Chapter 630

"How, Brother Wei, you've lived here over a hundred years—still reluctant to leave?" the Confucian scholar said with a hint of mockery.

"Reluctant? Not quite. But after so many years, some sentiment naturally remains. After all, humans are not grass or trees—who can be without feeling? Back then, Elder Yun of the Cloudfall Sect treated me like his own son: he taught me all his Daoist arts and powers, saved me countless times in dire peril, and even nearly secured me leadership of the entire sect despite fierce opposition. Such kindness—I cannot pretend it never happened. This Spirit Eye Tree, I will not let you two take away."

"Good, good! So Brother Wei truly intends to become a genuine Cloudfall Sect Elder? But don't forget—if we reveal your true identity, do you really think a 'spy' from the Tian Sha Sect can continue living freely here?"

"I don't need your reminder—I know full well. Do you think I'm confined here in this sacred place for no reason? Long ago, my two senior uncles suspected me, but lacked concrete proof, so they forcibly stripped me of my authority within the sect and imprisoned me in this tiny corner. Of course, I also owe great debt to the Tian Sha Sect; the token you just showed me is indeed the sect master's seal. So while I won't let you remove the Spirit Tree, I can give you some of the pure essence. That at least repays the debt I owe Tian Sha."

"What? Only the pure essence? I—"

"Fine, giving us the pure essence is acceptable. Once we have it, we don't truly covet this Spirit Eye Tree. After all, our demonic sects and the Heavenly Dao Alliance possess countless treasures—without this tree, we can still find many Spirit Eye Springs and Spirit Eye Stones."

Just as the Confucian scholar was about to speak again, Du Dong suddenly softened his expression and agreed wholeheartedly.

The Confucian scholar blinked in surprise, then glanced sidelong at Du Dong, thought for a moment, and fell silent.

After all, his orders were to obey the young master of the Thousand Illusions Sect completely. Though he didn't understand why the orthodox alliance had grown so close to the six demonic sects, observing how this matter unfolded posed no harm.

"Since both of you agree, I shall now throw out the vial of pure essence I've already prepared. Let me warn you plainly—if you attempt to ambush me the instant I temporarily lift the barrier, don't blame me for turning ruthless."

"Hehe! Don't worry—we wouldn't be so foolish. After all, the Xuantian Immortal Vine is the priority; this tree is trivial."

The long-haired elder nodded, reached into his storage bag, and pulled out a small white vial.

"You two prepare—"

"Prepare what? Are you going to hand over our three sects' most precious treasures to the enemy?"

Before the long-haired elder could finish, a flash of red light shot up—dozens of faint sword threads erupted from beneath him, instantly binding the unsuspecting elder in tight knots, leaving him utterly immobilized.

Simultaneously, yellow light flickered at the cave entrance, revealing the sullen faces of the Fu elder and others, blocking Du Dong and the Confucian scholar's escape completely.

Seeing this, the Confucian scholar and Du Dong turned pale.

Behind the restrained long-haired elder, the blue-haired boy's figure materialized.

"Good, very good. We old fools have long known the orthodox and demonic sects planted many spies within our three sects. We suspected you several, but lacked proof—so we delayed exterminating you. After all, you're Core Formation cultivators; if we killed you by mistake, it would be a major loss to our sect. But now that you've revealed yourselves, I no longer need to deliberate."

"Blue, how could you be here? Outside—" the white-haired cultivator stared, speechless, face filled with disbelief. Du Dong's face had turned ashen, yet he forced a smile and asked.

"Did you really think two fools—Fen the Fiend and the Golden Mirror Scholar—could keep us fully occupied? Right now, they're trapped by two Cloudfall Sect elders. The sounds of battle outside? I had someone fake them. Otherwise, how would you have acted so obediently? This way, we strike a single blow to punish you all, deter you from ever meddling with the Heavenly Dao Alliance again, and simultaneously purge our sect of all traitors."

"What? My senior uncles aren't outside?" The Confucian scholar's previously composed face finally cracked into panic.

