collapse, and the massive energy scattered like a wild horse breaking free from its reins. Zhang Chulan immediately cast the Golden Light Spell to protect them both.

"We did it!" He let out a sigh of relief. "We have to leave here quickly; Ma Xianhong will discover this soon."

Meanwhile, on a small path north of Biyou Village, a confrontation concerning friendship and conviction was unfolding.

"Old Wang?" Zhuge Qing looked at the figure blocking the path, having already guessed the other's intent. "Do you distrust my judgment that much?"

Wang Ye stood under the moonlight, his eyes carrying a rare seriousness: "It's not a question of trust. This matter involves too much; you can't see the whole situation clearly."

Fu Rong nervously grabbed Zhuge Qing's hand; she could feel the tense, sword-drawn atmosphere between the two friends.

"I know exactly what I'm doing." Zhuge Qing did not back down. "Do you think I'm doing this on a whim?"

"Then tell me, have you really thought about the consequences?" Wang Ye suddenly raised his voice. "Ma Xianhong is a man of great ambition, but he doesn't understand at all that he's playing with fire! Do you know what will happen if the Cultivation Furnace plan succeeds? The balance of the entire Outsider world will be broken!"

However, just as Zhuge Qing was about to retort, Wang Ye's figure flashed, and in the next second, he was already above Zhuge Qing.

"Let go of me!" Zhuge Qing roared, but Wang Ye had already stepped on his back. Under the moonlight, this scene appeared exceptionally dramatic.

"Are you really this stubborn?" Wang Ye's voice carried a touch of helplessness as he increased the pressure under his foot. "I'm doing this for your own good!"

Fu Rong stamped her feet in anxiety on the side: "Let him go! Zhuge Qing has his own sense of propriety; he doesn't need you to discipline him!"

"Propriety?" Wang Ye sneered. "You have no idea what you are facing. This matter is far more complex than you imagine."

Zhuge Qing was pressed to the ground, yet he showed no intention of admitting defeat: "Old Wang, I know you're doing this for my own good. But there are some paths one must walk oneself to understand. This is my choice; even if it's wrong, I should be the one to bear the consequences!"

Hearing this, Wang Ye fell silent for a moment. He could feel the determination in Zhuge Qing's words; it wasn't a momentary impulse, but a choice made after deep consideration.

"Fine." Wang Ye finally lifted his foot. "Since you insist, I won't force you. But remember my words: once some things start, there is no turning back."

After leaving these words, Wang Ye walked away quickly and vanished in a flash.

Zhuge Qing stood up and brushed the dust off his clothes. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly sensed someone ahead. Under the moonlight, three figures had appeared at the end of the path before they knew it.

Fu Rong was the first to react, a flash of vigilance in her eyes: "It's you! You must be here to destroy our village!" She looked at the young man walking in the middle and the two stunningly beautiful women on either side of him, her heart filled with hostility.

Just as Fu Rong prepared to rush toward Xiao Qing, Zhuge Qing grabbed her: "Don't move!" His voice carried a trace of trembling. "Their strength... is not something we can handle."

Zhuge Qing could clearly feel the heart-palpitating aura emanating from that young man. It was not power that an ordinary Outsider could possess; it was as if just standing there gave one an irresistible sense of oppression.

"Let's go!" Zhuge Qing pulled Fu Rong away quickly. Only after confirming they were far from the sight of those three did he let out a sigh of relief.

However, fate is a cruel jester; they hadn't gone far before they ran into Wang Ye again.

"What's wrong?" Wang Ye looked at their shaken expressions. "Did you run into some trouble?"

Zhuge Qing hesitated for a moment before recounting what had just happened: "We just met three people, one man and two women. That man... gave me an indescribable feeling, like facing an insurmountable mountain."

Hearing this description, a flash of realization crossed Wang Ye's eyes: "You're lucky." He paused. "That person is the disguised Lin Xuan."

"What?!" Zhuge Qing's eyes widened instantly, and cold sweat streamed down his forehead. If Fu Rong's thought from just now had actually been put into action...

"Old Wang, are you talking about the one from Baiyun Guan?"

Wang Ye nodded: "Exactly."

"My god..." Zhuge Qing wiped his cold sweat. "It's a good thing I stopped Ah Rong in time, otherwise we'd probably be off to drink Meng Po Soup right now."

Fu Rong looked blank: "Who is Lin Xuan? Is he very powerful?"

"Powerful?" Zhuge Qing gave a bitter smile. "He is an existence that makes the entire Outsider world wary. Ah Rong, if you had actually made a move just now, I'm afraid you wouldn't even have had the chance to strike."

Wang Ye looked at Zhuge Qing's expression, feeling a lingering fear in his own heart. Although he had long known that Lin Xuan was in the village, at this very moment, he too was wondering: if Fu Rong had really attacked, what would the consequences have been?