Outside Tianren City, a troop of fully armed cavalry was assembling.
A cultivator at the Zhenwu realm rode his horse to a youth dressed in opulent robes and asked, "Young Master, the sky has already darkened, where are we headed?"
The Zhenwu realm cultivator was Guan Hu, the captain of the City Lord's mansion's personal guard. The youth in fine clothing was Tian Yuan, the son of the City Lord of Tianren City!
Tian Yuan grinned and said to Guan Hu, "We're going to Youjian Inn."
"Youjian Inn?" Guan Hu was taken aback. "Isn't that the inn near our Tianren City? What are we going there for? And why bring such an elite cavalry troop?"
Tian Yuan chuckled, "There's a treasure waiting for us to claim. Perhaps this is our Tianren City's chance to rise!"
Guan Hu exclaimed, "What treasure could possibly have such immense power?"
"You'll know when we get there! Giddy up!!!"
Without further explanation, Tian Yuan spurred his horse and galloped towards Youjian Inn.
"Young Master, wait for us!"
Seeing Tian Yuan charging ahead, Guan Hu cried out in alarm and immediately urged the cavalry, "Hurry up and follow! Don't let the Young Master get hurt!"
"Yes!" the cavalry responded in unison, all following after Tian Yuan.
At the same time, at the entrance of Youjian Inn.
Long San, looking at the ghostly face floating above Ye Ling's head, felt as if he was about to wet himself from fear!
Ever since the ghostly face appeared above Ye Ling's head, the vegetation around the inn had withered, and even the life force of the earth was being absorbed by the face!
Although the ghostly face hadn't focused on Long San yet, Long San knew very well that the moment it looked at him, he would instantly turn into a dried husk!
"Wh-what kind of monster is this?"
Long San's soul trembled, and he struggled frantically, trying to break free from Ye Ling's restraint and escape as far as possible!
But no matter what methods he used, he couldn't break free from Ye Ling's grip even by an inch!
Rumble...
Just as Long San was sinking into despair, he suddenly heard the sound of horseshoes in the distance, and a glimmer of hope ignited in his despairing eyes!
"It's Tian Yuan!"
Long San was now incredibly grateful that he had contacted Tian Yuan in advance. He began to gaze into the distance, eagerly anticipating seeing Tian Yuan's figure.
Soon, a troop of armored cavalry galloped towards Youjian Inn.
Long San's eyes welled up with tears. Even though his mouth was sealed by Ye Ling's spiritual energy, he kept making "wuwu" sounds to express his excitement.
However, before the cavalry approached Youjian Inn, Guan Hu, standing beside Tian Yuan, noticed the withered vegetation all around. His brow furrowed, and he quickly halted the cavalry, saying to Tian Yuan, "Young Master, please wait. Something seems amiss."
Tian Yuan, whose mind was entirely focused on the ten-thousand-year Bloodstone Ganoderma, was clearly displeased when Guan Hu called him to a halt. He asked Guan Hu, "What happened? We're almost there!"
Guan Hu dismounted his warhorse and inspected the withered vegetation by the roadside. He found that any grass his hand touched would turn to ash!
Guan Hu said to Tian Yuan with a grave expression, "Young Master, it seems a demon that can absorb life has appeared in the vicinity. Youjian Inn ahead is likely a dangerous place."
"Ah?" Tian Yuan looked at Guan Hu impatiently. "You mean I shouldn't go to Youjian Inn? Do you know what treasure is ahead?"
Guan Hu looked troubled. "Young Master... this concerns your safety. No matter what treasure lies ahead, we should report this to the City Lord first. Your subordinate is truly uneasy!"
"You insolent fool!" Tian Yuan immediately cursed. "Are you questioning my decision? This is still Tianren City's territory, what danger could there be?"
"Let me tell you! Long San is waiting for me ahead with a ten-thousand-year Bloodstone Ganoderma. If this supreme treasure is lost, all your heads combined wouldn't be enough to compensate!"
"A... a ten-thousand-year Bloodstone Ganoderma?" Guan Hu was somewhat stunned, clearly not expecting Tian Yuan to be after such a treasure!
