Chapter 326 A superior tomb, where the women reside, the flower thief Li Xian single-handedly saves them.

Snow blanketed the city of Feilong, where the Tower of Relief from Worries and Anxiety once stood. Suddenly, the sky collapsed and the earth caved in, burying all the carved beams and painted rafters, famous paintings and calligraphy, jewels and porcelain, koi fish and jade cups... into the ruins. The lamps and candles collapsed, the oil spilled everywhere, the flames spread, the dancers fled in terror, and the distinguished guests scattered, creating a scene of utter chaos.

Some were enjoying their honeymoon when this disaster struck. Forget everything else, they fled naked through the door. Screams and cries filled the air, a scene of utter disarray. The massive building collapsed within an hour, drawing a large crowd that gathered before it, their discussions a cacophony of voices. Those who escaped were secretly relieved, while onlookers, shocked and filled with regret, lamented their loss.

This building was exquisitely constructed and magnificent; its destruction is truly a great pity!

A flurry of footsteps sounded. General Yang Xinqiang, along with elders and disciples of the various sword sects, rushed to the scene upon hearing the commotion. Yang Xinqiang was filled with terror, his face twitching. He had already lost face terribly today, being rescued from the net by others. Upon hearing this devastating news, he was momentarily bewildered and his mind went completely blank.

...

...

On the other hand...

The Tower of Relief collapsed, revealing a deep pit beneath. The group fell into the pit, plummeting downwards. The pit was pitch black, its end invisible. If it were a thousand feet deep, even those with superb lightness skills would be in grave danger upon impact.

Li Xian, Wang Long, Lin Aoshan, and Han Qingxiao desperately used their lightness skills, stepping on the falling wood and stones to propel themselves forward and slow their descent. However, this momentum was irreversible, and despite their struggle, they continued to fall. By this time, they were already hundreds of feet below the ground, the cave dark and cold, as if dragging them into the earth.

Han Qingxiao said, "Gentlemen, try to cling to the cave wall and then fall down. We don't know how deep it is; we'll be smashed to pieces!" He grabbed a long log. The cave entrance was deep and wide, and it was difficult to tell east from west in the darkness. He ignored it and threw it to one side.

With a loud thud, the long log embedded itself in the stone wall. He leaped forward, grabbed the log, and steadied himself. Immediately, he looked to his companions, gathered his inner energy, and prepared to assist them.

Seeing Lin Aoshan's agile movements, leaping and dodging among the falling leaves, she grabbed a red ribbon, tied it to the hilt of her knife, and swung it straight west. The blade embedded itself in the wall. Holding the ribbon, she floated away, hanging from the wall, letting out a slight sigh of relief.

Wang Long practiced the martial arts of Jingchun Mountain, which originated from the Yue Mountain Sword Sect. Seeing him draw his longsword, his feet traced an arc. Suddenly, he stopped, as if his feet were firmly planted on solid ground, and did not fall again.

This is the "Stillness Contains Movement Sword," its principles profound and unfathomable. The sword techniques are endlessly varied; with a calm mind and body, one can remain perfectly still. He applied these principles to suspend himself in mid-air, a feat that astonished all who beheld him.

He paused for a moment, his sword momentum dissipating, and just as he was about to fall, he spotted a protruding cliff face. He leaped over it and landed safely on the wall. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Li Xian again.

Han Qingxiao frowned immediately. Lin Aoshan exclaimed, "Boss, save him!" The Jieyou Tower collapsed, and countless pieces of timber fell into the pit. Li Xian was slightly less fortunate; a dozen or so beams, red tiles, and gold bricks... all rushed towards him like a flood.

Han Qingxiao looked around, hoping to find a way to rescue him. However, many things had already swept him away, surging and plummeting, making rescue impossible. Just as he was feeling hopeless, he suddenly saw a flash of light, and Li Xian had already pierced through the wall with his spear, hanging from the cliff face.

