From Five Animal Exercises to being hailed as a saint and ancestor

The hustle and bustle of Baiwei City seemed to be separated by an invisible boundary.

Yao Mengkang and Xu Ziyi turned into a relatively quiet alley.

The bluestone path was slightly damp, and the high courtyard walls on both sides cast large shadows, making the light in the alleyway a bit dimmer.

This is a shortcut connecting the two main streets.

There aren't many pedestrians on weekdays.

At this moment, the only sound is the faint rustling of the wind through the withered grass on the wall.

Yao Mengkang still wore that helpless smile on his face, as if he had been "bewitched by beauty".

He put his arm around Xu Ziyi's shoulder and walked casually.

However, the Chaos Star God Technique within his body had quietly reached its peak, and his immense spiritual power was like the most sophisticated radar.

It meticulously scanned every movement within a radius of several dozen feet.

The texture of the walls, the gaps between the floor tiles, the dust falling in the air, and even the subtlest energy fluctuations in the shadows.

All of this was clearly reflected in his mind.

His muscles were in a state of subtle relaxation.

It appears relaxed, but in reality, it's like a spring compressed to its limit.

It can unleash earth-shattering power at any moment.

He had to ensure that, in the event of an emergency, he could protect not only himself but also Xu Ziyi.

The performance must be so realistic that no flaws are revealed.

Xu Ziyi nestled beside Yao Mengkang, a sweet smile on her face.

But those large eyes, hidden beneath long eyelashes, gleamed with a calm and wary light.

Her fingers seemed to unconsciously entwine around Yao Mengkang's clothes.

In reality, spiritual energy was already flowing quietly through his meridians, ready to deal with any unforeseen events.

She was very clear about her role—a "junior sister" who needed to be protected, was somewhat willful, but could never let her down at crucial moments.

Just as the two reached the middle of the alley, and their view was completely blocked by the curved walls—

A sudden change has occurred!

"Swish! Swish! Swish!"

Five dark figures emerged as if they had been peeled away from the shadows of the wall itself.

They appeared without warning at the front and back of the alley, blocking all escape routes.

They were completely shrouded in black clothing, with only their cold, ruthless eyes visible.

The aura emanating from them was clearly that of the early stage of the Spirit Sea Realm!

They seemed to be just beginning to enter this realm, their spiritual power somewhat weak, but the combined aura of the five of them was enough to make ordinary cultivators in the Spirit Sea Realm tremble with fear.

"Help! Assassins! Dean Shangguan! Elder Qin!"

Yao Mengkang was almost there the moment the shadow appeared.

He then opened his throat and, with all the strength he had, let out a terrified, desperate cry for help!

The sound contained pure spiritual power, and it exploded like thunder.

It traveled through the alley and carried far away.

This was a pre-arranged signal to notify Shangguan Hong and Qin Feng, who were lurking in the inn.

The fish has taken the bait, and... it needs "rescue"!

The reactions from the city lord's mansion and the inn immediately unfolded.

Almost simultaneously with Yao Mengkang's cries for help.

Inside the inn room, Shangguan Hong suddenly opened his tightly closed eyes.

His eyes flashed with a sharp light, and a terrifying aura, like that of a prehistoric beast awakening, was about to soar into the sky!

At the same time, Zhang Xinghan inside the city lord's mansion also suddenly stood up.

His body exuded a calm and steady aura, which subtly echoed Shangguan Hong's aura!

The two powerful figures instantly locked onto the location where Yao Mengkang was attacked, and with a slight movement, they were about to tear through space to rush there.

However, at this very moment—

"Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!"

Within the City of Flavors, powerful auras erupted simultaneously from several directions, revealing no attempt at concealment!

From the direction of the granary in the east of the city, a scorching aura, like molten lava from the earth's core, rose up.

At the location of the western armory, a will as sharp as ten thousand swords being drawn swept across.

At the teleportation array hub in the south of the city, a chilling, oppressive aura, like that of a deep, dark spring, permeated the air.

The three auras flashed by in an instant.

