Chen Qingling’s familiarity with the Zhao family estate far exceeded Li An’s expectations.
From the time they left his separate loft building to when they arrived outside the Artifact Pavilion, they had not alerted a single person.
The key factor was that Li An’s Super Sense Technique was closely tied to his spiritual sense, allowing him to effectively evade the estate's hidden sentries and restrictions.
“We can’t go any farther… The Artifact Pavilion is heavily guarded. There’s no way to sneak in. Wait here for me—I'll go in!”
Chen Qingling bit her lip as she spoke.
Clearly, doing so came with immense risk.
But she was gambling—
This was already her only chance to escape the Zhao family.
“No. You wait here.”
Li An spoke in a low voice. “Tell me everything about the Artifact Pavilion. Don’t leave out a single detail.”
Chen Qingling still wanted to argue, but the moment her eyes met Li An’s, she felt an inexplicable inability to resist. She could only whisper everything she knew about the pavilion.
Li An immediately made his way toward the Artifact Pavilion.
“Who’s there?”
In the darkness before dawn, a voice suddenly rang out.
Li An felt the fluctuation of a restriction!
“It’s me.”
Li An answered coldly, “Deactivate the array.”
He stepped out from the shadows, his figure illuminated by the lantern’s glow.
“Greetings, Patriarch!”
From the darkness, two experts at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining instantly emerged.
“How is Guest Elder Wang today?” Li An asked.
“Reporting to the Patriarch, Guest Elder Wang is stationed at the Earth Fire chamber beneath the Artifact Pavilion. No one is allowed near...”
One of the guards responded, though he looked slightly puzzled. “Patriarch, what matter brings you here at this hour?”
Li An merely shot him a cold glance. The expert’s expression changed at once.
“I spoke out of turn! I spoke out of turn!”
He immediately stepped back.
Li An entered the Artifact Pavilion swiftly.
“What’s going on with the Patriarch?” one of the guards whispered after Li An had gone.
“These are two Second-Rank artifacts—pretty valuable. Maybe that Talisman Master surnamed Li is here to give the Zhao family a gift… Heh, don’t you know the Patriarch’s style by now? Stop talking so much!”
The other sneered.
…
Inside the Artifact Pavilion.
Just as Li An arrived, Wang Dazhu opened his eyes. “Xianchun, why are you here?”
“Li An’s in danger. People from the Demon Sect are after him. Hurry, bring his artifacts—we need to get him out of here.”
Li An spoke at once.
Wang Dazhu was shocked. He quickly reached into the Earth Fire furnace and took out two hot artifacts.
One was a refined turtle shell shield, and the other was a horn.
“What? Hasn’t the Demon Sect been gone for years? How can they have reappeared…”
Wang Dazhu asked anxiously.
Li An said nothing. Instead, he fixed his gaze on the furnace roaring with Earth Fire, narrowed his eyes, suddenly stepped forward, laid down a formation, and charged it with spirit stones. Then he said, “Follow me. I’ll take you to him.”
He led Wang Dazhu outside.
“Xianchun, say something. What’s going on—please explain…”
Wang Dazhu’s expression was full of worry, but Li An remained silent.
As they exited the Artifact Pavilion, the two Qi Refining Ninth Layer experts standing nearby respectfully saluted, watching Li An depart.
Once they reached a secluded area, Li An suddenly pulled Wang Dazhu aside.
“Dazhu, it’s me.”
His appearance shifted, instantly returning to his original face.
Just now, he had disguised himself as Zhao Xianchuan!
Although he had only seen Zhao Xianchuan the night before, Li An had observed him closely—his expressions, tone of voice, and demeanor—all imitated with seamless precision. Even Wang Dazhu hadn’t noticed.
“What…”
Wang Dazhu was stunned.
“Zhao Xianchuan has joined the Demon Sect. We have to leave quickly. Where are my artifacts? Give them to me first.”
Wang Dazhu paused, then suddenly said, “What was the first thing you asked me to buy at the Artifact Hall?”
Li An raised an eyebrow in surprise. Wang Dazhu wasn’t so naïve anymore. He had realized that if Zhao Xianchuan could be impersonated, why couldn’t Li An?
So, he was testing him!
“Two hundred catties of iron sand, thirty spirit stones,” Li An replied with a smile.
Wang Dazhu immediately relaxed and handed over the two Second-Rank artifacts without hesitation.
Li An quickly stashed them into his storage pouch.
“Follow me!”
