Chapter 68 Defeat

The longsword struck the blade, and the sound of metal clashing resounded.

A tremendous force surged forth, and Shen Lian was thrown backward uncontrollably. Blood welled up in his throat, but he forced it down and steadied himself with his knife.

"Is this the strength of the fifth level?" Shen Lian was secretly shocked. "It's indeed stronger than I imagined."

Although it was only a brief exchange, Shen Lian could clearly feel the gap between himself and Xiao Chen, a pure crushing defeat in strength and speed.

The fifth level of heaven is characterized by blood and qi as pure as mercury, internal organs glowing with light, and physical strength far exceeding that of the fourth level.

Xiao Chen slowly sheathed his sword, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "To be able to withstand one of my sword strikes without falling, you do have some skill."

Although he hadn't used his full strength in that sword strike, it was still enough to severely injure an ordinary peak fourth-level martial artist. Shen Lian was only at the mid-stage of the fourth level, yet he was able to withstand it; this strength far exceeded his expectations.

"Young Master Xiao, you flatter me." Shen Lian slowly raised his sword, pointing it at Xiao Chen. "The Fifth Heaven Realm is indeed powerful, but it is not invincible."

Xiao Chen laughed, a smile tinged with disdain: "Confidence is a good thing, but excessive confidence is foolish."

Having said that, Xiao Chen moved again, this time even faster. He swept his long sword horizontally, heading straight for Shen Lian.

Shen Lian activated the "Tiger Subduing Stance" footwork to its fullest extent, and his figure flashed to the left.

laugh!

The sword's edge grazed his neck, leaving a shallow bloodstain. The chilling sword intent made Shen Lian's hair stand on end; if he had been even a fraction slower, this strike would have taken his life.

"Good job dodging!" A hint of admiration flashed in Xiao Chen's eyes. "Again!"

Xiao Chen's swordplay changed again, unleashing nine consecutive strikes as he frantically attacked Shen Lian.

Shen Lian's footwork shifted rapidly as he frantically dodged Xiao Chen's attacks.

After thirty moves, Shen Lian had seven sword wounds on his body. Although none of them were fatal, they were covered in blood and he looked extremely disheveled.

"Shen Lian, admit defeat," Xiao Chen said calmly. "Your movement technique is indeed good, but the gap in cultivation level is too great. If I go all out, you won't last more than a hundred moves."

Leaning on his longsword, Shen Lian gasped, "Young Master Xiao, you seem to have forgotten that this is my home turf, haven't you?"

Shen Lian then stomped his foot hard.

Click!

The ground suddenly collapsed, revealing a deep pit two zhang in diameter. The bottom of the pit was filled with sharpened bamboo thorns, which Tang Xue had soaked in the juice of poisonous plants.

Xiao Chen reacted extremely quickly, leaping backward the instant the pit collapsed and landing steadily on the edge. However, his ten men were not so lucky; three of them couldn't dodge in time and fell into the pit with screams.

Inside the poison pit, three martial artists struggled in agony. Bamboo thorns pierced their flesh, and the poison spread rapidly. Within moments, the three of them foamed at the mouth and passed out.

The poisonous herb juice was made by Tang Xue using "bewitching herbs" collected from the edge of the swamp. It can paralyze a person's whole body, cause blood stasis, and render them unable to move for twelve hours.

Xiao Chen glanced at his men in the pit, his face so dark it could drip water. He had originally thought that with his overwhelming strength, Shen Lian and the others would have no choice but to surrender, but he hadn't expected them to be so troublesome, with traps everywhere and deadly dangers at every turn.

"Shen Lian, I admit I underestimated you." Xiao Chen slowly raised his longsword, the blade gleaming with a faint golden light. "But this ends here. I will make you understand that before true power, all scheming is futile."

Xiao Chen's blood and qi surged, and his robes fluttered even without wind.

Shen Lian felt unprecedented pressure.

call out!call out!

Several whooshing sounds rang out, and several figures emerged from behind the ancient tree. It was Lin Feng, Chu Wen, and the others. They took advantageous positions and surrounded Xiao Chen.

After scanning the room, Xiao Chen smiled and said, "They're all out. That's good, it saves me the trouble of looking for them one by one."

Lin Feng held his long sword horizontally and said coldly, "Xiao Chen, this is the Black Mist Forest, not your Xiao family's backyard. Today, I'll give you a good beating, this so-called Xiao family prodigy, and let you know that there are always people more capable than you."