But each of these auras is no weaker than Zhang Xinghan's at the peak of the Divine Bridge Realm!

They acted like invisible barriers, instantly disrupting the city's natural energy.

It's also a blatant warning!

Zhang Xinghan's surging momentum froze instantly, veins bulging on his forehead, and he almost lost control of his body.

What's even more unsettling is...

Not far away, at the Crimson Flame Army's garrison, there was an aura of Purple Mansion Realm power that was in no way inferior to Shangguan Hong's.

Like a sleeping beast opening its eyes, it exudes an aura of iron-bloodedness and murderous intent.

We've pinpointed Shangguan Hong's location from afar!

The intention is self-evident.

In a flash, Shangguan Hong and Zhang Xinghan exchanged a glance.

They both saw the fury and a hint of helplessness in each other's eyes.

The other side was far too well-prepared!

This is an open strategy, utilizing the city's key points and potential chaos, as well as the restraint of powerful individuals of the same level.

They managed to hold back these two top combatants!

"Qin Feng!" Shangguan Hong made a decisive statement, his voice as cold as ice shattering.

"Go! You must save Xiao Xu!"

"Leave it to me!"

Qin Feng's figure had already transformed into a streak of azure light, like lightning tearing through the night sky.

It shot off towards the alleyway!

Although he is only at the Yuan Dan realm, his combat strength is comparable to the early stage of the Divine Bridge realm, and his speed is also top-notch. He is currently the fastest and most suitable candidate for rescue!

The alleyway was filled with a chilling aura of danger.

The five masked men in black worked together seamlessly, with two blocking the front and three covering the rear.

The weapon in his hand gleamed with a ghostly light, like the forked tongue of a venomous snake.

They struck at the vital points of both men.

Yao Mengkang's heart was filled with a cold and clear mind.

With his foundation at the forbidden extreme realm of opening the thirteenth level of the meridians, let alone five people with weak spiritual energy at the early stage of the spiritual sea.

Even against five mid-stage Spirit Sea cultivators, he was confident he could defeat them!

But at this moment, he has no choice but to lose!

"Ziyi, watch out!"

His face showed an expression of utter horror.

He shoved Xu Ziyi violently against the wall behind her.

He then drew his Cloud-Splitting Blade with a clang and hurriedly faced the two men in black who were attacking from the front.

With a flash of sword light, Yao Mengkang suppressed his strength to a level only slightly stronger than an ordinary eleventh-level Qi Opening Realm cultivator.

His knife skills appeared "chaotic and disorderly".

He barely managed to block the attacks of the two men in black, relying only on his "fierce courage" and reaction speed far beyond that of ordinary people.

The swords clashed, producing a piercing metallic clang.

Yao Mengkang struggled to his feet, staggering, and each block seemed to be "extremely strenuous."

His arms trembled slightly, and fine beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

"Senior Brother Yao!"

Xu Ziyi instantly got into character and let out a terrified scream.

He drew his short sword and "fightedly" met another approaching man in black.

Her attacks were weak and full of flaws.

The black-clad man's casual slash nearly knocked her short sword out of her hand, causing her to stagger backward, her face deathly pale.

"Pfft!"

To make the performance more convincing, he "panickedly" parried a sword attack from the side.

Yao Mengkang even "accidentally" got a shallow cut on his left arm from the blade.

Blood instantly stained his sleeves.

He groaned, a look of "pain" on his face, but still "stubbornly" stood in front of Xu Ziyi.

He roared, "I'll fight you to the death!"

He seemed determined to take everyone down with him, fighting five "Spirit Sea Realm" experts single-handedly!

This performance was truly Oscar-worthy.

The character portrays a young disciple with good talent but lacking combat experience who unleashes his potential and fights desperately to protect his junior sister.

It is depicted vividly.

Anxiety flashed in the eyes of the five men in black.

This kid, though all show and no substance, is utterly hopeless in actual combat.

But after all, he is a young prodigy who has mastered two hidden meridians. At this moment, his potential is being unleashed and he is fighting desperately, making him quite difficult to deal with.

