Raise a sword!

On the third floor, in the main hall.

As Jiang Peng was enjoying her tea, she suddenly felt the gaze that had been secretly watching her disappear.

Before he could react, Wei Zhilan's voice transmission rang in his ears.

The transmitted message was concise and to the point.

"You've succeeded. Now figure out how to get out of here!"

Almost at the same time as hearing the telepathic message, a loud shout rang out from the attic.

"You wicked scoundrel! Die!"

With a loud bang, Jiang Peng looked out the window and saw Wei Zhilan, disguised as an old man, being knocked out of the attic and crashing heavily onto the ground outside.

Just as Jiang Peng was startled and wanted to help,

But then Wei Zhilan slid across the ground and rolled around without pausing, disappearing directly into the crowd. A few breaths later, she seemed to have changed her disguise again, completely blending into the bustling market.

Even Jiang Peng, who knew the inside story, couldn't figure out where she went.

At the same time, the remaining Foundation Establishment cultivator in the Chen Clan Chamber of Commerce appeared in front of the Chamber's pavilion.

His tone was icy, and his voice carried far.

"Where are the fellow Daoists of Xingyao Sect?"

Two Foundation Establishment cultivators appeared from an inconspicuous courtyard, responding to the call of the Chen family's Foundation Establishment cultivators.

"What are your instructions, Elder Chen?"

"Activate the formation to seal off the Valley of Heartlessness. No one is allowed to enter or leave! During this period, you two may freely investigate anyone acting suspiciously, but if you suspect anyone, it is better to kill the innocent than let the guilty go free."

"Star Glory Gate obeys the order."

The Starry Gate's foundation building immediately activated the Ruthless Valley Formation, sealing off all entrances and exits in the canyon.

After giving his instructions, Chen, who had reached the Foundation Establishment stage, flashed and appeared directly opposite Jiang Peng.

It was only at this moment that Jiang Peng finally saw the person's face clearly.

This was an elderly man with white hair and beard, his eyes carrying a hint of authority and lingering anger.

"I am Chen Fu, the head of a branch of the Chen family, the lineage of the Heartless Valley."

Jiang Peng had already sat down again, still holding a teacup in her hand, seemingly unconcerned about what was happening outside.

"It seems the Chen Clan Chamber of Commerce has been robbed? As the person in charge here, why aren't you rushing to catch the thief instead of keeping an eye on me?"

Chen Fu's eyes were full of scrutiny.

"Fellow Daoist Xu's arrival is rather coincidental. As soon as you arrived, Shi Yu had to personally receive you, and I also had to be on guard in secret... Otherwise, how could the thief have so easily sneaked into the Chamber of Commerce's warehouse?"

Jiang Peng cursed Wei Zhilan inwardly for being unreliable, but a cold smile appeared on her face.

"I haven't even made fun of your Chen Clan Chamber of Commerce yet, and you've already started suspecting me!" Jiang Peng said disdainfully. "The warehouse is a heavily guarded area, so there must be arrays set up, and perhaps even manpower stationed there! And yet someone still managed to sneak in. Instead of catching the thief right away, your Chamber of Commerce is questioning a customer?"

Chen Fu paused, momentarily unable to fathom Jiang Peng's background.

The person in front of me was clearly a recent Foundation Establishment cultivator, and he didn't look very old.

But it was precisely because he knew that the man was young that Chen Fu had more trust in his identity as someone from the southern foothills.

In particular, this person does indeed possess some of the aura of a pill refiner.

He has reached the Foundation Establishment stage and is also knowledgeable in alchemy.

Such a person would never stoop to the level of a cultivator undergoing tribulation.

Not to mention, if this person is really in cahoots with the Jie Xiu, how come his companions escaped while he still dares to stay in the Chamber of Commerce?

After thinking it over, Chen Fu subconsciously thought he had made a mistake and looked somewhat apologetic.