He brought Wang Dazhu to the small garden where he had arranged to meet Chen Qingling. When she saw that Li An had safely brought Wang Dazhu out, a look of shock flashed in her eyes.
How had Li An managed to pull it off?
Then she emerged from the shadows and threw herself into Wang Dazhu’s arms!
“Uncle Wang, I finally found you…”
Wang Dazhu was equally thrilled. “Qingling, you’re here too? What about your mother? Didn’t she come?”
Chen Qingling said, “Uncle, don’t worry about my mother. Let’s escape first!”
But Li An’s brow furrowed—
He suddenly sensed that something was off.
“Uncle Li, Uncle Wang and I have already pledged our lives to each other. Please, take us with you…”
Chen Qingling looked at Li An, biting her lip tightly.
A flash of anger surged in Li An’s heart. He looked at her deeply but responded calmly, “Alright.”
“Dazhu, her cultivation is too low—her footsteps are too heavy. Carry her.”
The three moved swiftly.
The Zhao estate was massive and cloaked in a Second-Rank formation.
The main gate and all exits were crucial nodes.
Extending outward, most of Zhao Family Town was covered by the Second-Rank formation as well!
At the south gate—
“No good. We’ll definitely be discovered if we try going that way… The Zhao family’s formation tracks every person who enters or exits. If Qingling and I go through, a Foundation Establishment cultivator will know immediately!”
Wang Dazhu’s face darkened.
Especially since Zhao Xianchuan had always paid particular attention to Mu Qingwan and Chen Qingling. For eight years, he had never allowed them to leave the Zhao estate even once.
If Chen Qingling tried to leave, they’d be exposed instantly.
Li An said, “Wait here. Come when I signal.”
Wang Dazhu nodded, but with Chen Qingling on his back, she protested, “No…”
“Uncle Li, no matter what, we have to go together!”
“If you leave, I’ll be scared. I might scream at the wrong moment…”
Li An’s heart sank.
“Then we’ll all go—”
As soon as he finished speaking, his figure shifted—he transformed once more into Zhao Xianchuan.
Wang Dazhu already knew this secret, and there was no point hiding it from Chen Qingling any longer.
“This…”
Chen Qingling was utterly stunned. In that instant, her beautiful eyes seemed to understand how Li An had gotten Wang Dazhu out…
“Soon, I’ll call everyone out. Then we strike together—”
Li An instructed them.
He approached the south gate.
“Patriarch!”
A Qi Refining Eighth Layer expert emerged from the shadows and saluted.
“Where are the others? Tell them to come out. I have important orders.”
The expert hesitated, glanced at Wang Dazhu and Chen Qingling behind Li An, but still gave the signal.
Immediately, two more Qi Refining Seventh Layer cultivators appeared from hiding.
Over the years, the Zhao family had grown rapidly, and there were many late-stage Qi Refining experts among them!
“Good, good…”
Li An beckoned them over as if to share something in secret. The three leaned in.
A glint of cold light flashed in Li An’s hand—
The Star Glow Dagger slashed quickly!
Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!
Two of them had no time to react—their throats were slit cleanly. The third managed to recoil in time, his face twisting in horror.
“No—!”
He cried out and shattered a jade talisman on his body.
Boom!
The formation in this corner instantly lit up—
Li An flung out a Second-Rank talisman—
Barrier-Breaking Talisman!
The formation tore open. Li An charged through.
“Now!”
Behind him, Chen Qingling shouted, and Wang Dazhu, carrying her, dashed out after Li An.
“Li An has escaped! He changed into Zhao Xianchuan and escaped—!”
Just as they exited the Zhao estate, Chen Qingling suddenly screamed aloud!
Li An had already slapped a Fleetwind Talisman on himself, surging several hundred meters forward in an instant.
He heard Chen Qingling’s cry, but paid it no mind—he kept running at full speed!
Meanwhile, the entire sleeping Zhao estate was thrown into chaos.
“Enemy attack!”
“Lock down everything!”
At the same time, Zhao Xianchuan, who had been sleeping in the same room as Mu Qingwan, shot upright, his clothes half on, and flung the door open, his eyes bloodshot.
“Activate all formations! Capture Li An!!”
But just as he shouted—
Boom!
In one direction, fire suddenly roared into the sky.
A blaze had erupted.
From the direction of the Artifact Pavilion, spiritual flames surged outward, setting off a massive blaze that engulfed large swathes of surrounding buildings—
…
(End of Chapter)