Following the golden-haired lion beast to the outside, Xie Shuci looked closely and saw that the stone pillar at the entrance had been overturned, and sword energy still lingered on it.

The white-haired lion had already given chase. When Xie Shuci arrived, he only saw the white-haired lion leap from the side of the street onto the roof.

"The King has been captured?" Xie Shuci asked through gritted teeth.

"roar!"

"Take me after them!"

Xie Shuci became increasingly adept at using spiritual power, leaping up from his spot and jumping onto the back of the golden-haired lion beast.

"roar!"

The golden-haired lion responded and then led Xie Shuci to chase after them.

"What is that..."

"Why is the lion from Wanhua Tower here?"

The onlookers on the street looked up and saw a white figure leap over their heads. Not far in front of it, a person shrouded in a black cloak carried an unconscious puppy and sped towards the outskirts of the city.

The white-haired lion opened its massive jaws and roared fiercely forward. The enormous sound had the power to shatter eardrums, and the people on the street covered their ears in pain. The black cloak was blown off the roof by the shockwave, and the man landed steadily on the ground by pushing off the wall. He then continued to flee out of the city.

Since most of the people in the city were ordinary people, the white-haired lion had to consider the mortals and had no choice but to give chase.

Seeing the figure in black about to disappear, Xie Shuci was extremely anxious. He was worried that the identity of the Great King Beast had been exposed, and that this person had probably come to take the inner core!

He sat on the back of the golden lion beast and looked down. Finally, among a row of cosmetic shops, he spotted a weapons shop.

He put two fingers together, and with his spiritual power, he raised a long sword, which quickly flew forward.

"Alas! My weapon!"

Xie Shuci's voice came from above: "I'll borrow this for a moment, I'll pay you back when I get back!"

Xie Shuci wielded his longsword, weaving through the crowd. The blade sliced ​​through the air, striking the man in black with unstoppable force.

"Go to hell! Give me back the King!" Xie Shuci roared angrily.

Although he had not fully mastered the use of spiritual power, he wielded his flying sword very skillfully. When the flying sword was about to pierce the black-clad man's back, the black-clad man turned around and kicked the flying sword against the wall. The sword pierced into the wall with a "clang".

Xie Shuci also took the opportunity to see the figure under the black-clad man's cloak. It was a slender woman who was holding the king by the back of his neck with her right hand and dragging him casually in the air. The king seemed to have lost consciousness.

Xie Shuci's heart tightened, and he hurriedly shouted forward, "Miss, I have no grudge against you, why are you trying to steal my pet?"

The woman did not respond to him, but turned around and continued running out of the city.

Xie Shuci realized at the same time that this person was not surprised to see him chasing after him, nor did he intend to deal with him. He was clearly trying to lead him out of the city.

From this perspective, it seems that her target is not the king.

Thinking of this, Xie Shuci breathed a sigh of relief. Although he didn't know her purpose, Xie Shuci still planned to chase after her and find out. He had become more and more proficient in using spiritual power during this period, and with the bronze cauldron and the Dragon-Subduing Magic Artifact in his possession, he was already able to deal with ordinary cultivators...

Bronze tripod and dragon-subduing ritual implements?

Xie Shuci stared blankly at the thin red veil covering his body, and cursed inwardly, "What a load of crap! Everything is in the Wanhua Tower; he didn't bring anything with him except himself!"

But since things had come to this point, he couldn't very well turn back; he could only remain unchanged and deal with the situation as it was.

"Girl, you can say what your purpose is."

"You must have heard of that mysterious alchemist in Luofang City. To be honest, that is me. You can tell me what you need and we can discuss it. I believe you don't want to go against a powerful alchemist family."

The woman finally responded to his words.

She perched on a tree branch, her large hood obscuring her view and making it impossible to see her face.

Xie Shuci quickly stopped the two lion beasts and made them watch her from a distance of about two zhang.

"If you have any unspeakable difficulties, young lady, you might as well speak them out. Making an enemy of a pill cultivator is bad for you and the immortal sect behind you."

In this respect, it's not exactly a good thing.

Xie Shuci remembered Chu Guiyi saying that alchemists have a very high status in the cultivation world, and most of them respect and cherish each other, so no one would dare to offend them easily.

The woman turned around and hugged the king. Xie Shuci secretly breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that the little guy was unharmed and breathing evenly.

He was right; this person didn't know the king's identity and was probably after him.

