In the early morning, Lu Chuan and his two companions walked on the stone-paved mountain path.

The morning glow dyed the mountaintop red, and although the stone mountain was not tall, clouds and mist still surrounded the higher areas.

Through the thin mist, they could see various fruit trees planted along the road, adorned with colorful flowers.

Soon, the flowers would fall, and the branches would bear the fruits symbolizing a bountiful harvest.

In the orchard, many residents of the town were already spraying insecticides early in the morning.

The three of them were prepared to climb to the mountaintop and search from above.

Whether the missing disciples were eaten by ferocious beasts or fell off the cliffs, they needed to at least find their bodies through a carpet-style search. Of course, it would be even better if they were still alive.

Several residents greeted the three of them with smiles. They were very simple-minded and didn't ask where Lu Chuan and his companions came from or who they were. They would just respond with smiles.

Lu Chuan liked this harmonious atmosphere. The residents lived and worked in peace, and the town mayor's family was kind and approachable. It was just like her childhood in Xia Kingdom.

Before long, the three of them reached the mountaintop.

"This is..." Su Lianlian couldn't find words to describe what she saw.

The top of the stone mountain was open and gentle, like a deliberately designed platform.

In the center of the flat ground, there was a huge circular altar, with an anomalous shape and emitting an ominous aura. The platform was still marked with red traces.

Something was lying on the ground in the middle of the altar.

Upon closer inspection, it was a young man. He was covered in injuries and his body was bound with ropes.

Lu Chuan searched him and found the token of the "Wang Immortal Gate" on him. He was one of the missing disciples of the Wang Immortal Gate.

Su Lianlian and Luo Li tried to wake up the young man, but no matter what they did, he wouldn't wake up. They couldn't even untie the ropes binding him.

"He has been drugged," Su Lianlian muttered.

Lu Chuan sensed that something was wrong and released his spiritual awareness to investigate the surroundings.

To their dismay, they were surrounded. There were more than a dozen residents around the altar, aiming their bows and arrows at Lu Chuan and his companions.

Did they want to use the town's residents to deal with them?

Lu Chuan had thought that Zuo Tianya would personally take action against Luo Li, ignoring the residents in the orchard along the way.

How could he forget that these residents in the town were all Evil Cultivators?

"Everyone, get down!" Lu Chuan shouted at the moment the arrows were about to be released.

Luo Li and Su Lianlian didn't know what was happening, but they could sense the determination in Lu Chuan's words and quickly got down.

The three of them lay on the ground, and the arrows missed their targets. Seeing what had just happened, Su Lianlian and Luo Li knew that something was seriously wrong.

Lu Chuan carried the unconscious disciple of the Wang Immortal Gate on his back and said, "Let's go first."

The three of them quickly ran into the woods, easily dealing with several residents who tried to block their way.

To her surprise, these residents actually had the ability to resist and managed to injure her.

These residents were also cultivators!?

Seeing Lu Chuan and the others running away, the residents lit torches in their hands.

Thick smoke rose from the stone mountain, and the residents waiting in the woods saw the direction of the smoke and became restless.

Under the orders of the Heavenly Master, they were to capture Lu Chuan and the other Evil Cultivators and would be handsomely rewarded.

In the cave, where Zuo Tianya was absorbing Wu Dian's spiritual energy, he heard the commotion on the mountain and a wicked smile appeared on his face.

He knew that the residents in the town were all cultivators now, but the strongest among them was only at the Qi Refining stage, not a match for the disciples of the Wang Immortal Gate.

But there were so many residents, and they had various weapons coated with poison. It would be enough to wear down Lu Chuan and the others' stamina.

Just wait a little longer until his spiritual energy fully recovered, and then he would make his move. Dealing with three cultivators with depleted spiritual energy would be a piece of cake for Zuo Tianya.

"The day I return to the peak is not far away."

In the mayor's residence, Zhuang Leyuan saw the smoke rising from the mountain and felt that something was amiss.

"Xiao Liu, what's happening on the mountain?"

Smoke Liu stood in front of Zhuang Leyuan, blocking her son's line of sight.

Yan Liu was wearing a tight white shirt and only shorts underneath, which was a dress that Zhuang Leyuan particularly liked.

She hugged Zhuang Leyuan, her hands wandering on his body. "Darling, how could you forget? Today is the hunting festival. The residents of the town are hunting fierce beasts in the mountains."

