53: Chapter 53: Either don't act, or if you do, leave no survivors.

Zhouwu Dynasty, eight hundred miles north of the capital, Qingmang City.

Inside an unremarkable inn in the city, Sect Master Yin Wuji sat by the window. The needle of the compass in his hand remained motionless, pointing directly south.

That was the direction of the Zhouwu Dynasty's capital.

“Still in the capital,” he muttered to himself, a hint of impatience flashing in his eyes.

After being ejected from the Purple Bamboo Forest by the Secret Realm, he had tracked the aura of the heart-cleansing bamboo all the way here.

But that aura had remained in the capital the entire time, without moving an inch.

The Zhouwu Dynasty's capital was heavily restricted and guarded by a powerful expert Undergoing Tribulation; he didn't dare act rashly.

“Senior Brother Yin,” a Liuli Sect Disciple behind him whispered.

“The aura of the heart-cleansing bamboo has moved.”

Sect Master Yin Wuji looked down at the compass; sure enough, the needle began to shift slowly, pointing south.

He stood up abruptly, a cold curve appearing at the corner of his mouth.

“Finally out.”

“Everyone, set out immediately. Catch up to them.”

“Yes.” Six figures streaked out of Qingmang City, flying toward the south.

Sect Master Yin Wuji was in the lead, the compass in his hand constantly guiding the way.

The aura of the heart-cleansing bamboo wasn't moving fast, which surprised him a little.

But on second thought, he understood—the other party wasn't in a hurry at all, or rather, they had no idea someone was tracking them from behind.

“This is fine too,” Sect Master Yin Wuji thought to himself. “Saves me the effort.”

Half a month later, deep within the Southern Wilderness.

Lu Jinghan and the other three slowed their pace and rested by a mountain stream.

Over the past half month, they had traveled fitfully, killing any Yao Beast they encountered and picking any Spirit Medicine they found along the way.

Qin Muchuan and Su Fuguang's combat abilities had improved significantly, and even Zhou Tianchen had gained a bit more of a murderous edge.

“Senior Brother, how much further to Kunlun?” Qin Muchuan squatted by the stream, scooping up a handful of fresh water to wash his face.

“At our current speed, it'll still take several months,” Lu Jinghan leaned against a large tree, resting with his eyes closed.

Not long after, Lu Jinghan suddenly opened his eyes, his brows furrowing slightly.

“What's wrong?” Zhou Tianchen noticed his odd behavior.

Lu Jinghan didn't answer; he simply stood up and looked toward the official road to the north.

A moment later, he spoke slowly, “Someone is coming.”

“And they come with ill intent.”

Qin Muchuan and Su Fuguang stood up at the same time, and Zhou Tianchen also became instantly alert, his hand reaching for the qiankun furnace at his waist.

In the northern sky, six figures approached from afar at extreme speed.

In just a few breaths, they arrived by the mountain stream.

The leader was a man in a black robe with a cold expression; it was none other than Sect Master Yin Wuji.

He held a compass in his hand, its needle pointing directly at Lu Jinghan without moving an inch.

Sect Master Yin Wuji stopped, his gaze sweeping over the four of them, a sneer curling his lips.

“The heart-cleansing bamboo is on you.”

Lu Jinghan's gaze swept over Sect Master Yin Wuji and then past the five people behind him, taking in their cultivation levels in a single breath.

One at the Late-stage Nascent Soul, three at the Nascent Soul Mid Stage, and two at the Early Nascent Soul Stage.

He understood—the prying auras he had sensed in the Purple Bamboo Forest must have belonged to these people.

Lu Jinghan's expression remained unchanged, but in his heart, he was secretly calculating how to kill these people quickly.

Sect Master Yin Wuji was also sizing them up.

Two at the Early Nascent Soul Stage—the one with the stronger aura should be the leader, while the other with a slightly weaker aura and a faint scent of medicine around him should be an Alchemy Cultivator.

The remaining two were only at the Middle Stage of the Golden Core.

Although the Early Nascent Soul Stage wasn't weak, compared to him?

