CHAPTER 185: CHAPTER 176: THE SNEAK ATTACK FORCES A RETREAT (PART 2)

He stepped forward but didn’t catch Shen Wang, unaware of the situation.

"I suspect he’s the one who murdered the Yun Family couple and your son."

Cloud Celestial Thunder’s eyes were gloomy. Originally, two had died, and now another two were lost. He was very agitated at this moment.

"Impossible, my son had the Hundred Tempered Battle Armor for protection. Someone at the Foundation Establishment level definitely couldn’t kill him. It must be Golden Core Level."

Xie Weidong simply didn’t believe it: "Not to mention your Yun Family couple. Even if their strength was poor, they could at least handle one Late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator."

Without waiting for Cloud Celestial Thunder to speak.

"Ah!"

A scream sounded from afar.

Xie Weidong’s face turned, and he cursed: "Damn it, they’ve attacked my people again!"

He turned into a streak of fire and rushed back, seeing a figure collapse.

Cloud Celestial Thunder hesitated for a moment, not following.

There couldn’t be another opportunity for them to be picked off one by one. He said solemnly: "Get closer, even if you face Array attacks, don’t give the enemy a chance."

More than ten subordinates frantically gathered. Even the Late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators were quite scared of being ambushed.

They were facing wind, rain, and occasional ground indentations and wooden spike attacks from the Array, unable to exert their full strength. In the face of an ambush, they didn’t feel they were much better than their deceased companions.

Xie Weidong charged back, from a distance throwing a hammer engulfed in flames.

Shen Wang attempted to catch it, but the hammer was heavier and more forceful, nearly choking him. He hurriedly dodged.

The outline of the Dao Array had been ingrained in his mind, using the Array to cover his quick retreat and evade Xie Weidong’s pursuit.

Shen Wang exhaled, his arms trembling.

Earlier, he had forcibly taken on two major attacks from Golden Core Level Magical Treasures. Although he didn’t vomit blood like last time, his arms were numbed and sore with cracked tiger mouths.

Clearly, dealing with Mid-Stage Golden Core Cultivators was still strenuous, let alone trying to kill them alone.

"I should stick to killing those at my level. Those who are lower, one strike is enough. As for the Xie Family’s thick-skinned ones, maybe one more strike will suffice."

Shen Wang’s gaze was cold and unforgiving. Unable to deal with the two leaders, killing their subordinates was not an issue.

When fighting multiple opponents of the same realm, perhaps due to the system’s help perfecting his Foundation Establishment, he found his Spiritual Essence was far purer than anyone else’s.

Combining not bad Body Refining Cultivation and the newly condensed Sword Intent, his attack couldn’t be stopped even if the enemy was prepared, let alone in an ambush.

"The Xie Family’s Body Refining Cultivators are hard to kill; let’s deal with the Yun Family first."

Shen Wang coldly smiled at the enemies who converged again, as close as possible.

The closer they got, the more Array Power they attracted.

Boom, boom, boom!

Most of the hillside was covered by dark clouds—it wasn’t just thunder and lightning but also torrential rain. The grass and trees on the ground seemed to come alive.

Many weeds twisted like snakes, and the ground inexplicably sank as if these people were fighting against the natural elements, inviting attacks from them.

Compared to the snowstorm, ice blades, and ice spikes Shen Wang encountered inside, these people were experiencing summer scenery.

Witnessing the Dao Array unleash its power on a large scale firsthand, Shen Wang realized he had underestimated the Array’s strength.

Their power wasn’t weak; it just covered a vast range. If the entire mountain were arranged as a Dao Array, it would become a world of its own, mobilizing massive Power of Heaven and Earth.

In contrast, arranging a conventional Array to cover such a mountain peak, reaching such power levels, would require no less than a million Spirit Stones.

"What exactly is the story behind the Void Sect? The more I look, the more complex it seems."

Curious, Shen Wang took out his talisman and approached, waiting for the opportunity to strike.

Earlier was a surprise ambush. Facing enemies who were prepared next required a different approach.

There were still fourteen Foundation Establishment Level Cultivators from the Yun Family left, all using various defensive methods, even employing Defensive Runes.

"If the raider comes again, at least stall them while staying alive. As long as they’re held for two breaths, I can apprehend them!"

Cloud Celestial Thunder sneered. He only needed an opportunity. If they could hold him up, even the enemy wouldn’t dare act recklessly.

