Chapter 531: Flying Ash Annihilation

Asking Po Yuan about some matters was fruitless. Grandma Qi held significant status on Mount Shen, and members of the Bai family could travel up or down the mountain simply by announcing their departure, without needing to report to anyone. If the Bai family chose not to disclose their activities, Po Yuan had no authority to interrogate them.

Qiu Ben could only suppress a multitude of suspicions and conjectures.

At daybreak, Dazhi City fully awoke. The streets grew increasingly crowded and boisterous, with the occasional ebb and flow of hawkers' cries.

Chaoyue Hall opened its doors, and the newly hired cleaning woman was taking down the front door panels.

Miss Dong Liangying, the third daughter, stepped behind the counter, picked up a duster, and began cleaning the surface. She was quite pleased with the diligent cleaning woman, having already learned through conversation that she was an honest, hard-working individual who had faced hardship.

Having heard from neighbors that the previous worker, Wang Ping, was highly capable, the cleaning woman specifically inquired about Wang Ping's daily tasks, intending to perform just as well, if not better.

Naturally, the most crucial aspect for her was the lack of strict requirements regarding wages; room and board were sufficient.

The courtyard gate of the Bai family's rice shop, situated by the alley, swung open. As three carriages laden with spirit rice emerged, Bai Qiru could be seen in the courtyard, puffing on a pipe and watching them depart, before slowly disappearing behind the concealed gate.

A hint of confusion flickered in her eyes, as there were certain matters she, too, could not comprehend.

The moment the three carriages from the rice shop left, they were spotted by Yin Tianlu, who was observing from a nearby pavilion.

This immediately triggered a series of communications between Dazhi City and Mount Shen.

Before long, as the three carriages rumbled down the street, people began to brush past them, touching the vehicles and casting spells to secretly inspect their cargo.

The escort, seated cross-legged on the stacked rice bags, suddenly sensed something. He quickly leaned over and peered down.

Even if he saw something, what could he do? With people constantly coming and going on the street, was it not normal for someone to brush against a carriage?

The individuals who cast the spells departed nonchalantly, while the escort watched their retreating figures with a cold stare.

The carriages did not halt because of this, pressing onward.

At Yin Tianlu's vantage point, someone quickly ascended the pavilion and reported, "Senior Brother, there are people hidden inside the cargo of all three carriages. They are not demon cultivators; they are three living individuals."

Yin Tianlu was taken aback. They had already thoroughly investigated the staff of the Bai family's rice shop, finding them to be almost entirely demon cultivators. Crucially, after the three targets showed unusual activity and entered the shop, the high-ranking experts stationed there had implemented escape prevention measures around the premises.

Even if someone dug an underground tunnel, it would not escape their notice.

Thus, the identity of those three living individuals was self-evident.

It was now one hundred percent certain that they had been exposed. Yin Tianlu quickly retrieved his parent-child talisman and reported the findings.

The message quickly reached Qiu Ben, whose heart sank. He immediately pointed at Huang Lang and commanded, "Tell them to capture them! Once they're caught, force them to talk! I need to know if Shi Chun and his group are already aware!"

Exposure could mean one of two things: either they knew the identity of their pursuers, or they didn't.

If it was confirmed that Shi Chun already knew of their presence, then further observation would be unnecessary. Shi Chun's group would undoubtedly attempt to escape; that fellow was far too cunning. Qiu Ben would grant Shi Chun no more respite; he would assert his authority and power, proceeding with direct force!

"Understood," Huang Lang replied, immediately picking up his parent-child talisman to relay the message.

Several high-level martial artists from the Extreme Fire Sect, stationed within Dazhi City, immediately surged forth, heading directly in the direction the Bai family's rice shop carriages had taken.

On a hillside several miles from the Zhelanpo intersection, Shi Chun stood gazing into the distance, his expression grim.

He and Wu Jinliang had already arrived to provide support.

The agreement with Bai Qiru to send the individuals to Zhelanpo after daybreak was specifically to allow time for them to arrive and provide assistance.

