School Beauty's Invincible Martial Expert

Having entered the underground, Xiao Han's eyes had already adjusted to that dark place, gradually making out the scenery within. There were cages, each holding one or two people.

Xiao Han hurried over and asked in a low voice, "Where's Duanmu Ci? Where is Duanmu Ci?"

"Who… who are you?" A middle-aged man in the first cage eyed Xiao Han with suspicion when he saw him appear.

"Xiao Han!" Suddenly, a girl's voice rang out.

"Jinfeng?" Xiao Han looked surprised and quickly approached.

Yang Jinfeng was detained in a cage at the back. She hadn't been sleeping and had just faintly heard Xiao Han's voice, so she called out, not expecting it to actually be Xiao Han who appeared. Yang Jinfeng looked at Xiao Han with a bewildered face and asked, "How… how did you come here?"

"I've come to save you all!" Xiao Han hurriedly said.

"Where did you go that day?" Yang Jinfeng looked at Xiao Han, puzzled.

"Something urgent came up that day, so I left," Xiao Han gave the least convincing excuse possible.

Nevertheless, Yang Jinfeng chose to believe him.

Yang Jinfeng quickly said, "Hurry… let me out!"

Xiao Han took out the Ruyi Stick and smashed it down hard on the lock.

Bang!

The lock cracked with a dull sound, and the door of the cage swung open.

Yang Jinfeng ran out quickly, saying excitedly, "Quick, let them all out!"

"Wait!" Xiao Han hastily grabbed Yang Jinfeng's arm, saying, "Are you sure that after letting them out, we can defeat the Second Elder? If we can't defeat him, even if we release them, it would all be in vain, and in the end, they would still be sent to their deaths!"

Upon hearing this, Yang Jinfeng immediately froze.

"Many people have sided with the Second Elder, so we definitely can't match him," Yang Jinfeng shook her head.

"In that case, let's not release them for now," Xiao Han quickly said.

"So what should we do?" Yang Jinfeng asked urgently.

"First, let's rescue Duanmu Ci and the Sect Leader," Xiao Han said urgently. "Then concentrate our forces against the Second Elder. As long as we kill the Second Elder, the others will naturally side with the Sect Leader. What do you think?"

"That makes sense!" Yang Jinfeng immediately nodded in agreement.

Xiao Han's method was the only way. Otherwise, once they released the dozens of people from the cells, it would most likely make things even more chaotic. Too many people could lead to disorder, and if the enemy discovered the breach in the dungeon, the Second Elder would surely realize what happened, and it would be disastrous.

Yang Jinfeng rushed to open the cells of Duanmu Ci and the Sect Leader with Xiao Han.

The Sect Leader was isolated in one place, with hooks locked onto his acromion.

Hanging in mid-air, even the robust Sect Leader couldn't exercise his full strength.

The scapular spine, also known as the acromion, is located at the rear of the rib cage, a triangle-shaped flat bone inverted between the second and seventh ribs. It is divided into two surfaces, three angles, and three edges. The face is the infraspinous fossa, a large shallow fossa. The back has a horizontal ridge, the scapular spine, and the shallow fossa above and below it are called the supraspinous fossa and the infraspinous fossa, respectively. The lateral end of the scapular spine, the acromion, is the highest point of the shoulder. The thick lateral angle contains a pear-shaped articular surface, the glenoid cavity, with a small, rough elevation above and below, called the supraglenoid tubercle and infraglenoid tubercle. The upper and lower angles located at the upper and lower ends of the medial edge roughly correspond to the second and seventh ribs, which can be markers for counting ribs. The outer side of the upper edge of the scapula has a cut notch, the scapular notch, and the pointed protrusion outside of this notch, resembling the beak of a bird, hence called the coracoid process; the long, thin inner edge faces the spine, the spinal edge. The thick outer edge faces the armpit, the axillary edge. The scapula, clavicle, and humerus form the shoulder joint. The scapula is located on the upper outer side of the back. The front of the scapula is slightly concave, while the back has a high ridge extending upwards and outwards, the spine of the scapula, whose lateral end is the acromion, pointing to the shoulder's highest point. The scapula can be touched from the body surface.

The acromion is the most important and softest part of a cultivator. Once this part is locked by a hook, the power within cannot be unleashed.

The best way to control a cultivator is to lock the acromion, making them immobile.

"Head Yang, are you alright?" Xiao Han asked.

"Ah, I'm fine," the Sect Leader shook his head, his face waxen, saying, "It's just that I'm afraid half of my life has already been lost."

"What should we do?" Duanmu Ci asked.

"There's always a way," Xiao Han thought for a moment and said, "Although the Sect Leader's strength is compromised, his prestige remains. As long as the Sect Leader steps forward, I believe the disciples of the Wulan Sect won't dare to act rashly. Then we can take the chance to kill the Second Elder. Once the Second Elder is dead, with the Sect Leader stepping forward, the disciples of the Wulan Sect will surely surrender."

"That's logical," Yang Jinfeng nodded.

"So what do we do now?" Duanmu Ci asked.