"You think you can take me? That's wishful thinking," Xiao Chen sneered. Then, Xiao Chen strode forward and charged straight at Shen Lian and the others.

clang!clang!clang!

A series of collisions rang out, and Lin Feng was forced back, his right hand almost unable to grip the knife; Chu Wen's longsword was slashed open, and his arm trembled uncontrollably.

Chen Yun and Zhao Ming were both forced to retreat by Xiao Chen.

"The gap is too big..." Chu Wen said through gritted teeth.

Xiao Chen sneered, "Now you know the difference between us, right?"

Shen Lian stared intently at Xiao Chen, then suddenly laughed: "Xiao Chen, you are very strong, but you have also made a fatal mistake."

"Oh?" Xiao Chen looked at Shen Lian with slight surprise. "I'd like to hear more details."

"You're too arrogant." Shen Lian's eyes grew cold. "So arrogant that you think you can sweep everything away with your own strength. But you've forgotten that this is a trial, not a life-or-death duel arena. We naturally have ways to take you down."

After saying that, Shen Lian took out a bamboo whistle and blew it loudly.

The next moment, a series of rapid footsteps sounded from all directions, and more than twenty figures emerged from the mist, including Zhang Meng, Li He, Tang Xue, and others.

"These people..." Xiao Chen's pupils contracted slightly.

Shen Lian said calmly, "Do you think we've only set a trap? We're also contacting other people you're hunting. The contestants in the Black Mist Forest aren't just from Qingzhou Prefecture."

The crowd immediately surrounded Xiao Chen and his group. Most of these people were injured and their combat strength was between the early and middle stages of the fourth level of the Heavenly Realm. Individually, none of them were Xiao Chen's match.

But with so many people working together, even those at the Fifth Heaven dare not underestimate them.

"Brother Chen, what should we do now?" a young man couldn't help but ask.

Xiao Chen tightened his grip on the sword slightly: "To be able to gather so many people, it seems you do have some skills."

A man with a scar on his face spoke up, "If we don't join forces, you'll eat us up one by one. Xiao Chen, how many points have you and your men stolen in these five days? How many people have you injured?"

"That's right! Brother Wang from Beichuan County was severely injured by you just because he refused to hand over his points!"

"My brother is still unconscious!"

An angry accusation rose from the crowd.

Xiao Chen said expressionlessly, "The victor is king, the loser is villain; that's the rule of this trial. If you're not as skilled, you should accept your fate."

"Then today, let's see who should accept their fate," Shen Lian said, pointing his long sword.

The group quickly changed formations, forming eight small battle formations of three people each. Each formation consisted of one main attacker and two support attackers, combining offense and defense.

Xiao Chen's eyes were serious. He was confident of winning in a one-on-one or even one-on-five situation, but he was also troubled by the current situation.

"kill!"

Shen Lian launched the first attack, followed closely by Lin Feng and Chu Wen. The three of them charged straight at Xiao Chen, while the other two groups attacked Xiao Chen from different directions.

"Let me see what you're made of!" Xiao Chen roared, brandishing his longsword and forcefully deflecting all the attacks.

clang!clang!clang!

The clanging of metal echoed throughout the ancient tree area.

Xiao Chen precisely parried each incoming weapon with his sword, but his expression grew increasingly grim as he consumed his vital energy with each strike he received.

Shen Lian and the others took turns attacking, trying to wear him down.

If this continues, we'll be worn down sooner or later.

Xiao Chen swept his long sword horizontally, forcing the three people on his right back, and then his body shot backward.

Just as he stepped back, he suddenly heard a cracking sound under his feet.

Another trap!

Xiao Chen's expression changed drastically. He lightly touched the ground with his toes and forcibly rose three zhang into the air, narrowly avoiding the iron caltrops that shot out from below.

"A good opportunity!" Shen Lian seized the opportunity and took out three talismans.

This is a "Spirit Binding Talisman" that he bought from Wan Dan Pavilion. It was originally intended to deal with demonic beasts, but he never expected it to be used on Xiao Chen now.

call out!call out!call out!

Shen Lian suddenly threw out three talismans, which transformed into three streaks of green light that wrapped around Xiao Chen's limbs.

"A mere trick!" Xiao Chen sneered, his blood and qi surging within him, instantly shattering the two beams of azure light. However, the third beam of azure light seized the opportunity to entangle his left leg.

"Wave-Cutting Style!"