The woman paused for a moment, then asked, "Are you a pill cultivator from the Floating Pagoda Realm?"

Xie Shuci raised his chin. "Yes! Since you've heard of my identity, you should know that my alchemy furnace is a bronze cauldron, and that I can refine top-grade pills. You'd better just say what your purpose is."

The woman leaned against the tree trunk, her slender hands gently stroking the fur on the king's back. The king was probably fast asleep, as he even smacked his lips contentedly.

Xie Shuci was speechless. He had thought the brat was in some danger, but it turned out he was sleeping soundly in someone's arms.

Upon hearing this, the woman merely raised her head indifferently, revealing half of her thin, delicate chin, and asked meaningfully, "Then do you know who the young man beside you is?"

Upon hearing this, Xie Shuci frowned instantly. Was this person's target Xie An?

To be honest, Xie Shuci knew nothing about Xie An's identity except that he was a disciple of the Xiaoyao Sect.

"He is a disciple of the Xiaoyao Sect."

Although he didn't understand, Xie Shuci answered honestly, also wanting to use the reputation of the Xiaoyao Sect to scare the man.

"He is a highly valued inner disciple of the Xiaoyao Sect. I advise you not to make a move on him," Xie Shuci warned.

The woman ignored his warning. After hearing it, she pursed her red lips slightly and muttered to herself.

Although she didn't say anything, Xie Shuci understood what she meant: "When did such a person appear in the Xiaoyao Sect?"

Xie Shuci said, "Of course you don't know him. He is an inner disciple of the main branch of the Xiaoyao Sect."

Regardless of the consequences, Xie Shuci first gave this man a good talking-to, hoping he would quickly back down.

The woman said in surprise, "Do you know what I'm talking about?"

Xie Shuci replied, "That's natural."

How did you know?

Why should I tell you?

The woman leaned leisurely against the tree trunk. "Let me think. Your surname is Xie, but as far as I know, there is no family of alchemists with the surname Xie in the Floating Pagoda Mirror."

Hearing his words, Xie Shuci's heart skipped a beat. Judging from her tone, she seemed very familiar with the Floating Pagoda Mirror. "Are you from the Floating Pagoda Mirror?"

The woman chuckled softly, "Not stupid at all."

Upon hearing this, Xie Shuci's expression turned serious.

"What exactly do you want?" Xie Shuci asked, frowning.

The woman laughed and said, "Don't be nervous, I'm not interested in your life or the life of this little dog."

Xie Shuci's expression immediately changed, "You don't mean to..."

The woman led him here and said a lot of nonsense, even asking about Xie An's identity. Xie Shuci's face grew increasingly ugly. This group of people were clearly after the little blind man!

Oh no, the little blind boy is in danger!

Xie Shuci's breath hitched. Not wanting to waste any more words with her, he directly manipulated his flying sword to rush towards the woman.

However, the woman's cultivation was clearly superior to his, and she easily used her spiritual power to knock the longsword away.

"Don't worry, we don't want his life. It's just that my master is a little curious about his identity."

"Who is your master?"

"You don't need to know that."

"Roar!" The golden-haired lion beast roared, and the white-haired lion beast immediately opened its sharp claws and pounced.

The woman flipped herself down from the tree, and the white-haired lion missed its target, its sharp claws slicing through the tree trunk.

Xie Shuci seized the opportunity to maneuver his flying sword towards the woman, but the woman was agile and dodged with a backflip.

Realizing the blind boy was in danger, Xie Shuci's movements became even more swift. Working in coordination with the two lion beasts, the woman was finding it difficult to defend herself with just one hand.

She simply pulled a short sword from her sleeve and held it to the king's neck. Upon seeing this, the man and the two beasts stopped what they were doing.

"Stop!" Xie Shuci shouted angrily. "You're supposed to be a cultivator from the Floating Pagoda Realm, how dare you use a dog as a threat?"

The woman said indifferently, "What you use to threaten me depends on what can threaten you. Don't worry, I will return it to you once the master has asked what he wants to know. Until then, you need to stay here."

Meanwhile, inside the Guanhua Building.

By the time Xiao Lian and the others came to their senses, Xie An had already disappeared from the audience, and no one had noticed his movements.

"Where is Xie An?" Xiao Lian asked with a serious expression.

Xiao Xianlan looked around in confusion, "He was just here..."

Xiao Lian gritted her teeth: "Their real purpose in luring Xie Shuci away is to target Xie An!"

