Chapter 444: The Spy

Zhang Nuo did not step out of his Cave Abode for several days in a row, instead focusing solely on practicing the 'Flame Control Technique'! Most matters regarding the Xian Mountain were managed by Liu Qingshan!

One night, two months later! Right on the floor of the Stone Chamber where Zhang Nuo was, a Golden Light rose up, and after a few transformations, it turned into the appearance of Xuan Jin! At this moment, he was holding a reddish-colored little beast about a foot in size in his arms! This little beast had a pair of straight horns on its head and a pair of equally fiery-red fleshy wings on its back! Upon closer inspection, it actually looked somewhat like a lion!

At the very moment Xuan Jin appeared, Zhang Nuo also slowly opened his eyes. When he first saw the little beast in Xuan Jin's arms, his figure drifted over in surprise, arriving right in front of Xuan Jin!

"Is this a Qiongqi beast?"

Staring in surprise at the little fellow in Xuan Jin's arms, Zhang Nuo had already guessed a bit in his heart.

"Yes! It has finally hatched!"

Reaching out to stroke the fur of the little beast, which was as red as burning charcoal, Xuan Jin said happily. Zhang Nuo could not help himself at this moment and reached out to touch the Qiongqi beast! But when his hand was still a few inches away from the little beast, the previously quiet little fellow suddenly opened its eyes wide, two fierce glares baring, and it turned its head to bite at Zhang Nuo's finger!

Caught off guard, Zhang Nuo was given a big fright and hurriedly withdrew his finger! He looked at Xuan Jin in astonishment!

"Master, do not misunderstand! This beast has just hatched and has not yet recognized its master! That is why it will attack anyone!"

Reaching out to forcibly turn the little beast's head away, fearing it would attack Zhang Nuo again, Xuan Jin said this. Speechless, Zhang Nuo could not help but smile bitterly; it seemed he had been too impatient!

"Calculating the time, it is about right. Now is the perfect opportunity for it to recognize its master! Master, please begin immediately!"

Seeing the little fellow in his arms had calmed down, Xuan Jin said this after a slight shift in thought.

"Good!"

Having waited for this day for who knows how long, Zhang Nuo spoke as he lightly pricked his index finger, a drop of fresh blood slowly flowing out. On the other hand, he formed a strange Dharma seal with one hand and began to chant incantations rapidly! Before long, the drop of blood on Zhang Nuo's fingertip could be seen churning and changing, eventually turning into a blood-colored Fowen about an inch in size!

Watching Zhang Nuo's movements, Xuan Jin separated his hands to the left and right, and a pale golden radiance enveloped the Qiongqi beast, forcibly lifting its head so that its forehead faced Zhang Nuo's finger directly!

Exchanging a look with Xuan Jin, Zhang Nuo flicked his index finger sharply, and that small blood-colored Dharma seal flew directly toward the Qiongqi beast's brow! The little beast had wanted to dodge, but it was controlled by Xuan Jin's technique and could not move its body even a fraction! With a hint of fear in its eyes, it allowed the blood-colored Dharma seal to strike into its brow.

"Awooo!"

The little beast let out a long, clear howl, and two flashes of blood-red light flickered in its eyes before disappearing in a blink! It kicked its four limbs with all its might, wanting to forcibly break free from Xuan Jin's control! But with its current strength, it could not manage to do so at all! A moment later, the Qiongqi beast finally calmed down!

Only then did Zhang Nuo dare to take it into his arms! This master-recognition ritual seemed simple, but it contained many procedures. Generally speaking, the best time for a Spirit Beast to recognize its master is when it is young; only by planting the master's Divine Sense imprint in the Spirit Beast's subconscious right after birth will it be more reliable when it grows up!

Once it is allowed to grow up, wanting to plant a Divine Sense imprint is no longer such a simple matter! This is also the reason why some high-level demonic beasts are at most tamed, rather than having recognized a master!

Feeling that the Qiongqi beast was now in sync with his own mind, Zhang Nuo tried communicating with it a few times, but the newly born little fellow was still very unfamiliar with this world and could not provide any detailed understanding!

"Xuan Jin! From now on, you take care of it!"

After saying this, Zhang Nuo returned the little beast to Xuan Jin!

"Rest assured, Master! I am still capable of training this little thing!"

Zhang Nuo nodded slightly and summoned his Spirit Beast Bag, and then Xuan Jin flashed, flying inside with the Qiongqi beast.

A wave of joy filled his heart; although this little beast's cultivation was not high now, once it grew up, it would definitely be a formidable fellow! With Xuan Jin taking care of it, Zhang Nuo felt very at ease! When he had time later, he would personally train it further; he believed that within a few decades, the Qiongqi beast would surely be a great help to him!

Just as he was about to sit cross-legged again to continue practicing the 'Flame Control Technique', a flash of fire suddenly sped over from outside the cave! With a few flickers, it arrived above Zhang Nuo's head!

Without thinking, he grabbed the firelight, and after crushing it, a hurried voice message entered his ears! His expression changed instantly; Zhang Nuo turned his body, transformed into a streak of light, and rushed straight out of the Cave Abode!

At this time, it was the middle of the night outside; the stars in the sky were twinkling, and a crescent moon was releasing a faint Moonlight Essence, sprinkling it over the entire Yulong Immortal Mountain!

