"What's going on? Who are these three Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivators?" Xu Ping frowned, his heart filled with waves of doubt.

A Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator is considered a high-ranking figure even within Golden Core forces. Yet within this Qiu Xuan Mountain, there are only eight Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivators in total.

Now, suddenly, three appeared at once, and one of them is already dead. If this happened within a Golden Core force, it would definitely be a major event.

"Once I return to the Chen clan's territory, I must ask Chen Li." However, Xu Ping didn't plan to return immediately, as it was unknown if the two Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivators were still lurking nearby, waiting for the right moment to act.

He found a hidden spot and commanded the Rat Demon to search around the vicinity of the Chen clan's territory.

After several meticulous rounds of searching and not discovering those two unfamiliar Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, Xu Ping finally relaxed a bit.

"It's time to head back." Xu Ping stood up and used his Escape Light to hasten towards the Chen clan's territory.

...

...

Chen clan's territory.

"Fellow Daoist Xu, it's good that you're safe." Chen Li felt a sense of relief seeing Xu Ping return unharmed.

Although Xu Ping was powerful, encountering two Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivators would make survival chances incredibly slim.

"Thank you for your concern, Fellow Daoist Chen. I was about to return to your esteemed clan when I noticed three Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivators fighting outside the array, so I found a spot to hide, only daring to come back now." Xu Ping said with a bitter smile.

"A wise decision," Chen Li nodded in approval.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, do you recognize those three Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivators fighting?" Xu Ping asked.

Chen Li let out a long sigh, "Alas, I don't recognize the other two Foundation Establishment cultivators, but the one who was slain, I know—it's the Clan Leader of the Li family, Li Mingqing!"

"He was fleeing towards us, hoping I'd open the array to let him in. But the situation was unclear, and of course, I couldn't gamble the entire clan's lives." Chen Li's voice was tinged with helplessness.

"Fellow Daoist Chen's actions were correct. No one could open the array to let him in under such circumstances," Xu Ping agreed with this approach.

"Looking across the entire Yue Country, there aren't many forces that could command more than two Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivators. Who could it possibly be? Could it be that the Li family offended them?" Xu Ping asked, frowning.

Hearing this, Chen Li fell into silence.

The forces capable of deploying more than two Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivators are practically limited to major Golden Core forces and Nascent Soul sects. Even the eight great families find it challenging, possibly only the strongest one or two families have this capability.

After pondering for a bit, he shook his head, "The Li family has always been law-abiding, and I've never heard of them offending any of Yue Country's top forces."

"Then who could it be?" Xu Ping's frown deepened, his heart uneasy.

Not knowing who is responsible also means not knowing their purpose in killing the Li Clan Leader, implying that the entire Chen clan, including Xu Ping, might be targeted.

After pondering for a moment, the two still had no clues and could only temporarily give up.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, for now, keep the array fully operational. I will soon notify Qiu Xuan Mountain about this incident." After a while, Xu Ping finally spoke.

The Li family is also a Foundation Establishment family within the influence of Qiu Xuan Mountain. Naturally, they need to inform Qiu Xuan Mountain about the killing of their clan leader to see if Qiu Xuan Mountain has any clues or if they will send someone to investigate.

But Xu Ping knew in his heart that, with Qiu Xuan Mountain's entire attention preoccupied by the beast tide, they likely wouldn't pay much attention to this matter.

"Understood," Chen Li nodded, "In a few days, I'll send someone to the Li clan territory to check the situation."

Given that the Li Clan Leader was killed, the fate of the Li clan members probably wouldn't be much better.

The two talked a little more, filled with worries, and then bid each other farewell.

...

Residence.

Xu Ping took out the Long-distance Sound Transmission Talisman given to him by Hongyi, injected a trace of mana, and then performed a magic technique.

Instantly, the Long-distance Sound Transmission Talisman flickered with spiritual light.

Xu Ping held the Long-distance Sound Transmission Talisman and, with as few words as possible, reported the matter to Hongyi.

Having finished all this, he began to quietly wait for a reply.

Just thinking about the Li Clan Leader being killed made him worry again.

With the beast tide about to strike, now two Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivators have appeared out of nowhere and killed the Li Clan Leader.

If it were just a vendetta, that would be one thing, but if there's another purpose, things could get troublesome.

Moreover, the force that can dispatch two Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivators at once, if they have their eyes on the Chen clan and himself, the Water Shadow Curtain Array might not be enough to withstand them.

It's even possible that a Fake Pill master might come next time, in which case, no matter how strong he is, he would surely not be able to handle it.

"Alas, it's a troubled time," Xu Ping sighed helplessly.

With the beast tide approaching, the dominion of Qiu Xuan Mountain over the surrounding area visibly diminishing, all sorts of demons and monsters are surfacing.

Previously, there were scarcely any in the entire Yue Country who dared to ruffle Qiu Xuan Mountain's feathers.

After all, with the cultivation of Qiu Xuan Mountain's ancestor at the Middle Stage of Golden Core, only a Nascent Soul sect, Luoyun Sect, could make him bow his proud head.

...

Half a month later.

Chen Li visited Xu Ping and brought bad news.

"All the members of the Li family have disappeared, most likely they have been slaughtered entirely."

"Slaughtered entirely?"

