Chapter 2069: Strong Enemy Approaches, Wang Mengbin Fights Three Alone

In the Qinghuan Realm, Qianling Market was the largest market under the Zhong family's jurisdiction.

Six months ago, the Zhong family sent out numerous invitations to host a Soul Transformation Ceremony for Zhong Yunxiu. Furthermore, the Zhong family had successfully recruited True Immortal Zixiao, a venerable at the Soul Transformation stage. As soon as this news spread, factions that had conflicts of interest with the Zhong family swiftly backed down. Simultaneously, a vast number of cultivators arrived from all corners of the realm to congratulate Zhong Yunxiu.

On the day of the Soul Transformation Ceremony, Zhong Yunxiu herself would personally deliver a sermon, an opportunity rarely encountered from a Soul Transformation cultivator.

With two Soul Transformation cultivators in their ranks, the Zhong family was poised to become one of the Qinghuan Realm's preeminent powers, barring any unforeseen events. Numerous factions sought marriage alliances and partnerships with the Zhong family. The Zhong family, seizing this opportunity, expanded its sphere of influence and gathered a substantial amount of cultivation resources, which were then transported back to Qianling Mountain.

Qianling Market was not far from Qianling Mountain, situated directly under the Zhong family's watchful eye.

The streets were bustling with crowds and carriage traffic, creating a lively atmosphere.

"In a few days, it will be Senior Zhong's Soul Transformation Ceremony. I wonder if we'll get to see Senior Zhong then."

"I'd rather see True Immortal Zixiao. It's said that decades ago, when Old Ancestor Deng of the Deng family attacked, True Immortal Zixiao defeated him with formidable divine abilities. After so many years, True Immortal Zixiao's powers must have increased tremendously."

"I heard about it too, but I know more details. They say True Immortal Zixiao and Old Ancestor Deng fought for three hundred rounds, battling for seven days and seven nights, with True Immortal Zixiao barely claiming victory."

Cultivators were conversing in every corner of the market, their discussions primarily revolving around Wang Mengbin.

In a secret chamber, Wang Mengbin sat cross-legged on a silver futon, his body enveloped by countless silver electric arcs, emitting a crackling sound.

A moment later, the silver electric arcs around Wang Mengbin's body dispersed, and he opened his eyes.

With a flick of his sleeve, the door to the secret chamber opened. Cheng Zhenyu stood at the entrance, his expression respectful.

"Senior Wang, these are the thousand-year Golden Thunder Peaches and Azure Thunder Fruits that Fellow Daoist Zhong sent over."

Cheng Zhenyu produced two exquisite jade boxes and presented them to Wang Mengbin.

Wang Mengbin had previously told them to address him as an equal in private, but Cheng Zhenyu and Zheng Nan dared not be so presumptuous, insisting on calling him 'Senior.' Wang Mengbin eventually allowed them to continue.

Wang Mengbin took the two jade boxes, opened them, and found that one contained two golden spirit peaches and the other two light azure fruits. The spirit peaches were imbued with golden electric arcs on their surface, while the azure fruits had azure electric arcs.

As a reciprocal gesture for his help in expanding their influence and enhancing their ability to collect cultivation resources, the Zhong family immediately sent lightning-attribute elixirs and miraculous medicines to Wang Mengbin whenever they acquired them.

"The Zhong family is quite thoughtful. If there's nothing else, you may..."

Before Wang Mengbin could finish his sentence, the entire secret chamber began to shake violently.

Soon after, alarms blared loudly from outside.

Wang Mengbin's expression darkened. Knowing that he was now a venerable of the Zhong family, yet still daring to assault Qianling Market, it was most likely Deng Tianxin. He wondered how many cultivators Deng Tianxin had called upon, as Deng Tianxin would not dare to provoke the Zhong family by himself.

A deafening thunderclap erupted from Wang Mengbin's body, and he transformed into a dazzling silver lightning bolt, vanishing from sight.

Alarms blared throughout Qianling Market. High above, a cluster of azure clouds floated, carrying Chen Hong, Deng Tianxin, and a short, stout old man in azure robes. All three were at the early Soul Transformation stage.

Chen Hong had been unable to reach Liu Hongji, and Chen Qingyang was pressing her, so she had no choice but to contact other Soul Transformation cultivators.

They had originally anticipated a great deal of effort to track down Wang Mengbin. Who would have thought that Wang Mengbin and Zhong Yunxiu would return to the Zhong family and widely distribute invitations, effectively presenting them with an opportunity?

A blinding silver spiritual light suddenly flared, appearing above Qianling Market. It was Wang Mengbin.

