40: Chapter 40 Trap (Part 1)

"Deacon Chen, have you finished buying the items you needed?"

Sun Xuan was all smiles, his gaze involuntarily falling on the bulging Storage Pouch at the other's waist, feeling a wave of envy in his heart.

As a Family guard, how could his income compare to an Alchemist's? Not only did he have to risk his head, but in the eyes of the Family, he was merely a consumable.

Chen Fan naturally noticed the other's strange expression, but he merely smiled faintly and didn't say much.

He had always been wary of people like this; he didn't consider the other a good person.

With a slight sweep of his peripheral vision, he discovered that the guards on this flying boat were entirely new Cultivators, meaning they had just rotated in.

After finding nothing unusual, he slowly closed his eyes and sat cross-legged in meditation.

Once the number of people was sufficient, the flying boat slowly took off. After the Captain of the Guards infused it with a strand of magical power, it immediately let out a loud sound of breaking through the air.

Because Demonic Path Cultivators appeared from time to time, the flying boat did not follow its fixed route but instead took a detour halfway before finally heading toward the Qin Family.

Even so, Chen Fan dared not be careless and secretly released his spiritual sense to survey the surroundings.

At this moment, the sky was clear for ten thousand miles; the weather was excellent.

Just then, he suddenly noticed that Sun Xuan's expression was becoming increasingly strange, with both a sneer and hatred in his face.

"Could it be that he was discovered? Discovered that the child isn't his own?"

While thinking this, his expression changed; he discovered that there seemed to be movement further away.

Not far ahead was a remote mountain range; only by bypassing it could one reach the Qin Family directly, but his powerful spiritual sense discovered that this place was not simple.

"Captain of the Guards, retreat immediately." Chen Fan dared not harbor any wishful thinking and shouted.

Once these words were spoken, the group of Family Cultivators on the flying boat were suddenly startled and looked toward the front.

The Captain of the Guards did the same, immediately stopping the flying boat and appearing extremely cautious.

However, after looking carefully, he found only dense forest. A breeze blew past, making a "rustling" sound, and since there was nothing unusual, he slowly breathed a sigh of relief.

The route he was responsible for changed every day; if he retreated now, he estimated he would have to return to the Qin Family tomorrow.

However, constrained by the fact that the other was a Deacon of the Alchemy Hall, he said in a gentle tone: "Deacon Chen, there are no Demonic Path Cultivators ahead. Aren't you being a bit overly suspicious?"

Sun Xuan sneered coldly: "We have guarded this route many times; even if Demonic Path Cultivators appear, what is there to fear? Alchemist Chen is a bit too timid."

Once these words were spoken, the Cultivators on the flying boat let out a light laugh.

But Chen Fan became increasingly uneasy and shouted sternly: "Captain of the Guards, there is no time left, retreat quickly."

Just as he finished saying this, a deep voice rang out from all around: "Hahaha, interesting, to actually be discovered."

A flash of light appeared in the depths of the dense forest, and a black-clad Demonic Path Cultivator appeared before them, stepping on a flying boat.

His aura was heavy; he seemed to be an old man, stooped over and sneering incessantly.

"Qi Refining Level 11?" The Captain of the Guards frowned, sensing that something was wrong, and immediately turned the flying boat around.

However, a cold laugh also came from behind; three formidable Demonic Path Cultivators blocked the way.

"Sun Xuan, you lead the clansmen to carve a bloody path out; the remaining Cultivators will follow me to engage the enemy."

The Captain of the Guards slapped his Storage Pouch, summoned a Medium Grade Magical Artifact, and led several Family guards toward the old Demonic Path Cultivator.

For a moment, the scene was extremely chaotic.

"Hmph, overestimating your capabilities."

The old Demonic Path Cultivator slapped his Storage Pouch and summoned a strange soul banner.

With a slight tap, the surrounding spiritual power began to fluctuate, and waves of black mist dispersed from it.

Then, countless wandering souls shrieked as they rushed out, their shrill sounds lingering all around.

The Captain of the Guards and the others were quickly trapped within it, struggling to fight, constantly summoning Magical Artifacts and Talismans to attack all around.

And the guards led by Sun Xuan were similarly vulnerable.

In just one exchange, two clansmen were decapitated, and the remaining Cultivators were barely resisting.

Sun Xuan, however, did not seem to be exerting any effort, instead focusing more of his attention on Chen Fan.

Chen Fan was greatly shocked; he had not expected the guard team to be so vulnerable. Especially after noticing Sun Xuan's strange movements, he immediately said to the other clansmen on the flying boat: "This place is not suitable for a long stay, let's retreat."

However, once these words were spoken, several Qin Family Cultivators looked at each other; they dared not entrust their lives to an outsider Alchemist.

Sun Xuan sneered coldly, looked at the three Demonic Path Cultivators, and said slowly: "Three Fellow Daoists, this person is the Family Head's Alchemy Deacon. There are quite a few good things in his Storage Pouch; do not let him go."

Upon hearing this, a Qin Family Cultivator behind him frowned, but by the time he reacted, he saw a large hole had already been pierced through his chest.

The Qin Family Cultivators suddenly realized that someone among the guards had betrayed them and immediately scattered to flee.

Chen Fan immediately sensed that things were bad; he stepped on his Flying Sword and flew headlong into the mountains.

"Fellow Daoist Sun, rest assured, not a single one will escape today." One of the tall Cultivators smiled faintly and continued to swing the ghost-head broadsword in his hand, hacking and killing incessantly.

After killing three people in succession, he led one Cultivator and chased directly toward the mountains.

Seeing that his identity was exposed, Sun Xuan no longer held back; he continuously cast incantations to control his Flying Sword, slaughtering the remaining clansmen.

Over the years, he had suffered quite a bit of frustration in the Qin Family. Not long ago, he discovered that cooperating with Demonic Path Cultivators yielded great benefits, so he secretly revealed the route.

This led to today's ambush, and right now, his expression was even more excited; he really wanted to see how Chen Fan would die a miserable death.

In the depths of the dense forest, Chen Fan's expression was grave; he knew that today he had fallen into a trap.

Especially that old man at Qi Refining Level 11; his strength was even more formidable.

Finding a place to hide, he quickly applied an Invisibility Talisman to his body.

Not long after, rustling sounds reached his ears.

"Only two people followed?" Chen Fan slowly breathed a sigh of relief.

The leading Thin Tall Cultivator was at Qi Refining Level 10, with a thick aura and a face full of scars, clearly battle-hardened, while the fat Cultivator behind him was only at Qi Refining Level 9.

"Kid, you can't escape."

After searching to no avail, the Thin Tall Cultivator slapped his Storage Pouch and summoned three black skulls.

His hands continuously formed incantations, and he muttered words; before long, hundreds of phantom skulls dispersed.

He waved his long sleeves, and they quickly headed in all directions of the forest.

Chen Fan's face turned slightly pale; he could clearly sense that these skulls were strange.

Sure enough, one of them suddenly exploded inexplicably not far from him.

"Hahaha, found you."

The Thin Tall Cultivator's eyes lit up; he waved his hand, and the ghost-head broadsword emitted a faint cyan glow.

Chen Fan was greatly shocked at the sight.

He applied an Evasion Talisman and left at high speed.

"Bang!"

The ghost-head broadsword descended like a flash of lightning, and the rock behind him shattered with a bang.

"You really are an Alchemist; your combat experience is mediocre. It looks like I'm going to make a fortune today."

The Thin Tall Cultivator looked disdainful, his gaze fixed on the bulging Storage Pouch at Chen Fan's waist, appearing extremely excited.