After gathering the intelligence, Zhou Fan already had a plan in mind.
He arrived near the Wild Wolf Alliance's station and waited for a few days before the Wild Wolf Alliance Leader led a group of Cultivators from the alliance into the Demon Beast Mountain Range.
From a distance, Zhou Fan used his fifth-tier Divine Sense to investigate and learned that the Wild Wolf Alliance's full mobilization this time had two objectives.
First, to locate Jiang Yan. A month ago, he killed the Wild Wolf Alliance Leader's younger brother. The Wild Wolf Alliance Leader, a Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator, intended to use the entire alliance's strength to avenge his brother.
Second, to proceed to an ancient ruin. This was a piece of news the Wild Wolf Alliance Leader had spread.
The alliance members only knew that their leader had obtained a treasure map and a key to an ancient ruin.
As long as the alliance members rendered meritorious service during the search and encirclement of Jiang Yan, they could follow the leader into that ancient ruin.
Whatever individuals obtained within the ruin would belong to them personally.
With this incentive, the members of the Wild Wolf Alliance were all eager, and at the command of their leader, they entered the Demon Beast Mountain Range with a formidable Aura.
Zhou Fan casually placed a tracking and detection Spell on the Wild Wolf Alliance Leader.
He found a Luoning Inn to rest and surveyed the overall situation through the Wild Wolf Alliance Leader's perspective.
Half a month later.
The Wild Wolf Alliance members finally discovered Jiang Yan's tracks. Five Qi Realm Cultivators formed a small team to encircle and suppress the Middle Stage Foundation Establishment Jiang Yan.
But very quickly, the Wild Wolf Alliance members realized something was wrong; the five Qi Realm Cultivators were no match for Jiang Yan, unable to delay or obstruct him at all.
Upon learning of this, the Wild Wolf Alliance Leader immediately organized alliance members to change formation, with ten Qi Realm Cultivators per group, continuing to tighten the encirclement.
This time, Jiang Yan could not easily escape. The Wild Wolf Alliance members advanced steadily, step by step, compressing Jiang Yan's range of activity.
Another half month passed like this, and Jiang Yan suddenly appeared before the Wild Wolf Alliance Leader.
He immediately attacked without a word. The Wild Wolf Alliance Leader was first enraged, then ecstatic.
"Jiang Yan, I thought you would try to break through the Qi Realm Cultivators. Now you dare to come knocking on my door, perfect! I'll personally avenge my brother!"
Jiang Yan did not reply. He knew that the longer he dragged it out, the more dangerous it would be for him.
With killing moves frequently unleashed, the two fought fiercely. At the same time, the Wild Wolf Alliance Leader had already sent messages to the Wild Wolf Alliance members via a communication talisman.
The Wild Wolf Alliance members quickly rushed towards their location.
But before the Wild Wolf Alliance members could arrive, the Wild Wolf Alliance Leader could no longer hold on.
He was repeatedly defeated by Jiang Yan's combat style, which combined blade techniques and Spells. His protective Magical Artifact finally cracked after enduring multiple attacks.
When the Wild Wolf Alliance members arrived, they only saw their leader's dismembered body not far away.
Two vice-leaders stepped forward to inspect. After careful examination, they confirmed that the leader's Storage Pouch had been taken. The two sadly announced the fact of their leader's passing.
After some discussion on the spot, the Wild Wolf Alliance members buried their leader's body and returned home.
...
Finally free from encirclement, Jiang Yan continued to delve deeper into the Demon Beast Mountain Range and found a secluded mountain cave.
He opened the Wild Wolf Alliance Leader's Storage Pouch and discovered an ancient key within. Its style was identical to the key he had obtained from a street stall, only the colors of the two keys were different.
Upon finding the treasure map, Medicine Honored One appeared at the opportune moment. She was well-traveled and recognized it as a treasure map and a key to an ancient ruin at a glance.
