“Run!”
“Just ahead—it’s Masha Ferry Crossing!”
“The Liuyang River Market District is still safe. There are Foundation Establishment experts holding the line, and a Second-Grade Formation protecting the district. Once we get there, we’ll be safe!”
The next day, Clear Sun Sect cultivators who had fled from various places began to converge at Masha Ferry Crossing.
Just as Li An had predicted, in the face of the sect’s destruction, some escapees might have had the foresight to flee elsewhere. But most were too accustomed to relying on the sect. In the moment of ruin, they clung together, instinctively seeking safety and the most natural thought was to head for the Liuyang River Market District.
“Where are the boats?! Come on!”
“Boatman! Hurry up—we need to get to the market district!”
But to the disciples’ dismay, the boats that had been moored at the crossing were now all anchored out in the river, several hundred meters from shore.
The Liuyang River Market District was built along the river, and its entrance and exit were via the river—boats were the only way in.
What’s more, due to the district’s distance from the sect’s main headquarters, special precautions had been installed along the river to guard against infiltration. The river near the district was filled with defensive arrays and lethal traps, not to mention the natural hazards, powerful spiritual whirlpools and ferocious aquatic spirit beasts.
Only specially inscribed spirit boats could safely make the journey.
This was what made the Liuyang River Market District so secure.
Yet now, the boats in midriver did not move at all.
“Husband, what should we do?!”
In the crowd, a beautiful woman with injuries called out urgently.
She held a sword in one hand, and a young girl clung to her side in fear. Beside them stood a man with a weary, aged face.
This family of three was none other than Mu Qingwan, Chen Cheng, and their daughter Chen Qingling.
“The demon cultivators pursuing us will arrive soon…”
Chen Cheng looked deeply anxious. “If we don’t get a boat, we can’t enter the Liuyang River Market District. We’ll have to run elsewhere.”
They couldn’t afford to stay here.
Just then, one of the boats in midriver began drifting toward the shore at a slow pace. Immediately, the fleeing crowd surged forward in desperation.
“Twenty spirit stones per person to board. Whoever’s willing, get on.”
The boatman shouted from the deck.
Under normal circumstances, the fare would be two spirit stones. But now these boatmen were shamelessly raising prices.
With nearly a hundred Clear Sun Sect escapees already crowding the ferry, and more arriving by the minute, no one hesitated at the exorbitant price—they all scrambled to board.
The small boat could hold only five or six people. Amid the chaos, Mu Qingwan’s family couldn’t get on. As the boat set off upstream, they watched in bitter frustration.
But seeing that there was still hope of boarding, even those who had planned to flee elsewhere now stayed, staring hopefully out to the river. Some pleaded loudly, others offered generous bribes. After the first boat departed, a second finally approached.
This time, the fare was hiked to forty spirit stones.
The scramble turned even more intense—fights broke out over spots on the boat.
Progress was painfully slow, and the boats arrived only sporadically.
Meanwhile, the number of people on the shore had grown to over a hundred!
“What are you all still doing here?! The demon cultivators are right behind us—RUN!”
A few panicked cultivators rushed onto the scene and froze at the sight before them.
“What?! The demon cultivators are coming?!”
“We’re done for… Boatman! Please! I’ll pay a hundred spirit stones!”
“Help us! You damned boatmen—how can you be so heartless?!”
Panic exploded at the ferry.
Suddenly, the boats anchored midriver began speeding toward the shore—as if moved by the crowd’s desperation.
“Thank heavens!”
“They’re coming!”
The crowd cheered with elation.
But in the midst of the crowd, Mu Qingwan frowned, “Husband… something feels wrong.”
Chen Cheng tensed, clutching a protective artifact, “Our spirit boat took a hit—it won’t fly far… If anything happens, you and Qingling run first!”
“No—we leave together!” Mu Qingwan gripped his hand tightly.
“Father, Mother… we stay together!” Tears welled in Chen Qingling’s eyes.
By now, several boats had docked.
“Thank goodness…”
The disciples at the front rushed onboard.
But just as one stepped aboard, a screaming cry rang out—
The boatman grabbed the disciple’s throat and crushed it in one hand!
A faint black demonic aura radiated from his body.
The other boatmen acted instantly—cutting down the unsuspecting disciples who had boarded!
“No—demon cultivators?!”
“It’s a trap! RUN—!”
“There’s a Foundation Establishment demon cultivator—!”
Panic tore through the crowd.
Everyone fled in terror.
But at that moment—
BOOM!
A powerful formation suddenly erupted. Its pressure swept across the area, and all the disciples were struck down, coughing blood and collapsing on the ground.
“We’re trapped…”
“This is the end!”
Cries of despair echoed through the air.
“Leave the women alive—to serve as cauldrons. Kill all the men.”
The lead “boatman” spoke coldly.
The dozen boatmen around him began their massacre of the over one hundred Clear Sun Sect disciples.
Though the disciples hadn’t been killed outright by the formation, they were all severely injured. When they saw the demon cultivators advancing, they grabbed their weapons in panic, but they were no match for these well-prepared enemies. Screams of agony filled the air.
“Run—!”
At that critical moment, Chen Cheng suddenly let out a roar.
He surged to his feet, eyes bloodshot, and unleashed two talismans—
A Second-Grade Exploding Talisman, hurled at the Foundation Establishment demon cultivator.
A Second-Grade Ban-Breaking Talisman, which tore open a gap in the formation!
“Father—!”
Chen Qingling cried, but Mu Qingwan held her tightly. She summoned a spirit boat, activated it instantly, and flew away at top speed.
Others, seeing hope, also surged forward and escaped through the gap.
BOOM!
The Exploding Talisman detonated, instantly obliterating four or five Qi Refining demon cultivators. Even the Foundation Establishment cultivator’s face changed as he activated a magic tool to block the blast.
“Kill them all—leave no survivors!”
Roared the demon cultivator.
He hadn’t expected such a “big fish” to be among these so-called escapees—someone who could unleash two Second-Grade talismans.
The massacre grew even more brutal. The infuriated demon cultivators cut down everyone in sight.
Even demon cultivators stationed outside the formation now joined in the slaughter.
Half an hour later—
The ferry crossing was soaked in blood.
Corpses littered the ground as the demon cultivators searched the bodies.
“Commander, we’ve struck it rich! These cultivators had gear worth two to three thousand spirit stones…”
The Foundation Establishment cultivator nodded. “Give half to the brothers. I’ll take the rest to Master.”
He collected a pile of storage pouches, then added, “Sweep the area and clean it up. Stay alert—you might catch a few more fish. I’m heading back.”
After giving his orders, he departed.
The remaining demon cultivators got to work—burning corpses, erasing traces, cleaning the scene. They labored until dusk, when they finally relaxed.
“We’re rich! With just thirteen of us, each brother gets over a thousand spirit stones!”
“Damn that bastard who tore open the formation. If not for him, each of us would’ve gotten a cauldron too!”
“We’ll take our time torturing him later… Let’s divide the loot first!”
The demon cultivators gathered near the ferry, grinning as they split the spoils.
But at that very moment—
BOOM!
The surrounding space suddenly trembled. A hidden formation exploded to life.
“What the hell?!”
The thirteen demon cultivators’ faces went pale with shock.
There was another formation hidden here?!
…
(End of Chapter)