High above the clouds, Zhu Xuanji and Shen Lingshu stood side by side, looking down at the battlefield below.
Although the battlefield was enveloped by a Formation, Zhu Xuanji stimulated his Innate Golden Eyes and, combined with a spell, pierced through the interior to glimpse the actual situation.
Then, through Divine Sense transmission, he let Shen Lingshu also understand the real-time battle situation.
Zhu Xuanji said, "Senior Shen, just as you predicted, Ning Jiufan's journey has met with an ambush."
"You even reckoned he would get through the ordeal without harm."
"Hehe, with us here, of course, he would get through without harm."
After Shen Lingshu manipulated his hand seals for a while, he said, "I have calculated the Formation; it is the Nine-Tailed Demon Array."
"The lines and Array Patterns are all made from the fur of the nine-tailed fox."
"There are eight Array Eyes and one Array Heart. The Array Heart is hidden among the Array Eyes. At first glance, there seems to be no difference, which makes it difficult to locate the key position."
"Currently, these three Golden Core Cultivators, one occupies the Array Heart while two occupy the Array Eyes. Additionally, three of the Array Eyes are burning Enchanting Fragrance, one Array Eye is set with the Demon-Slaying Platform, one with Demon Binding Rope, and astonishingly, the final Array Eye holds a Xuanqi Capturing Bag."
Hearing this, Zhu Xuanji couldn't help but exclaim, "The other side is well-prepared indeed."
"The Nine-Tailed Sky Demon has the ability to bewitch all demons. Using its fur for the Formation is a grand gesture."
"Enchanting Fragrance, Demon Array can confuse even the likes of the elderly Yuan immediately upon release, to even turn against its master."
"Then, in a daze, one would walk onto the Demon-Slaying Platform of their own volition and be beheaded by the Chopper, losing their life."
"At the brink of life and death, the elderly Yuan might unleash its survival instinct, grasping at a thread of lucidity. Hence, the enemies also prepared Demon Binding Rope to snuff out that last bit of vitality."
"What sort of Magic Treasure is this Xuanqi Capturing Bag?"
Shen Lingshu then said, "This Treasure specifically targets Lifespan, capable of absorbing others' Lifespans, making them decline."
"With this Treasure present, unexpected events can be prevented. Many strong Lifespans, at the brink of death, tend to surge, using it to save themselves."
"Even if it's a mere mortal, so long as they have a strong Lifespan, upon its surge, they could survive a fall from a cliff and even have augmented fortunes afterward."
"I see," Zhu Xuanji nodded, then asked the most pressing question, "Senior Shen, can you discern whether these three Golden Core Cultivators originate from the Meng Family, or even find evidence to that effect?"
Shen Lingshu shook his head, "I cannot discern it."
"It's likely Meng Kui's handiwork, exceedingly meticulous. He was prepared for calculations from the very beginning."
"Aren't you able to Trace Back? Can't you see the connection between them and the Meng Family?"
Zhu Xuanji gave a wry smile, "All I see is that these three each accepted their mission from Youci Pavilion one after the other."
Youci Pavilion is a renowned assassination organization, very secretive and distributed across various Cultivation Kingdoms, big and small.
To possess such scale and longevity, it must have substantial depth.
Zhu Xuanji, who could tell at first glance that these three Golden Core Cultivators were members of Youci Pavilion, truly lived up to the name of Divine Hunter.
Shen Lingshu smiled faintly but wasn't surprised, "The Meng Family's move this time is likely revenge for the incident at Yugang Mountain."
"Having eliminated Meng Zizhong, they set this trap here to eradicate Ning Jiufan as a warning."
"If both Ning Jiufan and the elderly Yuan are sacrificed, the power dynamics within Fire Persimmon Immortal City would tilt in Meng Kui's favor, leaving the Zhou Family incapable of standing alone."
"While in the Court, the loss of these two figures would deeply shake the people's hearts, greatly diminishing the Royal Family's prestige!"
Zhu Xuanji said, "This Ning Zhuo, perhaps the Fortune of the Ning Family, is indeed at its lowest ebb."
"Our original plan was to come to Mist Hidden Mountain to investigate the Fox God, yet coincidentally, we will not stand by and watch Ning Jiufan die in battle."
Shen Lingshu's expression turned solemn, "It seems like a coincidence."
"Yet we can't rule out it being the work of Life Hanging Thread or imperial command."
"Ning Jiufan must be rescued without a doubt, but it wouldn't hurt to first observe the battle briefly and allow his Lifespan to be absorbed."
Shen Lingshu then revealed his own strategy, "If Ning Zhuo has mastered the Divine Power Life Hanging Thread, the chances that he has implanted it in Ning Jiufan are high."
"In this way, the Life of both sides is interconnected. If Ning Jiufan's declines, it will inevitably affect Ning Zhuo."
"If Ning Zhuo has implanted the Life Hanging Threads in others as well, their declined Lifespans would, at the least, cloud their judgment, or at worst, bring calamities upon them, which will become evident."
"This is an excellent opportunity for verification."
Zhu Xuanji recalled the many secrets he had learned at the Royal Capital, "In years past, due to the drawbacks of the Life Hanging Thread, the Emperor faced a significant defeat and nearly met with national extinction and personal demise."
Nothing in the world is perfect.
Where there is strength, there is weakness.
With advantages, naturally, there are drawbacks.
Life Hanging Thread connected Lifespans, and when the Emperor faced misfortune and his Lifespan dipped, others shared it. Thus, the effect of a regent suffering calamities was formed.
But of course, it was not the true imperial command. Therefore, if everyone met a disastrous fate, or if a part of them suffered an excessively stark decline in Lifespan, the Emperor would also fall into dire misfortune.
Back then, it was for this reason that the Southern Bean Supreme Emperor faced calamities and barely escaped with his life.
"Hold on," a flash of Spirit Light crossed Zhu Xuanji's mind, and he asked, "What if the Buddha Heart Demon Seal were truly capable of suppressing Lifespan?"
Shen Lingshu pondered and replied, "That depends on how powerful the suppression of the Lifespan by the Buddha Heart Demon Seal is. Whether it can only protect the user, or if it can benefit others as well."
"Even if the Treasure Seal is formidable, Ning Zhuo is simply at the Foundation Establishment Cultivation Level at the moment; he can't possibly unleash its true power."
"In those years, didn't the Emperor also possess a Magic Treasure that could suppress his own Lifespan?"
"Either way, trying it out can't hurt."
Zhu Xuanji nodded lightly, "Very well, let's proceed with that plan."