CHAPTER 651: CHAPTER 519: A TREACHEROUS RIVAL FOR THE TREASURE, INFILTRATING THE ENEMY CAMP

Ye Lingyue and Bo Qing had only walked a few steps when they discovered a section of the path ahead littered with a jumble of footprints.

"What’s this?"

These footprints were fresh, which clearly indicated that not long ago, someone had passed by this area, and judging by the number of footprints, there were at least twenty or thirty people.

Could it be that aside from Bo Qing, someone else had discovered the whereabouts of the Qiankun Purple Gold Bamboo?

Ye Lingyue and Bo Qing’s expressions became grave.

"Little Zhiyo, go ahead and take a look."

Not knowing the situation of the enemy, Ye Lingyue sent Little Zhiyo forward to scout.

After a while, Little Zhiyo returned.

"Up ahead, there’s an Evil Method group of over thirty people. They have set up a Prohibition within ten miles of the vicinity. Anyone who gets close will be detected," Ye Lingyue translated what Little Zhiyo had said.

"It’s just over thirty people; I’ll go kill them," Bo Qing muttered discontentedly. Originally, she had planned to find the Qiankun Purple Gold Bamboo during this opportunity to impress Thirteen by offering it as if it were a gift from herself. Who knew that these clueless Evil Alchemists would crop up unexpectedly?

"We can’t, that group’s strength seems to be quite formidable, and the Prohibition they’ve set up includes many small Thunder Burst Array Formations. If we’re not careful and trigger one, we’re likely to be seriously injured." If Feng Xun were here, these Array Formations naturally wouldn’t be a concern, but currently, Feng Xun was absent, Ye Lingyue was clueless about Array Formations, and Bo Qing was reckless; moreover, they were accompanied by Long Baobao. They absolutely should not act rashly.

"So we are supposed to just retreat like this? Those Alchemists are dominating this area, seemingly having discovered that the Qiankun Purple Gold Bamboo is nearby. If we don’t act now, they’ll beat us to it," Bo Qing complained.

If it weren’t for the fact that he didn’t know how to harvest the Qiankun Purple Gold Bamboo, he would have dug it up that very night; none of this trouble would have arisen.

"We cannot retreat, but I do have a method. It does, however, require you to endure some hardship," Ye Lingyue said softly into Bo Qing’s ear.

Halfway up Purple Bamboo Ridge, a group of men Alchemists, all dressed in blue-green Alchemist Robes with their hair tied up in round buns, were gorging themselves with great relish.

These people, most with withered yellow complexions, had cultivation levels generally between the Elixir Realm and the Reincarnation Realm.

They were from a Sect in the Central Plains known as the Green Thunder Dao Sect.

This Sect made its living by refining various Magic Artifacts, and its Disciples all carried Wooden Swords and were adept at setting up various Array Formations.

Although they were not as famous as the Jueqing Sect that Bo Qing belonged to or the Primordial Demon Cave that Dao Ge belonged to, the Sect’s Array Formations were quite well-known in the Central Plains area, and they were considered to have an intermediate level of strength among the Demon Sects.

The leader was a yellow-robed Alchemist known as Huang Daxian, a man in his forties with a broad face and a lion’s nose, and he was skilled in formidable Illusion Techniques.

Having previously heard that Qiankun Purple Gold Bamboo had appeared in the vicinity of Purple Bamboo Ridge, he brought over thirty elite Disciples to rush over.

Unlike other Sects, Huang Daxian had a kind of Divine Skills; he possessed Yin Yang Eyes capable of detecting treasures. Last night, he observed that this section of Purple Bamboo Ridge was enveloped in Zi Guang, an auspicious sign, so he concluded that there must be Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures here and came over with his Disciples to take control of the land.

They set up Prohibition in this area, planted Thunder Bursts, and hunted a large number of Spiritual Beasts; satisfied and well-fed, they were just waiting for the Zi Guang to appear again.

"Sect Leader, you said there are treasures in this area, but the Disciples have already searched the entire area and haven’t found any treasure," one of his Disciples questioned, puzzled.

"You know nothing, do you think I’d like to stay in this godforsaken place? Qiankun Purple Gold Bamboo, that is a Spiritual Material. According to my estimation, the Purple Bamboo surely has awakened its spirit and knows how to hide its own Spiritual Energy. During the day, not a trace of purple aura can be seen, presumably hidden away. At night, the power of my Yin Yang Eyes will greatly increase, and they will surely reveal the whereabouts of the Qiankun Purple Gold Bamboo," said Huang Daxian with displeasure.

This desolate mountain forest, even the gentlest Spiritual Beasts carry a stench. Not to mention the lack of wine, there aren’t even any women around to relieve boredom. For Huang Daxian who lives for wine and can’t sleep without the company of women, this is practically worse than death.

"Sect Leader, why don’t your subordinates go and grab a few untouched maidens from nearby to bring back for you?"

A disciple under him suggested with a sly tone.

"Pah, are you tired of living? The villages within a hundred miles have either fled or evacuated. The only place left with women would be Mercenary City, and I certainly do not wish to make an enemy out of Mercenary City," said Huang Daxian. The fact that he could be a Sect Leader proved that he did have some brains.

His base was in the Central Plains; he didn’t dare provoke a local powerhouse like Mercenary City.

"This deplorable should be executed, please spare my life, Sect Leader." The disciple who tried to butter up his master ended up shooting himself in the foot and looked extremely embarrassed.

As they were speaking, a series of tinkling sounds came from Huang Daxian’s sleeve.

He became alert and pulled out a small brass bell from his sleeve.

This bell, known as the Thunder Bell, was also remarkably a high-grade Spiritual Artifact of the Earth Rank.

This bell was also an Array Bell that was directly linked to the Prohibition arranged by Huang Daxian outside. As soon as someone trespassed the Prohibition’s range, the bell would ring on its own to alert Huang Daxian.

"Hmph, looks like there’s no need to find women. Some idiots have come to die. Everyone, follow my command and let’s check it out," ordered Huang Daxian as he waved his sleeve, and dozens of disciples from Green Thunder Dao Sect flew like locusts toward the alarm’s location.

Huang Daxian and his people arrived swiftly.

They saw several people by the site of the Prohibition. Upon closer inspection, Huang Daxian was stunned.

He had thought it was powerful foes who had come, but instead, he saw...

...a red-clothed woman. She had waterfall-like long hair, snow-white skin, enchanting eyes and brows, and a slender and graceful figure; she was a bewitching beauty that could bring nations to their knees.

The woman had fallen to the ground, her ankle entwined with several poison thorns, full of sharp spines.

The thorns had pierced into the woman’s skin, discoloring her snow-white complexion.

There was a dark-faced maid and a very cute little boy standing next to the red-clothed woman, along with a short-legged little black dog.

At this moment, the dark-faced maid and the little boy were anxious, unsure of what to do.

Upon a closer look, Huang Daxian realized that these people didn’t seem to possess any Primordial Power or spiritual power.

It seemed that they inadvertently wandered into the area around Purple Bamboo Ridge and stumbled upon the Array Formation Restriction set up by the Green Thunder Dao Sect, getting accidentally injured by the Poison Thorns lying in ambush within the Prohibition.

Huang Daxian had lived for a long time and had never seen such a beauty before. His heart leapt with joy, and he quickly put on a friendly appearance and approached them.

"What happened to you all?"

Hearing the sound of someone approaching, the dark-faced maid quickly looked over, and her expression brightened when she saw Huang Daxian, as if she had found her savior.

"Esteemed master, please save our young miss!"