Ling Tian Sword God

Chapter 783: Chapter 781: Tracing_1

Anle Town, ten miles away.

A dozen figures, clad in night-prowling attire, perched on a mountaintop. They exuded an ominous and powerful aura; each was an expert chosen from ten thousand, their prowess unsurpassed. However, their attire already revealed their identity: Disciples of the Tang Sect.

WHOOSH!

The sound of rushing wind suddenly broke the silence as a figure darted before them, dropping to one knee.

”Reporting to the Young Master, Ling Chen and his three companions left Anle Town early this morning. It seems they intend to pass through Town Ghost Pass and head towards Jingzhou.”

”Humph, just as I expected,” the man in black addressed as ’Young Master’ said, lifting his hand to reveal an all-too-familiar face: Tang Long, the one who had previously lost an arm to Ling Chen. ”These fellows plan to escape from Yi Zhou.”

The Tang Sect’s intelligence network spanned the entire world, with informants covering every corner of Yi Zhou. Although Ling Chen and his companions were extremely cautious, the Tang Sect could pinpoint their location the moment they appeared in any populated area.

”If they slip out of Yi Zhou, it will be like a fish returned to the ocean or a tiger back in the mountains,” Tang Long said, his gaze landing on a one-eyed man beside him. ”Senior Brother Tang Hai, the Fifth Elder sent us here for this very reason. We absolutely cannot let these four escape our grasp.”

The one-eyed man was one of the top ten young experts in the Tang Sect, his cultivation having reached the Fifth Level of the Sky Apex Realm. The Tang Sect boasted tens of thousands of disciples. Those ranked among the top ten in strength were all exceptionally talented individuals, true elites among men. Each of the Tang Sect’s top ten disciples had mastered one of its unique hidden weapons. Tang Hai, for instance, wielded one of the Tang Sect’s ten great hidden weapons: the ’Storming Pear Blossoms Needle.’ Consequently, Tang Hai held a rather high position within the Tang Sect as the Fifth Elder’s head disciple.

”They can’t escape,” Tang Hai said, a smile touching his lips. He glanced at the slender, graceful figure at the very front, a hint of apprehension in his eyes. ”Not only am I here this time, but even Junior Sister Tang Yutong has come. No matter how strong that brat is, he’s no match for her ’Sand Shooting Shadow’.”

Although Tang Hai was arrogant, he didn’t dare to be too presumptuous in front of this woman. Tang Yutong, like him, was one of the Tang Sect’s top ten disciples, but she ranked higher, easily placing within the top five. Her unique hidden weapon, ’Sand Shooting Shadow,’ was the most powerful hidden weapon from the Third Elder’s lineage. This time, the Fifth Elder had shared information about the Sword Immortal Poetry with the Third Elder, with whom he had the closest relationship. This prompted the Third Elder to send Tang Yutong to join Tang Hai in pursuing Ling Chen’s group. This time, they could not afford to fail, nor would they.

”We must not let our guard down.” Tang Yutong was exceptionally cold and aloof. Her figure was slender and tall, accentuated by her tight-fitting night-prowling attire. Her eyes glinted with an icy chill, radiating a sharp, murderous aura that gave her the appearance of an inhumane female assassin. ”That young man, Ling Chen, defeated even Luo Yutang, the ’Iron Hand Yama.’ This shows he’s no small fry. Furthermore, Luo Yutang’s defeat was reported two months ago. It’s hard to say if Ling Chen’s strength hasn’t changed since then.”

”Junior Sister Yutong, you’re being overly cautious,” Tang Hai remarked, feeling she was making a mountain out of a molehill. ”Luo Yutang may have been defeated by Ling Chen, but the exact circumstances of that battle are unknown. As far as I know, Ling Chen was merely at the Second Heaven of the Sky Apex Realm at the time. If Luo Yutang lost to Ling Chen in a fair duel, it only proves Luo Yutang was a good-for-nothing who didn’t live up to his name!”

”Should talent be judged solely by cultivation level?” Tang Yutong’s expression remained unchanged as she stared at Tang Hai. ”Luo Yutang’s cultivation is a level higher than yours. If you were to face him, what do you think your chances of winning would be?”

”Seventy percent,” Tang Hai replied, his face full of confidence. ”Luo Yutang’s ’Yama Golden Body’ is formidable, but its weaknesses are obvious, and I know them clearly.”

”Our cultivation levels are comparable. Do you think you could withstand three moves from me?” Tang Yutong’s tone remained icy.

”I’m afraid not.” Tang Hai’s expression shifted, and he eventually nodded.

The ’Sand Shooting Shadow’ was far more powerful than his ’Storming Pear Blossoms Needle.’ Moreover, Tang Yutong’s talent was widely acknowledged within the Tang Sect. Despite his confidence, Tang Hai knew he was far inferior to her. He probably couldn’t even withstand three of her moves.

”Exactly,” Tang Yutong said, her beautiful eyes narrowing slightly. ”Ling Chen defeated Luo Yutang while only at the Second Heaven of the Sky Apex Realm. This shows he’s an unparalleled genius. How can we not be cautious when dealing with someone like that?”

In the Martial World, one who could defeat an opponent two cultivation levels higher was considered a genius. Spanning three levels made one a top-tier genius. Surpassing four or more levels? That was an unparalleled genius.

”Junior Sister Yutong is right,” Tang Hai conceded with a nod. Inwardly, however, he still didn’t take Ling Chen seriously.

Tang Yutong glanced at Tang Long and ordered sharply, ”Tang Long, immediately send a message to the commander of Town Ghost Pass. Order him to seal the pass. If those four manage to get through Town Ghost Pass, tell him to bring me his head!”

”Yes!” Tang Long immediately cupped his fist and responded, a chill running down his spine. This Junior Sister is no ordinary woman. Working under her, I’ll have to be extremely careful, as if treading on thin ice.

”Move out! We must reach Town Ghost Pass by sunset!” After issuing the order to the Tang Sect group, Tang Yutong leaped onto the back of a Flying Monster and sped off to the southeast.

***

After leaving Anle Town, Ling Chen’s group headed straight for Jingzhou. As they crossed a majestic mountain range, the silhouette of an immense fortress gradually appeared at the edge of their vision.

The fortress was built into the mountainside like a fierce tiger, guarding the vital passage from Yi Zhou to Jingzhou. Anyone wishing to leave Yi Zhou had to pass through this colossal structure. A rather ancient Array Formation surrounded the fortress, preventing anyone from attempting to fly over it.

Since the establishment of the Central Dynasty, similar passes had been erected to demarcate the Nine Provinces, preventing large-scale population movements and maintaining strict control over each region.

Over the years, this heavily guarded fortress had claimed countless souls on battlefields. Although each major province was controlled by a prominent family, the original Nine Great Families were not the same as the current ones; control had changed hands countless times. Each new family’s rise to power was invariably accompanied by war and bloodshed.

”This is Town Ghost Pass. Once we’re through it, we’ll be in Jingzhou,” Luo Xian’er said, a hint of joy on her face. Once we leave Yi Zhou, we’ll be safe.

”Town Ghost Pass seems unusually quiet today,” Shen Qianlang remarked, his brow furrowed in confusion as he gazed at the enormous pass, which had surprisingly little traffic.

As a major thoroughfare between two large provinces, it should have been bustling with people. Yet now, there was hardly anyone in sight. The profound quietness was unsettling, creating a sense of foreboding.