"Brother Xie An? Then... what should we do?"

"Never mind that, I roughly know who it is."

When Xiao Lian looked at the attic again, the half-open window was now tightly closed.

"puff!"

A spray of bright red blood splattered onto the window.

The room was a mess, with tables and chairs lying haphazardly on the floor and tea sets scattered everywhere. It was clear that a fierce fight had taken place there.

"cough……"

The man knelt on the ground, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He clutched his chest, slowly raised his head, and looked at the boy standing with his head bowed not far away.

In the smoky room, the boy remained spotless, as if the signs of a fight in the room had nothing to do with him. He simply stood a short distance away, dusted off his sleeves, and then raised a pair of calm, unwavering eyes.

"I underestimated you...cough!" With each word the man spoke, blood gushed from his mouth, indicating he had suffered considerable internal injuries. He casually wiped away the bloodstains, propped himself up on his thighs, and continued, "I was initially unsure of your identity, but I never expected you to use blood as a catalyst to forcibly awaken the Frightened Feather Bird, thus exposing your whereabouts, Young Master Xiao."

The boy remained indifferent and unmoved.

“You were already severely weakened last night, yet you were able to dismantle my attack in an instant. Your cultivation is truly unfathomable.” The man forced himself to stand up, his gaze fixed intently on the young man.

Xie An's expression was extremely cold. "Are you finished?"

"No, since it's a last message, it can't be explained in just a few words. I'm just curious, so you're the Heavenly Saint Child that my brother mentioned, the one whose destiny is blessed by the Heavenly Dao, yet who insists on cultivating the path of slaughter, Xiao Xun. Now that I've met you, you truly live up to your reputation."

Xie An glanced at him and asked, "Is your elder brother Sikong Ye?"

How did you know?

Xie An sneered, "Your face and his face are so alike."

The man suddenly realized and said, "Oh! I see. No wonder. My brother and I are twins, and we look almost identical. Young Master Xiao has seen my brother before, so he will naturally recognize me. My name is Sikong Xin. Since you and my brother are old acquaintances, how about you leave me with a whole corpse?"

"I will spare your life today, but if you harm that beast, I will cut off your arm," Xie An said calmly.

Upon hearing this, Sikong Xin was not afraid at all, but instead asked in shock, "Young Master Xiao, why is this? Have you given up cultivating the Path of Slaughter and switched to another path?"

"Sigh!" Sikong Xin slapped his forehead, his eyes full of meaning. "Look at my memory! The path of slaughter is the path of death. Once you've made up your mind about it, there's no way you can change it!"

Xie An snorted softly, the corners of his mouth gradually turning into a wicked smile, "I'm not killing you because I don't like that beast. You teach it a lesson for me, this is my reward to you."

His eyes were incredibly sinister, so much so that you couldn't see a trace of humanity in them. Being stared at by those eyes sent a chill down your spine, but Sikong Xin's smile deepened.

Sikong Xin said, "I saw that man named Xie Shuci ordering the young master around. Why don't I go and teach him a lesson on behalf of the young master?"

Xie An's dark pupils fixed on him, the curve of his lips gradually fading into calm, his eyes swirling with tension, like the calm before a storm. After a moment of silence, he spoke:

"How much effort do you think it would take for me, with my current cultivation level, to wipe out the Sikong clan?"

He didn't answer directly, nor did he show the slightest bit of hostility. His tone was as calm as could be, as if it were just an ordinary statement.

But that's precisely why it makes people even more terrified.

Sikong Xin's expression froze for a moment, then he changed his nonchalant demeanor and became serious. "Xiao Xun, even if your cultivation is unfathomable, there's no need to be so arrogant."

Xie An simply looked at him quietly, his eyes devoid of any emotion. "You know perfectly well what's going on."

Seemingly unwilling to say more, Xie An turned to leave, but was stopped by him as he was leaving: "Xiao Xun, why did you awaken the Startled Feather Bird yesterday? Now the entire cultivation world, including the people of the Floating Pagoda Realm, is looking for your whereabouts. Doing so is tantamount to walking into a trap."

Xie An turned his head but did not answer his question. Instead, he said, "Tell them that I will appear at the Immortal Sect Selection in four months. Before that, I will kill any who comes."

"Kill? You even spared me, how can you kill them? Xiao Xun, is your Dao heart wavering?"

