39: Chapter 39: Ambush!

The seventh day after Shi Jian emerged from seclusion.

Thirty li outside Hongtian City, in an abandoned hunter's shack, Zhou Sun crouched on a crossbeam with one hand on his blade...

His eyes were half-closed, as if he were dozing off.

Outside the shack, two figures landed one after the other.

The newcomers wore the gray cloth robes of ordinary Loose Cultivators and had plain faces; one was tall and thin, the other short and fat, looking completely unremarkable.

However, their cultivation levels were both at the seventh layer of Qi Refining.

This was already quite high among Loose Cultivators. The two moved with light steps, but their breathing was unsteady and they were panting, clearly having traveled a long distance.

The two entered the shack and looked around.

Seeing nothing unusual, they began to converse in low voices: "I've gathered clear information in the city. That Foundation Establishment bear demon of the Sun Clan seems to have entered seclusion after clearing the mountain five years ago and hasn't come out since."

"Really?"

"Absolutely certain. The Loose Cultivators in the city's market are all talking about it. I heard that since those Sun family members started supporting this bear demon, they can barely even afford the spirit tax and are penniless."

"I even saw a few Sun Clan Cultivators with my own eyes; every one of them was dressed simply, looking like Mortals. Hiding their heads and showing their tails like that, they must have a guilty conscience."

"This news is definitely correct!"

The short, fat Cultivator chuckled upon hearing this. "A sequestered Yao Beast, a few dozen Qi Refining ants, and a bunch of small fry in the city..."

"This deal is a sure thing!"

"Rest for a while, then go back and report to the two Seniors."

As the two spoke, they adjusted their breathing for a moment before quickly departing.

It wasn't until several hours later that Zhou Sun opened his eyes on the crossbeam. The corner of his mouth twitched slightly with a hint of mockery.

Penniless?

He received twenty catties of spirit rice and a bottle of Qi Condensation Powder every month. The Sun Clan supported twenty enforcers like him; did they call that penniless?

News that even the market's Loose Cultivators knew...

That was indeed something Sun Boan had intentionally spread recently. He had planned to use it as bait for a sting operation, and he hadn't expected the fish to actually dare to bite the hook!

Zhou Sun jumped down from the crossbeam, his figure quickly vanishing into the shadows as he sprinted toward Hongtian City...

Two hours later, the news reached Sun Boan's hands.

After reading Zhou Sun's message talisman, a cold sneer appeared on Sun Boan's face. He then turned to report to the Old Ancestor: the fish had taken the bait!

There really were people who weren't afraid of death!

...

A few days later, at the third quarter of the Hour of the Rat.

Hongtian City was shrouded in a thin mist. Several Sun Clan Guest Elders were on duty on the city walls, patrolling as usual, everything appearing as it always did.

Soon, in the dense forest to the south of the city.

A group of figures was already prepared. Once everything was ready, two streaks of spiritual light—one green and one red—swept toward Hongtian City!

Thirty to forty accompanying Loose Cultivators also rushed out together, charging straight for Hongtian City.

"Kill!"

A person appeared within the green spiritual light, looking to be in his early thirties with a sinister face, holding a jade-green Flying Sword.

This was one of the killers who had ambushed Lu Fangzhi, the Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivator: Wei Chen, at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment!

As the red spiritual light dissipated, it revealed a burly man with a full beard, his body wreathed in crimson spiritual power. He held a long spear, its tip still stained with dark brown blood.

This person was named Jiao Lei, the other Early Stage Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivator!

"Remember, once we're inside, first blockade the market. That's where the real profit is. Empty out everything valuable!"

"Don't talk so much nonsense. Get out of the way, I'll break the Formation!"

Jiao Lei laughed wildly, then flourished his spear. Spiritual energy condensed at the spear's tip, and he struck the city gate with a single thrust...

With just this one blow, the entire southern city gate instantly disintegrated!

Although the city defense Formation was activated, it was only a First-Tier High Grade Formation. How could it withstand the attack of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator?

When the Formation was broken and the city gate collapsed,

the group of Qi Refining Loose Cultivators swarmed in, heading straight for the market in the center of the city!

Just as they were feeling smug, thinking they had caught everyone off guard...

Boom!

A violent Demonic Qi erupted from the direction of the city's Main Peak, crushing down overwhelmingly without any regard for reason!

The group of Qi Refining Loose Cultivators, having just rushed into the city, were instantly pressed to their knees by this Demonic Qi. A few with low cultivation levels even bled from their seven orifices and fainted on the spot...

