Chapter 260: Chapter 260: The Unscrupulous Lü Yang

Suo Huan gazed at Master Miaoyin, a thoughtful look on his face. Then, with a mere thought, he dispelled the Forbidden Heaven and Earth, setting her free.

“Suo Huan! What on earth are you trying to do!”

The moment she was free, Master Miaoyin instinctively put distance between herself and Suo Huan. She watched him warily, yet her voice was defiant. “You can’t kill me!”

She and Suo Huan had signed a Magic Contract that prevented them from harming one another. She had gone to great lengths to obtain it. The contract’s binding force was exceptionally strong, and she was confident Suo Huan couldn’t escape it. If he truly tried to kill her, his own Mana would surely backlash, and he would end up dying with her!

“You misunderstand, Fellow Daoist.”

Seeing her reaction, Suo Huan offered a gentle smile and spoke softly, “How could I be the type to kill wantonly? It’s just… there are certain matters that require your help, for which I must apologize…”

As he spoke, his gaze grew increasingly sinister.

Master Miaoyin looked completely baffled. Suo Huan had just met with people from the Pure Land and the Dao Court, but he had shielded the encounters from her Divine Sense, leaving her in the dark.

But who could really know for sure?

After all, Master Miaoyin had been present. Even though Suo Huan had blocked her Divine Sense, how could he be certain she didn’t possess some other secret method to eavesdrop on the details?

’Best to eliminate her just in case.’

As the thought crossed Suo Huan’s mind, a murderous intent flickered within him, yet his expression grew even warmer, even taking on a hint of sincere apology.

“But let’s return to the matter at hand. Didn’t you want my help with your tribulation, Fellow Daoist?”

“…You’re still willing to help me?”

Master Miaoyin was completely thrown off by Suo Huan. Why attack her the moment he was free, only to then offer his help?

“Of course I’m willing.”

Suo Huan nodded earnestly, intentionally putting on a flirtatious expression. “Of course. After all, a peerless beauty like you, Fellow Daoist… I must admit I’m quite taken…”

’Oh! So that’s it! He’s just after my body!’

Suddenly, Suo Huan’s behavior made perfect sense to Master Miaoyin. She had always been confident in her beauty, and a smile crept onto her face.

“To tell you the truth, Fellow Daoist Suo Huan, your Cultivation is profound, and I, too, hold you in high esteem. I would be willing to discuss the Dao with you someday…”

At her words, Suo Huan put on a triumphant expression while lowering his eyelids to conceal the cold glint in his eyes.

’Foolish woman!’

’Even though I can’t kill her, I don’t actually have to lift a finger. I just need to do nothing, and this woman will inevitably die at the hands of that Yuan Tu from the Saint Sect!’

Suo Huan had done his research on Lü Yang.

In his opinion, this Master Yuan Tu was not only prodigiously talented but also possessed formidable methods. He was certainly not someone Master Miaoyin could deal with.

Master Miaoyin actually understood this herself, which was why she had sought outside help from Suo Huan. What she didn’t know was that Suo Huan was merely using her and now had no intention of wading into these muddy waters. After all, he needed to leverage the Saint Sect’s influence. How could he possibly kill one of their rising stars?

At this thought, Suo Huan immediately smiled and said:

“There’s no time to waste. My lady, please contact him at once. Summon that Yuan Tu here, and I will slay him as quickly as possible. That will leave us with much more time to… discuss the Dao.”

“Not so fast~,” Master Miaoyin purred. “The Void Celestial Mirror is still in your hands, Fellow Daoist. Shouldn’t it be returned to its rightful owner?”

Master Miaoyin’s gaze was captivating as she stared intently at Suo Huan. Seeing that he played no tricks and obediently returned the Enchanted Mirror, she finally relaxed.

Then, she began to set up an Array.

Soon, the Enchanted Mirror glowed with a Splendid Light. The image of a dark Quiet Chamber gradually materialized on its surface. A tall, straight-backed figure sat there, shrouded in shadow.

“Fellow Daoist Yuan Tu.”

Master Miaoyin called out softly, once again adopting the fragile and helpless demeanor she had shown Lü Yang before. “Where are you now? Have you escaped the Outer Realm’s pursuit?”

“Thank you for your concern, my lady.”

Lü Yang opened his eyes and offered a calm smile. “I am unharmed.”

“Oh?”

