Time slipped by as Liu Wuxie led the group, charging left and right, unleashing devastating killing power with every movement. Meanwhile, under Chen Ping's hit-and-run tactics, the Azure Viper Lord and Bai Jingfu's immortal energies drained severely. If this continued, the two of them would eventually die from exhaustion.

A profound immortal's energy was ultimately limited, especially Bai Jingfu's, and he was already so exhausted that he gasped for breath.

After breaking through the illusion, the four guardians finally locked onto Liu Wuxie. They pounced at him from four directions, determined not to give him any chance to escape.

"Young Master Wu, I'll hold them off!" The Peace and Stability Merchant Association had no spirit immortals but many true immortals. Liu Wuxie's abilities had left them utterly breathless.

Five true immortals rushed out from the group and faced the four guardians head-on. These five were all upper echelons of the Peace and Stability Merchant Association.

Liu Wuxie waved the array flags around, causing the spiritual array to shift again. A faint mist descended from the surroundings and enveloped the four guardians, making them lose track of Liu Wuxie once more. They roared in frustration, but no matter how they attacked, the five true immortals intercepted their strikes.

A series of rumbles echoed as the ground began splitting open.

"Attack the spiritual array with everything you got! Exhaust its energy!" Bai Jingfu noticed something and immediately ordered everyone to attack the spiritual array to break free.

The upper echelons of the White Tiger Merchant Association and the experts of the Azure Bamboo Gang immediately changed tactics. They gave up pursuing Liu Wuxie and Chen Ping and instead began attacking the spiritual array.

Ye Linghan grew increasingly anxious because a prodigy in spiritual arrays like Liu Wuxie couldn't be allowed to die.

"Chief Chen, I'll hold back the Azure Viper Lord while you find a way to kill Bai Jingfu," Liu Wuxie said. His voice echoed through the spiritual array as he charged in and separated Bai Jingfu from the Azure Viper Lord, splitting them into two different regions.

"Very well," Chen Ping replied.

As long as they killed one profound immortal, the remaining one would no longer pose much of a threat. In terms of cultivation, Chen Ping was stronger than Bai Jingfu.

Bai Jingfu could contend with the Peace and Stability Merchant Association only because his uncle was a mentor in the Azure Flame Dao Hall.

Sharp arrows shot out from the depths of the spiritual array and targeted Bai Jingfu.

"What exactly is this spiritual array?" Ye Linghan murmured. She had already drawn close to the battlefield. Even after observing the spiritual array for nearly fifteen minutes, she still couldn't understand it and could only pace anxiously.

As for the other cultivators, they watched in confusion. The spiritual array looked simple on the surface, yet it contained countless variations. It held ice-attributed energy, five elements, lightning-attributed energy, and wind-attributed energy. They couldn't comprehend how a normal person could set up a spiritual array containing so many elements.

Liu Wuxie only failed to set up a powerful killing spiritual array because his cultivation was limited. This spiritual array was called the Twelve Grand Heavens Array, and it combined 12 elements. It also fused illusion and offense into a single entity.

Using the spiritual array's power, Liu Wuxie coordinated with Chen Ping and increased the pressure on Bai Jingfu.

The Azure Viper Lord managed to free himself and struck Liu Wuxie with his palm. His sinister and unpredictable palm technique released a bone-piercing chill that could kill Liu Wuxie if he made even the slightest mistake.

The Bloodthirst Blade descended from the sky right then as Liu Wuxie retreated.

"Brat, your cultivation is too low!" The Azure Viper Lord let out a sinister laugh. His palm descended from the sky and crushed many of the illusions, allowing the four guardians to regain their freedom.

Palm wind howled, making it impossible for Liu Wuxie to dodge the incoming attack. As for Chen An and the others, the gale produced by the attack had long since sent them flying.

Although Liu Wuxie had reached the ninth-level Heavenly Immortal Realm, he remained pitifully weak before a profound immortal.

Chen Ping had already suppressed Bai Jingfu's attacks and could end the fight in fifteen minutes at most.

The spiritual array produced a loud rumble and seemed poised to collapse at any moment. Under the frenzied attacks of the four guardians, cracks had already begun appearing across its weaker areas.

Just as the Azure Viper Lord was about to strike Liu Wuxie, a figure suddenly appeared. An icy palm descended from the sky and forced the Azure Viper Lord to retreat.

A familiar figure appeared beside Liu Wuxie at the same time.

"Who are you, and why did you save him?" The Azure Viper Lord asked warily. This woman possessed high cultivation and was even slightly stronger than him.

"You cannot kill him," Ye Linghan said. In the end, she had acted because she couldn't watch Liu Wuxie die at the Azure Viper Lord's hands.

When Liu Wuxie saw Ye Linghan, he was equally confused. He had no idea why she was in Moon Reverence City.

"Is he your lover?" The Azure Viper Lord asked, glancing at Liu Wuxie before turning back to Ye Linghan. Since the two looked around the same age, he mistook their relationship. Otherwise, it made no sense for a dignified Profound Immortal like Ye Linghan to help a mere Heavenly Immortal.

"You're courting death!" Ye Linghan flew into a rage. She had helped Liu Wuxie only to repay him for saving her father, and she also valued his mastery of spiritual arrays.

A terrifying surge of chill swept into the surroundings, leaving Liu Wuxie idle instead. The two clashed fiercely, but they couldn't determine a victor in a short time.

Liu Wuxie swept his gaze across the battlefield and rushed toward Bai Jingfu.

"Divine Mystic Yin Needle!" Liu Wuxie struck while Bai Jingfu was busy fighting Chen Ping, aiming to dissolve the protective aura around him.

