Li Mu's Incarnation as a Sword Cultivator stood in the air, his elegant green robe fluttering in the wind, making him appear extremely refined.
"Hmm? So that's how it is!"
Honorable Being Ji Yun surveyed the young Sword Cultivator before her, her Phoenix eyes furrowing slightly, but soon, as the prayer beads on her wrist vibrated, a knowing smile appeared on her face.
"A mere Nascent Soul, truly cunning. With a hundred-year-old bone age, ordinary people would surely be fooled by you. This face is probably not your true appearance either. So skilled in disguise and transformation, you must have quite a few enemies!" Honorable Being Ji Yun said with a beaming smile, exposing Li Mu's ruse with a single, incisive remark.
Upon hearing this, Li Mu's heart pounded, and he looked at the female Soul Transformation Cultivator in confusion, not expecting her to see through his disguise at a glance.
The Five-Tier Spirit Fox Mask possessed extreme deceptive power, and coupled with the max-level Reverse Yuan Illusion Breath Art, Li Mu honestly believed his disguise was flawless, so much so that even a Soul Transformation Cultivator would find it difficult to detect his deception.
Unless this person possessed some means to find him through certain methods!
Li Mu's thoughts raced as he met Honorable Being Ji Yun's half-smile, a chill running down his spine.
Who exactly was this person?
With just a few subtle details, she could expose him and deduce his current predicament.
This person was even more troublesome than that Myriad Spirits Daoist!
She was chasing him with Killing Intent, definitely not a benevolent individual!
Wait... those prayer beads, weren't they Myriad Spirits Daoist's?
"What, you recognize these prayer beads? You deliberately waited in the tea house just now, surely wanting to use the opportunity to lure Myriad Spirits into making a move, then counter-kill Myriad Spirits and seize this treasure, right? How strange! How did you know the function of this treasure?"
Honorable Being Ji Yun noticed Li Mu's gaze on the prayer beads on her wrist, her expression changing. Combining it with what she had just seen, it was not difficult to deduce that he also recognized this treasure.
"It seems you are no ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator. With the strength of an Early Stage Nascent Soul, you dare to lure a Late Stage Nascent Soul cultivator alone. You must have extreme confidence in your own strength." Honorable Being Ji Yun deduced incessantly, a radiant, confident smile of control over the whole situation gracing her face.
Li Mu frowned, his heart sinking to the bottom, his mind constantly guessing the other party's identity.
Soon, Li Mu glanced at the Five-Tier warship and gained some clues through his Talent Divine Power - Identify Myriad Spirits.
Li Mu sighed, having discovered the other party's identity, and quickly cupped his hands, saying, "The Eight Great Families' Ji Family truly harbors hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Senior's thoughts are meticulous. I unintentionally offended you at the Auction just now. I hope Honored One, with your magnanimity, will spare me."
"Oh? You actually know I'm from the Eight Great Families' Ji Family?"
Honorable Being Ji Yun looked at Li Mu with interest, like a cat playing with a mouse.
"This is not difficult to guess, is it? Honored One, you must be trying to seize the important treasure on me, right?" Li Mu looked at the treasure-hunting spirit bead on her wrist and asked coldly.
"Yes, and not entirely!"
As soon as Honorable Being Ji Yun's voice fell, Zi Guang Zhenjun behind her suddenly made a move. From his storage Magic Treasure, he summoned eight square blocks.
Each block was covered with Formation patterns. With a flick of his finger, they transformed into a massive purple mist barrier, covering ten miles of land and trapping Li Mu within.
Li Mu panicked but did not lose composure, deliberately showing a look of fear: "Honored One, what is the meaning of this? If you want the important treasure, I am willing to offer it with both hands."
Seeing Li Mu's panicked expression, Honorable Being Ji Yun felt immense satisfaction and let out a disdainful chuckle: "A mere barbarian Nascent Soul cultivator, it's just that you were too high-profile! As for the important treasure, won't it all be mine once I kill you?"
