Chapter 146: Scheming to Kill a Nascent Soul Early-Stage Cultivator

The only flaw in Ji Yao and the other’s case was that their storage bags contained magic stones and materials but lacked any treasure artifacts, spiritual weapons, or elixirs. For cultivators traveling outside, this was the most unusual thing.

In truth, it was unavoidable. Those two storage bags and their contents had been taken from the demonic cultivators who had previously attacked them.

As for the useless elixirs and potentially troublesome treasure artifacts, Ji Yao and Mu Baiyun had naturally disposed of them early on.

The demonic cultivator who spoke later had precisely this in mind when he pointed it out, then sent his divine sense in the direction the two had fled.

He found that within a short time, the two had already vanished, and within the range of his divine sense, there was no trace of them.

Suddenly, his mere three-tenths certainty transformed into absolute certainty. Given the edict issued by the Forbidden Magic Zone, it was not impossible that these two were the very people sought after there.

“Hold this place firmly. Before we return, no one shall pass! Otherwise, don’t blame me for sending you straight to the Forbidden Magic Zone!”

The Nascent Soul demonic cultivator who had spotted the problem swept his gaze over the lower-ranked cultivators present. This statement implied he was blaming them for the incident.

He glared at the cultivator who was still clutching Ji Yao and the other’s storage bags. “Pick a direction. We’ll split up and pursue!”

The group watched as the two Nascent Soul cultivators rushed out, daring not to voice their anger. After all, they were the highest-ranked cultivators here—one in mid-Nascent Soul and the other in early Nascent Soul.

The one who had been talking to Ji Yao and the others was only a newly formed early Nascent Soul.

The highest-ranked person guarding the checkpoint was only mid-Golden Core stage. No one knew why these two, who usually never bothered moving, suddenly brought back two suspicious individuals this day.

Hopefully, they could catch the two; otherwise, everyone here might be implicated.

Meanwhile, after Ji Yao and the other left the area, Mu Baiyun summoned the rarely seen Pursuit Light Sword.

“Junior sister, my apologies!”

Before Ji Yao could respond, Mu Baiyun pulled her into his embrace and soared into the sky. She barely noticed the wind rushing past and a protective spiritual energy enveloping them, making her feel perfectly secure.

Once her feet landed on the narrow transparent flying sword, about the width of a foot, Ji Yao adjusted herself, intending to turn and stand upright.

“Don’t move!” Mu Baiyun hastily warned. Ji Yao had been half leaning against his chest, and if she stood straight now, the fragrance of her hair brushing against his face was unmistakable.

“Junior sister, haven’t you forgotten you’ve grown taller? Besides, we’re running for our lives.”

Ji Yao froze at his words, her hands resting awkwardly on his chest. She had indeed forgotten—her current height was no longer the same. Her body now reached nearly to Mu Baiyun’s eyes.

She was standing face-to-face with him, and if she stood straight, her hair bun would likely block his view.

Seeing Ji Yao stay still, Mu Baiyun squinted slightly. “Junior sister, hold steady. We need to go faster. They’ve probably realized something’s wrong by now.”

The Pursuit Light Sword’s speed surged again. Despite the protective spiritual energy, Ji Yao felt an immense resistance in the air.

“Ha! You two little insects ahead, stop right there! If I catch you, I’ll break both your legs!” A fierce roar came from behind. Though distant, it made Ji Yao’s heart tremble.

Gripping Mu Baiyun’s belt, Ji Yao couldn’t help but peek over his shoulder. In the distance, there was a tiny black dot that hadn’t grown any larger.

“Come on, Senior Brother Yun! Let’s shake him off!” Ji Yao exclaimed excitedly.

Mu Baiyun looked at the woman nearly resting her chin on his shoulder, a faint trace of indulgence flashing in his eyes.

Fortunately, it wasn’t both of them chasing; only this early Nascent Soul demonic cultivator was in pursuit—apparently not a speed specialist. With his own ability and the Pursuit Light Sword, they were confident of escape.

If it had been the other mid-Nascent Soul cultivator, the outcome might have differed. For now, they couldn’t let the pursuer suspect there was another chaser.

Mu Baiyun considered this and slowed their speed slightly. As he did, the black dot behind grew larger and closed in considerably.

“Senior Brother Yun?” Ji Yao asked curiously.

“There’s only one now, and he can’t catch us.”

Mu Baiyun’s hint made Ji Yao’s mind race. She quickly guessed his plan.

“You intend to take this opportunity to deal with this trouble?”

“As expected, junior sister is clever!” Mu Baiyun praised without reservation.

Ji Yao waved her hand. “That’s because you’re capable, Senior Brother Yun. Otherwise, I wouldn’t dare guess this way. But if that’s the case, maybe I can increase the odds of success.”

She then took out the Heavenly Star Plate—a palm-sized, black three-layered formation disk spinning in her hand.

Coupled with her cunning expression, Mu Baiyun’s resolve strengthened.

The flying sword began to slow, boosting the pursuer’s confidence. They assumed the previous rapid speed was due to some secret escape technique.

Now that the effect had worn off, the pursuer might soon falter.

The early Nascent Soul demonic cultivator raised a ghostly large-headed blade, shrouded in dark energy, and swung it down toward Mu Baiyun and Ji Yao.

The blade wind was filled with ghostly energy, clawing and gnashing as if intent on devouring its prey.

Mu Baiyun wielded the Pursuit Light Sword and hurriedly struck back with his Thunder Sword from behind, but his strike failed to block the attack and instead rebounded against him.

The Pursuit Light Sword flashed and vanished, and the two on the flying sword suddenly dropped, whether by chance or design, narrowly avoiding the ghostly blade wind.

“Brother!” Ji Yao called out, drawing her Snow Dust Sword beneath her feet while reaching to catch Mu Baiyun as he fell.

Just before hitting the ground, Ji Yao controlled the flying sword to steady Mu Baiyun, landing smoothly.

At that moment, Ji Yao blinked at Mu Baiyun, as if to say, “Senior Brother, I didn’t realize you were so adept at timing and acting naturally!”

Seeing his first strike land, the demonic cultivator grew arrogantly dismissive.

“Still just a Golden Core stage insect. I can crush you with a finger.”

He didn’t hurry to strike again—after all, the Forbidden Magic Zone wanted live captives. Landing heavily, he lifted his foot and advanced toward Ji Yao and Mu Baiyun, intending to carry out his earlier threat to break their legs.

Watching the two tiny insects not far off, the man had a bloodstain at the corner of his mouth and struggled to shield the woman behind him. A cruel smile appeared on his lips as he cracked his knuckles.

Now was the moment!

As he took a step, a flash of light passed underfoot, and suddenly a sword aura crackling with lightning appeared behind him. Though only at Golden Core stage, the sword aura was enough to handle him; however, the lightning spirit within the sword aura...

The ghost-head blade reappeared, ready to cleave through the sword aura, but suddenly, an anomaly occurred—the lightning spirit burst forth and struck the ghost-head blade first.

With a piercing ghostly scream, the demonic cultivator felt his whole body numb and immobilized, sensing danger coming from the direction of the two.

Pain stabbed his back. The ghost-head blade slipped from his grasp as his body was split in two, and a palm-sized Nascent Soul spirit drifted free.

“Old ghost!” A furious roar echoed from afar.

“You two! Must die!”