Chapter 452

Que'er and Zheng Mama also closely followed, cutting their way over.

Nan Gongdi guarded the rear, hands behind his back, watching his beloved disciple's progress over the past year.

They each carried anti-poison sachets, so the ordinary poison insects that infested them could not get near Li Qingluo and her companions.

The killers could only stand at the back, fretting.

Because once those poison insects latched on, they couldn't help—they would only drag Li Qingluo down.

So Li Qingluo had them retreat to the rear.

However, they soon all stared wide-eyed in utter shock.

That… was their young lady master?

Just a year apart, and her skills had undergone a transformation as if reborn!

Before she could handle a few ordinary foes, but now she moved with ease among the Witch Moon Sect members and even gained the upper hand!

That side had over a dozen people!

They also focused more on witchcraft techniques in the Witch Moon Sect, so their actual martial arts were comparatively weaker.

But the young lady's rapid progress still filled the killers with joy beyond expectation.

Looking again at Nan Gongdi, hands behind his back, he smiled and nodded repeatedly.

"Luo'er truly has a talent for this martial art."

"It's a pity; if she had started training young, she might truly have become the world's greatest female master."

"Although learning now is harder for her, she can endure hardship; this past year she hasn't rested a single day."

"Now, she can be considered a late bloomer."

"If she keeps persisting like this, facing her senior brothers and sisters, she won't lose by much."

The killers' faces all showed surprise and delight.

Even Jingning was dazed.

So this is what the uncle meant by forcibly keeping Luo'er in the sect back then?

She knew the Witch Moon Sect would suffer this calamity.

It also meant she could not protect the whole clan herself.

That's why she left Luo'er behind, to make her the last hope of the entire Witch Moon Sect……

But uncle, master, grandmaster ancestors…… the Witch Moon Sect is completely gone!

Jingning had tears streaming down, her face as white as paper.

She felt no vitality left in her heart.

Watching Li Qingluo over there having already killed three people and now sparring with Lingjun, she pulled out the dagger at her waist and gripped it in her palm.

"Luo'er, be careful!"

"The poison insects on Lingjun's body are top-grade poisons that the sachets cannot block."

"If you are accidentally struck, you will die without leaving a corpse."

Besides Lingjun, Jingning wasn't worried about anyone else.

Lingjun, who was about to act, changed expression upon hearing that.

Li Qingluo naturally became on guard.

She thrust her sword at the gourd Lingjun held in his hand.

Lingjun seized the moment, opened the stopper, and flung the gourd upward.

Li Qingluo seized the opportunity, a smile curling her lips: "You've fallen for it."

After saying that, she pinched something and quickly chanted.

The moment the purplish-red large spider fell out, it exploded on the spot!

Lingjun let out a miserable cry: "No——"

She then spat a mouthful of black blood.

And collapsed to the ground.

The spirit insect she had nurtured for decades was thus easily slain by Li Qingluo.

She could not survive either!

But what shocked her even more was: "You actually learned… the Exploding Poison Technique!"

The Witch Moon Sect's witchcraft had long been on the verge of total decline.

It was because the sole elder who had inherited the Witch Moon Sect's witchcraft, Gu Changlao, was betrayed by his close disciple, and those disciples fled with the sect's treasures, their whereabouts unknown ever since.

These years, Gu Changlao has not accepted disciples, and has even remained in seclusion, never showing his face.

Thus, the witchcraft-practicing priestesses of the Witch Moon Sect have become fewer and fewer.

Even if they know a little, it's only basic entry-level witchcraft; being able to apply it to poison techniques already satisfies them.

Who would have thought that Li Qingluo, having studied under Gu Changlao for only a year, could already master the Exploding Poison Technique!

It is said that without three to five years, learning the Exploding Poison Technique is impossible.

She has studied for just one year—one year!

What kind of heaven-sent genius is she?

If she had been in MiaoJiang since childhood, in the Witch Moon Sect, what terrifying existence would she become?

Lingjun's face showed astonishment.

Li Qingluo: "The Exploding Poison Technique, though difficult,"

"but Master said, 'Recite its form, observe its color; form and color united is the secret, killing intent in the heart is the guide.'"

"Although it harms oneself, if it can take half your life, it's worth it."

Speaking, Li Qingluo sneered and brushed the blood at the corner of her mouth away with the back of her hand.

Witchcraft, when spoken of, is simply black magic.

If one uses it even slightly carelessly, one will become entangled in it.

Li Qingluo still cannot wield it well; she used it more intensively today, and now her body is beginning to strain.

She gathered her spirit, and just then Nan Gongdi sensed something amiss and rushed forward with a knife.

"Luo'er, step back, master is coming!"

With Nan Gongdi intervening, the dozen‑plus opponents kept falling back.

They had to quickly unleash each one's most powerful destined gu.

Hoping that one would latch onto Nan Gongdi.

Thus Nan Gongdi would die first, and they would have a sliver of hope.

However, these people were all too weak for Nan Gongdi.

Nan Gongdi not only wore a poison‑warding sachet, but his skill was bottomless; even Li Qingluo has never seen her master's ultimate form.

Nan Gongdi swung his blade and slew several charging poison insects.

As guttural cries of spitting blood rang out, the Spirit Lord let out a wail: "No—stop, all of you stop!"

Li Qingluo stepped forward and kicked her in the face.

"Now you finally feel compassion?"

"When you caused the entire Witch Moon Sect to perish, how could your heart be made of iron?"

"Spirit Lord, you are the one who deserves to be torn apart!"

Meanwhile, Jin Hua gripped a short sword and sliced open her own palm.

"Spirit Lord, didn't you want that treasure?"

"If so, then claim it yourself."

After speaking, Jin Hua dragged her bloodied hand to the edge of the clear pool and immersed the whole hand in the water.

The Spirit Lord's eyes flashed.

"My destined gu is dead, but if I can obtain that artifact, perhaps I…"

Perhaps she could still live!

The Spirit Lord could no longer even tend to the three injured children on the other side.

She, agitated, scrambled to the pool's edge and burst into tears and laughter: "Why?"

"Exactly why!?"

"Master constantly says they cherish me, yet they never told me this secret."

"I only know a monster that could destroy the entire Witch Moon Sect is hidden here, but I didn't know that the monster also carries a treasure that grants longevity and eternal youth."

"Master, master, you fear this monster will annihilate our Witch Moon Sect."

"Then the disciple can just destroy it first, wouldn't that be fine?"

"When the disciple obtains this treasure, the sect will surely be revived—"

The Spirit Lord's frantic voice suddenly stopped abruptly.

Her eyes flashed with horror as she stared at the crystal‑clear pool, which in an instant turned blood‑red.

The bird‑song, flower‑scented cave suddenly shuddered violently, startling the birds perched on the great trees to flee the opening.

Immediately, a rumble— sound erupted from below.

Li Qingluo, leading her followers, hurried back toward the tunnel entrance.

Ya mei on the ground kept shaking her head in terror.

"It's coming; it must be that thing—"

Que'er dragged her over, raised her hand and slapped her.

"What exactly is it? Speak quickly!"