"I was mistaken, please forgive me, fellow Daoist." Chen Fu bowed slightly. "However, the thief is still hiding in the valley. I would be grateful if you could stay in Wuqing Valley for a few days while we capture the thief..."

Before Chen Fu could finish speaking, Jiang Peng said impatiently, "Are you going to force me to stay?"

"It's not that I'm forcing you to stay, but please stay at the Valley of Heartless Dao for a few days. My Chen family will certainly treat you well..."

"What does your shop being robbed have to do with me, Xu? And why should my time be wasted because of your Chen family's petty affairs?"

Jiang Peng stood up, her tone unfriendly.

"What if I don't agree? What will you do then?"

Chen Fu frowned, feeling a sense of unease.

It was precisely Jiang Peng's tough demeanor that made him even more convinced of the other party's identity as a cultivator from the southern foothills.

The name of the Chen family was only somewhat useful within the territory of the State of Chen.

Upon reaching the north, the three sects on the northern slopes did not recognize each other.

Once they went south, they would be considered an ordinary force, just with a larger territory.

While Chen Fu hesitated, Jiang Peng had already started walking outside.

Upon seeing this, Chen Fu subconsciously raised his hand.

"Fellow Daoist, please wait."

Almost at the same time, Chen Fu's vision was enveloped by a sword light.

His pupils contracted, and he scrambled to his feet in a very disheveled manner, but he was still caught in the blast of sword light. His outer garment was torn, and he was sent flying backward.

Jiang Peng, who had just drawn his sword, took a step forward, and with a loud bang, he was already gone from the Chamber of Commerce building.

"What a pity. Chen Fu's cultivation level is one level higher than mine. He should be in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. He also has a magic weapon inner armor to protect him. That sword didn't really hurt him much."

I felt a little regretful.

Hearing the commotion behind him, Jiang Peng immediately fled towards the exit of the canyon above.

"You're actually in cahoots with that thief?!" Chen Fu's astonished voice came from behind.

Jiang Peng looked back and saw Chen Fu chasing after her from a distance, seemingly not very fast.

"When did Xu become an accomplice of thieves?" Jiang Peng asked, looking puzzled as he fled.

"If you're not a thief, why did you attack this old man?"

"What a joke! You, the Chen family, are allowed to forcefully detain me, but I'm not allowed to have any temper?"

Chen Fu was so angry that he laughed instead.

"Heh heh, you little thief, let's see how you get away!"

Before they knew it, the two had arrived at the entrance of the valley, one after the other.

At the valley entrance, the two Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Star Glory Sect lay dead by the roadside, their fates unknown, while a middle-aged man who looked unfamiliar was playing with an array plate.

This scene made Chen Fu gasp and instinctively stop his pursuit.

At the same time, Jiang Peng had already landed beside the middle-aged man.

"Senior Sister Wei's disguise skills are amazing; I, your junior brother, couldn't see through her disguise at all."

"Of course, her survival skills are impressive." Wei Zhilan snorted smugly twice, then looked at Chen Fu, who dared not approach from a distance.

Chen Fu took a deep breath.

The fact that the other party was able to silently eliminate two Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Star Glory Sect clearly meant that he couldn't handle such a situation alone.

"What are your backgrounds, gentlemen? Today's events have been a defeat for the Chen family, but you two may wish to leave your names, and the Chen family will surely retaliate."

"From the Cangshan Sect," Wei Zhilan grinned. "Isn't the Chen family eager to head north and covet the Northern Foothills? The Northern Foothills' revenge has only just begun... Fellow Daoist Chen Fu, there's no need for your Chen family to report later; the Cangshan Sect's retribution has already arrived."

As soon as she finished speaking, Wei Zhilan winked at Jiang Peng beside her, and then plunged into the forest.

Jiang Peng followed closely behind.

Watching the two swagger away, Chen Fu showed little anger, but rather a lingering fear.

"The Cangshan Sect... It's only been less than a day, yet they've already sent people into Chen Kingdom's territory, and my Chen Clan is still completely unaware?"

"We must inform the main branch about this immediately."