Starry Sky Professional

Beyond the valley.

Shen Yuxin raised her hand and with a swift stroke of her sword, a gleam flashed out, slicing a shimmering jade-green snake cleanly in two.

"A Jade Serpent? Its gall alone is worth a spirit crystal... Our fifth sister truly has fortune on her side. We are sure to return victorious this time," Hua Feiyue remarked with a playful smile as she swayed her hips like a snake approaching its prey to harvest resources from the Jade Serpent's body.

Watching Hua Feiyue's enticing waist and the curve of her hips, Grand Alchemist Wan couldn't help but laugh, "Ah, Brother Chen, you're a lucky man indeed... If this old man isn't mistaken, that girl possesses an innate allure, she'd be quite a temptress..."

"I share a bond of loyalty and courage with my sworn siblings," Chen Yi replied with an unchanged expression.

Behind him, Chen Hongtian carried a massive iron hammer on his back. Though quiet, he cast a dazed glance at his second sister's figure.

Unaware of the slightly tense atmosphere, Meng Yi walked a few steps behind the group and caught Shen Yuxin's right hand. "You seem unsettled. Usually, you wouldn't let a snake get within seven paces of you," he observed.

"I worry about Zijing," Shen Yuxin replied with a bitter smile.

"He'll be fine. There are law enforcement squads in the market. Besides, didn't we instruct him not to leave the house? With the charms we left behind, he should be able to protect himself."

In the market town, order prevails. At least, until the Qing Xuan Sect's law enforcement has perished, forcible murder shouldn't occur... right?

"I specifically warned Zijing not to trust the neighbors, so nothing major should happen..." Shen Yuxin mumbled to herself.

"Now that we're at the 'Five Scorpion Valley', let's finish our task quickly so we can return home," Meng Yi reassured his wife.

The six of them entered the depths of the valley. Among them, the weakest were innate martial artists with astonishing agility, effortlessly crossing natural barriers to reach the entrance of the valley.

"Be cautious. There's poisonous mist here. Perhaps everyone should take a few antidote pills first," Grand Alchemist Wan suggested, handing over a jade bottle.

"Thank you," they all replied in chorus.

Cheng Yi chuckled as he took the pill, swallowing it before passing the container to Hua Feiyue.

Once everyone had taken their pill, Grand Alchemist Wan spoke up, "There are quite a few Purple Winged Scorpions inhabiting this area. We should proceed with the plan as discussed earlier!"

"Agreed!"

Cheng Yi nodded and produced several small flags, distributing them among the group. "We have all practiced this 'Small Lost Formation' extensively. Pay attention to your steps and continuously channel your innate energy. We should be able to trap the Purple Winged Scorpions."

"Don't worry, big brother."

Hua Feiyue tossed a flirtatious glance his way, smiling as she took the flag.

In no time, a layer of mystifying white mist appeared at the valley entrance, blending seamlessly with the thin fog of the mountain until it was impossible to distinguish between them.

Crack! Crack!

A puppet resembling a monkey suddenly emerged from the mist. It stood nearly two meters tall, with arms extending past its knees, while various spiritual patterns flickered across its body, exuding a strong magical force.

At this moment, the puppet monkey beat its chest fiercely and suddenly opened its massive maw.

Poof!

A beam of earth-yellow light shot from its mouth, racing into the valley.

Buzzing!

The terrifying sound of wings filled the air as several purple scorpion shadows emerged, charging at the puppet.

The puppet monkey squealed and fled, pursued relentlessly by the Purple Winged Scorpions. Before long, they stumbled into the Small Lost Formation.

As soon as the Purple Winged Scorpions entered the formation, they vanished, leaving only the occasional flash of magical light and sounds of explosions.

Moments later, a slightly damaged puppet monkey reappeared, returning to lure in more Purple Winged Scorpions...

...

"Not bad, so you even know puppet techniques?"

Fang Xing watched the scene, feeling utterly thrilled.

The use of formations and puppet techniques is indeed a rare sight.

Though these individuals are neither formation masters nor puppet masters themselves, they have purchased formations and puppets, which shows the significant investment made.

"When comparing common beasts with cultivators of equal power... ultimately, cultivators have the upper hand. After all, they make use of tools and strategies."

Just a few glances were all Fang Xing needed to understand that with such luring tactics, the Purple Winged Scorpion swarm stood no chance. They are inevitably going to be destroyed.

Gradually, as each Purple Winged Scorpion fell, the thin mist enveloping the valley began to clear.

Through the thinning mist, the mystic lake at the valley’s center became visible.

By the lakeside, there were a few peculiar orchids, their entire bodies enveloped in shimmering light, some of which had bloomed, exuding a captivating fragrance, clearly not ordinary flora.

More crucially... beside the Illusory Heart Orchids, a Purple Winged Scorpion was lying in ambush!

This particular Purple Winged Scorpion was as large as a millstone, its entire body appearing as if carved from purple crystal, its semi-transparent armor reflecting multicolored hues under the sunlight.

At this moment, the 'Purple Winged Scorpion King' realized something was amiss. It beat its wings, transforming into a streak of purple light, charging towards the valley entrance with the few remaining scorpions.

"Not good! This Purple Winged Scorpion King is abnormal! At the very least, it's a first-grade superior beast capable of rivaling a late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator!"

