Chapter 991: The Furious Purple Leaf King

This sincerity seemed to come from the heart, carrying a natural appeal that was impossible to refuse.

"The items aren't important. What matters most are those two guys who stole from the City Lord's Mansion. If we don't catch them, where will Jingyuan City's dignity go?"

Influenced by the other's "sincerity," the guard couldn't help but speak.

"That's true. Stealing from the City Lord's Mansion is indeed unforgivable!"

Zhang Xuan nodded, full of righteousness. "However, if you search like this and they really are hiding here, they will surely know and might sneak away. How about this: let Hall Master Hu activate all the surrounding formations, leaving them no escape, and then we'll make other plans!"

"This..."

The guard dared not decide and turned to look at the nearby Purple Leaf King.

"Hmm."

After a moment's hesitation, the Purple Leaf King nodded and instructed, "Those two fellows are deeply versed in formations. It would be best to activate the most powerful formation of your Ink Cloud Pavilion. Otherwise, I'm afraid they might still leave easily."

The one who rescued Elder Xu had easily altered and activated the formation. Even he couldn't accomplish that. From this alone, it was clear that the other's mastery of formations had reached an extremely profound level. Ordinary formations would never trap him.

"So formidable? How about this: I happen to have a very powerful formation plate here. I'll activate it now!"

Zhang Xuan smiled slightly.

"Formation plate?" The Purple Leaf King frowned.

"I obtained it during a trial. It's already reached the seventh level. I don't usually use it, but since you say those thieves are formidable, this formation is the safest option."

Zhang Xuan nodded.

"Seventh level?" The Purple Leaf King's eyes lit up.

Once such a formation plate was activated, even he would find it hard to escape. That this unremarkable Ink Cloud Pavilion possessed such an item explained how it could auction so many treasures!

Indeed, it should not be underestimated.

"Yes!" Responding, Zhang Xuan flipped his wrist, and a formation plate appeared in his palm. He infused it with true qi, and with a rumble, mist enveloped the surroundings.

"Impressive!"

The Purple Leaf King's pupils contracted.

Though this formation was merely a simple maze, it was extremely stable. Even if he went all out, it would take over ten minutes to break it. Used against those at the Saint Domain second or third level, they would have no way to escape.

"Once we find those two, I'll snatch this formation plate too..."

A gleam flashed in his eyes.

He was an alien tribesman, inherently at odds with humans. Once the two were found, there was no need to keep up the pretense. He would seize this good item first.

If he had had it earlier at the City Lord's Mansion, how could those two have escaped?

"This formation is good. Take our people to search!"

After a moment's thought, the Purple Leaf King waved his hand.

Under the formation's cover, if the two escapees were truly in the Ink Cloud Pavilion, they would have no way to flee. But with such thick fog, his men would certainly be unable to find them. Someone had to lead the way.

"Alright!" Zhang Xuan nodded and gave instructions: "Hu Yunsheng, take the City Lord's Mansion friends to search everywhere. Oh, and prepare some fine wine. I'll wait here with this Senior Purple Leaf."

"Yes!"

Though he didn't know why this Senior Sun Qiang was so compliant with the other's words, Hu Yunsheng knew obeying was definitely right. He nodded and led the guards forward.

As they advanced, the mist parted automatically, as if guided.

"Just find the people quickly. Forget the wine and food..."

The Purple Leaf King waved his hand.

"Ah, how can we forget! Since the City Lord calls you 'Senior' and the guards follow your command, your status is naturally exalted. We're just merchants; we should make connections early..."

Zhang Xuan smiled.

He controlled the formation plate, directing everyone's movements with a thought. Before long, the earlier Zhu Xiao brought over wine and dishes.

"Senior, please!"

Filling the cup with wine, Zhang Xuan's eyes were full of sincerity.

"Hmm."

He didn't want to drink, but seeing the other's clean and pure eyes without any pretense, he nodded and raised the cup.

Even so, he extended his divine sense to probe the wine before him.

After a moment, he sighed in relief, a hint of shame in his eyes.

His inspection revealed nothing wrong with the wine. The other was genuinely inviting him to drink, while he was being suspicious...

Looking up, he saw the middle-aged man across from him had already downed the wine in one gulp.

"What, the wine doesn't suit your taste? Should I have it changed..."

Seeing him not drink, Zhang Xuan looked over.

"No need..."

With a light smile, the Purple Leaf King drained his cup.

To him, it was just a cup of wine. Not only had he verified it was poison-free, but even if it were poisoned, with his strength, he could easily suppress it and suffer no harm.

"Bold!"

Seeing him finish, Zhang Xuan nodded approvingly. "The Purple Leaf King is truly straightforward, unlike that previous... Water Leaf King. I urged him until my mouth nearly cracked, and he only barely drank a small cup. So troublesome!"

"Water Leaf King?"

Just as he set down the cup, he heard these words. The Purple Leaf King's pupils contracted, and his face changed. "Who are you?"

