CHAPTER 551: CHAPTER 549: SUBSTITUTING A PEACH FOR ONESELF_1

THUD, THUD, THUD!

Just as Ling Chen planned to continue consolidating his cultivation, a knock came from the door.

"What is it?" Ling Chen stopped his cultivation and asked.

"Young Hero Wuchen, Madam Lian Ji asks you to rush to the front yard immediately. She says the man who bought the Qinghuang Blood has left the city!"

Upon hearing this, Ling Chen’s pupils constricted slightly, and he muttered, Finally... willing to leave the city? Let’s go take a look then.

The Qinghuang Blood—not only them, but likely everyone in Blackwater City was watching this item. It was a juicy prize, and all sorts of factions wanted to get their hands on it.

In the main hall, when Ling Chen and Liu Feiyue arrived, they saw many people already present. Then, not bothering with formalities, they sat straight down on a chair and smiled at Lian Ji, "Elder Lian Ji, do you have any news about the Qinghuang Blood?"

Lian Ji nodded slightly, saying slowly, "According to intelligence we received earlier, it seems that old fellow has already left the city. However, what’s a bit strange is that he showed no signs of trying to cover his tracks. Instead, he left the city quite brazenly. By now, many factions in Blackwater City have probably received this news."

Ling Chen frowned upon hearing this. What on earth is that black-robed elder trying to do? Facing such a situation, with so many eyes on him, he still acts so conspicuously. Even if he is a Top Sky Apex Strong, dealing with such a tide of greedy people would be quite troublesome.

What is this person thinking? I don’t believe he’s unaware of his own situation. There’s likely a significant problem here.

Ling Chen shook his head. If that man wasn’t a fool, he certainly wouldn’t do such a foolish thing.

This matter isn’t that simple.

"We can send someone to keep an eye on that old fellow first. As for us, let’s wait a bit longer. Also, send more people to investigate his background. We still don’t even know where he comes from," Ling Chen’s eyes narrowed slightly as he spoke.

「Half a day later, the scouts sent to investigate returned.」

"Madam Lian Ji, Young Hero Wuchen, as expected, that old man is indeed plotting something!" the reporting Saint Witch Religion expert replied quickly.

"How so?" Ling Chen wasn’t surprised; the old man’s earlier actions had been too obvious, clearly part of his own scheme.

"Just now, at the West City Gate, we found traces of that old man again. We suspect the person who left the city earlier was a decoy," the scout reported.

"A decoy gambit, then?"

Lian Ji’s expression changed slightly, but she quickly shook her head. "How did he manage to deceive so many powerful experts watching him like hawks? It’s not easy to fool the eyes of so many Top Sky Apex Strongs."

Top Sky Apex Strongs have an aura distinct from ordinary people. Under so many watchful eyes, he couldn’t easily bluff his way through, no matter how good his disguise.

"What if the person who left the city earlier is also a Top Sky Apex Strong?" Ling Chen’s eyes gleamed faintly as he spoke calmly.

"What? You’re saying this old fellow also has accomplices whose strength reaches the Sky Apex Realm?" Lian Ji’s expression changed slightly. If that were the case, it would explain everything.

"It’s highly probable. Everyone has been watching him during this time, so he definitely couldn’t have left the city. However, that doesn’t prevent others from entering. If he wants to leave Blackwater City safely, this is his only way," Ling Chen affirmed with a nod.

"Then let’s not delay. We set off immediately."

Liu Feiyue and Lian Ji exchanged a glance, then waved their hands, signaling the many Saint Witch Religion experts to pack up and prepare to pursue the old man with all their might.

「Fifty miles outside Blackwater City, within a mountain hollow.」

A dark figure entered the hollow. His expression was extremely wary, closely monitoring every rustle of grass and breath of wind around him.

When the black-robed elder found nothing unusual, he smirked. "It seems those fools all rushed after the first fellow. By the time they realize he was a fake, it will be too late."

Once he was a hundred miles beyond Blackwater City, it would be as difficult as ascending to the heavens for those coveting the Qinghuang Blood to catch up to him.

However, just as he was about to move, his expression changed dramatically. His gaze shot like lightning towards the area outside the hollow, and he barked coldly, "Who is it?"

"Heh heh, as expected of the renowned Old Pheasant Man. His reputation is well-deserved. To think he’d come up with such a decoy gambit is truly surprising."

As the black-robed elder’s shout faded, a dozen or so figures slowly emerged outside the mountain hollow. Leading them was none other than the Prince of the Yin Family, Yin Zongli. Behind him, the Yin Family experts followed closely.

People from the Yin Family. Looking at the emerging figures, the black-robed elder’s pupils contracted slightly. Then he said coldly, "What is the meaning of this? Are you trying to provoke a war between the Yin Family and my Myriad Beasts Sect?"

Since his identity had been exposed, the black-robed elder no longer bothered to hide it. He was a Guest Official Elder of the Myriad Beasts Sect. However, not many people knew this, and he never imagined Yin Zongli would have discovered it.

"Heh heh, don’t try to intimidate me. You alone cannot represent the entire Myriad Beasts Sect. This Prince doesn’t want to waste words. Hand over the Qinghuang Blood," Yin Zongli sneered.

It had taken him considerable effort to ascertain Old Pheasant Man’s identity. This was merely about seizing the Qinghuang Blood; it wouldn’t escalate to a conflict between Sects.

"If I hand it over, will you let me go?" Old Pheasant Man sneered.

Yin Zongli shook his head with a smile and said, "No, but we can invite you to be a permanent guest at our Yin Family."

Hearing this, Old Pheasant Man’s mouth twitched. A fierce glint appeared in his eyes, and he snarled, "You little whelp! Even if you’ve brought many experts today, you’re dreaming if you think you can take the Qinghuang Blood from me so easily!"

As his voice fell, a boundless aura erupted from Old Pheasant Man. Under the pressure of this immense power, everyone present from the Yin Family, except for Yin Zongli and the silver-haired elder behind him, was forced back several steps before they could steady themselves.

"Third Elder, he’s all yours," Yin Zongli said, retreating a few steps and looking at the silver-haired elder.

"Leave him to me." A bone-chilling smile touched the silver-haired elder’s lips. With a wave of his sleeve, an equally boundless aura, in no way inferior to Old Pheasant Man’s, surged forth like a tidal wave!

The two towering auras, belonging exclusively to Top Sky Apex Strongs, clashed within the small hollow. The resulting spatial fluctuations caused the ground to tremble slightly, and cracks as thick as an arm snaked up the mountain walls.

The opposing auras created a standoff in the hollow, charged with tension. The confrontation between the two Top Sky Apex Strongs undoubtedly possessed the power to overturn mountains and seas.

Meanwhile, Ling Chen’s group had arrived near the hollow. They didn’t act rashly, instead taking cover in a hidden location, their gazes fixed on the unfolding battle.

They’ve already started fighting? Ling Chen was slightly surprised. Someone had beaten them to it. But when he spotted Yin Zongli not far away, he was momentarily stunned, then a mocking smile touched the corners of his lips.