A few breaths later, Yue Rong took out a yellow Array Flag and shook it fiercely toward a certain direction.

The Houtu Two-Phase Array suddenly disbanded, revealing the situation outside.

Manager Liao and the pair of red-robed brothers were each activating their Flying Artifacts, shooting towards this place from the direction of Small Stone Mountain; all three bore visible bloodstains, seemingly not lightly wounded—especially Manager Liao, who appeared somewhat unsteady. Cui Wuran, however, was nowhere to be seen.

Behind them, a towering cloud of dust pursued relentlessly, within which blinding golden light flickered intermittently.

The three men and the trail of dust just happened to pass near the Houtu Two-Phase Array.

"Now!"

With a delicate shout from Yue Rong, she unleashed a silver spiked Magic Artifact that she hurled into the midst of the dust.

Including Zuo Qinghui and Hua Zhi, the others also launched their attacks, their diverse Magic Artifacts striking harshly, tearing apart the drifting dust to reveal a vicious centipede about seven or eight zhang long and as thick as a water bucket.

This creature seemed as if it were cast from gold, each segment of its body glinting brightly; its hundred legs were sharp and ferocious, making a clanging sound and sending sparks flying as it scraped across the ground.

Clang clang clang!

Everyone's Magic Artifacts struck the Red Gold Centipede, sending sparks flying in all directions, but they failed to inflict any significant damage on it, at most leaving behind some marks.

The Red Gold Centipede, inflicted with considerable pain, abandoned chase of Manager Liao and his companions and turned to pounce toward the group, its mouth spraying out a stream of dark green poison fog.

The Magic Artifacts flying head-on were touched by this fog and immediately became erratic, tilting in all directions, and a dark green layer covered their surfaces. The spiritual energy they lost caused them to plummet to the ground, startling everyone.

"Do not let this poison fog touch your body," Yue Rong said solemnly, urging the yellow Command Flag in her hand.

The nearby ground rumbled, and a glow like yellow sand reappeared to form a thick barrier of yellow light.

The dark green poison fog fell upon the light barrier and made a sizzling sound, as if a green giant wave had crashed against rocks, the vapor rolling away in all directions.

But before everyone could even take a breath of relief, the figure of Manager Liao appeared above the Houtu Two-Phase Array, his previously unsteady form now changed.

He flung out several yellow Array Flags, and with a flash, they floated around the Houtu Two-Phase Array, forming a strange array.

As several spells flickered and descended upon these Array Flags, the flags trembled, flashing with various colors of light. Beams connected, forming a peculiar Array that encompassed the Houtu Two-Phase Array below.

Several colorful beams of spirit light fell from the peculiar Array onto various parts of the Houtu Two-Phase Array below, causing the yellow light barrier to shake violently, appearing on the verge of collapsing.

"Liao Zhong! What are you doing?" Yue Rong's voice was a mix of shock and fury. She flicked her sleeve, and seven or eight Array Flags shot towards various parts of the Array.

"Be careful of your footing, Yue Daoist, retreat quickly!" Zuo Qinghui suddenly shouted coldly, a Blood-red Cylinder appearing in his palm and he launched a blood-colored bullet the size of an egg toward the ground behind her.

However, the ground there slightly bulged, and seven or eight Black Needles shot out first, striking Yue Rong's legs.

Yue Rong let out a muffled grunt and fell to the ground with a "thump," the seven or eight Array Flags scattering their light and dropping to the ground.

The blood-colored bullet vanished into the ground in a flash, and almost simultaneously, a scream came from underground.

At this moment, the Houtu Two-Phase Array completely collapsed, and the Red Gold Centipede once again spat out a swath of dark green poison fog that enveloped the figures of the five people.

A furious voice from Yue Rong emerged from within the poison fog, as three yellow Light Pillars shot out, forming a '品' shape.

A tremendous surge of yellow light erupted from the ground, creating a strong storm that swept away all of the poison fog in an instant.

The five people within the Array became visible, their energy depleted, with patches of poison on their cheeks, arms, and other places, clearly having been poisoned by the Red Gold Centipede's venom.