The smile on Sect Master Yin Wuji's lips grew a few degrees colder.

Of the five people behind him, even the one with the lowest cultivation was at the Early Nascent Soul Stage, equal to the two Junior Brothers he had brought.

And he himself was at the Late-stage Nascent Soul, two whole minor Realms higher than the opponent.

No matter how one looked at it, this was a one-sided crushing defeat without any suspense.

However, Sect Master Yin Wuji's ability to reach the position of the Chief Inner Disciple of the Liuli Sect in the Western Regions was never due to underestimating his enemies.

He knew all too well that instances of "playing the pig to eat the tiger" were common in the cultivation world.

These people before him dared to parade around with the heart-cleansing bamboo; they were either stupid or had something to rely on.

He bet it was the latter.

But even if they had something to rely on, so what?

One Late-stage Nascent Soul against an Early Nascent Soul Stage, three Nascent Soul Mid Stages against two Early Nascent Soul Stages—the remaining two at the Middle Stage of the Golden Core didn't even have the right to intervene.

The disparity was too great; no matter how big their trump card, they couldn't turn the tables.

“Hand over the heart-cleansing bamboo.”

Sect Master Yin Wuji spoke, his voice indifferent, as if he were talking about a trivial matter.

“I'll give you a quick death.”

The five people behind him took a step forward in unison, and six auras were released simultaneously.

The Nascent Soul Stage's Intimidation bore down like a mountain, even causing the stream in the mountain valley to stagnate.

Qin Muchuan and Su Fuguang's faces instantly turned pale. The pressure was too terrifying, as if a great mountain were pressing on their chests, making it hard to breathe.

But they didn't retreat, gritting their teeth tightly, their hands holding their swords remaining steady.

Zhou Tianchen's brow furrowed slightly as he circulated the spiritual power within him, neutralizing most of the pressure.

Although he was at the Early Nascent Soul Stage, he practiced the Scripture of Alchemy, and his spiritual power was far purer than others of the same rank. Combined with the tempering from the Zhouwu Dynasty's imperial family's secret techniques, this level of pressure couldn't suppress him.

Lu Jinghan stood where he was, his figure unmoving.

He didn't even release his own aura to counter it; he just stood there calmly, as if the six Nascent Soul Stage pressures were nothing more than a gentle breeze.

Sect Master Yin Wuji's pupils constricted, a hint of unease rising in his heart.

This man! He's not simple!

He looked closely at Lu Jinghan, confirming that the other party was indeed only at the Early Nascent Soul Stage, with no trace of hidden cultivation.

But why was his pressure completely ineffective against this man?

“Senior Brother.”

Qin Muchuan spoke in a low voice, “These guys aren't easy to deal with.”

Lu Jinghan didn't look back, his gaze still fixed on Sect Master Yin Wuji, his tone as casual as if he were commenting on the weather.

“Just a Late-stage Nascent Soul. Step back.”

Qin Muchuan was stunned, Su Fuguang was also stunned, and even Zhou Tianchen couldn't help but glance at Lu Jinghan.

He said it as if the Late-stage Nascent Soul was some insignificant minor character.

But they didn't hesitate, retreating several feet in unison, leaving the battlefield to Lu Jinghan.

Though the three of them were worried, they knew one thing clearly—if even their Senior Brother couldn't stop them, the three of them combined would be useless.

When Sect Master Yin Wuji heard the words “Just a Late-stage Nascent Soul,” his face immediately darkened.

He had run rampant among the younger generation in the Western Regions for years; when had he ever been so disregarded?

“Since you're looking for death, I'll fulfill your wish.”

Before his voice had even faded, he raised his hand and waved it, a palm print as black as ink bursting through the air, heading straight for Lu Jinghan's face.

Faint sounds of ghosts wailing and wolves howling came from within the palm print, filled with gloomy Yin Qi and a stench of blood.

The five people behind Sect Master Yin Wuji also attacked at the same time, five sharp techniques blasting toward Lu Jinghan from different directions.

The six of them attacked together, showing no mercy.

This was Sect Master Yin Wuji's consistent style—either don't act, or leave no survivors.