Chapter 264 The Ambush

"That's... a Fallen One!"

Someone exclaimed in terror, their voice trembling slightly.

With a flash of light, three figures appeared between the two sides, and the dense power of heavenly punishment instantly spread.

The lost ones, led by Ji Changlin, instinctively retreated several steps, looking forward with gloomy expressions, their gaze falling on the figures emanating deathly aura and radiating manic killing intent.

No matter how they speculated, they never expected that these two outsiders would be able to bring the Fallen Ones out of the inner city!

"Go!"

Ji Yuan let out a low roar, simultaneously scanning the crowd and observing their movements.

The next moment, he and Lin Yubai transformed into streaks of lightning, vanishing instantly from their positions. In a few flashes, they were already tens of feet away.

Some people wanted to pursue them, but amidst the angry shouts, they could only stop, fearing being caught in the heavenly punishment power emanating from the three Fallen Ones, and repeatedly dodging their attacks.

Tens of feet away, Ji Yuan watched thoughtfully, his suspicions confirmed. He then turned and left with Lin Yubai, their figures completely disappearing from the scene.

More than two hours later, they finally appeared in a ruin, following the same route they had taken when they first entered Xuanhuang City.

After a vigilant scan of their surroundings, the two hurried on their way, intending to leave this place via the original path.

Compared to the situation inside the city, Ji Yuan was more willing to take some risks in the mist outside the city than to stay in this place any longer.

At least until he possessed sufficient strength, he did not want to deal with these lost ones, let alone the Fallen Ones.

Although the opponents lacked cultivation and realms, their physiques were as sturdy as magic artifacts. And this was not just a few individuals, but all of them possessed such peculiar characteristics.

Their robust bodies not only brought immense strength but also a near-invincible ability to withstand attacks.

At least with their current cultivation, unless they attacked with full force, it would be difficult to damage the physiques of the lost ones. And if they were to go all out, they themselves could not hold on for long.

Ji Yuan and Lin Yubai had no idea how many lost ones there were in Xuanhuang City, or if they were all like those in Fushengtang and Lunhuidian. Their current priority was to find a way to leave this place.

Fortunately, with the artifact of a sage in hand, their chances of breaking through the mist outside the city had greatly increased.

"I now understand why the elders in our sect, despite discovering this place, did not bring us in."

Lin Yubai suddenly spoke, his tone filled with a touch of emotion.

Hearing this, Ji Yuan nodded. He had some doubts earlier, but now he had a clearer idea.

Thinking back, the elders of Jiuxuan Sect must have entered this place before, perhaps even made contact with these lost ones. Only then could it explain why they encountered people from Lunhuidian as soon as they entered Xuanhuang City.

Even later, lost ones from Fushengtang like Ji Wenwen appeared, and even Ji Changlin and his group showed no surprise upon seeing them.

This was not just because outsiders occasionally entered over the millennia, but also because in recent times, outsiders had already made contact with them.

"The power of heavenly punishment in the inner city is likely a key reason as well!"

Ji Yuan said in a deep voice.

That dense power of heavenly punishment was enough to make cultivators in the Three Realms hesitate. Without means of resistance, no one would rashly linger here for long, fearing that even a trace of it would infect them.

This power, while not causing them immediate harm—being stripped away by the Xuan Tian Shi Ling Pagoda and even serving as nourishment for Lin Yubai's natal magic weapon—was a different story for other cultivators. If their own Dao foundations were tainted, it could severely impact their future path.

"Be careful!"

Ji Yuan suddenly shouted, and the small pagoda held in his palm immediately shot beams of light in all directions.

In the next instant, a deafening roar sounded as black shadows streaked from afar, stirring up a gust of wind, followed by expanding rings of airwaves.

In just a breath or two, a black figure appeared before them. Amidst dense, dazzling light, a thunderous explosion resounded.

RUMBLE!!

Violent airwaves erupted. Enveloped in a glow, Ji Yuan was instantly sent flying backward, his body crashing heavily into the wreckage of collapsed houses!

"You're seeking death!"

Lin Yubai's body erupted with lightning. He swept his long staff horizontally, unleashing countless bolts of thunder.

Within a radius of several feet around him, the area was instantly filled with a myriad of lightning, accompanied by fierce thunderous roars. Countless broken bricks and beams disintegrated amidst the lightning.

BANG!!!

As the staff, carrying infinite thunder, struck down, the black figure was sent flying backward. With a metallic clang, surging airwaves swept out, lifting countless broken stones and bricks into the sky!

However, a blow that could heavily injure a second-realm cultivator, or even contend with a third-realm one, only sent the opponent back several feet. Then, the figure let out a series of explosive sounds, impossibly dissipating all its power!

"Ji Changlin!"

Lin Yubai's brow twitched. He hadn't expected the one blocking their path to be this man!

They had anticipated that their escape route would be intercepted, but they hadn't expected their assailant to be Ji Changlin, who was supposed to be entangled with the three Fallen Ones.

His expression suddenly shifted. In his peripheral vision, several more figures were charging towards them—clearly the lost ones, including Ji Wenwen!