The situation was worst for Yue Rong, with seven or eight dark needle holes on her legs, from which the black venom rapidly spread.

But the woman was remarkably resilient and still managed to stand, clenching her teeth.

Around them, seven or eight Cultivators had appeared out of nowhere, all in the Foundation Establishment Stage, wearing yellow garments, surrounding the group in the center with mocking eyes.

Manager Liao, the Wang brothers, and Cui Wuran stood outside the encirclement, clearly in league with the people in the yellow robes.

Cui Wuran's right arm was cleanly cut off at the shoulder—the cut was even, revealing he had severed it himself. His eyes bore resentment mixed with panic as he looked at Zuo Qinghui.

His right arm was hit by the blood-colored bullet underground and withered away at an alarming rate. If he had not acted swiftly to cut off his arm, by now his entire body would have turned into pus and blood.

The red-haired youth with the surname Wen from yesterday's exchange meeting was among them too, his gaze scanning the five people inside the Array, seemingly looking for something, but finally, he retracted his gaze in disappointment.

Yue Rong and the others felt their hearts sink. At this point, it was clear to anyone that they had fallen into someone's trap.

Zuo Qinghui, however, was not as worried as the others. From beneath the ground, Hua Zhi had already sent up a thin vine to draw out the potent poison from his body.

The poison patches on his body quickly receded, though those on the exposed parts such as hands and cheeks were intentionally left, to deceive the others.

Zuo Qinghui's gaze swept over the yellow-robed men surrounding them, finally settling on the nearby Red Gold Centipede.

The Red Gold Centipede crawled alongside, not only did it avoid clashing with those yellow-robed people, but it also had a sense of joining hands against a common enemy.

One hundred miles away, atop a sand dune, a yellow figure sat quietly cross-legged. It was indeed Yuan Ming.

He was dressed in a yellow robe with a hood, adorned with a scale-like pattern that completely concealed his presence.

This yellow robe was refined from the skin of a species of lizard in the Black Wind Desert, capable of concealing one's aura. Although it wasn't as effective as the grey cloak that Xi Ying had given to him, it was still quite impressive.

He had originally planned to let Zuo Qinghui and Hua Zhi follow the people from the City Lord Mansion to hunt the Red Gold Centipede. He would follow from behind, looking for an opportunity to snatch away the Red Gold Centipede's carcass. Unexpectedly, things took a drastic turn, leading to the current situation.

"It seems that this mission has been a deception from the start, fortunately, there really is a Red Gold Centipede," Yuan Ming pondered in his mind.

He rose into the air and summoned the White Jade Shuttle, flying towards the direction of Small Stone Mountain.

...

"Liao Zhong, what exactly do you intend to do?" Yue Rong looked at Manager Liao and said coldly.

Manager Liao watched his nose and his nose watched his heart, as if he didn't hear Yue Rong's voice.

"I've long heard that Xiansha City Lord Mansion has a Manager surnamed Yue, naturally charming and provocatively seductive. Seeing you today, it really holds true. Brothers, we're in luck today!" A tall man came out from the group, his eyes shooting undisguised lewdness, circling around Yue Rong's body.

This man had a long face and large mouth, incredibly ugly, and most peculiarly, he had a yellow horn growing on his forehead; yet his cultivation was already at the Late Foundation Establishment stage.

The rest of the yellow-robed cultivators let out a burst of boisterous laughter, their gazes fixed on Yue Rong, nearly stripping her with their eyes.

Shi Chuan was furious in his heart but dared not express it.

"Who exactly are you? Although Xiansha City is a small place, the task at hand is commissioned by the Five Thunder Sect; I advise you not to make a grave error," Yue Rong spoke calmly, apparently not hearing the obscenities from the other side.

"Five Thunder Sect? Your cultivators from Zhao Country may fear this name, but to us people from Qin Country, it's worthless," the man with the single horn said disdainfully.

