11: The true intentions are revealed when the map is unrolled; a turtle is caught in a jar.

Li Zhentian's heart skipped a beat, but he dared not let it show on his face. Today, he was going to gamble. He bet that although this Chu River had high cultivation, he was young, arrogant, and believed himself invincible. He gambled that Chu River would dare to barge into the Li Family's dragon's den alone.

As long as he dared to enter, with the three hundred elites lying in ambush and the Four Symbols Maze Formation—which cost a third of the Li Family's assets to set up—even if they couldn't kill him, they could trap him to death!

"It's ready! Of course, it's ready!" Li Zhentian hurriedly bowed, putting on an extremely fawning appearance. "Senior Chu, look, the family assets are simply too numerous. Ledgers, Land Deeds, Gold, Silver, and Jewels have filled our Li Family's storehouse to the brim. If we were to move them to your estate, I'm afraid it would take three days and nights. Therefore, I take the liberty of inviting you, Senior, to step inside the manor to personally inspect them, saving the trouble of going back and forth."

As he spoke, he stepped aside and made a "please" gesture, completely clearing the main path leading into the manor.

The path was paved with bluestone slabs, flanked by rockeries and flowing water, appearing quite peaceful. But in Chu River's eyes, the fluctuations of Spiritual Qi permeating the air and the Formation nodes hidden within the rockeries, walls, and underground were as clear as fireflies in the night.

This trap was a bit too rudimentary.

Chu River found it amusing.

Damn it, with this level of skill, they want to ambush someone at the Foundation Establishment Stage? Do they have some kind of misunderstanding about the Foundation Establishment Stage?

However, his face remained calm, showing no emotion.

"Lead the way."

Chu River indifferently spat out three words and lifted his foot to walk inside.

"Good! Good! Senior, this way please!"

Seeing Chu River actually enter alone without even a hint of hesitation, Li Zhentian was ecstatic!

Fool! What an ignorant fool who doesn't know the height of the heavens!

Do you really think the Foundation Establishment Stage is invincible? Today, I'll let you know just how deep the foundation of my century-old Li Family truly is!

He followed half a step behind Chu River, constantly introducing the scenery within the manor with an extremely humble attitude, as if he were truly a servant leading the way for his master.

The Li Family Elders following at the very back were also suppressing their excitement and Killing Intent, keeping their heads low so Chu River wouldn't see their distorted expressions.

Soon, the group arrived at the Li Family's Council Hall.

The hall was brightly lit, with a huge Round Table placed in the center, already covered with Delicacies from the Mountains and Seas, as well as Fine Wines.

"Senior Chu, you've had a long journey. I have prepared some simple wine to welcome you." Li Zhentian personally pulled out the chair at the head of the table. "This first cup is for me to apologize to you on behalf of my worthless son!"

As he spoke, he personally picked up a wine pot and was about to pour wine into the cup in front of Chu River.

Chu River raised his hand and lightly pressed down on the wine pot.

"No need."

His voice wasn't loud, yet it caused the temperature in the entire hall to drop several degrees.

Li Zhentian's hand froze in mid-air, and the smile on his face solidified.

"Senior... what is this?"

"I have no interest in drinking." Chu River leaned back against the chair, his finger lightly tapping the tabletop with a "thud, thud" sound. Each tap felt like it was striking the hearts of everyone in the Li Family. "I came here today to collect a debt."

He lifted his eyelids, his gaze sweeping across everyone present.

"All of the Li Family's assets, Land Deeds, Registers, Ledgers, as well as Gold, Silver, and Jewels."

"Where are the items?"

The dagger was revealed!

Li Zhentian knew he couldn't keep up the act any longer.

His expression instantly turned gloomy as he slowly straightened his body and set down the wine pot.

"Chu River, do you truly intend to drive us to extinction?" His voice became hoarse and cold. "My Li Family has already made such large concessions, why must you be so overbearing? Leave a path for others so we can meet again in the future. Do you not understand this principle?"

"With you?" Chu River laughed, his laughter filled with disdain. "Are you even worthy of 'meeting me again in the future'?"

"You!" Li Zhentian was choked by these words until his face turned red, and the Killing Intent in his eyes flashed explosively.

"It seems you don't plan to hand over the items." Chu River stopped tapping his finger on the table and stood up. "In that case, I'll take them myself."

"Take them? Hahahaha!" Li Zhentian suddenly burst into laughter as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world, his laughter filled with madness and malice.

"Chu River, oh Chu River, there was a path to Heaven but you wouldn't take it; there was no gate to Hell yet you barged in!"

"Do you really think my Li Family is a soft persimmon for you to squeeze as you please?"

"Today, since you've come, don't even think about leaving!"

He violently waved his hand and let out a hysterical roar.

"Do it! Activate the grand Formation!"

Boom—!

As his voice fell, the entire Li Family manor trembled violently!

Chu River only felt the scene before him change. The originally magnificent hall instantly vanished, replaced by a patch of gray, thick mist. From all directions came the sounds of ghosts wailing and wolves howling, and countless sharp traces of Killing Intent locked onto him from within the mist.

The Li Family Elders in the hall also revealed their sinister faces one by one. Weapons had appeared in their hands at some unknown point, and they stared at him with ferocious eyes, as if looking at prey about to be devoured.

"Chu River!"

Li Zhentian's voice came from all directions, carrying a sense of pleasure from having his revenge.

"This is the 'Four Symbols Maze Formation' that my Li Family spent a century of savings to have an expert set up! This Formation can confuse one's mind, disrupt the five senses, and even harness the Power of the Four Symbols to strangle! Never mind a mere kid who has just entered Foundation Establishment; even if a Cultivator at the Mid Foundation Establishment stage came, they wouldn't expect to escape easily!"

"Today, I will use your blood to honor the humiliation my son suffered! I will use your life to wash away the shame of my Li Family!"

Outside the thick mist, Li Zhentian looked at Chu River trapped in the Formation, his face full of a smug, sinister smile.

Li Zhenwu beside him also said excitedly, "Big brother is brilliant! This kid really fell for the trap! Once the Formation exhausts his Spiritual Qi, we'll swarm him and surely tear him into ten thousand pieces!"

"Pass down my order!" Li Zhentian waved his hand grandly, giving the final command to the guards hidden throughout the manor.

"All archers prepare! Indiscriminate volley! Turn him into a hedgehog for me!"

"Yes!"

With the command given, the dense sound of bowstrings vibrating rang out within the thick mist.

"Swish, swish, swish, swish—!"

Hundreds and thousands of sharp arrows flashing with cold light shot out from all directions, covering the sky as they blasted toward Chu River in the center of the Formation!