Shen Lian charged forward with his sword, unleashing three consecutive slashes that enveloped Xiao Chen with fierce sword energy.

Xiao Chen's left leg was bound by the blue light, so he could only use his longsword to block.

laugh!

The long sword sliced ​​across Xiao Chen's right arm, drawing a spray of blood.

"Shen Lian, you're asking for death!" Enraged, Xiao Chen thrust his long sword at Shen Lian like a venomous dragon emerging from its lair.

Lin Feng attacked from the side, his longsword sweeping across and striking the sword hard.

clang!

Lin Feng was blasted away by a powerful force and crashed into an ancient tree, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Xiao Chen broke free from the binding of the 'Spirit Binding Talisman'. Blood continued to gush from the wound on his right arm, and a look of fear appeared in his eyes.

Shen Lian launched another attack, and the others rushed towards Xiao Chen.

Xiao Chen fought and retreated, sustaining several more wounds. Although his strength far surpassed that of the others, he gradually fell into a disadvantageous position due to the numerical disadvantage and the effects of his injuries.

"Young Master Xiao, let's retreat!" several subordinates shouted urgently.

Xiao Chen gritted his teeth and then took out a black bead.

"Watch out! It's 'Thunderbolt'!" someone exclaimed.

The "Thunderbolt" is a one-time-use magical artifact crafted by a weapon refiner, and it is extremely expensive. Its power is equivalent to a full-force attack from a fifth-level martial artist, and it is usually used as a trump card for survival.

Shen Lian's expression changed drastically: "Everyone, scatter!"

Xiao Chen slammed the Thunderbolt into the ground.

Boom!

A deafening explosion rang out, billowing smoke and flying debris. The powerful shockwave sent several people flying.

When the smoke and dust cleared, Xiao Chen had already disappeared.

"He got away..." Chu Wen said through gritted teeth.

Shen Lian clutched his chest, the aftershocks of the explosion still making his blood boil. He looked in the direction Xiao Chen had fled, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

"Brother Shen, should we go after them?" Zhao Ming asked.

Shen Lian shook his head and said, "Don't pursue a desperate enemy. Besides, although Xiao Chen is injured, he still has the strength to fight. If we chase after him, we may not gain any advantage."

He turned to the crowd and asked, "How is everyone doing?"

After taking stock, six people were found to be seriously injured, but none were in life-threatening condition. Lin Feng had a broken rib, Chu Wen had a broken left arm, and Chen Yun and Zhao Ming suffered minor injuries.

Zhang Meng walked over, clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Brother Shen, thank you very much for today. If it weren't for you organizing everyone to join forces, we would have been defeated one by one by Xiao Chen and his men sooner or later."

"No need to be polite," Shen Lian said. "Xiao Chen and Chu Chunqiu have joined forces to clear the area. If we don't stick together, we'll only face certain death."

A pretty woman stepped forward: "Senior Brother Shen, what should we do next? Xiao Chen suffered such a great loss, he will definitely come back stronger. And what about Chu Chunqiu..."

Shen Lian pondered for a moment: "Heal your injuries first. Everyone retreat to the depths of the ancient tree area, where we have prepared hiding places beforehand. We'll make further plans after your injuries have healed."

The group nodded and helped each other back to the ancient tree area.

Shen Lian walked at the back, activated the [Combat Power Detection] to scan the surroundings, and only after confirming that there were no ambushes did he catch up with the group.

Deep within the ancient tree area lies a natural cave with a hidden entrance and a clear spring inside, making it an excellent hiding place.

The crowd was packed inside the cave, making it feel cramped, but no one cared about that at the moment.

Shen Lian took out all the healing pills and distributed them to the most seriously injured. He himself only took one healing pill, saving the best ones for Lin Feng and Chu Wen.

Night had fallen, and the cave was completely silent.

Shen Lian leaned against the stone wall, circulating the "Tiger-Taming Stance" mental technique to heal his injuries. Although he had forced Xiao Chen back in today's battle, he knew that the real crisis had only just begun.

Xiao Chen and Chu Chunqiu will never let this go.

Moreover, tomorrow is the last day of the trial. Based on past experience, the last day is often the most brutal, when all participants will fight to the death.

"Senior Brother Shen, are you still awake?" Chen Yun asked softly.

Shen Lian opened his eyes: "I can't sleep. Junior Sister Chen, you should go and rest. We still need to gather herbs tomorrow."