Xu Ping's expression suddenly became serious, alarm bells ringing in his heart. Is this extermination, or is there something else hidden?

"What did the Sect Leader senior brother say after Fellow Daoist Xu notified Qiu Xuan Mountain?" Chen Li looked at Xu Ping with high hopes.

Annihilation!

And to annihilate a Foundation Establishment family, in the past, this would have been a major event. Even though the beast tide is now striking, perhaps Qiu Xuan Mountain should still send several Foundation Establishment cultivators to investigate.

However, Xu Ping's response disappointed him.

"The Sect Leader just said one thing: be careful and stay inside the array for now." Xu Ping smiled bitterly.

A few days ago, Hongyi's reply arrived, and indeed, as he had guessed, they currently don't have the energy to handle these matters. Overcoming the beast tide is the primary task now.

Hearing these words, Chen Li's eyes flashed with a hint of disappointment, and he couldn't help but sigh: "Alas, it seems Qiu Xuan Mountain's energy is also completely entangled by the beast tide, truly powerless."

"Your clan has the Water Shadow Curtain Array for protection, even another Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator could not break it." Xu Ping reassured.

"That's true." Chen Li nodded, "But recently, make sure to restrict the clan members; don't go out for unnecessary matters."

...

...

Ever since the Li family was confirmed to be exterminated, the Chen clan's territory has been on lockdown, with all entry and exit restricted.

Xu Ping also stopped going out, quietly cultivating at home.

Over half a month later.

Within a grove of the Chen clan's territory, a light of escape flashed rapidly through the trees.

Suddenly!

His figure accelerated sharply, seemingly tearing through the constraints of time and space, disappearing in an instant and reappearing at the edge of the trees.

"This speed... the Elemental Magnetic Escape Skill has broken through!" Xu Ping's eyes shone with excitement, eagerly opening the panel.

[Elemental Magnetic Escape Skill Mastery: 1/1600]

"It really reached mastery!"

Looking at the displayed data on the panel, Xu Ping beamed with joy. After years of effort, the Elemental Magnetic Escape Skill had finally reached mastery, just one step away from perfection.

In high spirits, Xu Ping urgently wanted to try again.

With a thought, his entire being transformed into a beam of light, disappearing instantly, in a split second already dozens of feet away.

"This speed..." Observing the distance he traversed instantly, Xu Ping grew more excited, "It's probably faster than even a Late-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator's escape technique!"

With his mastered Elemental Magnetic Escape Skill, if he chose to flee, most Late-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivators wouldn't be able to catch up to him.

This certainly greatly enhanced his survival abilities.

"If the Elemental Magnetic Escape Skill achieves perfection, a Golden Core cultivator might chase me, but a Fake Pill likely can't catch up!"

In the whole of Yue Country, those with Golden Core cultivation are not many.

"At the current pace, soon! I should be able to break through in a few years!" Xu Ping's eyes sparkled with excitement.

At this moment.

The long-distance Sound Transmission Talisman in Xu Ping's chest suddenly began flashing.

"Fellow Daoist Hong has sent news!" His expression changed, quickly taking out the Sound Transmission Talisman and invading it with his Divine Sense.

After a while.

Having read all the information, Xu Ping's expression shifted unpredictably.

The Sound Transmission Talisman contained two messages.

First, the reinforcements from other sects have finally arrived.

Second, he should quickly return to Qiu Xuan Mountain, as others will be sent to the Chen clan's territory.

Xu Ping didn't know whether to be happy or sad at the moment.

It's worth rejoicing that reinforcements from other sects have finally arrived.

But being asked to return to Qiu Xuan Mountain, he wasn't sure whether to be happy or sad.

Although returning would relieve him of threats from the mysterious force, facing the beast tide at Qiu Xuan Mountain is evidently not very safe.

But with the beast tide now upon them, unless he defects and goes deeper into Yue Country, nowhere is safe.

Yet, with other sects coming to aid, even the Nascent Soul sect Luoyun Sect is here, and he chooses to defect and leave.

It's clear he would be wanted by all the major sects.

"It's not time to run yet." Xu Ping shook his head.

Qiu Xuan Mountain has overcome many beast tides, and now others are supporting them, clearly there's a good chance of peacefully overcoming the beast tide.

Unless Qiu Xuan Mountain becomes extremely dangerous, defecting is justified.

At that time, even if he can't stay in Yue Country, with his cultivation, escaping to another country is just the same.

"I should inform Chen Li first." Xu Ping thought inwardly.

After all, he was leaving, a word of notification was necessary, and another Foundation Establishment cultivator was to replace him, this matter involved Chen Li.

....

"What!"

"Fellow Daoist Xu is leaving, and another Foundation Establishment cultivator will replace you." Chen Li looked at Xu Ping in shock.

"Yes." Xu Ping nodded, "The Sect Leader has already notified me through a long-distance Sound Transmission Talisman, urging me to return soon."

"Moreover, reinforcements from other sects have arrived." He finally added.

Upon hearing this, Chen Li's eyes showed a hint of joy: "Those guys have finally come!"

But when he thought about Xu Ping leaving, he felt bouts of regret.

After all, Xu Ping's strength is formidable, and being an alchemist, the replacement couldn't compare to Xu Ping.

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