"First, we need to get out of here," Xiao Han replied and added, "Then we'll figure out a way to kill the Second Elder."

"Right!" The group nodded.

All four silently made their way out of the dungeon.

By the time they left, the twelve Yin Spirits had vanished. All had returned to the Soul Bead.

After emerging, the four found a dark corner to discuss their strategy.

"The Second Elder should be in the main hall right now," Yang Jinfeng said seriously. "But I can't be sure."

"We must be sure of this." Xiao Han hastily said, "Once we slip up, it will become eternal regret."

Yang Jinfeng frowned and then said, "This..."

"I have a way." Duanmu Ci spoke up. "I can find someone I trust. He's now sided with the Second Elder, but if I approach him, he will surely support me. I can ask him to probe the current situation of the Second Elder."

"That works!" Xiao Han nodded.

"Ci, are you sure he won't betray you?" Yang Jinfeng urgently asked.

"He won't!" Duanmu Ci shook his head, saying, "I trust him."

"Alright then." Yang Jinfeng nodded, though she really wanted to ask why, if he was so trustworthy, had he chosen to side with the Second Elder. However, she ultimately didn't voice this question.

A smile crept onto Duanmu Ci's lips as he quickly walked towards the row houses behind them, where the disciples of the Wulan Sect lived.

It didn't take long for Duanmu Ci to return with someone.

"Qiu Wuming," Duanmu Ci introduced.

"Sect Leader!" Qiu Wuming exclaimed in surprise.

"Don't take offense." The Sect Leader waved his hand, saying, "Now, tell us, where does the Second Elder reside?"

"The Second Elder hasn't moved into the main hall, he has always lived in his side palace," Qiu Wuming hurriedly replied.

"Good!" The Sect Leader nodded.

Xiao Han spoke up, "Now that we have confirmed the enemy's residence, we can think of a way to launch a surprise attack."

"It's not that simple," Qiu Wuming hastily shook his head, saying, "The Second Elder has always been a suspicious person. Your surprise attack may not succeed."

Xiao Han thought for a moment, then said, "Since he is so suspicious, let's take advantage of his weakness for suspicion. Heh heh..."

An idea couldn't help but surface in Xiao Han's mind.

............

Since the revolt, the Second Elder had taken control of the Wulan Sect.

Although he was satisfied with the power he gained, the Second Elder felt very uncomfortable at heart because he didn't get what he truly desired.

The Wulan Sect, with its heritage spanning hundreds of years, was founded on a mental method called the "Wu Lan Technique."

It is said that as long as one masters this mental method, one's strength could increase manifold. Unfortunately, this mental method could only be passed on to the Sect Leader of Wulan Sect. Now, having locked the Sect Leader in the dungeon, as long as he didn't possess the "Wu Lan Technique," he wouldn't truly be the legitimate Sect Leader of Wulan Sect.

For this reason, he had spoken to Head Yang multiple times, but the latter firmly refused to hand over the mental method.

But the Second Elder found himself completely powerless against him. He didn't dare to kill Head Yang outright, for if he did, the "Wu Lan Technique" would be forever lost, and he could never rightfully claim the title of Sect Leader.

"Second Elder." At this moment, Duanmu Lei walked in.

"Hmm!" The Second Elder nodded.

Duanmu Lei was the Second Elder's disciple and also his only disciple, so the Second Elder always treated him as a confidant and regarded him as his own son. In the entire Wulan Sect, only Duanmu Lei could freely enter and leave his palace. There was no second person.

"What brings you here?" the Second Elder asked.

"We still can't find the 'Wu Lan Technique,' what should we do?" Duanmu Lei was also aware of the stakes involved.

"It's fine," the Second Elder shook his head, saying, "If all else fails, we can just give up on it."

"How can that be?" Duanmu Lei protested upon hearing this, "How can the disciples of Wulan Sect submit to you then?"

"Just say it has been found," the Second Elder chuckled, "No one can verify its authenticity. Nobody is going to confront me about it. So don't worry. In a few days, if that old man still won't talk, then we might as well just kill him. Right now, we need to prepare for our coronation ceremony."

"Yes!" Duanmu Lei nodded.

However, Duanmu Lei always felt that something was off. Without the "Wu Lan Technique," the most important part of the succession ceremony couldn't proceed. What should be done? After much thought, Duanmu Lei decided to forge a fake for now and complete the succession ceremony. As the Second Elder said, nobody would verify the authenticity, and nobody was going to challenge the Second Elder.

Duanmu Lei left the side palace.

At that moment, a dark figure swiftly followed after him.

No sooner had Duanmu Lei walked a few steps than he immediately became aware that someone was following him.

"Who's there!" All of a sudden, Duanmu Lei sharply called out.

"It's me, it's me!" A man dressed in the uniform of the Wulan Sect quickly came forward.

"You?" Duanmu Lei recognized him, the man was named Qiu Wuming, though he had an unusual relationship with Duanmu Ci. Hence, Duanmu Lei was somewhat wary. He looked at the man and then said, "What do you want with me?"