NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 371: Trap
Chapter 371: Trap
Two Supreme Elders exchanged glances and simultaneously unleashed a palm strike, sending the five Quasi-Supreme Elders flying. Shocked and furious, the Quasi-Supremes shouted, “Huangpu Jun, Huangpu Yan, what do you mean by this?”
“Do you suspect us of being spies?”
“Attacking your own kind is against the ancestral teachings of our empire!”
Although the cultivation of the five Quasi-Supremes was inferior to that of the two Supreme Elders, their seniority was not necessarily lower.
Some of them were senior uncles of the Supreme Elders.
Others were senior brothers.
Psychologically, they were not afraid of the two Elders.
Huangpu Jun said, “Masters, please calm down. We were only testing, and we did not use any lethal force. If we had, you would be dead by now.
If there was a spy among you, they might have resisted unconsciously, so we used this method to test.
Based on your reactions, the likelihood of a spy seems low.”
Huangpu Yan added indifferently, “Besides, this super large exclusive cultivation resource area might not necessarily contain spies. You five are the guardians of this area. If you all colluded, it would be possible for you to steal the resources for yourselves,”
Upon hearing this, the five Quasi-Supremes trembled with anger, glaring at the Supreme Elders.
“How dare you! Do you think you can act with impunity and lawlessness just because you are the Supreme Elders of the Empire?”
“You have gone too far! We will definitely report this to the Imperial Ancestors. If any of them are still alive, they will surely come to punish you! Just wait and see!”…
Xu Lian found this situation amusing. The Supreme Elders had suspected the wrong targets, which was understandable. If he were in their position, he would have suspected the five Quasi-Supremes first as well. He was pleased to see the internal strife within the Empire.
The Supreme Elders were disappointed, knowing that they had guessed wrong. They decided not to test further, as sudden attacks could only be used once and would lose their effectiveness.
Huangpu Jun tried to smooth things over and said, “Our suspicions have been temporarily cleared, and you may leave.
Huangpu Yan frowned, “I don’t think it’s that simple. In fact, I think the chances of you stealing the resources are even higher!
You must know that we are the Supreme Elders. In our eyes, there is no hiding place for secret techniques.
I do not think there are any spies here. The possibility of you stealing the resources is the greatest!”
Aren’t you too confident? Xu Lian observed the situation, pleased to see that events were unfolding in the direction he desired.
The five Quasi-Supremes glared at Huangpu Yan with red eyes. As loyal Quasi-Supreme Elders of the Empire, they were deeply hurt by the accusation of theft.
“Huangpu Yan!”
“I will not let this go!”
“I will also report this to the imperial ancestors!”
Huangpu Yan said, “I am not targeting anyone. I am simply enforcing the law. The five of you are the most suspicious, and if you voluntarily hand over the ingredients for the Metamorphosis Elixir, perhaps we can show leniency”.
One of the Quasi-Supremes roared, “We didn’t take anything. If you have the courage, kill us! Do you dare?”
As the situation escalated, Huangpu Jun became angry, “I am the main Supreme Elder. In the name of the Supreme Elder of the Empire, I order everyone to refrain from rushing to judgment without evidence. All of you must stay here temporarily and are not allowed to leave!”
Huangpu Yan nodded slightly and remained silent.
The five Quasi-Supremes glared coldly, but said nothing.
Huangpu Jun turned to Huangpu Yan, “Brother, let’s join hands to reverse the protective formation of this super-large exclusive cultivation resource area and seal it. We must prevent anyone from leaving.”
Huangpu Yan agreed, “Indeed.”
Thus, the two Supreme Elders combined their vast spiritual power to reverse the protective formation and seal the super large exclusive cultivation resource area.
After completing this task, the Supreme Elders left, knowing that they could not stay too long. If anyone attacked the Empire’s holy land while they were gone, the consequences would be severe.
With their suspicions unresolved, the five Quasi-Supremes felt miserable. As loyal servants of the Empire, they were deeply hurt by the accusations.
“Everyone, disperse. Return to your homes. No one is to leave without our orders.”
The tens of thousands of people dispersed and returned to their residences.
