There are always those better than you, just as there are skies beyond skies.
When encountering matters or people, observe more and act less.
Do not undertake anything without absolute certainty.
These were the words her master spoke before she descended the mountain.
She had adhered to them, remaining hidden for so many years.
This time, the risk of capturing Chu Tian was because he had a critical task to perform.
This task concerned the safety of everyone within the entire city of Biandu.
Thus, she had acted rashly against Chu Tian, without any prior investigation or knowledge of his background.
In her mind, this was a case of sacrificing the lesser for the greater.
Furthermore, Chu Tian was among the caravan of the escort agency.
Who among these escort agency personnel hadn't had blood on their hands?
Many escort agencies, even without contracts, would moonlight as horse bandits, playing roles on both sides of the law.
Therefore, when she acted against Chu Tian, she felt no psychological burden.
It was precisely this occasion that led to her downfall at Chu Tian's hands.
However, this fellow didn't seem like a bad person.
She wondered if she could bring him onto her side.
Such a powerful body cultivator.
Perhaps she could...
"What wicked idea are you cooking up in here?"
As Ling'er was contemplating, Chu Tian's voice suddenly interrupted her thoughts.
She turned her gaze towards Chu Tian.
He was staring intently at her face.
"I... nothing..."
The woman was startled and quickly denied it.
"You nothing? You were spacing out, your eyes darting around. It's obvious you're plotting something!"
Chu Tian let out a scoff, curling his lips.
"You... how can you speak so rudely!" Ling'er's expression shifted.
"Isn't this place for rude people? What, did you expect to come here for romance, moonlit strolls, and poetic exchanges?"
Chu Tian swept his gaze around the room.
He gestured to her that this was a brothel.
Ling'er froze, her face flushing crimson. Of course, she knew what kind of place this was.
From outside, the laughter of various women could be heard.
"Benefactor, please stop teasing her. I can feel your soul's fluctuation; you are a good person. You don't know what the Soul Spirit Sect does. If you did, you'd surely look at them with new respect!"
The faint violet fox spirit spoke up, defending Ling'er.
"I've always heard you mention the Soul Spirit Sect. What exactly is it? Tell me!"
Having constantly heard them speak of it, Chu Tian's interest was indeed piqued.
This so-called Soul Spirit Sect seemed to be a formidable entity.
Yet, it was also a place that operated in the shadows.
Otherwise, why would this girl need to hide in such a place?
Boom...
Just as the little fox and Ling'er were about to speak.
Suddenly, from a great distance.
A rumbling sound echoed.
Several massive aura fluctuations surged into the sky from that direction.
The two and one spirit looked up towards that area.
"It's the direction of the imperial palace..."
Ling'er spoke.
Her face then changed drastically.
"This is bad, they are coming towards us."
Ling'er only vaguely saw a few dark specks, but Chu Tian clearly saw the figures ascending from the direction of the imperial palace.
There were six people in total, four men and two women.
Behind each of them, a phantom was projected.
All were beastly spiritual shadows, and their gazes, as Ling'er had said, were fixed in their direction.
"Hmm? They can fly?"
Chu Tian furrowed his brow, his heart sinking.
These six individuals possessed powerful auras and could glide through the air. Were they more formidable than him?
Chu Tian realized that the gazes of these six individuals met his, meaning they could see him as well.
"It must be that Yue Hua's soul lamp extinguished, and they've discovered us! Before they find us, we must escape!"
Ling'er suddenly recalled something, her expression terrified, she retreated towards the back, intending to sneak out of the brothel.
If she jumped out from this window, it would undoubtedly attract the attention of the pursuers.
It had to be said that she remained quite calm, not panicking without direction.
"We can't escape. They've already locked onto this location."
Chu Tian, however, stood by the window, gazing into the distance.
Hearing Chu Tian's words, Ling'er, who was already at the door, froze.
"You all go! I killed the person. They are targeting me!" Chu Tian said calmly.
"It must be that when she died, a trace of her resentment clung to you. No wonder I felt a piece of her soul was missing when I absorbed her!" The small purple fox also remembered something.
Ling'er's face grew grim upon hearing this. Looking at Chu Tian, she said, "This is all my fault; I never imagined I would implicate you."
"Heh, the way you put it. You drugged me and knocked me out. Are you saying you didn't intend to harm me?"
Chu Tian was speechless, rolling his eyes at her.
Before the woman could say anything else, Chu Tian waved his hand.
He placed his hand on the windowsill.
"I'll go meet them!" As he spoke, he shot out.
"Ay..." Ling'er reached out, trying to stop Chu Tian, but it was too late.
Chu Tian shot out of the window, folding in mid-air and landing on the opposite rooftop.
With a few leaps, he sped towards the direction of his pursuers.
The individuals from the imperial palace also paused upon seeing Chu Tian's appearance.
They hadn't expected this person not to flee but to approach them instead.
By instinct, this person's physique was powerful, the blood and qi emanating from him far exceeding that of a soul controller.
Thus, there was only one conclusion: he was undoubtedly a body cultivator.
"Hahahaha, we've struck gold." One of the women said with a beaming smile.
Her body lowered, and she accelerated directly towards Chu Tian.
"Third Sister, are you trying to poach someone?" A refined, scholar-like man, with the phantom of a giant python coiled behind him, playfully jested at the woman.
The others, witnessing this scene, slowed their bodies in mid-air.
Evidently, they placed blind faith in the strength of the woman called Third Sister.
Chu Tian saw that five of the six individuals had stopped, and one woman was charging towards him.
He couldn't help but curl his lips.
Although these individuals could fly, and were likely the Venerate-level beings that Lin Qingyuan had spoken of.
He truly didn't take them seriously.
He also wanted to gauge just how strong the so-called experts of this world were.
The woman had a scorpion behind her.
While still some distance from Chu Tian.
The scorpion behind her raised its azure tail high.
The tip of the tail flashed with points of cold light, as if condensing some skill.
The woman's body showed no signs of stopping.
She landed directly on the rooftop where Chu Tian stood.
Letting out a fierce cry.
She lunged forward, intending to engage Chu Tian in close combat.
Chu Tian also noticed her characteristics: her fists and feet.
Coupled with the scorpion's legs and tail.
Even her two large pincers.
All became part of her close-quarters combat.
"Hmm?" Chu Tian had always assumed that so-called soul controllers were akin to mages.
He hadn't expected them to be capable of close combat as well.
This was his misconception.
In this world, whether body cultivators or soul controllers.
They possessed various combat techniques for both close and long range.
It wasn't as he imagined, with body cultivators being melee and soul controllers being ranged.
Since it was close combat, Chu Tian naturally wasn't afraid.
The corners of his mouth curved slightly.
His body flickered in place, and when he reappeared.
It caused the five individuals maintaining formation in the air to gasp in terror.