Hearing this, Li Mu couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
Are the Eight Great Families all so overbearing in their actions? Previously, the Kun Family was like this, and now the Ji Family he encountered was also the same.
Truly, holding great power allows one to disregard all living beings in the world.
The other party had set up a Four-Tier trapping Formation, which suited Li Mu's intentions. This Honorable Being Ji Yun was alone, and her strength was Late Stage Soul Transformation. Dealing with her was not troublesome, but solving her in a short time would definitely not be easy.
One must know that this place was not too far from Barren Ancient City. The aftermath of a prolonged battle would surely alarm the Soul Transformation Cultivators in Barren Ancient City, and even other Cultivators within the Ji Family.
Wanbao Pavilion had three Void Refining Realm Cultivators in charge. The Ji Family, also one of the Eight Great Families in the Central Continent, likely had considerable influence in Barren Ancient City, and surely had Void Refining Realm powerhouses stationed there.
Meanwhile, before Li Mu was caught by Honorable Being Ji Yun.
In Barren Ancient City - Floating Cloud Port, Wanbao Pavilion, in VIP Room No. 15, another event was unfolding.
Myriad Spirits Daoist's face was pale, and he knelt on both knees, trembling.
In front of Myriad Spirits Daoist sat an old man at the Peak of Soul Transformation, dressed in a black-gold tight-fitting brocade robe, exuding a powerful Spiritual Pressure, but his face showed signs of old age, covered in wrinkles.
"Senior Kun Ling, everything I said is true. Honorable Being Ji Yun took my treasure-hunting spirit bead and is now chasing that Four-Tier Alchemist Great Master to seize the important treasure on him!"
Myriad Spirits Daoist felt bitter in his heart. He had just escaped from the wolf's den and fallen into the tiger's mouth; he was truly unlucky!
He had just left the Ji Family's private room when, the next moment, he was inexplicably seized by two Peak Nascent Soul cultivators from the Kun Family at a corner and brought to this place.
Seeing that the other party was from the Kun Family, Myriad Spirits Daoist could only comply.
Kun Family Elder - Kunling Honored One, questioned him as to why he was caught and brought to the Ji Family's private room, and Myriad Spirits Daoist naturally answered truthfully.
"Hmph, so that's how it is. No wonder that old hag left early; she was going to seek another important treasure. How could I let her have her way?" Kunling Honored One sneered.
"Do you know where they went now?"
Kunling Honored One's face was aged, but his eyes were sharp and piercing, like sharp swords, exuding a powerful deterrent force.
How could Myriad Spirits Daoist dare not answer? He took out a palm-sized ancient bronze compass from his embrace and offered it with both hands, saying, "Senior, when I offered the prayer beads, I deliberately left a tracking Aura. Holding this token, one can track its Aura within a thousand miles."
"Very good, very good!"
Kunling Honored One's eyes flashed, and after taking the compass, a wisp of Spiritual Qi was input. Soon, the compass vibrated, and a ray of light appeared, immediately indicating the direction of Honorable Being Ji Yun.
"You two, follow me!"
Kunling Honored One didn't care about the Auction. He had many grudges with Honorable Being Ji Yun and would never let her have her way, so he transformed into a stream of light and set off.
Inside the private room, Myriad Spirits Daoist collapsed on the ground, feeling only cold sweat all over his body, immensely relieved!
"Damn it! How could I be so unlucky? I can't stay in this Barren Ancient City anymore." The Kun Family had also gotten involved, and Myriad Spirits Daoist knew that by revealing information to the Kun Family, he had indirectly offended Honorable Being Ji Yun.
Two hundred miles outside Barren Ancient City, Li Mu frowned, constantly on guard.
Honorable Being Ji Yun's gaze was contemptuous. On her fingertips, silver needles danced, radiating Killing Intent.
