The celestial-grade artifact is extremely precious and incredibly powerful.
Even Jiang Yin, who wields the divine weapon, isn’t confident she can rescue her junior sister without alerting the enemy.
On the contrary, a direct assault might destroy the formation with overwhelming force, catching the opponent off guard.
However, this is Qixuan, and using the Imprisoning Demon Sword under the city lord’s watchful eye is clearly unwise.
Jiang Yin usually conceals the divine weapon and rarely uses it openly, avoiding others’ covetous eyes.
But the Qixuan city lord has reached the peak of the Nascent Soul stage, and there’s no guarantee it won’t be exposed.
If the demonic aura is discovered, it could endanger not only her junior sister but everyone else as well.
Jiang Yin clenched her fist, finding herself in a predicament for the first time.
Wen Fei, observing her furrowed brow and prolonged silence, sighed inwardly and offered advice, “Do you sense anything unusual?” Jiang Yin returned to her senses and slowly shook her head.
Wen Fei nodded, “You and she are bonded as Dao companions, sharing glory and loss.
Since you are unharmed and haven’t received a distress signal from your junior sister, it indicates she hasn’t reached a life-or-death crisis, nor is there an immediate threat to her life.”
“I suspect the person who abducted Mu Xi has a motive.
In that case, we should be straightforward and hear what they want.”
“Unable to launch a surprise attack and unable to use the divine weapon lightly, disturbing the city lord, it’s better to set aside thoughts of conflict for now.
The opponent is cautious and likely doesn’t want to provoke numerous Nascent Soul cultivators.
Negotiating gives us leverage, at least ensuring we don’t fall too far behind.”
Hearing this, Jiang Yin felt enlightened, “Senior’s words make sense.”
Moreover, she shouldn’t forget that her master’s bloodline has already awakened.
If it comes to a critical moment, they won’t sit idly by.
Catching the opponent off guard would give them a significant advantage.
Jiang Yin understood the key points and gradually calmed down, “I was too concerned to think clearly.
Let’s follow senior’s advice.”
Wen Fei, originally a Tribulation Transcendence stage cultivator, and once a demon lord, with the support of Wen Mingyu and others, wouldn’t fear the Qixuan cultivators’ attack even if they used the Imprisoning Demon Sword.
Jiang Yin’s eyes flashed with determination, ready to give it her all.
Unknowingly, she had already included Wen Fei and Wen Mingyu among her trusted friends.
Having decided on a course of action, they wasted no time and went directly to meet the other party.
Since they didn’t intend to show hostility, they didn’t summon their artifacts and even knocked on the door to alert the other party, showing sincerity.
But this didn’t mean they would let them act recklessly, so Wen Fei and the illusion god released their pressure.
With the cultivation of the peak Nascent Soul stage and a powerful celestial-grade artifact, even the palace master at the Integration stage wouldn’t dare ignore them, let alone Zhou Qin, who was only at the Nascent Soul stage.
Almost as soon as they stepped into the courtyard, Zhou Qin mobilized all her power, ready to activate the full power of the Dust Umbrella at any moment.
The Dust Umbrella is a celestial-grade artifact, primarily used to confuse the mind and defend against attacks.
In terms of combat power, it might not even match a powerful earth-grade artifact.
Therefore, a head-on confrontation is out of the question.
If her plan is truly thwarted… Zhou Qin sneered, her eyes filled with obsession.
Then it would be a fight to the death.
“Your master and Senior Sister are here.” She stood by the window, looking through the tattered bead curtain, even seeing the figures slowly approaching.
Despite the pressure, the other party showed no intention of attacking.
Tang Muxi was delighted, “Really?” After speaking, she suddenly realized she was still a hostage, her body stiffening as she took a step back.
Zhou Qin smirked, taking out a dagger, “Really.”
“You needn’t be afraid.
I captured you not to harm you.
But to ensure my safety, I must use some means, so don’t resist, or you’ll die.”
After speaking, Zhou Qin cut her wrist, drawing out strands of blood and injecting them into Tang Muxi’s body.
In an instant, the blood threads wrapped around her heart, without further action, but the pressure was several times greater than the dagger.
Claiming not to harm her, yet holding the most lethal thing tightly.
Tang Muxi pursed her lips, feeling this person was even more deceitful than her Senior Sister.
The feeling of her heart being bound was uncomfortable, even though the blood threads hadn’t wrapped around it, the connection and pressure were like a sharp blade hanging over her head, ready to fall at any moment.
With her spiritual power sealed and no illusion god by her side, Tang Muxi couldn’t unravel the blood threads.
She was truly afraid of dying here, not just for herself, but because of her life bond with Jiang Yin.
For the first time, she felt uncertain about the choice of forming a life bond.
Zhou Qin saw her pale face, biting her lip without a word, and felt like she was seeing her past self, momentarily dazed.
But only for a moment, as reality left her no choice.
She was never one to be soft-hearted.
If she had to choose between her own death and someone else’s, Zhou Qin would unhesitatingly let others die, just like her former… master.
“Don’t make a sound later.
If your Senior Sister and master don’t act rashly, I have no interest in killing you.
