The Shangguan family’s influence in this region was immense. Once Shangguan Min Da issued the kill order, the surrounding area was shaken. A massive manhunt for Ye Chu swept across the land, yet to everyone’s confusion, not a single trace of him was found.
Shangguan Min Da was furious. He dispatched even more cultivators to scour every corner, determined to dig three feet into the ground if necessary to find Ye Chu.
Tan Miaotong led the way. Just as she had said, this route was sparsely populated. They rarely encountered anyone along the path. Whenever a searching cultivator did stumble upon Ye Chu, he casually dealt with them.
“We’re getting very close to the Ancient Nightmare Forbidden Land now. You two must be extremely careful. Stay right behind me and don’t wander off. Otherwise, you might step into it without even realising. If we happen to trigger one of the expanding arrays of the forbidden land, that would be real trouble.” Tan Miaotong reminded Ye Chu and Ye Jingyun. “Entering the Ancient Nightmare Forbidden Land is both difficult and easy at the same time. As soon as you touch one of its arrays, you’ve entered. Yet some people search the entire world and still can’t find a way in.”
Seeing the solemn expression on Tan Miaotong’s beautiful face, Ye Chu and Ye Jingyun naturally became fully alert. They followed closely behind her as they continued forward. Once they crossed another hundred li, they would bypass the Shangguan family’s sphere of influence. After that, pursuing them would become far more difficult.
“You really did take this route!” Just as Ye Chu prepared to move on, several voices rang out. A group of cultivators appeared in front of them. At their head was a Primordial Spirit Realm cultivator.
“Quick! Go inform the young master!” The Primordial Spirit Realm cultivator shouted to his companions.
Ye Chu saw them and immediately shot forward, blocking their path of retreat. “All of you stay right here!”
Naturally, Ye Chu would not let them send word back. Power surged from his hand as he struck towards several of the cultivators. How could these few possibly be his match? They were instantly killed by Ye Chu.
The Primordial Spirit Realm cultivator’s expression changed drastically when he saw this. He hurriedly tried to flee. Ye Chu was briefly entangled by the other cultivators and could not pursue immediately. Just as Ye Chu erupted with power to chase after him, Ye Jingyun stepped in front of the fleeing man and stabbed fiercely towards him.
Ye Chu was surprised that Ye Jingyun would help him. After dealing with the remaining cultivators, his gaze fell on her. Ye Jingyun looked at Ye Chu and said, “I just don’t want trouble on the road. Don’t think I’m helping you!”
“…”
“Hurry up and go!” Tan Miaotong said to Ye Chu and Ye Jingyun. “Shangguan Min Da searched everywhere and couldn’t find you. He’s probably guessed we took this route. We need to move faster. If he’s figured it out, he’ll catch up soon.”
Ye Jingyun heard this and could not help saying to Ye Chu, “This is all trouble you caused. Otherwise, would we be in this situation?”
Tan Miaotong tugged at Ye Jingyun. “You can’t really blame Ye Chu. Shangguan Min Da knew I had arrived in the city. Sooner or later we would have clashed with him anyway. In a way, this is better. At least we’re moving fast.”
“Miaotong!” Ye Jingyun was somewhat displeased to see Tan Miaotong defending Ye Chu.
These words, however, made Ye Chu wink at Tan Miaotong. Seeing this, Tan Miaotong’s face flushed slightly. She turned her gaze away in embarrassment.
……
Ye Chu and Tan Miaotong moved at an incredible speed. Yet Shangguan Min Da still managed to catch up quickly. This was his territory after all. Tracking someone here was far too easy.
Sensing the sound of galloping horses approaching from behind, Ye Chu said to Ye Jingyun, “You take Miaotong and go ahead. I’ll cover your retreat.”
“Can you handle it?” Ye Jingyun stared at Ye Chu. She nearly spoke up about using the family treasure to force them back. But remembering they were near the Ancient Nightmare Forbidden Land, activating the family’s supreme treasure might attract the monsters from within. Ye Jingyun held back.
Ye Chu nodded. “I can still fight!”
The multicoloured-patterned murderous spider’s power left in Ye Chu’s body was running low. But if he unleashed it all at once, he could still fight several great cultivators. Ye Chu refused to believe the other side could bring many great cultivators to hunt him down.
Seeing Ye Chu’s confidence, Ye Jingyun finally nodded. She pulled Tan Miaotong and continued forward.
Tan Miaotong wanted to say something, but Ye Jingyun interrupted her. “Since he dares to do this, he must have some certainty. You know the founder’s weapon was brought back from this place. We can’t use it carelessly here—it might alarm the monsters of the forbidden land. Ye Chu can kill great cultivators. Compared to us, he’s better suited to hold them off.”
Tan Miaotong finally nodded. She reminded Ye Chu, “I’ll leave marks along the way. You must not go the wrong path. Don’t get entangled with them to the death.”
With Ye Chu’s nod, Tan Miaotong and Ye Jingyun hurried onward.
……
Ye Chu stood in place, hands behind his back, staring straight at the approaching cultivators. This time Shangguan Min Da had brought quite a number. A full hundred riders galloped towards him and instantly surrounded Ye Chu in the centre. The city lord of Black Jade City was among them. He looked at Ye Chu with a cold, sinister smile.
Ye Chu scanned the crowd. He did not see any other great cultivators. Only the old man standing beside Shangguan Min Da caught his attention. The old man’s eyes were cloudy, his appearance like withered wood. Yet even the city lord of Black Jade City stood respectfully behind him. Ye Chu knew this person was no ordinary figure.
“Ye Chu! We meet again!” Shangguan Min Da smiled brightly at Ye Chu. “This time, let’s see where you can run!”
“Young Master Shangguan really thinks highly of me. Spending so much manpower and resources just to kill me—I must be quite valuable,” Ye Chu said with a smile, showing no fear.
Shangguan Min Da said, “Anyone who dares get close to Miaotong must die! Moreover, you’ve deceived and toyed with me!”
Ye Chu was startled. “Don’t talk nonsense. If you’ve been toyed with by someone, that’s your own business. Don’t pin that crime on me. I can accept other accusations, but not this one. At most I toy with women. I swear I have no interest in men.”
Hearing Ye Chu’s words, Shangguan Min Da sneered. Then he turned to the old man beside him. “Elder, he’s yours now. Be careful. This fellow’s murderous qi is extremely terrifying. Shangguan Zhi died by his hand.”
The old man glanced at Shangguan Min Da and sighed softly. He did not want to act against Ye Chu. After all, a mysterious murderous spirit cultivator was best left unprovoked if possible. But Shangguan Min Da held a high position. He had no choice but to obey and kill this young man.
“Young master, rest assured!” The old man nodded and stepped forward. Terrifying power erupted from him. His aura surged, more than twice as strong as the city lord of Black Jade City.
Ye Chu’s expression changed slightly. Now he understood why Shangguan Min Da had not brought more cultivators.
Ye Chu glanced around. The city lord of Black Jade City now stood behind him and laughed coldly. “Don’t even think about escaping. This time we will kill you for sure. If we let you get away, how could we ever show our faces again?”