Han Qingxiao murmured, "Golden Light Technique? It seems Immortal Li is no ordinary person!"

Li Xian stood on the gun and asked, "Are you all alright?" Lin Aoshan replied, "Of course I'm alright. How could mere pieces of wood and pebbles possibly harm me?"

Wang Long and Han Qingxiao both reported that they were safe. The Jieyou Tower was intricately constructed, and after a quarter of an hour of collapse, the commotion had just subsided. Li Xian observed intently and noticed a walkway in the wall, built of red wood. He immediately thought, "This Jieyou Tower has a complex mechanism. Heroines from various sects have disappeared here innocently, without a trace. It must be... that there is a hidden mechanism in the Jieyou Tower that secretly leads to the underground. This is the walkway that leads there."

Li Xian shouted, "There's a plank road over there, let's go over there." The group used their lightness skills to move lightly along the wall, gradually approaching the plank road and landing safely.

Lin Aoshan patted her chest lightly, beads of sweat glistening on her forehead. The ordeal had been incredibly dangerous, but thankfully, they had all made it through. Once they were sure everyone was safe, they followed the plank road deeper into the cave, spiraling downwards for nearly half an hour before finally reaching solid ground at the bottom of the cave.

Li Xian asked, "Brother Han, you just mentioned the Nine-Aperture Dragon Heart Cave. Could you please explain it to me?" Everyone looked at him curiously. Han Qingxiao said, "The so-called Nine-Aperture Dragon Heart Cave is an extremely special feng shui burial site. It was formed through the natural evolution of heaven and earth. This burial site has nine apertures, through which one can enter and exit the burial site."

"This is a keyhole. Lord He was afraid of being discovered, so he built the Worry-Relieving Pavilion in the keyhole. The Worry-Relieving Pavilion contains 3,800 Worry-Free Mechanisms, which can eliminate his worries and allow him to sleep soundly. Lord He is in the Worry-Relieving Pavilion, so even if a group of experts join forces to kill him, they will probably be unable to do anything to him. He can enter the pavilion to maneuver, or he can retreat into the keyhole."

"The Tower of Relief from Worries... The Tower of Relief from Worries is a pretense of relieving the worries of heroes across the world, but its true purpose is to relieve its own worries. However, despite its deep scheming, it is ultimately insufficient. The Tower of Relief from Worries relies on the Nine Aperture Dragon Heart Cave, making it externally sturdy and indestructible. But it is also constrained by the underground cave. If the underground cave changes, the Tower of Relief from Worries will be in danger of collapsing in an instant."

"A fortune and countless efforts, all destroyed in an instant. The Tower of Relief from Worries appears sturdy, yet it is also fragile. It's a pity that this extraordinary building, though not as magnificent as the 'Thirteen Towers of Jade City,' is still quite remarkable. It's a real shame that I couldn't fully appreciate its splendor."

Li Xian thought to himself, "Could it be the lady's doing? I just heard a roar, but I don't know if it was my imagination or reality. Since I'm already here, there's no point in thinking about it anymore!"

Li Xian picked up a piece of red wood and swung it into the air. Sparks flew from the tip of the wood, and it gradually ignited. Han Qingxiao and Wang Long both thought, "Using wood as a sword to execute sword techniques. The sword techniques are as fiery as fire, so with a light swing, the tip of the wood was ignited. This person is skilled with the spear, and his swordsmanship is also quite remarkable!"

The firelight illuminated the surroundings and stretched forward. Li Xian extinguished the fire and immediately sought cover. Han Qingxiao, Wang Long, and Lin Aoshan also hid. After a while, they saw a bright fire ahead and someone approaching.

There were four men, all dressed in armor, standing in neat rows. Seeing the mess, littered with broken wood and tiles, and looking up at the sky, they exclaimed, “Heavens! The Pavilion of Relief has truly… truly collapsed?” “Incredible! If the city lord finds out, he will be furious.” “A mere earthquake just now caused the Pavilion of Relief to collapse. This is very strange; a building crafted by master artisans shouldn’t have collapsed like this.”

