Chapter 41

Put away the Storage Bag.

Chen Zhao patted down the body of the Foundation Establishment Evil Cultivator, checking for anything missed.

After a stick of incense burned out.

The only thing found was the Cave Abode Token; the body itself, however, was peculiar.

"Another Nine-Petal Black Lotus... is this some organization?"

Chen Zhao stared at his back, lost in thought.

From Robber Cultivators to Evil Cultivators, from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment.

Such a vast organization—he had never heard its name; as if, the moment Fulong Mountain changed, these people simply appeared out of nowhere.

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As Chen Zhao pondered, he activated the Token and stepped out of the Cave Abode.

Too bad the sealing array was incomplete; otherwise, it could have served as a base.

"How did it go?"

Duan Bo had been waiting outside for a long time, seemingly never leaving his spot.

Chen Zhao shook his head, face filled with regret:

"It was indeed a Foundation Establishment Cave Abode, but I arrived too late—the previous Evil Cultivator claimed the opportunity."

This statement was half-truth, half-lie; besides, Liang Chengfeng's evasion technique was extraordinarily fast, making it logically plausible.

Duan Bo patted his back:

"A true man need not worry over wealth. Too bad I didn't see this thief—I have no idea where he went."

Chen Zhao paused for a moment, but didn't press further.

Right now, two matters were urgent: find Zhang Sifan, and find the Nine-Apertures Clearing Jade.

The former had no leads at all; the latter, however, had traces to follow.

"According to Xin Tong, she lost consciousness beneath a tree in the southwest corner, and carved a mark there."

Chen Zhao pondered.

Su Muqing must have been there too.

If I could control her with the Heart-Eroding Worm, I'd gain some initiative in the struggle between the two Sus.

Then, using this as a springboard, I could turn the tables on Fang Zijing—turn from pawn to player.

Not long after.

The surroundings grew noisy again; with Wu Xuzi's death, the Cultivation of Withering and Flourishing ceased abruptly.

Everywhere were demonic cultivators.

Fortunately, Duan Bo remembered the location and led Chen Zhao in a swift dash.

They encountered not a single Evil Cultivator.

Not long after.

Chen Zhao felt a chill at his neck, as if someone whispered beside him.

Amidst the crimson mist, twisted, eerie figures loomed everywhere, towering into the clouds, all facing one direction.

Some knelt in submission; others pleaded.

It was a tiny black dot, strikingly clear within the mist, as if imprinted on the eyeball.

"Just an illusion. Ignore it."

Duan Bo pointed at the black dot and chuckled, his expression relaxed:

"That's the secret realm. Too bad my cultivation method is unique—I can't approach it. You're on your own."

Again, a unique cultivation method?

Chen Zhao narrowed his eyes.

Without Su Wanyao, he truly couldn't control Duan Bo—he only knew the man was generally helping him.

That was enough.

Chen Zhao took a deep breath and walked toward the black dot.

He walked for two full hours.

Chen Zhao stood before a cave entrance.

Looking back, the strange figures were now tiny as ants, bowing to him.

The cave was barely tall enough for one person; on both sides were carved red characters:

"Empty nature reveals itself; attain eternal life."

"Sounds like a Buddhist prophecy."

Chen Zhao smiled and shook his head, crouching low as he slipped inside.

The surroundings were like mirrors, reflecting his figure.

Not far away were two others.

Su Muqing, Liang Chengfeng.

They had arrived first, yet had not engaged in a Dharma Battle—instead, they sat cross-legged in meditation.

Chen Zhao raised an eyebrow.

The Spirit Qi and Evil Qi here were exceptionally pure, sharply divided—likely caused by some rare object.

As for the Nine-Apertures Clearing Jade... Chen Zhao glanced around but saw nothing.

"Brother, could we pause our conflict? I'll meditate for a while, then leave."

Liang Chengfeng opened his eyes and pleaded.

He was the only evil cultivator; one-on-one, he still had a chance to win, but two-on-one was simply being surrounded and beaten.

But Chen Zhao didn't want to let him go.

He had a silver nail Dharma Treasure that could nail into a person's spirit soul; Chen Zhao counted on him using it to severely wound Su Muqing.

"Fellow cultivator, word has spread that you emerged from a Foundation Establishment Cave Abode, bearing a life-stealing cultivation art."

Chen Zhao half-threatened, half-deceived, implying something:

"Given our friendship, I naturally wouldn't stop you—but that one has ties to the Discipline Hall Elder's son and despises evil without mercy."