The guard had only told the other he was Senior Purple Leaf, not the Purple Leaf King!

And most crucially... the other had also mentioned the Water Leaf King!

This comrade of his had just been killed, and this guy spoke the name and even drank a cup of wine... Could there be a connection?

"Sit down, sit down. Don't be nervous. At worst, you'll end up like the Water Leaf King, killed. No big deal..." Zhang Xuan waved his hand and continued pouring wine.

"You... Did you kill the Water Leaf King? Are you that Seven-Star Master Teacher?"

His pupils contracting, the Purple Leaf King felt all the hairs on his body stand on end.

Since the other could kill the Water Leaf King, he naturally had the strength to kill him too. That such a powerful figure was right beside him without his notice was almost unbelievable.

"Seven-Star Master Teacher? Can't you see? I'm also the one who rescued Elder Xu!"

Zhang Xuan looked over with displeasure, his muscles and bones shifting as he transformed back into the appearance of that guard.

"You, you... Die!"

Furious, the Purple Leaf King roared and leaped to his feet, reaching out to strike him down.

A king among the Qingtian lineage of the alien tribe, one of the ten great kings, had been toyed with by a human without even noticing. He felt like he was about to explode.

"Ah, young people, always so impatient..."

Seeing the other attack, Zhang Xuan shook his head and sighed. Without any visible movement, the Purple Leaf King's face turned pale, his body trembled uncontrollably, and he fell to his knees, vomiting blood profusely.

The fine wine he had just drunk contained Zhang Xuan's Heavenly Dao true qi, which had turned into a potent poison upon entering his body.

"You poisoned me..."

Realizing this, the Purple Leaf King trembled, terror in his eyes.

"Yes. Without poison, do you think a Saint Ascender like me could defeat you?"

Splash!

As he spoke, two cups were filled with crystal-clear wine, not a drop spilled.

"Saint Ascender? You... are a Saint Ascender?"

The Purple Leaf King was incredulous.

If the other were a Seven-Star Master Teacher, he might accept being defeated. But a Saint Ascender poisoning him... How was that possible?

"I'm only this strong. Can't you tell?"

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

"A Saint Ascender killing the Water Leaf King... I don't believe it!"

The Purple Leaf King roared.

Even if the Water Leaf King was poisoned, he was still a Saint Domain Fourth Layer expert. Using secret techniques to escape via primordial spirit and kill him would be easy. How could he be killed without even sending a message?

"Don't worry. Not just the Water Leaf King—the Gold Leaf King and the Green Leaf King were also killed by me. No big deal. Rest assured, you'll reunite with them soon!"

Raising a cup of wine, Zhang Xuan took a sip and said calmly.

"You... Pfft!"

The Purple Leaf King swayed.

He had seen the Water Leaf King's corpse with his own eyes. Now hearing that the Gold Leaf King and Green Leaf King were also dead... he nearly went mad.

Among the ten great kings of Qingtian, each was a figure of great renown. Not even in Hongyuan, a mere first-class empire, let alone in the Qingyuan Enfeoffed Empire, would anyone dare underestimate them.

They could at least slaughter cities and wreak havoc, leaving humans helpless.

Now, of the four great kings who had come out at great cost, three had died without accomplishing anything... And from the other's tone, they had all fallen to this Saint Ascender. Was it true?

Terror filled his eyes. Knowing that the other could name them meant it was likely true, the Purple Leaf King dared not stay. He turned to flee.

The Gold, Green, and Water Leaf Kings were each no weaker than him, yet they had all perished at this man's hands. He didn't think he could kill him.

Better to escape first.

As for the poison in his body, once he escaped, he could always find a way to deal with it...

"Leave? I've already set up the formation. Leaving now is a bit rude, don't you think?"

Shaking his head, Zhang Xuan snapped his fingers again.

The Purple Leaf King, who had just flown a short distance, felt excruciating pain all over, fell from the air, and writhed on the ground.

"If I can't escape, we'll die together..."

Feeling the poison tearing through him, threatening death at any moment, the Purple Leaf King knew he couldn't escape. Gritting his teeth, he charged at the middle-aged man again.

Since he couldn't flee, he would bring about mutual destruction!

"Why do you all like to die together?"

Sighing, Zhang Xuan looked exasperated.

He had already killed several of these so-called ten great kings of Qingtian, and each one wanted to die together... So unoriginal!

"You lot, go dig out the thing in his mouth first, then give him a beating!"

With a flick of his finger, seven or eight puppets appeared before him and charged at the Purple Leaf King.

"Alien tribesmen? No, these are puppets..."

Seeing the charging figures, the Purple Leaf King trembled.

To have so many alien tribe puppets as bodyguards—wasn't that the treatment of a king?

Which of you is the alien tribe king, and which am I?

How come I feel... I'm all alone, without a single subordinate, so pathetic...