Chapter 497: Trap to Kill

　　Iridescent Clouds Palace, Ash Parasol Mountain.

　　An old man in scarlet robes flew through the air without relying on any external objects, descending slowly in front of a cave abode on the middle of a mountain.

　　The sect badge on his waist indicated that he was from True Fire Sect.

　　This was Sima Zhi, a Golden Core of True Fire Sect.

　　A towering ancient tree stood in front of the cave abode with a stone table beneath it. A man in azure blue robes sat solemnly on a stone stool, his long, narrow eyes shimmering coldly.

　　“Brother Cang Lang, why have you called for me so urgently?”

　　Sima Zhi asked the moment he landed.

　　The azure-robed man was Perfected Being Cang Lang of Iridescent Clouds Palace!

　　Perfected Being Cang Lang had a calm expression and took a sip of tea unhurriedly, only speaking after he put down the teacup, “Brother Sima, you don’t even know that you’re at death’s door?!”

　　“Ah?

　　Sima Zhi was startled. However, he composed himself in the blink of an eye and shook his head, laughing. “Cang Lang, what kind of joke is this?”

　　“That Su Zimo is at Extreme Foundation Establishment. Given his vengeful nature, do you think he’s going to let us off once he enters Golden Core realm?” Perfected Being Cang Lang snorted coldly.

　　Sima Zhi’s expression darkened and he kept quiet for a brief moment. “To be honest, I did think about this after the fight at Ethereal Peak. However, our sect has already sent people to reconcile with Ethereal Peak, so there’s nothing I can do about it either.”

　　“I can’t possibly head over to Ethereal Peak singlehandedly, right? What’s the difference between committing suicide if I did that?”

　　After pausing for a moment, Sima Zhi continued, “Furthermore, Sima Zhi is at Extreme Foundation Establishment. Whoever lays a hand on him will have to suffer the wrath of Ethereal Peak!”

　　“Others might have their considerations but you and I? We’re different,”

　　Perfected Being Cang Lang said with a deep voice, “The situation is extremely clear right now. It’s either Su Zimo or the both of us who dies! We only have a shot at this and we have to be quick about it! Otherwise, there will be a lot more things to account for once that lad makes a breakthrough to Golden Core realm.”

　　Sima Zhi’s gaze shimmered and he took in a deep breath of air after a moment. “Brother Cang Lang, what do you think we should do then?”

　　“There’s no hurry. I’ve already invited three helpers and they should be arriving soon.”

　　Perfected Being Cang Lang gestured for Sima Zhi to take a seat and calm down.

　　Not long after, three Golden Cores arrived through the air. In the middle was a skinny middle-aged man with thin lips and a cold expression.

　　On the left was a Golden Core holding a long cloth. His face was plump and he was all smiles.

　　The one on the right was dressed in a martial arts outfit and looked sturdy with muscles bulging like rocks. There was a ferocious aura coming from him.

　　Perfected Being Cang Lang welcomed them.

　　Pointing to the Golden Core with a long cloth on the left, Perfected Being Cang Lang introduced, “This is the most famous Formation Master of the Tianhuang Mainland North Region, Perfected Being Tan Hao.”

　　“This is Fellow Daoist Gao Hu, he’s at late-stage Golden Core and specializes in body tempering,”

　　The martial arts man nodded towards Sima Zhi.

　　Finally, Perfected Being Cang Lang looked towards the skinny man in the middle and smiled. “This is the renowned Fellow Daoist Liang Heng of the North Region. At perfected Golden Core, he entered the intermediate ancient battlefield 80 years ago and contested for the Unusual Phenomenon Ranking!”

　　Sima Zhi’s heartt skipped a beat.

　　Within the territory of Great Zhou, there were no sects or factions that had the capabilities to break through the barrier of the intermediate ancient battlefield and send cultivators in.

　　Sima Zhi and the others did not have a chance to witness the Unusual Phenomenon Ranking, let alone compete for a spot on it with other cultivators.

　　Liang Heng waved it off and pretended to be humble. “It’s nothing much. After all, I did not manage to obtain a spot on it.”

　　“The Unusual Phenomenon Ranking isn’t something that can be compared with us. The fact that you’re even qualified to compete for a spot on it proves your strength, fellow Daoist,” Sima Zhi praised hurriedly.

