At that moment, as Nascent Soul spiritual energy surged forth, Mu Zhi’an could only watch helplessly as Gongsun Xiong reached for Lin Ling, the Spirit Dragon, who was busy enjoying her snacks.

His feeble protests of “Don’t touch her!” were powerless to stop the inevitable.

… To be honest, it took considerable acting skills to maintain a straight face in this situation.

But Mu Zhi’an pulled it off flawlessly.

His movements, his expression, his desperate gaze… he was a true master of deception.

Gongsun Xiong, noticing his panic, chuckled and reached for Lin Ling’s head.

His overwhelming spiritual energy enveloped her, his palm seemingly transforming into a miniature world, ready to pull her in.

Nascent Soul cultivators could create their own Dongtians, spaces where they could store items and even trap people.

Ancient texts even mentioned that those who reached the Immortal Ascension Realm could create entire universes.

Some even theorized that the Nine Realms of Xianxia were simply the Dongtian of an ancient, powerful being.

Gongsun Xiong’s Dongtian wasn’t that grand, but it was still a vast space. Capturing a single person within was child’s play.

As Lin Ling was enveloped in spiritual energy, she blinked her crimson eyes, glancing at Mu Zhi’an. He nodded discreetly, transmitting his voice. “He wants to treat us to some food at the Gongsun Family residence. It’s alright to go with him.”

She remained motionless, her alluring figure concealed by her loose, dark robe, her skin as white as snow against the backdrop of the gathering storm clouds.

He closed his hand around her, and she vanished.

Silence fell upon the riverbank, only the gentle flow of the water breaking the stillness.

“Where is she?!” Mu Zhi’an shouted, glaring at him.

“Don’t worry, Nephew. You and your little friend are both disciples of the Two Polarities Sect. I wouldn’t harm you,” Gongsun Xiong said, his voice gentle as he smiled. “I simply wanted to invite you to the Gongsun Family residence for a few days. You refused, so I had to resort to this.”

Mu Zhi’an’s eyes narrowed, his voice laced with anger. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll summon the sect elders?”

He chuckled. “I simply haven’t seen you in a while, Nephew. I wanted to invite you for a visit. Why do you look like I’m about to kill you?”

“Summoning the elders over such a trivial matter… isn’t that a bit excessive?”

That was why he was so confident. He had calculated that the elders wouldn’t bother descending the mountain for such a minor issue.

If they did come and demanded her release, he would comply.

He hadn’t harmed them. He would even treat them well. Even the elders wouldn’t be able to fault him.

And during those few days at the Gongsun Family residence, Mu Zhi’an would be forced to watch helplessly as the Mu Family was slowly devoured.

That sense of despair… that was what he, and the mysterious middle-aged cultivator who had helped him, desired.

Mu Zhi’an glared at him, his jaw clenched, then, after a long silence, he spoke, his voice strained. “Fine.”

He sighed. “Since you’re so insistent, Uncle, I’ll accept your invitation.”

Gongsun Xiong smiled triumphantly as Mu Zhi’an said, his voice resigned, “I’ll accompany you to the Gongsun Family residence.”

…

High above, two figures, their legs crossed in meditation, watched the scene unfold, their expressions a mixture of shock and disbelief.

They stared at Gongsun Xiong’s retreating figure and at Senior Ling Long, the Spirit Dragon, trapped within his Dongtian.

After a long silence, they exchanged glances, their eyes filled with a shared sense of bewilderment.

It was understandable why Gongsun Xiong was so arrogant. After all, in this era, without any Dao Integration experts, a Nascent Soul cultivator was practically invincible.

Countless rogue cultivators had perished during their Nascent Soul tribulations.

As the first Nascent Soul expert in Tianxuan City, he naturally felt a sense of superiority.

But the problem was… the one he had just captured… was Ling Long.

“Peak Master Ying, what should we do?” Yan Ruyu asked, her voice laced with concern.

Unlike her usual alluring attire, Ying Guhuan was now clad in a dignified robe, her long hair flowing freely, her demeanor elegant.

She chuckled. “Didn’t Mu Zhi’an say it? We wait and see. We wait for the big fish to bite.”

The “big fish” she referred to was the mastermind behind this scheme, the one who had helped Gongsun Xiong reach the Nascent Soul Realm.

And that mastermind was likely a demonic cultivator from the previous dynasty.

As long as they guarded the city, he wouldn’t be able to escape.

Capturing him would yield valuable information.

It would benefit both the Two Polarities Sect and the Demon Realm.

…

Gongsun Family Residence.

Gongsun Cheng sat restlessly in the main hall, waiting for his father’s return.

He had recently returned to Tianxuan City, expecting a grand welcome, but he had been met with indifference. His father, who had just reached the Nascent Soul Realm, was also absent.

According to the elders, he had left to attend to some matters.

A servant rushed into the hall. “Fourth Young Master, Master has returned!”

He beamed, eager to help his father reclaim everything they had lost to the Mu Family!

