Why were these guys, who were clearly up to no good, all just low-level thugs?
It was simple. The blocking party were all strangely dressed. If you called them beggars, some were in decent suits, but if you called them respectable people, some were carrying wolf-tooth clubs, some had smudged eye makeup, and some were covered in tattoos.
Their formations were scattered, and their stances were all over the place. Just standing there, they were riddled with flaws and lacked any semblance of a strong presence.
It was clear these guys were just a motley crew, temporarily assembled to seek revenge on Yan Shouyi.
However, Yan Shouyi didn't let his guard down because of this.
In fact, he didn't know that the Heavenly Master had leaked the news of his participation in the Luotian Grand Ceremony. But since these thugs dared to block his path so brazenly, it was obvious they had backing from someone.
How to deal with these thugs became a problem.
Abbess Guanyun said directly, "You stay in the car. I'll take the disciples of our Emei Mountain out to clear these obstacles for you."
"Aunt Master, be careful of a trap," Yan Shouyi stopped Abbess Guanyun. "Let me get out of the car with you. Whatever moves they have, we'll face them."
Abbess Guanyun also felt there was no need to coddle Yan Shouyi too much. This kid had grown up through years of hardship without losing any limbs.
So she agreed and got out of the car with Yan Shouyi.
The young Taoist priest driving the car had never suffered such indignities since arriving at Longhu Mountain.
Seeing someone dare to block the road within Longhu Mountain, he was furious. He got out of the car and pointed at the thugs, shouting curses,
"Who are you petty individuals? Do you know where this is? This is Longhu Mountain, the foremost sect of the Xuanmen. You dare to block the road here, have you been kicked in the head by a donkey?! Before our people arrive, I advise you... Pwah!"
Before the young Taoist priest could finish speaking, a blocker near him stepped forward and slapped him hard across the face.
The young Taoist priest was stunned by the blow, covering his face and looking at the person in disbelief.
The man sneered, "Your people haven't arrived, yet you're so arrogant!"
"You..."
"Enough nonsense. We are here precisely to kill Yan Shouyi, the son of Yan Chou. Is he in the car? Call him out, hand him over to us, and the rest of you can scram!"
The young Taoist priest couldn't help but glance back at Yan Shouyi. He knew Yan Shouyi's name but had no idea why these people wanted to kill him.
Yan Shouyi spoke up, "Young Taoist, leave this matter to us. You should return to the car. No one will blame you for anything."
The young Taoist priest gritted his teeth and shook his head, saying, "No. This is Longhu Mountain, and no one can act recklessly under the Tianshi's watch! Since you have come to Longhu Mountain, you are guests of Longhu Mountain. How can I hide behind my guests?!"
It was evident that this young Taoist priest's skills were not proficient. He couldn't even defeat these thugs, yet he had the courage to stand in their way and even in front of Yan Shouyi.
Such courage was truly admirable. He was completely different from the two young Taoist priests before him.
Even Abbess Guanyun asked, "Young Taoist, what is your name?"
The young Taoist priest replied, "I am an outer disciple. My name is Zhu Feifeng."
Zhu Feifeng's name sounded a bit like a girl's, and the young Taoist priest indeed looked delicate. Yan Shouyi remembered the name.
He stepped forward, standing shoulder to shoulder with Zhu Feifeng, and smiled at the group of thugs blocking the road,
"Didn't we agree that you would come to me one by one? Why have you all gathered at Longhu Mountain? What a shame. If you had waited a bit longer, you could have at least had a meal. But since you're all here, let's settle all past and present grievances together."
The thugs recognized Yan Shouyi and their eyes immediately turned red. "You're Yan Shouyi?! We searched high and low for you, and now you've appeared without effort. Since we've found you, there's nothing more to say. Die!!"
The thugs drew their weapons and charged towards Yan Shouyi.
Yan Shouyi's eyes narrowed. He quickly formed a hand seal for the Five Thunder Orthodox Method and struck the group at the forefront.
These thugs all knew common martial arts moves and had never even seen a terrifying technique like the Five Thunder Orthodox Method. They were immediately struck, their hair exploded, smoke billowed from their mouths, and they convulsed on the ground.
However, a few of them were genuinely skilled and dodged the Five Thunder Orthodox Method, continuing to surround Yan Shouyi.
Seeing these people attacking Yan Shouyi, Abbess Guanyun intended to intervene, but Long Feicheng and the others had already rushed out ahead of her!
Long Feicheng held the Caiwei Sword in one hand and a palm lightning talisman in the other!
Wang Jiwang wielded two cleavers, their cold glint chilling to the bone!
A Gong threw out paper snakes, and these paper snakes were larger than the bus!
Luo Ning merely snapped his fingers, and several decaying zombies crawled out of the nearby ground!
Zhao Yiyao also summoned her Huang Sipi, a weasel as large as a wild dog, walking upright, which was indeed terrifying!
He Xiping threw out the Immortal Rope, seemingly tying it to the sky. With a tug, the clear sky suddenly became overcast, and thunder rumbled!
Yan Shouyi smiled slightly and, surrounded by everyone, summoned Zhu Shanzao.
Compared to before, Zhu Shanzao was even larger, with two tusks like long spears that could easily pierce a person's body!
The seven displayed their unique abilities, their aura completely overwhelming the thugs before them. Even the young Taoist priest Zhu Feifeng, standing on the same side as Yan Shouyi, trembled.
Is this the ability of folk sects?
Why do they seem even more terrifying than the Taoist priests of Longhu Mountain?
Abbess Guanyun was also astonished by the scene. She hadn't expected Yan Shouyi's friends to be so outstanding!
Faced with this display, the thugs were all stunned. They had thought it was a simple robbery and murder, but now it felt like they had intercepted an armed force.
For a moment, they were caught between advancing and retreating. If a fight truly broke out, none of them would likely survive. But since they had come this far, how could they face anyone if they retreated in shame now?
However, even though everyone had shown their true abilities, Yan Shouyi didn't seem to intend to attack immediately.
He completely ignored the thugs in front of him and instead shouted into the surrounding forest,
"You are all important figures. Stop sending low-level thugs to be cannon fodder. Aren't you ashamed? If you truly want to kill me, I, Yan Shouyi, am here now. If you have the guts, show yourselves and fight me openly!"
Zhu Feifeng was greatly shocked. Yan Shouyi not only possessed astonishing strength but also remarkable spirit and courage.
The thugs were angered and shouted at Yan Shouyi, "What do you mean, cannon fodder? Are you looking down on us?!"
As soon as the words fell, Ling Xiaoxiao's Emei thorns were already at the man's forehead. The delicate woman Ling Xiaoxiao said faintly, "Did my Brother Yan allow you to speak?"
A drop of cold sweat trickled down the man's forehead.
Seeing that Ling Xiaoxiao had also rushed out, Abbess Guanyun couldn't help but chuckle, "This girl has indeed learned bad from following Yan Shouyi!"