Chapter 22

Nearby, only the four disciples of Yunqing Sect remained. Bai Mu shook his head, unable to come up with a solution: "The evil person has probably fled far away."

Lin Fan disagreed: "We formed a circular formation. Although the southeast breakout caused chaos with evil spells, the chaos did not interfere with the search. No one discovered the direction the enemy went... This doesn't make sense."

Bai Mu said, "I have no way."

Gu Yan said, "Let's return to Lotus Mountain first. I will report to the sect that the evil person has appeared in the Jiulang Mountains, and they must have some plan."

"Alright, you go back first, I'll think about it," Lin Fan said.

Gu Yan told Lin Fan to be careful, then returned to Lotus Mountain with Bai Mu and Ye Wushuang. The disciples of the righteous sects would gather again to discuss how to handle the sudden appearance of the evil person in Xiaodongzhou. Whether to report to their sects for a hunt, and what the evil person's intentions were in penetrating the Twelve Continents.

"Running so fast?" Lin Fan landed on a pine tree and pondered. "Damn, someone is behind me. Ximen Shuai... Not good, I'm alone. Ximen Shuai didn't run but hid on the spot. Damn, I trusted Bai Mu too much and forgot this possibility."

Suddenly, Lin Fan burst into laughter: "Haha, I know where Ximen Shuai hid the Bloodstone."

Fifty steps behind, Xue Ji looked at Ximen Shuai, who was stunned. Lin Fan jumped down from the pine tree: "Quick!" A clone appeared, and Lin Fan said, "Let me calculate."

The real body immediately used earth escape. This clone was not the same as the others; it had no powers, just an illusion. The clone faced away from Ximen Shuai and Xue Ji. After a while, Ximen Shuai suddenly realized, landed, and searched the ground, exclaiming, "He's gone."

"Gone?"

Without a word, Ximen Shuai threw out the Qiankun Ring, shattering the clone, and pointed, "Intercept to the west."

"Lotus Mountain is to the north."

Ximen Shuai patiently said, "Protector Xue Ji, he won't run directly north. I've made that mistake before."

Ximen Shuai and Xue Ji pursued to the northeast and northwest, while Lin Fan headed northwest, then suddenly reversed direction and returned the way he came. "Hide and seek, I'm an expert."

Lin Fan emerged from the earth, and a moonlight reflection appeared beside him. Lin Fan slowly turned around, and Xue Ji was fifty steps away, standing on a pine tree branch, quietly watching Lin Fan: "Ximen Shuai said you are a despicable person, and he was right. You placed some spell on the branch near your clone, watched us leave, and then returned here. Hiding in plain sight?"

Lin Fan smiled, "Why didn't you tell Ximen Shuai?"

"Ximen Shuai is arrogant. I deliberately asked some stupid questions to make him feel superior... Enough talk, give me the Bloodstone, and I'll spare your life," Xue Ji said.

"Watch out!" Lin Fan pointed at Xue Ji's back in shock.

Xue Ji was startled. Could Ximen Shuai be attacking? She quickly turned her head, but saw the moon in the sky and no one attacking. Realizing she had been tricked, Xue Ji turned back, and Lin Fan used earth escape. Xue Ji laughed and flew above Lin Fan, using her true qi to form a large hand that grabbed Lin Fan from the earth.

But Lin Fan was prepared, and a palm thunder struck Xue Ji's face. Xue Ji paused, and Lin Fan grabbed her hand, saying, "Ninefold Demon Trapping Spell."

The Ninefold Demon Trapping Spell is an illusion that inputs one's true qi into the opponent's true qi, creating a series of illusions. The victim must kill nine demons, one real and eight fake. The higher the caster's cultivation, the stronger the demons. Only by defeating the real demon can the spell be broken.

During the spell, the caster cannot stop inputting true qi, escape, or perform other actions, or the illusion will dissipate. Xue Ji, with her extensive experience, knew she had been ensnared as soon as she saw the nine demons in her mind. Without hesitation, she began to fight.

So strong? Lin Fan was greatly surprised. In just a few moments, two demons were already defeated. He had planned to use the demons to drain her true qi, but this method wouldn't work.

Lin Fan had too few encounters with other cultivators and clearly underestimated her. Xue Ji could make Ximen Shuai retreat, and it took four Yunqing Sect disciples to drive Ximen Shuai away, showing a significant difference in strength.

Soon, Xue Ji broke through the real demon and grabbed Lin Fan by the neck: "I didn't expect Ximen Shuai to tell the truth. Where is the Bloodstone?"

"Bloodstone?" Lin Fan thought for a moment, feeling his neck tighten. "I left it in the land temple at the edge of the town market."

Xue Ji's eyes narrowed.

Lin Fan added, "If you kill me now, what if you can't find the Bloodstone?"

"Take me there."

Lin Fan sighed, "If I give it to you, I'll die. Why would I want to die?"

"I promise, if you hand over the Bloodstone, I'll spare your life." Xue Ji pulled out a hair, which transformed into a rope and bound Lin Fan.

"Walk?" Lin Fan asked.

"Why bother?" Ximen Shuai appeared, flashed to Lin Fan's side, and threw away Lin Fan's yellow paper and brush: "This will do."

Xue Ji looked at Ximen Shuai, who added, "You have your rules."

"Of course, once I get the Bloodstone, we'll be even," Xue Ji said to Lin Fan. "Fly quickly, or I'll use force."

Lin Fan rode the wind, flying slowly, with Xue Ji following on one side and Ximen Shuai behind. Ximen Shuai was quite suspicious. The Bloodstone was a treasure of the Blood Shadow Sect, yet Xue Ji was so generous? He looked at Lin Fan again. No, they couldn't fight each other now, or they would both be hurt.

Xue Ji looked at Lin Fan and said, "Repeat after me: Three Talents' Aperture, Two and Five Essences, Bamboo Shoes Borrow to Walk the World."

"Three Talents' Aperture, Two and Five Essences, Bamboo Shoes Borrow to Walk the World." Lin Fan looked at Xue Ji with disdain. What kind of evil sect rule was this? Even captives had to recite lines?

Xue Ji silently recited a spell, placed a hand on Lin Fan's back, and extended her left hand, saying, "Follow me."

"..." Lin Fan didn't know what Xue Ji was up to, but he mimicked her finger movements. With a 'whoosh,' a bamboo sword appeared under Lin Fan's feet.

Xue Ji said, "If you dawdle, I won't be gentle."

Could it be... Spicy chicken threads, this woman not only looks beautiful but is also kind-hearted. She actually taught him how to control the bamboo sword and forcibly opened his spiritual senses. Comfortable, with both feet on the bamboo sword, it gently sank, supporting Lin Fan's body. Lin Fan, being extremely intelligent, immediately understood how to control the bamboo sword. Four fingers formed a seal, the thumb pointed, and the seal was cast, making the bamboo sword fly at the speed of his wind charm.

Ximen Shuai's heart sank. Although this was the Bamboo Sword Sect's basic sword technique, it was never taught to outsiders. Xue Ji even spent her cultivation to open Lin Fan's spiritual senses, which was not something a protector should do. This was a taboo for any sect. Unless... Lin Fan was a dead man. Xue Ji's promise to spare Lin Fan after he handed over the Bloodstone was a lie, and her promise to save him wouldn't count... Ximen Shuai was puzzled. Although his ancient sword was dormant, he still had the Qiankun Ring. Xue Ji couldn't easily defeat him. Unless... Unless a Blood Shadow Sect expert arrived, in which case both he and Lin Fan would be in grave danger...

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