Chapter 46: Joint Ambush and Assassination

"Well then, I will take my leave and not disturb your quiet cultivation any longer!"

Xue Qianyao stood up to depart, casting a glance, whether intentional or not, at Yun'er standing behind Qin Lang. After observing her up close, she became even more certain of her previous suspicion.

"To possess such means and boldness at such a young age, this Xue Qianyao is truly formidable! It is only a pity that she belongs to a collateral branch of the Xue family; otherwise, she would never have been marginalized to such a small place like Qingfeng Town."

Watching Xue Qianyao and the gray-robed elder walk into the distance, Yun'er wore a look of envy.

Qin Lang wore an inscrutable expression. When Xue Qianyao looked at Yun'er before leaving, it seemed casual, but the depths of her eyes carried a profound meaning. Could it be that she had discovered something unusual about Yun'er?

On the twenty-fifth morning after the completion of the Tianfeng Mountain Youth Trial Tournament, just as the eastern horizon began to turn a pale white, the main entrance of the Qin residence was already densely packed with people seeing off a convoy of carriages.

"Set off!"

Following the command of Qin Zhanshan at the very front of the procession, a grand convoy of forty to fifty people departed from Qingfeng Town, heading toward the Wind and Cloud Sect.

To ensure the safety of Qin Lang, Qin Jian, and Qin Yue, this contingent had gathered nearly all the formidable fighters of the Qin family. Even the Grand Elder, who had always maintained a low profile, was invited by Patriarch Qin Zhanshan and sat securely inside one of the carriages in the procession.

Qin Lang, Qin Jian, and Qin Yue sat comfortably inside a carriage in the very center of the convoy.

"At our current speed, we should reach the Wind and Cloud Sect in three to five days!"

Qin Jian's eyes shone with excitement.

Qingfeng Town was roughly two hundred kilometers away from the Wind and Cloud Sect, which was not particularly far. At the convoy's current pace, it would take only three to five days to arrive.

"I'm so excited!"

Qin Yue's face beamed with anticipation. Soon, they would be entering the number one sect of the Zongheng Empire. The feeling of happiness and thrill made her feel as though her little heart might leap right out of her chest.

Compared to the excitement of Qin Jian and Qin Yue, Qin Lang appeared much more composed. Sitting quietly with his eyes closed and mind settled, he had been continuously pondering and digesting the arts of alchemy.

For the first two days, the journey proceeded smoothly. However, on the evening of the third day, when the Qin family's convoy reached a mountain pass that was a mandatory route to the Wind and Cloud Sect, their path was blocked by a group of several dozen people.

Those dozens of people were dressed in tight martial attire, each emanating an extraordinary presence. Standing there at ease, they were clearly waiting for the Qin family's convoy.

The foremost person stepped forward a few steps from the crowd, wearing an icy expression and staring coldly at the Qin family's procession. It was none other than the Patriarch of the Ye family, Ye Xuan.

"Halt!"

Seeing Ye Xuan appear, Qin Zhanshan reined in his horse to a stop and waved a large hand to order the Qin convoy to halt.

Qin Jian and Qin Yue had already informed Qin Zhanshan about how Ye Keqing had attempted to seize Qin Lang's martial soul and ultimately ended up destroying herself in the backlash. Such a massive mobilization for this trip was precisely to guard against the Ye family.

As the patriarchs of two of the four great families, Qin Zhanshan was well aware of Ye Xuan's vengeful and unforgiving nature, so Ye Xuan's appearance at this moment came as no surprise to him.

"Hand over Qin Lang!"

Ye Xuan did not waste words and cut straight to the point.

"Hmph! Qin Lang is a member of my Qin family; is he someone you can just demand as you please?"

Qin Zhanshan let out a cold snort. That father and daughter had actually plotted to seize the martial soul of the Qin family's top genius—what sheer wishful thinking!

Now that the Qin family was fully prepared, and with the strength of the Qin and Ye families being evenly matched, the Qin family had no fear of the Ye family's obstruction.

"Qin Lang killed my daughter on Tianfeng Mountain. A life for a life is only right and proper!"

A fierce light flashed in Ye Xuan's eyes as he swept his gaze across the Qin family's ranks, searching for Qin Lang's trace.

"You mustn't speak carelessly! Does Patriarch Ye have any evidence proving that Qin Lang killed your daughter?"