He dared not go directly to Dazhi City to retrieve them.

Nor did he dare allow Chu Jingtang and the other two to leave independently.

Furthermore, he couldn't risk Chu Jingtang and the other two staying too long at the Bai family's rice shop.

The Extreme Fire Sect was audacious enough to ambush Huang Yingying within Mount Shen itself, implying they had sufficient leverage with Mount Shen to handle any repercussions. Dazhi City, however, was subordinate territory to Mount Shen. If Chu Jingtang and the other two remained hidden in the rice shop indefinitely, would the Extreme Fire Sect dare to fabricate an excuse to storm the shop, claiming to apprehend thieves?

He understood clearly that Chu Jingtang and the other two's successful escape hinged entirely on this section of the road after leaving the city.

This stretch of road would determine whether the Extreme Fire Sect would make their move.

If the Extreme Fire Sect attacked, he was unsure if the Bai family's power could repel them.

In any case, he had repeatedly stressed to Bai Qiru that Chu Jingtang and the other two were crucial to rescuing Huang Yingying, and he had directly informed her that their opponent was the Extreme Fire Sect, ensuring the Bai family would be thoroughly prepared.

Meanwhile, Wu Jinliang was busy within the Zhelanpo mountain range, digging a long tunnel using earth-burrowing techniques, aiming to create an additional escape route.

This was the utmost preparation Shi Chun could manage within the limited time.

Provided the Bai family could successfully deliver the individuals here, and with their members covering the rear to provide support, their escape should proceed without issue.

If the Bai family failed to deliver them, he would have no choice but to retreat first and then formulate a new long-term plan.

The reality, however, was somewhat disquieting. The parent-child talisman in his hand allowed direct communication with Chu Jingtang and the others. He had already received a message from Chu Jingtang's side, stating that while hidden in the cargo truck, they had detected passersby casting spells to probe for their presence within.

Whether the Extreme Fire Sect was responsible or not no longer mattered. The alarm had already been sounded, and it was too late to retreat. Now, everything depended on the Bai family's capability!

After exiting the city, the three carriages began to accelerate wildly, kicking up dust on the ribbon-like road under the morning sun.

The escorts suddenly glanced back to see two individuals on fine-scaled steeds giving chase.

At first, they couldn't ascertain if the riders were merely passing by or actively following. However, when the carriages sped up, the pursuers matched their pace, and when they slowed down, the pursuers did the same. It was then abundantly clear what was happening.

The two escorts were indeed the two Earth Immortal-level masters whom Bai Qiru had recently brought back to the Bai family's rice shop.

Realizing something was amiss, one of them pulled out a parent-child talisman and began communicating with an unknown party.

After the communication, the individual let out a shout, and the three rapidly moving carriages abruptly changed formation. Their single-file line transformed into a side-by-side array, charging forward without hesitation, heedless of any pedestrians in their path.

Immediately, startled pedestrians dove into the roadside bushes, cursing vehemently.

Just as a carriage from the opposite direction bore down on them, the two escorts suddenly raised their arms and unleashed spells, sending the three coachmen flying. The sacks of rice piled high on the three carriages burst open and scattered.

Chu Jingtang and the other two, still tumbling and disoriented, were swiftly enveloped by the two masters' magic and whisked away, soaring rapidly through the air.

The two individuals who had launched themselves from the fine-scaled steeds let out long, piercing cries towards the sky as they swiftly gave chase.

From behind, four dark figures rapidly emerged, in hot pursuit.

One of them moved with extraordinary speed, swiftly surpassing the two shouting pursuers, and shot straight towards the fugitives, rapidly closing the gap.

Chu Jingtang and the other two looked back, their hearts pounding with fear. Yet, the two masters carrying them showed no signs of alarm, merely casting occasional glances behind them.

Suddenly, from the tall grass ahead, a radiant light burst forth, as if unfurling wings.

As Chu Jingtang and the other two flew overhead, they looked down and then back, witnessing a resplendent, shimmering phoenix apparition ascend, seemingly with a figure within. It flapped its wings and charged towards the pursuers behind them.

