News of Bai Yuan capturing Xu Lingxue in Thorn Peak Valley spread quickly, drawing disciples from the ten major sects across a radius of thousands of miles.

Disciples from the Heavenly Origin Sect, Indigo Cloud Gate, and Azure Crimson Gate had all converged in the valley, amassing a force of nearly five hundred. The entire assembly was commanded by Bai Yuan and Deng Yong.

Among the three factions, the Azure Crimson Gate could only defer to the orders of the other two sects due to their comparatively weaker standing.

Thorn Peak Valley, surrounded by towering mountains, had only a single entrance. Once inside, the only way out was the same path, as the sky above was blocked by relentless ice whirlwinds, forming a natural barrier.

This was why Bai Yuan chose this place, to ensure Liu Wuxie wouldn’t be able to leave once he entered. It was no wonder why Qu Yang said Liu Wuxie could be courting death if he went.

Bai Yuan’s forces held the geographical advantage and set up countless traps in the surroundings, waiting for Liu Wuxie to take the bait.

Disciples of the three major sects guarded the way to the Thorn Peak Valley, and no one could enter without their permission.

A massive platform was constructed at the valley’s center, rising majestically from the ground. Atop the platform, there were over a dozen pillars with people tied on them, and they were all disciples of the Misty Sect. All of the Misty Sect disciples had their cultivation sealed.

“Lady Xu, why don’t you accept our young master’s offer? As long as you’re willing to become his woman, all the past grievances will be forgotten, and we will release you immediately,” Yu Tianyi said as he stood before Xu Lingxue.

“Never!” Xu Lingxue raised her head proudly, her eyes shimmering with chill. She hadn’t expected Bai Yuan to be such a despicable person.

“Why are you being so stubborn? Do you want those disciples to die alongside you?” Yu Tianyi sneered, his gaze lingering on Xu Lingxue with a lustful glint. Though tempted to act on his desires, he refrained, knowing Bai Yuan had decreed that anyone who dared touch Xu Lingxue would lose their limbs.

“Your Heavenly Origin Sect is finished! Even if you kill us all, my master will avenge us!” The Misty Sect disciples spat at Yu Tianyi. They also hadn’t expected the Heavenly Origin Sect disciples to be a bunch of hypocrites.

Many Misty Sect disciples had previously urged Xu Lingxue to forget about Liu Wuxie. In their eyes, there was no way someone from the mundane world like Liu Wuxie could rival a figure like Bai Yuan in the cultivation world. However, their perspectives had drastically changed. They now saw Bai Yuan for what he truly was—a beast cloaked in human skin.

“You’re all waiting for him to rescue you, aren’t you? But have you all considered that he’ll only die if he comes? As long as you’re willing to become the young master’s woman, not only will you be freed, but so will he,” Yu Tianyi continued to speak as he circled around Xu Lingxue.

Xu Lingxue’s body twitched, and her eyes flickered with pain as she imagined Liu Wuxie charging into the Thorn Peak Valley by himself. She roared, “That’s enough!”

“I have said my piece and the decision is yours,” Yu Tianyi continued. He had already said enough, and it was time for Xu Lingxue to make her decision. Everyone would live if she agreed to it or die if she refused.

“Senior Sister Xu, don’t agree to it! We would rather die than watch you fall into that pit of fire!” the Misty Sect disciples cried out.

“I won’t agree with him!” Xu Lingxue said, biting her lips. She wasn’t afraid of death, but she was afraid of implicating Liu Wuxie.

Yu Tianyi walked into the tent belonging to the Heavenly Origin Sect, where Bai Yuan was seated.

“Has she agreed to it?” Bai Yuan asked without even opening his eyes.

“No,” Yu Tianyi answered as he bowed respectfully.

“I’ll give her one more day. If she still refuses, bring her in forcibly,” Bai Yuan said coldly.

“I had told you to execute the plan right from the beginning and make her yours by force,” Yu Tianyi said. He had already given that suggestion to Bai Yuan long ago.

“You don’t understand,” Bai Yuan said, waving his hand. He wouldn’t have waited till now if he could use force. He was the Heavenly Origin Sect’s young master, and his actions represented the sect. Thus, he wouldn’t take that step unless he had no choice.

Yu Tianyi left the tent to chat with the other Heavenly Origin Sect disciples.

......

Liu Wuxie suddenly stopped when he was a hundred miles away from the Thorn Peak Valley.

“Wuxie, what kind of idea did Qu Yang give you?” Murong Yi asked. She had restrained her curiosity along the way as Liu Wuxie would have to face the joined forces of the three major sects if he went in recklessly.

Even if they were strong, they had no chance against an overwhelming wave of enemies. Disguising themselves wouldn’t work either, as everyone had to be checked by the Heavenly Origin Sect to enter. The face could be disguised, but not the true essence. Everyone had to hand out a strand of their true essence if they wanted to enter to prevent Liu Wuxie from sneaking in.

Since disguising and charging inside wouldn’t work, Murong Yi couldn’t figure out any idea to rescue Xu Lingxue.

“I’ll let them capture me alive,” Liu Wuxie said as he looked at the Thorn Peak Valley, revealing the audacious plan given to him by Qu Yang. If the three major sects captured him, he would be able to enter and find an opportunity to rescue Xu Lingxue.

