C11 Lightning Kill

Soong Yuan decisively declared, "We're not leaving."

His goal was the Universe Compass, which was still inside the Thousand Thunder Inn at that moment. Naturally, Soong Yuan had no intention of leaving. He and Hsiao Yan swiftly moved past the hesitant crowd, their figures vanishing into the distance.

The remaining onlookers were even more conflicted, with some choosing to depart...

"That kid must have found something," Sunn Liang speculated, eyeing Soong Yuan's departing silhouette with suspicion. "Maybe he has some secret method to locate the Universe Compass. Hmph, such a crucial item is bound to be in Qian Xiaoruo's possession. This means if he's really pinpointed the compass's location, he's also pinpointed Qian Xiaoruo's."

"However, the current situation at the Thousand Thunder Inn is extremely dangerous. Qian Xiaoruo's setup is likely more complex than just the Hundred-plate House and the Seven-poison Illusion Array. I bet there are even more lethal traps ahead," Sunn Liang thought, a sense of dread settling in and contemplating retreat. He turned to the one-eyed man and asked, "Should we go?"

"Damn it, if we leave tonight, catching Qian Xiaoruo later will be even harder," the one-eyed man retorted, his sole eye revealing a cunning and vicious demeanor. He added coldly, "With that guy carrying the Golden Cauldron Sword and at Foundation Stage Level Five charging ahead, you get the picture."

Sunn Liang realized the simple logic: let the other two face Qian Xiaoruo head-on while they could follow and wait for the perfect opportunity to act, benefiting from the conflict like fishermen reaping the spoils.

He was surprised to find that the usually fierce and seemingly thoughtless one-eyed man had such a sharp mind. Inwardly, he couldn't help but mutter, "Damn it."

The one-eyed man, Sunn Liang, and the disciples of the Blazing Fire Sect followed Soong Yuan and Hsiao Yan from a safe distance.

Meanwhile, another ten or so formidable and ruthless cultivators also followed, each with the same strategy in mind, hoping to take advantage of the battle's outcome.

The others took advantage of the Seven-poison Illusion Array's initial activation and quickly fled the scene.

Before long, Soong Yuan and Hsiao Yan found themselves in a remote and quiet courtyard deep within the Thousand Thunder Inn, standing before an inconspicuous, gnarled tree. Underneath it was a woman of natural beauty, her face bare, standing with an elegant poise. She was none other than Qian Xiaoruo.

"Who are you?" Qian Xiaoruo asked, locking eyes with Soong Yuan, her voice clear and direct.

Internally, Soong Yuan joked, "I am your fiancé," but he replied, "Who I am is not the issue. What matters is the Universe Compass. I'm determined to get it."

"The Universe Compass is inside," Qian Xiaoruo said calmly, nodding toward the humble dwelling behind her. "I previously warned you that I had activated the Great Sound Magic Tool, making it impossible for you to track me by voice. Obviously, you have a way to locate the Universe Compass. So, you have two choices: First, share with me your method of locating the Universe Compass; or second, if you refuse, prepare to meet your end right here."

One of Qian Xiaoruo's goals for the evening was to see if anyone had the ability to locate the Universe Compass. If such a person existed, it meant she could no longer remain hidden within Multicolored City.

She was uneasy and desperate for knowledge.

Now, she realized that the man before her, despite his apparent lack of cultivation, could indeed locate the Universe Compass.

"Qian Xiaoruo has achieved Foundation Stage Level One, and there's another person inside at Foundation Stage Level Two. There's no one else," Hsiao Yan whispered to Soong Yuan, suggesting that with his own cultivation at Foundation Stage Level Five, they could easily handle Qian Xiaoruo and her associate.

"I'll draw her attention while you strike unexpectedly. Enter the house and grab the Universe Compass as swiftly as you can," Soong Yuan whispered back to Hsiao Yan, outlining the plan.