Chen Yun sat down next to Shen Lian: "Senior Brother Shen, do you think we can win?"

Shen Lian was silent for a moment: "I don't know. But I do know that if we don't fight, we will definitely lose."

"But Chu Chunqiu and Xiao Chen are both at the fifth level of the Heavenly Realm, and they have so many subordinates..."

"So what if it's the fifth level?" Shen Lian laughed. "Didn't Xiao Chen also escape injured today? With the right tactics, it's not impossible to win against a stronger opponent."

Chen Yun nodded slightly and said, "Senior Brother Shen, I believe you."

Shen Lian smiled slightly: "Go to sleep and get some rest."

Chen Yun nodded and returned to her seat.

Shen Lian took a deep breath. Although they had forced Xiao Chen to retreat today, they had also paid a considerable price.

Lin Feng and Chu Wen were seriously injured and would need at least two days to recover their strength, while the trial was only one day long, and time was of the essence.

"I must find a way to buy some time..." Shen Lian thought to himself.

Late at night, somewhere in the Black Mist Forest.

Xiao Chen leaned against an ancient tree, his right arm wound already bandaged. Four of his men surrounded him, all injured and in a sorry state.

"Young Master Xiao, how are your injuries?" a young man asked with concern.

A ruthless glint flashed in Xiao Chen's eyes: "My injuries are nothing to worry about, but Shen Lian must be eliminated. I, Xiao Chen, will repay this humiliation a hundredfold."

"But Young Master Xiao, Shen Lian's side has many more people and is more powerful, we..."

"Too many people?" Xiao Chen sneered. "On the last day of the trial, everyone will be fighting desperately for points. At that time, the so-called alliance will be no match for you."

He took out a jade pendant from his pocket and crushed it.

The jade pendant transformed into specks of firefly light and dissipated into the air.

"I've already informed Chu Chunqiu to bring his men over," Xiao Chen said coldly. "Tomorrow is the day Shen Lian and the others will die."

The four subordinates exchanged glances, their eyes gleaming with excitement.

Chu Chunqiu, the number one genius of Qingzhou Prefecture, is at the peak of the fifth level of the Heavenly Realm, only one step away from the sixth level. With him making a move, Shen Lian is certain to die.

"Young Master Xiao, will Young Master Chu really come?" a thin young man couldn't help but ask.

Xiao Chen sneered, "Chu Chunqiu and I made a pact long ago that we would join forces to annihilate Shen Lian once we discovered his whereabouts. Today, I've crushed the jade token, and he will surely come."

"But..." the other hesitated, "Isn't Young Master Chu currently besieging Qin Lie and Lin Qing'er? Can he spare the time?"

"Qin Lie and Lin Qing'er are strong, but they are only at the peak of the fourth level of the Heavenly Realm," Xiao Chen said calmly. "Chu Chunqiu is already at the peak of the fifth level of the Heavenly Realm, which is more than enough to deal with them. Moreover, the purpose of besieging Qin Lie is to lure out Shen Lian."

Everyone then realized that this was all a scheme set up by Chu Chunqiu and Xiao Chen to hunt down the contestants with the highest scores.

The thin young man exclaimed, "So, Shen Lian and the others are just sitting ducks? We can manipulate them at will."

Xiao Chen sneered, "Tomorrow will be the day to close the net."

……

Ancient tree area, caves.

"Senior Brother Shen," Chu Wen's low, hoarse voice rang out. His left arm was splinted. "Xiao Chen suffered a great loss today, and he will surely come out in full force tomorrow. Although we have more than twenty people, most of them are injured, and our fighting strength is incomplete. If Chu Chunqiu really comes in person..."

"I understand." Shen Lian opened his eyes, the campfire dancing in them. "So we need to do something tonight."

Chu Wen was taken aback: "What is it?"

Shen Lian got up and looked around the cave. The few who were less seriously injured were already fast asleep, while Zhang Meng, Li He, Tang Xue, and others were taking turns keeping watch.

"Contact Qin Lie and Lin Qing'er," Shen Lian said slowly.

The cave fell silent instantly.

Several martial artists who were still awake opened their eyes wide and looked at Shen Lian.

"Qin Lie? Lin Qing'er?" Zhang Meng lowered his voice. "Brother Shen, they are local prodigies of Qingzhou Prefecture, arrogant and haughty. Moreover, I heard they are currently being besieged by Chu Chunqiu and are barely able to protect themselves. Why would they join forces with us?"

