Chapter 1145: Complete Puppet Beasts

Chen Xiang'er had accumulated significant achievements in recent years by combating corruption and orchestrating defections. She had extensive intelligence networks in the northern borders, so Ximen Feng's recent efforts to contact Core Formation cultivators to rescue Wang Mingren naturally did not escape Chen Xiang'er's notice.

Her feelings for Wang Mingren were complicated. She detested him so much that she wished him dead. When she learned he was trapped in the Purple Flame Abyss, she was indeed joyful at first. However, her happiness quickly faded. She imagined that if Wang Mingren died, her life would become incredibly dull, especially since Ximen Feng at least had a child for companionship.

Over the years, she had channeled her hatred for Wang Mingren into her work, transforming her resentment into strength. She treated errant disciples and enemies as if they were Wang Mingren, finding an indescribable satisfaction in seeing them beg for mercy. If Wang Mingren were to die, whom would she hate? Whom would she love? She would lose all motivation to live.

She realized she hated Wang Mingren to her very core, yet simultaneously loved him just as deeply. If he died, her happiness would be fleeting, followed by an eternity of emptiness. This was an extreme form of affection.

"Why are you here? What do you want?" Ximen Feng watched Chen Xiang'er warily. Ximen Feng was certain Chen Xiang'er had received the news; it was impossible to hide it from her.

"I've been standing outside for over half an hour. Aren't you going to invite me in?" Chen Xiang'er said with a half-smile.

Ximen Feng frowned deeply. With Wang Mingren's fate uncertain, she found no reason to smile.

"If you have nothing to say, please leave. We have nothing to discuss."

"Don't you want to save him? If you wish him dead, I have no objections." Chen Xiang'er turned to leave. Before she had gone far, Ximen Feng called out, "Wait, please come in and sit."

Ximen Feng invited Chen Xiang'er into her residence and brewed tea for her.

"Do you truly have a way to save my husband? As long as he can be saved, name your price, and I will do my best to meet your demands." Ximen Feng bit her lip and said in a deep voice.

"What? Aren't you afraid I'll harm him? You know, I can be quite petty." Chen Xiang'er chuckled self-deprecatingly, mocking herself.

Ximen Feng remained silent for a moment before speaking. "I believe you hate him and wish to kill us both. However, I also believe you wouldn't stand by and watch something happen to my husband. After all, you were once husband and wife."

Chen Xiang'er snorted coldly, then took out a map. "The areas marked with red dots indicate unstable space. If high-level cultivators fight in those locations, the aftermath might trigger a restriction, which could potentially release him. However, these red-dotted areas are extremely dangerous and contain Fourth-tier demonic beasts. One wrong move, and your life might be forfeit. Believe it or not, it's up to you. You decide what to do."

After saying this, she stood up and left.

Ximen Feng gazed at the map Chen Xiang'er had left behind, her delicate brows furrowed. Should she trust Chen Xiang'er? She was, after all, Wang Mingren's ex-wife and might indeed help him. However, Chen Xiang'er had uttered many harsh words; who could guarantee she was telling the truth? What if it was a trap?

Ximen Feng wasn't afraid of death; her concern was for Wang Changjie. She pondered for a moment, then put away the map and left.

***

**South Sea, Fire Pig Sea Area**

In the Fire Pig Sea Area of the South Sea, Feng Ping was a rogue cultivator. The life of a rogue cultivator was not easy. To advance further on the path of cultivation, Feng Ping, who was still in the Qi Condensation stage, joined a demon-hunting team to hunt demonic beasts at sea.

He spent ten years painstakingly accumulating fifty thousand spirit stones, intending to bid for a Foundation Establishment Pill. However, on his return journey, he encountered an attack by a Second-tier demonic beast. He fought desperately to break through the siege but was severely wounded. To heal his injuries, he had to use up most of his hard-earned fifty thousand spirit stones.

The older one became, the harder it was to establish one's foundation. After much deliberation, Feng Ping took a desperate risk and ambushed a wealthy cultivator. He acquired a substantial sum of spirit stones, though at the cost of losing an arm. Using the stolen spirit stones, he successfully purchased two Foundation Establishment Pills and smoothly entered the Foundation Establishment stage.

After tasting the allure of killing and plundering, Feng Ping no longer wished to hunt demonic beasts at sea. He decided to specialize in robbing cultivators. However, operating openly would certainly attract the attention of major powers. To avoid this, he gathered over a dozen cultivators and used so-called treasure maps and inheritance beads to eliminate cultivators who came seeking treasures.