In a moment, a chill rose from his heart. Without a second thought, Lin Yubai transformed into a bolt of lightning, vanishing instantly from his original position and reappearing several feet away in a single flash.

Almost the moment his body stabilized, a tremendous explosion occurred where he had stood—someone had descended from the sky, smashing a hole two to three feet deep!

As the dust gradually dispersed, an old man with a youthful face and white hair slowly emerged, expressionless, casually dusting off his clothes.

"Why are you two little friends in such a hurry?"

The old man's voice was filled with coldness.

Ten feet away, Ji Changlin strode over, his voice laced with fierce killing intent: "Hand over the sage's artifact, and I will let you leave!" httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět

Hearing this, Lin Yubai sneered inwardly. How could he possibly believe this man?

If they didn't hand over the sheathed dagger, the other party would still be hesitant, always harboring concerns, fearing they might destroy the artifact.

Glancing around, he let out a deep breath. Though his heart was heavy, he felt no fear.

He had experienced far more dangerous situations. His state of mind remained undisturbed.

"If you want to fight, then fight! Why all the nonsense!"

Lin Yubai laughed, and lightning surged from his body.

He took a step forward, instantly appearing before the old man. His long staff swept out, unleashing countless bolts of thunder in an instant!

Seeing this, the old man shook his head slightly and then extended a palm, directly grasping the sweeping staff!

RUMBLE!!!

Furious thunder exploded. The ground within a ten-foot radius suddenly sank, cracks rapidly spread, and surging magical power erupted!

"Let go!"

Lin Yubai roared, instantly shaking off the old man's hand. Then, his staff transformed into countless afterimages, smashing down ferociously.

However, facing such a fierce assault, the old man didn't even block. He simply stood there, allowing the heavy staff blows to fall upon him, each strike accompanied by a deafening roar!

"It's useless. My body is comparable to a magic artifact. Even with your third-realm cultivation, you cannot inflict any damage!"

The old man's voice rang out, tinged with arrogance.

In terms of physical resilience, even among the lost ones, he was considered outstanding. Except for a few individuals, at most, they were on par with him.

Indeed, no matter how Lin Yubai attacked, the old man, apart from his lower legs sinking into the ground, remained completely unharmed!

Each strike that landed on him seemed to only produce a deafening sound, and as he had claimed, it was impossible to damage such a physique in the slightest.

Just then, a sound of rushing wind came from behind. Lin Yubai immediately retracted his staff and swept it out horizontally.

CLANG!!!

With a metallic clang, airwaves surged in all directions, and a hand firmly grasped the vibrating staff!

"Had enough?"

Ji Changlin's voice was icy, killing intent flashing in his cloudy eyes.

He held the vibrating staff with one hand and raised the other high, imbuing it with surging spiritual energy before smashing it forward heavily.

If this punch landed, even with Lin Yubai's cultivation, he would be severely injured, perhaps even lose half his life!

Yet, even then, his expression remained unchanged. A smile even played on his lips.

Instantly, beams of light descended from the sky, forming a thick layer that protected him.

BANG!!!

With a roar, the dazzling light was shattered into pieces, filling a radius of several feet with endless luminescence.

A suction force suddenly appeared, and countless specks of light shot upward, all disappearing into a seven-layered pagoda only a few inches tall, before transforming back into beams of light that cascaded down.

Behind Ji Changlin, a void suddenly blurred, and then Ji Yuan's figure appeared.

He tore off a talisman from his chest and then pressed his hand forward heavily. Streams of magical power surged out, rippling with a dense watery light.

At the same time, Lin Yubai withdrew the myriad lightning from his body, using pure magical power to break free from the old man's grasp. Then, under the dazzling light, he vanished between the two figures in a single flash.

In just a breath or two, he appeared several feet away, two light-body talismans affixed to his legs.

In an instant, Ji Changlin and the old man realized they had been tricked!

The other party had long anticipated that they would be intercepted, and had even devised countermeasures!

As expected, while the two were still processing this, heavy magical power surged forth like an endless tide. The rippling watery light entangled them, like streams of water, binding their limbs.

In the next moment, Ji Changlin and the old man's hearts leaped in alarm. No matter how they exerted their strength, they could not break free from the restraint!

The magical power, though only at the early stage of the Spirit Gathering realm, possessed an astonishing tenacity. Especially the watery light that bound their limbs, it prevented them from unleashing their full strength.

Every time they tried to exert force, they felt as if they were sinking in a quagmire, or submerged in a vast ocean, their full strength instantly reduced by more than half!

Suddenly, a whistling sound echoed from all around, and brilliant spiritual light flashed, instantly filling the surrounding area of two to three feet!

Ji Yuan's brow twitched. With a thought, the Xuan Tian Shi Ling Pagoda flew back, hovering above his head and casting down brilliant rays of light.

Within the dazzling radiance, a void appeared at the base of the pagoda, and a massive suction force immediately emerged.

BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!

Several streaks of spiritual energy shot out, fiercely striking the countless beams of light, causing them to flicker erratically, as if they would collapse at any moment!

But even though they appeared precarious, they did not truly collapse. Instead, under the flow of light, more than half of the spiritual energy streaks were torn apart, and then devoured by the potent spirit-devouring power.