Ye Qiu and his companions had also arrived at Sifang City. As they entered the city, he spotted Ye Wushuang’s wanted poster on the city walls once more.
His eyes flashed with a cold glint.
The Longbrow Real Person whispered, “Little rascal, Sifang City is Yin-Yang Sect territory. How about we take out the city lord?”
“Out of the question,” Green said. “The Yin-Yang Sect governs hundreds of cities, and Sifang City ranks tenth among them. The city lord here is a Nascent Soul Realm powerhouse, with plenty of Hollow Realm experts under his command.”
Ye Qiu said, “The most important thing right now is to rescue the Hundred Flowers Immortal. Let’s not stir up extra trouble.”
The Longbrow Real Person suggested, “Then let’s find an inn to rest for the night, recover some strength, and set off early tomorrow morning. What do you say?”
“Fine,” Ye Qiu nodded in agreement.
As soon as they entered the city, a booming rumble echoed from behind them. The towering city gates slowly closed.
Immediately after, the sky trembled.
Ye Qiu looked up and saw a massive white light barrier materialise in the void, enveloping the entire city.
“What is that white light?” Ye Qiu asked.
Green explained, “That’s the city’s protective grand array.”
“Normally, it only activates when facing an unparalleled foe.”
“Sifang City’s protective array can withstand attacks from peak Nascent Soul experts, and it also prevents Nascent Soul Realm powerhouses from escaping.”
Ye Qiu’s expression changed. He said, “Does that mean we can’t leave Sifang City?”
“I’m afraid we’re stuck for the time being,” Green replied gravely. “If only we had a complete Saint’s array pattern. That would let us bypass the protective array entirely.”
The Longbrow Real Person said tensely, “Why on earth would Sifang City activate its protective array out of nowhere? Could the Yin-Yang Sect have discovered our whereabouts?”
Ye Qiu said, “Don’t panic. Let’s observe and adapt.”
At that moment, several hundred soldiers appeared on the city walls.
A Golden Core Realm soldier captain bellowed, “By order of the city lord, the Dragon Bodhisattva has infiltrated Sifang City. As of now, the gates are sealed, and the protective array is active. They will reopen once the Dragon Bodhisattva is captured.”
“During this time, if anyone spots the Dragon Bodhisattva, report it immediately.”
“Anyone who conceals information will be executed without mercy!”
Hearing this, Ye Qiu and the Longbrow Real Person exchanged glances.
“The Dragon Bodhisattva has come to Sifang City?” Ye Qiu was somewhat surprised.
The Longbrow Real Person asked, “Shall we take him out?”
“The Dragon Bodhisattva is no weakling. Acting rashly would only bring trouble upon us. Ignore him for now, find a way out of the city tomorrow. Rescuing the Hundred Flowers Immortal takes priority.”
With that, Ye Qiu lifted the veil over the Hundred Flowers Immortal’s face for a glance. She was still unconscious.
“In that case, let’s find an inn to stay at!” The Longbrow Real Person said, leading Ye Qiu and Green to an inn.
Yuelai Inn!
The Longbrow Real Person glanced at it and said, “This place looks decent enough. Shall we stay here tonight?”
Ye Qiu nodded in approval.
Just then, the inn’s waiter dashed out, bowing and scraping as he asked, “Esteemed guests, are you here to stay?”
“Rubbish, why else would we come here, for a full body massage?”
The Longbrow Real Person tossed five spirit stones to the waiter and said, “Get us two upper rooms, and send some food up to the rooms.”
“Certainly, guests. Please, follow me inside.” The waiter eagerly ushered Ye Qiu and the others in.
Ye Qiu and the Longbrow Real Person shared a room, while Green and the Hundred Flowers Immortal took the other.
“Green, keep a close eye on the Hundred Flowers Immortal. If anything happens, call me right away. The old codger and I are next door,” Ye Qiu instructed.
“Mm,” Green nodded. She said, “Young Master Ye, you’ve had a hard journey too. Get some proper rest tonight.”
“You too,” Ye Qiu replied, returning to his room. After eating a bit with the Longbrow Real Person, the two began discussing how to escape Sifang City.
“Old codger, do you think I could get out using my Earth Escape technique?” Ye Qiu asked.
“Impossible,” the Longbrow Real Person said. “While you were settling the Hundred Flowers Immortal earlier, this poor Daoist chatted with the waiter. He said that once the protective array activates, it seals off heaven and earth. Unless your cultivation reaches a certain level to break it, there’s no way out.”
“Looks like we’ll have to wait for the Yin-Yang Sect to catch the Dragon Bodhisattva before we can leave.”
Ye Qiu frowned and said, “What if the Yin-Yang Sect can’t catch him?”
“The Hundred Flowers Immortal doesn’t have much time left. We can’t afford to waste it here.”
“We need to find a way out of the city.”
The Longbrow Real Person said, “Actually, there’s another method.”
“What method?” Ye Qiu asked urgently.
The Longbrow Real Person produced a stone disc and said, “Miss Green mentioned that a complete Saint’s array pattern would let us ignore the protective array.”
“I’ve got half of one. If we could find the other half, that would do it.”
Ye Qiu sighed in frustration. “At a time like this, where are we supposed to find the missing half of the Saint’s array pattern?”
Boom.
Suddenly, several immense pressures descended upon the entire inn.
In an instant, Ye Qiu and the Longbrow Real Person shot to their feet like startled rabbits.
“What’s happening?” the Longbrow Real Person whispered.
Ye Qiu shook his head and moved to the window, peering outside. He saw a wooden boat hovering in the void.
Four people stood on the boat: a white-clad youth, a middle-aged man with a long sword on his back, an old man, and a crone leaning on a cane.
The pressure emanated from them, especially the middle-aged man and the two elders, who gave Ye Qiu the sensation that his very soul might shatter.
Clearly, they were all supreme experts.
Moments later, more soldiers appeared, storming into the inn to begin searching.
“They aren’t here for us, are they?” the Longbrow Real Person said uneasily.
“Probably not. Our tracks haven’t been exposed,” Ye Qiu said. “I reckon they’re after the Dragon Bodhisattva.”
The Longbrow Real Person was astonished. “You mean the Dragon Bodhisattva is staying in this inn too?”
At that moment, the white-clad youth on the boat called out, “Dragon Bodhisattva, the protective array is active. Even with your half Saint’s array pattern, you can’t escape. Surrender now.”
The crone added, “Dragon Bodhisattva, I advise you to come out at once. Otherwise, when this old one makes her move, you’ll die without a burial.”
Bang.
Just then, the door to Ye Qiu’s room burst open, and a figure rushed in from outside.
“Who’s there?” Ye Qiu jolted in fright, raising his hand to strike, but the intruder hissed, “If you don’t want to die, stay quiet.”
Ye Qiu glanced over and saw a dishevelled, ragged-clothed man with bare feet, looking every bit the beggar.
“Who are you?” the Longbrow Real Person demanded sharply.
The man turned to him, his gaze suddenly fixing on the fist-sized purple eight trigrams pattern on the sleeve of the Longbrow Real Person’s Daoist robe. His eyes widened. He asked, “You’re from the secular world? From Dragon Tiger Mountain?”
“Who are you?” the Longbrow Real Person asked warily.
The man brushed his hair aside, revealing a middle-aged face, then seized the Longbrow Real Person’s hand and said excitedly, “I’m your fellow countryman…”
