The next second, the spatial rift closed, and the two figures completely disappeared into the forest, leaving only a faint spiritual light on the ground, which quickly vanished without a trace.
Meanwhile, in Blackstone Valley, the Chen family's escort team lay scattered on the ground, their armor shattered and their breath gone.
"Oh no! Ling Xue has been kidnapped!"
The news reached Mozezong at top speed.
Inside the main hall of the Mo Ze Sect, Sect Master Mo Tianyang slammed his hand on the table, instantly shattering the hard jade table.
His face was ashen, his eyes blazing with fury: "Outrageous! How dare they harm my Moze Sect members in the Moze Star Region!"
"For so many years! For so many years has no one dared to provoke me, Mo Zezong, like this!"
The elders below the hall also glared angrily. One white-haired elder said in a deep voice, "Sect Master, Ling Xue possesses the Innate Ice Soul Saint Body, which is crucial to the Young Master's cultivation."
"Now that we've been kidnapped, not only will the young master's plans be thwarted, but other forces will also laugh at our Moze Sect! We must investigate this thoroughly!"
"Investigate! We must investigate!" Mo Tianyang roared, his aura of the Void Realm erupting instantly, causing the entire hall to tremble slightly.
"Pass on my order: issue a starfield manhunt! Anyone who provides clues about the person who kidnapped Ling Xue will be rewarded with a sect token."
"Whoever can capture or kill this person will be directly promoted to an inner sect elder of the Moze Sect and bestowed with a cultivation technique! I want to see who is so bold as to oppose my Moze Sect!"
"Yes!" the disciples outside the hall responded in unison, then turned and quickly went to relay the order.
In an instant, every city and sect in the Moze Starfield received a kill order from the Moze Sect.
Although the kill order did not include a portrait of Xiao Chen, it described in detail his clothing, physique, and the time and place of his abduction of Ling Xue.
A storm instantly swept through the entire Moze Starfield, with countless cultivators searching far and wide for Xiao Chen and Ling Xue, hoping for the rewards from the Moze Sect.
...
The streets of Sifangcheng are more ancient than those of Mozecheng, with their bluestone pavements worn smooth by time.
The shops on both sides are mostly wooden structures with faded signs, yet they are still bustling with people.
Vendors hawking spirit fruits, cultivators moving about, and porters carrying goods weave together a vivid picture of everyday life.
The reason this place can remain prosperous year-round is entirely due to the Sifang Sect, built against the mountain in the west of the city, which is the only sect that can rival the Moze Sect.
Although the Four Directions Sect has gradually declined due to its long history, it is still able to protect the Four Directions City from the invasion of other forces.
On the second floor of the "Yuelai Restaurant" on the street corner, in an inconspicuous private room, Xiao Chen and Ling Xue sat facing each other.
The two had used their spiritual power to alter their appearance and physique. Xiao Chen's once upright figure had become slightly hunched, his complexion was dull, and his face had several rough wrinkles, making him look like an ordinary man who had been traveling for many years.
Ling Xue withdrew her spiritual energy, her expression became indifferent, and she wore a gray cloth dress. If she were to blend into a crowd, no one would associate her with the peerless beauty of the "Innate Ice Soul Holy Body".
Two small dishes and a pot of tea were placed on the table. Sunlight streamed in through the window and fell on Ling Xue's face.
Although she was disguised, her eyes remained bright, as if filled with starlight, and were now gazing at Xiao Chen with sparkling eyes.
His tone was tinged with dependence and worry: "Xiao Chen, what do we do next? Mo Zezong has issued a kill order, and the entire star field is looking for us..."
Xiao Chen picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and looked at the bustling crowd outside the window with a deep gaze: "First, we need to establish a foothold in Sifang City."
"Sifang Sect is here. No matter how arrogant the people from Moze Sect are, they wouldn't dare to openly search and arrest people on Sifang Sect's territory. We are safe for the time being."
He put down his teacup, tapping his fingers lightly on the table, his tone suddenly becoming firm: "As for Mo Zezong and the Chen family... they dared to attack you, and this debt must be settled."
"The Chen family are nothing but small fry; the real troublemaker is Mo Zezong."
Upon hearing the words "settling accounts," a flicker of emotion crossed Ling Xue's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by worry.
She clutched the hem of her clothes and whispered, "But the Mo Ze Sect is too powerful... It's said that their sect's strength... we..."
Before she finished speaking, her worry was already evident. Although Xiao Chen was strong, he was only at the peak of the Creation Realm. There was an insurmountable gap between them. How could he possibly defeat the entire Moze Sect?
Xiao Chen naturally understood her concerns. He looked at Ling Xue and softened his tone: "I know that Mo Zezong is not easy to deal with. With my current strength, I really can't confront them head-on."
“If Master were to take action, Mo Zezong would be no threat. However, he has never liked getting involved in these disputes, and I don’t want to trouble him with this matter.”
He paused, a wisp of pale golden spiritual energy gathering at his fingertips, flowing with a profound aura: "However, it's not like I have no way out."
"Although the Moze Sect is strong, it is not monolithic. They have always been at odds with the Sifang Sect and have been vying for star field resources for years. Perhaps we can find a breakthrough here."
"Moreover, my cultivation is also steadily improving. Given time, I may be able to fight them."
Looking at the spiritual power at Xiao Chen's fingertips and then at his determined eyes, Ling Xue's worries gradually dissipated.
She knew that Xiao Chen was not someone who would give up easily. Back in the Cangxuan Realm, he was able to bring her back to the Qingyun Sect from the Dao Asking Mountain.
Now, I'm sure I can help her escape Mo Zezong's pursuit, and maybe... I can even avenge this grudge.
On the street outside the window, cultivators dressed in Moze Sect robes occasionally walked by, their eyes scanning the passersby warily, clearly carrying out a kill order.
Xiao Chen's gaze sharpened, and he raised his hand to set up a light golden barrier, completely isolating the private room from the outside world.
"Don't think about these things for now," Xiao Chen said gently, placing a piece of side dish on Ling Xue's plate. "You've suffered a lot these past few days, so rest well and recharge. We can discuss the rest of the plan later."
Ling Xue nodded, picked up her chopsticks, but couldn't help glancing at Xiao Chen again.
With him by her side, she no longer felt afraid, even though the road ahead was still treacherous.
The pale golden spiritual energy at Xiao Chen's fingertips slowly dissipated, and his gaze fell on the direction of the Four Directions Sect outside the window.
His tone carried a certainty: "Joining the Four Directions Sect now is the best option for us."
"Although it has declined, its thousand-year-old heritage remains. Not to mention anything else, the fact that it can block the Mo Zezong's overt search gives us some breathing room."
"More importantly, once we establish ourselves firmly within the Four Directions Sect, and even gain a certain degree of influence, given the irreconcilable relationship between the two sects..."
"With a little guidance, the Four Directions Sect might just take action to restrain the Moze Sect. After all, the Moze Sect losing the help of your Innate Ice Soul Saint Body is also a good thing for the Four Directions Sect."
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