Free Web NovelChapter 227: Chapter 30: The Chixia Wang Family
「Six days later.」
Fang Cheng descended the mountain and came to the Yinluo Sect Marketplace.
He had arrived a day early, just to spend more time with Wen Qianqian.
Perhaps because the grand auction was about to begin, the marketplace was teeming with many more Cultivators than usual. Even the normally quiet Purple Gold Alley was filled with a continuous stream of them.
Xuanzhen Studio was also packed with customers, and the young maiden in charge of the business was rushing about frantically.
Fang Cheng stepped into the shop. An invisible aura emanated from him, and the Sensing Realm customers instantly grew reserved. Awe filled their faces as they cautiously made way for him.
"Where is your master?" Fang Cheng asked the maiden with a smile.
This maiden was Wen Qianqian’s apprentice, Fu Caidie. Her parents were both Loose Cultivators from the Abyssal Marsh and had been friends with Wen Qianqian’s father for many years.
The maiden said, "Master and Master Ning both went out two days ago, one after the other. They haven’t returned yet."
"They went out?" Fang Cheng frowned slightly. "I’ll wait for her in the rear courtyard."
The maiden acknowledged with a soft "Ah" and led Fang Cheng to the courtyard behind the shop before returning to her work.
The rear courtyard of Xuanzhen Studio was silent. Following the Secret Technique Wen Qianqian had taught him, Fang Cheng disabled the restriction on the West Wing Room and walked inside. The furnishings within were elegant, neat, and tidy, and a faint, fresh fragrance lingered in the air.
On a desk in the West Wing Study sat a Divine Hall about a foot tall. Though shrunken many times over, it still exuded a magnificent, imposing, and solemn aura.
With a flicker, Fang Cheng’s figure transformed into a streak of light and flew into the Divine Hall.
Inside the grand and lofty hall, it was completely empty.
Logically, Wen Qianqian wouldn’t just leave without saying goodbye. Something must have held her up, preventing her from returning on time.
Perhaps that Array Spirit Maiden knew of Wen Qianqian’s whereabouts.
Unfortunately, after entering the hall, he discovered that the Golden Armor Divine Statue at the front was also gone. Wen Qianqian must have taken it with her.
’The Divine Statue and the Array Spirit are gone too...’
Fang Cheng’s expression turned grave as he considered this.
He sat cross-legged in the Divine Hall and waited for a full day. When Wen Qianqian still hadn’t returned, he knew something had happened to her.
’The Array Spirit Maiden and the Golden Armor Divine Statue working together are comparable to a Life Talisman Cultivator. Adding Qianqian’s own Life Talisman Cultivation... could they have been ambushed?’
Fury surged in Fang Cheng’s heart. A burst of Sword Intent erupted from him, churning restlessly within the hall and causing flashes of divine light and auspicious rays to shoot out in all directions.
Suddenly, a white light slowly materialized in the air. It gradually condensed, forming a slender and graceful figure.
It was the Array Spirit Maiden!
Fang Cheng’s gaze fell upon the maiden, and he asked in a low voice, "Array Spirit? So you were in the hall. Why didn’t you show yourself sooner?"
The Array Spirit Maiden’s brows furrowed tightly. "This isn’t my true body. Qianqian and I are currently trapped by a villain and can’t escape. If I hadn’t just sensed a disturbance in the Divine Hall, this wisp of my consciousness wouldn’t have appeared."
Fang Cheng looked at her and asked, "Where are you right now?"
The Array Spirit shook her head. "I don’t know either. That day, a successor from another branch of the Myriad Phenomena Immortal Sect appeared. We followed them out, but we were discovered outside the marketplace. That person tried to forcibly take Qianqian as their disciple. When Qianqian refused, they subdued her and took her away... I tried to fight back using the Divine Statue, but I was no match for them."
Fang Cheng asked, "Was that person from the Abyssal Marsh?"
The Array Spirit replied, "That person is from the Ten Thousand Treasures Studio in Jin Country. They came to the Yinluo Sect Marketplace for the auction. I happened to detect the aura of the Myriad Phenomena Immortal Sect on them inside Xuanzhen Studio. It’s my fault... I’ve brought harm to Qianqian..."
Fang Cheng cut her off. "Enough. Do you have a way for me to find your location?"
