Heyang County was where Xiao Chen had last led a team to raid the Xuan Family, unexpectedly acquiring the Wuji Spirit Soil.
After that, the sect dispatched two Outer Disciples to act as hidden lookouts for easier surveillance.
But just half a month ago, these two lookouts failed to send back their latest reports on schedule.
So, an Inner Sect Disciple was sent to investigate the situation.
But strangely, a week passed after the Inner Sect Disciple left, and he too vanished without a trace.
Considering the Xuan Family’s previous dealings with demon cultivators, Mei Yong naturally suspected that Demon Cultivators were active there once more.
According to the Demon Extermination Hall’s structure, Xiao Chen and Huang Haoran, as managers, could have mobilized other disciples from the hall to go with them.
Mei Yong also said he could help arrange for a Spiritual Boat.
However, after some thought, Xiao Chen chose to fly there on his sword and operate alone.
With the Vertical Earth Golden Light and the Divine Protection Veil, he was practically invincible, even in a direct confrontation with a Demon Cultivator.
Bringing a few Qi Refining Cultivators along would just be a liability.
By the next afternoon, he had crossed three hundred miles and arrived outside Heyang County.
Compared to his last visit, the place was much more deserted.
In the surrounding fields, almost no one could be seen working, and many weeds had sprouted.
Xiao Chen descended on his Sword Light and entered the town on foot.
Strangely, there wasn’t a single soul on the streets.
He extended his Divine Sense, only to find that within a radius of several hundred yards, not only were there no people, but even livestock and birds had vanished without a trace.
Judging from the open storefronts and half-shuttered windows, it seemed the residents had all left in a sudden rush, without even having time to secure their homes.
Xiao Chen walked along the street and found half-dried laundry, burnt flatbread on a stove, and dye that had already solidified.
Their owners had left in such a hurry that they didn’t even have time to tidy up a little.
’The people are gone, but why are the ants gone too?’
Xiao Chen’s Divine Sense swept across the corners of the walls and over the ground, but he couldn’t find so much as a single insect.
’How could they have possibly done this?’
He truly could not figure it out.
After mulling it over, he decided to go to the Xuan Family estate to see if he could find any clues.
Just as Xiao Chen was completely baffled, two cultivators, one tall and one short, were hiding far away on the tallest bell tower in the town, watching him.
The short one hunched his shoulders. "Boss, he used Sword Flight. That’s definitely a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. We should get out of here, fast."
"Shut up. What are you panicking for?"
The tall cultivator glared at him in displeasure. "With the Enchanting Soul Fragrance, sooner or later he’ll be drawn in by the scent and gradually become a mindless puppet."
The shorter man was still afraid. "Boss, that cultivator from a few days ago was wearing a Li Huo Sect Magic Robe. I bet this one is a Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Li Huo Sect too."
"The Li Huo Sect has many masters. What if he has a way to counter the Enchanting Soul Fragrance?"
"You don’t know shit!"
The tall cultivator took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "So what if he’s at Foundation Establishment? Is that supposed to be so amazing?"
"Er Dan, I’ll tell you the truth: I’m about to reach Foundation Establishment myself."
"After I reach Foundation Establishment, I can refine that Divine Soldier. When that time comes, killing him will be as easy as killing a chicken."
He pointed below. "Besides, just look for yourself."
Er Dan curiously peeked over and saw Xiao Chen walking toward the old Xuan Family residence.
He immediately grew excited. "Boss, he’s going for it! He fell for it too!"
"Of course."
The tall man stared at Xiao Chen’s back and whispered fanatically, "No one can resist the temptation of the Enchanting Soul Fragrance, not even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator."
"They will all become fodder for my cultivation."
...
Xiao Chen walked into the Xuan Family estate. Standing outside the already dilapidated main gate, he could see the broken threshold.
Several shoes, a few straw hats, and some messy ribbons were scattered on the ground.
A nauseating stench of decay wafted over the courtyard wall, making him wrinkle his nose in disgust.
Holding his breath for the moment, he walked into the courtyard.
Following the scattered tracks, he came to the rear courtyard.
Xiao Chen discovered that a large number of footprints all pointed toward a cellar used for storing grain.
He remembered glancing into this cellar before. It had been filled to the brim with wheat, beans, and other foodstuffs.
’Could these be tracks left by mortals from the town, here to loot the grain?’