The Return of Stars to the Jianghu

Chapter 194 Ye Fan consumed 2 talismans after making his move.

After resting for a while, Wu Cheng slowly stood up and looked at Xiao Lian with a determined gaze: "Xiao Lian, we must leave here as soon as possible. Although the four brothers have retreated, they will definitely bring reinforcements."

Xiao Lian nodded, a hint of worry flashing in her eyes, but she knew Wu Cheng's words were true. The two quickly packed their belongings, quietly left the cave, and headed deeper into the valley.

They cautiously traversed the desolate land, each step taken with utmost care. The air was thick with the stench of decay. Wu Cheng clearly remembered that not long ago, this place was littered with the corpses of cultivators and demonic beasts, but now they had vanished without a trace.

As they ventured deeper into the valley, the surrounding scenery grew increasingly eerie. The trees were twisted and deformed, as if silently whispering tales of misfortune. An unsettling atmosphere hung in the air, as if some ominous creature lurked in the darkness.

After passing through layers of mist and dense forest, the two finally stepped into the central area of ​​a certain formation. In front of them was a stone platform, in the center of which sat a demonic cultivator exuding bloodlust, his eyes tightly closed.

"Not good, retreat quickly." Wu Cheng had barely finished speaking when the demonic cultivator opened his eyes.

At this moment, Xiao Lian had also seen through the mist and clearly recognized the demonic cultivator's face. It was Tang Jin, one of the Tang Clan elders who had a life-and-death feud with her master.

A sinister smile appeared in Tang Jin's eyes. He slowly stood up, a blood-red aura swirling around him, like a demon returned from hell.

"Wu Cheng, I didn't expect you to actually come to my door." Tang Jin's voice was low and hoarse, each word seeming to be squeezed out from the depths of his throat.

Wu Cheng clenched his fists, his eyes revealing a resolute determination: "Tang Jin, you practiced demonic arts and killed cultivators from my Star Palace. I have already sent word back to the sect..."

Before he could finish speaking, Tang Jin appeared before Wu Cheng like a ghost, and a blood-red palm slammed out, accompanied by a whistling sound, aiming straight for Wu Cheng's vitals.

Wu Cheng dodged the attack with a swift movement, simultaneously thrusting his sword backhand, the blade flashing like a dragon, aiming straight for Tang Jin's chest. However, it was blocked by the protective aura of blood in front of Tang Jin, failing to harm him in the slightest.

The two exchanged several blows in an instant, their sword shadows and blood energy intertwining, causing the surrounding air to tremble.

Xiao Lian watched in horror. Although her cultivation level was not high to begin with, she had no chance of winning against a demonic cultivator like Tang Jin.

She took a deep breath and decided to help. She quickly formed hand seals and chanted incantations; a dazzling light shot from her palms, striking Tang Jin in the back.

Tang Jin snorted coldly, and with a slight turn of his body, he easily dodged Xiao Lian's attack. However, he was distracted in the process, and Wu Cheng seized the opportunity to slash his sleeve with his sword.

Although it was only a minor injury, Tang Jin's face turned extremely gloomy. He glared at Wu Cheng and Xiao Lian, his voice as cold as ice: "You are courting death."

As he spoke, his blood surged, and a powerful pressure emanated from his body, causing the surrounding trees to bend.

Wu Cheng and Xiao Lian looked grave; they sensed that a true life-or-death battle was about to begin.

However, the battle was over in the next second. Both of them collapsed to the ground, blood gushing from their mouths. Their internal organs had been severely damaged, and they could no longer stand up. The communication jade slip on Xiaolian's chest was also reduced to dust by the attack.

Tang Jin did not make any more moves. Instead, he returned to the middle of the stone platform and sat down again, leaving Wu Cheng and Xiao Lian to remain in place. He even channeled some spiritual energy into them to keep them alive and prevent them from dying too quickly.

Tang Jin used his supernatural powers to activate the formation, which was clearly a massive killing formation.

……

In Wanghe City, Cai Kingdom, Qingzhou, on the Illusionary Continent, two cultivators from the Light and Shadow Hall were guarding an ancient teleportation array when they suddenly witnessed a dazzling light emanating from it. Startled, they quickly regained their composure. They knew that the appearance of this light meant that a cultivator had arrived in Wanghe City using the teleportation array.

