Chapter 166: Encountering an Ambush Along the Way

Jun Wushuang left the Xuanhuang Sacred Land with full satisfaction.

Although the Master of the Xuanhuang Sacred Land had tried to persuade him to stay and refine the Seven-Colored Saint Spirit Mushroom within the sacred grounds before departing, Jun Wushuang had his mind set on the Qingyun Martial Dao Academy. He declined the warm hospitality and embarked on the return journey alongside Yao Wuchen.

"Father, aren't you placing far too much importance on him?"

"I've already made inquiries. He hails from a minor family, devoid of power, influence, or background. Within the Great Qian Dynasty, he is merely a bumpkin, let alone comparable to our sacred land."

"If you ask me, we shouldn't have given them the Seven-Colored Saint Spirit Mushroom at all. We could have casually handed over any saint-tier herb with negligible medicinal efficacy. As long as it was a saint-tier herb, it wouldn't have violated your promise."

"Not only did you give them the Seven-Colored Saint Spirit Mushroom, but you also bestowed the Xuanhuang Sacred Token upon them—to see the token is to see you in person. If they use the token outside to masquerade under our authority and stir up trouble, it will only bring us endless headaches."

"What's more, you actually intend to make him a legacy disciple. How could that even be possible? Every single legacy disciple of our sacred land is a dragon or phoenix among men. A bumpkin like him isn't even qualified to join our Xuanhuang Sacred Land, let alone hold the position of a legacy disciple."

"Father, I simply don't understand!"

Xiao Luoyan stood beside the Master of the Xuanhuang Sacred Land, her brows furrowed tightly.

Since childhood, she had been heavily sheltered by her father.

All the pressures had been borne entirely by her elder sister, Xiao Chenyu.

Consequently, she had developed a willful and spoiled temperament.

Regarding Yao Wuchen and Jun Wushuang, she had harbored preconceived biases and found them displeasing to the eye.

At this moment, she was filled with incomprehension and indignation at the high regard her father showed them.

"Luoyan, how is your sister doing?"

Without offering an explanation, the Master of the Xuanhuang Sacred Land steered the conversation elsewhere, inquiring about Xiao Chenyu's condition.

"My sister is out of danger, though she is still somewhat weak. When I came over, she had just fallen asleep."

While Xiao Luoyan could be somewhat sharp-tongued toward outsiders, she remained exceptionally considerate toward her father and sister.

She had stayed by her sister's side without taking a single step away until she fell asleep, which was when she finally came to see her father.

"They saved your sister's life, and they saved our entire family. No matter what we give them, it is well worth it."

"Besides, although that Jun Wushuang comes from a humble background, his ability to achieve such feats only serves to prove his extraordinary nature."

"I know you hold certain prejudices against them, but I hope you can learn to see the bright sides they possess."

"You are still young; in time, you will gradually understand."

The Master of the Xuanhuang Sacred Land affectionately ruffled Xiao Luoyan's hair, offering a gentle, instructive smile.

Yet he also knew that his second daughter had been thoroughly spoiled by him.

Xiao Luoyan wrinkled her delicate nose, her impression of Jun Wushuang remaining unfavorable.

***

"Master, the Master of the Xuanhuang Sacred Land was brimming with sincerity. Why did you refuse him?"

Once they had left the Xuanhuang Sacred Land, Yao Wuchen could no longer contain his curiosity and asked.

Had anyone else been in his shoes, they would have accepted such an opportunity with sheer joy.

Yet Jun Wushuang had flat-out rejected it.

This baffled Yao Wuchen completely.

"Within the Great Qian Dynasty, there are people I cannot let go of."

"As for the Xuanhuang Sacred Land, we can speak of it another time!"

Jun Wushuang did not offer a detailed explanation.

Wonderful though the Xuanhuang Sacred Land might be, it was not what Jun Wushuang desired.

Back in the Great Qian Dynasty, there was the Jun family, his father, as well as Lin Mengyao and Mo Xingyun.

All of these individuals constantly weighed heavily on his mind.

Furthermore, Jun Wushuang still had numerous matters left unfinished.

The downfall of the Nangong and Dongfang clans.
The destruction of the Imperial Martial Dao Academy.
The elimination of the hidden threat posed by the Crown Prince.
And taking revenge on Ji Qingchen.

These tasks were things Jun Wushuang had to accomplish.