"Brother Bai, you… you're a spy for the orthodox alliance?" The white-robed young woman stared at her cultivation partner, voice trembling, face drained of all color.

Hearing her question, the Confucian scholar's panic vanished, replaced by a bitter, helpless smile. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but said nothing.

"I have no desire to bully the young. Will you surrender willingly, or shall I stir my limbs once more?" The boy tightened his lips, issuing his final warning.

At these words, Du Dong and the Confucian scholar stiffened.

But at that very moment, a streak of white light shot into the chamber.

As the light faded, a drenched, panicked Jiang elder appeared before them. He rushed to the boy and cried out:

"Master Blue! Disaster! Elder Cheng of the Cloudfall Sect sent a message: our cultivators and the ones we sent have been ambushed by the Tian Sha and Thousand Illusions Sects—they're now locked in desperate battle and urgently need reinforcements!" All three sect cultivators in the room erupted in uproar. Hadn't they been the ones setting the ambush? How had they been ambushed themselves?

The boy was likewise stunned, but after a moment's thought, he understood—and erupted in furious curses.

"You demonic brats! You've tricked us old fools with a scheme within a scheme! I'll flay you alive!" Without hesitation, he spat out a blazing red streak of light, intending to kill the two before him and rush to rescue the trapped cultivators.

But in that instant, the restrained long-haired elder roared loudly—his arm swelled several times in size, glowing deep purple-red, and lunged violently toward the boy's face.

The five fingers, sharp and shimmering with violet energy, would surely crush his skull if they connected.

The boy's face twisted in shock—his magic treasure had just left his mouth, and the ambush was too sudden. With no choice, he drew in his abdomen and puffed his cheeks.

Another burst of searing red light erupted from his mouth, directly meeting the purple demonic claw.

A sharp hiss echoed—the sound of flesh seared by a hot iron. The long-haired elder's strike slowed. Seizing the moment, the boy blurred and vanished from the barrier, escaping into the crimson mist.

"Tian Sha Zhenjun!"

The boy spat out the names of the Tian Sha Sect's successive patriarchs, fixed his gaze on the long-haired elder, and fell silent. He pointed a finger in a direction—his earlier red streak circled back, transforming into a vivid, lifelike crimson serpent with bared fangs and raised claws.

"Hehe! Didn't expect you, Brother Lan, to recognize me so quickly. I've long heard of the Fire Dragon Boy's name. A pity this is merely a borrowed vessel—I can't truly duel you. What a shame." The long-haired elder's head hung low, as if unconscious, yet a lazy, unfamiliar voice drifted from his lips.

Seeing this bizarre scene, Han Li's mind instantly recalled the "Possession Technique" once used by Ji Yin the Old Ancestor. Though not identical, it was clearly a similar demonic art.

According to Han Li's knowledge, such techniques required elaborate preparations on the host's body beforehand. Clearly, the Tian Sha Sect's master had planted safeguards when sending the long-haired elder to infiltrate the Cloudfall Sect.

Now, through Du Dong—somehow, secretly—he had activated the possession technique at this precise moment.

Seeing this, Han Li's mind raced—and suddenly he remembered something. He gravely whispered into his sleeve:

"Yin Yue, return immediately to the quiet chamber. Transform yourself to look like I'm severely injured. Don't let anyone notice I'm gone. How you explain my survival just now—use your discretion. Just don't expose my cultivation level or identity. I'll return as soon as possible."

Seeing Han Li's grave expression, Yin Yue knew this was critical. Without a word, she slipped directly from his sleeve into the ground and vanished back to the quiet chamber.

Inside the barrier, the Tian Sha Zhenjun raised his hand and tossed the vial of pure essence to Du Dong and the Confucian scholar, who had moved closer. He glanced at the Spirit Eye Tree with faint regret, then said calmly:

"Take this back. I'll hold off the Fire Dragon Boy for you. But I can't buy you much time—act wisely." With that, he instantly shot forward, appearing beside the Jiang elder in a flash, grinning wickedly as his massive purple claw descended toward the man's head.

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