Chapter 442

Chapter 442: Falling Into the Trap

Not only him, but even those around Fang Lie grew terrified, quietly distancing themselves from him.

Fang Lie casually twirled the thunder pearl in his hand, grinning. "Since you won’t tell me the local rules, don’t blame me for breaking them. Fair enough?"

The red-robed elder nearly wept with frustration yet lacked the courage to protest—nothing mattered more than preserving his own life.

Ignoring this, Fang Lie pressed, "Now tell me—what’s your take on today’s incident? Choose your words carefully, lest I reconsider my mercy."

Beads of sweat formed on the elder’s forehead as he forced out, "That fool deserved his fate. Your judgment was righteous!"

"Good answer." Fang Lie nodded approvingly before pocketing the thunder pearl. He casually collected the cage and Young Master Lan’s storage pouch, then strolled away unchallenged.

Not a soul dared obstruct him or even breathe loudly until he vanished from sight.

Once safe, the onlookers exhaled in relief. "No wonder he acts so boldly! Carrying high-grade Divine Lightning with his undying nature makes him a walking catastrophe—survives any blast while obliterating everyone else!"

"Did you see how many thunder pearls he had? Enough to level half of Chaos Demon City! Who’d risk provoking such madness?"

"Poor Young Master Lan—just idle boasting overheard by the wrong person. What wretched luck!"

"Not luck—sheer stupidity. Did that minor fool think he could slander Fang Lie? Even if spared today, the reckoning would come eventually!"

"Exactly! Textbook case of ‘don’t stir trouble unless seeking death’!"

Meanwhile, Fang Lie returned to his quarters. Freeing the Green Fox Demons from their cage, he watched them kneel tearfully. "Young Master! Our eternal gratitude for your mercy!"

"Rise. ‘Young Master’ suffices." Helping them up, he asked, "Who speaks for you?"

A tall green-robed woman stepped forward. "Though leaderless, my sisters heed my counsel as the eldest."

"Your name?"

"Qingqing, Young Master."

"When were you taken from Ten Thousand Flower Valley?"

"Nearly a year past," Qingqing answered bitterly. "The Jin Family seized us. Thousands were separated and sold—only we few remain."

"Others’ whereabouts?"

"Unknown." Qingqing wept. "Caged constantly, we learned nothing."

"When did Young Master Lan acquire you?"

"Two days past. Strange—we were kept distant as pets, then abruptly shipped here. Expected new tormentors, yet found ourselves sold again."

Fang Lie’s eyes narrowed. "I killed rightly. They planted you here to draw me out."

"Why, Young Master?"

"This Chaos Demon City reeks of traps. I came only for rumors of the Dao Pattern Heavenly Eye—to combine with my Earth Eye for the Twin Eyes of Heaven and Earth. Such treasures don’t surface conveniently. Yet seeing you sold forced my hand—exactly their scheme."

Qingqing paled. "You shouldn’t have saved us!"

"We’re mere servants—not worth your peril!" others cried.

"What is this nonsense?" Fang Lie laughed. "You’re my people, so of course I must protect you. When has the Fang Family ever abandoned its own? If I did such a thing, how could I face our ancestors?"

"Young Master~" The Green Fox Demons shed grateful tears.

Fang Lie smiled gently. "Enough tears. Though I’m stubborn, I’m no fool. Knowing this place might be a trap, how could I come unprepared?"

"So you have a plan?" Qingqing exclaimed. "Let us stay and help!"

"Yes! We’ll fight the villains with you!" the little demons cheered.

"Impossible," Fang Lie said, torn between laughter and exasperation. "My undying nature means death costs me nothing. But you’d only become burdens here."

"Oh…" Qingqing’s shoulders slumped. "Then… we’ll wait outside the city?"

"This is Chaos Demon City—lawless and dangerous." Fang Lie shook his head. "I’ll send you directly to Ten Thousand Flower Valley."

"No!" Qingqing paled. "The Jin Family’s tyrants rule there!"

"Master, have mercy!" another demon pleaded. "They’ll sell us again!"

"We want to stay with you!" others cried.

Fang Lie sighed. "You misunderstand. The valley is mine now—the Jin Family was expelled. Your Green Fox Clan governs it."

"Truly? I can see Mother again!"

"Father was coughing blood when they took me—is he well?"

"My younger siblings… At last, I can check on them!"

"Enough chatter." Fang Lie produced a jade artifact. "Enter this Herb Garden. I’ll teleport you home."

The demons thanked him profusely before filing into the treasure. Activating the Sending-Home Art, Fang Lie dispatched the garden to the Cycle of Fire’s teleportation array, linked to Ten Thousand Flower Valley and Iron-Walled Jin City. The old bird would handle the rest.

Relief warmed Fang Lie’s chest—these loyal souls were safe. Dusk approached, so he ordered a lavish feast at the inn, gorging for half an hour until moonrise.

As he prepared to cultivate, invisible bonds seized his body. Terrifying power flooded his meridians, sealing both Qi Sea and consciousness sea. Magic evaporated; divine sense flickered out. Helpless as a trussed lamb, he couldn’t even summon death.

A hunched figure materialized—a green-robed elder barely four feet tall, features twisted with malice. Lightning danced around his oceanic aura, marking him as a late-stage Thunder Tribulation Immortal.

Fang Lie glared. "A Thunder Tribulation expert ambushing a junior? How shameless."

The elder shrugged. "What choice? A mere whelp topples Sword Fortresses, slays Thunder Tribulation Elders, wields the Benevolence Token… We baited you with the Dao Pattern Heavenly Eye, provoked you with demons, then trapped you using Chaos Demon City’s protective array. You lose with honor."

"Flattering efforts." Fang Lie eyed the sect emblem. "Ghost Realm Sect, I presume?"

"Great Elder Immortal Youhuo himself!" The runt preened. "Second only to our Sect Leader and the Ghost Realm Patriarch! Rejoice—your capture will be legendary!"