Seemingly sensing the rare opportunity, Sikong Xin tensed up and risked his life to ask that question.

He had heard his elder brother mention this man in his youth: decisive in killing, exceptionally intelligent, and feared by his peers. Yet, his unconventional and uncompromising nature earned him the secret admiration of many disciples from powerful sects and families. Moreover, he possessed striking good looks; it was this face that made people wonder what it matter if they died by his sword.

This young master, born into one of the four great immortal families, was determined to cultivate the Path of Death. However, his ruthlessness, his firm Dao heart established at the age of eleven or twelve, and his unwavering resolve made Sikong Xin realize that he was different from other cultivators who cultivated the Path of Slaughter.

Although Sikong Xin's cultivation level was not as high as Xiao Xun's, he was still one of the best among his peers. Looking at the entire Floating Pagoda Realm, there were only two people among his generation whose cultivation level was higher than his.

One was his elder brother, Sikong Ye; the other was Xiao Xun standing before him.

If it were any other cultivator of the path of slaughter, they would have taken his life cleanly and efficiently, given his current inability to fight back.

Xie An lowered his eyes, his cold gaze sweeping across his face. "If you want to die, I can grant your wish."

Sikong Xin noticed the bell and peach branch hanging from his waist, which only strengthened his resolve. He even chuckled softly, “Xiao Xun, the path of slaughter cannot be changed; it is destined to lead to a lifetime of solitude! If your Dao heart is damaged, you will end up like those seniors, killing your wife to prove your Dao after going astray!”

Xie An raised his long eyelashes, and a chilling killing intent filled the entire room like a surging sea.

Sikong Xin was instantly choked, his blood freezing under the bone-chilling killing intent. His hair stood on end, and he clearly felt that he was only half a step away from death.

This is the path of slaughter...

Xie An turned around, his murderous aura surging into a thick black fog, with blood-red threads mixed in.

His eyes were sinister, and a grin spread across his face. "You mean, I'm prone to being tormented by love?"

Sikong Xin's face turned deathly pale, his legs went weak, and he almost couldn't stand up.

"I'm not killing you because you still have a reason to live for now. Sooner or later, you will die by my hand, so there's no need to rush."

The surging killing intent squeezed his internal organs. Under immense pressure, Sikong Xin used his spiritual power to protect his heart meridian. Cold sweat streamed down his forehead, and his face was deathly pale. He gritted his teeth and said, "Xie Shuci is already on his way back. He has cultivated his Sea of ​​Consciousness; he will discover your killing intent. You probably... don't want him to know your identity, right..."

Sikong Xin never expected that after suffering a severe injury, Xiao Xun would be able to completely suppress him from beginning to end. His cultivation level was probably much higher than his brother's!

Xie An looked at him quietly, and the surging anger around him gradually subsided.

He instantly returned to his usual calm and collected demeanor, as if the surging killing intent of that moment had never existed. He simply raised his head, looked down at Sikong Xin, and said, "Remember what I said, I will appear in the Immortal Sect Selection."

Sikong Xinbu

He visibly breathed a sigh of relief and nodded. "Understood."

As soon as he finished speaking, both of them sensed an aura approaching from not far away.

Sikong Xin wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and said, "You can leave now. I don't want to go against you."

What a joke! Although the Xiao family claims to have expelled Xiao Xun from the family, who in the Floating Pagoda Realm doesn't know that a genius like Xiao Xun wouldn't be easily abandoned even if he cultivated the Path of Slaughter? Moreover, with Xiao Xun's current cultivation level, he probably has few rivals in the Floating Pagoda Realm.

Xie An did not answer. He lifted his wide sleeve, and the window opened with a bang. The next moment, he had disappeared from the spot.

Sikong Xin breathed a sigh of relief. Forget it, he shouldn't be courting death in the future. Xiao Xun's personality is impossible to fathom with ordinary people. He's even more unpredictable than that scoundrel Sikong Ye.

Besides, his purpose in coming to the cultivation world was not for Xiao Xun, so why would he invite trouble upon himself?

At the same time, there was a knock on the door.

Sikong Xin straightened up, a sharp pain in his chest causing him to gasp. He lowered his voice and asked, "Who is it?"

"This humble servant is Xiaolian."

"What is it?"

"I vaguely heard fighting sounds coming from the room, sir. What has happened?"

Sikong Xin stepped forward and opened the door. Xiao Lian was stunned when she saw the mess in the room.

