"Attack!"

Ling Tongxiao roared.

His trusted subordinates grunted in unison. Streaks of red light interlinked them, forming a red spiritual shield that descended upon Master Flowing Sword.

Master Flowing Sword’s expression changed as he unleashed dozens of Sword Lights in quick succession.

But a strange thing happened: the Sword Lights passed straight through the Spiritual Shield without the slightest hindrance.

"Hahaha! Now that you’re trapped by my Senluo Blood Shield, you might as well surrender quietly!" Ling Tongxiao crowed, his eyebrows raised in triumph.

The Senluo Blood Shield was incredibly difficult to master. The requirements were more than just demanding; the Ling Family had to expend immense effort and resources to finally gather the necessary personnel for the Array Formation and perfect this Secret Skill.

The Senluo Blood Shield was impervious to Magic Techniques and blades. Aside from its short duration and being limited to a single target, it was virtually flawless.

"Spare Flowing Sword, but kill everyone else!"

Ling Tongxiao could almost see the passage permit waving at him.

The next moment, his smile froze on his face.

A black shadow shot out and, in a few swift moves, killed one of the subordinates maintaining the Array Formation. Then, with a few more flashes of movement, two more heads flew into the air. The entire process was as fluid as moving water, without the slightest pause.

With its casters slain, the Senluo Blood Shield rapidly disintegrated.

Master Flowing Sword, whose heart had been filled with despair, looked gratefully toward his rescuer. He had intended to thank the man profusely once he drew near, but he saw that his savior was already departing into the distance, showing no intention of stopping at all.

He could only offer a wry smile before turning to charge at Ling Tongxiao.

Lü Zhong collected the three Storage Bags, having no intention of getting involved in their dispute.

’It was bad enough getting caught up in this by accident. Killing three of them was enough to vent my frustration.’ He had no desire to get any more involved. His top priority was to get his hands on the Control Token for the city gate.

Meanwhile, Ling Tongxiao’s expression grew increasingly grim as he watched Master Flowing Sword cut a swath through his men.

When he saw the man he suspected of being the Sinful Cultivator’s accomplice speeding toward the gatehouse, his expression changed drastically.

He quickly plucked out a Yellow Talisman, embedded a message within it using his Divine Thought, and shot it toward the east gate of Liluo Immortal City to inform the Jiang Family matriarch stationed there to intercept the man.

As for Lü Zhong, a squad of cultivators led by a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator came charging at him.

’The city gate guards!’

’No point in talking. I’ll just get rid of them all to prevent them from harassing me and causing unnecessary complications when I go for the Token.’

In no time at all, all twenty-four cultivators were dead.

Even while deliberately concealing his true power, it was child’s play for a Core Formation Cultivator to eliminate them.

Even their leader, the Foundation Establishment True Cultivator, lasted only a single exchange. The Late Sun Magic Sword sliced through his Spiritual Shield and then his Protective Gang Qi. A multicolored Spiritual Light then erupted from his body as various Protective Spiritual Objects activated one after another.

Once his Spiritual Objects were depleted, a single slash took his head.

With a wave of his hand, Lü Zhong secured the Storage Bag.

Lü Zhong continued forward and soon arrived at the gatehouse.

He came face-to-face with the female cultivator.

The Jiang Family matriarch didn’t hesitate for a second. With a flick of her hand, a sword shadow shot out, but Lü Zhong blocked it with his Cloud Dragon Wind Tiger Barrier. He then pressed his advantage, unleashing a flurry of strikes with his Late Sun Magic Sword while simultaneously firing the Shocking God Needle he had just formed.

This woman had been dual-cultivating day and night precisely to heal a hidden ailment afflicting her Divine Soul.

’If the Shocking God Needle works, I might even be able to take her down in one hit.’

As the Shocking God Needle struck, the Jiang Family matriarch’s face filled with horror.

She hastily fumbled for the Protecting God Talisman on her person. The once-vermilion Talisman Paper had now turned a sickly straw-yellow, a sign that its power was completely exhausted.

"Just who are you?!"

The Jiang Family matriarch had just received a report telling her to intercept an accomplice of a Sinful Cultivator.

She had expected some small fry, not such a formidable opponent. If it weren’t for the protection of her Protecting God Talisman, she likely would have been grievously wounded in that first exchange. It was even possible the backlash from her old injury would have caused her Divine Soul to shatter on the spot.

"A pity," Lü Zhong sighed.

’I thought I’d found her weakness, but I didn’t expect her to be prepared.’

He didn’t dwell on it, immediately pressing forward to resume his fierce assault.

’She’s just a half-crippled Core Formation cultivator. Dealing with her shouldn’t be too difficult.’

In just a few moments, they had exchanged over a hundred blows.

Seeing Lü Zhong press forward again with his Magic Sword Skill, the Jiang Family matriarch scrambled to dodge, struggling to block the dozens of sword strikes. Just as she prepared to activate her Lifebound Treasure, she saw a sword tip pierce through her Dantian.

A moment passed before the excruciating pain registered.

Lü Zhong looked in the direction the Flying Sword had come from and saw Master Flowing Sword nodding at him.

’An interesting fellow.’

With that thought, he took the female cultivator’s Magical Treasure Flying Sword, pulled her Storage Bag into his hand, and quickly found a Golden Token inside. He immediately entered the secret command he had seen during his scene regression, channeling it into the token as a Technique Mantra.

HUMMM!

A large opening suddenly appeared in the sealed city gate.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Lü Zhong flew out, transforming into a streak of light that vanished into the distance.

Behind him, Master Flowing Sword forced Ling Tongxiao back, then with a flick of his great sleeve, collected the men he had brought with him.

In the next instant, he transformed into a streak of Sword Light and took flight.

SMACK!

With no other outlet for his fury, Ling Tongxiao viciously slapped Chanyu Qiong across the face, sending him spinning through the air. A spray of blood and broken teeth flew everywhere.

"Take him away! I want to know everything in his head!"

’Not only did the cooked duck fly away, but the Jiang Family matriarch stationed here perished as well. I can forget about getting any credit for this. I’d better start thinking about how I’m going to explain myself to the True Central Sect. I’m in deep trouble!’

...

He fled for thousands of miles.

Lü Zhong didn’t stop to rest until he found a deserted place.

The objective of his trip was accomplished.

The Celestial Net Secret Eye Technique would be enough for him to cultivate for a long time.

Once he mastered it, even if he only managed to form the Celestial Net Eye, it would be a tremendous help in combat.