Chapter 495: Trying to steal a chicken but ending up losing the rice

Luo Xiong saw the God‑slaying Rat return silently, his heart surging with excitement.

He thought the God‑slaying Rat had completed its mission, successfully dealing a fatal blow to Huang Daxian.

Luo Xiong's eyes flashed with the pleasure of revenge, and he shouted loudly: "Huang Daxian, you too have this day!

"Die well, die splendidly, die with a screech!"

He took out several precious spirit fruits from his storage bag, all of which he had painstakingly gathered in the Taiyin Shengdi, and he normally couldn't bear to eat them himself.

But today, to reward the God‑slaying Rat, he unhesitatingly offered the spirit fruits to it.

"Good rat, you've rendered great service; these spirit fruits are yours now," Luo Xiong said with a smile.

Seeing the spirit fruits, the God‑slaying Rat's eyes flickered with a hint of greed, but it did not immediately eat them; instead, it gave Luo Xiong a strange look, as if conveying some message.

Luo Xiong failed to notice the God‑slaying Rat's oddness, still lost in his fantasy, already beginning to plot how to use Huang Daxian's death to boost his own status.

Yet he did not know that the God‑slaying Rat had not fulfilled his wish.

In fact, the God‑slaying Rat yielded to Huang Daxian's pressure and was ordered by him to return and deal with Luo Xiong.

Over the next few days, Luo Xiong kept waiting for news of Huang Daxian's death, but the Taiyin Shengdi remained calm, with no abnormality.

Gradually, Luo Xiong began to feel uneasy, a faint premonition of ill omen stirring in his heart.

Then one day, while cultivating, Luo Xiong suddenly felt a strong wave of dizziness.

His soul seemed to be eroded by some force.

Luo Xiong widened his eyes in terror, only to see the God‑slaying Rat standing on his cultivation platform, its eyes flashing with an eerie light.

"No, this is impossible!" Luo Xiong shouted in terror.

He tried to mobilize his inner qi to resist, but found his body no longer obeyed him.

The God‑slaying Rat slowly approached, its teeth flashing with cold light, and Luo Xiong felt a fear unlike any before.

He wanted to flee, but his body seemed fixed to the spot, unable to move.

Just then, Huang Daxian's silhouette appeared at the doorway of the cultivation chamber.

His face bore a grim, cold smile: "Luo Xiong, you didn't expect this,

"your plan has failed, and your soul will become a delicious feast for the God‑slaying Rat."

Luo Xiong's eyes filled with despair, knowing he had no way to escape.

The God‑slaying Rat lunged at him, its sharp teeth tearing his soul, Luo Xiong let out a piercing wail, but was soon devoured cleanly by the rat.

Huang Daxian watched Luo Xiong's soul being devoured, the corner of his mouth curling into a satisfied smile.

From then on, the Taiyin Shengdi would have no Luo Xiong, and his position would become even more secure.

And after completing its mission, the God‑slaying Rat silently returned to Huang Daxian's side.

It knew Huang Daxian's identity, and its own fate was now tightly bound to that powerful peer.

Soon after.

Elder Yin's face grew dark as water upon hearing the news of Luo Xiong's fall.

A flicker of ruthlessness crossed his eyes; he had already reached a conclusion—this must be Huang Daxian's plot.

Though Luo Xiong lacked talent, he was still his man; now dying obscurely, how could he swallow this anger?

Elder Yin immediately summoned his most trusted disciple, Wang Ran. "Go, report to the sect that Huang Daxian killed Luo Xiong; he must pay for this!" Elder Yin's voice was low and full of anger.

Wang Ran obeyed, his silhouette like a black bolt of lightning, swiftly vanishing from Elder Yin's sight.

In his heart, Elder Yin secretly vowed that this time he would ruin Huang Daxian's reputation, even at the cost of his life.

Wang Ran arrived at the sect's Hall of Law Enforcement, the place that handles internal disputes and unlawful acts within the sect.

"Elders of the Hall of Law Enforcement, you must uphold justice for Luo Xiong!

"Huang Daxian harbors wolfish ambitions; he secretly murdered Luo Xiong—you cannot let him go unpunished!" He cried out in grief and anger, his voice brimming with sorrow and fury.

The elders of the Hall of Law Enforcement heard this and furrowed their brows. They knew the grudge between Luo Xiong and Huang Daxian, but never imagined things would reach this point.

The master of the Hall of Law Enforcement, a white‑haired old man, slowly said: "This is no trivial matter; we need to investigate it thoroughly."

The black‑clothed figure wept as he described how Luo Xiong had been framed by Huang Daxian and how he had died miserably.

His words were filled with anger and hatred toward Huang Daxian, as if Huang Daxian were the killer of his father.

After hearing him, the elders of the Hall of Law Enforcement decided to first examine Luo Xiong's corpse.

