Chapter 365: He Must Not Be Allowed to Escape!

"What's all this commotion?"

Wei Liao stepped out from the depths of the passage, his gloomy gaze like a cold venomous snake, casually sweeping over Chen Mu, who was blocked at the entrance; his voice was low and hoarse, carrying the authority of long-standing dominance and command over punishment.

"Report, Elder Wei!"

The guard disciple who had just questioned Chen Mu immediately bowed deeply and reported respectfully, "This man…"

Swoosh—

Before he could finish, sudden change erupted.

Without warning, Chen Mu moved—his right index and middle fingers pressed together, casually thrust forward.

Two-Yin Sword Qi—Yin Blade!

Dozens of invisible, intangible, colorless, odorless Yin-cold sword qi, as if existing only in the fissure between thought and reality, erupted instantly.

No piercing shriek of air, no dazzling sword light—like the deadliest poison thorn in darkest night, they slipped soundlessly across several zhang, striking straight for Wei Liao's vital points!

This strike, cultivated and unleashed by Chen Mu, aimed for instant death or crippling injury.

Deliberately launched the instant Wei Liao's attention was distracted by the guard's report—fast! Precise! Brutal!

Yet Wei Liao's perception and reaction far exceeded Chen Mu's estimation.

At the very moment the invisible Yin blades left his body and the killing intent first surfaced, Wei Liao's triangular eyes flashed with icy light!

"Hn?"

He didn't even have time to discern the form of the attack, but the bone-chilling killing intent and lethal danger made every hair on his body stand on end.

Without hesitation, he let out a shrill cry as black-purple demonic qi exploded violently around him!

Hu hong~

His body blurred instantly, like ink dropped into boiling water, transforming into a churning mass of black-purple mist that retreated backward at an unbelievable speed!

The two close disciples beside him reacted just as swiftly; though confused, seeing their elder act this way, they immediately followed suit, retreating violently backward.

Simultaneously, from within the black-purple mist, dozens of tiny, ant-sized, jet-black, crimson-eyed strange insects buzzed out with a humming sound.

These insects seemed insubstantial, moving with astonishing speed, attacking indiscriminately—toward everyone at the cave entrance, including the two guard disciples and Chen Mu!

"Ahh! Elder, spare me!!"

The two guard disciples were caught off guard; instantly, several insects landed on them. They barely managed a short scream before their skin turned visibly black and rotted, collapsing into convulsions, silent within moments.

Clearly, Wei Liao, seeking to save himself, abandoned these two subordinates, using them as meat shields and distractions.

【Corpse detected. Collect?】

"Yes!"

With the card in hand, Chen Mu retreated backward gracefully.

Facing the approaching strange insects, he flicked his right hand, sending out several refined sword qi that swept horizontally—like scorching flame through a spiderweb—slashing and incinerating every insect that drew near.

These insects were fragile, yet their poison was potent, and their numbers were considerable.

Seizing the moment as the insects tangled with the sword qi, Chen Mu shot forward like lightning, entering the passage.

He must press the advantage—cannot give Wei Liao time to breathe or summon reinforcements!

Inside the passage, light was dim, thick with the cloying sweetness of poison.

Yet Chen Mu had barely rushed in a hundred paces when a chilling "buzzing" sound erupted from the bend ahead.

The next instant, a dense tide of black-red insects surged forth from around the corner!

These insects were slightly larger than the previous ones, resembling beetles with glossy carapaces and sharp mouthparts; as they flew, they released vast clouds of pale green poison mist, instantly filling the entire passage and sweeping toward Chen Mu!

What sent a chill through Chen Mu's mind was that, through his keen spiritual perception, these black-red insects emitted a strange fluctuation—drawing in and gnawing at spiritual energy.

Even if he could swiftly slay them, their final burst of spiritual corruption or absorption upon death would likely damage a martial artist's soul.

"Troublesome."

Chen Mu had no intention of clashing head-on with this strange swarm, wasting his spirit.

He decided instantly—dropped low.

"Earth Submersion!"

The ground beneath his feet softened; Chen Mu's form sank again into the earth, moving swiftly just a few chi below the passage floor, attempting to bypass the swarm and poison mist.

After traveling roughly a hundred zhang underground, sensing the buzzing and the sweet stench of poison far above, he broke through the surface again, returning to the passage floor.

The "Listen to the Wind" skill spread silently, instantly capturing faint scents and voices from a nearby parallel passage.

"…Immediately send word to the Sect Master and the elders in seclusion! A powerful intruder has infiltrated the mountain gate—strength unknown, but extremely dangerous!"

Wei Liao's voice carried shock, fury, and lingering dread—clearly, Chen Mu's ambush had left him shaken.

"Elder, who… who is the enemy? Has the Righteous Alliance attacked?" a disciple asked, uncertain.

"Fool! The Righteous Alliance couldn't move this fast! And the intruder is alone—he's likely after… after that little girl we sent away!"

Wei Liao muttered urgently, "Go! Also, activate the 'Ten Thousand Insects Devouring Heart Array' to seal this area—under no circumstances can he escape!"

Little girl?

Long Tuti!

Chen Mu's eyes flashed with cold light—his killing intent intensified.

He suppressed all his aura, merging into the shadows, moving swiftly toward the source of the voices.

Only a thick stone wall separated them.

Now!

Chen Mu's mind surged—Two-Yin Sword Qi activated once more.

This time, not scattered attacks—but ten refined, concentrated Yin Blades, focused on a single point, aimed precisely at the location behind the wall where Wei Liao's qi and spiritual fluctuations were strongest.

Swoosh—swoosh—swoosh—

Ten invisible, intangible Yin-cold sword qi, like ten razor-sharp ice spikes, pierced through the thick stone wall instantly.

The stone wall retained only ten barely perceptible needle holes, making no sound whatsoever!

On the other side of the stone wall, Wei Liao, who was urgently setting up defenses, felt that sharp instinct for danger save his life once more.

Just before the sword qi pierced the stone wall and the killing intent reached his body, he suddenly sensed it again!

"Again?!"

He roared sharply, desperately dodging sideways while his body erupted in thick protective toxic罡.

But this time, the distance was too close, the sword qi too fast, and concentrated into a single point of explosion.

Hss! Hss!

Despite Wei Liao's reaction being at its absolute limit, he was still half a beat too slow.

One sword qi pierced through the bone of his left arm, leaving a blood hole that went clean through, its edges rapidly frosting over.

Another narrowly grazed the flesh just above his dantian qi sea; though it did not strike a vital point, the chilling, bone-eroding sword qi still seeped into his body, causing his dantian to flare with searing pain and momentarily stalling his true qi circulation.

"Ugh—!"

Wei Liao grunted, his face turning instantly pale, sweat beading on his forehead, his eyes filled with shock and venomous hatred.