...

...

The four soldiers were about to investigate further.

Li Xian inhaled and exhaled, unleashing the "Wind Breath" and "Brewing Qi to Purify." A billowing white mist rolled in, instantly shrouding the surroundings in a hazy fog. Before the four soldiers could cry out in alarm, Li Xian nimbly vanished, his hands flashing out simultaneously. His two fingers struck the back of the two men's necks, employing the "Soaring Cloud Hand" acupoint striking technique. The force was both deep and slow, penetrating deep into their spines, killing them instantly. Han Qingxiao immediately understood his intention and followed closely behind, his claws reaching out to grip the throats of the two men.

In an instant, all four were dead. Wang Long and Lin Aoshan were filled with doubt, while Han Qingxiao said admiringly, "Brother Li, you have so many tricks up your sleeve! Unexpected moves, endless wonders!" He was quite envious. Li Xian said, "These are all minor skills. Brother Han, your true talent and learning are probably yet to be revealed."

Li Xian said, "He Wentian is secretly raising soldiers in the tomb. If we are exposed and surrounded by heavy troops, it will be extremely troublesome. Therefore, it is best to hunt down the four of them and sneak in disguised."

Han Qingxiao said, "Although Ao Shan is a woman, she is very tall and has a heroic air about her. If she wears a soldier's uniform, she should be able to blend in with us without any problems."

The four men removed the armor and changed into their uniforms. They then buried the four corpses among the rubble. Lin Aoshan, her pretty face flushed, dressed in men's clothing, her long hair tied up and hidden under her helmet. Her beautiful features were completely concealed, and she hid her discarded armor in her wardrobe.

The four men, now fully dressed and ready for patrol, set off together. They hadn't gone far when they came to a narrow crevice in the rocks, barely wide enough for one person to pass through, requiring them to turn sideways. Soldiers guarded both sides. Li Xian was about to speak to them, hoping to coax them inside. Suddenly, Lin Aoshan quickened her pace, exhaling a breath towards the two soldiers. The breath was light and clear, yet contained a celestial quality. Inhaling it through her mouth and nose, one was instantly captivated.

This is a unique martial art of the Lin family of Qiongtianfu, called "Immortal Sound Transformation into Qi". It involves playing celestial music from within the body, which is then exhaled as mist. Celestial music is originally an ethereal thing, but its effect of solidifying into mist is extraordinary.

The two soldiers were stunned and stood frozen in place. Li Xian thought to himself, "Although Ao Shan's martial arts are inferior, she has unique skills that can be very useful. The heroes of the world are indeed not to be underestimated." He then crawled into the crevice in the rock.

They crossed the pit in four or five steps and saw a depression ahead. Beneath it stood a well-lit military camp, orderly and disciplined. There were sentry posts, arrow towers, tents, and granaries, with soldiers in neat rows. Li Xian and his companions, having impersonated soldiers, would surely be exposed if they entered the camp. Therefore, they bypassed the camp and peered inside. Using their uniforms, they could cross it without hindrance.

After walking a while longer, the number of patrolling soldiers decreased. Wang Long looked at Li Xian and Han Qingxiao. Han Qingxiao said, "The armor is thick and heavy, and there are fewer patrolling soldiers here. Going any further will only be an obstacle."

Li Xian said, "That makes sense!" The four men removed their armor and dug a pit to hide. After changing back into their own clothes, they felt completely relaxed. Han Qingxiao told everyone that the internal passages were complex and winding, making it difficult for ordinary soldiers to even set foot there. Someone had already been buried in the Nine Aperture Dragon Heart Cave, but who that person was was still unknown and required further investigation.

They soon came to a river, its origin and destination unknown, its water flowing gently, crystal clear, and almost sweet. Han Qingxiao once again manipulated the golden disc, calculating the situation he encountered. He couldn't help but exclaim, "What a fine tomb! What a fine tomb!"

