Chapter 10

On this day, the city of Fog was virtually sleepless. For those who had lived within the jurisdiction of the Orthodox Sect for generations, they instantly knew what had happened. Within less than a day, the news that Xuan Yangzi's wife and Ren Yao had an affair was flying around, and the enormous green hat made Xuan Yangzi completely disappear.

Everyone was deeply impressed by Ren Yao's audacity while waiting for the Orthodox Sect's reaction. However, several days passed, and the Orthodox Sect remained completely silent, as if nothing had happened. Some well-informed people only learned that the Orthodox Sect had changed its leader, but nothing else.

This result greatly surprised everyone. They couldn't help but speculate on what means Ren Yao had used to make the Orthodox Sect lose face and still have to endure it in silence.

At this time, after learning that Xiao Ran had become Ren Yao's disciple, Zhan Wan'er was worried that his identity might be exposed and bring about a fatal disaster. She decided to leave the Heavenly启 Capital of Dasha early. Before leaving, Xiao Cui did not come along. Looking at the beautiful girl with tears in her eyes, Xiao Ran felt a bit regretful. It would be great if such a pretty girl could serve him for life.

Xiao Ran and his mother Zhan Wan'er set off on their journey. Mother and son rode on a tall and strong dragon horse, and in just over ten days, they had entered the Heavenly启 territory adjacent to Dasha.

Too fast!

The dragon horse ran like a bolt of lightning, and Xiao Ran, sitting on it, felt no wind at all. Soon, the mother and son entered the border fortress of Pancheng, which was guarded by Xiao Ran's father in this life, South Guardian Marquis Xiao Bie Li. However, Xiao Ran did not see this father this time.

Not seeing her husband, Zhan Wan'er immediately decided to set off. It was now mid-summer, and Heavenly启 was extremely hot. As a martial artist, Zhan Wan'er didn't feel it much, but she was worried that Xiao Ran, whose health had just improved, couldn't bear it. Therefore, she gave up the idea of traveling quickly and had a luxurious and comfortable carriage prepared. Under the escort of a group of knights, they headed for the Heavenly启 capital, Yujing.

...

Mid-summer, just past noon, the scorching sun baked the earth.

In a dense forest a hundred miles away from Pancheng, the trees provided ample shade, and only a few spots of sunlight filtered through the leaves. Birds played in the forest, and cicadas chirped, while a gentle breeze brought a cool sensation.

Xiao Ran sat in the carriage, feeling no heat of mid-summer. The carriage was refreshingly cool, completely different from the outside world. This peculiar effect amazed Xiao Ran. Looking at his mother, who was resting with her eyes closed, he couldn't help but marvel at the wonders of martial artists. The true essence in their bodies not only protected them from the heat but also changed the temperature around them.

Unfortunately, after nearly a month of practicing the "Gathering Star Fist," Xiao Ran still hadn't opened even one acupoint. This made him realize the difficulty of reaching the minor accomplishment stage. Fortunately, he still had his mental energy, or he would be completely helpless.

Just as Xiao Ran was deep in thought, the carriage suddenly stopped, and the captain of the guards said, "Madam, there are people fighting ahead. Should we detour?"

Zhan Wan'er opened her eyes and said calmly, "No need. We'll continue on our way."

"Yes!"

The carriage started moving again soon. The sounds of the fight became clearly audible. Xiao Ran couldn't wait to lift the curtain and stick his head out. The moment the curtain was lifted, a wave of heat hit him, making him feel as if he had fallen into a furnace. His heart raced, and he quickly focused on the fight.

Xiao Ran's vision was clear up to a hundred meters. A deafening explosion sounded, and a middle-aged man was immediately sent flying by a purple-robed martial artist.

A long knife wound appeared on the middle-aged man's chest, and his blood spurted out in the blazing sun. The horse he was riding let out a mournful cry and began to convulse violently, quickly withering as if all its vital energy had been drained.

Seeing this, Xiao Ran's face changed abruptly. This was the first time he had seen someone killed, and the bloody scene made him extremely uncomfortable. As he felt nauseous, a cool stream of air flowed from behind him, instantly dispelling the feeling.