"Rest assured, Great Elder, we will guarantee not to give him a chance this time!"

A steward from the Yun Family, his cultivation reaching Foundation Establishment Perfection, responded with killing intent, watching the surroundings while his Flying Sword continuously sliced through the weeds and thorns entangling his legs.

Nearby storms continued, further obscuring sight, making it difficult to determine if the enemy was nearby.

Hiss, hiss, hiss!

A faint hissing sound arose, causing everyone to become tense and anxious.

Upon closely inspecting amid the rain, a large number of water snakes hissed as they approached.

These were formed by talismans. In such rainy weather, Shen Wang naturally wouldn’t use the Fire Snake Talisman, which was countered and degraded in power, but rather he used the Water Snake Talisman that he had rarely used but collected many.

This talisman was similar to the Fire Snake Talisman but was Water Attribute—a Tiered Talisman, able to threaten Foundation Establishment Level.

Originally dealing with the Array, the crowd was forced to activate Magical Artifacts to cut the water snakes into pieces.

Cloud Celestial Thunder distinguished that it was Talisman Power rather than Array, offering a reminder: "Attention, these are the raider’s methods. He must be nearby."

The crowd tightened their gaze, but despite the increase in water, they found no trace of the enemy.

Suddenly, amidst the water flow, a flash of cold light appeared. Though the water seemed shallow, it hid sharp blades like they emerged from a lake, flying to strike one’s Protective Barrier.

Crack!

The shield shattered with a sound, frightening the person pale. They only felt a force extremely sharp attacking them, rendering the talisman’s power useless.

Following was a chill at the heart as a sword light pierced through their chest.

"I..."

His eyes filled with terror, attempting to speak but falling helplessly.

Shen Wang didn’t reveal himself. This time he employed a Flying Sword, using a secret technique from the Black Emperor Scripture to ambush from within the water.

This secret technique, named Water Concealment Technique, as the name suggests, used water flow to hide oneself or Magical Artifacts, evading enemies or executing ambushes.

He used the Water Snake Talisman to distract the enemy successfully getting the Flying Sword beneath their feet attacking the weakest, the Yun Family member at Early-stage Foundation Establishment, achieving a successful strike before quickly retreating.

Boom!

A thunderbolt struck down in fury, narrowly missing the flying sword, which agilely burrowed into the muddy water on the ground, quickly leaving.

The ground, hit by Cloud Celestial Thunder, was gouged out, dirt flying, the surrounding blood rapidly reddening from his own man’s heart wound.

Seeing their careful defenses still couldn’t prevent an ambush killing by the raider left nearby people pale, somewhat terrified.

They were not afraid of open confrontation, only of such ambushes—not knowing who would be the next unfortunate one!

Cloud Celestial Thunder was furious, cursing: "Bastard, come out and face me if you dare. What’s with the ambushing!"

No reply came, as Shen Wang certainly wouldn’t compromise his hidden position for verbal sparring.

"Damn, is there a new raider?"

Xie Weidong’s voice echoed: "This time it’s a Sword Cultivator. Earlier, I sensed Sword Intent!"

"No idea; the raider is in the dark, while we’re in the light."

Cloud Celestial Thunder clenched his fists, itching to drag the raider out and smash him.

Xie Weidong approached, bringing more Power of Heaven and Earth attacks.

Actually, they were suffering most, as many were Fire Attribute Cultivators, embarrassed by the wind, rain, and lightning.

Cloud Celestial Thunder looked at Xie Weidong, resentful that the former only lost one, while he lost three himself: "Younger Brother Xie, we need to adjust our response."

"Your thoughts?"

Xie Weidong said: "This won’t do; the raider is too cunning, not giving us easy chances."

"Let’s retreat and adjust; wait for Xuan Ting to come. I refuse to believe if two Golden Core appear, he can still ambush us?"

Cloud Celestial Thunder planned not to continue, having lost too many people without a proper account.

"Safer this way; we’ll withdraw now."

Xie Weidong nodded. They were here for revenge, not to present targets—losing one already made him cautious, especially without knowing the enemy fully.

"Go!"

Cloud Celestial Thunder waved, leading his frightened subordinates away.

Seeing this, Shen Wang frowned slightly.

This old fox was cautious, not advancing emotionally to give him no chance for ambush.

Thinking about the two Golden Cores on the other side, next time it would be much harder to ambush.

Fortunately, temporarily pushing them back bought them extra time to prepare.