The Array Spirit snapped back to her senses and nodded. "I can sense the general direction of my true body. I’ll lead you to them." ƒгeewёbnovel.com
...
Fang Cheng left the Yinluo Sect Marketplace and used a Concealing Breath Talisman to hide his aura. Then, under the Array Spirit Maiden’s guidance, he flew west across the Daze.
Before long, he arrived before a massive, magnificent island.
Chixia Island. ƒгeewebnovёl.com
Fang Cheng stood upon the clouds, gazing from afar at the renowned island in the Abyssal Marsh. A cold glint flashed in his eyes.
The Chixia Wang Family!
According to the True Spirit’s aura-sensing, Wen Qianqian was currently on Chixia Island.
It seemed that person had brought her and the Array Spirit here...
Fang Cheng took out the Suanni mask and put it on. He slowly descended from the clouds, revealing his form.
Above Chixia Island, a patrol of Wang Family disciples saw someone approaching and immediately flew over. "This is the Wang Family’s restricted territory! Halt!" one of them boomed.
Fang Cheng barked coldly, "I am here on behalf of the Law Enforcement Hall to carry out my duties! Have your Elder come out at once!"
With that, he waved his wide sleeve. An astonishing surge of Spiritual Mechanism shot toward the heavens. The Wang Family patrol disciples felt an invisible, mountain-like pressure bear down on them. Unable to withstand it, they all began to plummet downward.
Fortunately, the pressure came and went quickly.
The disciples regained their freedom when they were about a thousand feet from Chixia Island and managed to stabilize themselves.
Then, they hastily activated the Tokens on their persons, passed through the spiritual light of the Chixia Wang Family’s Island Defense Array, and went to find an Elder.
A moment later, a piercing Escape Light shot out from Chixia Island and arrived before Fang Cheng.
The newcomer was an elderly man, yet he had a refined air and a vigorous spirit. He cupped his hands toward Fang Cheng and said, "I was not aware of your esteemed arrival, forgive me for not welcoming you sooner."
Fang Cheng said flatly, "Hardly an esteemed guest. You’re too polite, Elder."
The elder smiled. "The name Suanni of the Law Enforcement Hall has long shaken the Abyssal Marsh. Your presence here today is an honor for my Chixia Wang Family. What business brings you here, Daoist Suanni?"
Fang Cheng said, "By order of the Vice Hall Master, I am pursuing an Evil Cultivator. My aura-sensing indicates that the person is hiding on Chixia Island. Open the Island Defense Array and let me in to conduct a search."
The Wang Family Elder was taken aback at first. A look of confusion crossed his face, and then he let out a laugh. "You must be joking, Daoist Suanni. The defenses of my Wang Family are airtight. How could a mere Evil Cultivator possibly get in?"
Fang Cheng sneered, "I wouldn’t be so sure. Or are you doubting my aura-sensing techniques?"
The Wang Family Elder sighed. "Of course, I wouldn’t dare doubt your Divine Techniques. Since you suspect the person has fled to our Chixia Royal Family, allow me to report to the Patriarch. The Wang Family will naturally conduct a thorough search and give you an explanation."
The implication was clear: he was not willing to let Fang Cheng enter and search.
Fang Cheng gave a cold smile. "What? Is it that your Wang Family is colluding with that person and you don’t dare let me in?"
The Wang Family Elder replied, neither servile nor overbearing, "Choose your words carefully, Daoist friend. My Wang Family has stood in the Abyssal Marsh for thousands of years. Our current ancestor is one of the nine Peak Masters of the Yinluo Sect. How could we possibly collude with an Evil Cultivator?"
Fang Cheng stared into the elder’s eyes, enveloping him in a bone-chilling Sword Intent. "If you have nothing to hide," he said coolly, "what is there to fear from a search?"
An alarm bell went off in the Wang Family Elder’s mind. A deep-seated fear welled up from the bottom of his heart as he sensed an unprecedented level of danger.
’The rumors were true after all. Suanni of the Law Enforcement Hall possesses astonishing strength. He’s truly formidable!’
’It seems if I dare utter another word of refusal, this man will decapitate me with a single sword strike...’
The killing intent was plain to see.
The elder hesitated for a moment before saying, "Very well. I shall accompany you onto the island to have a look."
...
