The teleportation array was not a teleportation array at all, but another formation.
The old man had set up a formation with the aim of capturing Ouyang Chu Ge and Su Xi in one fell swoop. However, despite his meticulous planning and excellent camouflage, he had failed to achieve his goal.
He was also baffled as to how his actions had been exposed.
But the thought of the subsequent formation reassured him.
Even though Su Xi and the others had not stepped into the center of his formation, he had immense confidence in it. This formation, obtained from an ancient secret realm, was rumored to be capable of slaying gods and buddhas. Even if he couldn't unleash its full power, its might was still extraordinary. Dealing with a few Nascent Soul cultivators was child's play.
Even if Su Xi and the others hadn't entered his formation, he was confident he could capture both Su Xi and Ouyang Chu Ge.
After all, his formation was no ordinary one.
Once activated, it would drain all the spiritual power from a person's body, devour their life force, and only stop when every last trace of vitality was consumed.
They were just two minor characters, and he didn't need to pay them much mind. For him now, Su Xi and Ouyang Chu Ge not entering the center of the formation merely meant a slight waste of time, nothing major.
Su Xi, caught within the formation, immediately felt a powerful pressure. At the same time, she sensed her life force being rapidly siphoned away from beneath her feet. Such speed made her certain that if she didn't act, she would indeed be reduced to a desiccated husk.
However, despite the strangeness of the formation, it wouldn't be enough to harm her. Facing the old man who had suddenly attacked, a smile played on her lips, devoid of any fear. Fortunately, she had been prepared.
Having sensed the abnormality of this place beforehand, she wouldn't meekly accept being ambushed. Passive submission was not her style.
Since the old man had resorted to a sneak attack, it didn't mean she wouldn't retaliate.
During the brief exchange with the old man, she had made her preparations. While using illusions to confuse the others, she had stealthily entered the teleportation array formation and, under the guidance of a supercomputer, made modifications.
She didn't know how to construct a teleportation array or how to alter one, but she had a supercomputer to do the thinking for her.
At this point, it was unclear who was ambushing whom.
The old man, confident of victory, suddenly found that upon activating his formation, it had not trapped Su Xi and the others, but himself.
A powerful gravitational pull held him firmly in place, rendering him unable to break free despite his utmost efforts. Simultaneously, a potent attraction emanated from beneath his feet. As this force pulsed, he felt his life force draining away.
???
What was happening?
The old man was completely bewildered, not understanding how his meticulously laid trap, intended for Su Xi, was now working against him.
What had Su Xi done to make his formation attack him?
Unable to comprehend the situation, he knew it was not the time for contemplation but for finding a way to escape the formation's grasp. Yet, despite all his efforts, he couldn't find a solution.
Once activated, the formation quickly gathered immense power.
He had prepared many potent components for the formation to kill Su Xi, thus its activation speed far exceeded normal parameters.
Despite his confusion, he had no opportunity to voice his questions.
In an instant, countless beams of light from the formation sliced him into innumerable fragments, and he vanished from the world.
Having finished, Su Xi couldn't help but frown slightly, feeling a degree of relief.
Fortunately, her reaction had been quick, or she would have met a miserable end.
Su Xi hadn't expected such immense power. The level of this attack was equivalent to a full-powered strike from a Soul Transformation stage cultivator.
Seeing the old man's corpse, Ouyang Chu Ge looked at Su Xi and asked curiously, "How did you know all of this just now?"
Everything had seemed perfectly logical, and he had found it all normal, so he had no idea where Su Xi had uncovered the problem.
Su Xi smiled faintly and replied, "There were no flaws, but because I understand human nature."
Su Xi's words were not a mere display of cleverness, but the honest truth.
She knew very well that given how much she had been exposed, Zhou Yongming, with his cautious nature, would never let her leave so easily, regardless of whether she was on his side or not.
The surest way to silence someone was to kill them.
However, the fact that they had allowed her to leave so easily indicated one thing.
There was something fishy!
Therefore, understanding their ill intentions, she couldn't just leave so carelessly and had to be on guard.
Furthermore, upon reaching the teleportation array, the old man's demeanor had been normal, and he had acted as if everything was as it should be, not questioning her identity and letting them go so easily.
After all, she had never stated that she and Ouyang Chu Ge were leaving together. The old man's casual dismissal implied he knew they were a pair.
These contradictory actions clearly indicated the group's malicious intent. Thus, by the time they reached this point, Su Xi had already made her preparations.
One should not harbor ill intentions, but one must be wary of others.
Upon hearing Su Xi's words, Ouyang Chu Ge unhesitatingly rolled his eyes at her.
Humans were so troublesome, always stirring up such a fuss. Unlike them, who were straightforward and said what they meant.
Ouyang Chu Ge, however, had no inclination to complain and decisively changed the subject, "You discovered something was wrong here, so what should we do next?"
They hadn't managed to leave the area yet, so even if they had discovered an anomaly, the outcome hadn't changed.
Hearing Ouyang Chu Ge's question, Su Xi chuckled, pointed in a certain direction with her finger, and said, "We don't know where the teleportation array is, but someone does."
Ouyang Chu Ge looked in the direction Su Xi was pointing and, after a moment of thought, realized she was referring to Zhou Yongming.
Upon understanding who Su Xi was talking about, Ouyang Chu Ge's expression immediately soured.