"Sir, you don't need to make a move. A mere Early Stage Nascent Soul, I will surely take his head within ten rounds." Zi Guang Zhenjun flattered, stepping forward, eager to claim credit.
"You may not be his opponent!"
Honorable Being Ji Yun did not accept Zi Guang Zhenjun's suggestion and retorted.
"Sir, how could this subordinate not be a match for this mere Early Stage Nascent Soul?" Zi Guang Zhenjun's face changed slightly, and he couldn't help but retort.
"Are you questioning my judgment!"
Honorable Being Ji Yun, who had been chatting and laughing just moments before, suddenly had a frosty expression, and a wave of Killing Intent surged out, sweeping across, transforming into an invisible slap that fiercely struck Zi Guang Zhenjun's body.
Zi Guang Zhenjun was caught off guard and was immediately sent flying dozens of meters away, his face swollen, blood gushing from the corner of his mouth. Yet, he dared not show the slightest anger; instead, he was terrified, trembling as he pleaded for mercy: "Sir, please calm your anger, Sir, please calm your anger, this subordinate knows his mistake, this subordinate knows his mistake."
"Hmph, if there's a next time, I will destroy your Divine Soul." Honorable Being Ji Yun said coldly.
Zi Guang Zhenjun was so frightened that his whole body trembled.
Seeing this, Li Mu, however, became worried. This woman had a strange temperament, yet she was meticulous and ruthless. It was clearly not easy to pull her into the Painting World Treasure Mansion.
If he used the Painting World Treasure Mansion and still couldn't deal with her, revealing the existence of the Painting World Treasure Mansion, then he would likely face endless pursuit!
A Seven-Tier Heaven-Connecting Spirit Treasure, its preciousness was no less than an Eight-Tier Dao Weapon.
Throughout the entire Southern Spirit Great Wilderness, it was estimated that no other Cave Heaven Spirit Treasure could be found, demonstrating its preciousness!
The appearance of any Cave Heaven Spirit Treasure was enough to cause a bloody storm. The Celestial Evolution Divine Lord back then was an Artifact Refining Great Master capable of refining Seven-Tier Magic Treasures, possessing the Heaven Rank Artifact Refining Skill - Eightfold Heavenly Fire Tempering Method.
Regardless of whether it was a Void Refining Realm, Combined Body Realm, or even stronger Cultivators, they would treat him with courtesy and would absolutely not seize his Spirit Treasure.
With only a Nascent Soul cultivation, carrying such an important treasure, if the news spread, he would surely be pursued by countless Soul Transformation, and even Void Refining Realm Cultivators.
Then he would truly have to flee for his life, and what good would planting spirit plants be then!
This was truly troublesome!
Li Mu's mind raced, constantly pondering strategies to counter the enemy, seeing if he could resolve this encounter.
However, the sharp, dancing embroidery needles on Honorable Being Ji Yun's fingertips constantly reminded Li Mu that a fatal crisis was imminent, and he had little time left.
"Not struggling, not running? This is very boring. I'll give you ten breaths to escape quickly." Honorable Being Ji Yun was only about ten zhang away from Li Mu, but her tone was frivolous, intending to use the most cruel methods to torture her enemy to death.
Facing such a predicament, Li Mu gritted his teeth, deciding to take one step at a time. He immediately activated the Wings of Thunder, transforming into a bolt of lightning and rushing towards the outside of the Formation.
While flying, he simultaneously used his Divine Sense to probe the Formation, quickly finding a weak point.
Li Mu's Formation mastery was such that a Four-Tier Formation was like a blank piece of paper in his eyes, easily broken.
Just as he was about to touch the Formation and was preparing to break it, an unexpected change suddenly occurred. The entire Formation was struck by a powerful, unknown attack, causing huge ripples and beginning to become unstable.
"What's going on? What's happening?"
Li Mu was bewildered. This sudden turn of events caught him off guard, but with someone breaking the Formation from outside, perhaps he could find a chance to escape from this place.