Jiang Yan was overjoyed at her words. After two days of rest, his internal magical power fully recovered, and he immediately followed the route indicated by the treasure map towards the ancient ruin.
Before returning to the pendant, Medicine Honored One gazed into the distant sky.
She always felt as if eyes were peering at this place, but with her current remnant soul, she couldn't ascertain who the observer was or what Realm they had reached.
After some contemplation, Medicine Honored One did not tell Jiang Yan about this.
Because telling Jiang Yan would be useless; that person could prevent her from determining their Realm, meaning their cultivation had at least reached the fifth tier.
With a heavy heart, she returned to the pendant. Medicine Honored One could only hope that the powerful Cultivator was merely passing by and would not bully the weak.
Zhou Fan, far away, knew that his prying might be detected by Jiang Yan's old lady in the ring, but he did not care.
The power disparity was too vast; Jiang Yan's situation depended entirely on his mood.
The Demon Beast Mountain Range stretched for nearly ten thousand li.
Jiang Yan followed the treasure map for half a month and was finally nearing the location of the ancient ruin.
However, upon approaching his destination, he was blocked by a circular poisonous barrier.
The poison of this barrier was extremely potent. Jiang Yan hunted a second-tier Yao Beast and threw it into the barrier; in no time, the Yao Beast dissolved into pus.
Afterward, Jiang Yan hunted another second-tier Yao Beast, fed it the second-tier antidote pill he had refined, and also applied the antidote pill's powder externally.
Thrown into the poisonous barrier, this time the Yao Beast lasted for a quarter of an hour before dissolving into pus.
Jiang Yan frowned deeply. With his nearly third-tier Divine Sense, he couldn't discern the poisonous barrier, meaning he didn't know how large its coverage area was.
A quarter of an hour was still too short. Jiang Yan stood there, indecisive.
Just as he was about to inquire with Mosaic Master, a female Cultivator with an indiscernible face and graceful figure suddenly appeared not far away.
"I can help you cross the Emerald Poison Barrier."
The woman's voice was melodious and ethereal, but Jiang Yan had no time to appreciate it. He looked at the woman warily, and after retreating a distance, he spoke.
"You are 'Heart of a Vicious Woman.'"
Jiang Yan had been adventuring in the outer reaches of the Demon Beast Mountain Range for so long that he had long heard of the infamous 'Heart of a Vicious Woman.'
"That's right, I am Heart of a Vicious Woman."
The woman's tone was long and unhurried as she said, "What? Are you scared?"
"Heh, encountering a poisonous woman like you, who wouldn't be scared?"
Jiang Yan said coldly, "Cooperation is out of the question. I don't want to die an unexplained death."
"If I wanted you dead, I would have already set up a 'Selfless Poison' to control you."
Heart of a Vicious Woman's tone sounded very sincere as she said, "I know you came here to seek that ancient ruin."
"Actually, I discovered this ancient ruin first. The treasure map in your hand is also a replica that I deliberately spread."
"To enter the ancient ruin, three keys are needed."
"I currently have one in my hand. You should have two, right?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yan's brows furrowed even deeper. Seeing this, Heart of a Vicious Woman covered her mouth and chuckled softly.
"You don't need to make that expression. Over the years, I have been searching for the other two keys."
"After investigation, I already know that the red one is in the hands of the Wild Wolf Alliance Leader."
"The green one, I was close to finding, but then I heard the stall owner say that the green key had been bought by a person carrying a giant ruler."
"Jiang Yan, if we cooperate, we both benefit; if we separate, we both suffer."
"I actually dislike killing. My past actions were all due to extenuating circumstances."
Saying this, Heart of a Vicious Woman removed the Magical Artifact covering her face.
With a beautiful face, a well-proportioned figure, and a slender waist like a willow, Heart of a Vicious Woman smiled faintly at the stunned Jiang Yan at the right moment.
"I can swear that before leaving the Secret Realm, I will never do anything harmful to you."