At this moment, Ling Chen had already breached the restrictions outside the Ancestor Pavilion. Because he had memorized most of the route when he came, now that he's leaving, these restrictions naturally couldn't stop him.

Traveling swiftly, Ling Chen chose the fastest route to leave the Ling Family, avoiding the most populous areas, and reached the Ling Family's North Gate closest to the Ancestor Pavilion.

Swoosh!

His figure swiftly passed by, a shadow silently landed on a willow tree—it was Ling Chen.

The Ling Family's North Gate was heavily guarded, with over a hundred guards keenly alert and two Ling Family Half-Saint Elders guarding the door.

These guards were all above the Sky Apex Realm in cultivation, elite guards of the Ling Family. Ling Chen reckoned that even if he could handle the two Half-Saint Elders, he couldn't deal with the hundred Sky Apex Realm guards.

Moreover, having spent so much time in the Ling Family, Ling Chen knew that these guards were not only personally strong, but also well-versed in various battle formations. Once they form a battle formation, escaping would be difficult.

But Ling Chen didn't have time to waste here.

"I must leave the Ling Family quickly."

Ling Chen thought to himself. Though the chaos stirred by the Witch Fiend Sect was sweeping through the Ling Family, this chaos would clearly soon be suppressed. The Witch Fiend Sect's power was mainly within Yanjing City; within the Ling Family, there wasn't much force.

Only by leaving the Ling Family could he receive aid from the Witch Fiend Sect. If he couldn't get out, there would be no path but death.

"No choice, I must break through by force!"

Ling Chen no longer hesitated, decisive, he swiftly headed toward the gate.

"Who goes there?"

Ling Chen had just landed when a Half-Saint Elder noticed him. Simultaneously, Ling Chen placed his hand on the Thunder Sound Sword at his waist, True Qi silently circulating within, ready to act at any moment.

"So it's you, Ling Yu."

However, the Half-Saint Elder did not attack Ling Chen, instead he smiled, "Why are you here? Go back quickly, the entire Yanjing City is in chaos due to the Witch Fiend Sect's assault, it's very dangerous outside."

Hearing this, Ling Chen was slightly surprised but then felt relieved, as the Elder didn't know what happened in the Ancestor Pavilion.

Releasing the sword's hilt, Ling Chen also smiled, cupping his hands, "Elders, going out this time is by Family Head's order, I'm sent to the Lan Family to fetch reinforcements."

"Fetch reinforcements?"

The Half-Saint Elder was startled, then frowned, "Could the situation really be dire enough to need reinforcements?"

"Indeed, now a large number of Witch Fiend Sect experts are causing chaos, assassinating, making the Ling Family very distressed. I must also go to the City Lord Mansion to activate the City-Protection Array, leaving the Witch Fiend demons no escape."

Ling Chen said calmly.

"Very well!"

The Half-Saint Elder nodded, not doubting. For others, naturally, leaving at such a critical juncture would've been impossible. But Ling Chen, having gained great honor at the Heavenly Sword Tournament, was a genius admired by everyone in the Ling Family, so they wouldn't stop him.

"Let him through!"

The Half-Saint Elder waved to the hundred guards who then dispersed, creating a path.

"Thank you very much!"

Ling Chen cupped his hands toward the Half-Saint Elder, then quickly dashed out through the gate.

"This Ling Yu, with such gifted talent, young and promising, remaining calm under such perilous circumstances, is bound to be a pillar of the Ling Family someday."

Watching Ling Chen's departing figure, the Half-Saint Elder stroked his beard and nodded in satisfaction.

"Indeed, this person is extraordinary and capable of great responsibilities."

Another Half-Saint Elder nodded in agreement.

However, as soon as he finished speaking, "swoosh, swoosh, swoosh" was heard as people in black swiftly emerged in front of them.

These men in black were all sharp in aura, eagle-eyed, their cultivation immensely strong, the weakest among them was also at the Fifth Level of Sky Apex Realm.

"Black Sword Guards!"

The two Half-Saint Elders felt a chill. Black Sword Guards were the Ling Family's shadow force, usually not appearing within the family, executing tasks like spying, assassination, pursuing family traitors, only during such crisis moments they would deploy.

Just like the previous pursuit of traitor Ling Tianyu, it was with the Black Sword Guards' power.

"Did anyone just leave from the North Gate?"

Speaking was the leader of the Black Sword Guards, whose cultivation had reached the Intermediate semi-saint level.

Every member of the Black Sword Guards was a top elite of the Ling Family. This leader, despite being only an Intermediate semi-saint, had the power to easily kill ordinary Senior Half-Saints.

They traced from the direction of the Ancestor Pavilion and this North Gate was the closest gate to the Ling Family Ancestral Hall, the gate Ling Chen most likely escaped from.

"It was Ling Yu. He said he was commanded by the Family Head to go to the Lan Family for reinforcements."

The Half-Saint Elder spoke up.

"Ling Yu, he escaped the Ling Family?!"

The Black Sword Guards leader's expression drastically changed.

They intended to trap Ling Chen within the Ling Family but arrived a step too late!

"Just a short while ago, only a few minutes at most."

The Half-Saint Elder said, somewhat bewildered by their reaction.

"Ling Yu killed family talents, destroyed the Ancestral Master's Holy Statue, stole the Saint's Soul Niche, committed an enormous crime!"

"Family Head orders, kill Ling Yu!"

The Black Sword Guards leader's cold voice rang.

"What?"

The two Half-Saint Elders were utterly shocked.

The Black Sword Guards leader, his face chilly, wasted no further time, commanded his subordinates, "Signal others immediately, Ling Yu is out of the family. All remaining Black Sword Guards within the Ling Family, leave the family at once, search across the city, if any trace of Ling Yu is found, signal at once!"

"Also notify the Lan Family, Fang Family, Ouyang Family... all Saint Families within Yanjing City, to help block the city so Ling Yu can be captured within it!"

Whoosh!

A signal burst into the sky, exploding into dazzling fireworks in the night.

And every Black Sword Guard, like arrows, shot out, leaving the two Half-Saint Elders stunned behind.

Mere hours before, Ling Chen had been the pride of the Ling Family, celebrated as a genius, yet overnight, Ling Chen became a criminal, hunted by all.

This change was too abrupt.

"Guard the North Gate well, we two will assist the Black Sword Guards!"

The Half-Saint Elder instructed the guards, then the two dashed off following the Black Sword Guards.

Ling Chen stole the Saint's Soul Niche, an unforgivable crime. They let him escape, if the Black Sword Guards couldn't capture Ling Chen, they would be accountable.