Chapter 1171: Thief Shouting Catch the Thief?

Clang! Several streaks of spiritual light collided with the giant golden wheel, immediately sending them flying backward. They were clearly four shimmering magic treasures: a large white skull, a massive pair of green-glowing scissors, a red-glowing short dagger-axe, and a huge yellow seal.

Loud wails and howls echoed as countless black mists surged from the lush green mountains below, revealing grotesque ghostly figures flickering in and out of sight.

Wang Qingshan released the Three-Headed Fox, a low-grade third-tier creature equivalent to an early-stage Core Formation cultivator.

The azure flying boat flared with light and flew back the way it came. Just then, however, six streaks of light shot out from the mountains below.

There were six Core Formation cultivators. The lowest cultivation level among them was Core Formation Fourth Layer, while the highest was an eighth-layer Core Formation cultivator – a tall, thin old man with a dove-like face.

The dove-faced old man held a dark-glowing command flag, on which a grotesque ghost face was embroidered.

Wang Qingshan's expression turned cold. He formed a hand seal, and countless azure sword shadows appeared around him. After a flicker, they transformed into six azure sword-eagles, each about a zhang in size.

A clear bird cry rang out as the six azure sword-eagles spread their wings and swooped towards the six Core Formation cultivators.

The Three-Headed Fox opened its three jaws, each head releasing a different magical attack on the enemies.

Wang Qiuming formed a hand seal. Four huge golden wheels flared with light, spinning faster and faster, transforming into four dazzling golden streaks of light that struck a young woman in a green dress. Wherever the golden light passed, a piercing whooshing sound echoed through the air.

Wang Tianwen waved the silver jade brush in his hand, and one silver-white rune after another materialized out of thin air. After a blur, they transformed into white flying daggers, heading straight for the opponents.

“Form a formation,” someone commanded. Wang Jiyun and several other sword cultivators successively conjured their flying swords. They simultaneously slashed in one direction, gathering multicolored sword energy into a massive multicolored sword light that struck towards the opponents. The others conjured their puppet beasts and unleashed various colorful spells.

Following the principle of 'catching the thieves by first catching their leader,' the dove-faced old man, with his highest cultivation, became the prime target for Wang Qingshan and Wang Qiuming's combined attack.

The dove-faced old man lightly waved the black banner in his hand. Rolling black mist surged out, forming a tall black wall in front of him. Simultaneously, countless Yin qi emanated from his body, and a group of ferocious ghostly creatures flickered into and out of sight, their wails and howls continuous.

Boom! The azure sword-eagles tore the black high wall to shreds, instantly appearing before the dove-faced old man. The black Yin qi around his body churned, and a black giant palm, several zhang in size, flew out, accurately striking an azure sword-eagle.

The azure sword-eagle's body exploded, sending countless azure sword qi shooting out. However, as they approached within a zhang of the dove-faced old man, they were bounced away by the dark light emanating from his body.

Four streaks of golden light shot forth, but the dove-faced old man remained calm, conjuring an egg-sized black orb.

With a muffled 'thud,' the black orb exploded, erupting into a large expanse of dark light that instantly enveloped the four streaks of golden light.

Wang Qiuming frowned and changed his hand seal. The four dimly glowing golden wheels flew backward, their spiritual essence severely damaged. They swayed up and down, appearing as if they could fall at any moment.

He was somewhat relieved he hadn't used his life-bound magic treasure; otherwise, he would have been in trouble.

He put away the four golden wheels and conjured two massive azure giant eagles, which swooped towards the dove-faced old man.

A loud whooshing sound erupted as a flying sword wrapped in crimson flames instantly appeared before the dove-faced old man. Just as it was about to strike him down, a black ghostly claw, several zhang in size, stretched out from the Yin qi behind the old man and swatted at the crimson flying sword.

Boom! The black ghostly claw and the crimson flying sword destroyed each other, erupting into a powerful shockwave that swept away a large amount of rubble and vegetation.

An extremely dazzling azure light shot forth but was blocked by the dove-faced old man's protective spiritual light.

The azure light was clearly formed by nine azure flying swords gathered together, which had transformed into a huge azure disc with their tips pointing outward.

“Break!” Wang Qingshan roared. The azure disc erupted with dazzling azure light, and countless sharp azure sword qi surged out, striking the dove-faced old man's protective spiritual light one after another. The protective spiritual light shattered instantly. Fortunately, the dove-faced old man timely conjured a black shield, placing it in front of him, which finally blocked all the azure sword qi.

At this moment, the azure disc transformed back into nine azure flying swords, completely surrounding the dove-faced old man.

“Sword Formation, activate!” The nine azure flying swords simultaneously erupted with dazzling azure light, and countless azure sword qi shot out like a stampede of ten thousand horses, striking towards the dove-faced old man.

The dove-faced old man was scared out of his wits. He flipped his hand and took out a light black orb, a hint of reluctance on his face as he conjured it.

Boom! The moment the black orb left his hand, it instantly exploded, and a massive dark light appeared out of thin air, covering an area of several li.

The nine dimly glowing azure flying swords shot forth and scattered in all directions.

“A single-use magic treasure! That’s quite rare,” Wang Qingshan exclaimed. He flicked a finger, and a dazzling azure light shot out from it, plunging into the dark light with lightning speed.

This was the Wind Sword Finger, Wang Qingshan’s first time using this technique.

With a scream, the dove-faced old man fell out of the dark light, a finger-sized blood hole in his head.

Ripples spread through the void behind Wang Qingshan as a fierce ghost with a green face and fangs suddenly appeared there. Its ten glowing fingers aimed for Wang Qingshan's head.

Just then, an astonishing sword intent surged from Wang Qingshan's body. The flying swords of Wang Jiyun and others became somewhat uncontrollable as countless azure sword qi flew out from Wang Qingshan, suddenly transforming into a colossal azure sky-reaching sword that cleaved towards the fierce ghost.

Boom! One of the fierce ghost's claws was cleaved off by the sky-reaching greatsword, and it let out a scream.

A flying sword wrapped in crimson flames shot forth, and the Three-Headed Fox’s three heads also released spells, attacking the fierce ghost.

A series of booming sounds rang out as multicolored streaks of light engulfed the fierce ghost's body.

“Not good, retreat quickly!” someone yelled, and five evil cultivators fled in different directions with great speed.

Wang Qingshan and the two others did not pursue. Unfamiliar with the terrain, a reckless pursuit could very likely lead to an ambush.

The six evil cultivators had set up a trap here, specifically to ambush passing merchant caravans. If Wang Qingshan’s spiritual sense hadn't been strong enough to detect the enemies’ presence in advance, they would have been in serious trouble if caught in the formation, likely dying or suffering severe injuries.

Wang Qingshan controlled the azure flying boat to descend. Wang Qiuming quickly walked to the dove-faced old man's side and searched his body, finding a string of storage beads.

“Huh, Seventh Uncle, Tianwen, look, is this a token issued by the Great Qin Imperial Court?”

Wang Qiuming took out a light black square token from the string of storage beads. The front was engraved with a large character “Qin,” while the back bore a small character “Zhao.”

Could it be that the Great Qin Dynasty was truly accusing others of its own crimes, or was someone intentionally framing them? To frame someone, would they intentionally send Core Formation cultivators to their deaths? That doesn't make sense.