Chapter 478 - 485: Entering the Array

At this time, Song Wanning and her group had also mixed into the crowd. Everyone was searching while quietly complaining about Huo Jinchuan’s actions.

"I heard the City Lord’s son has fallen. Now the City Lord is offering a bounty of one hundred thousand Mid-grade Spirit Stones just for Huo Jinchuan’s life!"

"Hiss... Huo Jinchuan is really done for this time. What was he thinking, specifically targeting prominent cultivators with underhanded attacks? Isn’t he just digging his own grave?"

Even Evil Cultivators knew to target cultivators with no power or influence when they abducted people. That way, even if they disappeared, no one would care.

But Huo Jinchuan just had to be that arrogant.

"Maybe he never thought his actions would be exposed!"

"Now, it looks like the Huo Family is completely overwhelmed. The issue with that cultivator from the Outer Realm is still unresolved, and now this huge problem has emerged from within their own ranks. I’d say the Huo Family’s luck has run out!"

"I heard people from the Murong Family have come!"

The surrounding crowd’s discussion was completely unfiltered. No one held back, even with Huo Yang right there at the bottom of the cliff.

Song Wanning raised an eyebrow as she listened. ’Huo Jinchuan really has backed himself into a corner.’

’This time, there’s no way he can make a comeback.’

As they ventured deeper, Song Wanning’s expression grew increasingly grim. The feeling of malice was becoming heavier.

"The array should be just ahead. Huo Jinchuan must be hiding nearby!"

Baili Shang sensed the aura of an array and immediately sent a sound transmission to Song Wanning.

"Alright. In a moment, we’ll walk into the array intentionally. I’ll cover you then."

Song Wanning nodded. ’Success or failure all comes down to this.’

Meanwhile, Huo Jinchuan, hiding in a cave, had already calmed down. He had seen Huo Yang.

’Hmph. A grudge hundreds of years in the making... I finally have a chance to settle it.’

The path ahead was now blocked, meaning Huo Yang had no choice but to enter the array.

’And with so many cultivators following him, too. Heaven is truly on my side!’

Soon, the path before Huo Yang and his group ended, blocked by a solid rock wall.

"Weren’t we told Huo Jinchuan was at the bottom of the cliff? How have we searched everywhere and found no one? Or is there some kind of restrictive spell here?"

Elder Murong’s brow was tightly furrowed. He began to search the area, his expression incredibly foul.

But after searching the area twice, he found no trace of any restrictive spell.

He immediately spun around and demanded, "Huo Yang, did you warn him beforehand and let him escape?"

"No wonder you don’t seem worried! You’ve been colluding with Huo Jinchuan this whole time, haven’t you?"

"I’m telling you, if you don’t hand him over, be prepared to face the wrath of the entire Murong Family!"

Elder Murong couldn’t help but question Huo Yang’s motives for being there. ’He is his precious son, after all. There’s no way Huo Yang would be willing to send him to his death.’

"I never tipped him off!"

Huo Yang’s expression hardened, but his eyes stayed fixed on the area ahead. The map showed that Huo Jinchuan was, in fact, at the bottom of the cliff.

’There’s definitely something wrong with this rock wall!’

He immediately stepped forward and began to inspect it with great care.

"Still putting on an act? Tell us where Huo Jinchuan is, now! Otherwise, I will report this to my family at once!"

Elder Murong, convinced Huo Yang was just putting on an act, threatened him again.

But Huo Yang turned a deaf ear, his attention focused solely on the rock wall before him.

More and more people drew near, and Song Wanning’s group was among them, stepping into the range of the array.

At that very moment, Huo Jinchuan was staring intently at his array, ready to activate it as soon as the crowd grew large enough. But then, to his surprise, he saw Song Wanning and Baili Shang.

His expression flickered, then broke into a look of sheer ecstasy.

"Hahahaha, heaven is on my side! Heaven is on my side!"

’I’ve been wondering how to lure Song Wanning into my array, and now they’ve walked right into my trap! Could anything be more perfect?’

’It seems the luck I absorbed is finally paying off. See? Everything is going my way.’

A glint of insatiable greed flashed in Huo Jinchuan’s eyes. The very moment Song Wanning and her companion stepped within the array’s bounds, he activated it.

’I’ll sacrifice everyone else if I have to, just to keep these two from escaping.’

The array suddenly materialized, enveloping everyone. The crowd cried out in shock, their expressions changing in an instant.

"An array?"

"Run!"

The first instinct of most cultivators was to escape, but no matter how they attacked, they couldn’t even make a dent in the array.

Huo Yang and Elder Murong’s expressions soured as well. They immediately struck at the array, but they too were unable to affect it in the slightest.

After several rounds of attacks, the array didn’t even ripple.

"What do we do? What’s going on?"

"Could this be a trap set by Huo Jinchuan? What is he planning?"

The cultivators started to panic. They had all come for the money, not to die like this.

"Huo Clan Leader, hurry and let us out!"

The crowd quickly turned on Huo Yang. After all, Huo Jinchuan was his son; he wouldn’t possibly harm his own father!

Huo Yang’s expression was absolutely ghastly. He stared fixedly at the array, not even noticing Song Wanning among the crowd.

He silently cursed a blue streak. ’How dare that Huo Jinchuan lay a trap for us!’

"This array... it feels strange..."

Elder Murong now sensed that something was amiss. This array felt sinister.

"Huo Yang, get Huo Jinchuan to release this array, now! If this escalates, forget Huo Jinchuan—you’ll be dragged down with him!"

He knew the situation was dire, so he dropped his aggressive demeanor and adopted a more persuasive tone.

With a grim face, Huo Yang said in a hoarse voice, "I’m afraid I have to disappoint you all. The person he wants to kill most right now... is me."

The moment he finished speaking, the rock wall ahead slid open. A slightly disheveled figure appeared before everyone—it was Huo Jinchuan.

"Huo Jinchuan!!! Open this array, now!"

"That’s right, let us out of here, or none of us will let you off!"

The moment they saw Huo Jinchuan, the crowd began to threaten him.

Trapped in the array, they were like lambs to the slaughter. Every second they spent inside was another second in peril.

Elder Murong frowned as well and called out to Huo Jinchuan, "Huo Jinchuan, I advise you not to be so stubborn. Let us out right now, and we can still discuss this."

He looked at Huo Jinchuan and felt that this supposed prodigy had changed too drastically. The aura around him was also clearly unstable.

’Something is very wrong!’

"Heh. You’re in my grasp, and you think you can threaten me?"

A mocking sneer spread across Huo Jinchuan’s face. He found these people utterly ridiculous.

His gaze then fell upon Song Wanning and her companion, completely ignoring Huo Yang’s murderous stare.

"It’s been a while, you two."

He finished speaking and began to laugh, his eyes full of absolute confidence.

"It certainly has been a while. In just a single year, how did our dear Mr. Huo become such a reviled public enemy?"

A provocative glint appeared in Song Wanning’s eyes, and she sighed in mock pity.

"Tsk... what a pity..."