Was Su Xi drunk to be suggesting such a preposterous idea? Zhou Yongming had reached the Soul Transformation stage. While they had managed to escape him, it didn't mean they could defeat him.
Su Xi knew what Ouyang Chu Ge was contemplating but, without hesitation, reassured him, "Don't worry, I've already made arrangements for this."
Just because others dared to ambush her didn't mean she hadn't made her own plans. Being the victim of an ambush was something she absolutely would not tolerate.
Hearing Su Xi's words, Ouyang Chu Ge couldn't help but laugh.
He had momentarily forgotten that Su Xi was also human. If others could plot against them, then Su Xi could certainly do the same.
After all, humans were not creatures that let go of a grievance easily.
Soon, Su Xi and Ouyang Chu Ge returned to the City Lord's mansion.
The mansion was as bustling as before, with people coming and going, appearing quite busy. The traces of Su Xi and Ouyang Chu Ge's presence seemed to have been long forgotten.
The City Lord's most favored concubine, Ma Xianglian, had fallen ill. Despite seeking the help of many physicians, their efforts had been futile, making it a matter of utmost concern.
Due to Ma Xianglian's poor health, she was unable to adequately attend to Zhou Yongming, which had put him in a foul mood. The recently irritable Zhou Yongming had already killed several people, creating an atmosphere of trepidation.
Seeing the situation, Ouyang Chu Ge looked at Su Xi with a strange expression and asked in a low voice, "Did you do all of this?"
Su Xi heard Ouyang Chu Ge's question, shook her head, and with feigned innocence, denied, "Don't accuse me, I'm a law-abiding citizen."
Ouyang Chu Ge, hearing Su Xi's nonsense, couldn't help but roll his eyes. What was the point of talking like this with him?
He wasn't a government official, so he didn't need to engage in such pointless chatter.
Su Xi was just joking, and it wouldn't do to delay her important business.
After a moment's thought, she took out two masks and handed one to Ouyang Chu Ge, saying, "Put this on."
Since they now understood that they were targets for Zhou Yongming, they couldn't possibly appear in their true forms.
That wouldn't be revenge; that would be seeking death.
Ouyang Chu Ge didn't know what Su Xi intended, but he obediently put on the mask.
The moment he put it on, he felt his aura change instantly, and he became someone else. This was not a simple change; it was a transformation from the inside out.
Even his own mother wouldn't recognize him now. As long as he didn't use his spiritual power, he wouldn't be exposed.
Sensing the change in himself, Ouyang Chu Ge looked at Su Xi with surprise.
He had heard of disguise techniques, but they had only been able to alter one's appearance. He had never heard of someone like Su Xi who could alter the appearance of others.
It was terrifying.
Sensing Su Xi's abnormality, he increased his guard against her by another level.
Su Xi paid no mind to Ouyang Chu Ge's thoughts and, with him in tow, proceeded towards the City Lord's mansion.
"Halt!" The guards at the entrance of the City Lord's mansion stopped Su Xi and the others as they approached.
Did they really think this was a place where anyone could come and go as they pleased?
Su Xi was blocked, but she wasn't flustered. She said, "Do you know why I'm here? It's for your third madam."
Hearing Su Xi's words, the guard's casual demeanor vanished, and he quickly and respectfully said, "Please follow me, sirs. I will take you to see the third madam immediately."
The entire City Lord's mansion was currently focused on this matter, so he dared not be negligent.
Su Xi was quickly brought before Ma Xianglian and respectfully asked to examine her.
Ma Xianglian lay on the bed, her face pale. Her brow furrowed, and sweat beaded on her forehead.
Zhou Yongming sat by the bedside, stroking Ma Xianglian's delicate hand and gently comforting her, "My dear, don't be nervous. Your body will surely be alright."
After comforting Ma Xianglian, his gaze shifted to Su Xi, and he inquired, "Do you have a way to resolve my dear's physical problems?"
Hearing Zhou Yongming's address, Su Xi felt a wave of discomfort.
Was he really that cheesy?
Despite her extreme dissatisfaction with Zhou Yongming's endearment, Su Xi still replied, "Don't worry, I will definitely handle it. However, whether I can resolve it depends on taking your pulse."
"Alright," Zhou Yongming agreed, then looked at Su Xi and urged, "As long as you can solve my dear's problem, I will give you anything you want."
Su Xi nodded and began her examination of Ma Xianglian.
After a thorough examination, Su Xi looked at Zhou Yongming.
Sensing Su Xi's gaze, Zhou Yongming understood her meaning.
If she could solve Ma Xianglian's problem, there would be a reward.
"What do you want?" Zhou Yongming asked, expressing his thoughts.
While Ma Xianglian could bring him pleasure, she was not worth an exorbitant price. If Su Xi asked for too much, he would absolutely refuse.
Su Xi rubbed her nose and replied, "City Lord, please rest assured, I won't ask for too much. Just 500 spirit stones will suffice."
???
Su Xi's words immediately piqued Zhou Yongming's interest.
Spirit stones were precious to others, but he possessed a spirit vein, so it wouldn't be too difficult.
Hearing Su Xi's request, Ouyang Chu Ge also looked puzzled. They clearly needed to use the teleportation array, so why was Su Xi only asking for spirit stones?
Despite his lack of understanding, he remained composed.
Having been with Su Xi for so long, he knew very well that Su Xi was not simple. She must have her reasons for doing this.