Hiding beneath a massive rock a dozen meters deep, Li An specifically dug out a lot of soil from the walls of the surrounding cave to completely bury himself.

Just like when hiding in the mud, he used a reed tube to breathe.

This was mainly because he considered that if a cultivator with powerful Divine Sense scanned the area carefully, even if they couldn't detect his life force, they might still discover a "humanoid" object below.

If the opponent happened to be a cautious person and decided to dig three feet into the ground to take a look, wouldn't it expose him?

By covering himself with a shallow layer of soil, the opponent wouldn't even be able to detect his shape.

He waited quietly there.

In the blink of an eye, another seven or eight days passed.

During these seven or eight days, he used his Divine Sense to sense many passing travelers.

Among them was Gu Hong.

When Gu Hong left for Celestial Yang City, Li An felt quite relieved.

Nowadays, besides himself, he didn't care about anyone's life or death, having no ties or attachments.

Yet, Gu Hong was the only one who still mattered to him a little.

However, even though Gu Hong left, he showed no reaction.

He wouldn't let Gu Hong know about this operation.

Just like that, half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

"Have you heard? There's a big commotion over at White Tiger Mountain, with the booming of a Rank Three Array, and the ground is shaking like an earthquake!"

"Yes, it's said to be the phenomenon of primordial energy gushing out, and some experts predict it might be White Tiger Master trying to transform his True Core into a Golden Core!"

"Really? Isn't White Tiger Master a True Core cultivator? Can he still become a Golden Core... That's too outrageous!"

The people coming and going increased, some heading towards White Tiger City to witness this rare event, while others were rather cautious.

Indeed, almost no one was leaving from White Tiger City anymore, because after the ritual began, the entire city was closed off, preventing anyone from entering or leaving to avoid disturbing White Tiger Master's important affairs.

This made Li An extremely thankful.

If he hadn't gotten some insider information from Manman and learned the exact timing from Guo Xiaoxiao, he might have been trapped in the city by now.

He could only get caught in such a cataclysm.

This is the Cultivation Realm—no matter how much you want to hide, how cautious you are, or how well you stick to your role, under the tussles of the big players, a minor ripple for them can mean disaster for you.

When a speck of dust falls from the hand of those in power onto the head of the weak, it becomes a mountain!

Hence, Li An, wherever he goes, pays special attention to the moves of the upper echelons, even going to great lengths over trivial rumors for this reason.

The weak will forever be the price paid in the struggles of the strong.

If you don't want to become the cost, you must learn to run away in time. If you can't beat that bunch, then run.

Li An waited silently.

...

In the blink of an eye, two months passed.

During these two months, more and more cultivators from all over were traveling along Beiyang Dao towards White Tiger City.

Based on their discussions, currently, the primordial energy above White Tiger City is accumulating heavily, the earth's energy is reversing, and there are sounds of dragons and tigers roaring on White Tiger Mountain, echoing across the sky!

Li An deduced that White Tiger Master should be at the most critical stage—

Moreover, as Li An expected, at the mountain pass where he was hiding, Demon Cultivators appeared.

Li An stealthily sensed them—there were more than a dozen Demon Cultivators, all carrying Yin Yang Demonic Qi rather than Blood and Flesh Demonic Qi.

The Demon Cultivators practicing the Yin Yang Demon Furnace Skill and Blood and Flesh Melting Furnace Skill, although both use Demonic Qi, have subtle differences.

These differences were now indetectable to Li An.

"Two groups of Demon Cultivators, targeting White Tiger City, with Blood and Flesh melting line as the main force, Yin Yang Demon Furnace line as the auxiliary?"

Li An speculated.

Just on the morning of the third day, Li An sensed the aura of a Foundation Establishment Stage Demon Cultivator, which made him immediately restrain himself from further probing.

"It should be soon!"

Li An was well prepared.

At dusk.

A strange sensation came from the Blood and Flesh Melting Furnace Skill, making him realize that one of the three puppets he controlled had probably died.

Chen Qingling was as cunning as a ghost and wasn't in White Tiger City.