"It is precisely because we are surrounded that we have the possibility of joining forces." Shen Lian walked to the center of the cave and lowered his voice. "In today's battle, Xiao Chen used the Thunderbolt to escape. If Chu Chunqiu wants to annihilate us in one fell swoop tomorrow, he must first deal with the two variables, Qin Lie and Lin Qing'er. Otherwise, once we join forces, even if he is at the peak of the fifth level of heaven, he will have to be wary."

A thoughtful look flashed in Chu Wen's eyes: "Brother Shen means... that Chu Chunqiu is likely currently focusing all his efforts on attacking Qin Lie and his companion?"

"That's right." Shen Lian nodded. "Qin Lie and Lin Qing'er are both at the peak of the fourth level of the Heavenly Realm, and their strength is not weak. If Chu Chunqiu wants to deal with them quickly, he must go all out. This is our opportunity."

Chen Yun said softly, "Senior Brother Shen wants to take this opportunity to form an alliance with Qin Lie and the others?"

"It's not an alliance, it's a deal." A sharp glint flashed in Shen Lian's eyes. "We rescue them from their predicament, and they help us deal with Chu Chunqiu. We each get what we need, and neither of us owes the other anything."

Zhao Ming frowned: "But how do we contact them? The Black Mist Forest is so vast, and we don't know their exact location."

Shen Lian took out a yellowed talisman from his pocket. The talisman had intricate patterns and a faint spiritual light flowing across it.

"A communication talisman?" Chu Wen exclaimed in surprise. "Brother Shen, you actually have one?"

"I found it in Zhou Yang's backpack," Shen Lian said calmly. "It was originally used by martial artists in Heishan County for communication. I've kept it for a while in case of emergency."

He walked to the cave entrance and looked into the depths of the thick fog: "The communication talisman can lock onto talismans of the same origin within a radius of ten miles."

Tang Xue couldn't help but ask, "But what if... Qin Lie and the others are unwilling to join forces with us?"

Shen Lian was silent for a moment: "Then let fate decide for us."

Chu Chunqiu and Xiao Chen joined forces, both at the fifth level of the Heavenly Realm, with at least twenty fourth-level Heavenly Realm warriors under their command. On their side, six were seriously injured, more than half were lightly injured, and fewer than fifteen were truly capable of fighting. The disparity in strength was overwhelming, putting them in a near-desperate situation.

"I'll go," Lin Feng suddenly said. He had already stood up without anyone noticing.

Shen Lian shook his head and said, "Your injury..."

"I won't die." Lin Feng interrupted him. "Someone needs to deliver the communication talisman. I'm the fastest here, so even if we encounter an ambush, I'm confident I can escape."

Chu Wen also stood up: "I'll go with you. The two of us can look after each other."

Looking into their determined eyes, Shen Lian finally nodded: "Be extremely careful. If things become unmanageable, retreat immediately and prioritize your own safety."

Lin Feng and Chu Wen clasped their hands in greeting, accepted the communication talisman, and then disappeared into the thick fog in a flash.

The cave returned to silence.

Located five miles west of the Broken Soul Cliff, northeast of the Black Mist Forest.

Qin Lie leaned against an ancient tree, his longsword planted on the ground, his chest heaving violently. His blue martial arts attire was soaked in blood, and a wound on his left shoulder was still bleeding. Not far away, Lin Qing'er sat cross-legged, regulating her breathing, a jade flute resting on her lap, her face as pale as paper.

Around the two, there were seven or eight corpses lying haphazardly.

These were all Chu Chunqiu's subordinates.

"Cough..." Qin Lie coughed up a mouthful of blood. "That bastard Chu Chunqiu actually used such despicable means."

Lin Qing'er opened her eyes: "He deliberately let us discover the traces of the 'Soul-Gathering Grass' to lure us into a trap. Five peak fourth-level cultivators and twelve mid-fourth-level cultivators—if we hadn't fought desperately to tear open an opening, we would have certainly died tonight."

Qin Lie grinned and said, "However, he also paid a price. Of those three peak fourth-level experts, I killed one and seriously injured two others. In a short period of time, he lost at least 30% of his elite troops."

"But we're exhausted too," Lin Qing'er sighed softly. "Your injuries are too severe, and my sonic attack backfired. I'll need at least three days to recover my fighting strength. And tomorrow... is the last day of the trial."

Qin Lie fell silent; Chu Chunqiu would never let them go.