This time, Zhang Nuo's streak of light was not heading toward the Yulong Hall, but toward a corner of the Xian Mountain! Before long, when he arrived there, he saw Liu Qingshan and Yang Huzi looking at a corpse on the ground with angry expressions!

"What happened?"

As soon as Zhang Nuo landed, he asked urgently!

"This person seems to be a cultivator from the Great Underworld Mansion. I don't know how he snuck into the Xian Mountain! If we hadn't discovered him in time, he might have transmitted the intelligence out!"

Yang Huzi kicked the corpse on the ground twice in a fit of rage!

"A spy!"

Zhang Nuo's head buzzed! He had calculated everything, yet he had missed this point; he had actually allowed people from the Great Underworld Mansion to infiltrate Yulong Immortal Mountain! If this were the case, wouldn't they have a clear understanding of the layout of the Xian Mountain? Was there any way to fight the battle ahead?

"Issue an order immediately! Every person in the Pavilion must be thoroughly investigated; we must root out the remaining spies! Otherwise, a thousand-mile embankment will collapse because of an ant hole!"

Zhang Nuo's voice was even trembling! He had made such meticulous plans; if they failed, not only would Yulong Immortal Mountain fall, but the Su Family who came to help would also be implicated!

"Yes! Pavilion Master, rest assured! I am very familiar with the cultivators of our sect! Give me two days, and I will be able to root out the spies!"

Liu Qingshan's face felt hot; he was in charge of all matters in the Giant Spirit Pavilion, especially when new disciples joined, he would review their information. Now that such a thing had happened, he could not escape responsibility!

"Also, invite Fellow Daoist Su Mubai over immediately to change the positions of the several attack Dharma Arrays that were recently built!"

Zhang Nuo issued a series of orders, which Liu Qingshan kept in mind one by one before going to execute them! This night was destined to be a sleepless night; Zhang Nuo stood alone on the peak of Yulong Immortal Mountain, his powerful Divine Sense covering almost half of the Xian Mountain! Yet, he still found no abnormalities!

Early the next morning, Su Mubai and the others set about changing the positions of the attack Dharma Arrays on the Xian Mountain, while Liu Qingshan set about thoroughly investigating the spies in the Pavilion! Just as everyone was busy, Zhang Nuo quietly left Yulong Immortal Mountain alone and flew toward a certain direction!

About five hours later, Zhang Nuo stopped, looked at the surrounding terrain, and suddenly raised his right hand toward the sky, a bloodstain splitting open on his palm! The 'Pure Underworld Divine Tree' shot into the sky, growing rapidly, and in the blink of an eye, it became several zhang tall! Its lush branches and leaves formed a giant umbrella, covering a large area of the ground below!

At this moment, Zhang Nuo hid inside the trunk of the tree, his eyes slightly narrowed, sensing every movement outside through the Divine Tree's numerous branches and leaves!

According to Zhang Nuo's estimation, since there was a spy inside Yulong Immortal Mountain, they would definitely transmit the information they obtained to the outside; at this time, there must be someone outside to receive it! Only by combining internal and external efforts could the spies be completely eradicated!

However, Zhang Nuo did not know their specific meeting point, so he just chose the most likely place to observe carefully!

After half a day, let alone people, not even a bird had flown past here! But Zhang Nuo was not anxious! In any case, the Spiritual Qi here was quite rich, which did not affect his cultivation. Furthermore, letting the 'Pure Underworld Divine Tree' stay out for a long time would allow it to absorb more Heaven and Earth Origin Qi, which would be of great help for the future battle!

Not long after the sky turned dark, Zhang Nuo, hiding in the tree trunk, raised his eyebrows slightly, then quickly opened his eyes and slowly extended his Divine Sense, scanning toward a place dozens of miles away!

He saw a team of cultivators, numbering over five hundred, not flying on Dharma Treasures, but approaching from the ground toward his side. These cultivators were all wearing black clothes, very much like the attire of the Great Underworld Mansion!

Feeling a bit surprised, Zhang Nuo felt that these people did not look like they were coming to meet a spy, but rather like a small force moving toward the direction of Yulong Immortal Mountain!

With a movement of his Divine Sense, the 'Pure Underworld Divine Tree' moved to the path these cultivators were bound to take! Before long, this team of people was less than a hundred zhang away from the Divine Tree!

At this time, Zhang Nuo finally saw clearly that there was a leader at the front of the team! This person was not wearing black clothes, but casual attire; it looked like he was the head of this group! His cultivation was around the Golden Core Middle Stage!

Now that the distance was close, Zhang Nuo could be even more certain that these people were cultivators from the Great Underworld Mansion! The waves of Yin Qi emanating from their bodies were something other cultivators could not learn even if they wanted to!

When this team passed under the Divine Tree, Zhang Nuo suddenly stood up from the trunk, and with his hands moving through Dharma seals, the 'Pure Underworld Divine Tree' above his head launched an attack!

He saw hundreds of green branches like vines rapidly coiling toward the five hundred people passing under the tree!

These people were all running forward one by one, and no one noticed this! By the time they discovered the change, it was already too late!

"Ah! ~"

Several shrill screams rang out, traveling far into the deep night! The leader felt something was wrong behind him, turned his head sharply, and was scared out of his wits! He hurriedly summoned his Magic Treasure, wanting to attack the giant tree in front of him!