Zhan Wan'er retracted her hand, looking at Xiao Ran's pale face and scolded, "You, you still can't resist the temptation to watch. Now you know the consequences. The first time you see someone killed, it's usually like this. It will be fine after a while."

Xiao Ran was surprised. His mother seemed to have no intention of stopping him from watching the bloody scene. Recalling the scene, he said solemnly, "Mother, this place is within Father's jurisdiction. Who are these people, and how dare they commit murder here?"

Zhan Wan'er gently stroked Xiao Ran's head and said calmly, "No matter what happens, stay in the carriage."

Xiao Ran nodded, calmed himself, and looked out again.

At this point, the fight was over. The middle-aged man was severely injured and near death, while the purple-robed man, though he had inflicted a serious wound, was also badly hurt. He was thrown into the air, and green liquid seeped from the corner of his mouth, clearly indicating he was injured.

"Brother Zhong!"

A young woman with a five-year-old daughter rushed over. Seeing the middle-aged man lying in a pool of blood, the mother and daughter cried out in grief, tears streaming down their faces.

The middle-aged man said sadly, "Young Master, Ting Yuan is incompetent and could not complete your mission. I die with regret!"

Seeing this, the purple-robed man was about to laugh, but suddenly the sound of hooves came, making his face change. Turning around, he saw a carriage approaching. The purple-robed man's face darkened, but he relaxed when he saw the dozen or so guards.

Except for the leader, who was at the innate Nirvana stage, the others were all postnatal martial artists. Although he was injured, he was not afraid of them and could easily deal with them.

However, when he noticed the unique aura of the guards, his eyes narrowed again.

They were soldiers!

Looking in the direction the carriage was coming from, the purple-robed martial artist's eyes showed concern.

As a soldier, the captain of the guards was extremely sensitive to killing intent. He immediately sensed the purple-robed man's murderous intentions, his face changed, and he waved his hand to stop the carriage. Just as he was about to shout, Zhan Wan'er's voice came from inside the carriage.

"Captain, what's happening?"

The captain suppressed his anger and respectfully said, "Madam, there are people committing murder ahead."

"Oh?"

Zhan Wan'er responded, then lifted the curtain and got out of the carriage.

With her hair styled in a phoenix knot and a white jade hairpin, she wore a snow-white dress, exuding an ethereal aura.

The moment Zhan Wan'er appeared, the purple-robed man was both amazed and terrified, as if a great calamity was about to befall him. He looked at Zhan Wan'er in shock, but found nothing unusual except that she was more beautiful than the young woman. However, his sense of danger grew stronger.

His intuition told him that this woman was extremely dangerous. Without hesitation, he shouted, "Prepare the Soul Devouring Formation!"

Instantly, the purple-robed man and his subordinates gathered, chanting a strange incantation. Their veins bulged, their faces twisted, and their eyes turned blood red.

"Hmph!"

Zhan Wan'er coldly snorted.

Instantly, the purple-robed man and his subordinates were thrown back as if struck by lightning. The purple-robed man felt a splitting headache, his vision blurred, and his injuries worsened. He spat out a mouthful of green blood and his face turned a sickly green.

How is this possible?

Just as the purple-robed man was in utter terror, Zhan Wan'er, standing over ten meters away, raised her right hand and pointed at him.

Instantly, a sword beam flashed, and a dreamlike sword qi shot towards his forehead.

Too fast!

The purple-robed man tried to dodge but found his body immobile. In a flash, "Puff!" the sword qi pierced his forehead.

The entire forest fell into a terrifying silence. The purple-robed man's subordinates looked at the scene in disbelief. The once formidable purple-robed man was killed by this woman with a single finger. When they came to their senses, they immediately turned and ran.

Zhan Wan'er showed no emotion as the black-clothed masked men scattered. She flicked her fingers, and sword qi shot out. Instantly, the forest was filled with screams. In just a dozen breaths, none of them escaped a hundred meters and were all killed by the sword qi.