Xu Lian, Ning Meixue, and Huangpu Shuyi returned to their courtyard. Although the residence was not as luxurious as the Imperial Preceptor’s Mansion in the capital, it was still comfortable, with a study, kitchen, living room, and entertainment room.
Xu Lian, with time on his hands, took some wood, carved it into pieces, and engraved a deck of poker cards… for the game of “Landlord”.
He explained the simple rules, and Ning Meixue and Huangpu Shuyi learned quickly and enjoyed the game together.
Huangpu Shuyi played a three.
Xu Lian declined.
Ning Meixue glared at him with her autumnal eyes, “Husband, you are being partial.”
Since Xu Lian, the “farmer”, deliberately gave Huangpu Shuyi, the “landlord”, an advantage, Ning Meixue had to face Huangpu Shuyi alone.
The landlord usually has better cards than the peasants, and as expected, Ning Meixue lost and threw the cards at Xu Lian in frustration.
Huangpu Shuyi laughed triumphantly, “Second Senior Sister, I am pregnant again. Of course, my husband must give me an advantage.”
Ning Meixue was taken aback and then expressed her dissatisfaction, “You’ve already had three children. Why are you having another one?”
Huangpu Shuyi was helpless. She had an easy time getting pregnant, and there was nothing she could do about it.
Xu Lian said, “It’s okay. I can afford it.”
Upon hearing this, Ning Meixue felt like Xu Lian was hinting at her lack of children, and her heart grew anxious. She had no choice but to work with Xu Lian to conceive a child.
As the days turned into weeks, they all felt trapped, like prisoners who were allowed out for a short time, wandering aimlessly in the empty exclusive cultivation resource area.
The five Quasi-Supremes, who were accused of theft, also felt miserable. They also wanted to leave.
One day, Chi Sui, Zhao Ming, and several other alchemists visited Xu Lian’s house, and they sat around talking and drinking tea.
Zhao Ming suddenly asked, “Master and Brother, do you think there are spies here?”
Xu Lian’s heart sank. Could Zhao Ming have found out something? But that was impossible. If Zhao Ming had found something, he would have reported it to the five Quasi-Supremes and not come to Xu Lian.
Xu Lian shook his head, “There is a detection formation at the entrance of each exclusive cultivation resource area. Anyone who enters or leaves will be detected. It’s highly unlikely that a spy can sneak in.”
Zhao Ming said in a low voice, “I also think the possibility of a spy is low. The Supreme Elders are right. The five Quasi-Supremes are the most suspicious ones. On that night, everyone except for the five of them was suddenly moved out. Who else could have done it?”
Chi Sui’s face changed and he glared at Zhao Ming sternly, “Be careful what you say! If the five Quasi-Supremes hear you, do you know the consequences?”
Zhao Ming’s face paled and he quickly shut up, not daring to say anything more.
Ning Meixue took the cards and explained the rules.
The group then played a multiplayer game of Landlord with great interest.
One of the alchemists said, “This game is quite interesting, but one must not become too obsessed with it. It can lead to a loss of focus.”
Ning Meixue prepared a feast to entertain the guests.
Although the guests’ cultivation levels were high and they did not need to eat, most of the cultivators were in the habit of eating occasionally.
After eating, the group played a few rounds of Landlord before leaving. As cultivators, they had strong willpower and could not become obsessed with such games.
Except for Xu Lian, who needed something to pass the time with his abundant free time. Ning Meixue and Huangpu Shuyi had no choice but to accompany him.
Days turned into years.
After more than two years had passed, Huangpu Jun and Huangpu Yan arrived, broke the seal of the protective formation, and took all the alchemists away. Then they sealed the area again, preventing anyone else from leaving.
Xu Lian was confused. If they had discovered him, they would have dealt with him alone without taking all the alchemists with them.
Huangpu Jun and Huangpu Yan brought the alchemists to a sealed space filled with piles of medicinal herbs.
Xu Lian, an experienced Pill Alchemist, recognized that these were not the ingredients for the Metamorphosis Elixir, but rather for super-high-grade healing pills.
Super-high-grade pill alchemists were those pills that even affected sages and supreme elders.
Xu Lian wondered what the two Supreme Elders needed such pills for.