What spread?

Liang Chengfeng spat inwardly, glancing at Su Muqing.

Upon hearing "Foundation Establishment Cave Abode" and "life-stealing cultivation art," she immediately connected the dots, licking her lips.

"Young brother, what do you mean? Are you planning to let the evil cultivator escape?"

Su Muqing rose slowly, a Array Disk hidden in her sleeve.

She had the highest cultivation and held the advantage; naturally, she wanted to pick them off one by one.

Then.

Liang Chengfeng moved.

He formed a hand seal, summoned black clouds, and flew toward the exit.

And Su Muqing had been ready.

A withering yellow binding Array instantly engulfed all three, yet it couldn't halt the black clouds for even an instant.

In the blink of an eye.

Liang Chengfeng was outside the Array.

This black cloud Dharma Treasure could pass through Array restrictions!

Chen Zhao had anticipated this.

The Yin Thunder Sword Art flashed—Liang Chengfeng tried the same trick again, attempting to sever his arm to escape.

But the Qingming Naling Sword shot straight for the black clouds.

Hum!

The black clouds gradually dissipated, their spiritual essence gone; Su Muqing seized the moment he fell from the cloud, expanded the binding Array, and swallowed him whole.

She gave Chen Zhao a deep look; though she hadn't seen his move, she was deeply wary.

"Fellow cultivator, I only took the Withering-Radiance Art, but the bulk is in your hands—surely you didn't lose it?"

Seeing escape impossible, Liang Chengfeng glared at Chen Zhao, gritting his teeth.

He had realized the two were secretly at odds and immediately prepared to sow discord.

Chen Zhao spread his hands, his tone oddly playful:

"I'm orthodox; you're an evil cultivator—what's big or small?"

Before his words ended, he switched to the Qingfeng Blade and attacked Liang Chengfeng, giving him a meaningful glance.

The latter rolled aside, shooting him a scornful look.

Alone, he was certain he could handle either Chen Zhao or Su Muqing.

But he didn't want to be used by Chen Zhao as a tool—wearing himself out only to make someone else's victory.

Cooperating with the other side would be easier.

As expected.

Su Muqing's eyes sharpened, lashing out with a storm of whip shadows toward Chen Zhao.

Chen Zhao immediately activated the Wind-Riding Art, dodging behind Liang Chengfeng; seeing he couldn't shake her off, the latter calmly raised a first-rank mid-grade black shield.

Hiss!

Just a graze—and the shield's surface instantly vaporized, leaving a whip-shaped burn scar.

Liang Chengfeng hastily retracted the shield.

He hurled three pitch-black Poison Pills; after Chen Zhao slashed them apart, they exploded into ghastly green smoke.

Su Muqing quickly swallowed her self-made detoxifying pill, yet her face turned purple, her spiritual energy sluggish, with faint signs of demonic deviation!

Besides the poison, the pills carried a trace of Evil Qi.

She swallowed another Qingxin Pill, and her condition improved slightly; then she turned her head to look.

Chen Zhao had swallowed a Du'e Pill and looked perfectly fine.

He must have had a miraculous encounter!

Su Muqing's eyes turned cold; she didn't believe Chen Zhao's pillcraft surpassed hers.

Besides, she wanted to reap the benefits of others' struggle.

"Fellow cultivator, now do you believe? This man consorts with evil cultivators and bears great treasures."

Liang Chengfeng watched, tossing a pill toward Su Muqing, speaking calmly:

"After killing him, the treasure is yours. I won't speak of what happened here—if you spare my life, I swear by my demonic vow."

Su Muqing caught the pill but dared not swallow it.

Instead, she summoned a slender fire spear and activated the Golden Charm True Scripture.

Instantly, golden charms surfaced on the surrounding walls, transforming into chains.

Chen Zhao pushed the Wind-Riding Art to its limit, yet still couldn't evade.

The Golden Light Shield shattered on contact; Chen Zhao felt his limbs paralyzed, utterly immobile.

Before him, three zhang away, the red spear, wrapped in a storm of golden charms, locked him in place.

Cultivation technique, divine art—and a top-grade Dharma Treasure!

On the other side, Liang Chengfeng activated the Evil Technique, successfully undergoing demonic transformation, his strength surging to Qi Refining eighth layer!

Forget Chen Zhao—even Murong De, in his demonic form, couldn't withstand two breaths.