Qin Zhanshan wore a sneering expression. Although he already knew about the matter, how could he possibly admit to it so easily?

Moreover, at this moment, Qin Zhanshan felt utterly elated!

Ye Keqing's attempt to seize Qin Lang's martial soul was reaping what she had sown; she brought it upon herself and deserved to die!

Good riddance!

What a wonderful death!

"Hmph! When I, Ye Xuan, kill someone, what need do I have for any damn evidence! Qin Lang must die today!"

With a cold snort, Ye Xuan ceased talking. Waving his arm, the dozens of people behind him simultaneously drew their weapons and charged fiercely into the Qin family's procession, engaging the Qin clan members in battle!

Ye Xuan himself took the lead, charging directly toward Qin Zhanshan and unleashing a fierce palm strike wrapped in billowing spiritual energy!

Fivefold Wave!

Qin Zhanshan leaped down from his horse, meeting Ye Xuan head-on, and threw out a fully charged punch with all his might!

Formless Fist!

Boom!

Fist and palm collided, producing a deafening sound as spiritual energy surged. Qin Zhanshan took a single step back, while Ye Xuan was forced back four or five steps before barely managing to steady his stance, a look of shock flashing across his face.

Possessing the same cultivation of the fifth level of Martial Disciple, Ye Xuan discovered that the Formless Fist executed by Qin Zhanshan was far more powerful than his own Fivefold Wave, rivaling a Yellow-tier low-grade martial skill!

However, a trace of disdain quickly surfaced on Ye Xuan's face. So what if he possessed a Yellow-tier low-grade martial skill? Under his carefully laid trap, all of the Qin family's resistance today would be in vain!

"Trouble the Patriarch Ancestor to make a move!"

Ye Xuan shouted in a low voice. The peak Martial Disciple cultivation of the Ye family's Supreme Ancestor represented the strongest combat power of the Ye family on this trip!

As Ye Xuan's voice fell, an emaciated old man was seen leaping through the air from afar like a drifting rainbow. Surpassing the battling crowd, he lunged straight toward the carriage carrying Qin Lang, slashing downward with a palm blade enveloped in rolling spiritual energy!

This strike carried immense power. Once the carriage was hit, it would undoubtedly be cleaved in two, and the people inside would surely lose their lives!

"Haha, Ye Ancestor, you old fogey, you're actually still alive!"

At that critical juncture, the white-haired Grand Elder of the Qin family moved with the speed of lightning, swiftly arriving in front of the carriage and meeting the descending palm blade with a powerful punch!

Formless Fist!

The force of the fist arrived even faster than expected, directly shattering the Ye Ancestor's palm blade while simultaneously knocking the airborne Ye Ancestor into a backward tumble, landing him heavily in a disheveled state on the ground.

It was likewise the Formless Fist, but when executed by the Grand Elder, its power was clearly countless times greater than Qin Zhanshan's!

"You old undead Qin, you've actually cultivated your Qin family's supreme art, the Formless Fist, to the realm of perfection!"

A flash of shock appeared in the old eyes of the Ye Ancestor.

"Hehe, what kind of skill is it to bully younger juniors? Today, I'll accompany you for a proper sparring session!"

The Grand Elder wore a triumphant smile, surging forward to pounce upon the Ye Ancestor.

Ever since Qin Lang had taught him the perfected Formless Fist, he had not had the chance to unleash it. Today, running into an evenly matched opponent like the Ye Ancestor, it was the perfect opportunity to use him for practice!

"Kill!"

Seeing that both the Patriarch and the Grand Elder firmly held the upper hand, the members of the Qin family felt their fighting spirit soar and their momentum become like a rainbow.

"Ye Xuan, you are truly deluding yourself if you think you can kill Qin Lang from our Qin family's hands!"

Forcing Ye Xuan back with another punch, Qin Zhanshan said with full confidence.

"Oh, is that so?" Ye Xuan, despite being at a disadvantage, showed not the slightest hint of anxiety. Instead, he shook his head and smiled, then shouted fiercely once more, "Huang Guang, make your move and give the Qin Patriarch a surprise!"

Following Ye Xuan's words, dozens of armed martial artists suddenly rushed out from one side of the mountain pass. The foremost man was burly with a gleaming bald head and a fierce, menacing appearance. It was none other than the Patriarch of the Huang family, Huang Guang!