"This is……"

Sikong Xin twitched the corner of his mouth. "Miss Xiaolian, please don't mind. I just encountered a strong-willed beauty who kept me occupied for half the day."

Xiao Lian: "..."

How fierce must one's temperament be to destroy the room so badly?

After leaving the room, Xie An went to the room where Xie Shuci had changed clothes.

The room was empty. He leaned against the door and suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood.

"Going mad from cultivation? Foolish, laughable!"

He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes filled with an indescribable ferocity. He walked to the small pouch that Xie Shuci had hung on the screen, took out a healing pill, and swallowed it.

While Xie Shuci was playing chess with the woman, she suddenly seemed to sense something, threw the king to Xie Shuci, and then disappeared into the forest.

Although Xie Shuci was puzzled, he was worried about Xie An's safety and dared not continue the pursuit. He turned around and returned to Wanhua Tower with the two lion beasts.

"Xie An? Xie An?"

Xie Shuci ran into the lobby and searched through the crowd, but couldn't find the little blind boy anywhere.

Xiao Xianlan heard Xie Shuci's voice and ran over from one side of the corridor: "Brother Xiaoci!"

Xie Shuci asked anxiously, "Where is Xie An? Where is he?"

Tears welled up in Xiaoxianlan's eyes. "I don't know. Sister Xiaolian said that Bei might have been taken away by someone."

Upon hearing this, Xie Shuci's teeth clenched. He looked at the sleeping king in his arms, tugged at the fur on its neck, and shook it twice. "Wake up! Wake up!"

"Aww..."

The king gave a dazed groan and slowly opened his eyes.

"Huh?"

Falling?

"Take me to Xie An, quickly!"

The king, still half-asleep, looked at Diedie, but seeing Diedie's red eyes, he instantly woke up.

"Aww? Aww!"

Die Die? Who bullied Die Die?

"Take me to Xie An!"

Sensing the anxiety in Xie Shuci's voice, the Great King let out a howl, instantly reverted to his original form, bent down, and carried Xie Shuci on his back.

Then, following Xie An's scent, he leaped up to the pavilion, broke through several doors, and stopped outside one of them.

"Aww!"

The king clawed forward, and the wooden door shattered into pieces. Xie Shuci looked up and his expression froze on his face.

Before a dazzling array of clothes, the little blind man sat peacefully at the table, one hand supporting his head, glancing sideways at the doorway, his pupils still empty and lifeless.

Xie Shuci was taken aback. No, it's not...

"Are you alright?" Xie Shuci asked suspiciously as he jumped off the king's back.

The king also turned into a puppy and followed Xie Shuci inside.

The blind boy sat up straight, looking confused. "Me?"

"Yes, yes." Xie Shuci walked up to the little blind man, looked him up and down, and found nothing unusual. He then explained, "Just now, when I went to chase after the king, that woman deliberately led me there. She seems to be some kind of master of hers, and she wants to do something to you."

Xie An paused for a moment, then said, "So, there was indeed someone blocking my way just now. Judging from the voice, it sounded like the one who said in the mountains that the startled birds wouldn't return to their nests."

"Him?" Xie Shuci's eyes widened. "That playboy? What did he say to you?"

Xie An said, "He said he hoped I would leave with him, but I refused."

"Good for you! Next time, remember to turn around and walk away as soon as you hear his voice, understand?"

Damn it! It was that bastard! He thought it was someone else! That guy clearly had ulterior motives towards the blind girl. He probably sent the woman away so he could sneak the blind girl away! How infuriating!

"Hmm." Xie An nodded, and perhaps because he had been sitting for a long time, his expression was rather wooden for a moment.

Xie Shuci sensed something was wrong, so she sat down next to him and asked, "Are you alright?"

Xie An shook his head, but his face was somewhat pale.

The king sniffed around on the floor by the door, occasionally staring wide-eyed at Xie An.

There's human blood on the ground!

Moreover, that human's aura was a bit strange; had he lost too much blood?

"Xie Shuci, I'm a little sleepy."

Xie An's voice was somewhat weak. He wrapped his large arms tightly around Xie Shuci's waist, pulling him into his embrace. He rarely showed signs of fatigue, and he rested his forehead on Xie Shuci's shoulder.

Xie Shuci stiffened for a moment, then quickly placed his hand on Xie An's back, patted it gently twice, and asked softly, "Were you frightened?"

"Don't move, let me sleep for a bit."