But if I’m in danger, I’ll definitely take you down with me.” Zhou Qin finished speaking and walked out, leaving Tang Muxi behind.
Jiang Yin sensed the fear and anxiety from her junior sister’s heart, her expression turning icy cold, her slender fingers digging into her skin as if she didn’t feel it, her body exuding a murderous aura.
The illusion god, like her, couldn’t maintain a calm facade, looking stern and solemn enough to freeze.
Wen Fei, seeing this, knew something was amiss with her disciple and was also anxious.
Their expressions were anything but friendly, but Zhou Qin ignored them, leisurely opening the door and smiling, “What brings you all here?”
Her gaze was indifferent, as if nothing mattered, but it paused briefly on Wen Fei.
Previously, she thought this person resembled her master, but upon closer inspection, it was nothing like that.
Gentle and soft, how could such a temperament compare to that person?
Wen Fei, unaware of her thoughts, simply said, “No need to play dumb.
You must have a reason for capturing my disciple, so just say it.”
Zhou Qin frowned, feeling annoyed by her protectiveness, “A reason? What if I want nothing and just take her life?”
Wen Fei was slightly angry, “Are you mocking me? If you truly wanted to take her life, why come out to meet us? Enough with the nonsense, state your demands.
As long as you return my disciple, we’ll do our best to fulfill them.”
Disciple, disciple, always the disciple, how affectionate.
Zhou Qin was inexplicably irritated, sneering, “Demands? Fine, I want you to personally dismember your disciple.
Would you agree to that?”
“You!” Wen Fei was furious, releasing the pressure of someone nearing the Integration stage.
Jiang Yin and the illusion god were also enraged by Zhou Qin’s words, secretly gathering power, ready to act at any moment.
Facing the murderous intent from three sides, Zhou Qin remained indifferent, her casual demeanor slowly fading as she stared at Wen Fei, seemingly demanding an answer.
Since the other party showed no respect, Wen Fei wasn’t one to be bullied, scanning her with divine sense, coldly saying, “If it’s a joke, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear it.
If not, I think you should consider your own strength.
You’re only at the Nascent Soul stage now, no matter what abilities you have, you can be completely wiped out with a flick of the wrist.
I’m not a patient person, if you seek death, just say so.”
At the end, Wen Fei’s eyes were like torches, fearlessly looking over, while transmitting a message to the two beside her, preparing for a surprise attack.
Zhou Qin didn’t expect this person to protect their disciple to the death, and the irritation in her heart gradually turned into jealousy and obsession.
Seeing that both sides were about to clash, Tang Muxi, who was inside the house, couldn’t sit still any longer and hurriedly shouted, “Wait!” She then pushed open the wooden door and slowly walked out.
Zhou Qin didn’t expect her to come out at this moment, and her nerves immediately tensed up.
Tang Muxi was her only bargaining chip, and once handed over, she would be at the mercy of others.
Zhou Qin almost instinctively manipulated the blood threads, trying to force the other party back by constricting her heart.
However, just as the blood threads moved, they were suddenly suppressed by an extremely powerful force.
That aura was something she had never sensed before, vast and heavy.
In its presence, it seemed as if everything in the world was insignificant, like mayflies.
The blood threads were forcibly broken, and Zhou Qin suffered a backlash from the loss of vital blood, her face turning pale as she suddenly spat out a mouthful of turbid blood.
“You… you actually broke free!” Zhou Qin clutched her chest, her face full of disbelief.
Immediately after, she saw a flash of icy blue light in Tang Muxi’s eyes.
It was quick, like a meteor passing by, but the stunning color was unforgettable.
Tang Muxi didn’t know what had happened, only feeling a sudden warmth in her chest, and the blood threads surrounding her shattered completely.
The threat that had been hanging over her head disappeared, and even her body felt much lighter.
“Huh? The blood threads are gone.” She pressed her chest, her face full of confusion.
Jiang Yin saw his junior sister appear and suddenly sprang into action, using the power of the Star Shift Technique to quickly rush over, almost in the blink of an eye, retrieving Tang Muxi, while shouting, “Senior, Illusion God, strike quickly!”
Wen Fei had been keeping an eye on the situation, and seeing Jiang Yin no longer holding back, he understood her intentions.
As she made her move, he joined forces with the Illusion God to launch an attack with lightning speed.
Though angry, Wen Fei remained rational and didn’t kill the opponent on the spot, instead suppressing and sealing her cultivation immediately.
The Illusion God was responsible for countering the Floating Dust Umbrella.
Although the Floating Dust Umbrella was a heavenly-grade artifact, it wasn’t adept at offense, and its materials were far inferior to the Illusion God, making its power significantly weaker.
Zhou Qin had already prepared to fight to the death, and seeing Jiang Yin make a move, she immediately activated the Floating Dust Umbrella, attempting to drag everyone into the illusion array of the heavenly-grade artifact.
But she was a step behind and weakened by the backlash from the blood threads, greatly reducing her strength.
Before the Floating Dust Umbrella could fully exert its power, it was forcibly broken by the Illusion God.
At the same time, her cultivation was sealed, and she fell into the enemy’s hands.