Although they managed to break through today's encirclement with their lives, Chu Chunqiu's main force remained intact. If they return tomorrow, they will have no chance of survival.

"Damn it, I should have listened to my father and brought more life-saving treasures." Qin Lie cursed, took out a jade bottle from his pocket, poured out the last two healing pills, and threw one to Lin Qing'er. "Heal first, recover as much as you can. At worst, we'll fight to the death tomorrow. Even if we die, we'll take Chu Chunqiu down with us."

Lin Qing'er took the pill, but didn't swallow it immediately. She looked up into the depths of the thick fog, a strange glint in her eyes: "Someone's coming."

Qin Lie gripped his longsword tightly in an instant.

Then two people came out; they were Lin Feng and Chu Wen.

"Brother Qin, Miss Lin, I apologize for disturbing you," Chu Wen said, cupping his fists. "I am Chu Wen from Baiyun County, and this is Lin Feng."

Qin Lie asked warily, "How did you find this place?"

Lin Feng cut to the chase, saying, "Shen Lian sent us."

"Shen Lian?" Lin Qing'er was slightly taken aback. "The Shen Lian who defeated Zhou Yang and Chen Yuan in the Stone Forest battle, and who killed the Wolf King in Wind Wolf Valley?"

"That's right." Chu Wen nodded. "Brother Shen deduced that you two are being besieged by Chu Chunqiu, and specifically ordered us to come and make contact. This is a communication talisman; inject your true energy to communicate with Brother Shen."

Qin Lie and Lin Qing'er exchanged a glance, both seeing the surprise in each other's eyes.

They had only been surrounded for two hours, yet Shen Lian already knew and even sent people to their door. His intelligence capabilities and responsiveness far exceeded their expectations.

Qin Lie took the communication talisman, pondered for a moment, and infused it with a wisp of true energy.

The talisman glowed faintly, and Shen Lian's voice came from it, calm and clear: "Brother Qin, Miss Lin, please forgive me for disturbing you so late at night."

Qin Lie said in a deep voice, "Shen Lian, why did you send someone to find us?"

"Of course, it's for cooperation." Shen Lian said succinctly, "Today, Xiao Chen led his men to attack the Ancient Tree District and was repelled by us, but tomorrow he will definitely join forces with Chu Chunqiu to launch a counterattack. And the two of you must be in a precarious situation right now."

Lin Qing'er asked, "How did Young Master Shen find out?"

"It's a guess," Shen Lian said. "If Chu Chunqiu wants to deal with us with all his might, he must first eliminate any worries. Your two strengths are exceptional, and they are his biggest variable. So I guess he must have made a move against you two today."

Qin Lie sneered, "You guessed right. That bastard used bait to lure us into an ambush. Although we broke through, we were seriously injured. Shen Lian, since you know all this, you still dare to cooperate with us? We're just a burden now."

"The injuries can be healed," Shen Lian said. "I have some healing pills here, not many, but enough to restore you two to half your fighting strength. Besides... are you two really willing to withdraw from the trial now, letting Chu Chunqiu and Xiao Chen gloat?"

Qin Lie tightened his grip on the sword.

Are you willing to accept this?

How could I possibly accept this!

Qin Lie is a once-in-a-century genius of the Qin family in Qingzhou Prefecture. He has been invincible among his peers since childhood. How could he have suffered such humiliation? He was ambushed and killed by Chu Chunqiu. He fought desperately to break through the encirclement like a stray dog. If he does not avenge this, his martial arts heart will be tarnished.

"How do you want to cooperate?" Qin Lie took a deep breath.

Shen Lian said, "I hope the two of you will meet at 'Luan Shi Po,' ten miles east of the Ancient Tree Area, at Chen Shi (7-9 AM) tomorrow. We will join forces to ambush and defeat Chu Chunqiu and Xiao Chen."

Lin Qing'er asked softly, "How can Young Master Shen be so sure that Chu Chunqiu would take the rocky slope?"

"Because that's the shortest route from Broken Soul Cliff to the Ancient Tree Area," Shen Lian said. "Chu Chunqiu is eager to annihilate us, so he won't take a detour. Besides, the terrain of the Rocky Slope is complex and suitable for an ambush. Chu Chunqiu thinks he's got everything figured out, so let's give him a 'surprise'."

The light from the communication talisman slowly faded.

Qin Lie and Lin Qing'er remained silent for a long time.

