Until she saw Zhou Changwang taking another detour, and just happened to have a cultivator traveling with them, who, without hesitation, continued to charge forward.
Thud!
Then, just after he rushed out more than ten yards, a sharp arrow suddenly pierced through the sky, directly hitting his chest, completely penetrating it.
"Ah..."
A scream had barely escaped when a martial artist suddenly erupted from the grass, sweeping with a blade.
The cultivator’s head flew off entirely.
Independent cultivators couldn’t afford to slap a body-protecting talisman on themselves at all tis.
Without defenses, a sneak attack was lethal.
Qian Xiaoyue’s face was deathly pale.
This was too fast, too sudden.
She never imagined that not far away, there was an ambush, attacking passing cultivators.
If she hadn’t followed Zhou Changwang on the detour, would the person pierced by an arrow and beheaded have been her?
But how did Zhou Changwang predict the ambush ahead?
Zhou Changwang also noticed the situation not far away, his expression slightly changed.
He certainly didn’t know there was an ambush ahead.
It was just under the Derivation Technique that he sensed a faint red light flashing in that direction, so he instinctively changed his course.
Unexpectedly, there was indeed an ambush targeting passing cultivators.
"It seems the ’Derivation Technique’ is quite useful, at least in terms of safety, it’s much better than others," Zhou Changwang thought to himself, his steps unwavering; he was too familiar with this path, having walked it back and forth almost every day.
Sure enough, it wasn’t long before he saw that familiar plot of land ahead.
It was precisely where his Spirit Field was located.
And clearly, many others shared his thoughts. From afar, he saw several familiar figures, all originally Spirit Farrs from the foot of Changling Mountain.
Most of them had brought their families here to seek refuge.
"Changwang, you’re here too, and... you have a companion? That’s not fair, you didn’t even notify us,"
Just as Zhou Changwang approached, a little old man hurriedly stepped forward, eyes constantly glancing behind him.
This little old man was Old Xu.
He had been in the marketplace for decades and was very alert.
Having long noticed sothing amiss in the marketplace, as soon as trouble erupted, he gathered his family and fled to the outskirts of the marketplace. Seeing more familiar Spirit Farrs, he relaxed a lot.
"This is my neighbor, Fellow Daoist Qian, an Alchemy Apprentice from the Hexagonal Pavilion,"
Zhou Changwang also breathed a sigh of relief at this ti, introducing her casually.
A crowd of people indeed provides a sense of security. Even though most present were Spirit Farrs, not very strong, so many gathered together, they wouldn’t fear even an average Tribulation Cultivator.
"An Alchemy Apprentice? That’s great, much higher status than us Spirit Farrs..."
Old Xu imdiately showed respect, eyes turning as if scheming but still looked at Zhou Changwang, asking, "Where’s your father? Why isn’t he with you?"
"He has returned to the mundane world."
Zhou Changwang explained.
"That’s good.
This ti was so sudden, who knows what the final outco will be?
Luckily, everyone is acquainted here. The Zhao Brothers, seeing we are Spirit Farrs from the foot of Changling Mountain, were willing to offer us a side room to settle in. With them around, safety is less of a concern... Oh, this is my grandson Xu Jiang, with a Three-Attribute Spirit Root of gold, wood, and fire, just starting to lay the foundation but will soon break through to Qi Refining First Level. Fellow Daoist Qian, I heard that for alchemy, a Fire Attribute Spirit Root is required. My grandson has good talent, you have a higher status and broader knowledge, could you help check if he has any talent in this aspect?"
Old Xu rambled, his gaze landing on Qian Xiaoyue, quickly pulling his grandson over for an introduction, clearly hoping to introduce his grandson into the Hexagonal Pavilion through Qian Xiaoyue.
"I’m just an Alchemy Apprentice."
Qian Xiaoyue spoke coldly.
Although she usually seed soft and gentle, she was decisive and ignored the matter entirely.
Zhou Changwang also glanced at his grandson, only twelve or thirteen years old, and when looking at them, he showed so indifference, only changing slightly upon hearing that Qian Xiaoyue was an Alchemy Apprentice.
But upon hearing the refusal, he changed his expression, snorted coldly, and said disdainfully, "Grandpa, I’m going to join the Qingyuan Sect in the future."
"Yes, yes, but having a skill on hand can give you an advantage when you compete for entry into the sect later,"
Xu Fugui urged.
Zhou Changwang smiled lightly and then, at another fellow Spirit Farr’s invitation, headed towards the side room of the Zhao Brothers.
They had been on the road and certainly needed a place to rest.
As for Old Xu’s grandson, he was rely a pampered child, whom Zhou Changwang didn’t care about.
"Old Xu spoils his grandson too much.
This will probably lead to unexpected losses in the future."
The one inviting Zhou Changwang was Old He, He Youlian, whose spouse worked at Lin’s Tavern. Zhou Changwang had previously asked Old Xu to inquire about Lin’s Tavern purchasing Spirit Insects, not only because he had little connection with Old He and his Spirit Field was far away but also because Old Xu was a neighbor and more familiar with He Youlian.
Things ultimately ended up with Old Xu, and Zhou Changwang didn’t pursue it further.
Now observing his attitude, it was uncertain if he was genuinely magnanimous or simply unaware of the situation.
"Originally, we Spirit Farrs have been anxious, didn’t expect such events to occur again.
The world is really hard,"
He Youlian spoke while leading the way.
"What do you an?"
Zhou Changwang was stunned.
"You don’t know.
Since the autumn harvest, at least five Spirit Farrs have died just in the foot of Changling Mountain.
Two died outside, so it’s hard to tell.
But three died in their own hos.
We suspect it’s done by soone familiar."
He Youlian explained.
"Who died? Soone familiar? Which familiar person?"
Zhou Changwang furrowed his brows.
Qian Xiaoyue also looked curious.
"Old Jiang, Zhang Fan, and Xu Zhong, all three died in their hos.
You know our houses on the outskirts have high rent but offer array protection, making them hard to access or break into.
Yet they’re all dead. If it’s not done by soone familiar, who else?
By the way, do you rember the rice thief from a while back?
I suspect the one who killed them might be that rice thief.
It’s just a pity that when Old Xu and the others kept night vigil before, they didn’t capture him; otherwise, Old Jiang and the others might not have died..."
He Youlian spoke earnestly.
Zhou Changwang nodded, suddenly recalling Wang Chang he encountered so ti ago.
It seed highly likely to be him.
After all, if Wang Chang targeted him, he might have targeted others.
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