Chen Ye pondered for a moment and didn't conceal anything, honestly saying: "Taoist Friend Duan, be extra cautious on this journey, I believe there's a good chance someone will come to rob the spirit plants."

"Rob the spirit plants?" Duan Ling was stunned.

Lisong Valley is located at the edge of Peach Mountain District, near the Three Thousand Great Mountains.

Going to Peach Mountain District is a half-day's journey, with much of the path through deserted wilderness, seemingly easy for someone to target.

But these are spirit plants of Lingyin Sect, who would dare rob them?

Duan Ling was tense only because the goods are incredibly valuable, it was natural, rather than worrying about someone robbing them.

"Indeed. As the saying goes, wealth moves people's hearts. Think about it, both senior stewards of Lisong Valley have left. To guard these spirit plants, there's only me, recently ascended from a loose cultivator to a spirit plant cultivator, and you, a young inner sect disciple. Who wouldn't want to seize the opportunity?"

Chen Ye explained quite seriously.

But seeing Duan Ling's expression of "Aren't you overthinking?", he just smiled and didn't continue explaining.

He knew his words indeed sounded somewhat alarmist.

But the matter with the Wei Family, he couldn't openly discuss.

The Wei Family is also a cultivation clan of Lingyin Sect, seemingly having a mere conflict with Wei Cheng.

If he said the Wei Family wanted to rob the spirit plants...

If those words got out, it would inevitably have a negative impact.

He wasn't familiar with Duan Ling, so he couldn't say it openly.

After all, whether he spoke or not, the result is the same, Chen Ye naturally preferred to speak less and make fewer mistakes.

Moreover, the Wei Family might not even come...

But Chen Ye always believed that caution brings safety.

The carriage drove onto the main road leading to Peach Mountain District.

On either side of the road, dense peach trees stretched as far as the eye could see.

It was midsummer, a time that should be filled with the sounds of cicadas and birds, bustling with activity.

Yet today, it seemed... too quiet.

"Someone really dares to rob! There's a master nearby, spiritual pressure hidden, frightening away the common birds and beasts!"

Duan Ling felt a chill in his heart, his hand gripping the sword hilt tightened instantly. He quickly released his divine sense, cautiously scanning the surroundings, but apart from the swaying peach trees in the wind, he found nothing.

"Is it just someone passing by?" he murmured to himself.

"Taoist Friend Duan, don't panic... eight people are coming, hmm, two at the eighth layer of Qi cultivation, one at the seventh layer."

Chen Ye's calm voice sounded beside him.

Compared to Duan Ling, his divine sense was exceptionally powerful.

With a rough sweep, he had already spotted all eight people.

"So they really did come..." Chen Ye sneered.

He had never thought of evading; if he had to constantly worry about the Wei Family's threat, then Lisong Valley's business wouldn't be possible.

It wouldn't do to inform the sect without evidence, expressing his concern about someone robbing the spirit plants and thus not delivering the spirit plants externally.

"What?! Eight people?!"

Upon hearing that, Duan Ling's expression changed dramatically!

As an inner sect disciple, with the cultivation of the eighth layer, he felt eighty percent confident one-on-one.

But now, the opponent had eight people, including two at the eighth layer and one at the seventh layer!

Such a lineup was enough to swallow them both whole!

And the man beside him, Steward Chen...

Duan Ling glanced at the man beside him, his mouth bitter.

He admired Chen Ye's spirit plant technique, but that didn't mean he trusted Chen Ye's ability in magical battles.

A cultivator whose heart and soul were devoted to spirit plants, how could they have exceptional combat power?

In matters of magical battle, there was no relying on him.

It seemed that today, he could only rely on himself!

"Steward Chen!"

Duan Ling took a deep breath, stepping forward to shield Chen Ye behind him, and said solemnly,

"Stay well inside the carriage, activate the carriage's defensive array, and notify the sect! Leave these petty criminals outside to Duan!"

His words had just landed.

Suddenly, the clouds burst open, and several chunks of pitch-black stone crashed down from the sky!

On the stones, runes glowed with earthy yellow light!

"It's Falling Stone Talismans!" Duan Ling's face changed again, "They came prepared! These talismans specifically counter our sect's carriage defensive array!"

Sure enough!

"Boom—! Boom boom—!"

Those massive stones transformed by talismans, weighing thousands of pounds, fiercely smashed into the light screen of the carriage's array!

The light screen, which seemed unbreakable, under the stoning of these massive stones emitted a teeth-grating "crack crack" sound, the light instantly dimmed, and the entire carriage shook vehemently!

"Not good!" Duan Ling felt shock in his heart, knowing this defensive array wouldn't hold for long!

Just then, eight figures dressed in black, with their faces masked, leapt out from the peach forest, surrounding the entire carriage!

"Attack!" said the leading figure in black, seeming aware of the danger of delay, he wasted no words, pointing his long knife and swiftly chopping towards the two!

"Courting death!"

Duan Ling shouted angrily, his long sword unsheathed in response, forming a fierce sword light, ready to meet the leader in black.

Yet at this moment, a light faster, sharper, and brighter than his, flashed from beside him.

It was a sword light.

A sword light so fast it was almost imperceptible to the naked eye!

"Pfft—"

A very faint sound of penetration was heard.

The leading figure in black, rushing forward, suddenly halted.

He lowered his head in disbelief, only to see at his chest there was already a bloody hole spreading front to back.

A faint ivory-colored flying sword phantom lingered at his chest.

"How... how..."

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