He stood up and saw a familiar figure entering the hall.

“Mu Zhi’an?”

His face darkened. “What are you doing here?” he spat.

“You should ask your father,” Mu Zhi’an replied, his expression equally grim.

“Nephew Mu is my guest, Cheng’er. Behave yourself,” Gongsun Xiong said with a smile.

He waved his hand, and a silver-haired beauty appeared in the hall.

Lin Ling, having finished her pastries, was now enjoying a sugarcane, discarding the peels neatly on a nearby table.

“Nephew, as promised, I’ve released your little girlfriend.”

He turned to a servant. “Arrange their accommodations. Treat my nephew well.”

“Yes, Master,” the servant replied, bowing.

Mu Zhi’an hesitated, then made one last attempt to salvage the situation. “Uncle, I brought my friend here to enjoy the local cuisine. She also enjoys… pills… perhaps it’s best if we return to the Mu Family residence. I wouldn’t want to burden you.”

Gongsun Xiong’s eyes narrowed, but his smile remained unchanged. “Don’t be so polite, Nephew. Just tell the servants what you want.”

“If the Mu Family can afford it, so can the Gongsun Family.”

What’s a few snacks and some pills?

And he wasn’t worried about her consuming too many pills.

The side effects of consuming pills recklessly were severe.

If a few pills could cripple Mu Zhi’an’s talent and cultivation, it would be a worthwhile investment.

Mu Zhi’an clenched his fists, his expression filled with frustration, then he sighed, resigning himself to his fate. “Since you’re so insistent, Uncle, I’ll accept your hospitality.”

He lowered his gaze, biting his lip as he gathered his emotions, then looked up at Lin Ling, who was standing calmly in the hall, seemingly oblivious to the situation.

“Sister Lin Ling, let’s go to our room,” he said gently, taking her wrist and leading her out of the hall.

Once they were gone, Gongsun Cheng turned to his father. “Why did you bring them here, Father?”

Gongsun Xiong chuckled, taking a sip of his tea. “I can’t harm a disciple of the Two Polarities Sect. It would attract the elders’ attention.”

“But I can invite them for a visit.”

“Mu Zhi’an is cunning. Letting him leave Tianxuan City could be problematic. Keeping him here will prevent him from contacting anyone, allowing us to focus on devouring the Mu Family.”

“And imagine his despair as he watches his family fall,” he added, his smile widening.

Gongsun Cheng’s eyes lit up with excitement.

Inviting Mu Zhi’an to the Gongsun Family residence would not only neutralize him, but also allow him to witness the Mu Family’s downfall, a perfect revenge for their past humiliations.

It was a truly cruel tactic!

“Just stay put for now, Cheng’er. I’ll handle Mu Zhi’an.”

He left the hall, heading towards a secluded chamber in the back courtyard.

He needed to inform the mysterious middle-aged cultivator and prove his sincerity.

…

Mu Zhi’an and Lin Ling sat at a pavilion, waiting for the servants to bring their food.

The Gongsun Family’s courtyard was different from the Mu Family’s, but it was still peaceful and serene.

She swung her legs idly, her crimson eyes scanning her surroundings as she waited for her snacks.

She was either oblivious to the situation or simply didn’t care. She would go wherever he took her, as long as there was food.

Sensing his gaze, she turned to him, her eyes questioning. “What is it?” she wrote on the table with some spilled tea.

He chuckled, shaking his head. “Nothing. I just wanted to ask if you’re comfortable here.”

There’s no difference, she wrote.

To her, location was irrelevant, as long as she had food.

He nodded, relieved. “That’s good.”

She suddenly looked up, her eyes sparkling.

Several servants arrived, carrying trays laden with food from three different restaurants.

“Just leave it here. You may go,” he said with a smile.

He arranged the dishes on the stone table, then meticulously peeled a large lobster.

The servants exchanged sympathetic glances, then quietly left.

An eerie calm had settled over Tianxuan City, the calm before the storm. Everyone knew that the Mu Family would be the first to suffer now that Gongsun Xiong had reached the Nascent Soul Realm.

Mu Zhi’an’s presence at the Gongsun Family residence was proof of that.

He might claim to be a guest, but everyone knew he was practically under house arrest.

And his companion had also been confined.

Of course, the servants knew better than to get involved. They simply focused on their duties.

He finished peeling the lobster and noticed a pair of eyes fixed on him. He turned to see Lin Ling staring at him expectantly. Though she didn’t speak, he understood her desire.

“This is for you,” he said with a smile, handing her the lobster.

“What should we do now?” she wrote on the table.

“Eat, of course,” he chuckled. “Didn’t I tell you? I brought you here to enjoy the local cuisine.”

“Uncle Gongsun is very hospitable. Eat whatever you want. Don’t be shy,” he added, discarding the lobster shells. “It’s my treat.”

“Pills, treasures… anything you want.”

She nodded, her eyes gleaming with understanding as she devoured the lobster.