They sensed the powerful aura of the Yuan Dan realm approaching from afar.

Yao Mengkang also made a decisive decision.

A man in black moved with lightning speed, instantly circling behind Yao Mengkang, who was at his last gasp.

The palm strike, carrying a sharp gust of wind, slashed fiercely towards the back of his neck.

Yao Mengkang tried desperately to twist his body to dodge, but he was "a step too slow" and was struck "solidly" by the palm strike.

"Uh..." he let out a short, muffled groan.

With resentment and worry in her eyes, her body went limp and she collapsed.

"Retreat!" The leader of the men in black shouted, racing against time.

Their goal for this trip was to abduct valuable young talents.

This young man, who has mastered the hidden meridians, is so brave and fierce; he is the perfect "material."

The woman's weakness was secondary; moreover, the powerful aura of the Yuan Dan realm was already close at hand, and there was no time to waste.

The man in black scooped up the "unconscious" Yao Mengkang and, along with the other four, disappeared into the shadows like ghosts.

They vanished instantly into the depths of the alley.

"You scoundrel, how dare you!"

Qin Feng's figure crashed into the alleyway like a meteorite.

Looking at the empty space in front of him, and Xu Ziyi sitting on the ground, her clothes disheveled, tears streaming down her face, as if she had been terrified.

His face instantly filled with "raging fury", and his body was filled with sword energy.

It cut countless cracks into the walls on both sides and let out a deafening roar!

Qin Feng brought Xu Ziyi, who was still in shock and crying uncontrollably, back to the inn.

Close the door and set up a protective barrier.

Xu Ziyi stopped crying instantly, wiped away the tears on her face, and her eyes regained their clarity.

"Elder Qin, Senior Brother Yao..." She was still a little worried.

"It's nothing. That kid's very cunning; he's putting on a very convincing act."

Qin Feng waved his hand, his anger vanished, replaced by a smile.

"The fish has taken the bait, and it's biting deep. Now it's up to Mengkang."

Xu Ziyi breathed a sigh of relief, then a sly glint flashed in her eyes.

"Then what's next for me..."

"You're still that frightened junior sister who needs comforting."

"Don't show your face for the next couple of days."

After making some arrangements, Qin Feng and Shangguan Hong met up again.

"The plan is going smoothly; Meng Kang has been 'kidnapped'," Qin Feng explained briefly.

A cold glint flashed in Shangguan Hong's eyes.

"Alright! Since they want to see us anxious, then we'll put on a show for them!"

The next moment, an even more violent and furious pressure from the Purple Mansion Realm appeared.

It shot into the sky from the city lord's mansion like a volcanic eruption!

Shangguan Hong's roar echoed throughout half of Baiwei City.

"Zhang Xinghan! What kind of city lord are you?!"

"In broad daylight, under the clear sky, my disciples have been disappearing one after another in your city!"

"If you don't give Qinglu Academy an explanation today, I'll tear down your city lord's mansion!"

Immediately afterwards, Zhang Xinghan's equally powerful aura of "mixed shock and anger" also erupted from inside the city lord's mansion.

"Shangguan Hong! Don't you dare make false accusations!"

"This city lord is investigating with all his might!"

"You dare to run wild in Hundred Flavors City? Do you think I, the city lord, am just a figurehead?"

Two terrifying auras clashed fiercely in the sky above the city lord's mansion.

This caused the wind and clouds to change color, the vital energy to become chaotic, and the roaring sound to be heard incessantly.

It seemed as if the two powerful figures were truly about to engage in a fierce battle, disregarding everything!

This was all an act.

This pushes the plot of "Qinglu Academy losing control due to the successive disappearances of its disciples" to its climax.

This further lulled the enemy into a false sense of security, and also created a better environment for Yao Mengkang to infiltrate.

The enemy's attention will be largely drawn to this sudden "internal strife" and the anger of the powerful.

The undercurrents, fueled by the ulterior motives and captivating performances of both sides, became even more turbulent and unpredictable.

But Yao Mengkang's solo infiltration had only just begun.