PDLP Chapter 43 Ambush
Chapter 43 Ambush
Mu Chunfeng knew that Qi Yunxiao must be hiding with Xin Ruyin. However, the Yuanwu Kingdom was vast and its markets were numerous. Blindly searching would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. There was only one way to lure him out on his own.
The next day, news gradually spread throughout the Tianxing Sect market: a thousand-year-old spiritual herb of exceptional quality would be auctioned off three days later.
This three-day window of opportunity was specially reserved by Mu Chunfeng for Qi Yunxiao.
He knew better than anyone that Qi Yunxiao had inadvertently exposed his array formation inheritance while trying to purchase a thousand-year-old spiritual herb, and had been hunted down by the Fu family ever since.
However, Xin Ruyin's Dragon Roar Body requires a thousand-year-old spiritual herb to sustain her life. Even if it means going through fire and water, Qi Yunxiao will definitely come to find her. It was for Xin Ruyin's chance of survival that he dared to risk his life to appear in the market, ultimately ending up being seriously injured by the Fu family cultivators and only seeing Xin Ruyin one last time on his deathbed.
For the past three days, Mu Chunfeng has been staying at the auction headquarters.
His act of putting the thousand-year-old spiritual herb up for auction had already made the auction house owner treat him as an honored guest. He also took the opportunity to instruct the owner that if anyone came to inquire about the thousand-year-old spiritual herb in advance, they must inform him immediately.
Whenever someone inquired, Mu Chunfeng would personally go to identify them. After several attempts, he finally met the person he was looking for—Qi Yunxiao—the day before the auction. As expected, Qi Yunxiao had come.
Even though Qi Yunxiao concealed his face with a black robe and suppressed his aura, Mu Chunfeng's divine sense, which far surpassed that of his peers, and his double pupils that could see through illusions, rendered that concealment useless. He saw through Qi Yunxiao's actions at a glance.
Having confirmed Qi Yunxiao's whereabouts, Mu Chunfeng entrusted the auction house with the disposal of the thousand-year-old spiritual herb. He only set aside two thousand spirit stones as a safety net beforehand. As for how high the final price would be, he didn't care at all and didn't inquire about it anymore.
Then Mu Chunfeng concealed his aura and silently followed Qi Yunxiao out of the market.
Although Qi Yunxiao was somewhat impulsive, he was extremely cautious in his actions. Once he left the market, he rode his mount at breakneck speed, taking a winding and circuitous route.
During the journey, Mu Chunfeng discovered that every so often, he would pause for a moment, seemingly to rest in place, but in reality, he would bury flags along the way, setting up warning signs and backup plans for escape.
No wonder he was able to escape from the encirclement of Core Formation cultivators; it was all thanks to his advance preparations.
About half an hour later, the two arrived one after the other outside a secluded valley. The valley was covered with lush bamboo, which rustled in the wind.
Just as Qi Yunxiao was about to step into the valley, a dark figure suddenly flashed out from the forest and blocked his way.
Qi Yunxiao's expression changed drastically, and his heart tightened. He assumed that the Fu family's pursuers had followed him to such a secluded place, and he immediately tried to crush the array talisman in his hand.
Before he could make a move, the man in black had already raised his hand and removed his mask, revealing Mu Chunfeng's handsome face. With a smile on his lips, he said, "Fellow Daoist Qi, it's been a long time."
Upon seeing this, Qi Yunxiao was first taken aback, his face filled with shock. Then, as if remembering something, he quickly put away his magical artifact and cautiously cupped his hands towards Mu Chunfeng, saying, "You...you are Senior Mu!?"
Seeing that Qi Yunxiao recognized him at a glance, Mu Chunfeng also put away his joking attitude and nodded, saying, "That's right. I said back then that I would come to you again to get the perfected formation. I went to your shop a few days ago, but I didn't expect it to be empty. I searched for several days but couldn't find any trace of you. It's quite a coincidence that I ran into you at the auction today."
Upon hearing this, Qi Yunxiao scratched his head, looking ashamed, and said, "I have recently been hunted down by my enemies and had nowhere to go, so I closed my shop and found a place to hide."
"I see."
Mu Chunfeng nodded knowingly, then changed the subject, asking, "Then, I wonder if the Inverted Five Elements Formation that I asked you to perfect back then has been completed?"
