「Inside Cyan Bamboo Castle.」
A soldier was reporting to the Fortress Lord about Long Ruzhen's assault on the Dock Wall.
"Those two women have astounding methods. They killed two Jianghu experts who blocked their way, then leaped onto the Dock Wall and have already killed eleven men in a row. They're still pushing forward. To reduce losses, the brothers are intentionally letting them advance deeper."
The Dock Fortress both recruited Jianghu People and trained its own army.
Jianghu People were convenient for carrying out petty crimes and covert operations, while the army was used for open battle. Each had its use.
"I understand. It's fine. We can wear down their stamina first. Capture them alive, and under no circumstances are you to harm them." Fortress Lord Duanmu Che nodded, waving for the messenger to withdraw.
After the soldier hurried away, Duanmu Che paced into a side hall.
A man who appeared to be around thirty years old was sitting in the grand preceptor chair that Duanmu Che favored.
His expression held a wicked charm.
Several of Duanmu Che's most beautiful concubines, all with flushed faces and disheveled clothes, surrounded the man, some massaging his legs, others kneading his shoulders.
A closer look would reveal that the seductive glint in their eyes was so thick it seemed almost tangible.
If not for the improper setting, they probably would have already been unable to resist joining the man for a tumble in the sheets.
Duanmu Che, however, didn't seem to mind in the slightest. Or perhaps, he didn't dare to mind.
He kept his eyes fixed forward, bowed to the man, and said with a deferential attitude, "Immortal Master, the woman has arrived."
The man had two eyebrows that slanted up sharply toward his temples. His eyes were as bright as stars in the night sky, yet they held a wicked glint, giving one the immediate impression that he was a wanton and unrestrained man who did as he pleased.
Although his features were not particularly outstanding, his skin was like cream and his aura was like fine jade, making him unforgettable at a single glance.
Hearing this, the man smiled. "Just as I expected. I want her alive, understand?"
"Rest assured, Immortal Master. There will be no mistakes."
"Is there still no news of Fang Ying?"
Duanmu Che said, "None. I'm afraid he hasn't received the news yet. But as long as we capture Long Ruzhen alive, he'll show up sooner or later."
The man's expression went distant for a moment, his thoughts unreadable.
After a long pause, he chuckled. "He's already here. And that woman, Long Ruzhen, actually has a Talisman on her. Heh."
Duanmu Che's face paled in alarm, clearly aware of what a Talisman was. "I'll make arrangements at once! I will not let her rescue Liao Leizhong!"
"Don't bother. Both she and Liao Leizhong are insignificant small fry. Now that our real target has arrived, we don't need to worry about them." As he spoke, the man slowly rose and suddenly flicked his sleeve.
Only then did Duanmu Che realize that a round shield entwined with vines had appeared before him, blocking a small, faintly glowing sword.
The collision was silent, as if two children's toys had merely bumped into each other.
But Duanmu Che had no doubt that if the Immortal Master hadn't saved him, the sharp aura of that Flying Sword would have already sliced him into a hundred pieces.
"A Flying Sword!" Having just brushed with death, a chill shot up from the base of his spine to the crown of his head, and he broke out in a cold sweat.
His soul barely settled, he paid no mind to his concubines and took to his heels.
As a Postnatal Martial Artist, he wanted no part in a battle between Immortal Masters.
Hadn't he heard the saying? When Immortals fight, Mortals suffer!
Seeing Duanmu Che flee, the women stared blankly for a moment before scrambling to run outside as well.
Du Youqian revealed himself. He didn't attack Duanmu Che again, but simply beckoned with his hand. The Flying Sword shot back to his side with a WHOOSH and hovered there, circling him.
Claiming one could judge another Cultivator's Cultivation level in a short time was nonsense—the stuff of novels.
Based on the feeling from their brief exchange just now, Du Youqian could only guess that this man was at the Qi Cultivation Middle Stage, probably at the Fifth or Sixth Layer of Cultivation.
'Good.'
Du Youqian breathed a sigh of relief.
'This isn't the worst-case scenario.'