Upon hearing this, Yue Rong's brows furrowed slightly. Even in the Cultivation World of Qin Country, the Five Thunder Sect had a renowned reputation. Even the most lawless evil cultivators and thieves would not dare to be so disrespectful.

These people regarded the Five Thunder Sect as nothing; it was unclear what their backgrounds might be.

"Fellow Daoists, if I have guessed correctly, these individuals should be disciples of the Guiyuan Sect from Qin Country," Gu Sanniang's voice reached the ears of the other four.

"Guiyuan Sect!" Yue Rong and Shi Chuan felt a chill in their hearts.

Zuo Qinghui's eyes also shifted; Guiyuan Sect was the foremost sect of Qin Country, as well as the leading force among the Cultivation forces in the Black Wind Desert. Its strength and influence were no less than that of the Five Thunder Sect of Zhao Country.

"How did Fellow Daoist Gu recognize them?" Yue Rong also operated her Divine Sense to communicate, enveloping only the five of them.

"The Guiyuan Sect excels in the Joint Attack Skill; they have strict rules and a severe hierarchy. Their disciples are brave and good in battle, known for their absolute obedience. I have crossed hands with disciples of the Guiyuan Sect. The positions of these individuals may seem lax, but in fact, they contain mysteries, very much like the Joint Attack Formation of the Guiyuan Sect," Gu Sanniang replied through telepathy.

Zuo Qinghui observed the yellow-robed cultivators upon hearing this. At a glance, their positions seemed haphazard and unordered, but in truth, they held a hidden significance, with the aura of the individuals faintly interconnected, indeed resembling a kind of special Combined Attack Divine Power.

Such observation led to the conclusion that these people were very likely indeed disciples of the Guiyuan Sect.

However, Zuo Qinghui was indifferent to this. Whether these individuals were disciples of the Guiyuan Sect or the Five Thunder Sect, to him, they were the same. His only goal was the Red Gold Centipede.

"So you all are disciples of the Guiyuan Sect, no wonder you don't put the Five Thunder Sect in your eyes. But since when did the distinguished disciples of the Guiyuan Sect become sand pirates? If word of this spreads, I wonder what the senior members of the Guiyuan Sect would think?" Zuo Qinghui stepped forward, his expression composed.

Yue Rong and the others suddenly changed color.

Zuo Qinghui had directly exposed their identities. Wasn't he forcing the opposite side into a position where they might kill to silence them?

"Zuo Qinghui, you're seeking your own death; don't drag us down with you!" Shi Chuan angrily sent a telepathic message.

"Don't panic, the three of you. Just follow my commands, and I have a way to help you escape. I'll first rid you of the extreme poison in your bodies," Zuo Qinghui's voice sounded in the ears of the three.

Yue Rong and the others were startled, then felt a slight pain at the soles of their feet as if something had pricked them.

The extreme poison in their bodies began to converge towards their feet, swiftly being drawn out.

Especially Yue Rong, not only was the Centipede Poison in her sucked away, but the intense poison from the needles in her legs also quickly receded, and her body rapidly recovered, more effective than any Detoxification Elixir.

"Heh, who would've thought that the noble disciples of the Guiyuan Sect would stoop to thievery, how laughable," Yue Rong was inwardly overjoyed, her face showing a mocking smile, laughing lightly.

"Oh, so you have recognized our origin. Now you leave us no choice but to dispose of you, take action!" The man with the single horn's expression darkened as he waved his hand, giving the order.

The nearby yellow-robed cultivators almost moved in unison, stepping forward to press in closer.

"I advise you all not to come any closer for your own good. This compatriot of mine cultivates an Evil Poison Skill, which once unleashed, will cause disaster for all living things within a hundred steps. Haven't you noticed that the air smells somewhat different than before?" Zuo Qinghui pointed to Hua Zhi, who was wrapped up tight, and spoke with a smile.

"Not good, back off!" The man with the single horn was taken aback as he detected a faint fragrance with his nose, his complexion turning pale, and he quickly retreated.

Seeing this, the others, whether they smelled the fragrance or not, all flew backwards.

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