When the screams stopped, Xiao Ran, who had been in the carriage, could no longer hold back and got out. Seeing the dead black-robed martial artists, his face changed. Although he had experienced it once before, seeing so many dead people still had a significant impact on him.

Xiao Ran looked at the snow-white Zhan Wan'er in surprise, as if he were seeing her for the first time. She had always given him the impression of a gentle and caring mother, but now he realized she had another side he didn't know. Killing dozens of people with a wave of her hand and not changing her expression was a ruthless means.

Xiao Ran took a deep breath, came to Zhan Wan'er's side, and looked at the bodies on the ground. His face showed a strange expression. He noticed a significant feature of these people: their skin was a terrifying green, making him feel uneasy.

Swallowing hard, Xiao Ran said, "Mother, who are these people? Why do they look so scary?"

Zhan Wan'er glared at him and then said calmly, "They practiced a special cultivation method. If I'm not mistaken, they are all members of the Soul Sect."

"The Soul Sect, are they very powerful?"

Xiao Ran was curious.

Zhan Wan'er shook her head, "Just a second-rate sect, nothing special."

She patted Xiao Ran's head and then said to the approaching captain, "In this hot weather, these bodies will rot quickly. Find a place to bury them."

The captain quickly called a few guards to clean up.

At this moment, Xiao Ran and Zhan Wan'er approached the young woman. Seeing the barely alive middle-aged warrior, Xiao Ran turned and said, "Mother, this person is still alive. Can you save him?"

Hearing Xiao Ran's words, the grief-stricken young woman's spirits lifted, and she pleaded, "Madam, please save Brother Zhong."

Zhan Wan'er carefully examined the middle-aged man and sighed, "His internal organs are shattered, and his body is infected with death qi. Such severe injuries are beyond my ability to heal."

Hearing this, the little girl in the young woman's arms cried even harder, shaking the middle-aged man's body, "Wah! Uncle Zhong, Xing'er doesn't want you to die, Xing'er doesn't want you to die!..."

Zhan Wan'er sighed, "Why did the Soul Sect chase and kill you and your daughter?"

The young woman smiled bitterly, "In the past few months, the Soul Sect has been collecting young boys and girls. I was worried about Xing'er, so I wanted to take her to her grandfather for safety, but we encountered them on the way."

"Collecting young boys and girls? Are they planning a blood sacrifice?" Zhan Wan'er muttered, frowning, "Where is your husband? How could you, a woman, bear such a risk alone?"

The young woman sighed, "Xing'er has a strange illness, with fine meridians that prevent her from cultivating. Recently, he went to Dasha to seek medicine for her. If he were here, this wouldn't have happened."

Zhan Wan'er carefully examined the little girl and then asked curiously, "Who is your husband? Why do you trust him so much?"

The young woman's pale face showed a smile, her eyes filled with adoration, "He is the young master of the Heavenly Cauldron Sect. If he were here, these people wouldn't dare to harm us."

At this moment, Xiao Ran was surprised, "The Heavenly Cauldron Sect is as famous as the Orthodox Sect, one of the three major orthodox sects in the Heavenly Yuan. A small second-rate sect like the Soul Sect dares to chase and kill your mother and daughter. Aren't they afraid of dying?"

Zhan Wan'er said calmly, "Because your husband is the young master of the Heavenly Cauldron Sect, these Soul Sect members want to kill you to silence you. Otherwise, they would face a catastrophic disaster."

Xiao Ran was surprised, "Why is that?"

Zhan Wan'er smiled slightly, "The leader of the Heavenly Cauldron Sect is known for protecting his own. If he learns that the Soul Sect wants to harm his granddaughter, even if it's a misunderstanding, he will definitely lead people to destroy the Soul Sect as soon as possible."

"Isn't that too tyrannical? Does he like to exterminate entire sects?" Xiao Ran was very surprised.

Zhan Wan'er said calmly, "Tyrannical? He has done this many times. He has exterminated no less than a hundred sects. After that, no one dared to provoke him. In the past few decades, there have been no reports of him exterminating entire sects. However, the Soul Sect is in trouble. Whether it's a coincidence or not, they are definitely going to be exterminated this time."