As cultivators of the Light and Shadow Hall who guarded the ancient teleportation array, their duty was to ensure its safety and welcome cultivators from all over. The two immediately conducted a thorough inspection of the teleportation array, and after confirming that everything was normal, they quietly waited for the cultivators who would use it.

Soon, the light in the portal gradually dissipated, and Ye Fan and Mu Qingluan's figures appeared. Ye Fan didn't say much, but directly tossed a bag of spirit stones to the cultivators of the Light and Shadow Hall. He was about to use his flying magic weapon when one of the taller cultivators stopped him in time: "Fellow Daoist, the use of flying magic weapons is strictly prohibited in Wanghe City."

At this moment, another cultivator from the Light and Shadow Hall, who was slightly shorter, exclaimed, "You are Mu Qingluan, the person the Tang family offered a large reward for some time ago." Upon hearing this, Ye Fan grabbed Mu Qingluan without saying a word, used a Shrinking Earth Talisman, and instantly escaped to a place a thousand miles away.

The shorter cultivator from the Light and Shadow Hall said helplessly, "They didn't even let me finish." The taller cultivator chimed in, "I guess they don't know that the Tang family's bounty has been cancelled. What a pity for a Shrinking Earth Talisman."

Having escaped Wanghe City, Ye Fan quickly summoned his flying magic weapon—a sea ship flying a flag bearing the character "Ye"—and carried Mu Qingluan rapidly towards the secluded valley in the northwest corner of Qinglan Valley.

"Oh no, the jade slip I sent to Xiaolian has lost its connection. She has at least been attacked by a Yuan Dan realm expert," Mu Qingluan said anxiously.

"Don't worry, we'll arrive soon," Ye Fan reassured him, then took out a top-grade spirit stone and increased the ship's speed to its limit.

Soon, the two flew over the valley.

"Oh no, this is a demonic killing formation." Looking at the unconscious man and woman inside the killing formation, Mu Qingluan was extremely anxious.

"Don't rush, let these three skeletons of mine scout ahead first." After saying this, Ye Fan immediately ordered the three skeletons, King Qin Guang, King Yama, and King Samsara, to charge into the killing formation.

Upon entering the killing formation, the three skeletons immediately sensed the terrifying power it contained. However, they showed no fear; instead, they roared excitedly and charged towards Tang Jin within the formation.

Seeing this, Tang Jin's lips curled into a cold smile. He gently raised his hand, and a powerful surge of blood energy erupted like a tidal wave, instantly engulfing the three skeletons. However, to his surprise, the three skeletons rolled and struggled within the blood energy, seemingly unharmed.

"Interesting," Tang Jin murmured, then increased his output of blood energy. But even so, the three skeletons resisted stubbornly, and even began to gradually close in on him.

Ye Fan and Mu Qingluan watched all this from the air, secretly relieved. They knew that although these three skeletons were just Ye Fan's puppets, their strength should not be underestimated, especially when they joined forces, they could unleash astonishing combat power.

Just then, Tang Jin suddenly flashed and appeared above the three skeletons. He quickly formed hand seals, chanted incantations, and then slammed his hand down. A huge blood-red palm print descended from the sky, heavily striking the three skeletons.

This time, the three skeletons could no longer withstand the attack and were blasted away, crashing to the ground, unable to move.

"Hmph, is that all you've got?" Tang Jin sneered, turning his gaze to Ye Fan and Mu Qingluan. "It's your turn."

Ye Fan and Mu Qingluan exchanged a glance, then attacked simultaneously. Ye Fan summoned a flying sword, its light like a dragon, aimed directly at Tang Jin. Mu Qingluan, meanwhile, formed hand seals and chanted incantations, unleashing a dazzling beam of light from her palms, striking Tang Jin directly.

Tang Jin's expression changed slightly, but he did not panic. His blood surged, forming a blood-red shield that blocked both of their attacks.

"You've got some skill, but it's not enough." Tang Jin sneered, then his figure flashed again, charging towards the two.

Ye Fan and Mu Qingluan dared not be careless and unleashed their full power in a fierce battle against Tang Jin. However, Tang Jin's strength was simply too great, and the two gradually felt overwhelmed.

Just then, Ye Fan suddenly had an idea. He deliberately created an opening, allowing Tang Jin to punch him, sending him flying backward. Mu Qingluan was shocked and rushed forward to check on him.

However, Ye Fan seized the opportunity to use an invisibility talisman, and he and Mu Qingluan instantly disappeared into thin air.