Emperor Qiankun

Chapter 406 Hidden in wait, ready for battle!

In their first encounter, the old ox was clearly no match for its opponent, but it wasn't exactly a major loss.

After all, with the enhancement from the special power of 'Lantern in the Scene', his physical strength is now abnormal, as solid as a rock.

Even ordinary king-level experts would find it difficult to leave a mark on him.

His muscles seemed to contain endless power, and every inch of his skin radiated a metallic sheen.

Like a war god forged from steel, it still possesses an indomitable fighting spirit and tenacious resilience even when facing powerful enemies.

......

Upon seeing this, Li Qingyuan's brows furrowed instantly, as if two small hills had risen between his foreheads.

When the old ox's angry and resentful words reached his ears.

He immediately realized that the person hiding in the shadows, as unpredictable as a ghost, was actually an old man!

Moreover, judging from the power of their fight just now, their level must be quite high.

Thinking of this, his gaze shot like a sharp arrow towards the spot where the golden light and firelight had just dissipated.

However, the place was empty, with no one appearing, leaving only a swirling miasma.

Like an invisible maw, it swallowed all the clues.

Has this old man gone into hiding again?

Indeed, it adheres to the principle of 'retreating if the first strike fails,' like a cunning venomous snake, waiting for its chance to strike.

Li Qingyuan's sword-like eyebrows furrowed slightly, like two sharp willow leaves.

His gaze swept around like that of a hawk, not missing a single tiny corner;

They wanted to find the assassin hiding in the shadows amidst this complex environment.

However, the surrounding area was still shrouded in a large amount of poisonous miasma.

The poisonous miasma was like thick ink, emitting a pungent odor that made it difficult to see.

Moreover, there were many ignorant and reckless cultivators around.

Like flies drawn to the smell of blood, they swarmed in, eager to get a firsthand look.

They whispered amongst themselves, their voices rising and falling, sounding particularly jarring in the otherwise quiet environment.

Like a flock of noisy crows, they disturbed Li Qingyuan's thoughts.

......

Seeing this, Li Qingyuan dared not be careless in the slightest.

He knew full well that the situation was critical and that a slight misstep could lead to utter ruin.

So he immediately channeled his profound energy and used telepathy to summon the old ox back to his side, preparing it for battle.

He thought to himself:

The assassin lurking in the shadows is no ordinary person; he certainly won't give up so easily and might be hiding among the seemingly harmless crowd around him.

Like a cheetah lurking in the grass, ready to strike a fatal blow at any moment!

Upon realizing this, he immediately dared not continue observing his surroundings.

He was afraid that even the slightest movement of his might alert the assassin and allow him to disappear again.

He slowly closed his eyes, as if isolating himself from the world, relying solely on his keen senses to perceive the slightest movement in the outside world.

Like a sleeping war god, it silently awaits the appearance of the enemy in the darkness.

Over there, after receiving Li Qingyuan's telepathic message, the old ox felt unwilling, but he also knew that this was not the time to act rashly.

He glared at the spot where the old man had disappeared, his eyes blazing with fury and murderous intent.

Then, without hesitation, he turned back.

His figure moved like lightning, quickly returning to Li Qingyuan's side, his hand gripping the purple-gold hammer tightly, ready to face a new battle at any moment.

......

Time flows slowly, like sand in an hourglass.

The miasma and fog that had enveloped the surrounding area began to dissipate gradually, as if a nightmare was slowly fading away.

However, the surroundings remained calm and uneventful, eerily quiet.

The assassin in the shadows seemed to have already left, vanishing without a trace.

However, Li Qingyuan remained highly vigilant, his body like a fully drawn bowstring, intently awaiting any potential danger.

Seeing that Li Qingyuan did not make any move, Su Yaoyue and the others did not dare to make any rash moves. They stood quietly in place, not daring to breathe.

But in their eyes, this seemingly peaceful situation is actually a good thing.

After all, the longer it takes, the more Li Qingyuan can recover, and the more secure they will feel.

......

On one side, a large crowd had gathered in one place.

At the back edge of the crowd, stood a kind-faced, refined old man.

He was dressed in a plain-colored robe, which fluttered gently in the breeze, exuding an otherworldly air.

At this moment, he had a gentle smile on his face.

He seemed to be listening with great interest to the analysis and exchange of the fierce battlefield by the people around him;

He would nod slightly from time to time, as if he agreed with the opinions of others.

However, those deep, pool-like eyes held a hidden secret.

Every now and then, it would swiftly sweep towards the location of Li Qingyuan and his group, just like a hawk.

But Li Qingyuan and his group stood there as still as a rock, unmoved.

This situation really made the old man feel quite anxious, as if he were an ant on a hot pan.

As the miasma and fog gradually dissipated like a light veil, the surrounding scenery became clearer.

But the old man's anxiety grew stronger, like a tangled mess that could not be cut or untangled.

But at this moment, more and more cultivators gathered around, surging in like a tide...

How could he possibly make a move under such intense public scrutiny?!

......

At this moment.

A clear voice suddenly rang out from the crowd:

"Senior, we want to get a closer look, would you like to come along?"

The old man looked over at the sound and saw a young cultivator at the Earthly Fiend Realm looking at him with eager eyes and excited light.

The young cultivator was followed by a group of people, all of whom looked at the old man with expectant expressions.

Seeing this, the old man sneered inwardly, thinking:

"These little guys probably noticed my high level of cultivation and want to use me as a shield so they can get closer to the battlefield and find out what's going on."

But then he thought again, he was worried about how to approach Li Qingyuan without seeming abrupt!

This is like a pillow being delivered right to your doorstep when you're sleepy—how could you miss such an opportunity...?

The old man immediately decided to use this stratagem against them, employing these unsuspecting cultivators to get closer to their target—a perfect solution.

So he raised his chin slightly, nodded with an air of importance, and said nothing.

His composed demeanor exuded the air of a senior, as if everything was under his control.

Upon seeing this, the young cultivator's face flushed with excitement, and his eyes sparkled with delight.

He thought that a senior like the old man, who was so profound and unfathomable, would never pay attention to a nobody like him, but unexpectedly, his dream came true!

With this old man leading the way, they could approach the battlefield with more confidence and boldness.

The old man immediately agreed.

He walked with his hands behind his back, his steps steady and composed;

He led a group of people and swaggered along with the rest of the crowd, approaching the location of Li Qingyuan and the others.

......

At this moment, Li Qingyuan was surrounded by a dense crowd within a hundred meters.

Crowds surged in, filling the area to capacity.

Among the crowd, the monks huddled together, craning their necks, eager to see what was inside.

He looked like a hungry beast that had spotted its prey.

However, when they finally managed to see the situation where Li Qingyuan and the others were;

Yet they all looked puzzled, their brows furrowed, as if they had witnessed something unbelievable.

Li Qingyuan and his group all appeared to be on high alert.

Everyone looked solemn, their eyes filled with coldness as they surveyed their surroundings.

This scene filled the surrounding cultivators with confusion. They whispered among themselves, gathered in twos and threes, and began to discuss it amongst themselves.

A thin, frail cultivator stared wide-eyed, his face full of curiosity, and asked:

"What kind of show is this?"

"Why do they look so wary? Could there be some powerful monster lurking nearby?"

A plump cultivator beside him stroked his chin thoughtfully and said:

"I don't think so. Maybe there are some experts competing in secret."

"Look at the demeanor of that group of people. They must be imposing figures in normal times, but they are so cautious now. It is clear that their opponents are not simple."

......