Zhuang Leyuan was teased and had no mind to think about whether the hunting festival was today or not.

Yan Liu blew into Zhuang Leyuan's ear. "Let's go inside, darling."

A few minutes later, Zhuang Leyuan collapsed on the bed, already unconscious. Yan Liu absorbed a bit more spiritual energy than usual, feeling some of her lost strength returning, but not much.

Yan Liu arrived at the cave and saw Zuo Tianya cultivating, sitting obediently beside him, waiting.

Just now, she was just satisfying her cravings. As long as she captured the three from the Immortal Gate, she would be able to enjoy a rare delicacy and savor the taste of Meng Qing.

Thinking that Meng Qing, who had looked down on her yesterday, would be kneeling on the ground tonight, begging for mercy, Yan Liu felt a sense of relief.

For now, they could take a breather from the residents. Lu Li asked in doubt, "What's going on? Are these residents cultivators?"

"Not only cultivators, but also Evil Cultivators. I'm afraid the disappearance of the disciples before and the residents of Azure Rock Town are related," Su Lianlian speculated, feeling the surging spiritual energy in the bodies of the residents during her confrontation with them.

Just thinking that there were high-level Evil Cultivators behind the residents, Su Lianlian felt a headache. How did they encounter so many troubles on this mission?

She said, "Let's report what happened here to the sect. Do you have sound transmission symbols?"

Lu Chuan shook his head. The sect leader was in seclusion, and his acquaintances in the Immortal Gate were only Lin Qingxue and Wang Song. He couldn't contact them in his own name.

"Sister Su, I have one," Lu Li said.

While speaking, Lu Li took out a sound transmission symbol from her storage ring.

The sound transmission symbol in her hand was a gift from Sima Dong before he left. As long as she wrote on the symbol, Lin Qingxue would receive the message.

Lu Li wrote on the symbol: Master, I encountered trouble in Azure Rock Town. The missing disciples are related to Evil Cultivators. Requesting support.

After writing the words, the sound transmission symbol had no response.

Lu Li tried a few more times, but it was useless. She also found ashes left from burned paper in her storage ring.

"Is this the sound transmission symbol Wu Dian gave himself?"

The current situation was that all the sound transmission symbols had become ineffective. Wu Dian was afraid that he had encountered an accident.

Su Lianlian frowned. This was the worst situation. If they couldn't contact the outside world, they would be trapped on Qing Shi Mountain.

These residents were probably sent as cannon fodder to consume their physical strength. When their physical strength was depleted, the mastermind behind them would show up.

Lu Li couldn't understand why the residents of Azure Rock Town, who had been living a peaceful life, would choose to become Evil Cultivators. She muttered softly, "Could someone be forcing them?"

Hearing this, Su Lianlian shook her head and said, "Didn't you hear what the residents in the backyard of the mayor's mansion said yesterday? The residents of Azure Rock Town have long been dissatisfied with the mayor's tyranny. They have another leader in their hearts."

Lu Li recalled the unpleasant memories. How could things turn out like this? "Are you saying... they voluntarily became Evil Cultivators?"

"Not only voluntarily, but they even regard that Evil Cultivator as a true immortal," Su Lianlian replied. "The cultivation level of the Evil Cultivator must be high. Wu Dian and the others can't handle it. If we can't contact the Immortal Gate, I'm afraid our situation will be dire."

Lu Chuan, who had been listening silently, spoke up, "Maybe I can contact the Immortal Gate."

He had a pair of instant transmission stones paired with Lu Qianqiu, worth a try.

Upon hearing Lu Chuan's words, Su Lianlian immediately thought that Meng Qing was playing a joke.

But when she saw the peculiarly shaped stone in his hand, she was greatly shocked.

"Is this an instant transmission stone?" Su Lianlian recognized it. "A two to three thousand Spirit Stone instant transmission stone!?"

Lu Li's focus was a bit peculiar. She asked, "Who is it paired with?"

"Lu Qianqiu," Lu Chuan answered truthfully.

A trace of disappointment flashed across Lu Li's face, but she quickly returned to normal and smiled. "Please, Brother Meng, give it a try."

In Shengle City, Lu Qianqiu, who was handling business in the Chamber of Commerce, noticed some movement from the instant transmission stone.

Her heart leaped with joy, thinking that Lu Chuan wanted to chat with her again.

After reading the message, she suddenly stood up from her seat.

She commanded her secretary, "Prepare the carriage and leave immediately for the Immortal Gate."

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