CHAPTER 402: CHAPTER 401 WAITING FOR HARES BY THE STUMP_1

The Human Emperor was right.

His perspective had always been too narrow. Talk of Righteous Sects or evil demons—it was all nonsense.

Ultimately, only personal strength truly mattered.

If he had possessed strength surpassing Shentu Yan’s, how could he have been framed and so easily manipulated?

To Shentu Yan, he was likely no more than an ant, easily crushed.

If Shentu Yan truly wanted to kill him, there were likely ten thousand ways to do so.

In hindsight, choosing to stay was truly foolish. Ling Chen shook his head. Back at the Human Emperor’s Palace, he should have left decisively with Liu Xiling instead of foolishly waiting to be captured.

If he were to die in this dark dungeon, it would be a truly wrongful death.

"Kid, that realization comes too late. I estimate you’ll face the sect’s punishment tomorrow." The Human Emperor’s voice held a hint of schadenfreude.

No, I have to escape.

Ling Chen moved to the side of the dungeon nearest the passageway, but the entire cell was sealed tight. He could find no opportunity to escape.

Damn it, this is trouble.

Tomorrow would undoubtedly bring serious trouble.

SHUFFLE... SHUFFLE... SHUFFLE...

Just then, the faint sound of footsteps approached.

Someone? Ling Chen tensed, his hand instinctively going to the hilt of the Thunder Shadow Sword at his waist.

Friend or foe, it was impossible to tell.

"Ling Chen."

From the darkness, a familiar voice called out, causing Ling Chen’s tense expression to soften. The speaker was none other than his direct martial uncle, Zi Yun True Immortal.

Martial Uncle? Ling Chen’s eyes lit up. Help had arrived.

CLICK!

With a metallic sound, the heavy dungeon door opened. Two figures walked in: Zi Yun True Immortal and Great Elder Shangguan Hong.

Both were dressed in dark, stealthy attire, their faces masked. Clearly, they were taking an enormous risk. If discovered, they would give Shentu Yan and Ye Nantian leverage against them.

"Let’s go!" Zi Yun True Immortal wasted no words, stepping out of the cell.

Ling Chen followed immediately, without hesitation.

Along the way, the disciples guarding the dungeon had all been knocked unconscious. The three of them exited the dungeon virtually unimpeded.

They moved swiftly towards a mountain gate.

At that moment, on a small hill near one of the mountain gates, two figures were clearly visible.

"Sect Leader, are you sure they’ll come down this way? If they take the main gate, we’ll have waited for nothing." The speaker, one of the two figures, was Ye Nantian.

"Rest assured. They will definitely come this way." Shentu Yan sounded completely confident.

"Hmm? Looks like someone’s coming." Ye Nantian said nothing further, but his eyes suddenly lit up as he gazed towards the expected area. Three figures came into view.

Shangguan Hong, having guided Ling Chen to the mountain gate, turned and said, "Ling Chen, once you’re out of the Divine Intent Sect, find a safe place and lie low for a while. Avoid trouble."

Zi Yun True Immortal patted Ling Chen’s shoulder. "That’s right, Ling Chen. With your talent, you can achieve great things in your cultivation even without the Sect’s resources."

"Thank you, Seniors, for saving my life." Ling Chen bowed to them both. "Words cannot express my gratitude. I will surely repay this kindness in the future!"

"Repay this kindness? I’m afraid you won’t get the chance."

As Ling Chen’s words faded, a mocking voice cut in, startling him. Looking towards the sound, he sensed more than ten powerful auras—all Great Master Level Powerhouses of the Fifth Level or higher.

And there, in his line of sight, stood Shentu Yan and Ye Nantian.

Shentu Yan shot Ling Chen a cold look, then his gaze swept over Shangguan Hong and Zi Yun True Immortal, a smirk playing on his lips. "Daring, Ling Chen. Escaping the dungeon on your own. What crime is that, I wonder?"

Ye Nantian’s smile was chilling. "This boy was already a condemned criminal. Now, by escaping the dungeon, he’s compounded his guilt! This time, even if those Elders plead for him, it’ll be useless. He must be dealt with according to sect regulations."

So they were lying in wait all along? Ling Chen’s expression darkened. It seemed they had gone to great lengths to ensure his death, even anticipating this move. They had been waiting here for him, like a hunter for its prey.

"Attack!" Shangguan Hong wasted no more words. The moment he’d spotted the ambush, he had begun gathering his True Qi. As the word left his lips, he thrust out a palm.

The Palm Power shot towards Ye Nantian, reaching him in an instant.

"Hmph!" Ye Nantian drew his Jinghong Sword and slashed at the Palm Seal. BANG! The Palm Seal was cleaved apart, but its explosive force still sent Ye Nantian staggering back several steps.

"Kill!" Forced back so ignominiously by Shangguan Hong’s palm, Ye Nantian’s eyes glinted fiercely. He leaped into the air, his sword slashing out to unleash a dense shower of cold, star-like glints.

Simultaneously, the surrounding Great Master Level Powerhouses all attacked, surging towards Ling Chen, Shangguan Hong, and Zi Yun True Immortal.

"Purple Cloud Sword Qi!" Zi Yun True Immortal channeled True Qi into his Juechen Sword. A dense, purple layer of Sword Qi swiftly enveloped the entire Treasure Sword. With a slash, a cloud-like expanse of purple Sword Qi unfurled, sweeping outwards.

The attack pushed back several opponents but failed to break their formation. The Elders of the Divine Intent Sect quickly regrouped after retreating and renewed their coordinated assault.

Ling Chen gripped his Thunder Shadow Sword, his expression grim. He had carefully assessed the situation: their attackers had sealed off every escape route. Clearly, they intended to give him no chance.

Shentu Yan watched from a distance with a faint smile, making no move to join the fray. This didn’t mean he wouldn’t act, merely that his moment had not yet arrived.

WHOO... WHOO...!

Just then, from the depths of the night, a melodious xiao flute’s song drifted over. The music seemed to seep into everything, its passage creating visible ripples in the air.

These musical ripples swiftly enveloped the Elders of the Divine Intent Sect attacking Ling Chen and his companions. Instantly, they clutched their ears; the xiao’s notes carried a powerful illusory effect that invaded their minds, drawing them into an Illusory Realm.

Such powerful xiao music! Seeing Ye Nantian and many other Elders of the Divine Intent Sect succumb to the music’s influence, Ling Chen was astonished. How powerful must the player be to unleash an illusory sound attack of this magnitude?

Could the one intervening be Elder Xie Chan? Ling Chen thought of Elder Xie Chan. Only he was capable of producing such a wide-ranging illusion.