Upon hearing this, Qi Yunxiao first nodded, then shook his head and said with a wry smile, "My dear friend and I have devoted all our efforts to deducing and perfecting this formation, but we have only managed to restore it to 30% of its original power. My dear friend is seriously ill and unable to concentrate on cultivating and deducing. This is the limit we have been able to achieve."
Upon hearing this, Mu Chunfeng feigned surprise and asked, knowing full well what illness your friend was suffering from, "Oh? What exactly is ailment that has kept you from recovering for so long?"
Qi Yunxiao's face instantly turned sorrowful, and he said in a deep voice, "We consulted many famous doctors before we found out that she suffers from the Dragon Roar Physique. This physique, when it is born into a man, is a rare talent in cultivation, but when it is born into a woman, it is a deadly poison that pierces the intestines and corrodes the bones."
"It's actually the Dragon Roar Body!"
"So you went to the auction today to look for thousand-year-old spiritual herbs in order to cure your friend's illness?" Mu Chunfeng asked, following up on the conversation.
"Your insight is profound, senior."
Qi Yunxiao's tone was full of sincerity, "My friend is now beyond the reach of medicine. Only a thousand-year-old spiritual herb can temporarily alleviate her pain and keep her alive. For her, let alone giving up all my wealth, I would be willing to risk my life."
Having said that, he seemed to remember something, and suddenly looked up at Mu Chunfeng, his eyes full of hope. He cupped his hands and said, "Does Senior have any thousand-year-old spiritual herbs? This junior is willing to exchange them for any condition, even if it means giving up everything, I will have no complaints!"
Upon hearing this, Mu Chunfeng pretended to ponder for a moment, then raised her hand and took out a white jade box. With a flick of her fingertips, the lid of the box opened.
Inside the box lay a medicinal herb brimming with spiritual energy. Its roots and stems were vigorous, its leaves glossy, and a spiritual light occasionally shimmered on its surface. As soon as the lid was opened, a rich and pure medicinal fragrance instantly filled the air, revealing it to be a thousand-year-old spiritual herb of exceptional quality.
Seeing this, Qi Yunxiao's eyes suddenly lit up, and his breathing quickened. He hurriedly bowed deeply to Mu Chunfeng and said urgently, "Senior! This junior is willing to exchange all the knowledge and inheritance he has acquired throughout his life and all his savings for this thousand-year-old spiritual herb! Furthermore, if Senior has any other conditions, please feel free to speak up, and this junior will not refuse in the slightest!"
Mu Chunfeng smiled faintly and said, "I have no problem trading this thousand-year-old spiritual herb with you. I came here specifically for the Reversal of the Five Elements Formation. However, I have one condition: I want to meet your close friend, the formation master. I have a deal I'd like to discuss with her personally."
Upon hearing this, Qi Yunxiao's joy vanished instantly, replaced by hesitation.
He is now being hunted down by the Fu family, hiding in various places. Xin Ruyin's hiding place is their last refuge.
Although Mu Chunfeng had been kind to him in the past, one cannot know a person's heart. He was really afraid that Mu Chunfeng also coveted the inheritance of the array technique and would be detrimental to Xin Ruyin.
Seeing his hesitant expression, Mu Chunfeng didn't press him. He put away the jade box and said calmly, "Since you're unwilling, then forget it. I won't force you. You promised back then that I would come and collect the Reversed Five Elements Formation after it was perfected. I'll just buy the formation with spirit stones."
Qi Yunxiao was immediately anxious when he saw Mu Chunfeng take back the thousand-year-old spiritual herb; he was torn between his own conscience and his inner turmoil.
But when he thought of Xin Ruyin, who was suffering from illness in the wooden house, he finally gritted his teeth and made up his mind.
The residence of Xin Ruyin had already been set up with the Reversed Five Elements Formation. Even if Mu Chunfeng had malicious intentions, the two of them could use the formation to protect themselves. At worst, they could just find another place to hide afterward.
Thinking of this, he quickly said, "Senior, please wait! I agree! I will take you to see her right away!"
"Alright! In that case, I assure you that whether the deal goes through or not, you will still have this thousand-year-old spiritual herb."
Qi Yunxiao was overjoyed upon hearing Mu Chunfeng's words, but before he could express his gratitude, Mu Chunfeng's voice rang out again, "Come out, all of you! How much longer are you going to hide!"