On the rooftops of the houses on both sides,

the Sun Clan Guest Elders appeared one after another, sealing off the path of retreat!

Zhou Sun stood on the eaves, his long blade already unsheathed. A flash of blade light fell, slaying two Qi Refining Loose Cultivators who were trying to flee.

"Sorry, this way is closed!"

Sun Ke Zheng led the Sun Clan members out from the other end, cutting off and surrounding the remaining Qi Refining small fry, blocking their path!

"Those who distinguish themselves today will be rewarded with Spirit Stones and a residence in the city!"

"For all participants, your benefits will be raised by one level!"

Seeing the many Cultivators surrounding them, Wei Chen's spine went cold. No matter how stupid he was, he knew they had fallen into a trap!

Just as he wanted to fly away on his sword, a black shadow descended from the sky in the next instant.

Shi Jian slowly stretched his body, his two-zhang-tall frame landing like a small mountain. His demonic prestige was majestic, stirring up a gust of wild wind!

He blocked the way of Wei Chen and Jiao Lei, their figures reflected in his vertical pupils:

"Fellow Daoists, why are you running?"

"Since you've come, aren't you going to leave a gift?"

Shi Jian grinned, his fangs glinting coldly under the moonlight.

Wei Chen and Jiao Lei exchanged a glance, their expressions changing drastically. However, as veterans who lived by the blade, despite their fear, their movements were not slow.

"Attack together!"

"Kill this demon and slaughter the city!"

Jiao Lei roared, his spear wrapped in fiery red spiritual power as it thrust straight for Shi Jian's throat...

Shi Jian tilted his head.

The spear tip grazed past his neck fur. The flames slid off the black fur without even singeing a single strand.

Shi Jian struck out with his right palm, delivering a simple slap.

There was no Spell reinforcement, no Divine Ability variations; he faced the enemy with nothing but pure, extreme Physical Body strength—breaking all techniques with absolute power!

Reacting, Jiao Lei crossed his arms in front of him and held his spear horizontally...

Crack.

The spear shaft instantly snapped into two pieces. Jiao Lei was also sent flying backwards, destroying several houses in succession before finally coming to a halt.

His eyes rolled back as he was embedded into a wall, coughing up a large amount of blood...

One palm.

A Foundation Establishment Early Stage Cultivator was sent flying by a single palm strike!

Seeing this scene, Wei Chen's scalp went numb. His jade-green Flying Sword transformed into twelve sword shadows, simultaneously stabbing at Shi Jian's eyes, nose, mouth, underbelly, and other vital spots!

Shi Jian didn't even bother to dodge, his demonic power surging.

Clang clang clang clang—

The twelve sword shadows struck the protective spiritual shield formed by the demonic power on his body, like iron swords hitting stone, sparks flying in all directions...

"How is this possible!"

Wei Chen cried out in shock. In the next moment, Shi Jian was right in front of him.

He desperately manipulated his sword to retreat, wanting to make one last struggle, but unfortunately, Shi Jian's claw had already slammed into his protective spiritual shield...

The spiritual light shattered, and Wei Chen's body was pinned to the ground by the bear paw.

Then, with a squeeze, his bones cracked inch by inch. Wei Chen's eyeballs were pressed out on the spot, and blood was squeezed from his body...

Like a mosquito, he was crushed to death while still alive!

On the other side.

Jiao Lei struggled to crawl out of the ruins. Just as he was about to flee, he saw Shi Jian charging at him again, raising a claw for another slap!

This palm struck Jiao Lei's waist, causing his whole body to double over like a shrimp. The sound of breaking bones was clearly audible...

Jiao Lei fell to the ground screaming, his Dantian pierced by a single claw tip from Shi Jian!

From the start of the fight to the end, less than a hundred breaths had passed.

Two Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivators—one dead and one crippled—had been ground into the dirt by a demonic bear, having no power to fight back at all...

Shi Jian looked down at Jiao Lei on the ground and asked:

"Who has Lu Fangzhi's Flying Sword?"

Jiao Lei's face was pale, his lips trembled, and his face was full of despair.

He could no longer feel his cultivation. His Meridians and Dantian were completely destroyed; he had clearly become a cripple with no possibility of further cultivation...

"Not talking?"

"Don't worry, I have plenty of patience." Shi Jian smiled amiably while gradually increasing the pressure of his paw...

Muffled sounds of bones cracking came from Jiao Lei's chest, the pain twisting his face.

Shi Jian wanted him to experience the feeling of being slowly crushed to death while alive, to make him understand the meaning of despair!