To improve efficiency, they cast a wide net, marking three locations using various methods like inheritance beads and incomplete treasure maps. These three locations were in a desolate, uninhabited sea area, close enough to each other for easy reinforcement.

Casting a wide net yielded many catches. Over the years, numerous cultivators fell into their trap and died at Feng Ping's hands. Their numbers gradually expanded, boasting eight Foundation Establishment cultivators and over twenty Qi Condensation cultivators, making them a formidable force. Naturally, they had also encountered powerful enemies, but they always managed to escape by using array formations to trap their foes.

Feng Ping had already cultivated to the eighth layer of the Foundation Establishment stage. He was preparing for Core Formation. To this end, he had set up numerous traps, specifically to lure and kill more cultivators blinded by greed.

On a secluded, uninhabited island, inside a hidden cave, Feng Ping sat cross-legged on a futon, meditating. A faint whistling sound broke his concentration, and he opened his eyes, which gleamed with excitement.

"The fat sheep have arrived! Cultivators are coming to seek treasure." He took out a communication disc, performed a hand seal, and excitedly announced, "Brothers, we have work! Get ready to move!"

***

On an open ground, Wang Xianbin and over a dozen cultivators gathered. Wang Xianbin held a topographical map. Wang Yingjie had presented a so-called treasure map. Wang Xianbin, having encountered a bottleneck in his cultivation, volunteered to lead five Foundation Establishment cultivators and ten Qi Condensation cultivators on a treasure hunt. After leaving the Five Dragon Sea Area, they changed into casual clothes to facilitate their movements.

According to clan rules, if genuine treasures were found, the cultivators who discovered them would receive forty percent, the clan forty percent, and the individual who presented the treasure map twenty percent. In case of casualties, the clan would handle the aftermath and provide pensions to the descendants of the fallen.

"This should be the place. The ancient cultivator's cave should be inside that valley." Wang Xianbin pointed to a barren valley nearby. He released his spiritual sense, scanning the area for several miles around multiple times, but found nothing.

About thirty zhang beneath the entrance to the valley, a pale yellow light screen shimmered. Inside this light screen, Feng Ping and eight other Foundation Establishment cultivators had gathered. Their faces were filled with excitement; this wasn't their first time doing this. They knew that once an enemy was trapped by their array formation, death was inevitable.

"Seventeenth Brother, you take half the team and go in. We'll stay outside to support you. Proceed with caution." Wang Xianbin instructed a tall, slender young man in a blue robe. The location of the ancient cultivator's cave was ideal for an ambush, so he had to be careful.

The blue-robed youth acknowledged, then led two Foundation Establishment cultivators and five Qi Condensation cultivators towards the valley. They released three small dog-like puppet beasts to scout ahead, following closely behind them.

No sooner had they stepped into the valley than countless yellow mists surged from the ground, instantly enveloping the entire valley.

"No! Enemy attack!" Wang Xianbin's expression changed, and he shouted loudly, activating his spiritual sense to its fullest.

Almost simultaneously, a dull thud came from the ground, and over a dozen magical artifacts flew out from beneath, striking towards them. With a few screams, five Qi Condensation cultivators immediately fell into pools of blood. Fortunately, Wang Xianbin and the other two Foundation Establishment cultivators were unharmed.

Feng Ping and the other eight emerged from underground. Two of them controlled the array formation, while six attacked Wang Xianbin's group of three.

"Rogue cultivators! You're courting death!" A flicker of anger crossed Wang Xianbin's eyes. He summoned three Second-tier puppet beasts. The other two Wang clan cultivators also summoned three Second-tier puppet beasts each. Bright runes lit up successively on the bodies of the nine puppet beasts as they lunged towards their opponents.

Wang Xianbin then activated a set of yellow array flags, which sank into the surrounding ground. The ground quickly turned a pale gold, and a golden light barrier materialized, enveloping them.

Over a dozen magical artifacts struck the puppet beasts, but the beasts remained unharmed. The puppet beasts attacked from three directions: underground, land, and air, causing Feng Ping and his group to become somewhat flustered.

"These are a complete set of puppet beasts! Oh no, they're from the Azure Lotus Wang Clan!" Feng Ping suddenly realized something, and his expression drastically changed.

Wang Xianbin's expression turned cold. With a change in his hand seal, thick golden glows shot out from the nine puppet beasts. These merged into a massive golden light barrier, trapping Feng Ping and his six companions inside.