"Fellow Daoist Deng, long time no see. What is the meaning of this? Were the words you spoke to me last time just meaningless?"

A cold glint flashed in Wang Mengbin's eyes. He hadn't been in the Soul Transformation stage for long, and his divine abilities weren't yet fully developed, so to avoid a mutually destructive fight, he had previously let Deng Tianxin go. Yet, Deng Tianxin had now brought helpers to confront him.

If he had known this, he would have killed Deng Tianxin already.

Logically, the Deng family had been in decline for many years and shouldn't have been able to offer anything valuable enough to secure the help of two cultivators. This was also one of the reasons Wang Mengbin had spared Deng Tianxin.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, return the item to me, and I will immediately leave with my people. I am merely acting under orders, compelled by circumstances."

Deng Tianxin said in a deep voice, "Truth be told, if not for Deng Tianyang pressing me so hard, I wouldn't want to trouble Wang Mengbin at all. Having only just managed to reach the Soul Transformation stage, I hope to ascend smoothly to the Xuanyang Realm."

"Hmph, do you think I'd still believe your words?"

Wang Mengbin sneered. Deng Tianxin was here for the Heavenly Void Jade Scroll. Was this scroll truly so precious?

The Heavenly Void Jade Scroll was a hot potato, yet also a life-saving trump card. If he were to hand it over immediately, Deng Tianxin might have no further qualms and simply kill him.

Considering the situation, with Deng Tianxin repeatedly causing trouble for Wang Mengbin, there was no longer any possibility of reconciliation between them.

"This humble one is Chen Hong of Qingyun Palace. I ask Fellow Daoist Wang to consider the prestige of Qingyun Palace and hand over the item. I can guarantee your safety."

Chen Hong said solemnly. She had paid a considerable price to invite two Soul Transformation cultivators: one to intercept Zhong Yunxiu, and the other to join them in confronting Wang Mengbin.

With all four of their cultivators at the early Soul Transformation stage, and it being a three-on-one fight against Wang Mengbin, the advantage was clearly on their side.

"Qingyun Palace? Do you think I, Wang, am a three-year-old child who would believe such foolish words? This is a matter between us. Let's fight somewhere else!"

After Wang Mengbin finished speaking, countless silver electric arcs surged from his body, and he vanished from sight.

There were many cultivators in the market, including Cheng Zhenyu and Zheng Nan. If they were to fight here, these innocent bystanders would likely be caught in the crossfire.

The next moment, a silver light flared in a void five hundred miles away, and Wang Mengbin reappeared.

The old man in azure robes formed a hand seal, and the azure cloud churned violently, abruptly pursuing him.

"It seems Your Excellency is truly confident. You're choosing the hard way over the easy way. I suggest you honestly hand over what Madam Chen and Fellow Daoist Deng want; it would be better for everyone."

Wang Mengbin did not reply. He formed a hand seal, and countless silver electric arcs surged from his body. A colossal thunderclap resounded from high above as a mass of black thunderclouds suddenly appeared in the sky, accompanied by flashing lightning, rumbling thunder, and howling winds.

"Since he doesn't want to settle amicably, there's nothing more to say. Attack, and kill him."

Chen Hong said coldly. She flicked her right hand, and a golden light shot out, transforming into a shimmering golden parasol that floated above their heads.

The golden parasol's surface was engraved with the image of a giant golden turtle. Its astonishing spiritual energy clearly marked it as a spiritual treasure.

The defensive spiritual treasure, the Golden Turtle Parasol, was crafted using the hide of a fifth-tier Golden Turtle Beast for its canopy and its bones for the ribs. It specifically countered attacks from lightning-attribute Dao techniques.

Single-attribute divine abilities are easily countered. Since they knew Wang Mengbin was a lightning cultivator, they naturally prepared treasures to counter lightning-attribute Dao techniques.

That wasn't all. Chen Hong took out a shimmering silver talisman, crushed it, and a dazzling silver light curtain appeared out of thin air, enveloping the three of them.

It was a Profound Light Element Transformation Talisman, a fifth-tier talisman that also countered lightning-attribute Dao techniques.

To deal with Wang Mengbin, they spared no effort, collecting both the Golden Turtle Parasol and the Profound Light Element Transformation Talisman. This demonstrated Chen Hong's extreme caution.

With three Soul Transformation cultivators facing Wang Mengbin alone, and having prepared both a defensive spiritual treasure and a fifth-tier talisman that countered lightning-attribute Dao techniques, if they were to lose this, Chen Hong would accept defeat wholeheartedly.

She believed her chances of winning were still very high; it was Wang Mengbin who should lose.

Wang Mengbin saw this scene and let out a cold snort.