Chapter 467: Farewell, Gui Xie

Whoosh!

In mid-flight, Yan Buji suddenly sensed something wrong.

He had just broken out of the siege when he felt something off.

"My breath concealment technique is already at its utmost, and with the Demon‑Breath Conversion Method I've suppressed my presence—there's no way I could be exposed."

"Unless someone had been targeting me from the start?"

Having thought of that, Yan Buji abruptly stopped.

"Who?!"

"Hehehe, kid, your reactions are fast."

Yan Buji looked up and saw several figures gradually taking shape in the distorted sunlight!

Gui Xie?!

That old ghost has recovered his Nascent Soul strength?

Sensing the aura emanating from Gui Xie, Yan Buji's expression changed and he asked, "Who are you?"

"Old Gui Xie, kid... your aura feels a bit familiar—this isn't your true appearance, is it?"

"Hmph, senior wandering the world, aren't you meddling too much?"

"Bold!" Several Golden Core cultivators radiating evil and killing intent glared at Yan Buji, "You brat, how dare you be so unreasonable—this is Senior Gui Xie!"

"I don't care who this old ghost is—what do you want by stopping me?"

"You!"

"Alright." Gui Xie reached out, gave Yan Buji a strange look, and said, "I just said I felt familiar—maybe we're fated. You're Xu Long, right? I've heard your name."

Yan Buji frowned and said, "Old ghost, if you have something to say, spit it out—stop beating around the bush."

Truly audacious!

Gui Xie's brows knit; if he weren't short‑handed, he'd have slapped this guy to death already.

But upon closer look, he felt the brat wasn't just putting on arrogance—he genuinely had the backing, so Gui Xie grew interested.

Do you know how much the Sun Moon Palace hates you?

"Hate me? Hahaha, too many people hate me in the world—what's the Sun Moon Palace supposed to be?" Yan Buji laughed wildly.

The surrounding cultivators were also displeased, but since Gui Xie said nothing, they didn't dare to interrupt and suppress the guy.

Gui Xie nodded satisfactorily: "The Sun Moon Palace has undergone a drastic change, and with the beast tide surging, I'd like to cooperate with you—what do you think?"

"Senior Gui Xie, why be so polite with this brat?!"

"Exactly—if he dares to refuse, just beat him to death."

Yan Buji crossed his arms and said, "Feel free to try—these past days I've killed seven or eight Golden Core cultivators, and before coming here I even took down another Golden Core."

"You!"

The Golden Core cultivator beside him seethed with anger, about to strike.

Gui Xie waved his hand: "Alright, let's each say less."

He then said, "Xu Long, I admire your arrogance, but this matter brings only benefit and no harm to either of us—don't you want to join?"

"Go ahead, I'm listening."

Yan Buji wasn't in a hurry either; he knew a bit about this old ghost's background, and suspected that this beast tide, including Gui Xie, was part of the Sun Moon Palace's coup.

Thus, getting involved with them, though dangerous, would indeed let him learn plenty of inside information.

And information is worth a fortune.

Gui Xie chuckled: "You've probably heard about the Sun Moon Palace's upheaval, so I won't elaborate. The beast tide has reached its peak—I need someone to join us in assaulting Seven Star Island; you can lurk in the shadows, but my demand is that no living person be spared!"

"No problem— which one?"

"Celestial Pivot Island!"

Yan Buji furrowed his brows: "Can you beat the island's lord? I heard they're all Nascent Soul cultivators."

"Hmph, Song Chang of Celestial Pivot Island is surely doomed; we just need to slaughter everyone there—whatever loot you can grab is yours, and I swear on my heart‑demon oath not to interfere."

"Then it's settled."

Gui Xie smiled: "You don't seem afraid we'll ditch you after we're done, do you?"

"Just those few useless lackeys of yours?"

"You insolent brat! Senior Gui Xie, please let me duel him one‑on‑one!"

Gui Xie frowned, waved his hand: "Alright, conserve your strength. Xu Long, I hope your tone matches your power!"

"Hmph."

Yan Buji let out a cold snort.

Afterward, Gui Xie told Yan Buji where he was to hide, then led his men away.

Yan Buji frowned, examined himself, and muttered, "Just how did this guy find me?"

Perhaps it was because his movements were too obvious—he'd been loitering near Constellation Island, waiting for demon beasts to breach the island so he could raid it, and maybe that's how he was spotted.

But this place isn't near Constellation Island, yet they could still lock onto his position—something's definitely off.

"Could it be some secret art I don't know about?"

Yan Buji pondered for a long while, checking himself as he headed toward Celestial Pivot Island.

One month passed.

Yan Buji hid at the predetermined spot and finally sensed something amiss.

His spiritual sense seemed to be running unevenly; he had previously thought it was due to using the Blue‑faced Grudge to suppress his power.

After arriving and examining closely, he discovered his spiritual sense seemed to have been secretly pierced by a nail!

Yan Buji gave a cold chuckle: "Looks like someone wants my life."

Yan Buji thought for a moment, then looked around.

"This place is not bad; that old ghost is unlikely to be looking for me to cooperate, but rather wants me to be bait. I appear under the identity of Xu Long; I don't know if I have any grudges with others, but the people of the Sun and Moon Palace will surely cause me trouble."

"If that's the case....."

Yan Buji began to prepare.

Fortunately, there is a water vein not far away; although small, it can be used.

Yan Buji plans to set up a formation here to trap everyone who is lured in.

Next, Yan Buji forced his spiritual sense to sever a part of it, squeezed out that nail, wrapped it with his spiritual sense, and threw it into the formation.

"But what if the old ghost is colluding with Heavenly Pivot Island? Whether it's the beast tide or the evil artifact under his control, they are all part of the Sun and Moon Palace's coup. Earlier I doubted how the old ghost could possibly break into the Sun and Moon Palace's Treasure Vault; it seems he must have been affected by the palace's coup, and someone has reached an agreement with him."

"If so, then it means that although the old ghost is the chief culprit behind the destruction of Star Lodge Island, they must have some secret deal."

So this time the old ghost says he will attack Heavenly Pivot Island and leave no survivors; perhaps he is offering his own life as performance for some people there.

The old ghost not acting himself doesn't mean he fears Yan Buji; he might also be considering future benefits.

Of course, this is just speculation.

Before there is solid evidence, Yan Buji looks at Heavenly Pivot Island in the distance, snorts coldly, turns and runs.

But who planted that nail in his spiritual sense, and why does he feel nothing at all?

"If you're going to do this, don't blame me for causing destruction."

If it weren't for the Sun and Moon Palace's initial aggression, Yan Buji wouldn't have had to leave his peaceful residence on Jade Balance Island to avoid the vortex; any change in such a massive power as the Sun and Moon Palace would be a fatal blow to low-level cultivators.

Moreover, it also involves a change in leadership.

Yan Buji has been considering how, as an unaffiliated cultivator, he should face this situation.

But the result is obvious.

The Sun and Moon Palace doesn't treat them as people; the upper echelons vie for power and profit, forcing even Yan Buji, who doesn't want to act, to act.