As for his other substitute "Li An," he had arranged for it to join another bandits' den to hide, and most likely wouldn't face any danger for the time being either.

It was most likely Guo Xiaoxiao!

Now that she's dead, Li An was relieved, avoiding endless troubles.

However, this also indicated... A great war was probably breaking out in White Tiger City.

A mere hour after he sensed Guo Xiaoxiao's death.

"Run—run!"

"White Tiger City is done for, White Tiger City is done for, the Yin Yang Demon Sect has reappeared!"

"Run!"

Urgent shouts came from the direction of White Tiger City.

It seemed like a lot of people.

However, for hundreds of people passing through the mountain pass, the Demon Sect didn't make any moves.

This puzzled Li An slightly.

Three or four hours passed.

The people passing the area became sparse after a while.

The last group of refugees consisted of about fifty or sixty people crossing through the pass.

Boom!

Finally, the Array set up long before by the Yin Yang Demon Sect roared into action.

A bloody ambush unfolded.

There were screams, cries, and battles...

Leading the charge here was a mid-stage Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivator, while the strongest among the refugees was also an early-stage Foundation Establishment expert. Both sides broke into a bloody battle.

Unfortunately, that early-stage Foundation Establishment expert was powerless against the ambush laid by the Demon Sect and finally died in regret.

"Fifth Brother, you stay here with some people while I go after the fish in the net."

The mid-stage Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivator said, "Usual rule—I'll take half of the profits from this battle, and the rest you guys divide among yourselves."

Then, the mid-stage Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivator left instantly.

The remaining seven or eight Demon Cultivators were overjoyed, beginning to divide the spoils.

"These poor wretches, fifty-seven people, yet only totaling over fourteen thousand Spirit Stones... Thankfully, there's still one Tier Two Bursting Talisman and a piece of Tier Two Meteoric Iron!"

Fifth Brother said, distributing the items one by one among them with great pleasure.

Li An stayed hidden in the soil, motionless.

He didn't make a move.

Because he'd pulled off similar stunts of waiting to strike before; who knew if the Demon Sect had a contingency plan?

No need to rush; he could wait a day or two peacefully.

And it now seemed clear to him that what the Yin Yang Demon Sect had set up wasn't just a single checkpoint ambush but a whole trap!

Like a pocket.

This pass was akin to the pocket's mouth.

Once enough people entered the subsequent ambush, they sealed off this place.

This time, one could not tell how many would perish at the hands of the Demon Sect!

Until the following morning.

"Eh, sir, why did you come back?"

The waiting Fifth Brother and other Demon Cultivators were surprised.

The mid-stage Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivator had returned!

"Any unusual happenings?"

The Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivator asked.

"Sir, nothing out of the ordinary; a few Loose Cultivators passed by and we took care of them."

The Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivator seemed to ponder for a while, then finally departed.

"Master Qi An is probably being overly cautious..."

Someone couldn't help but speak.

"What do you know... Back during that battle with Profound Yang Sect, Master Qi An was in charge of Mashan Crossing and got double-crossed, becoming a laughingstock within the sect. Naturally, Master Qi An is being extra careful now."

"But seriously, Master Qi An might be a bit too cautious; a mere Talisman Master lucky enough to double-cross us once could hardly do it a second time without being a joke, right?"

Everyone understood.

...

Underground.

Li An couldn't help but let out a long breath.

Luckily, he had an extra sense.

That mid-stage Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivator might not have left the area but was staying here "hunting the hunter."

Did he really give him psychological trauma?

Li An couldn't help but feel complex emotions; was it really necessary?

Then, estimating that the mid-stage Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivator had moved away, taking advantage of Fifth Brother and the others' relaxed vigilance—

Boom!

The Tier Two Array he had preset there erupted with a roar!

...

On the surface.

"What the hell???"

Fifth Brother along with the seven or eight Demon Cultivators were instantly shocked.

How was there really an Array here?

"Damn, Fifth Brother, really... have we been double-crossed again??"

Someone exclaimed dumbfoundedly!

...

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