"How dare you!"
Honorable Being Ji Yun hovered in mid-air, her face turning grim.
"Sir, it's Kunling Honored One. He brought two servants and is jointly breaking my Formation from outside. I've reached my limit and am about to collapse."
"How did that old monster find this place?"
Honorable Being Ji Yun's face was grim. She immediately ordered the Formation to be dispelled. She wanted to see what this dying person intended to do.
Zi Guang Zhenjun quickly dispelled the Formation. In an instant, the Formation dissipated, and the next moment, two bursts of fierce flames poured down like a Nine-Star Waterfall.
"How unreasonable!"
Facing the surging flames, Honorable Being Ji Yun waved her hand, and endless purple dense smoke appeared out of nowhere. The highly toxic Aura clashed with the fierce fire.
But when the poison and the fierce fire met, neither could overcome the other, and in the end, both withdrew their Cultivation Techniques, and the world returned to peace.
"Old monster, what is your intention, daring to come here and ruin my good deed?" Honorable Being Ji Yun held dozens of embroidery needles between her fingers, her eyes like daggers, radiating monstrous Killing Intent.
In the sky above, Kunling Honored One let out a heavy snort. From within his chest, true essence transformed into rolling sound waves, roaring out: "You venomous woman, how dare you plot against my friend, and still dare to question me? Who gave you the guts?"
Friend?
Honorable Being Ji Yun, in her rage, suddenly froze, her gaze sweeping towards Li Mu.
Li Mu felt a little bewildered. He looked up at the thousand-zhang high sky, where Kunling Honored One, stepping on a huge black axe, stood in the air, exuding an imposing Aura.
No way?
Who was this again?
Why were there always some inexplicable people coming to find him today?
Li Mu felt bitter in his heart. However, fortunately, the powerful Cultivator in the sky did not show any malice towards him; instead, he had a smiling face and said kindly, "Little friend, it's been many years since we last met. I never thought we would meet in such a situation. How have you been recently?"
Alright!
Li Mu roughly understood what was going on. Adhering to the principle that the enemy of my enemy is my friend, he was willing to cooperate.
Although he was unclear about the other party's intentions, the other party currently posed no threat to him, and Li Mu was also looking for an opportunity to escape, so he followed the other party's lead.
"Senior, it's been decades since we last met. You are still as formidable as ever. I never thought I would be able to reunite with you here." Li Mu quickly returned a warm smile, cupping his hands in response.
Kunling Honored One, seeing Li Mu being so quick-witted, nodded slightly. With a flash of his figure, he appeared beside him as if teleporting.
"He's your friend? Hmph... Old monster, when this person hadn't even reached Barren Ancient City, he didn't even know about the Eight Great Families of Central Continent, so how could he have known you for decades? This lie is truly absurd!"
"Hmph, how I know him is none of your business. Women always love to scheme with these petty thoughts. This little friend has an important treasure that I gave him. You must be coveting this important treasure on him, and thus you ambushed him halfway. You must give me an explanation for this matter, otherwise, I will absolutely not let you leave this place easily today!" Kunling Honored One's body radiated Killing Intent, and his terrifying fire-attribute Cultivation Technique made him appear like a fire deity, sacred and powerful.
"Little friend, don't worry. With this old man here, a mere venomous woman is nothing to fear." After speaking, Kunling Honored One turned to Li Mu and said with a reassuring smile.
"You..." Honorable Being Ji Yun's face showed a venomous expression, filled with boundless rage, wishing she could grind Kunling Honored One's bones to dust.
"Thank you, Senior, for saving me. I will never forget this kindness."
From the confrontation between the two Soul Transformation powerhouses, Li Mu gleaned some clues. This suddenly appearing elderly man, in his seventies or eighties, must also be a member of the Eight Great Families. His strength and status must be on par with the person opposite him.
However, Li Mu was a little confused as to why this person suddenly came to save him? And how did he know about his affairs?