With that, Soong Yuan sidestepped, revealing the Universe Crystal Ball in his hand for Qian Xiaoruo to see. As he continued to shift sideways, he kept her gaze on him. "This Universe Crystal Ball can locate the Universe Compass, no matter how well you hide it," he said, keeping her focused on the object. "You know, I might even consider giving this to you, but you'd have to make it worth my while."

"What do you want in return?" Qian Xiaoruo asked Soong Yuan with a cold stare, her voice firm. "But let's get one thing straight—the Universe Compass is off the table."

"I know you're hesitant to give it up, but I need it just as much. So, what do we do?" Soong Yuan said with an air of sincerity, "I've got a win-win solution. When the Yin Yang Day Boiling Spring and the Universe Compass are in perfect alignment, we can both go in. The Boiling Spring is large enough to accommodate the two of us."

Qian Xiaoruo's cheeks flushed with embarrassment at the thought.

Imagining the Boiling Spring spacious enough for them to be together, both naked, a man and a woman, her and him... The scenario made Qian Xiaoruo incredibly uncomfortable.

Yet Soong Yuan added, "Plus, I promise I won't take advantage of you in the Boiling Spring."

"How annoying."

"I could even turn away and not look at you, for real."

"Shut up!"

"Let's be real, I'm a healthy man, and you're a beautiful woman. So, if I end up taking a few glances, it's hardly a big loss for you. My bottom line is: I won't touch you."

Qian Xiaoruo, now utterly infuriated and embarrassed, retorted, "Shameless wretch, spewing complete nonsense!"

Just as Hsiao Yan was about to react, a multitude of silver balls suddenly appeared. Each was no bigger than a regular droplet, clear and sparkling, with a bright, dangerously flickering light inside.

In an instant, hundreds, thousands of these spheres densely packed the space inside and outside the modest courtyard of the Thousand Thunder Inn, encircling Soong Yuan and Hsiao Yan, covering the entire inn.

"What in the world are these?"

"Don't touch them, nobody should touch them."

"Are these Tian Leizi?"

"That's right. This is the Celestial Thunder Killing Array, one of the Thousand Thunder Sect's three most lethal formations. If it's activated, it's like being struck by a million heavenly thunders... Damn, none of us will make it out."

"Get the hell out of here."

"Get out, all of you."

"We're doomed."

The one-eyed man, Sunn Liang, and the rest of the Blazing Fire Sect gang, along with over a dozen others looking to take advantage, arrived hastily, only to be greeted by a sea of Tian Leizi ominously hovering before each of them. The area erupted in a cacophony of shouting, cursing, and angry complaints, yet everyone was too terrified to move, lest they trigger the Tian Leizi.

"You're very bad," Qian Xiaoruo pointedly accused Soong Yuan. "You're just trying to distract me so that he," she gestured toward Hsiao Yan, "could sneak in an attack. Hmph, you're nothing but shameless, deceitful scoundrels. Well, you can all just stay here."

With a swift slap on the nondescript, crooked tree beside her, a hazy white light erupted, engulfing it. The light's intensity skyrocketed in an instant before settling back down. When the light dissipated, the crooked tree stood unchanged, and Qian Xiaoruo was nowhere to be seen.

Soong Yuan, Hsiao Yan, the One Eyed Dragon, Sunn Liang, and the rest suddenly understood.

She had been standing on an invisible Teleportation Magic Array. She had left, and in her wake, the Celestial Thunder Killing Array enveloped the entire Thousand Thunder Inn. Her earlier warning at the Hundred-plate House had been clear: leave the inn within the time it takes half an incense stick to burn, or face certain death.

Now, the Seven-poison Illusion Array had shifted into its deadliest phase—the purple illusion array. There was no hope of breaking free.

At any moment, perhaps even the next, the Celestial Thunder Killing Array might activate.

Soong Yuan and Hsiao Yan exchanged a look of deep concern. They had prepared for danger tonight, but they hadn't expected it to arrive with such ferocity. In a heartbeat, they found themselves teetering on the edge of disaster.