Chapter 13: The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, the Oriole Lurks Behind

Outside Shanfeng, more than a dozen formal disciples gathered, with Zhao Xuhe, Qingchen Fairy, and the Old Man of the Library, Wang Borong, leading them.

Among the crowd, only these three possessed cultivation at the mid-stage of Qi Condensation.

Standing at the very front, Zhao Xuhe spoke with a booming voice: "That all you brothers and sisters could accept my invitation, Zhao is deeply honored; I offer my thanks in advance."

Having spoken, he bowed to the crowd.

"To be frank, Senior Brother discovered a cave dwelling left by a predecessor outside Shanfeng, but alas, an array protects the perimeter, and we are truly powerless to break it."

Qingchen Fairy spoke up at the right moment, her soft voice making one's bones tingle: "Thus Qingchen sought out you brothers and sisters; together we shall break the array and split the treasures within the cave dwelling equally. Senior Brother Zhao is a member of the Sanhe Association; everyone knows his reputation, and he certainly will not let you suffer a loss."

Zhao Xuhe clearly possessed some means.

He and Qingchen Fairy cooperated, while the Old Man of the Library, Wang Borong, played the supporting role, quickly binding the scattered crowd into a single rope.

Immediately after, the crowd mounted their flying lights and departed from Shanfeng.

The "Heaven-Connecting Cloud Sea" where the First Saint Sect is located covers a vast expanse, almost endless; the crowd flew on their lights for a quarter-hour before stopping at a spot within the cloud sea.

"This is the place."

Zhao Xuhe shifted his mind, and true energy parted the cloud sea, revealing a magnificent mountain peak with excellent feng shui; at first glance, it resembled an old dragon lying down.

"This place is named Panlong Island," Zhao Xuhe introduced proactively. "I have investigated; it is the cave dwelling of Panlong True Person, a former direct disciple of the sect. The perimeter feng shui array was once a Foundation Establishment array, but over the years, the earth veins the array relied on have dried up, and its power is now less than one-tenth of what it was."

"Everyone, please follow me to break the array."

As his words fell, Zhao Xuhe charged first, entering Panlong Island; seeing this, the others naturally dared not lag behind and flew in one by one.

Just like that, after a moment, a figure quietly appeared.

"Interesting."

Lu Yang looked down at Panlong Island below but had no intention of entering; instead, he took out four black banners and began arranging them outside the island.

"After all, the repayment deadline is approaching, and the time of this life is nearly exhausted."

"Might as well pull off a big score!"

"However, Panlong Island is treacherous and unpredictable; Zhao Xuhe has a large force here. I am alone and cannot support the weight; rushing in to compete for the opportunity with them offers no chance of victory."

After much thought, Lu Yang thought of a good plan.

First, the saying that there are good people within the Mo Sect is absolute nonsense he does not believe; thus, he is certain that Zhao Xuhe's plot to recruit people to raid the cave dwelling harbors no good intentions.

However, since so many people came, including the Old Man of the Library, Wang Borong, even if Zhao Xuhe can swallow the loot, he will inevitably lose a few teeth and cannot remain unscathed. Since that is the case, he might as well set up an array outside the island first, waiting at ease to ambush those who emerge.

Is this not far more profitable than venturing inside to explore?

For this, Lu Yang used his last 100 Contribution Points to exchange for a set of the Lost Path Array.

The four "Lost Path Banners" trap and lock heaven and earth, inverting directions; although they possess no offensive might, they can trap people within, making escape difficult in a short time.

"Next is simply waiting quietly... No rush; patience brings perfection."

Lu Yang patiently lay in ambush.

"Zhao Xuhe! What is the meaning of this!?"

"You killed us; our life lamps extinguish; the Saint Sect will not spare you!"

Inside Panlong Island, a river of blood now flowed.

One could see the formal disciples who had just worked in unison now fighting individually, screams ringing out as a streak of blood light continuously harvested their lives.

And in a place far from the crowd, Zhao Xuhe and Qingchen Fairy stood side by side.

Both wore mocking expressions, brows raised arrogantly, radiating a chilling evil qi; their words and deeds were utterly different from the sincere manner in which they had just invited the crowd.

Facing the crowd's angry denunciations, Zhao Xuhe wore a cold sneer and spoke with a chilling tone: "No need to struggle; this place is one I carefully prepared, and this 'Blood Demon Soul-Slaying Blade' cost me a full 3,000 Contribution Points. Today, not a single one of you shall escape Panlong Island!"

