Lei Jun struck down with his cudgel.

The Gao Family disciple's eyes rolled back.

Without even a grunt, he silently collapsed. The arrow he had already nocked and drawn on the bowstring was on the verge of release.

In his other hand, Lei Jun had prepared a Binding Body Talisman, which he promptly affixed to the man.

The now-lifeless body temporarily stood rigid in place. Even his arms remained tensed, still holding the bowstring and arrow.

If someone were to observe from a distance, everything would look the same as before.

Only, no one knew that the back of this Gao Family disciple's head was now caved in.

Empowered by the Night Wind effect of his Wind-Thunder Talisman, Lei Jun could strike someone on the head with his cudgel without making a sound, if he so wished.

Although it seemed to lack a certain impact, Lei Jun was generally satisfied with the effect.

These Gao Family disciples might only possess the cultivation of the Lower Three Heavens, but as cultivators of the Confucian Divine Archery Lineage, their senses and insight were exceptionally sharp, and their physical reactions agile.

Yet, by combining the power of his Heavenly General Talisman and Wind-Thunder Talisman—his Life-Bound Magic Arts—Lei Jun still managed to stealthily approach one Gao Family disciple after another, each armed with a bow and positioned at a mountain vantage point.

Then, just like playing whack-a-mole, he knocked each one down with his cudgel.

After clearing the perimeter, Lei Jun headed back down the mountain and into the valley.

In the valley, other Gao Family disciples were scattered around the deep fissures, lying in ambush. They waited for their target to merely poke his head out from the crevices before launching a sudden, overwhelming assault.

However, after a considerable wait, Lei Jun had yet to appear, and the Gao Family members couldn't help but grow doubtful.

If their target hadn't descended into the chasms earlier but had instead already left Qiluo Valley, then they were all just wasting their time.

Wasting time was a minor concern; the real issue was potentially missing the golden opportunity this day presented.

Such opportunities were rare: external communications were severed, preventing the True Inheritance of the Celestial Master Mansion from being transmitted, and the young Taoist was isolated.

If successful, they would silently eliminate a young, highly potential talent from the Taoist Sect.

Missing today's chance would make finding another far more difficult—a true pity.

Next to the leading middle-aged Confucian scholar, someone whispered, "Third Uncle, could it be?"

"Let's wait patiently a little longer," the middle-aged Confucian scholar commanded. "If he doesn't show up after a bit more time, then we'll make a decision."

The order was given, and the dispersed Gao Family disciples obediently complied.

A young man carefully concealed himself behind rocks near a fissure in the ground, his gaze fixed intently on the pitch-black chasm before him.

He didn't dare let his attention wander.

If other enemies or threats approached from outside the valley, their kinsmen positioned on the mountain vantage points, with their broad field of vision, would be the first to spot them. They would then sound the alarm and provide covering fire with their arrows.

Those of them inside the valley currently needed only to focus on that chasm.

The instant someone began to ascend from the chasm, they were to deliver a crushing blow!

The young man gripped his sword sheath with one hand and the hilt with the other, slowly drawing his longsword.

He took a deep breath, steadying his slightly restless heart.

Then... he breathed his last.

A short cudgel, thick at one end and thin at the other.

The thin end was in Lei Jun's hand.

The thick end struck the back of the young man's head.

Another Binding Body Talisman was applied, and the lifeless body remained frozen in place.

Moving like the Night Wind, Lei Jun departed silently, circling the chasm to find his next target.

The leader, a middle-aged Confucian scholar, waited a long time, but their target still hadn't emerged from the chasm. He began to suspect they had waited in vain.

He frowned, instructing the few kinsmen nearby, "Signal everyone to gather, but maintain order."

Two men nodded and circled the chasm from opposite sides to summon the others.

Everyone still clung to a sliver of hope, yet worried that the enemy might emerge from the chasm at that very moment. Thus, they moved with caution and vigilance, ready to strike instantly.

The middle-aged Confucian scholar stared at the chasm for a while longer.

Suddenly, he felt something was wrong.

The men dispatched to ambush positions hadn't returned to regroup.

Even the two sent to recall them hadn't come back...

Something was amiss!

Yet the Divine Archers on the mountains hadn't sounded any warnings or fired any arrows.

A chill ran down the middle-aged Confucian scholar's spine, and the hairs on his body stood on end.

Although the sun was setting in the west, there was still ample daylight.

Yet, under the bright daylight, this Qiluo Valley filled him with an eerie sensation, as if he were seeing ghosts in broad daylight.

"What foul demon dares cause trouble here? Show yourself!" he roared, holding his sword horizontally before his chest, his eyes wide.

His robes billowed as his Literary Splendor Talent surged, manifesting a grand and imposing aura of righteousness.

Sword Qi erupted like a downpour, blasting out in all directions.

With this explosive release of Sword Qi, a sudden premonition struck the middle-aged Confucian scholar; he sensed something.

He suddenly shot upwards, leaping into mid-air.

His gaze swept his surroundings, but initially, he saw no sign of the enemy.

Only one of the young disciples sent to gather the others was rushing back, his expression a mixture of confusion and terror. It was the middle-aged Confucian scholar's own son.

The young man was startled to see his father leap into the air. Simultaneously, he saw the middle-aged Confucian scholar's eyes widen drastically, filled with horror and disbelief.

For, directly above that young Gao Family disciple's head, a short cudgel was unmistakably raised high.

Before the middle-aged Confucian scholar could intervene, the cudgel had already slammed down.

THUD!

CRASH!

Seeing that the middle-aged Confucian scholar had noticed him, Lei Jun no longer bothered to suppress the sound this time.

With a THUD, the Gao Family disciple uttered no sound as he CRASHED to the ground.

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