Although Li Xian was skilled in feng shui, he was unaware of this particular situation. He immediately asked, "Brother Han, please explain."

Han Qingxiao said, "This place has been nurtured and catalyzed for countless years, and it has already taken on a remarkable appearance. This river channel looks ordinary, but it is actually the 'blood of the heart.' It is a natural landscape formed by the forces of heaven and earth. The water is clear, but it contains a deadly poison. If you ingest it, you will die instantly."

"The Nine-Aperture Dragon Heart Burial Site is also divided into three, six, and nine grades. A site with only nine apertures but no dragon heart is of the second grade. A site possessing both nine apertures and a dragon heart is of the middle grade. Above this, where nurturing, evolution, and catalysis gradually produce extraordinary phenomena such as 'heart blood,' 'flesh growing on the walls,' and 'wind arising from the apertures,' it is of the highest grade, the very highest grade, and the very highest grade. We have already reached the interior through the apertures. This place is located in the 'dragon heart,' and the 'heart blood' landscape has already formed here, demonstrating that this dragon heart burial site is far superior to ordinary dragon heart burial sites and is already a superior burial site. The person buried here is even more extraordinary."

The riverbed itself was unremarkable, but this mention of it piqued his curiosity. Li Xian drew his "Sinking River Sword" and tried to manipulate the water, but found it difficult to utilize its "water-manipulating" properties. Observing the river's course again, it was winding and meandering, with numerous tributaries about the thickness of a thumb, resembling blood vessels.

Heaven and earth are boundless, the sky is round and the earth is square, the sky is infinitely high and the earth is boundless. Feng shui, in its mysterious way, guides destiny, giving rise to countless magnificent and unique landscapes. This "clear river water" within the Nine Aperture Dragon Heart Cave, nurtured by heaven and earth, is neither like a river nor like blood. Seemingly ordinary, it is truly extraordinary.

Li Xian, Wang Long, Lin Aoshan, and Han Qingxiao each used their lightness skills to leap over the "Heart's Blood." After walking about a mile, they suddenly heard a series of footsteps and felt the ground tremble violently.

Li Xian thought to himself, "The soldiers must have noticed something and are now chasing after us!"

With a whoosh, an arrow shot from behind. Li Xian dodged to the side, seeing the arrow's swiftness and its deep embedding in the mountain wall. He thought to himself, "The archer's skill is not bad, though not as good as mine, but with so many opponents and a volley of arrows, I'm in a dangerous situation. This tomb is circuitous; I should avoid their attacks first." He shouted, "Run!"

turn out to be……

This military camp is called the "Blood Essence Army." It refers to the elite of Flying Dragon City, cultivated from infancy, undergoing special medicinal baths and special training. Many possess the "Thunderous Chest Sound," and those with "Immortal Machines in the Palm" and "Circulating Qi Throughout the Heavens" are commonplace. This is He Wentian's trump card.

When the Tower of Relief still existed, in the event of an enemy attack, He Wentian only needed to send out secret messengers to summon the elite Blood Army along the plank road to the Tower of Relief. They would then hide in the hidden chambers and mechanisms, their military formations, arrow formations, and the mechanisms within the tower working in tandem. They would be virtually invincible, extremely powerful. Even someone as strong as Wen Caishang, when she organized the "Spirit Fox Banquet," never set foot in the Tower of Relief.

He Wentian once offered a suggestion, but Wen Caishang brushed it off with the excuse that "a young man's heroic spirit should be seen by the heavens." She was exceptionally intelligent, but the elders of the Sword Sect had no such concerns, which led to the current situation.

The Tower of Relief from Worries collapsed. The Blood Essence Army was on high alert, taking roll call and preparing their formation every half quarter of an hour, ready to receive orders at any moment. Li Xian's secret killing of four Blood Essence soldiers could not be kept secret for long.

