Water Ink Panel: Starting with Bow Technique to Hunt the Sun and Patrol the Skies

Chapter 341 24: Opening of the Jing Luan Assembly, One Arrow Slays the Innate

```

Clang!

On the other side of the camp, a large gate was suddenly pushed open, revealing a road wide enough to accommodate two carriages side by side.

On both sides of the road, towering cliffs stretched far into the distance.

Two soldiers in iron armor steadily carried a large incense burner and stood beside the gate.

With a dull thud, the incense burner landed, raising layers of dust.

Atop the incense burner was an enormous stick of incense, straight and nearly as tall as a person.

The people in the camp looked on puzzled, exchanging confused glances.

At that moment, a great power suspended in mid-air casually pointed a finger.

A burst of intense heat erupted like a meteor streaking across the night sky, accurately igniting the giant stick of incense.

Flames leaped up, slowly consuming each inch of incense, and the thick aroma began to pervade the camp.

"The Jing Luan Assembly begins now!" Suddenly, a powerful voice thundered across the sky: "Leave the camp immediately; if anyone is still here when the incense burns out, they shall be slain without mercy!"

These words shattered the oppressive atmosphere within the camp.

"Look, the incense."

Exclamations and panic erupted from among the crowd. They were astonished to see that the incense was burning at an astonishing speed.

No one knew how long this stick of incense would burn.

Thus, the camp became a tide of chaos, figures moving frantically.

Like thousands of birds taking flight, everyone exerted all their strength, soaring up and rushing into the canyon road in a bid to seize the initiative in this trial.

"Do not panic, join us on the journey. No one knows what might happen on the other end. It's safer together," Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi shouted.

The people of Yongzhou sobered up, quickly gathering together and advancing forward.

Some were unwilling to lag behind and tried to soar into the air, hoping to quickly cross the gorge using the terrain.

However, as soon as they ascended, they were struck by streams of Qi, coughing up blood and falling into the crowd, their fate unknown.

"Who allowed you scoundrels to walk ahead of us?"

Wang Family guards carried a sedan chair, arrogantly stepping through the void. Seeing someone blocking their way, they were displeased, showing disdain to those lacking courtesy.

This single event made everyone who had rushed out of the camp cautious, no longer daring to charge forward recklessly, instead forming groups.

"Follow me closely, let's go."

Shen Qing's tone was light, with neither fear nor hesitation, carrying a touch of calm and confidence.

Without much hesitation, he followed the Yongzhou people, transforming into a stream of light that merged into the surging crowd.

Behind him, Shao Hongling and two others hurried to keep up.

The trio had barely moved a few steps when they unexpectedly discovered three golden threads streaming towards them like silk, instantly lightening their bodies and significantly boosting their speed.

This was Shen Qing assisting them with his cultivation to escape.

All three were delighted.

As time passed, the giant incense at the camp entrance finally burned completely.

By then, the camp was deserted, leaving only emptiness and silence.

The middle-aged man hovering in mid-air swept a glance below, realizing the time was right.

He suddenly unleashed a punch, the force like a dragon, creating mirror-like cracks in the void, the booming sound deafening, the sky and earth changing color.

Immediately, the mountains flanking the canyon seemed unable to withstand this force, collapsing thunderously.

Boulders rolled and dust filled the sky, blocking out the sun.

Buzz!

The next moment, as the mountains collapsed, a dazzling golden barrier rose from the mountain peaks, piercing the clouds and completely sealing everyone's retreat.

Looking back, they saw no way to return, a surge of unprecedented urgency and crisis filling their hearts.

Everyone realized the true battle was about to begin.

With the Yongzhou group, Shen Qing swiftly rushed out of the deep canyon, the surroundings opening up.

Instinctively alert, he inexplicably slowed his pace, looking ahead.

At the end of the passage lay a hilly terrain, patches of plains melding with uneven hills, rising and falling, stretching into the distance.

Ahead, an imposing group of martial masters blocked their path.

These were none other than Xue Bai and his guards.

Sunlight slanted down, casting a chilling gleam off the unsheathed weapons at their waists.

Shen Qing keenly understood that although the Jing Luan Assembly was said to involve only one city, no one knew how much more area the event might affect.

Once the crowd spread out due to unforeseen changes, it would be difficult to reunite the Yongzhou people.

Xue Bai evidently grasped this point, thus choosing this moment to make his move, taking advantage of the assembled numbers.

Among the onlookers, some martial masters wore expressions of glee, delighted at someone else confronting a familial power, an opportunity to lessen their own pressure and avoid danger or conflict.

Xue Bai, the eldest son of the Xue Family, stepped out of his sedan and looked at the Yongzhou crowd with a relaxed smile.

```