A spy, hidden in the shadows, watched them, then quietly left the courtyard.

He arrived at a secluded chamber in the back courtyard and bowed respectfully. “Master, Mu Zhi’an shows no signs of attempting to escape. He’s currently enjoying snacks with the woman he brought.”

“Very well. You may leave,” Gongsun Xiong’s voice replied from within.

Once the spy was gone, he looked up at the middle-aged cultivator in white standing before him. “I told you, didn’t I?” he said with a smile.

“Mu Zhi’an is here, at the Gongsun Family residence.”

He had been skeptical when Gongsun Xiong had informed him of Mu Zhi’an’s capture.

But now, the proof was undeniable.

The middle-aged cultivator smiled, nodding in approval. “It seems I underestimated you.”

He had heard tales of Mu Zhi’an’s cunning. He hadn’t expected him to be captured so easily.

But the spy’s report was convincing.

“Now, we just have to let him watch as the Mu Family is devoured,” Gongsun Xiong said, a cold smile gracing his lips.

He paused, then added, “And then… it’ll be your turn.”

The middle-aged cultivator smiled gently. “Excellent.”

He then added casually, “Can you take me to see him? I’m still a bit concerned.”

He’s cautious… Gongsun Xiong stood up, gesturing for him to follow. “This way, friend.”

They left the chamber, heading towards the courtyard where Mu Zhi’an was confined.

As Nascent Soul experts, they weren’t worried about being detected.

They reached the courtyard and stopped at the entrance.

“He and his companion are at that pavilion,” Gongsun Xiong said, pointing.

The middle-aged cultivator followed his gaze and saw Mu Zhi’an and the silver-haired woman.

“This Mu Zhi’an might not be skilled in other areas, but he certainly knows how to please women,” he remarked, his smile widening.

He had completed most of the task assigned by the Demon Emperor.

Now, he just had to devour the Mu Family and make Mu Zhi’an believe the Two Polarities Sect was behind it.

Then, he, the “righteous hero,” would appear before the despairing Mu Zhi’an and guide him towards freeing the Demon Emperor.

“Friend, there’s something I don’t understand,” Gongsun Xiong said, his gaze fixed on the smiling cultivator.

“What exactly do you want from Mu Zhi’an?”

The cultivator didn’t answer, simply shaking his head with a smile. “You don’t need to know.”

Mu Zhi’an wouldn’t have caught the Demon Emperor’s attention if he wasn’t special.

If he told Gongsun Xiong about Mu Zhi’an’s close relationships with the Holy Maiden of the Forbidden Zone, several Peak Masters, and even the Sect Master’s disciple… he would likely release Mu Zhi’an immediately.

After all, no one would dare offend someone with such connections.

If the Gongsun Family devoured the Mu Family, and Mu Zhi’an returned with the Forbidden Zone’s forces to seek revenge… who could withstand their wrath?

“By the way, how did you capture Mu Zhi’an?” he asked casually, his gaze lingering on the couple.

“I had my spies watching him. When I learned they were leaving the city, I intercepted them, worried he might become a problem.”

“He initially refused to come with me, but once I captured his little girlfriend within my Dongtian, he surrendered.”

He chuckled. “He’s quite devoted. If he had wanted to escape, I wouldn’t have been able to stop him.”

“However, his little girlfriend… she’s an ordinary person with no cultivation.”

Mu Zhi’an was a Core Formation cultivator. Even if he captured him within his Dongtian, he could still resist, perhaps even escape.

But he could control the woman beside him.

“Oh?”

The cultivator’s interest was piqued. “The Two Polarities Sect doesn’t accept ordinary people. If she’s with him, she must be a disciple. How could she have no cultivation?”

“Perhaps she has a special talisman that conceals her aura,” Gongsun Xiong suggested.

“But she couldn’t resist my Dongtian’s power. She must be a low-level Foundation Establishment cultivator.”

The middle-aged cultivator studied the silver-haired woman, his brow furrowing slightly.

Strange…

He had been at the Two Polarities Sect for years. He had never seen her before…

But with her beauty, even in such plain attire, he should have remembered her…

He scanned her figure, his confusion growing.

I can’t sense her cultivation level…?

It seemed Gongsun Xiong was right. She must have a talisman that concealed her aura.

“Interesting.”

He chuckled, then activated a talisman.

His eyes turned a faint gold.

Aura Vision!

Even a concealment talisman couldn’t hide from him, a Third Stage Nascent Soul cultivator.

He focused his Aura Vision on Lin Ling.

She seemed to sense his gaze and looked up at them, her crimson eyes filled with curiosity.

Boom!

A deafening roar echoed in his mind, his vision blurring as a wave of dizziness washed over him.

He stumbled back, his smile vanishing as he stared at the pavilion, his heart pounding.

After a long moment, he turned to Gongsun Xiong, who was still smiling.

Though he didn’t speak, his expression conveyed a single, unspoken question.

“?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay