Chapter 697: Mysterious Man
As the earth pillars surged upward from the ground, Bai Hanyun controlled the tornado, splitting it into smaller vortices and directing them toward the rising earth pillars, linking them together.
While she focused on controlling the talismans, the Yin Mirror appeared beside Feng Xiyan.
Looking toward Jin Yu, she glanced at the black dust on the ground near Jin Yu’s feet and said coldly, "Master, he cannot be allowed to live."
Understanding her meaning, Feng Xiyan raised his hand.
Seeing this signal, the elite soldiers drew their crossbows, loaded their arrows, and aimed at Jin Yu.
Feng Xiyan lowered his hand as he calmly commanded, "Release the arrows."
At his command, the elite soldiers pulled the trigger. In an instant, hundreds of arrows shot toward Jin Yu.
Jin Yu’s pupils contracted at this sight.
Just as the arrows were about to turn him into a hedgehog, a masked man in a hood suddenly appeared before him. With a casual wave of his hand, he deflected every arrow.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
The moment Jin Yu saw the hooded masked man, he narrowed his eyes and asked, "What took you so long?"
The masked man glanced at him and replied in a ghostly voice, "Something came up."
After saying that, his attention shifted back to Feng Xiyan. When he noticed the Yin Mirror floating behind him, his eyes lit up.
"So the Yin Mirror is indeed in his possession. No wonder we couldn’t find it even after all these years investigating the Gui Clan."
Overhearing his muttering, Jin Yu probed, "Do you know that woman?"
"Don’t ask what you shouldn’t," the masked man replied coldly. Then he looked up at the formation array above.
Noticing that the formation had slowed and was no longer operating smoothly, he frowned. His gaze shifted to the tornadoes and earth pillars, and his expression darkened further.
’Is there someone here who knows how to disrupt this formation?’
Doubt flickered in his eyes as he scanned the surroundings.
While he searched for the one interfering with the formation, the Yin Mirror said, "Master, that masked man is extremely dangerous. I sense a familiar aura from him, but it also feels strange."
Feng Xiyan also sensed the immense pressure emanating from him.
Looking at the masked man shielding Jin Yu, he thought, ’This man must be connected to the injuries of the Yin and Yang Mirrors. If even a single barrier could cause such damage, then the one behind this formation is not someone easy to deal with.’
With that in mind, his gaze shifted toward the officials and their families. A faint frown appeared on his face.
’I can’t let the innocent die here.’
Making his decision, he commanded, "General Wu, take them away and secure them."
"Yes, Great General." Wu Ruizhan clasped his fists, then turned to his wife. "Madam, come with me."
With that, he led half of the elite soldiers to escort the officials and their families away.
Just as they were about to leave, Feng Wu and the shadow guards arrived.
Seeing them, Wu Ruizhan changed his plan. Turning to the rest of the elite soldiers, he said, "All of you, come with this general."
"Yes, General Wu!" the soldiers responded in unison.
Soon, only Feng Wu and the shadow guards remained to protect Feng Xiyan.
Feng Xiyan turned to Feng Wu and asked, "Have you retrieved all the stone slabs?"
At his words, Feng Wu and the others immediately knelt.
Lowering his head, Feng Wu said, "Please forgive this subordinate for failing the mission."
Feng Xiyan waved his hand dismissively. "Get up. It’s not your fault. Have you secured the others?"
"Yes, Master."
"Good." After a brief pause, Feng Xiyan asked, "Yin Mirror, can you defeat that masked man?"
The Yin Mirror fell silent for a moment before shaking her head. "I cannot. His cultivation is higher than mine. Without my husband, I cannot unleash my full strength."
Hearing this, Bai Hanyun suddenly said, "I can call Gui Ying and ask him over to help us."
"Mhm." Feng Xiyan gave a faint hum in acknowledgment.
Knowing he avoided looking at her because the masked man was watching, Bai Hanyun quickly activated the communication talisman.
’Gui Ying, are you there?’
Almost instantly, his voice replied, "Yes. What is happening over there? I felt a huge spiritual energy turbulence from the Jin Empire’s direction."
’A masked man appeared after the Jin Emperor crushed a black bead. It’s identical to the one given to me by the Black Thunder Dragon.’ Bai Hanyun answered calmly.
Gui Ying’s expression darkened at her words. After a brief moment of silence, he responded, "Understood. This young master will head there immediately. Stay alive until this young master arrives."
’Got it. Hurry up.’
After ending the communication, Gui Ying turned toward his grandfather and the Gui Clan elders, who were sitting around the round white jade table.
Seeing his rare serious expression, Gui Fan asked, "What happened?"
Looking at everyone present, Gui Ying said, "The First Elder was right. The Tian Clan is behind the golden barrier."
He paused briefly before adding, "Just now, Fairy Bai just contacted me and said that a member of the Tian Clan has activated a formation above the imperial palace of the Jin Empire."
Hearing this, the First Elder slammed his hand on the table. "Bastards! Do they think they can act without restraint?!"
Gui Ying stood up and said, "Fairy Bai has requested assistance. I must go immediately."
Gui Fan nodded. "Go. Your grandfather will gather the clan members and go there."
"Understood." As soon as he finished speaking, Gui Ying disappeared.
Turning to the elders, Gui Fan said, "Elders, it is time to put an end to the Tian Clan once and for all."
The elders stood, clasped their fists, and bowed. "Yes, Old Master."
While Gui Fan and the elders mobilized their forces, Gui Ying flew toward the Jin Empire’s imperial palace at full speed.
Meanwhile, the masked man finally noticed Bai Hanyun’s presence after she used the communication talisman.
Staring directly at her, he muttered with interest, "Interesting... There is someone capable of using the Gui Clan’s talismans without possessing even a trace of spiritual power."