The night passed uneventfully. Qin Xiao and the other two sat in meditation for the night. The sky had already dawned, and Qin Xiao, bringing Yun Man and Lin Shimeng, was also preparing to return to the Sect.
Outside Tianyi City.
"Xiao'er, are you really sure you don't want your Shiniang to send you back?"
Ye Qiuyue spoke with some concern.
"Shiniang, it's unnecessary. It's broad daylight, there shouldn't be any trouble. Moreover, we can return to the Sect before dark. Having you send us back and forth is not only a waste of time but also delays you from consolidating your cultivation."
Qin Xiao directly refused.
Although Ye Qiuyue had broken through to the Body Integration stage yesterday, she hadn't had time to consolidate at all before rushing to the tavern. Then, the confrontation with the City Lord Manor happened, and there had been no time to peacefully consolidate her cultivation.
Ye Tianyi, on the other hand, had to deal with the aftermath. After all, they had already fallen out with the City Lord Manor. Although mediation had occurred, the relationship couldn't return to what it was before. So, the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion had many matters to handle, and she couldn't spare herself to send Qin Xiao off either.
The reason Qin Xiao agreed to return today was precisely because he knew they were both busy, so he agreed to return to the Sect during the daytime today. This way, there was no need for them to escort him.
"Qin Gongzi, many misunderstandings indeed occurred yesterday. This City Lord learned that you are returning to the Sect today and specially came to see you off."
City Lord Chen Lou actually also appeared outside the city gate, slowly walking over.
"Then many thanks, City Lord Chen."
Qin Xiao knew this old guy definitely had ill intentions, but on the surface, he still had to exchange greetings.
"Qin Gongzi is too polite. This treasure is something Chen prepared as an apology gift. I must ask Qin Gongzi to accept it."
After finishing speaking, Chen Lou took out a jade pendant.
"Low Grade Dharma Treasure? Chen Lou, you're actually using a Low Grade Dharma Treasure to apologize?"
Qin Xiao didn't recognize this item, but Ye Tianyi did. During an auction back then, she had failed to outbid Chen Lou for this very treasure. It was a Low Grade Dharma Treasure.
"Oh? And it's a defensive type, then many thanks, City Lord Chen."
Seeing it was a Dharma Treasure, and a defensive one at that, Qin Xiao didn't stand on ceremony. One can never have too many defensive Dharma Treasures.
"As long as Qin Gongzi accepts it. Wearing this item on your body allows for autonomous protection. It's truly a rare treasure. Presenting a treasure to a hero, only then will it not be buried."
Chen Lou still spoke with an apologetic demeanor.
"Then many thanks. If there's nothing else, shall we leave first?"
Qin Xiao probingly asked. He believed Chen Lou definitely wouldn't be this kind-hearted. There must be something he wanted.
"Nothing else. Qin Gongzi, travel slowly."
Chen Lou didn't say much more, instead telling Qin Xiao to take care.
Afterwards, Yun Man took out her own sword, which then enlarged. The three jumped onto the flying sword and left.
"Chen Lou, what scheme are you actually playing?"
Ye Tianyi didn't believe Chen Lou would be this kind-hearted, but she had no evidence.
"You should worry about yourselves first."
Chen Lou directly turned his head and returned to the city.
Qin Xiao still couldn't figure it out. What game was Chen Lou playing? Giving away a Low Grade Dharma Treasure just like that? If he had given it to Ling Wushuang, he could understand, but what was giving it to him supposed to mean?
After returning to the City Lord Manor, Chen Lou summoned Ding Xiu.
"Everything arranged?"
The respectful expression Chen Lou had earlier was completely gone from his face, replaced by ferocity.
"City Lord, everything is arranged. The Tian Family has mobilized all their Nascent Soul stage cultivators. Even their Soul Formation stage ancestor has gone."
Ding Xiu respectfully replied.
"Very good then. You may leave."
Chen Lou waved his hand, dismissing Ding Xiu.
"Qin Xiao, is it? Daring to ruin my plans, and you still think you can leave alive? Simply dreaming. Originally, I wanted to find an excuse to delay the two from the Ye Family. I didn't expect you actually didn't let them escort you. Then don't blame me. Two beauties ultimately still cannot escape my grasp."
As he spoke, Chen Lou's expression changed from ferocious to lecherous.
Although yesterday's matter had been resolved, and his uncle had told him to stop, he was unwilling. Two such beauties, he was so close. So, he contacted the Tian Family, the second family in Tianyi City.
With the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion falling out with the City Lord Manor, the Ye Family would naturally also be suppressed. Plus, with the City Lord willing to support their Tian Family in rising to become the first family, the Tian Family naturally jumped at the opportunity and readily agreed to Chen Lou's conditions.
