অধ্যায় ১৩৭: নির্মল আত্মা

yuehu lake's fierce battle had just concluded, but yunmeng city had already been in chaos for a long time.

han jinmao sent a message back via a transmission talisman, causing utter panic among the four major families—the han, yun, lu, and feng families.

without any hesitation, they immediately gathered all their clan members, attempting to collectively break out of the northern city and teleport to the dark city.

the warriors left behind in the city initially had no idea what was happening, but then ling yunmeng's message arrived. a fierce battle instantly broke out within the city, as ling yunmeng's forces tried to detain the members of the four families.

unfortunately, there were not many powerful individuals left in the city. although a few people were slain, the majority of the four families still managed to escape into the dark city.

"what?"

upon receiving the news, han shiqi wore a face full of disbelief. how could such a secure tactical situation have capsized?

the eight mountain-sea realm experts of the howling wolf temple, plus the four mountain-sea realm experts from han jinmao's side—twelve people couldn't even defeat four?

"it's jiang han!"

chen zhong reported, "originally, ling yunmeng and the other three were bound to die, but jiang han somehow managed to acquire a suanni beast as a battle beast. moreover, he also controlled the divine array master deep underground, using the fierce fire array to reverse the situation."

"jiang han, it's jiang han again!"

han shiqi smashed his cup to pieces, his complexion turning ashen.

han jinmao's transmission talisman had stated very clearly that their defeat this time was certain, and he had told the han family disciples to find a way to save their own lives.

"where else can we escape to?"

a bitter smile appeared at the corner of han shiqi's mouth. could it be that they were all going to hole up in the dark city?

the cost of living in the dark city was not low. without a continuous source of income, sitting idly and eating through their savings would mean they wouldn't last a few years.

besides, the han family's direct and collateral branches combined amounted to quite a few people. were an entire family really just going to drift along and wait for death?

did they need to cultivate? if they cultivated, the resources consumed every year would be astronomical. han shiqi previously had a small nest egg, but it had been entirely extorted by jiang han and jiang lang. how could he possibly support such a large family?

"it's over, it's all over..."

han shiqi collapsed into his chair. if han jinmao died, the han family would be completely finished.

han jinmao's two sons lacked strong innate talent; it would be very difficult for them to break through to the mountain-sea realm in this lifetime. while han jinmao's two grandsons possessed decent talent, the problem was where the resources to nurture them would come from.

staying for even a day at an inn in the dark city cost a sky-high price, and the expenses for food, lodging, and daily necessities were several times more expensive than outside.

even if the han family hid in the dark city for a few years, what would they do after a few years? once they stepped outside, how could the yunmeng pavilion spare them?

han shiqi closed his eyes in despair. he and the entire han family were finished; it was only a matter of time before they met a dead end.

"jiang han, it's all because of jiang han!"

han shiqi roared, his face filled with bitter resentment.

he stood up and paced back and forth in the room. a moment later, he abruptly turned around and said, "chen zhong, take a paralyzing drug, go capture jiang li, and bring her to me. i'm going to torture and kill jiang li with my own hands!"

"this..."

chen zhong's expression shifted, and he directly refused, "hall master, if you want to court death, go yourself, don't drag me into it!"

are you kidding me? doing something like this inside the dark city, once discovered, meant certain death for chen zhong. violence was strictly forbidden in the dark city; doing so was a direct provocation to the dark city itself.

with han jinmao on the verge of death, chen zhong's attitude toward han shiqi was no longer as polite.

the only reason he hadn't left yet was because it wasn't certain that han jinmao was dead. anyway, it was very safe inside the dark city, and chen zhong wanted to wait and see first.

han shiqi looked at chen zhong angrily and snorted coldly, "the han family is falling, and you, chen zhong, are already starting to act high and mighty? if you don't want to follow us, you can leave right now; no one is stopping you."

suppressing his anger, chen zhong bowed and said, "hall master, resorting to violence in the dark city is courting your own destruction."

"then think of a way to lure jiang li out, subdue her, and bring her back!"

han shiqi waved his hand and said quite imperiously, "i don't care how you do it, you must bring jiang li to me, or else you needn't follow me ever again!"

"lure her out?"

chen zhong's eyes flashed. after pondering for a moment, he said, "that part is simple. hall master, wait a moment, i'll go make arrangements."

since there was no risk of being killed by the dark city guards, chen zhong was quite willing to make the arrangement.

he quickly walked outside, found a subordinate, and gave him a few instructions.

after disguising his appearance, that subordinate quickly teleported back to yunmeng city, and then entered the yunmeng northern city using an internal affairs hall token.

although it was the middle of the night and the city was rather chaotic, this subordinate was an internal affairs hall disciple with an identity token, so no one bothered him.

he headed straight up to the ascending immortal peak, went to the yunmeng palace, and then took a maid hostage.

there were no powerful experts left in yunmeng palace, and the maid's combat strength was negligible, so she was easily subdued.

under a mix of coercion and temptation, the maid was brought into the dark city.

relieved of a heavy burden, chen zhong gave a few instructions, and the maid went to the tianfu inn to find jiang li.

that maid had served ling yunmeng, and she and jiang li were relatively familiar with each other.

when the panic-stricken maid found jiang li and claimed that jiang han had been heavily injured and was on the verge of death, and that he wanted to see jiang li one last time, jiang li didn't hesitate at all. she ran out following the maid, heading straight for the teleporation array.

jiang li was pure-minded; upon hearing that jiang han was dying, coupled with the fact that the maid was an acquaintance, she was easily deceived!

chen zhong trailed behind the two of them, following them as they teleported to yunmeng city.

once they left the dark city, making a move became effortless.

the moment they stepped out of the teleportation array, chen zhong instantly knocked jiang li unconscious and then activated the array himself.

before the guards of the teleportation array could react, chen zhong had already carried jiang li and teleported back into the dark city...

holding the unconscious jiang li, chen zhong walked outside han shiqi's courtyard. hesitating for a moment, he ultimately knocked on the door.

han shiqi opened the door, and his eyes lit up instantly when he saw jiang li carried in chen zhong's arms.

jiang li was naturally very pretty, and after eating well for the past year and beginning to cultivate, her figure had begun to blossom, making her even more stunning.

a pure little loli, and of the absolute purest variety!

swallowing a mouthful of saliva, han shiqi hurriedly told chen zhong to bring