Chapter 27: This Will Be the Last Time Shuang'er Serves the Young Master

In the heart of Xi'An, within the grand hall of the Azure Cloud Pavilion, the atmosphere was tense. Manager Li Ming, a genuine level 5 Core Formation Cultivator with a tall figure, was a man known for his strategic mind and unwavering resolve. He stood before a map of Jie Xiu City, tracing the routes with a finger. Beside him stood Elder Wei, a stalwart guardian of the Pavilion, his burly figure a silent testament to decades of service to the Azure Cloud Pavilion.

"Elder Wei, we must act quickly," Manager Li said, breaking the heavy silence. "The chaos has started, and our Jie Xiu branch is the first to suffer. Lu Yuan's last message was dire. We can't afford to delay, lest unexpected situations arise."

Elder Wei, a man of few words, nodded gravely. His loyalty to the Pavilion was unquestionable, having served the Azure Cloud Pavilion since his days as a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Now, as a level 3 Core Formation cultivator, his duties ranged from collecting rare pill ingredients to protecting high-level pill refiners during their travels. All matters related to the mission were up to him; he was the leader of the mission faction.

"Time is of the essence," Elder Wei agreed. "We shouldn't hesitate to use our core essence for this journey. With our cultivation and techniques, we can reach Jie Xiu in ten days."

Manager Li nodded. "Prepare yourself. We leave immediately."

The journey to Jie Xiu was arduous, even for cultivators of their level. Normally a month-long trek, they had to push themselves to cover the distance in a fraction of the time using advanced techniques. The first few days passed in relative silence, both of them focused on conserving their core essence and maintaining vigilance. The landscape around them grew increasingly desolate as they neared the borders of Jie Xiu, a stark reminder of the turmoil engulfing the region.

Eight days into their journey, as they traversed a narrow mountain pass, they sensed a disturbance. Elder Wei, always the vigilant protector, who was accustomed to traveling outdoors, was the first to sense the anomaly and spoke up. "We're being watched."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than five figures emerged from the shadows, their auras oppressive. Leading the group was a middle-aged man in a black robe, his handsome face adorned with a mysterious smile. Beside him stood an old man in a purple robe, his hair a mix of black and white. Behind them were three old men with white hair, each exuding an aura indicative of the Core Formation Realm.

Manager Li and Elder Wei recognized them all, their hearts sinking. Not only were there two level 5 Core Formation Cultivators among the group, but there was also an array master present. The presence of an array master indicated that this location had already been prepared with a separation array; any fights here would go unnoticed.

"Hei Mulong, how could you be here? Don't tell me..." Li Ming had a bad premonition as he recalled the reason for their journey. The fact that they had arrived here before him only meant that they had been waiting for some time.

"Hahaha, I didn't expect it would be you who came, Li Ming. I haven't been waiting in vain at all." Hei Mulong laughed with excitement. Like Li Ming, he was a genuine 5th level Core Formation Cultivator and the manager of Black Sea Commerce, a rival of Li Ming. His task had been to ambush the Core Formation Cultivators from the Azure Cloud Pavilion a month ago. What he hadn't expected was that Li Ming would personally be here.

Li Ming's heart sank when he learned the truth. He could handle a one-on-one fight with Hei Mulong, but the presence of another individual—the old man in the purple robe, Zi Luo, the Vice Sect Master of the Violet Blossom Sect, a genuine 5th level Core Formation Cultivator—his presence could interfere the fight at any moment.

Sensing Li Ming's gaze, Zi Luo smirked, "Manager Li, the Azure Cloud Pavilion is destined for doom in this generation. You alone won't change anything. When you depart this world, my Violet Blossom Sect will ensure its demise. So, don't worry too much. Go peacefully."

"Zi Luo, don't go too much. Even without me, the Azure Cloud Pavilion won't fall easily. And what about you, Liu Yong, Hong Junyan, Gui Zhong? Do all three of your families also wish to be our enemies?" Li Ming's gaze swept over Zi Luo and the three old men behind him.

The three old men were from three great families, each of them at the peak of the 3rd level Core Formation Realm. Individually, they were no match for Li Ming. However, with the addition of the two 5th level Core Formation Cultivators beside them, their confidence to confront Li Ming was greatly bolstered.

Liu Yong sneered, "Manager Li, it should be me informing you of that. Don't underestimate my Liu Family. The overall strength of your Azure Cloud Pavilion isn't enough to threaten us. If not for the Commercial Alliance, how could the Azure Cloud Pavilion have held its ground in Xi'An for so long?"

