Seeing Lu Ming and his group’s unconcerned gazes, the Soul Transformation cultivators observing them from the shadows snorted inwardly.
Fools! They don’t even know they’re about to die!
They promptly withdrew their gazes and sent secret sound transmissions to the Tianqi Crown Prince and the others, informing them that Lu Ming’s group had arrived.
At that moment, the Tianqi Crown Prince and his companions were on the second floor. Seeing that Lu Ming and the others had arrived, the Crown Prince immediately gave a low-voiced order to the trusted aide beside him.
“It can begin!”
As soon as he spoke, the entire Songfeng Villa shook violently, and the earth rumbled. Countless beams of spiritual light shot into the sky from every corner of the villa.
Beneath the spiritual trees, the palaces, and the blue stone steps, the array nodes throughout the villa were activated simultaneously. The spiritual light wove together into a massive spiritual net that blotted out the sun. Like an overturned bowl, it instantly enveloped the entire villa.
At the moment the array opened, the Soul Transformation cultivators in the main hall also noticed the anomaly. They found themselves completely isolated from the outside world; sound, divine sense, and sound transmission talismans could not get out.
Everyone was startled, not understanding what was happening.
Just then, clouds of multi-colored mist began to permeate the hall.
“What’s going on?”
“Oh no, it’s poison!” someone cried out in alarm.
The crowd hurriedly circulated their spiritual energy to resist it. Suddenly, everyone’s faces turned pale as they realized it was too late. The spiritual energy within their bodies had already been locked.
Lu Ming watched this series of changes with confusion, unsure of what was happening, but he had a bad premonition. He immediately sent a sound transmission to his group, telling them to be careful.
At the same time, he quickly mimicked the others and pretended to be poisoned, shouting in alarm, “Oh no, my spiritual energy won’t circulate!”
Hearing Lu Ming’s panicked shout, Wang Defa’s eyes flashed, and he instantly understood what was happening.
“Ah! My spiritual energy is locked too!”
“I’ve been poisoned as well!”
Seeing Wang Defa and the others shouting about being poisoned, Ji Chen and his disciples understood the situation immediately. Although they didn’t shout it out, they also feigned being poisoned.
At the same time, Ji Chen felt a surge of regret. There was clearly a situation tonight; if he hadn't invited Lu Ming and the others, they wouldn't have been caught up in this mess.
“Saint Liu, I’ve been poisoned too! What should I do?” In the private booth, Bao Duoduo looked at the Saint of the Lingqi Sect with a look of feigned panic and shouted.
He had noticed that while everyone else was poisoned, this guy was perfectly fine!
“Saint!” the Soul Transformation cultivators of the Lingqi Sect also cried out.
To prevent any leaks, the Tianqi Crown Prince had given a strict order not to tell anyone. Aside from essential personnel, the Saint of the Lingqi Sect hadn't told a soul. Even the Soul Transformation cultivators of his own sect were in the dark!
“Don’t worry, it’s fine!” the Saint of the Lingqi Sect shouted excitedly.
He then gave Bao Duoduo and the others a detoxification pill. Bao Duoduo quickly pretended his poison was cured. At the same time, he understood that tonight’s events were connected to this guy.
Just then, the Saint of the Lingqi Sect addressed the Soul Transformation cultivators of his sect and the rogue cultivators like Bao Duoduo.
“Tonight, your target is that monkey! Whoever can get his storage bag will receive a top-grade magical artifact from the Artifact Forging Sect...”
Everyone’s eyes widened, their breathing quickening as they looked at Lu Ming in the hall. Clearly, there must be an incredible treasure in that monkey’s storage bag. The rogue cultivators, in particular, were seeing red with greed.
A top-grade magical artifact! Rogue cultivators like them could usually only dream of such a thing.
Bao Duoduo’s eyes flickered in the crowd. He hadn't expected such a grand setup to be targeted at Lu Ming. He quickly sent a secret sound transmission to Lu Ming.
“Great Sect Master, they’re targeting you.”
Hearing this news, Lu Ming was startled. He really couldn't understand why these people were targeting him. After all, since appearing as this monkey, he hadn't offended anyone, had he?
If he couldn't figure it out, he wouldn't dwell on it. He immediately sent a sound transmission to Wang Defa and the others.
“They’re targeting me. Protect Big Yellow, Huang Tianbao, and Zhu Wuneng...”
After all, Big Yellow and Huang Tianbao hadn't recovered their cultivation yet.
Hearing Lu Ming’s transmission, Wang Defa, Fu Chen, and Xue Wuchang were all shocked. They hadn't expected the plot to be aimed at Lu Ming. Their gazes turned searching and defensive as they looked at Ji Chen and his disciples.
Sensing their defensiveness, Ji Chen was also stunned. Realizing he was the one who brought them here, he knew they must suspect him. He quickly explained.
“I don’t know what’s going on either! Rest assured, we will definitely protect your safety...”
Although Wang Defa and the others felt it likely had nothing to do with Ji Chen, they still maintained a level of caution. Ji Chen felt helpless, but he understood their reaction.
“Everyone, please do not panic. This is not directed at all of you.”
Just then, the Tianqi Crown Prince and the Saint of the Yunhua Sacred Palace led their group out.
“Tianqi Crown Prince, what is the meaning of this?” Ji Chen demanded coldly, frowning.
He noticed that almost all the top powers of the Xuantian Continent were present.
“Hehe... Ji Chen, tonight’s matter has nothing to do with you. As long as you stay quiet, we will compensate you afterward...”
At this point, the Tianqi Crown Prince turned to the others. “The same goes for all of you...”
Hearing this, Ji Chen’s eyes flickered, but he didn't speak again. As long as they weren't the targets, it was fine. Since they weren't actually poisoned, he wanted to see what these people were up to before making a decision.
The rest of the crowd remained quiet as well, waiting to see how things would develop.
At this moment, the Saint of the Desolate Soul Hall, standing behind the Tianqi Crown Prince, stared at Lu Ming with a venomous expression. He would definitely kill this damned monkey with his own hands later.
Just as he was about to mock Lu Ming, another voice spoke up first.
“A dignified Soul Transformation demon beast actually degrading itself to acknowledge a Foundation Establishment dog as its master! You’ve disgraced all Soul Transformation demon beasts!”
The voice thundered, every word meant to sting.
The Saint of the Desolate Soul Hall choked on his words. Dammit, he even had to wait in line to mock someone. However, seeing it was the Saint of the Beast Taming Sect, he could only endure it.
The Tianqi Crown Prince frowned slightly, feeling a bit displeased. Was this guy out of his mind? On such an important occasion, he was actually picking a fight with a turtle.
He noticed that the Saint of the Beast Taming Sect was mocking a turtle perched on a dog’s head.
The Saint of the Beast Taming Sect had spotted the Old Turtle on Big Yellow’s head at a glance. He was genuinely furious; back in the Wuwang Sea, several of his sect members had been heavily injured trying to capture the turtle. When they finally did, the turtle refused to acknowledge him as master.
He had planned to deal with the turtle properly once they returned to the sect, but then Lu Ming had snatched it away. Now, the turtle was sitting contentedly on a dog’s head.
What? Was he, the dignified Saint of the Beast Taming Sect, not even as good as a dog? Furthermore, this dog had participated in robbing him. How could he not be angry?
The Old Turtle, resting on Big Yellow’s head, looked up at the Saint of the Beast Taming Sect and grinned widely.
“What’s the matter? You jealous?”
Lu Ming’s mouth twitched. He hadn't realized the Old Turtle had such a sharp tongue.
Rate on N.U.