They were quickly discovered, and the soldiers immediately gave chase, leading to this scene. Although Li Xian and the others possessed excellent lightness skills, they were unfamiliar with the tomb passage and were quickly caught up, resulting in a fierce battle.

Li Xian drew his spear from his sleeve, and the ghostly python peeked out, radiating killing intent, as he thrust it towards the oncoming elite soldiers. The soldiers, clad in red armor, were brave and skilled in battle, always ready to take the lead, possessing considerable ability. They had already "absorbed essence and shed their mortal form," stepping into the first realm of martial arts.

He barely managed to catch the spear, his longsword snapping in two with a "bang." Li Xian then swung the spear horizontally, striking the red-armored soldier in the chest. Li Xian's waist jerked, the spear shifting from "hard" to "soft," bending like a wave. The hidden force within sent the soldier flying with the force of an arrow released from a bow; if it had struck the stone wall, it would have shattered his internal organs and broken his bones. Two soldiers behind the red-armored soldier immediately caught him from the left and right. But the force was immense, and the momentum was irreversible, shoving all three of them away.

Following closely behind, three white-armored soldiers caught them with all their might. Now, the combined strength of six people was used, their internal energy flowing together, palms against backs, backs against palms, as solid as iron, their lives inextricably linked, concealing some kind of martial arts evolution. The momentum of flying backwards was greatly reduced, and the six people were able to touch the ground, turning into a backward stepping retreat.

Each step sank three inches into the mud. The movements were orderly, without a trace of confusion! Li Xian thought to himself, "This formation is ingenious; the skill is truly remarkable!"

The six men retreated in unison, their momentum still swift, until they saw a stone wall just a dozen or so feet away. In that instant, six more white-armored soldiers leaped forward, reaching out to brace themselves against the backs of those in front. The momentum of their retreat lessened, but it was still not enough to completely stop them, and finally, twelve more white-armored soldiers joined in to push forward.

Now, twenty-four men had gathered, finally slowing their advance. The twenty-four men stomped their feet forcefully, their chests bulging violently, and they let out a shout, completely neutralizing the immense force of the spear. Gravel fell around them, smoke filled the air, and they all felt a sweet taste in their throats, but could hear the soldiers panting, and none of them were seriously injured.

The red-armored soldier's legs went weak, and he barely managed to stand, using his spear for support. The twenty-four men were both shocked and terrified. Seeing Li Xian standing with his spear at an angle, none of them dared to approach. The immense strength he possessed was terrifying; how could an ordinary person have such power?

Li Xian frowned and pondered: "What a formidable formation. My spear strike just now, though I didn't use any martial arts techniques, was incredibly powerful and executed in one smooth motion. I was not underestimating them, so how could they easily withstand it? These twenty-four people worked together to completely neutralize my spear attack."

"It's like being peeled away layer by layer, stripping away my inner energy, my strength... bit by bit."

This is the "Human Force Transformation Formation," evolved from a certain martial arts technique. It utilizes the power of a large group of people to dissect the opponent's internal energy, strength, and martial arts techniques layer by layer, dissolving their mysterious and profound power. Then, it gathers internal energy to resist.

Looking around, similar scenes were everywhere. Lin Aoshan wielded the "Clear Willow Leaf Blade," her swordsmanship elegant and unrestrained, each strike impossible for her opponent to withstand. However, her opponents, situated within a military formation, realized they could not defend themselves and thus retreated. Soldiers would inevitably come to their aid, neutralizing any remaining force. Their attacks and defenses alternated seamlessly, their coordination impeccable, as if they were one unified entity.

Wang Long unleashed his "Peerless Sword Technique," his sword strikes silent yet deadly. Utilizing the unique characteristics of this technique, he had already slain a red-armored elite soldier. However, when he tried to repeat the tactic, the enemy soldiers, all wielding shields, formed a solid iron ball around him. They bounced and maneuvered between the stone walls, rendering Wang Long's swordsmanship ineffective!