Gui Zhong continued, "The Azure Cloud Pavilion is a big meat for all ten of our great families. Its downfall is inevitable. If us not today, then in the future, others will do it."

Hong Junyan, as an array master, remained silent, his full attention focused on the array.

Finally, Hei Mulong stepped forward, his presence exuding authority. "Let's not waste our breath. Vice Sect Master Zi Luo and I will handle Li Ming. Elder Liu and Elder Gui will deal with Wei Hong. Elder Hong, maintain the array to prevent any unexpected situations."

With that command, Hei Mulong took the lead and charged towards Li Ming, his dark blade flickering in his left hand as he moved swiftly. Meanwhile, Zi Luo prepared his techniques from behind, conjuring firefly-like stars one by one and sending them into the sky above.

Manager Li's eyes blazed with determination. "Elder Wei, we will engage them in combat and search for the core of the array simultaneously. Once either of us locates it, we must destroy it with all our might."

Li Ming activated his water-like clone technique and simultaneously wielded his trident, charging towards Hei Mulong.

Wei Hong also sprang into action, activating his techniques. The golden armor on his body gleamed as he charged towards Liu Yong and Gui Zhong.

Hei Mulong moved swiftly like the wind, slashing his blade towards Li Ming's neck. Li Ming defended with his trident, pushing Hei Mulong away. However, Hei Mulong continued to return with fiercer strikes, preventing Li Ming from counterattacking, though Li Ming remained unharmed.

Both of them were renowned figures in Xi'An, each having a deep understanding of the other's fighting style from their numerous encounters. As a result, the outcome of their early skirmish was hard to predict.

However, as time passed, Li Ming felt increasing pressure from Zi Luo's star-like attacks. These strikes created openings for Hei Mulong to exploit. Although Li Ming used his clone to intercept the attacks, the clone gradually weakened with each impact. Once the clone dissipated, Li Ming would have to defend against two opponents simultaneously, a situation he could manage temporarily but not sustainably. Therefore, Li Ming decided to change the location of the fight intermittently, aiming to locate and destroy the core of the array as quickly as possible.

On Wei Hong's side, despite facing two opponents, his extensive combat experience on missions allowed him to hold his ground effectively. His golden armor shimmered, absorbing half of the attacks from Liu Yong and Gui Zhong, while his defensive techniques handled the rest. However, this came at a cost—Wei Hong's core essence was rapidly depleting. In contrast, the attacks from his opponents were standard techniques, consuming their core essence at a slower rate than his own. If this continued, Wei Hong knew he would exhaust his core essence and face defeat. Therefore, he decided to periodically change the location of the fight, alternating with Li Ming, to disrupt the opponents' strategy and buy himself time.

Meanwhile, at the Azure Cloud Pavilion, Shangguan Yi remained in seclusion, unaware of the unfolding events in Jie Xiu or Manager Li's departure. Given his status, he lacked the qualifications to access such information.

His breakthrough to the Core Formation Realm went unheard by all except himself, and he had no intention of publicizing this achievement.

At this moment, a knock on the door was heard, and Shangguan Yi sensed the familiar aura of Shuang'er.

Shangguan Yi stood up and moved towards the living room where Shuang'er stood before him. She wore a stern expression, her eyes filled with determination as if she had made a significant decision, though she had not yet spoken it aloud.

"Speak your mind," Shangguan Yi urged gently, observing her serious demeanor.

However, Shuang'er remained silent and poured tea for him gently. Shangguan Yi sensed her unusual behavior but didn't say anything. He accepted the tea and took a sip, surprised to find that it helped him recover his core essence somewhat. He was unfamiliar with the tea, having never tasted it before, but the system provided information: it was called Four Seasons Tea, and its details appeared in his mind.

Seeing that he had tasted the tea, Shuang'er asked, "How is the tea, Young Master?"

"It's not bad. Where did you find it?" Shangguan Yi replied casually.

Seeing his casual manner, Shuang'er remained silent for a moment.

After a while, she took a deep breath and spoke in a heavy tone, "Young Master, this will be the last time I serve you. Xiao Yan has treated me so well that I have decided to leave with him."

Finally, she spoke out with a heavy heart, sharing the burden that weighed on her.

Shangguan Yi looked at her calmly, his expression unchanged.

Seeing him remain unaffected, Shuang'er couldn't help but feel disappointed initially. However, soon she felt relief as she thought of Xiao Yan.