As he spoke, several more people lost their lives.

One could see the streak of blood light in the air flash by, instantly sucking their flesh and blood clean, then revealing its form: it was clearly a crimson flying dagger.

"You! Scoundrel!"

In the crowd, the only one still able to resist was the Old Man of the Library, Wang Borong, but Zhao Xuhe was not in a hurry to kill him, merely continuously draining him.

While draining him, Zhao Xuhe also sneered and mocked: "Surname Wang, do you truly think that having taken my money, you still have the life to spend it? The reason I bought the Substitute Death Yin Skeletons from your hands back then was for today! Otherwise, if you had a pile of Substitute Death Yin Skeletons in hand, would it not be difficult for me to take you down?"

"Now your Substitute Death Yin Skeletons have all been bought by me."

"After I kill you, I can take back the Contribution Points I gave you back then, equivalent to obtaining a pile of Substitute Death Yin Skeletons without spending a single point."

"Looking at it this way, I must thank you!"

Zhao Xuhe's heart-piercing words made Wang Borong nearly vomit blood; instead, Zhao Xuhe seized the opportunity, the flying dagger flashed, and immediately pierced his chest.

Thud!

Wang Borong's lips moved, his face full of unwillingness, but he could not utter half a word before the flying dagger sucked his entire qi and blood dry, and he finally collapsed lifelessly.

With Wang Borong dealt with, the dust settled.

After another moment, the wailing gradually ceased.

"Congratulations, Senior Brother!"

Qingchen Fairy was also drenched in fragrant sweat at this moment; the Blood Demon Soul-Slaying Blade consumed a great deal, and Zhao Xuhe's ability to slay so many people naturally owed some credit to her.

"I must thank you too, Junior Sister."

Zhao Xuhe smiled slightly, retracted the Blood Demon Soul-Slaying Blade into his hand, and asked: "How is it? With its current power, can it break that prohibition?"

Qingchen Fairy examined it for a moment, her beautiful brows slightly furrowing: "It seems it is still a little short..."

Whoosh—!

The blade entered and exited; Qingchen Fairy's pretty face was blank, her gaze dull as she looked at the crimson flying dagger piercing her lower abdomen, and in the blink of an eye, she too was sucked into a dried corpse.

"Now it is not short."

Zhao Xuhe looked at the Blood Demon Soul-Slaying Blade in his hand, nodded in satisfaction, and then approached a closed meditation chamber deep within Panlong Island.

Without a second word, he raised the blade and struck.

Boom!

Only the sound of a ground-shaking, mountain-trembling boom rang out; the quiet chamber's great door shattered on impact, revealing what lay within—a jade box, unmistakably placed there.

Zhao Xuhe stepped forward, his face radiant with ecstatic joy, and opened the jade box, only to see two volumes of Daoist scriptures inside.

The upper volume was titled "Nine Transformations Dragon Art."

The lower volume was titled "Ten Thousand Chariots Dragon-Ascending Treasure Scripture."

Gazing at the two Daoist scriptures in the jade box, Zhao Xuhe's hands trembled with excitement: "A Third-Rank True Art! Indeed, a Third-Rank True Art that points directly to the Jin Dan Dao!"

"My Master truly did not deceive me."

"My Master said that through three lifetimes of arduous cultivation, I accumulated merit for True Person Panlong; in this life, my merit is finally complete, and True Person Panlong's inheritance is my opportunity."

"From today onward, as long as I cultivate with single-minded focus, refine the 'True Dragon Qi,' and establish the 'Ten Thousand Chariots Dragon-Ascending' Dao foundation, I will surely regain my true self in the future, return completely from the tribulation, and with this Third-Rank True Art, not only will my path to Foundation Establishment be smooth and clear, but the Jin Dan Dao will also be within reach before long!"

The more Zhao Xuhe thought, the more excited he became; he immediately stored away the Daoist scriptures.

"Switching cultivation methods requires dispersing one's current power; there is no time to lose. I must return to my cave dwelling immediately to enter seclusion. Once I emerge from seclusion, I can formally become a disciple of my Master's."

Carrying his hopes for the future, Zhao Xuhe summoned his escape light and swiftly flew out of Panlong Island.

However, the very next second, Zhao Xuhe's expression suddenly changed drastically.

"Who goes there?"

"Boom!"

At that moment, Zhao Xuhe's eyes widened, but all he saw was a magnificent sword light, fierce as thunder, instantly striking before his very eyes!

(End of this chapter)