"What do you think?" Qin Lie asked.

Lin Qing'er slowly said, "Shen Lian is a meticulous and bold man. He used a feint attack in the Stone Forest battle, and Fenglang Valley won against overwhelming odds. Today, he was able to escape unscathed from Xiao Chen's siege... He is definitely not an ordinary person."

"And the fact that he dared to contact us first means he already has a detailed plan." Qin Lie gripped the communication talisman tightly. "Shall we take a gamble?"

Lin Qing'er looked at Lin Feng and Chu Wen: "How are your injuries?"

Chu Wen smiled wryly: "To be honest, Miss Lin, we also came injured. Brother Lin's right arm is broken, and mine is the same, so our fighting strength is less than 60% of what it usually is. On Brother Shen's side, six are seriously injured, more than half are lightly injured, and fewer than fifteen are capable of fighting."

Qin Lie and Lin Qing'er were shocked.

Despite the brutality of the battle, Shen Lian was still able to organize a counterattack and even plot an ambush against Chu Chunqiu, which was truly audacious.

"Where are the pills?" Qin Lie asked.

Lin Feng took out two jade bottles from his robes: "These are Brother Shen's last remaining 'Bone-Regenerating Pills' and 'Rejuvenation Pills,' three of each. The Bone-Regenerating Pills are for external use, and the Rejuvenation Pills are for internal use. They can help you two recover quickly."

Qin Lie took the jade bottle, opened it, and smelled it. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes: "A third-grade pill? Shen Lian is quite generous."

A third-grade elixir is a life-saving treasure in a place like the Black Mist Forest. Shen Lian's willingness to take it out shows his sincerity.

Lin Qing'er swallowed a Rejuvenation Pill, closed her eyes to regulate her breathing for a moment, and her face regained a bit of color: "The medicine is indeed very effective. I should be able to recover 50% of my combat strength within two hours."

Qin Lie also took the pill and sprinkled the bone-healing powder on his shoulder wound. The moment the powder touched his skin, he felt a cool, tingling sensation, and the bleeding stopped immediately.

"Tell Shen Lian," Qin Lie said, looking at Lin Feng, "meet at Luanshi Slope tomorrow at Chenshi (7-9 AM)."

Lin Feng and Chu Wen clasped their hands in a fist salute, then turned and disappeared into the thick fog.

Qin Lie gazed in the direction the two had left and suddenly laughed, "I'm afraid something big is going to happen in Qingzhou Prefecture's demon-hunting trial this time."

Lin Qing'er gently stroked her jade flute: "Chu Chunqiu and Xiao Chen joined forces, thinking victory was assured. Unfortunately... they encountered Shen Lian."

"Yes." Qin Lie's eyes gleamed with fighting spirit. "I'm starting to look forward to tomorrow."

At 3:45 AM, in the cave of the ancient tree area.

Lin Feng and Chu Wen returned safely, bringing back news that Qin Lie and Lin Qing'er had agreed to cooperate.

The people inside the cave perked up.

"That's great!" Zhang Meng exclaimed excitedly. "With Qin Lie and Lin Qing'er joining us, our chances of winning have greatly increased!"

Shen Lian remained calm: "Don't be too happy yet. Qin Lie and Lin Qing'er are seriously injured. Even with the help of pills, they can only recover 50% of their combat strength by tomorrow. On our side, there are no more than ten people who can exert 70% of their combat strength."

He spread out the map and pointed to the rocky slope: "This place is strategically important, with jagged rocks, making it easy to defend but difficult to attack. But Chu Chunqiu isn't a fool; he will definitely send someone to scout first."

Chu Wen said, "Brother Shen means..."

"A feint to the east while attacking in the west." Shen Lian moved his finger across the map. "Tomorrow at dawn, we will split into three groups. The first group, led by me, will consist of eight men. We will set up an ambush on the front of the rocky slope, creating the illusion of a desperate defense."

"Second route, Lin Feng, Chu Wen, Chen Yun, and Zhao Ming, the four of you are the most seriously injured, so do not participate in the frontal battle. Your task is to set up a feint at 'Misty Gorge,' three miles west of Luanshi Slope, to create the illusion of a large force being stationed there."

Lin Feng frowned: "Will Chu Chunqiu believe that?"

"He had no choice but to believe it," Shen Lian said, "because the third method is the real killing move."

Everyone looked at him.