Tian Yuan's expression turned icy. He said to Guan Hu, "The time Long San and I agreed upon is almost here. He's the type to not wait if the time passes. All of you, get on your horses and head to Youjian Inn immediately!"
"Yes..."
Seeing Tian Yuan's insistence, Guan Hu could only suppress his unease and beckoned the entire cavalry troop to continue their journey.
Soon, they saw the silhouette of Youjian Inn and simultaneously noticed a person hanging at the inn's main entrance.
Guan Hu's expression changed again upon seeing the person hanging at the inn's entrance. He exclaimed, "Bad news, Young Master! Long San is hanging at the inn's entrance! Something has happened there!"
Upon hearing Guan Hu's words, Tian Yuan's first reaction was not fear, but rather he urged his horse forward again, shouting sternly, "Not good! The Bloodstone Ganoderma must have been snatched by someone else! All of you, go! Kill everyone in the inn and reclaim the Bloodstone Ganoderma!"
"Young Master, wait!!!"
Guan Hu cried out in alarm, but it was too late for him to stop Tian Yuan.
Tian Yuan, leading the charge, rushed towards Youjian Inn.
Long San, hanging at the inn's main entrance, saw Tian Yuan charging towards him and his eyes welled up with tears. He thought to himself, "The Young Master truly is a good brother, to risk his life to save me!"
However, just as Long San was marveling inwardly, he suddenly heard the ghostly face above Ye Ling chuckle sinisterly.
Long San looked at the ghostly face with terror. The face was smiling and said, "Heh heh! The prey has finally arrived! I'm starving!"
As soon as the words fell, the ghostly face opened its gaping maw and lunged fiercely towards Tian Yuan, swallowing Tian Yuan and his warhorse in one gulp, leaving not even a bone behind!
"T-Tian Yuan?"
Long San was completely stunned, his mind blank, seeing Tian Yuan devoured directly by the ghostly face.
How could this be?
Not only Long San, but Guan Hu and the cavalry behind them were also dumbfounded, all staring at the ferocious ghostly face in horror.
What was that thing?
Even the battle-hardened warhorses were startled, throwing many riders to the ground.
"Wh-what kind of monster is that?"
"The Young Master was eaten!"
"It's over! If the City Lord gets angry, we'll all lose our heads!"
Some cavalrymen were terrified, staring at the ghostly face with trembling legs and faces full of despair!
Guan Hu's face was also ashen. He no longer cared about the devoured Tian Yuan and said with a trembling voice, "Quick, quick, report back to the City Lord! A great demon has descended, and Tianren City is in danger!"
The ghostly face that had devoured Tian Yuan then turned its attention to Guan Hu and shrieked, "Food! All of you are my food!"
Hearing the ghostly face's scream, Guan Hu's scalp tingled with fear. He quickly spurred his warhorse and shouted in panic, "Run, hurry and escape!!!"
The cavalry troop immediately broke ranks, discarding their armor and weapons, scattering in all directions!
"None of you will escape!"
The ghostly face shrieked and charged towards Guan Hu at extreme speed, opening its bloody maw and lunging fiercely at Guan Hu!
Guan Hu, watching the ghostly face attack, was so terrified that he was thrown from his horse!
"No, don't! Don't eat me!" Guan Hu screamed, closing his eyes tightly, awaiting the arrival of death.
However, just as the ghostly face was about to bite off Guan Hu's head, its entire face stopped inches from Guan Hu, unable to advance another inch!
Guan Hu, who thought he was surely going to die, felt no pain as expected. He slowly opened his eyes and saw that the ghostly face, so close to him, was contorted in pain, as if it was struggling with something.
"Wh-what is happening..."
Guan Hu, having narrowly escaped death, was utterly confused. He instinctively looked towards Youjian Inn and saw that Ye Ling, who had been sitting at the inn's entrance, had awakened.
And Ye Ling's right hand was firmly grasping the tail of the ghostly face!
Guan Hu was once again dumbfounded!