Hearing this, Master Miaoyin actually looked surprised. She was only able to conceal herself because she was relatively familiar with the Ten Thousand Martial Realm.

And yet, even though this was clearly Lü Yang’s first visit, he had not only avoided the killing intent of the Ten Thousand Martial Realm, but from what she’d gathered since emerging from her seclusion, he seemed to have stirred up quite a storm here. With such skill and capability, Master Miaoyin could understand why Minor Metal had held him in such high regard.

’A pity. For the sake of my Dao, he must die!’

At this thought, a seductive smile graced Master Miaoyin’s face as she cooed, “Since you’re safe, Yuan Tu, why don’t we rendezvous?”

“If we team up, our Qi Collection will be much more efficient.”

Master Miaoyin felt her reasoning was perfectly sound.

They had separated earlier because of the Heaven and Earth’s Killing Intent, fearing one would drag the other down. Now they could reunite because both had ways to hide themselves, and teaming up would be more efficient.

Sure enough, Lü Yang looked tempted. “Really?”

Then, enunciating each word with great seriousness, Lü Yang said, “I can’t even find where you are, my lady. Why don’t you give me your location?”

“Of course, of course.”

Master Miaoyin nodded eagerly. She recorded her location with her Divine Sense and sent it over using the Void Celestial Mirror. “I’ll wait for you here, Fellow Daoist.”

“…Rest assured, I will be there within three days.”

The voice faded, and the Splendid Light from the Enchanted Mirror died out.

Master Miaoyin then turned to Suo Huan beside her and smiled. “All is in place. Fellow Daoist, would you like to set up another Trapping Array here?”

Suo Huan gave Master Miaoyin a long, hard look, then simply shook his head without a word.

He had nothing to say to a dead woman.

That’s right. In Suo Huan’s eyes, Master Miaoyin was already a dead woman. He didn’t know what method Lü Yang would use, but his reaction was obviously off.

’If a Saint Sect Zhenren genuinely wanted to join forces, he would never react like this. Just giving an address and having one person wait for the other? Is he not afraid of an ambush? I can forgive that foolish woman Miaoyin for not knowing better, but how could the famous Lü Yang be so ignorant? He must have something else planned!’

At this thought, he glanced at Master Miaoyin again.

’This woman has had it too easy. She became Minor Metal’s Dao Companion and never had to scheme. Now that Minor Metal is gone, her true, incompetent self is on full display.’

「Meanwhile, in the city nearest to the mountain forest where Suo Huan and Master Miaoyin were located.」

Inside the City Lord’s Mansion, Lü Yang descended in a streak of Flying Light. He looked at the burly man standing beside him with a reverent expression—it was none other than the retired Martial Soldier from the village.

But he was no longer a Martial Soldier.

His Spiritual Essence was abundant, his muscles bulged, and his surging blood and qi transformed into a rainbow-colored light that shot toward the sky, resonating with a Life Star in the firmament above.

Commander-in-Chief

This was his new Life Star, which he had obtained by killing his old superior—the one who took his bribe but never delivered. He was now a completely different man.

One could only imagine the reverence he felt for Lü Yang, the man who had changed his entire life.

Thus, the moment Lü Yang appeared, the burly man dropped to his knees without a second thought, bowing low in a grand gesture. His voice boomed, “Chen Anmin greets the Immortal Master!”

“Rise. There’s no need to kneel.”

“Are the troops assembled?”

Lü Yang waved his hand dismissively. The whole reason he had spread the Qi-eating Insect Eggs and the Qi Collection Technique, going to all this trouble to create such a grand spectacle, was for this very moment.

The burly man replied at once, “Reporting to the Immortal Master, they are on their way. Thirty thousand men in total—the entire elite force of the Rebel Army. They were the ones who consumed the most before. Their Life Stars are all uniformly Elite Soldiers, and they’ve all been equipped with armor and weapons captured from the Official Army.”

“Only thirty thousand?” Lü Yang frowned.

“More are on the way. They aren’t as elite as this force and their equipment is poorer, but they are all Martial Soldiers. Over a hundred thousand of them, arriving in waves.”

“Good. You’ve done well.”

Lü Yang nodded, then took out a map. He found the location Master Miaoyin had sent him and drew a circle around the area with a pen.

“Relay my order. The entire army moves out.”

Not even Suo Huan could have imagined that Lü Yang would be so completely without honor, that he would directly side with the locals of the Ten Thousand Martial Realm and act as a guide just to kill Master Miaoyin!

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