Shen Lian pointed to an inconspicuous mark on the map: "'Eagle Beak Cliff' overlooks the entire Rocky Slope. Qin Lie and Lin Qing'er will ambush here in advance, and after Chu Chunqiu's main force enters the Rocky Slope, they will launch a surprise attack from the rear, catching them off guard."

Tang Xue's eyes lit up: "A pincer attack!"

"Good." Shen Lian continued, "Zhang Meng, Li He, you lead the rest of the men and attack from the flanks after the battle begins to break up the enemy's formation."

Zhang Meng clenched his fist: "Understood!"

"Remember, the key to this battle is not about killing." Shen Lian looked around at everyone. "Although Chu Chunqiu and Xiao Chen have many men, they are not a united front. There are already conflicts between the local martial artists of Qingzhou Prefecture and the martial artists of other prefectures. Once the battle turns against them, internal strife will inevitably arise, and that will be our opportunity."

Chu Wen suddenly realized and said, "Brother Shen, are you trying to win me over psychologically?"

Shen Lian nodded and said, "We are outnumbered and cannot fight them head-on. But as long as we disrupt their formation and create chaos, we will have a chance to defeat them one by one."

Everyone split up to prepare.

Outside the cave, the sky was gradually brightening.

The thick fog began to shift, and the early birdsong echoed through the forest. But beneath this tranquility, danger was brewing.

The hour of Chen (7-9 AM) is approaching.

On the rocky slope, Shen Lian led eight people to hide behind the rocks. Each of them was covered in medicinal mud to conceal their scent, blending into the surrounding environment.

Three miles to the east, in a thicket of thorns, Zhang Meng and his men were already in position.

To the west, towards the direction of Misty Gorge, the faint smoke of a campfire can be seen, a decoy set up by Lin Feng and his three companions.

At the top of Eagle's Beak Cliff, Qin Lie and Lin Qing'er stood side by side, looking down.

"Shen Lian is a master strategist," Qin Lie couldn't help but exclaim. "He lured the enemy in from the front at Luanshi Slope, used Misty Gorge as a feint, launched a surprise attack at Eagle's Beak Cliff, and flanked us at Thorn Forest. The four routes were coordinated and linked together. Even if Chu Chunqiu were as cautious as he was, he would never have imagined that we had such a plan."

Lin Qing'er said softly, "But all of this is on the premise that Chu Chunqiu will follow the route he envisions."

"He definitely will," Qin Lie said confidently. "Chu Chunqiu is arrogant and cares a lot about his reputation. After failing to ambush us today, he will definitely be eager to get revenge. The shortest route from Broken Soul Cliff to the Ancient Tree Area is through the Rocky Slope; he won't take the long way around."

A whooshing sound came from afar.

The two immediately lowered their bodies.

Through the thick fog, more than a dozen figures sped towards them, the leader being Chu Chunqiu. He was dressed in black, with a long spear at his waist, his face cold and stern, and his eyes filled with undisguised killing intent.

Behind him, Xiao Chen's right arm was bandaged, and his face was gloomy. Further behind were more than twenty martial artists, each with a strong aura, the weakest being at the mid-stage of the fourth level of the Heavenly Realm.

"Stop." Chu Chunqiu suddenly raised his hand.

The group stopped about a hundred feet in front of the rocky slope.

Xiao Chen frowned: "Brother Chu, what's wrong?"

Chu Chunqiu squinted at the rocky slope ahead: "It's too quiet."

A tall, thin young man stepped forward from behind him: "Young Master Chu, I have scouted the area beforehand, and Shen Lian and his men are indeed hiding on the rocky slope. However, it seems they have split up; there are traces of campfires in the Misty Gorge on the west side, so some of them may be stationed there."

"Divide your forces?" Chu Chunqiu sneered. "Shen Lian is clever enough to know that concentrating his forces is a dead end. Unfortunately... in the face of absolute power, these little tricks are meaningless."

Xiao Chen said in a low voice, "Brother Chu, we must not be careless. Shen Lian is a cunning man; I fell into his trap yesterday."

"That's because you're stupid," Chu Chunqiu said bluntly. "With me here today, he can't cause any trouble."

He pointed his spear: "First team, attack from the front to probe their strength. Second team, circle around to the west to investigate Misty Gorge. Third team, follow me and Xiao Chen to flank from the left. Remember, once you spot Shen Lian, kill him without mercy!"

"yes!"

More than 20 people acted in three groups.

The first team of eight people carefully entered the rocky slope.