The people from the Holy Land grew fearful at the sight. "You, don't come any closer, or we won't go easy on you."
"Weren't you just acting all arrogant? Why the fear now?"
"Fear? How could I, a disciple of the Holy Land, fear you?" The Holy Land disciple watched her approaching figure step by step, swallowing hard but stubbornly refusing to admit his terror.
"With so many of us, can't we take you down alone?"
Someone shouted, and all the Holy Land disciples surrounded Ye Lanshan in a tight circle.
Ye Lanshan didn't use the Red Lotus Karmic Fire; instead, she employed the Holy Land's emblem, the "Radiant Holy Bird."
Fighting light with light—wasn't that fair?
Unfortunately, Baoding City was hardly a large town—more like a remote backwater—so the Holy Land disciples sent here were the outcasts, weak in strength. How could they stand a chance against Ye Lanshan?
After all, Ye Lanshan had once faced off against the Holy Land's Saint, Yun Qingfeng, and survived. These small fry were nothing; in the blink of an eye, they were reduced to ashes.
"How boring." Ye Lanshan looked at the dead Holy Land disciples before her, having expected them to send someone formidable.
"You might be overlooking one place." Shangguan Xin descended gracefully from the air, walking over to stand beside Ye Lanshan, who was cloaked in killing intent.
"You mean the City Lord's Mansion?" Ye Lanshan knew exactly what Shangguan Xin was referring to.
"Exactly. Now I'm curious how you plan to deal with the elder staying there."
In the Holy Land, when going elsewhere to recruit fresh blood, an elder usually led the way; disciples weren't allowed to act alone.
First, because these disciples were young and impulsive, while elders, with more experience, were steady. With elders in charge, the Holy Land's reputation wouldn't be tarnished.
Second, these disciples weren't strong enough, and the Holy Land liked to flaunt its power. If enemies wiped them out, it would be a significant loss. The elders were there to protect them—or rather, to safeguard the fresh blood.
Ye Lanshan's expression remained calm as she withdrew all her killing intent, even letting the Devourer vanish from her hand. She appeared ethereal and carefree, a stark contrast to the grotesque corpses around her—like heaven versus hell.
Yet this hell was wrought by heaven itself. If anyone saw this scene, they'd never believe Ye Lanshan was the killer.
"Looks like I need your help?" Honestly, Ye Lanshan hadn't expected these Holy Land disciples to be so weak.
"Tell me about it."
Ye Lanshan gazed toward the City Lord's Mansion and pointed. "Attack the Holy Land elder for me, and announce: 'Your disciples, lacking manners, offended me and have been eliminated. Any objections?'"
"Such a trivial matter—you could handle it yourself, couldn't you? Why drag me into it?" Shangguan Xin was reluctant to do something so petty.
"You know my strength—it's not great. And there's a formation here. The Holy Land will naturally suspect my Ye family. But you're unfathomably powerful, so you're the best choice."
Initially, Ye Lanshan had considered capturing the elder to interrogate him about Futian's whereabouts. But since she wasn't sure if Futian had encountered the Holy Land, and she worried about the Ye family in the capital, she decided to create a mysterious figure to divert the Holy Land's attention first.
The elder had been sleeping soundly in his room when a sudden loud noise jolted him awake. What was going on? What happened?
The elder's sharp eyes snapped open as he leaped from the bed. Just then, a roof beam crashed down. Luckily, he'd gotten up in time, or he'd have been crushed beneath it.
"Who are you, daring to cause trouble in the City Lord's Mansion?" The city lord rushed over in a fluster, looking utterly ridiculous—one shoe missing, clothes loose and disheveled.
"Who I am is none of your concern." A figure in a black robe, wearing a bamboo hat, exuded a dark, demonic aura that made others afraid to look up.
"I am Rong Gui, an elder of the Holy Land. May I ask why you've suddenly attacked me?" Rong Gui's expression was grim, and he immediately used his status to intimidate.
An ordinary person might have cowered before the Holy Land's power, but this was Shangguan Xin. Not only was this intentional, but as a being from a higher continent, why would she fear a minor Holy Land here?
"Rong Gui, your disciples insulted me and have been eliminated. I'm here to warn you: if your disciples dare offend me again, it won't end with mere elimination."
A low, sinister voice slowly echoed, like a demon's death knell, exuding an overwhelming authority that left the elder speechless.
Long after Shangguan Xin had left, Rong Gui finally snapped out of it. He rushed to the disciples' quarters, where traces of a formation remained. Inside lay corpses—not a single survivor.
"This is a blatant insult! If I don't avenge this, I'll never swallow my pride." Rong Gui couldn't contain his rage and spat out a mouthful of blood.
By then, the city lord had arrived, stunned by the scene. Who would dare kill Holy Land disciples?
"You're a city lord, and you didn't even notice someone sneaking in? Are you an idiot? A complete waste!" Rong Gui furiously smashed a teacup to the ground.
The city lord stood nearby, bowing and smiling, not daring to say a word.
Rong Gui knew he shouldn't take it out on the city lord. That mysterious figure was so powerful that even full lockdown might not have stopped him.
It seemed some disciple had spoken recklessly and offended a master, leading to their annihilation. But whoever dared kill Holy Land disciples must also be ready to face the Holy Land's wrath.
Rong Gui calmed his fury, regaining his usual dignified demeanor, and spoke in a softer tone: "This isn't your fault. But I must return to the Holy Land immediately to report this to the Holy Lord. Postpone this selection to the next one."
The Holy Festival here wasn't just one day but several, during which the elder would pick talented children from the city.
But after this incident, the elder wouldn't take a single child.
"Yes, yes, yes." How could the city lord refuse? He was lucky the elder hadn't killed him, let alone dared to ask him to stay.
"I hope this blows up." Ye Lanshan sat in the guest room, sipping tea, with the black-robed figure beside her.