They summoned a corpse‑refining expert from within the sect to conduct a careful inspection of Luo Xiong's body.

In the end, they discovered clear bite marks of the God‑slaying Rat on Luo Xiong's body—an extremely rare ferocious beast whose teeth contain deadly poison capable of directly corroding a cultivator's soul.

The elders of the Hall of Law Enforcement immediately realized that this matter was not simple.

They questioned Wang Ran again, asking whether he had solid proof that Huang Daxian was responsible.

Wang Ran, though angry, could produce no evidence; his accusation was based solely on his speculation.

"According to our investigation, Luo Xiong was bitten to death by the God‑slaying Rat, and Huang Daxian is unrelated.

"Wang Ran, your accusation lacks basis; this ends here." The Elder Weitong of the Hall of Law Enforcement announced.

Upon hearing this, Wang Ran's face instantly turned grim; if he failed to fulfill Elder Yin's assignment, he would hardly be able to clear his name.

Deep within the Taiyin Shengdi, inside the hall of the Hall of Law Enforcement, Wang Ran hoarsely argued over the cause of Luo Xiong's death.

His voice echoed in the vast hall, filled with anger and resentment.

"Senior Brother Luo Xiong could not possibly have died for no reason; behind this must be Huang Daxian's plot!" Wang Ran's eyes brimmed with hot tears, his emotions agitated; he slammed his personal sword into the ground, as if swearing an oath.

The practitioners of the Hall of Law Enforcement sat expressionless on the high seats, their eyes revealing a hint of impatience.

These practitioners are the sect's law enforcers, who daily handle all kinds of disputes and unlawful matters, having long cultivated hearts of iron and stone.

"Enough!" an elder of the Hall of Law Enforcement finally slammed the table, his voice booming like thunder in the hall: "We have investigated this thoroughly; Luo Xiong was bitten to death by the God‑slaying Rat, and Huang Daxian is unrelated.

"If you keep causing trouble, don't blame us for being unsparing!"

Wang Ran's body shuddered; he had not expected the practitioners of the Hall of Law Enforcement to be so resolute.

He didn't know that the Law Enforcement Hall cultivators, because of the Nine Yin True Classic matter, had long been dissatisfied with the Yin Elder's lineage.

That legendary technique, said to allow cultivation to the supreme realm, Huang Daxian, what a fine disciple, yet he openly revealed it, and even they benefited greatly.

But the Yin Elder's lineage never let up on Huang Daxian, repeatedly causing him trouble, which made the Law Enforcement Hall cultivators feel extremely angry.

"But, but Luo Xiong Senior Brother..." Wang Ran still wanted to argue, but the Law Enforcement Elder's gaze had already turned sharp.

"Impudent!" the Law Enforcement Elder shouted, "The cause of Luo Xiong's death has been investigated; if you dare spread rumors again, don't blame us for throwing you into the Black Prison to reflect!"

Wang Ran's face turned pale, his body slightly trembling, obviously frightened by the Law Enforcement Elder's words.

He knew the Black Prison was where Taiyin Shengdi punished cultivators who committed serious crimes; once inside, there was almost no chance of getting out.

"Disciple... disciple knows his mistake." Wang Ran finally lowered his head, his voice tinged with despair, as if all hope had been shattered.

The Law Enforcement Elder snorted coldly, waved his hand, and had the other cultivators take Wang Ran away.

With the departure of the complaining disciple, the Law Enforcement Hall returned to its former tranquility.

The Law Enforcement Elders exchanged a complex glance; they knew this incident was far more complicated than it appeared on the surface.

The feud between the Yin Elder's lineage and Huang Daxian had long existed, and the struggle over the Nine Yin True Classic pushed their conflict to the breaking point.

Luo Xiong's death was merely a spark; the real storm was still brewing.

At the other end of Taiyin Shengdi, in Huang Daxian's cultivation chamber, he sat with eyes closed, cultivating, as if the outside world had nothing to do with him.

Yet his heart was not at peace; Luo Xiong's death gave him a sense of danger.

"Huang Daxian, the Law Enforcement Hall side has been taken care of," Heifeng reported quietly.

Huang Daxian slowly opened his eyes, a glint flashing in them: "Although Luo Xiong's death has been temporarily suppressed, the Yin Elder's side will not let it rest."

"What should we do?" Heifeng asked.

Huang Daxian rose, walked to the window, and gazed at the rolling clouds outside, saying in a deep voice: "Wait and see, while strengthening defenses to guard against retaliation from the Yin Elder's lineage."

At the same time, in the Yin Elder's cultivation chamber, the Yin Elder was listening to Wang Ran's report.

His face was as dark as water, his eyes flickering with flames of anger.

"Damned Huang Daxian, if I don't avenge this, I swear I won't be human!" the Yin Elder's voice was ice-cold, like from the Nine Abyss Hell.