　　Perfected Being Cang Lang said with a smile as well, “Fellow Daoist Liang Heng missed leaving his name on the Unusual Phenomenon Ranking by just a little 80 years ago. For the next Unusual Phenomenon Ranking, you’ll definitely be able to rank within the top ten!”

　　“Yes.”

　　Liang Heng nodded, pleased with their flattery.

　　He did not have much ties with Perfected Being Cang Lang. The reason he came this time round was mainly because he heard that Su Zimo had a connate spirit weapon!

　　If he could obtain that connate spirit weapon, he would definitely be able to obtain a spot on the Unusual Phenomenon Ranking the next time he entered the ancient battlefield!

　　Of course, it was a fool’s dream to want to obtain a top ten spot.

　　The top ten of the Unusual Phenomenon Ranking were one more terrifying than the other!

　　Sima Zhi asked, “Right now, Su Zimo should be in seclusion within Ethereal Peak and would most likely not appear before he formed a core. Do we have any way of luring him out?”

　　“I’ve got a female disciple called Shen Mengqi. She was childhood sweethearts with that kid,”

　　Perfected Being Cang Lang declared confidently with narrowed eyes, “If he hears that her life is in danger, he’ll definitely come forth!”

　　Sima Zhi’s eyes lit up and he nodded in agreement.

　　The Formation Master at the side, Tan Hao, pondered for a moment before saying with a smile, “I’ve got three questions. First, you said that they were childhood sweethearts. Would he come forth just for someone that’s about to die?”

　　“Definitely!”

　　Perfected Being Cang Lang’s tone was confident.

　　“Alright, second question,”

　　Tan Hao continued, “We can’t set the location at Iridescent Clouds Palace. Otherwise, that lad might not take the bait.”

　　“Of course, I’ve already taken that into account and planned things,” Perfected Being Cang Lang asserted.

　　Tan Hao nodded before adding, “The third question is that even if he takes the bait, how do we kill him down? The fight at Ethereal Peak, ha, had quite an impact in the cultivation world. I heard that this Su Zimo lad is at Extreme Foundation Establishment realm and has the capabilities to kill Golden Cores beyond his level.”

　　“With the five of us Golden Cores attacking together, do we have to fear a single Foundation Establishment Cultivator?” Gao Hu asked darkly.

　　Tan Hao remarked, “It’s not about fear, I’m worried about accidents. If he manages to escape, we won’t get a second chance.”

　　“His death is certain with me around!” Liang Heng declared coldly.

　　“Everyone, please listen to me,”

　　Perfected Being Cang Lang said with a dark tone, “This kid is at Extreme Foundation Establishment realm and has many trump cards up his sleeves. He possesses a pair of spirit wings and even has an extremely terrifying secret skill that can go against my Golden Core phenomenon!”

　　Liang Heng, Gao Hu and Tan Hao’s expressions changed slightly upon hearing that.

　　The rumors were real.

　　A secret skill released by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator could truly go against a Golden Core phenomenon!

　　Even though Perfected Being Cang Lang’s Golden Core phenomenon was not considered to be strong, it was still a shocking fact.

　　“Even a lion uses its full might to chase down a rabbit. Since I chose to make a move, I won’t underestimate my opponent, even if the kid is only a Foundation Establishment Cultivator!”

　　Perfected Being Cang Lang said darkly, “Fellow Daoist Tan Hao, you have to set up your array formations before hand to ensure that this lad doesn’t escape!”

　　“No problem,”

　　Tan Hao replied with a smile, “With me setting up the formations personally, even Golden Cores won’t be able to escape!”

　　Perfected Being Cang Lang narrowed his eyes and said coldly, “Everyone, take a look at what I’ve truly prepared for this kid!”

　　With that said, he withdrew a jade bottle from his storage bag. There was a scarlet flower that resembled an orchid in the middle of it, giving off a faint fragrance.

　　The other few Golden Cores swept their gazes across and their expressions changed as they retreated one after another.

　　“Spirit Lock Flower!”

　　Liang Heng frowned and asked, “This fiend flower has already gone extinct in the ancient era. How did you get your hands on it?”

　　The Spirit Lock Flower would not cause any direct harm to a cultivator.

　　However, its fragrance had a fiendish power that could lock a cultivator’s spirit energy; even Golden Cores could not defend against it!

　　The Spirit Lock Flower was one of the most famous fiend flowers of the ancient era!