If this man were at the Qi Cultivation Late Stage, he would have had no choice but to flee for his life.
As for getting revenge for Long Ruzhen and Liao Leizhong, that would have to wait for the next life.
However, Du Youqian had already made a guess before coming here.
The mastermind behind Cyan Bamboo Castle was likely a Tribulation Cultivator, and the possibility of them being at the Qi Cultivation Late Stage was very small.
If they were truly a Qi Cultivation Late Stage Tribulation Cultivator, they shouldn't be coveting a Token that led to some Loose Cultivator's abode.
After all, according to Elder Tao, most Loose Cultivators were actually at the Qi Cultivation Early and Middle Stage. It was very difficult for a Loose Cultivator to reach the Qi Cultivation Late Stage.
And what could a Qi Cultivation Late Stage Tribulation Cultivator possibly gain from robbing Qi Cultivation Early and Middle Stage Cultivators?
It would be a complete waste of time.
Therefore, the probability of this Tribulation Cultivator being at the Qi Cultivation Middle Stage was the highest.
The man studied Du Youqian for a few moments, then smiled faintly. "I didn't expect you to have such an immortal fate. I originally just wanted to get the Token from you, but now it seems the Token is no longer on you, is it?"
"Of course it isn't."
The man laughed. "Did you find the Loose Cultivator's legacy? No, wait, let me see. That Loose Cultivator should still be alive, right? You took him as your master, didn't you? What's his Cultivation level? Early Stage? Or Middle Stage?"
Du Youqian's expression remained neutral. "Guess."
"Unwilling to talk? Then don't blame me for capturing you and performing a brutal Soul Search." Before his words had even faded, the man attacked without hesitation.
Several dragon-like torrents of flame shot toward Du Youqian. The most insidious part was that several Wind Blades, sharp enough to easily slice through steel, were mixed within them.
Although he didn't know Du Youqian's specific Cultivation level, he could sense that Du Youqian was only at the Qi Cultivation Early Stage.
In his eyes, though it was just a casual strike, success was practically guaranteed.
Unexpectedly, Du Youqian crushed a Talisman to activate it. A circle of faint golden light spread out, silently blocking all of the Magic.
"Oh!" The man wasn't angry; instead, he seemed delighted. "A Golden Radiance Breaking Talisman! You've got some good stuff on you after all! Your master is quite generous. What other treasures does he have? Does he have any Upper Grade Spiritual Artifacts?"
From his tone, it sounded like he wanted to go rob Elder Tao.
Du Youqian really wanted to tell this guy the location of the dilapidated Daoist Temple and let him go find Elder Tao to claim his death wish.
'His Cultivation? His Cultivation is low. He's just a decrepit old man—pitiful, weak, and helpless. You should hurry up and go rob him!'
The man had never once considered that Elder Tao could be a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
In his view, for someone to accept a disciple like Du Youqian, who was already in his forties or fifties, meant they had to be a Loose Cultivator with low Magical Power. He guessed the master was at most at the Qi Cultivation Middle Stage, old and frail, with not much time left, hence the desperation to find an heir.
A True Cultivator with a proper Dao would be extremely cautious about accepting a disciple. At the very least, they would choose a talented prodigy, a piece of fine jade.
He looked down on Du Youqian, thinking he could suppress him with a wave of his hand. By extension, he naturally looked down on Du Youqian's master as well.
Du Youqian didn't answer, simply controlling his Flying Sword to attack again.
As for the Turtle Shell Shield, he kept it hidden, not yet deploying it.
For one, his Magical Power was insufficient to control both Magical Artifacts at the same time.
Secondly, that Upper Grade Defensive Spiritual Artifact was no small matter. Used at a critical moment, it could turn the tide of the battle.
The man gave a dry laugh. Although he didn't dare to grab the Flying Sword with his bare hands, he didn't take it too seriously either. He defended with his Vine Shield while casting Magic, intending to quickly take down Du Youqian.
With his Cultivation at the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer, if he were to dilly-dally in taking down a mere Qi Cultivation Early Stage practitioner, it would be utterly humiliating if word got out.