The foremost pursuer, unable to evade, reacted with profound alarm. With a flick of his palm, a brilliant golden ring expanded from his body, rapidly spinning and revolving, encasing and protecting him.

The instant the magnificent phoenix apparition collided with the golden ring, there was no deafening roar, but rather a profound, humming tremor that vibrated through everyone's eardrums.

In a flash, the phoenix apparition dissolved into thin air, vanishing from head to tail. The brilliant golden ring also dimmed, and the person encased within it instantly disintegrated into dust.

The remaining pursuers behind, like moths drawn to a flame, found themselves unable to react in time, and one after another, disintegrated into dust in mid-air.

A group of masters, along with innocent passersby on the road, vanished in an instant.

The lush green grassland below instantly vibrated into a cloud of green dust, leaving only a vivid, undisturbed swath in the direction where Chu Jingtang and the others had fled.

The individual within the phoenix apparition was compelled to reveal themselves. With a backhand strike, they unleashed a wave-like aura, shielding the fugitives and neutralizing the immense disintegrating power.

The disintegrating force spread incredibly wide, seemingly engulfing everything within sight. The hovering green and earthy dust gradually merged into a single, swirling cloud.

This immense disintegrating power produced surprisingly little sound, allowing Chu Jingtang and the other two to truly grasp the concept of "great music has no sound."

Disbelief, speculation, and doubt filled the faces of all three. Was this the intervention of a Heavenly Immortal-level master?

The three had never imagined in their wildest dreams that such a powerful master would intervene on their behalf.

Could the Great Boss truly command such a master to rescue them?

In Dazhi City, the entire populace looked up to witness a phantom wave enveloping the urban area. The city's protective formation had been activated. Everyone felt the ground tremble beneath their feet, and their eardrums vibrated with a low hum. A rising cloud of dust then surged over the city walls, only to be stopped by the protective array, instantly casting a shadow over the city as if dark clouds had covered the sky.

Yin Tianlu pushed open the window of the pavilion and looked out.

Countless residents rushed out of their homes.

Atop the mountain where the City Lord's residence stood, Li Xianghong flew to the roof of the grand hall to survey the scene, her expression grave.

On Zhelanpo, Shi Chun's eardrums vibrated with a hum, and the ground beneath his feet shook like a sieve. The verdant grassland trembled like winnowed chaff. He observed a massive, rising curtain slowly ascending from the ground into the sky in the distance.

Wu Jinliang suddenly arrived from a distance, landing beside him, covered in dust. He spat several times, exclaiming, "What's happening? If I didn't know earth-burrowing techniques, I'd have been buried alive deep underground! All the tunnels I dug have completely collapsed."

Shi Chun gazed towards the incident, muttering, "Someone must be fighting."

Wu Jinliang looked at the distant commotion, asking in surprise, "Could it be...?"

Prompted by this, Shi Chun immediately took out his parent-child talisman and sent an inquiry to Chu Jingtang: Are you all right?

Chu Jingtang's reply came swiftly: Masters were chasing us, but then other masters rescued us.

Wu Jinliang, standing nearby, also leaned over to read the message, then the two exchanged bewildered glances.

Such immense power could only be generated by a clash of equivalent strengths.

Had the Extreme Fire Sect truly deployed masters of such caliber just to capture Chu Jingtang and the other two?

After a long pause, Wu Jinliang mumbled, "Are they finished fighting? Should we hide for a while?"

Just as Shi Chun was about to send another inquiry, he spotted figures rapidly approaching from the distance. Both men quickly crouched down to observe. Before long, they faintly discerned the newcomers landing at the Zhelanpo intersection.

Still shaken, Chu Jingtang and the other two finally found themselves on solid ground. Just as they were wondering what to say to their two rescuers, another figure appeared before them as if by instant teleportation. It was an elderly woman, dressed in white with silver hair, her face kind and benevolent, though her back was slightly hunched, leaning on a phoenix-headed staff.