The Master and His Wealthy Fiancée

Chen Dong had ventured out from the array this time to find Murong Qing; he didn't want to get into any unnecessary disputes and waste time.

"Liu Ling, can you sense anything?" Chen Dong asked.

Liu Ling replied swiftly, "No. It must be someone skilled in stealth, lying in wait here."

Chen Dong's heart skipped a beat. Neither his Divine Sense nor Liu Ling's could detect a thing. Besides an expert in stealth, there was another possibility: the demon lying in wait had reached the Late-stage Nascent Soul. If that was the case, they were in serious trouble!

It wasn't impossible for a great demon of the Late-stage Nascent Soul to hunt members of the Human Race on a whim. Perhaps it was just bored and looking for some fun.

Chen Dong could only hope that wasn't the case. If it were, his luck would be truly abysmal!

'Wait, luck?' A bad premonition struck Chen Dong once again, and he immediately came to a halt on a large tree.

Liu Ling, who had been following closely, also stopped beside him and asked, "Master, what's wrong?"

Chen Dong couldn't bring himself to trust his luck. Ever since he'd sacrificed it, he knew it had been nothing but bad. He couldn't entrust his life to chance; if Mu Qingzhu hadn't shared her lifespan with him last time, he would already be dead. He didn't dare risk something like that again.

'Assuming the worst-case scenario,' he thought, 'if it really is a Late-stage Nascent Soul great demon, then Liu Ling and I are already within its senses. The only reason it hasn't made a move is probably our proximity to the Guardian Array. But I have to cross this forest to find Murong Qing. Even if I take a detour, I doubt I can escape the notice of a Late-stage Nascent Soul demon.'

For a moment, Chen Dong frowned and fell into deep thought…

Meanwhile, just a few dozen miles away, an image of Chen Dong and his companion floated on a water screen. Next to it, other water screens displayed images of the Loose Cultivators who had left the Guardian Array at the same time as him.

Watching the water screens were not just one or two demons, but a group of them, numbering in the hundreds.

They were dressed no differently from members of the Human Race, all clad in black robes. They stood guard like soldiers on either side of a handsome young man in a golden robe. Beside the youth stood an old, black-haired man in a dark robe. Divine Light shone in his eyes, and his aura was profound and chilling.

The young man spoke, "Uncle Kui, if I wanted to test my skills, who among them would be the best choice?"

The old man raised his arm, zooming in on one of the water screens. It showed Chen Dong and the woman with him.

He said, "Of these two, the woman's aura is that of an Early-stage Golden Core, on par with you, Young Master. Furthermore, her Cultivation Technique is quite profound. She would be a suitable opponent."

The young man nodded, his eyes fixed on Liu Ling in the water screen, brimming with battle lust. "Then it's her! As for the male cultivator beside her, kill him. I don't want him interfering with my duel!"

The hundred figures in black replied in unison, "Yes, Young Master!"

With a casual wave of his hand, the old man summoned a watery mist that enveloped all the demons, and they instantly vanished.

The distance of several dozen miles was crossed in a flash.

Chen Dong was still lost in thought when a massive curtain of water descended from the sky, enveloping the area for several miles. Simultaneously, a light mist materialized out of thin air not far away. A hundred figures emerged from the mist, standing atop the canopies of the great trees.

'Fuck, my damn luck!'

Chen Dong cursed inwardly, his eyes locked on the old man in the lead. 'His body is one with the Dao, his techniques born from will alone. This old man has to be at least at Nascent Soul Perfection, if not the Divinity Transformation Stage. No wonder he could conceal the auras of a hundred demons!'

Just then, Liu Ling sent him a telepathic message: "Master, I may have to wrong you. That old man is named Kui Ran, a Nascent Soul Perfection great demon. The only way we can get out of this is if I reveal my identity! I'm going to say you're under my control. Please play along, Master!"

Chen Dong transmitted back, "Wait. They haven't attacked directly. There might be room to negotiate!"

The young man in the lead looked down on them imperiously. "You, the Female Cultivator from the Human Race! I am Ao Jun. Come and fight me!"

Chen Dong was stunned. 'The surname Ao belongs to the Demon King Ao Tian,' he realized. 'And Kui Ran is standing behind this young man. For someone at the Golden Core Stage to command such respect… his identity is obvious. He must be the rumored son of Ao Tian.'

What Chen Dong hadn't expected, however, was that they had come all this way just to challenge Liu Ling. 'Am I not even worthy of being their target?'

Liu Ling gave Chen Dong an questioning look.

Chen Dong sent a telepathic message: "Reveal your identity. Your injuries haven't healed; you're in no condition to fight."

A wave of warmth spread through Liu Ling's heart, and she was deeply moved.

The two of them flew up to the treetops. Liu Ling swept a cold gaze over the crowd and said in a heavy voice, "I am Liu Ling, High Priest of the Spirit Race. Are you certain you wish to fight me?"

Her words sent a shockwave through the crowd opposite them. They all stared at Liu Ling in utter disbelief.

The Divine Light in Kui Ran's eyes flared as he tried to peer through Liu Ling's very being.

Ao Jun was dumbfounded. 'How did I come out looking for a sparring partner and end up with the High Priest?!'

Kui Ran's expression turned dead serious. "I must ask Your Excellency to provide proof. As far as I know, the Liuling High Priest is trapped within the Guardian Array. It is impossible for her to have escaped!"

Upon hearing this, a heaven-shaking demonic aura erupted from her. The demonic beasts still shrouded by the water curtain fell to their knees. A spell materialized in her palm, a sacred and pure light glowing upon her fair hand.

The expressions on Kui Ran and the others changed drastically. It truly was the aura of the Liuling High Priest. And that technique—the Celestial Profound Transformation Technique—was impossible to imitate.

Kui Ran hurriedly asked, "Liuling High Priest, may I ask how you escaped from the Guardian Array?"

If the Guardian Array could be broken, the Human Race would face annihilation. Furthermore, the Demon Kings were preparing to trade the Spirit Ore Vein closest to the great array for Liu Ling's release—and now, it seemed she had escaped on her own.