The moment Bai Jingfu's defense dissolved, Chen Ping struck down with his palm, sending Bai Jingfu flying backward and coughing up blood.

Chen Ping seized the opportunity and vanished. He summoned a longsword into his hand and swung down from the sky before Bai Jingfu could react.

Bai Jingfu was frightened out of his wits. He couldn't understand why his defense had suddenly collapsed for no reason.

Although Liu Wuxie couldn't kill Bai Jingfu, he could use the Divine Mystic Yin Needle to dissolve Bai Jingfu's defensive aura.

"Chen Ping, how dare you?!" Bai Jingfu roared. He swiftly got back to his feet and prepared to switch to a desperate, life-risking fighting style.

"You can die now!" Chen Ping roared. His eyes turned bloodshot with murderous intent. After learning that his brother had returned, his state of mind had already changed.

If this had happened in the past, he wouldn't have adopted such a reckless fighting style. But to ensure his brother's escape, he was even willing to risk his own life.

A sword ray descended from the sky with unstoppable momentum and fell onto Bai Jingfu. The attack tore open a thirty-centimeter wound across Bai Jingfu's body, spilling out his blood and intestines.

The sight was too gruesome to bear. Bai Jingfu had lost all combat strength as he lay on the ground, barely clinging to life.

The Azure Viper Lord's expression darkened when he saw Bai Jingfu's defeat. He knocked Ye Linghan back and quickly retreated.

Right then, the four protectors and twelve envoys also managed to open a crack in the spiritual array.

"Retreat immediately!" The Azure Viper Lord acted decisively. After Bai Jingfu's defeat, he was no match for Chen Ping and Ye Linghan, so he chose to flee without hesitation.

Ye Linghan didn't pursue him. She had only intervened to save Liu Wuxie and had no obligation to do anything more.

With that, the battle finally came to an end after an intense clash. Everyone had initially thought the Peace and Stability Merchant Association was doomed, but Liu Wuxie saved it at the critical moment with his spiritual array.

Ye Linghan's appearance also created a shocking reversal. Without Ye Linghan, the battle might have ended in mutual destruction.

Bai Jingfu ultimately bled to death, while the other upper echelons of the White Tiger Merchant Association either fled or surrendered.

Liu Wuxie turned to look at Ye Linghan, wondering why she had come to Moon Reverence City.

Under Liu Wuxie's glare, Ye Linghan felt a chill crawl down her spine because his gaze was far too terrifying.

"What are you doing here?" Liu Wuxie asked coldly.

Although Ye Linghan had saved his life, he still had to remain vigilant because this woman was unpredictable. Caution was necessary. She had wanted to kill him one moment and saved him the next. He couldn't figure her out at all.

"I just happen to be passing by," Ye Linghan replied with a casual shrug, making up an excuse while avoiding Liu Wuxie's gaze.

Liu Wuxie naturally knew Ye Linghan was lying, but without her help, he might have suffered severe injuries. Thus, he chose not to question her further and only hoped she had no other scheme.

Right then, Chen Ping rushed over and pulled Liu Wuxie into a hug, leaving everyone confused.

Ye Linghan looked disgusted at the sight of two men hugging each other in such a manner. She even began doubting their relationship.

"My brother, you're finally back!" Chen Ping said as he sobbed.

Liu Wuxie froze in place, unsure whether he should acknowledge Chen Ping. He knew Chen Ping had recognized him.

"Chief Chen, there are too many people here. Let's talk inside," Liu Wuxie said. He didn't want others to learn about his identity.

"Yeah! You're right! There are too many people here!" Chen Ping said. He let go of Liu Wuxie and noticed the strange gazes around them.

The guards of the Peace and Stability Merchant Association began cleaning up the battlefield while Chen An stepped forward to introduce Ye Linghan.

Upon learning that Ye Linghan was Ye Guhai's daughter, Chen Ping immediately stepped forward to greet her.

Once they entered the main hall, only Liu Wuxie, Chen Ping, Chen An, and Ye Linghan remained.

"Father, you mentioned that your brother has returned. Could Young Master Wu be...?" Chen An asked. He wasn't a fool, and he had guessed something from his father's words.

"Why aren't you kneeling to greet your Uncle Liu?" Chen Ping asked loudly.

"Greetings, Uncle Liu!" Chen An dropped to his knees and kowtowed to Liu Wuxie.

"Get up quickly," Liu Wuxie said. Being called 'uncle' by someone who looked about his own age felt strange.

Ye Linghan stood in a daze, completely confused. She couldn't understand what was happening and suddenly interrupted, "Hold on!"

Liu Wuxie, Chen Ping, and Chen An halted their reunion and turned to look at her. After all, she was the daughter of Fourfold City's city lord, and Chen Ping didn't dare to neglect her. That was why he had allowed her into the main hall.

"Young Lady Ye, this matter concerns the Peace and Stability Merchant Association. I'll arrange a place for you to rest, and once I finish handling matters here, I'll host another banquet to welcome you properly. What do you think?" Chen Ping asked as he cupped his fists in greeting.

"I don't need your hospitality. Is his surname Wu or Liu? I need an explanation," Ye Linghan questioned. She still doubted Liu Wuxie's identity, and only after learning that he had no connection to the Wen Clan had she finally lowered her guard.

However, now that she suddenly heard that Liu Wuxie had a different surname, she became wary once more. She was determined to investigate this matter clearly.

Chen Ping furrowed his brows. "Young Lady Ye, I believe this has nothing to do with you, and we don't have any obligation to explain anything." He only showed restraint because Ye Linghan was Ye Guhai's daughter, but that didn't mean he feared her. This was their private affair, and even Ye Guhai had no right to interfere.