He lacked experience and had no combat experience. In one-on-one combat, he could rely on his natural agility to deal with unusual situations. But now his opponents were scattered, numbering a dozen or so, or gathered, forming a giant iron ball. It was difficult for him to resist, and if his companions hadn't been there, he would have already considered using the "Misty Rain Silk Step" to escape.

Han Qingxiao unleashed his palm technique. His palm strikes were thick and heavy, but he also had a corresponding military formation to parry them. The two sides were locked in a fierce battle, with the sounds of weapons clashing frequently, and neither could gain the upper hand.

It turns out that He Wentian was a man of deep cunning and meticulous planning. While battlefield combat was important, defeating martial arts masters was equally essential. Among the elite soldiers, there were three categories: "Red Armor Elite Soldiers," "White Armor Servant Soldiers," and "Black Armor Special Soldiers." From childhood, they consumed essence broth and practiced formations without martial arts training.

If separated, the Red-Armored Elite Soldiers are nothing more than ordinary people with cultivation but together, they can freely combine and adapt their formations, which can change in an instant and have endless uses. Even if the enemy has higher cultivation, they will be entangled and eventually captured or defeated in an unexpected way.

Li Xian thought to himself, "Fighting them head-on will ultimately be more harmful than beneficial. Even if we annihilate them, we will still be caught by pursuers. In this situation, it's better to make good use of our advantages rather than engage in a bloody battle!" He said, "Gentlemen, the situation forces us to split up!"

Han Qingxiao said, "Excellent, that's exactly what I was thinking!" Lin Aoshan smiled and said, "Good! They have a lot of people, so if we split up, they will definitely split up as well, which will make them much easier to deal with."

Wang Long knocked the iron ball away with a single sword strike. The iron ball, composed of black shields, dispersed in mid-air, revealing ten black-armored soldiers. Wang Long said, "I'll go first!" and used his light footwork to escape.

Lin Aoshan said, "Boss, Little Li, be careful!" and turned to flee. Li Xian thought that Lin Aoshan's strength was slightly inferior, and of the four traveling together, he was most worried about Lin Aoshan. The two were not only old acquaintances but also good friends, so he hurriedly chased after her, plucked a lock of her long hair, and said, "Aoshan, keep this hair. If anything unusual happens, use this hair to plant in the ground and relay a message!"

Seeing that Li Xian had specially chased after her to deliver the hair, Lin Aoshan, though unsure of its purpose, knew it must be important. A warmth filled her heart; their past friendship in the prefectural city remained. She nodded and said, "Alright! Be careful." She tucked the hair into her sleeve. There was a fork in the road ahead, and the two fled in opposite directions. The pursuers paused briefly, then split into two groups and gave chase.

Li Xian's pursuers were numerous, numbering over thirty: five elite soldiers in red armor, five elite soldiers in black armor, and twenty soldiers in white armor. Every time he used his lightness skill to temporarily shake them off, the pursuers would take a different route and follow him around, but they always managed to catch up.

The power of Li Xian's spear was still vivid in their minds. The soldiers were afraid and dared not fight head-on, only engaging in a protracted struggle. This was exactly what Li Xian wanted to do: "The way of formations is profound and extensive, but it is mostly used for encirclement, trapping, fighting, and killing. Your protracted struggle is to abandon the advantages of formations and use your weaknesses to attack my strengths."

He skillfully used the terrain to maneuver, seizing every opportunity to strike. He wielded his spear, shot arrows, and used palm techniques with great agility, reaching the pinnacle of martial arts. More than thirty people died one after another, suffering heavy losses. Whenever they tried to form a battle formation, Li Xian would vanish without a trace, appearing and disappearing like a ghost, effortlessly killing his enemies and escaping.

Seeing that their numbers had dwindled and they could no longer form a battle formation, they all fled in panic, not daring to linger any longer.

Four elite red-armored soldiers were killed, sixteen white-armored soldiers were killed, and three black-armored special troops were killed. Li Xian did not forget to loot the corpses and obtained several taels of money, 149 "eagle feather bows", quivers, and a silver bow.

