Yan Hanqing drove the carriage, following the refugees towards the distance.

In the sky, birds flew back and forth, flapping their wings. These were the transformations set by the Talisman Masters of Red Mountain Hall, using transformation charms to change talismans, talisman treasures, and magical treasures into birds and beasts for surveillance purposes.

Throughout the years of development within the Red Mountain Hall Talisman Master Association, many skilled experts had emerged.

Chen Shi practically moved all the classics from the True King's Treasure Vault into the Talisman Master Association, and with instructors teaching and imparting knowledge, within just a few years, many members managed to cultivate to the Void Refinement Realm and Unification Realm.

Cultivators of the Divinity Transformation Realm and Divine Descent Realm were countless.

Yan Hanqing carefully sensed the strongest cultivation nearby belonged to a cultivator in the Refining God Realm.

In Jianghu, the Refining God Realm already represented a remarkable Grandmaster status, aside from independent organizations, such existence was rare.

For the Thirteen Families, reaching the Refining God Realm was also extraordinary; in a Great Family, only twenty to thirty people might achieve this level.

But for Yan Hanqing, a cultivator of the Refining God Realm was still unimpressive.

All the Talisman Masters from Red Mountain Hall in Liuzhou Province combined were unworthy of consideration before him.

He existed at the Mahayana Realm, standing at the peak of the realm, and the accumulation of Red Mountain Hall was far from enough. Except for Chen Shi, there was no adversary worthy of his attention!

Yet, he dared not act recklessly.

Although Red Mountain Hall's Talisman Masters couldn't hold him, Red Mountain Hall had other forces within Liuzhou Province, and these forces were truly terrifying.

These were the Huaxia Gods resurrected by Chen Shi!

During the times of disasters, these gods protected the local people, and even now, after the disasters ended, these gods hadn't disappeared.

This time, Chen Shi targeted the Yan Family in Liuzhou, and Talisman Masters from Red Mountain Hall carried incense from various temples.

These Talisman Masters stuck the burning incense into their hats, and as it burned, they would connect with the gods worshiped in the temples.

If they encountered strong enemies, the power of the gods would descend immediately, either aiding the Talisman Masters to resist attacks or to kill opponents.

Yan Hanqing noticed this, hence he was quite apprehensive.

If he acted, he could indeed kill these Talisman Masters, but it would also expose him and alert all the gods in Liuzhou.

Faced with the wrath of all gods, even someone like him would likely meet a regrettable end!

More terrifyingly, not only Liuzhou, but in the West Bull New Continent's Fifty Provinces, there were Talisman Master Associations everywhere, with Chen Shi's resurrected gods in presence!

This was the foundation Chen Shi established in the past four years!

This was also the reason Sect Master Yan Shihai repeatedly ordered the necessity to hide one's name and identity.

Without changing names or hiding, survival in the West Bull New Continent would be impossible!

"If the Thirteen Families don't join forces, it's difficult to contend against the formidable Chen Shi in the mortal world!" he thought to himself.

In the distance, another battle erupted—a group of Yan family members was discovered and pursued, slaughtered, and besieged by Talisman Masters from Red Mountain Hall.

Yan Hanqing watched from afar, seeing many Yan family members killed, with the remaining ones either fighting or kneeling to beg for mercy.

"Did you spare others before?" someone angrily accused.

Those pleading for mercy were also killed, and a voice angrily claimed, "There is no innocence in exploiting the people's wealth!"

Yan Hanqing's eyes twitched. The carriage moved slowly forward, without intervening.

Three or four groups of Talisman Masters blocked their way in succession, asking for their names, origins, residence, destination, and positions held at Yan Mansion.

Yan Hanqing responded calmly, while these Talisman Masters also questioned Yan Shaomian and Fang Zhenxiu about their names, origins, and backgrounds.

Fang Zhenxiu was a child, and Yan Hanqing worried that his answers might falter, but fortunately, Fang Zhenxiu responded without any mistakes.

They encountered another batch of Talisman Masters performing inspections. Yan Hanqing halted the carriage and laughed apologetically, "Dear heroes, you've checked so many times already, how many more checks are needed?"

The inspecting Talisman Masters were amiable and replied with a friendly expression, "Orders from above, we must comply."

Yan Hanqing asked, "What happens if you find a member of the Yan Family?"

"Orders from above state that anyone from the Yan Family should be slain without mercy."

Upon hearing these words, both Yan Hanqing and Yan Shaomian became solemn.

At this moment, a voice came, "Withdraw, I'll inspect them."

The Talisman Masters saw the newcomer, each bowing before stepping back.

Yan Hanqing heard this voice; his heart spirit trembled slightly, and he tightly gripped the reins involuntarily.

The newcomer was a young man, seemingly only in his twenties, yet possessed an unwavering, unflustered composure as if unfazed by thunder or an impending sky-collapse.

He had a dignified appearance and steady stride, reminding Yan Hanqing of when he traveled to the Western Capital to participate in the Imperial Examination, encountering this person for the first time.

Back then, he was young, full of ambition, determined to claim the title of top scorer and then return home to inherit the position of Sect Master. But unexpectedly, during the Imperial Examination, he encountered this person.

At that time, this person looked exactly as he does now, and decades have passed with barely a change in appearance.

They had several encounters and confrontations—once during the Imperial Examination, twice after, and once during the Imperial Examination's final test.

During the Imperial Examination, he and this person ended in a tie. After the examination, troubled by this result, he challenged the person again, and the outcome was still a tie.

Growing more furious, he faced the person a third time, and yet again, the result was a tie!

His anger grew, believing the person hadn't used their full abilities and was holding back against him.

However, during the final test, this person was defeated by him.

For years afterward, Yan Hanqing often wondered whether, during that final test, this person was genuinely less capable or deliberately refrained from displaying their true abilities, avoiding claiming the title of top scorer.

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