Wang Ran stood aside, daring not to speak further.

He knew the Yin Elder's anger at this moment could destroy heaven and earth.

"Pass the order down, have everyone get ready."

"As soon as we discover Huang Daxian leaving his base, we strike immediately," the Yin Elder ordered coldly.

Wang Ran received the order, his figure flashed, and he disappeared on the spot.

Yin Elder sat alone in the secret chamber, the darkness around him seeming to complement his mood.

The news of Luo Xiong's death was like a thorn, piercing his heart, making him feel both painful and angry.

No matter how he thought, he couldn't understand how his carefully devised plan could have made such a mistake.

"The God-slaying rat is tamed; it couldn't possibly attack Luo Xiong for no reason," Yin Elder muttered.

One possibility after another flashed in his mind, but he rejected them all.

Taming the God-slaying rat is extremely difficult; once it acknowledges a master, it will never betray.

Unless...

A glint of cold light flashed in Yin Elder's eyes as he thought of a possibility: unless Huang Daxian had subdued the God-slaying rat.

In Taiyin Shengdi, how could Huang Daxian possibly control the God-slaying rat silently?

"Huang Daxian, you wait for me!" Yin Elder's voice carried a hint of gritted-teeth hatred.

He still remembered how Huang Daxian, under everyone's watch, had ruined Luo Xiong's reputation.

Now he used this treacherous means to kill Luo Xiong.

Yin Elder's heart was filled with resentment; he hated Huang Daxian's cunning and ruthlessness, and even more his own powerlessness.

He knew that Huang Daxian's strength was not to be underestimated, and that his sect's power backed him.

To deal with him, one must be cautious and prudent, not act rashly.

Yin Elder decided to secretly send people to investigate, to find Huang Daxian's weakness and make him pay for Luo Xiong's death.

He dispatched his trusted aides to secretly gather intelligence on Huang Daxian, while also seeking an opportunity—a chance to crush Huang Daxian in one fell swoop.

However, the investigation results disappointed Yin Elder. Huang Daxian acted cautiously, leaving almost no evidence.

His cultivation chamber was heavily guarded; even Yin Elder's trusted aides could not approach.

Moreover, Huang Daxian seemed recently to be actively courting other elders of the sect, his power quietly growing.

Yin Elder's brows were tightly knotted; he knew he could wait no longer, must act, otherwise once Huang Daxian's power solidified, he would have no chance.

On a night when Heifeng was high, Yin Elder secretly summoned his trusted aides, all accomplished cultivators, loyal to him.

Yin Elder's gaze swept over them one by one, and he finally said in a low voice: "Huang Daxian killed Luo Xiong; this grudge we cannot not avenge."

"You few, closely monitor Huang Daxian's every move; once you find an opportunity, then give me..."

Yin Elder's words were unfinished, but his gaze already said everything.

His trusted aides departed with the order, while Yin Elder sat in the secret chamber, turning a black jade slip in his hand—his last trump card; no matter the cost, he would make Huang Daxian suffer destruction.

The secret chamber inside and out fell silent once more; Yin Elder's fingers lightly rubbed the jade slip, as if pondering something.

This jade slip sealed a powerful formation, which he had obtained by chance years ago and never used.

Now, facing Huang Daxian as a formidable foe, he had to consider using this trump card.

"Huang Daxian, you may have schemed endlessly, but you don't know I too have made preparations," Yin Elder said, the corner of his mouth curling into a cold smile, his eyes revealing a hint of ruthlessness.

Several days later, Yin Elder's trusted aides returned with news: Huang Daxian seemed to have sensed something, his recent actions becoming more secretive, hardly leaving his cultivation chamber.

This made Yin Elder's plan difficult to carry out, and he inevitably felt some anxiety.

"Is it really just going to be left like this?" Yin Elder muttered, his heart filled with unwillingness.

If Huang Daxian is not dealt with promptly, one's prestige will suffer a serious blow, and even more disciples may defect.

Just then, a mysterious figure appeared in Elder Yin's secret chamber.

This was a person completely shrouded in a black robe, whose face could not be seen clearly.

Upon seeing this person, Elder Yin merely nodded slightly, as if not surprised.

"Elder Yin, this seat has brought what you need." The black-robed person's voice was hoarse, making it impossible to tell their gender.

A glint flashed in Elder Yin's eyes: "Excellent, with this, Huang Daxian is sure to die."

The black-robed person handed Elder Yin a small jade bottle containing a strange liquid that emitted a faint glow.

This is a rare poison called Netherworld Powder; even a powerful cultivator, once contaminated, would find it hard to resist.

Elder Yin's plan is simple: to release this poison in Huang Daxian's cultivation chamber; as long as Huang Daxian inhales even a little, he will fall into a coma and be at their mercy.