Having infiltrated the Worry-Relieving Pavilion earlier, Li Xian, disguised as a merchant, hadn't carried the Peach Blossom Bow. Now, with a bow and arrows at his disposal, even the strongest enemy formation couldn't harm him in the slightest.

The tomb passage was complex. Li Xian escaped the perilous situation and wandered around. He knew that the "Nine Apertures Dragon Heart Cave" was extremely complex, like a heart chamber, containing hundreds of pathways of thought, just like the human mind, ever-changing and extremely difficult to fathom.

Li Xian pondered, "The only solution now is the brute force. Search everywhere, and hopefully we'll find something!" He twirled his long hair, planting strands at each fork in the road. He would then use this method to gradually discern the path and understand its conditions.

Suddenly, a voice called out, "Little Li, Little Li, can you really hear me?"

It was exactly as Lin Aoshan had said. Li Xian wanted to respond, but the hair strands were silent, making communication difficult. He thought, "Aoshan is using her hair to transmit her voice; she must be in trouble. I'll listen carefully!" He focused his mind on sensing the hair strands and vaguely saw Lin Aoshan in a stone chamber.

Lin Aoshan's face was pale, as if she was injured, but her "hair" was blurry and unclear. It turned out that... when they scattered and fled, Lin Aoshan skillfully maneuvered and drove back the pursuers, but unintentionally stumbled into a dangerous place.

She was injured by the guards. Seeing that she was a woman, the guards didn't kill her, but instead locked her meridians and internal energy, imprisoning her in a mountain wall. Lin Aoshan was powerless to resist, severely injured and unwell, and knew she couldn't escape. Remembering Li Xian's instructions, she planted a strand of hair and spoke to him in a whispered voice.

Li Xian frowned in thought: "Ao Shan is quite friendly to me. It's rare to have friends in this world. If she's in trouble, how could I not help her?" He then sensed the direction of the hair and followed it.

He remained secretly on guard, leaving no trace along the way. The path to the Nine Apertures Dragon Heart Cave was a narrow, winding path made of gravel, turning left and right, meandering forward and backward. Following his senses, Li Xian approached his destination.

Before me stood a stone gate, thick and heavy, with only a narrow crack. If this gate were to be pushed open, the sound would surely be deafening. However, the crack was so narrow that it would be extremely difficult to pass through.

Li Xian pondered for a moment, then opened his double pupils and peered inside through the wall. He immediately saw a canyon behind the stone gate. It was already night, and moonlight shone into the canyon. Hundreds of stone caves had been carved into the stone walls on both sides, and each cave contained a woman.

Jingchun Daoist, Ji Hui, Mu Hongchou, Lin Aoshan… are all here. Most of the masters and disciples of the Lake Mountain Sword Sect, female disciples and elders of the five major sword sects… numbering in the dozens. The rest of us in the stone chamber, and other women from the martial world, were secretly murdered and captured here.

Jingchun Daoist's face was deathly pale; her collarbone had been pierced. The female elders of the five major sword sects were all in a similar predicament. The stone cave was riddled with iron chains, piercing their collarbones and binding them tightly within. Every slight movement caused excruciating pain.

But fate is fickle. Li Xian joined the Flower Cage Clan, and his first job was to rescue someone instead of capture them. He was used to heroes rescuing beauties, who would then repay him with their bodies. Now that he, a flower thief, had rescued beauties, what would become of them?

(P.S.: It's already a high-quality book. Although the title isn't particularly attractive, I haven't even caught up with the number of favorites of other books that had hundreds of thousands of words at the same time. But thanks to everyone's support, it has still reached the level of a high-quality book.)

(Although I have an outline, I still experienced some writer's block today, so I spent almost twice as much time writing. The later plot will be even more exciting, so please subscribe, support, and vote with monthly tickets!)

(End of this chapter)