Chapter 8: Ambush on the Return Journey

The shadows of the trees swayed, the water murmured, and the occasional roar of wild beasts echoed through the air, imbuing this dense forest with the wildness of a primeval jungle.

However, this realm of Lingzhou was far more than just a simple primeval forest; it was teeming with large carnivorous predators, ranked demonic beasts, and monsters that had achieved cultivation.

Let alone mortals, even cultivators risked their lives walking through these parts.

Song Luding and his group did not want to delay on the road, so they moved quickly, not stopping for even a moment.

But amidst the swaying shadows of the trees, a group of figures in black robes had already formed a pocket, intending to swallow them whole!

Song Changsheng seemed to have a premonition. He frowned, glanced at his surroundings, and said to Song Luding beside him, "Uncle, I have a bad feeling. It feels like eyes are watching us."

"Is that so?" Song Luding’s heart sank abruptly. A cultivator's intuition was usually accurate. Although he hadn't discovered anything unusual yet, he was willing to trust Song Changsheng.

He quietly took a yellowed talisman from his Qiankun bag and whispered to Song Changsheng, "If things change, take the children and leave immediately. We will hold them off."

"No, how can a Song clan disciple flee in the face of battle? I will fight alongside you," Song Changsheng refused resolutely. He could not bring himself to be a deserter.

"Foolish! These juniors are the future hope of the clan. You must bring them back to the clan safely. That is an order!" Song Luding growled with a stern face.

Song Changsheng’s expression shifted several times before he finally nodded in agreement.

Song Luding was satisfied. In truth, there was something he hadn't said: Song Changsheng was the most important among them. As long as he could return safely, it wouldn't matter if his own old bones were left behind.

Under the dark shadows of the trees, the masked man revealed a sinister sneer at the corner of his mouth and shouted, "Do it!"

"Boom!"

The space above Song Changsheng and the others was instantly shrouded in a bloody light, like an inverted sea of blood, thick with malevolent energy.

"Begone!"

Song Luding had been prepared. He activated the talisman in his hand at the first opportunity. The yellowed paper turned to ash in an instant, and a brilliant sword light erupted from it, instantly splitting the sea of blood above them in two and dissipating it into nothingness.

"A second-tier low-grade [Heavenly Sword Talisman]... This old thing actually carries such a treasure with him." Seeing his carefully prepared trap broken, the masked man’s face turned furious.

Since the sneak attack failed, they would have to use force!

The men in black emerged from all directions, the blood-red malevolent energy radiating from their bodies startling a flock of birds in the forest.

"Demonic cultivators." Seeing the men in black closing in, Song Luding’s heart sank to the bottom.

There were ten of them in total. Four were late-stage Qi Refining cultivators, and the masked man in the lead was at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining. They were simply no match for them.

The group had already discussed this possibility, so they weren't panicked, though the children huddled together in fear, having never seen such a spectacle before.

"Clan brother, what do we do now?" Song Luzi drew a long sword, his face grim.

"I have already sent a request for reinforcements to the Fifth Elder. In a moment, we will hold these demonic cultivators back, and you must take Changsheng and the children and leave first."

Song Luzi did not respond, only nodding with a grim expression.

Changjiu and Changying exchanged a glance, both seeing the panic in the other's eyes, but at this moment, they had no other choice.

"Audacious demonic cultivators! My Song clan's Foundation Establishment Elder is less than two hundred miles away. Are you tired of living?" Song Luding shouted.

"The Song clan is nothing," the masked man said with disdain, waving his hand dismissively.

"Kill!"

The men in black lunged forward like tigers descending a mountain, their various spells and magical artifacts blanketing the sky.

Song Changsheng immediately summoned the [Water-Fire Treasure Gourd], spraying out raging flames that forced the men in front of them to retreat.

"Changsheng, don't get bogged down in the fight! Leave quickly!" Song Luding, with a large cauldron hovering above his head, blocked the masked man while shouting.

Song Changsheng looked at the battlefield with reluctance, then waved his sleeve, using his spiritual energy to scoop up the dozen or so children and flee rapidly toward the gap that had just opened.

The masked man immediately shouted, "Catch them!"

Five of the men in black abandoned the siege on Song Luzi and the others, chasing after the fleeing group.

"No! Stop them!" Song Luding was frantic.

But they were already at a disadvantage; stopping these demonic cultivators was easier said than done. Song Luzi could only desperately hold back one eighth-level Qi Refining cultivator, ultimately forced to watch helplessly as the other four gave chase.

Song Luding was filled with shock and anger. He wanted to break away from the battle, but the masked man’s moves were ruthless, keeping him occupied and unable to escape...

Song Changsheng fled through the forest with the others, hating himself for not being strong enough. It was his first time down the mountain, and he was being chased like a stray dog.

Seeing the pursuers closing in, Song Changsheng realized this wouldn't work. With so many people, his speed was at a disadvantage.

"One ninth-level Qi Refining, one eighth-level, and two fourth-level... they really think highly of me," Song Changsheng’s face was grim.

"Whoosh."

Song Changsheng took out the talismans he had exchanged for before leaving and threw them at the demonic cultivators behind him.

He didn't expect these talismans to do much damage; he only needed to delay their pace.

Sure enough, the dozen talismans threw them into a momentary scramble. Song Changsheng took the opportunity to use a [Swift Movement Talisman] to widen the distance.

As the scenery flashed by, Song Changsheng’s mind raced. He finally decided to make a stand. If he could set up a formation, he might be able to fight them.

His divine sense swept the area, and he finally found a cave. He quickly went inside, placed all fourteen children within, and said sternly, "No matter what happens, do not leave this place, and do not make a sound. Do you understand?"

He left his food and water with them, then took out his formation flags and quickly set up a first-tier high-grade [Concealment Formation] at the cave entrance.

No one below the Great Perfection of Qi Refining would be able to detect it. He only needed to wait a little longer, and his mother would arrive; then they would be safe.

After doing all this, Song Changsheng immediately ran in the opposite direction. Unsurprisingly, his tracks were soon discovered by the demonic cultivators.

"Brat, you can run, can't you? Tell me, where did you hide those children?" the ninth-level Qi Refining demonic cultivator asked with a sinister tone.

"Hmph, I have nothing to say!" Song Changsheng waved his sleeve, throwing out twelve formation flags. These flags quickly merged with the ground around him in a mysterious pattern.

He held his breath and focused. With every step he took, a formation rune flashed and vanished on the ground.

"No, he's setting up a formation! Kill him first!" The lead demonic cultivator held a pitch-black chain and swung it with force. It instantly transformed into a nimble poisonous snake, striking straight at Song Changsheng’s face.

The others also unleashed their magical artifacts, aiming for Song Changsheng’s vital points.

Facing the swift attacks, he took out a small silver-white shield to protect himself. This was a first-tier mid-grade artifact, the [Water Origin Shield]. Once activated, it transformed into a massive water shield with immense defensive power, blocking all of their attacks.

Song Changsheng summoned the treasure gourd again, spraying out scorching flames that turned the surroundings into a sea of fire, leaving the men in a sorry state.

He kept his footing steady, and as his form shifted, the formation runes gradually linked all the flags together. He took out ten spirit stones and threw them into specific positions.

With a flash of dazzling light, the first-tier high-grade [Blazing Sun Formation] was complete!

...

(End of chapter)