If Xu Lingxue weren’t their hostage, he would’ve charged into the Thorn Peak Valley to kill everyone.

“You can’t! That’s too dangerous! If they cripple your cultivation, there’s nothing you will be able to do, no matter how capable you are,” Murong Yi protested. The plan was too dangerous.

“Is there any other solution aside from that?” Liu Wuxie countered. If he were to charge in, Bai Yuan could use Xu Lingxue to threaten him.

“I can’t let you risk your life!” Murong Yi said, biting on her lips. After all they had been through, she didn’t want to see Liu Wuxie walk to his own death, not to mention no one would save her parents if he died.

“Don’t worry. I won’t die, and I can’t accomplish this mission by myself. I need your help as well,” Liu Wuxie said, caressing Murong Yi’s hair. The latter didn’t resist as tears slid down her cheeks. She knew no one could stop Liu Wuxie once he set his mind on something.

“What do you need me to do?” Murong Yi asked, taking a deep breath. She could only help him since she couldn’t stop him. It had been so many years, and even she wasn’t sure if her parents were still alive.

Even if she brought Liu Wuxie to the Western Barren, it would be futile if her parents had already died. It was the belief that there was a possibility her parents could be saved that had kept her going throughout the years, and she would’ve crumbled long ago otherwise.

Liu Wuxie leaned over and whispered in Murong Yi’s ears, and she nodded. After the plan was set, the two parted ways. Liu Wuxie headed toward the Thorn Peak Valley while Murong Yi moved in the other direction, where many experts were gathering.

The Indigo Cloud Gate’s Shen Ling was rushing to the Thorn Peak Valley with over a dozen people. They had rushed over after receiving the news that Bai Yuan had captured Xu Lingxue, and they were the last group of people left.

Aside from Deng Yong, Shen Ling was the second strongest disciple in the Indigo Cloud Gate. Ever since entering the Heavenly Mountain, he had been searching its depths, but his efforts had yielded no results.

“Senior Brother Shen, look over there! There’s someone up ahead!” When an Indigo Cloud Gate disciple pointed out to the front, they saw a person heading towards the Thorn Peak Valley.

“That silhouette looks familiar...” another disciple whispered.

“He’s Liu Wuxie!” Shen Ling narrowed his eyes as he recognized Liu Wuxie’s back.

“He must be heading to the Thorn Peak Valley, and he seems to be at a loss judging from his appearance,” chuckled another disciple. If Liu Wuxie fell into their hands, all his treasures would be theirs to take.

“Senior Brother Shen, what should we do? Should we act ourselves, or do we notify those in the "Thorn Peak Valley?" a youth beside Shen Ling asked cautiously. They had heard of Liu Wuxie’s formidable strength and weren’t confident they could defeat him on their own. Naturally, the safest approach was to notify others and gang up on him.

“We might not get a share in the spoils if we do that,” the other disciples rejected. It wasn’t a secret that Liu Wuxie had treasures on him, and the Indigo Cloud Gate wouldn’t have any chance if Bai Yuan came.

Everyone turned to look at Shen Ling, who was the strongest among them. As the leader of their party, he was naturally the one to make the decision.

“Senior Brother Shen, didn’t you just forge an imprisoning artifact? I heard it can even imprison cultivators in the low levels of the Nascent Transformation Realm. Why don’t you use it on him?” asked a youth beside Shen Ling, barely containing his excitement.

“Senior Brother Jia, we would’ve forgotten if you hadn’t mentioned it. The Extreme Yang Rope is more than enough to capture Liu Wuxie,” the other disciples chimed in eagerly. The Extremely Yang Rope was similar to the Earth-Binding Chains, but it wasn’t as powerful.

The Earth-Binding Chains would tighten the more the victim struggled, and even those with higher cultivation would have difficulty breaking free, while the Extreme Yang Rope could only be used to capture. If one was strong enough, they could break free from it. Even so, it was still considered a rare treasure.

“The Extreme Yang Rope isn’t complete, and it won’t be easy to capture him,” Shen Ling said. He didn’t let his feelings get over his head. While the Extreme Yang Rope was powerful, it could only deal with cultivators in the Astral River Realm, and it was risky against someone like Liu Wuxie. However, Shen Ling didn’t want to give up on this golden opportunity either.

“How will we know without giving it a try? Senior Brother Shen, don’t underestimate yourself,” the other disciples urged, their voices tinged with greed. After capturing Liu Wuxie, they could extract his primordial soul and squeeze every secret out of him.

Shen Ling hesitated briefly and ultimately decided to give it a try, as his greed outweighed his rationale. No one was immune to desire, not even him.

Although Liu Wuxie was facing them with his back, he could hear their conversation clearly, but he pretended to be oblivious.

Shen Ling took out the Extreme Yang Rope and threw it toward Liu Wuxie.

“Who is it?!” Liu Wuxie roared when Shen Ling took out the Extreme Yang Rope. But it was already too late—the rope coiled tightly around him, binding his arms firmly to his waist. No matter how he struggled, he couldn’t break free from its powerful restraint.

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