Within the Minor Mirage Formation, Master Wan, wielding a small flag, saw this scene and his expression changed drastically.

Before the words finished echoing, that streak of purple light had already darted into the Minor Mirage Formation.

Suddenly, wisps of purple toxic mists appeared, spreading and seemingly corroding the original white mist.

Meng Yi and other innate martial artists' expressions changed. They spat out a mouthful of blood essence, feeling the innate energy within depleting dozens of times faster than before...

"Now seems like an opportune moment... yet, as the mantis catches the cicada, the sparrow lurks behind, I’d rather remain as a spectator..."

Far away in Qinglin Market, Fang Xing watched as the others engaged in such a fierce struggle, an odd smile appearing on his face.

Boom!

Minutes later, the surveillance screen flashed with a fiery light, followed by the explosive shattering of the Minor Mirage Formation!

The dense mist cleared, revealing the figures of the Five Righteous of Mount Cang and Master Wan.

Although each one appeared in a miserable state, with Hua Feiyue and Shen Yuxin’s clothes stained with blood, the millstone-sized Purple Winged Scorpion King lay dead on the ground.

“An upper-tier Rank One demon insect... Imagine what that could fetch in spirit stones? Plus, all the other demon insect materials and the Illusionary Heart Orchid... We've hit the jackpot!”

Meng Yi glanced at his wife's injuries, pressed several acupoints to stop the bleeding, and then looked at the ground strewn with scorpion corpses, breathing heavily, "With this haul, we can rent a stall at the market and leave this risky life behind, raising Zijin properly..."

“Indeed...”

A gentle smile appeared on Shen Yuxin's pale face.

The next moment, their smiles froze: "Third Brother, you?"

In their field of vision, Chen Hongtian's face twisted into a sinister grin as he swung a heavy iron hammer viciously towards his eldest brother, Chen Yi!

Crash!

A golden light emerged from Chen Yi, transforming into a bell-like shape.

The black iron hammer struck the golden bell, sending a resounding boom through the air as innate true energy undulated.

“A Golden Bell Talisman?”

Missing his mark, Chen Hongtian leaped backward, the iron hammer, weighing over a hundred pounds, whirled around him like a tight cloak of darkness, shielding him completely: "You were prepared all along?"

"Third Brother, you really are in cahoots with Wan Fenglin!"

Grief and disappointment were etched across Chen Yi's face.

“Why, Third Brother?” Hua Feiyue, severely injured, retreated swiftly, casting a wary glance at her stunned Fourth and Fifth siblings, quietly distancing herself.

A change arose among trusted kin; now, no one could be trusted!

“Why?”

Greed glinted in Chen Hongtian's eyes as he sneered, "Naturally, it's because this old immortal always takes the lion's share of the spoils, using his cultivation status. Why should he?"

“Those who adapt to the times are wise. I suggest you just surrender...” Wan Fenglin wore a confident smirk, "How about it, Daoist Hua?"

"I..." A tinge of sorrow appeared on Hua Feiyue's already paling face, making her seem incredibly pitiful.

But before she could respond, a dark mist surged over her: "This isn't good, you've been poisoned? The previous detox pill?"

“Ha ha, indeed, the detox pill!” Wan Fenglin laughed heartily, "Specially concocted by this alchemist. How does it taste?"

Wan Fenglin looked at the Meng Yi couple and found them in an even worse state; they had collapsed and looked utterly exhausted. But as his gaze shifted to Chen Yi, he suddenly froze.

The opponent appeared vigorous, with a ruddy complexion, showing no signs of having been poisoned!

At this moment, Chen Yi was taking out a few attack talismans, mana surging in his hand.

"Not good!"

Instinctively, Wan Fenglin crushed the talisman in his hand, enveloping himself in a protective golden light.

But the next moment!

Roar!

Accompanied by the roar of a tiger, a pitch-black saber with a tiger's head abruptly emerged from the dense forest, drawing a blade light several feet long, striking heavily against the golden light.

Wan Fenglin's expression drastically changed: "A tiger-head saber? A standard weapon of the Black Tiger Gang? Have you actually allied with the Black Tiger Gang?"

From within the jungle, a burly man dressed in black robes, a fierce tiger head embroidered on his chest, slowly stepped out, a sinister smile forming on his face: "Master Wan, greetings from Fu Qing of the Black Tiger Gang. Our gang desires your service as a guest consultant; why has Master Wan always refused?"

Seeing this, Chen Hongtian realized the dire situation, his forehead wet with sweat.

Fu Qing's position perfectly blocked the valley's mouth, leaving no room for escape!

Moreover, Fu Qing was a formidable late-stage Qi Training expert, inferior to none other than the four perfected Qi Training elders who founded the Black Tiger Gang!

"Cough, cough, I was merely considering it. Now I think joining the Black Tiger Gang as a guest consultant isn't so bad..."

Wan Fenglin coughed as he suddenly raised his hand.

Two black, pill-like beads shot forth rapidly.

"Could those be... Dan Thunder?"

Fu Qing's eyes twitched as one of the pills exploded violently, the purple-red thunder flames striking the tiger-head saber, sending the weapon flying with a mournful cry.

Realizing the danger, Fu Qing turned and slapped his waist, summoning a black turtle-shell shield that manifested firmly in front of him.

Inside the surveillance room, Fang Xing's eyes lit up with excitement. "Now, it's my turn..."

]

(End of Chapter)