The aura of these Foundation Establishment cultivators was incredibly strong, and to Xu Ping's eyes, the two streaks of light escaping seemed particularly familiar.

They were precisely Duan Shuang and Gong Yang!

"Enter the grand array first!"

Xu Ping quickly transmitted his voice via divine sense and raised his hand to take out an array plate.

The mist at the edge of the array instantly dispersed, and the pink and yellow Escape Light, like two meteors, swiftly rushed into the array and the grand array firmly closed thereafter.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Xu…" Duan Shuang's charming face appeared pale, and the trace of blood at the corners of her mouth tugged at people's hearts.

Though Gong Yang seemed okay, his aura was also weak, suggesting he had sustained some injuries.

"What happened to the two of you? Who is chasing you?" Xu Ping asked with a frown.

With the puppets and talismans he had given them, battling against a Late-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator should have been no problem, so why were they being pursued by so many Foundation Establishment cultivators?

Could it be that they had obtained some kind of good thing in the ruins?

"Alas, Fellow Daoist Duan seized the Hundred-Year Fruit right in front of the Song family, so naturally, the Song family wouldn't let the two of us go." Gong Yang sighed in response.

"Hundred-Year Fruit!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Ping felt a surge of joy in his heart and couldn't help but look at Duan Shuang.

He had given them so many resources, and now at last, it hadn't been in vain.

"Behold, Fellow Daoist!"

Duan Shuang smiled like a blooming flower, her pale complexion revealing a tender beauty that evoked compassion.

She turned her jade-like hand over, and a jade-green box appeared in her palm.

Before Xu Ping could take a closer look, a loud shout reached their ears.

"Duan Shuang, Gong Yang… hand over the 'Hundred-Year Fruit' immediately."

Outside the array, purple light gathered and revealed three cultivators in cyan robes: two were Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment, and one was Late-Stage Foundation Establishment.

The Late-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator waved his hand, stopping the two behind him, and approached the edge of the grand array. A flash of blue appeared in his eyes as he seemed to penetrate the array's barrier, spotting Xu Ping and the others concealed in the mist.

"Xu Ping, the Guest Minister of Qiu Xuan Mountain?"

A cold smile tugged at his lips, "Don't think that just because you've comprehended Sword Qi Thunder Sound, you can take Yue Country by storm. Open the array and hand over the Hundred-Year Fruit, and I might let bygones be bygones!"

Listening to the threats outside the array, Xu Ping wasn't concerned. Let alone him, not even the Song family's Fake Pill ancestor could get in with the array's protection.

Xu Ping ignored the other party, opening the jade box to reveal a crystal-clear spiritual peach, the size of a fist, emitting an exotic fragrance.

"So this is the Hundred-Year Peach?"

Xu Ping's eyes gleamed with joy as the exotic fragrance wafted towards him, stirring his longevity mana eagerly.

"I'm no longer young, and have been anxious about my lifespan. Who would've thought the two of you would achieve such a fortune!"

He placed the jade-green box in his Storage Ring, then activated a part of the array and revealed himself.

The Late-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator outside the array had long seen Xu Ping's every move and his face darkened: "Xu Ping… don't court your own doom!"

Just an Early-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, even if he comprehended Sword Qi Thunder Sound, couldn't last a few rounds against him, let alone compare with the entire Song family.

This array seemed somewhat unusual, making him wary of rash action, otherwise, he would have breached it long ago.

"Be careful, Fellow Daoist Xu, this person's name is Song Fei. His mana is nearly at Foundation Establishment Perfection, and he holds a unique treasure, the Xuanwu Sword, making his strength comparable to Foundation Establishment Perfection!"

"Do not meet him head-on, rely on the power of the array, and he won't dare to enter." Gong Yang reminded Xu Ping via divine sense.

"Thank you for the reminder, Fellow Daoist Gong."

Xu Ping nodded, then turned his gaze towards Song Fei, his tone calm: "In the ruins, whatever one gains is according to their own fortune. It's unreasonable for you to snatch away possessions… how about extending some face to me, and we call it a truce?"

"Your face?"

Upon hearing this, Song Fei sneered: "A mere Early-Stage Foundation Establishment dare spout such arrogance, one would think you're a Golden Core cultivator. If you dare leave the array to duel me, and if you win, I will leave."

"Fellow Daoist Xu, do not act on impulse, I know your combat strength is unparalleled, but the gap in cultivation is too big, don't fall for his provocation!" observed Gong Yang, upon seeing Xu Ping's apparent movement.

"I feel the same way!" Duan Shuang nodded in agreement.

"Thank you both for your counsel, I am well aware of the situation!" Xu Ping nodded.

"As long as you understand,"

Both thought Xu Ping had given up the idea of fighting the other party, and were instantly relieved.

However, in the next instant, they heard Xu Ping coldly declare: "Since Fellow Daoist Song is so confident in his own strength, I might as well spar with you!"

"Fellow Daoist Xu!"

Duan Shuang and Gong Yang were shocked, and were about to stop him, only to see Xu Ping already opening the array and stepping out.

"Who would have thought you'd be so foolish!"

Seeing Xu Ping straightforwardly exit the array, surprise flashed across Song Fei's eyes, then he laughed mockingly once he regained composure.

"You talk too much. I hope your skill is as strong as your mouth!" Xu Ping's tone was indifferent.

"You... courting death!"

A trace of viciousness flickered across Song Fei's face as he grasped a small golden sword in his hand.

The two Song family cultivators behind him sensibly retreated swiftly. To deal with an Early-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator certainly didn't require ganging up.

After all, their Song family was a Fake Pill family, still needing to maintain some face.

"Hmph!"

Xu Ping snorted coldly, his aura suddenly surged, instantly rising from Early-Stage Foundation Establishment to Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment. The Purple Sun Sword appeared in his hand at some point,

"Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment?"

Song Fei slightly narrowed his eyes, "You kid, you've hidden quite deeply!"

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