Even though they were only dealing with two Nascent Soul stage cultivators, the Tian Family didn't dare be negligent. Four Nascent Soul stage Elders and the Family Head from the family all mobilized. To be safe, they even mobilized their Soul Formation stage ancestor. As long as this matter was handled well, their Tian Family would soon become the first family of Tianyi City.
Inside the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion.
"Pavilion Master, after Chen Lou returned to the manor, the City Lord Manor showed no unusual movements."
Ye Tianyi was listening to a disciple's report.
"You may leave first."
Ye Tianyi always felt something was off, so she had sent people to monitor the City Lord Manor. But the City Lord Manor hadn't shown any activity.
"Could it really be that I'm overthinking?"
Ye Tianyi muttered to herself, somewhat puzzled.
On Qin Xiao's side, they were currently flying rapidly. Qin Xiao had already gotten used to the flying sword.
But they had only flown a little over a thousand miles away from Tianyi City when Yun Man sensed something was wrong.
"Shifu, it seems like we're being followed."
Yun Man hurriedly told Qin Xiao about the situation.
"When did they start following? We changed our path several times. How can we still be tracked?"
Qin Xiao was also confused. He had been very careful. How could they still be followed?
"Shifu, they're catching up."
Seeing the situation was bad, Yun Man hurriedly descended to the ground.
"Why are they targeting us? Could it be those bandit Rogue Cultivators?"
Lin Shimeng thought more simply. Perhaps they had encountered bandit Rogue Cultivators.
"Nonsense Rogue Cultivators. This should be Chen Lou's or Chen Shunyi's doing. Since the other side has made a move, they won't leave any survivors."
Even if Qin Xiao were stupid, he could guess this. After all, he had only offended these two people. If someone wanted to kill him, it could only be these two.
"Shifu, coincidentally, when sweeping through goods earlier, I bought a Concealment Formation. Let's lie low for now."
After speaking, Yun Man took out a Formation Disk.
"We can only do this for now."
Qin Xiao also knew it wasn't suitable to fight immediately. They had to first investigate the situation clearly.
Afterwards, Yun Man injected Spiritual Qi into the Formation Disk, activating it. Then she threw it into the air. Instantly, a Shield appeared, and the figures of the three disappeared.
Inside the Shield, they could see outside, but from outside, they couldn't see inside. Moreover, it could block both aura and Divine Sense detection.
Sure enough, not long after, five people landed near them.
"Why aren't they here? The compass the City Lord gave is pointing right here?"
The leader, holding a compass, said with confusion.
"Family Head, could it be this compass has a problem?"
Another person hurriedly said.
"Impossible. The special aura the City Lord placed on the jade pendant hasn't disappeared. The compass also locates here. Definitely not wrong. Those three must be hiding. Search for me. Even if we have to dig three feet into the ground, find them."
The Tian Family Head was certain there was no mistake. Those three were hiding nearby.
Afterwards, the five began searching nearby. But this Formation wasn't some simple Formation. It was a complete Formation, engraved onto the Formation Disk. Once activated, it became a complete Formation. Unless there was an expert, it was very difficult to discover.
"So the jade pendant he gave me has a problem. I should have known and put it into System Space earlier."
After realizing the jade pendant Chen Lou gave had a problem, Qin Xiao knew he had been careless.
Actually, he had previously asked Yun Man to check the jade pendant. No signs of tampering were found, which was why Qin Xiao wore it. It seemed a special method had been used. No wonder that person was holding a compass.
"Shifu, these five people: the other four, two are early Nascent Soul, two are mid Nascent Soul. We could barely fight them. But that Family Head holding the compass is late Nascent Soul. We're not his match."
Yun Man spoke somewhat helplessly.
After all, there were five Nascent Soul stage cultivators, and they only had two. Even in a desperate fight, the chances of victory weren't great.
"If I contain that late Nascent Soul, can you two handle the other four?"
Qin Xiao also knew the situation was a bit bad, but there was no other way. They could only use the Tian Ji horse racing strategy. The weakest, him, would contain the strongest late Nascent Soul.
"Shifu, this isn't comparable to Demon Beasts. Demon Beasts have low intelligence and are easy to deal with. But people are sinister, cunning, and have many methods. Shifu, don't be impulsive."
Yun Man worriedly said.
"But now there's no other way. Trying still gives us a chance. Not trying means we can only wait here to die."
Qin Xiao naturally also knew it was extremely dangerous. But last night, from the treasure vault, he obtained those Middle Grade Dharma Treasure shoes. After experimenting with them overnight, Qin Xiao felt that after putting them on, his movement speed could exceed most Nascent Soul stage cultivators. He couldn't win in a fight, but he could outrun them.
"Family Head, we still can't find them. Presumably, they're hiding in a Formation. I ask the Family Head to take out the Formation-Breaking Flag to break their Formation."
Another Elder, sensing something was wrong, thought of a Formation and thus suggested.
"It seems we can only do this."
After speaking, the Tian Family Head took out the Formation-Breaking Flag.