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Picking up the inscription slowly brought a certain sense of security to Yan Xiaobao. Although they didn’t cover the entire outskirts of the forest, they should still trap intruders, as the inscriptions spread randomly and couldn’t be seen by the naked eye.
While Yan Xiaobao indeed felt a degree of safety from these inscriptions, he still spent a bit of ti every hour using his close affinity with the earth to scout the area. Yet no matter how much he inspected, there was nothing out of the ordinary.
One day passed, then another, and soon the week was nearly over. During this ti, Deng Wu was attacked by his own emotions, questioning why he resembled his father so much.
"Stop! Stop it!" Deng Wu finally shouted as he tried to rid himself of the lingering thoughts that clung to him like vines. No matter how hard he worked to peel them away, nothing changed.
Seeking help, Deng Wu felt his heart sink, as Wang Julong and Yan Xiaobao had turned their attention elsewhere, completely ignoring him. In fact, both seed to avoid even making eye contact with this pitiable young man.
Yan Xiaobao looked away, as he knew Deng Wu wished to conceal his secrets. The white-haired boy understood why. While Deng Wu gained so assistance from Little Dragon, the soul of the holy beast didn’t reside in the dark-haired youth’s body but was instead sealed within a small statue easily stolen.
Out of respect for Deng Wu’s need for silence, Yan Xiaobao made every effort to overlook him. But as he was doing so, a sudden tremor coursed through the ground. Instantly serious, his eyes sharpened as he rged with the earth, allowing his lower body to be enveloped in soil.
As Yan Xiaobao fused with the earth, a surge of power poured forth—from himself, his earth fire, and external energies—as he sensed an imnse concentration of Earth Essence.
Seated in a ditative position, Yan Xiaobao let his spirit projection break free and ld with the soil, floating outward to the edges he controlled. Those edges where the City Lord and his chosen n now tread.
The City Lord brought over a dozen guards, clad in red uniforms. Each seed to hold rankings as practitioners.
Behind the City Lord were four elders. Hesitation hung over the five figures like a dark cloud as worry etched itself clear on their faces.
Through the earth’s connection, Hui Yue observed everything. Everything sensed by the earth was partially sensed by Yan Xiaobao. Truly one with the land, his control over it grew more proficient by the second.
Watching the n wandering through the woods, those nearing Yan Xiaobao’s physical body suddenly felt an inexplicable unease. Deciding quickly, Yan Xiaobao acted. He had already warned the City Lord, and if the man disregarded his warnings, it was no longer the white-haired youth’s concern.
Spread out in search of any signs or clues, the n moving through the forest fell into silence. Even the songs of birds ceased to echo.
A sharp, blood-curdling scream shattered the stillness, freezing every man in his tracks before they rushed toward the source of the cry.
When they arrived, a chilling scene awaited them. A gaping hole had ford in the earth—a pit at least four ters deep—its bottom-most two ters filled with nacing, jagged Earthen Spears.
But only three n were able to witness the pit. These three imdiately agreed to retreat, fearing more traps could erge at any mont.
Faces pale, the guards began to back away, only to be t by a tall earth wall crashing against them.
The once-quiet forest abruptly roared to life as three more n t their doom within its depths.
Standing outside, the City Lord’s grave expression grew even darker as the scent of blood wafted from the forest. The mont the tallic tang hit the air, many cultivators began fleeing out of the woods.
Unfortunately, the City Lord wasn’t satisfied with this course of action. Brandishing his sword, he forced the n back into the grasp of the dense woodland.
Watching the City Lord’s grim deanor, Yan Xiaobao quickly withdrew his consciousness from the soil and returned to his physical body. Without alerting anyone to his specific location, Yan Xiaobao leaped from the open clearing, charging toward the intruders’ positions.
Though Yan Xiaobao didn’t share his intentions with his companions, they were wholly aware of his urgency. Deng Wu imdiately rose from his spot, his gaze fixed on the opportunity to escape the others.
"I’m sorry, but he’ll need ," Deng Wu called over his shoulder, rushing toward the direction in which Yan Xiaobao had disappeared.
Watching Yan Xiaobao and Deng Wu rush off, Wang Julong did nothing but sigh as her attention returned to the seeds she had been observing earlier. Devoted to plants and healing, Wang Julong recognized that her abilities could entrap intruders, but she also knew they were rely practitioners ranked lower than the Master level. For the elders, anything beyond Master Rank remained out of reach.
Yan Xiaobao may have shared their rank, but his combat power vastly outstripped theirs. He always refined the highest quality spiritual energy and possessed a Spirit Sea brimming with strength. His earth and fire affinity rivaled that of a Duke, and his tal affinity undoubtedly matched the standard of a Master.
Aware no cultivation techniques had survived at Cave’s End, Wang Julong reflected on how the elders and City Lord—despite holding similar ranks—dwelt at the very lowest limits of expectations. Even before Hui Yu reached the Master level himself, he’d likely overpower them.
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