Thus, he turned down the goodwill of the Master of the Xuanhuang Sacred Land.

"Master, I still feel this is such a pity!"

Yao Wuchen sighed, genuinely feeling a sense of regret on Jun Wushuang's behalf.

"Very well, let us make haste back!"

Jun Wushuang cut the topic short.

His one-month pact with Xu Wuya had already passed by more than ten days, and he needed to pick up the pace.

He had no intention of missing the chance to suppress the Imperial Martial Dao Academy.

Yao Wuchen let out an inner sigh, not daring to speak further.

He maneuvered the Moonlight Dao Boat, carrying Jun Wushuang as the two of them sped directly toward the Great Qian Dynasty.

"Chu Danqing is here!"

Three days later, Jun Wushuang suddenly spoke up, alerting Yao Wuchen.

"What?"

Yao Wuchen was startled, instantly expanding his divine sense outward, yet he detected no trace of Chu Danqing nor any abnormalities.

"To the southwest, three thousand meters away, he is laying an ambush for us."

Jun Wushuang transmitted his voice mentally, continuing his warning.

Possessing the Purple-Eyed Demonic Pupils, he could perceive far more than Yao Wuchen.

Besides, he had long anticipated that Chu Danqing would not let the matter rest, and had thus prepared himself mentally.

"Master, what should we do now?"

Although Yao Wuchen had not detected Chu Danqing, he chose to trust Jun Wushuang.

Chu Danqing was a powerhouse at the Martial Emperor realm; even if the two of them joined forces, they would undoubtedly be unable to withstand him.

"Kill him!"

Jun Wushuang replied with icy indifference, sending a jolt of shock through Yao Wuchen's heart.

Chu Danqing was an elder of the Heavenly Dan Sacred Sect; if he were to die, it would inevitably trigger massive ripples.

Moreover, Chu Danqing was a Martial Emperor realm expert—relying on just the two of them, how could they possibly kill him?

"Draw the snake out of its hole, and leave the rest to me!"

Jun Wushuang transmitted his voice once more.

The Martial Emperor realm was indeed formidable, but holding the Xuanhuang Sacred Token in his hand, Jun Wushuang was certain of a guaranteed kill.

A single strike from the Master of the Xuanhuang Sacred Land was something even a Supreme realm expert could not withstand.

As for using a butcher's knife to slaughter a chicken, Jun Wushuang cared not in the slightest.

"Master, killing him will likely bring endless trouble from the Heavenly Dan Sacred Sect!"

Yao Wuchen had also thought of the Xuanhuang Sacred Token, knowing that Jun Wushuang possessed the capability to slay Chu Danqing.

Yet the aftermath of such an act would spell endless complications.

Having once been a holy son of the Heavenly Dan Sacred Sect, he naturally understood the sect's immense power.

If Chu Danqing were truly to die, the Heavenly Dan Sacred Sect would never let the matter go.

"Take life and death lightly; fight whoever refuses to submit!"

Jun Wushuang answered with eight succinct characters.

Yao Wuchen gritted his teeth and decided to follow Jun Wushuang's lead.

The Moonlight Dao Boat forged ahead without showing any abnormalities, avoiding any action that might alert the enemy.

Through the vision of his Purple-Eyed Demonic Pupils, Jun Wushuang clearly spotted Chu Danqing and Tang Yuanming.

At that moment, Tang Yuanming's injuries had already healed, and he was currently gathering his momentum, poised for action.

As for Chu Danqing, his eyes were bloodshot, brimming with monstrous hatred.

Boom!

As the Moonlight Dao Boat flew into range, Tang Yuanming launched his attack instantly.

Although his strength was only at the ninth layer of the Heavenly Human realm, Chu Danqing had prepared a flawless setup this time, having him manipulate a grand formation that charged straight toward Yao Wuchen.

His mission was simple: stall Yao Wuchen and buy time for Chu Danqing.

Swish!

At that very instant, Chu Danqing burst forth abruptly from his hiding spot, swift as lightning, employing the unique teleportation ability exclusive to Martial Emperor realm experts.

In a flash, he appeared directly in front of Jun Wushuang.

The overwhelming pressure of the Martial Emperor realm bore down directly on Jun Wushuang, while a violent wave of murderous intent surged like a tempest, chilling to the bone.

A pair of blood-red eyes stared fixedly at Jun Wushuang, filled with towering hatred and intense killing intent.

"Brat, go to hell!"