Chapter 17: Plotted Agains (1/2)

After Chen Feng and the others received the order, they quickly jumped down from their horses. Next, they displayed their movement techniques as they moved far away from the brigade to begin their reconnaissance.

“Chen Feng, Elder Wang is definitely doing this on purpose.” After they were far away from the brigade, Ye Tian was unable to stop himself from speaking up.

“Naturally. However, in order to get rid of me, he even pulled you in.” Chen Feng felt rather bad about it.

“Are we not friends? How can you even say that? Still, we will need to be careful,” said Ye Tian.

“Of course, don’t stray too far away from my position. I believe the road ahead will not be smooth,” Chen Feng replied.

Of the 10 selected disciples, Chen Feng was the strongest. The others were mostly at the reinforcement of internal organs (4th) layer and the hundred opened meridians (5th) layer. Their strength could be considered somewhat outstanding. In a straight up fight, they were strong enough to decimate a 100-strong team of soldiers from the Iron Sword Brigade.

“I did not expect the other side to take the initiative to set up an ambush with the Thunderbolt Beads. If struck, even a cultivator at the astral energy (6th) layer would end up coughing out blood.” Recalling the scene earlier, Ye Tian felt a lingering sensation of fear.

“That may not necessarily be the work of Steel Stone City. It could be the other sects or even some bandits,” said Chen Feng.

Chen Feng and Ye Tian whispered as they carefully explored the path forward. Each time they made their way through a certain distance, they would send a signal back to report the situation.

Thus, their forces advanced using this strategy and their rate of advance became slow. For three days, all was safe and no accidents happened.

“In a few more days, we should be making our way out of Black Origin City’s territory, right? I wonder if Steel Stone City’s army will be blocking our way?” Ye Tian wondered.

“Shh! Lower your voice!” Suddenly, Chen Feng’s face grew grim. His ears strained about and both his eyes glinted.

“Did something happen?” Ye Tian asked anxiously.

“Hurry back and report. Tell them there is an ambush up ahead,” said Chen Feng with a whisper.

“Really? How come I could not see anything at all? If there aren’t any ambushes, they will have something on us. We can be immediately executed,” Ye Tian said cautiously.

“I am certain. Enough nonsense! Hurry up and return. There is a very forbidding atmosphere up ahead. I believe the other side must have placed a considerable number of men in wait. If they discover us, I am not confident I can protect you,” said Chen Feng.

“All right, you be careful.” Ye Tian nodded. Next, his figure quickly dashed off and disappeared.

After Ye Tian disappeared, Chen Feng’s figure became like a monkey. Displaying his movement techniques, he quickly made his way forward by tens of metres. After that, he hid himself within the grasses.

Earlier, Chen Feng had sensed that something was amiss. Additionally, before even making his way here, he had become certain that there was an ambush here. He had not seen anything. However, for an instant, his spiritual sense had risen to its highest ever. In truth, this feeling was all due to the special cultivation technique that Chen Feng was practicing. Additionally, he had assimilated the tree spirit’s essence power. Thus, Chen Feng possessed a much deeper ability to perceive and understand the grasses around him.

Due to the cultivation technique he practiced, Chen Feng’s ability to perceive the surrounding worldly spiritual energy had grown more profound as well. Earlier, he had sensed that the grasses within the forest before him were all in a stiff state. Even the worldly spiritual energy there had frozen up. The trees were motionless as well. Not a single bird chirp could be heard coming from the forest. It was surprisingly quiet.

After sensing that, Chen Feng quickly sent Ye Tian back while he himself quickly moved forward to hide in the grasses and check the situation.

Sure enough, there is suppressed killing intent here. It seems the men waiting in ambush this time are not ordinary characters. Even though there is only a short distance between us, I had nearly failed to notice them. I wonder whose side are they on? Chen Feng secretly speculated. At the same time, he vigilantly inspected his surroundings.

Suddenly, Chen Feng’s ears perked up. He had noticed a sound. It was a very subtle sound, something that not even the average cultivator in the astral energy (6th) layer could sense.

It sounds like a fellow scout from the sect. Could they be assassinating the scouts? Chen Feng pondered as he moved forward with his movement technique. Utilizing the surrounding terrain, he quickly made his way toward the source of the sound.

After rushing forward for hundreds of metres, Chen Feng saw a fellow disciple lying on the ground with his eyes wide open. There on his heart was a bloody hole, a wound. However, no blood flowed out. It seemed as though a strange power had been employed to stop his blood flow.

“As I recall, this fellow is at the reinforcement of internal organs (4th) layer. To think that he would end up being killed without a sound. Truly, terrifying.” Chen Feng moved forward to shut his eyes. He could feel the suppressive quality of his surroundings.

Sou!

Suddenly, a man in black shot out from the grasses like a ghostly snake. His whole body was black and he moved with incredibly speed. In his hand was a fine short sword and its edge shone with sharpness.

The man in black saw that his sword was about to thrust down into Chen Feng’s heart from behind and revealed a victorious look of joy. However, the figure before him suddenly turned into a flash and disappeared.

“Not good.”

The man in black immediately realized that he had encountered an expert. He ignored where his opponent had gone and turned to run away. The moment his first attack failed, he chose to quickly escape. He was a capable character.

However, the very moment he turned, he saw that a youngster was standing before him. At the same time, something tightened around his neck and his body turned limp, losing all ability to fight back.

A hundred opened meridians (5th) cultivator. No wonder the scouts that our Iron Sword Brigade sent out could all be eliminated. Chen Feng secretly sneered.

“Who are you?” asked Chen Feng in a whisper.

“Just kill me,” the man in black responded with a calm voice and impassive face.