Zhou Kai pursued Yun Kang for two days straight, yet he hadn’t even glimpsed the man’s shadow.

He stopped, stroking his chin as his eyes flickered with calculation.

“If I charge in there single-handedly, what if I walk straight into an ambush? They set a trap for Wu Hongxiao, a Bone Forging Seventh Layer cultivator. Their target is clear. Obviously, they came prepared.”

To hell with pride! I, Zhou Kai, admit it—I’m spooked!

Even if my raw power can’t compare to those top-tier freaks, I level up fast. I can ascend while dragging my entire harem along for the ride. That is the True Way!

I refuse to believe that a Foundation Establishment genius with heaven-defying comprehension, a Celestial-grade Spirit Root, and a formidable physique is supposed to act arrogant in front of a Nascent Soul mighty figure. That’s just suicide.

Thinking this, his mood settled considerably. Killing Yun Kang was important, but not if the cost was his own life.

It was better to wait for the Senior Sister from Qionghua Palace. If he could leverage her strength to fight and then pin the blame for Yun Kang’s death on Du Chuyao… well, that would be perfection.

Having made up his mind, Zhou Kai found a concealed spot, sat down, and began to meditate.

A few hours later.

A streak of light tore across the horizon, its momentum fierce and domineering. Before the light even arrived, the crushing Aura Pressure of a Golden Core cultivator washed over the area.

The light dissipated, revealing a graceful, towering figure.

The newcomer was stunning. A pair of phoenix eyes sparkled like stars set in a flawless oval face. With a delicate nose and cherry lips, she was truly a beauty of national renown.

Even though Zhou Kai was surrounded by peerless beauties like Li Youci and Shen Hanyi, seeing this woman up close for the first time made his heart skip a beat.

What a beauty!

It was none other than the Eldest Senior Sister of Qionghua Palace, Du Chuyao.

She set Wu Hongxiao down gently. Zhou Kai quickly rose and cupped his hands in salute.

“Junior Zhou Kai greets Senior Du.”

Du Chuyao’s beautiful eyes swept over Zhou Kai, but her gaze held no warmth. The corner of her mouth curled with a faint, imperceptible chill.

Clearly, this Senior Sister still held a grudge over the “scarecrow incident” on the Exploring Spring Flower Boat.

“No need for formalities,” she said coolly. “Why have you stopped here? Did you discover something?”

Zhou Kai truthfuly recounted his concerns, emphasizing his speculation about a potential ambush.

Du Chuyao listened, her willow-leaf eyebrows raising slightly. “You seem quite respectful now. However, Yun Kang kidnapped my Junior Sister. I must capture him personally. As for an ambush… I have my own ways to deal with it.”

The corner of Zhou Kai’s mouth twitched.

Great. So the scarecrow thing is completely unforgivable, huh?

“Then I will trouble Senior Du to lead the way,” Zhou Kai said, his face a mask of polite deference.

Du Chuyao nodded slightly. Without another word, spiritual light flashed around her, and she transformed into a startling rainbow, shooting away at a speed far beyond what Zhou Kai could match.

Seeing this, Wu Hongxiao hurriedly turned to him. “Fellow Daoist Zhou, let’s hurry and follow!”

Zhou Kai stared at the direction Du Chuyao had vanished, smacking his lips.

This woman is really stubborn. What if there’s truly a dragon’s pool and tiger’s den ahead? It’s fine if she gets herself killed, but I’d rather she didn’t drag me down with her.

“I say, Fellow Daoist Wu,” Zhou Kai asked as they took flight. “Does your Senior Sister always act so decisively and swiftly? Has she considered that if the enemy really has cultivators lying in ambush, she’ll be facing them alone?”

Upon hearing this, a trace of pride appeared on Wu Hongxiao’s face.

“Fellow Daoist Zhou, you may not know. My Senior Sister possesses the Spirit Ying Sacred Body and innate Jade Soul Golden Pupils. She is exceptionally sensitive to traces left by cultivators, fluctuations in surrounding Spirit Qi, and even potential treasure auras or killing intent.”

“Furthermore, she can nurture myriad treasures within her body and communicate with jade to reach a divine level. If she says it’s fine, then it is most likely fine.”

Zhou Kai listened, stunned.

Spirit Ying Sacred Body? Jade Soul Golden Pupils?

Sounds incredibly impressive, but isn’t that just a glorified Treasure-Hunting Rodent Physique?

However, hearing Wu Hongxiao’s explanation did ease his mind. Having a human radar that could sense fortune and misfortune leading the charge did increase the safety factor considerably.

“So that’s how it is. Then let’s catch up.”

The two fully activated their flight techniques, chasing for roughly half an hour.

Suddenly, waves of intense Mana fluctuations rolled in from the sky ahead. The shockwaves of Golden Core cultivators clashing caused Zhou Kai and Wu Hongxiao’s Vitality to churn, even from this distance.

Even more bizarrely, threaded within those violent mana fluctuations were faint, seductive sounds—intoxicating whimpers that made one’s cheeks burn and heart sway.

“It’s Senior Sister’s aura!” Wu Hongxiao’s expression changed. With a cry of alarm, she accelerated, charging forward without regard for safety.

Zhou Kai frowned tightly.

Something’s wrong! These seductive sounds… they don’t feel like the Heavenly Demon Sect’s methods. They feel more like… those seductive foxes from the Desire Wonder Palace!

He immediately restrained his aura, concealed his form using the environment, fortified his mind, and crept forward cautiously.

After flying closer, Zhou Kai found a dense cloud layer to hide in and peered out.

High in the sky, Du Chuyao was locked in a fierce battle with a man dressed in pink brocade robes. His face was handsome, but in a demonic, unsettling way.

Du Chuyao lived up to her reputation as a Fifth Layer Golden Core expert. Treasure light radiated from her body like a halo. Her jade-like fingers tapped the air continuously, commanding several dazzling Dharma Treasures to circle and dance.

She attacked and defended simultaneously, fighting evenly with the demonic man. The brilliant explosions of their techniques illuminated half the sky.

However, although the pink-robed man seemed hard-pressed, his expression remained unhurried.

Behind him floated over thirty young women.

They were dressed in revealing, gauzy clothes, their expressions dazed, their eyes vacant. They hung in the air like soulless puppets, emitting faint pink mist from their bodies.

Whenever the demonic man’s mana dipped or his aura weakened, one of the women behind him would let out a short, mournful cry.

Her delicate body would tremble violently. Then, right before Zhou Kai’s eyes, her flesh would wither and collapse, draining instantly until she was nothing but a desiccated corpse of skin and bone!

Simultaneously, the demonic man’s aura would surge back to its peak!

“The Advanced Usage of Cultivation Vessels…” Zhou Kai’s eyelids twitched. Although he had heard of such dark arts, seeing it in person sent a chill down his spine.

His gaze quickly swept the rest of the battlefield.

Not far away, a magnificent Spirit Boat floated quietly.

On the deck stood a familiar figure with his hands clasped behind his back. It was none other than Yun Kang, the man Zhou Kai longed to kill!

At Yun Kang’s feet lay a female cultivator in Qionghua Palace robes. She was motionless, her eyes wide open—dead and clearly aggrieved.

Meanwhile, Wu Hongxiao was engaged in a desperate fight against two of Yun Kang’s guards.

Both guards were at the Bone Forging Ninth Layer, shrouded in sinister demonic energy and attacking ruthlessly. Although Wu Hongxiao’s spear technique was exquisite, she was fighting one against two, and her opponents were a full level above her. She was already in constant danger. Defeat was only a matter of time.

Zhou Kai looked toward the other side of the ship’s railing.

There, a long black nail, about ten feet in length and engraved with complex talisman patterns, was deeply embedded in the ship’s hull.

As a Third-Grade Artifact Refiner, Zhou Kai’s eyes were sharp. He recognized the item instantly.

A Spatial Anchor!

Generally, teleportation treasures like Void-Breaking Talismans had random landing points. But if a Spatial Anchor was set up in advance, one could achieve precise, fixed-point teleportation!

In a flash of lightning, Zhou Kai connected the clues.

What a brilliant move! Lure the snake out of its hole, then invite the guest into the trap!

Zhou Kai’s heart turned icy cold.

Yun Kang and that Golden Core demon from the Desire Wonder Palace had planned this long ago!

First, kidnap a Qionghua Palace disciple. Intentionally let Wu Hongxiao escape to report back, ensuring the Golden Core Du Chuyao would give chase.

Next, lure Du Chuyao to this specific location.

Finally, use the Spatial Anchor to teleport their ambush forces directly to the battlefield, creating an inescapable killing zone!

Having figured out the trap, Zhou Kai didn’t hesitate. He turned around, intending to escape immediately.

Are you kidding me?!

The Desire Wonder Palace and Heavenly Demon Ridge had set up such an elaborate kill box specifically for Du Chuyao. There had to be more backup plans! Charge forward now to kill Yun Kang?

Only a fool would do that!

However, just as he prepared to slip away, his expression changed drastically.

“Damn it… an Entrapment Array!”

The surrounding space began to ripple.

An invisible restraining force surged from all directions. A transparent light screen, seamlessly blended with the heaven and earth’s Spirit Qi, had unknowingly enveloped a radius of several dozen miles!

This Entrapment Array was arranged so ingeniously that there were almost no signs before its activation. It was likely the work of a Formation Grandmaster. Even Du Chuyao, with her proud Spirit Ying Sacred Body, hadn’t noticed it while distracted by the fierce battle!

We still fell for it… these bastards even sealed off the escape route!