The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole Behind

Outside Mending Heaven Peak, more than a dozen formal disciples had gathered together. Leading them were none other than Zhao Xuhe, Fairy Qingchen, and Wang Borong, the old man from the Library Pavilion.

Among them, only those three were at the mid-stage of Qi Refining.

Zhao Xuhe stood at the very front, his voice ringing loud and clear. "I am deeply honored that my fellow brothers and sisters have answered Zhao's invitation this time. Let me first offer my thanks."

With that, he bowed to the crowd.

"To be frank, I discovered a cave dwelling left behind by a predecessor outside Mending Heaven Peak. Unfortunately, an array guards its perimeter, and I truly lack the strength to break it."

Fairy Qingchen spoke at just the right moment, her soft, gentle voice enough to melt one's bones. "That is why Qingchen sought out all of you. We shall join forces to break the array and divide the cave dwelling's gains equally. Senior Brother Zhao is a member of the Three Rivers Society; everyone knows his reputation. He certainly will not let anyone suffer a loss."

Zhao Xuhe clearly had some skill.

He and Fairy Qingchen played off each other, while Wang Borong, the old man from the Library Pavilion, chimed in at the right moments. Before long, they had twisted the crowd, scattered like loose sand, into a single rope.

Soon afterward, everyone rode their escape lights away from Mending Heaven Peak.

The Cloud Sea of Heaven-Reaching, where the First Saint Sect was located, sprawled across vast lands as far as the eye could see. The group flew on escape lights for a quarter of an hour before stopping above a stretch of cloud sea.

"This is the place."

With a thought from Zhao Xuhe, true qi parted the cloud sea, revealing a majestic mountain of exceptional geomancy. At first glance, it resembled an ancient dragon coiled in slumber.

"This place is called Coiling Dragon Island." Zhao Xuhe took the initiative to explain. "I investigated it. This was once the cave dwelling of Coiling Dragon True Person, a former true disciple of the sect. The Geomancy Grand Formation around it was once a Foundation Establishment array, but over the years, the earth vein it relied upon has dried up. Its power is now less than one-tenth of what it was."

"Everyone, follow me and break the array."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Xuhe took the lead and entered Coiling Dragon Island first. Naturally, the others dared not lag behind and flew in one after another.

After a short while, a figure quietly appeared.

"Interesting."

Lu Yang looked down at Coiling Dragon Island, but he had no intention of entering. Instead, he took out four black banners and began arranging them outside the island.

"The repayment deadline is close anyway, and there is not much time left in this life."

"Why not pull off a heist!"

"But Coiling Dragon Island is treacherous and unfathomable. Zhao Xuhe has strength in numbers, while I alone am but a lone tree struggling to hold up a house. If I go in and fight them for the opportunity, I stand no chance of winning."

After thinking it over, Lu Yang came up with a good plan.

First of all, he did not believe a single word about there being good people in the Demon Sect. Therefore, he was certain that Zhao Xuhe's scheme to gather people and raid the cave dwelling was absolutely ill-intentioned.

However, so many people had come this time, including Wang Borong, the old man from the Library Pavilion. Even if Zhao Xuhe could swallow them all, he would surely break a few teeth in the process and could not possibly emerge unscathed. In that case, Lu Yang might as well set up an array outside the island first, wait at ease for the exhausted prey, and ambush whoever came out.

Wasn't that far more worthwhile than going inside to explore?

For this, Lu Yang even used his last 100 Contribution Points to exchange for a Lost Track Formation.

The four Lost Track Banners locked down heaven and earth, reversing all directions. Though they possessed no offensive power, they could trap people within, making escape difficult for a time.

"Now I just have to wait quietly. No rush—when matters are handled slowly, they come out round."

Lu Yang patiently lay in ambush.

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

"If you kill us, our Life Lamps will go out! The Sacred Sect will never spare you!"

Inside Coiling Dragon Island, blood was already flowing like a river.

The formal disciples who had been working together moments ago were now fighting for themselves. Their screams rose without end as a streak of Blood Light continuously harvested their lives.

Far from the crowd, Zhao Xuhe and Fairy Qingchen stood side by side.

Their expressions were mocking, their brows arrogant, and a chillingly sinister aura seeped from them. Their words and actions were utterly unlike the sincere manner they had displayed when inviting everyone here.

Faced with the crowd's furious denunciations, Zhao Xuhe merely sneered. His tone was grim as he said, "Stop struggling. This place has been meticulously arranged by me, and this Blood Demon Soul-Slaughtering Blade cost me a full 3,000 Contribution Points. Today, not one of you will escape Coiling Dragon Island!"

Even as he spoke, several more people lost their lives.

The Blood Light flashed through the air, instantly draining their flesh and blood dry before revealing its true form: a scarlet flying blade.

"You bastard!"

Among the crowd, Wang Borong, the old man from the Library Pavilion, was the only one still able to resist. Yet Zhao Xuri was in no hurry to kill him, merely wearing him down without pause.

As he wore him down, Zhao Xuhe continued to sneer and mock him. "Wang, did you really think that after taking my money, you would still live to spend it? The reason I bought the Death-Substitute Yin Corpses from you in the first place was for today! Otherwise, if you had a pile of Death-Substitute Yin Corpses in your hands, would taking you down be so easy?"

"Now, I have bought all your Death-Substitute Yin Corpses."

"Once I kill you, I can take back the Contribution Points I gave you in the first place. It is the same as getting a pile of Death-Substitute Yin Corpses without spending a single cent."

"Looking at it this way, I should be thanking you!"

Zhao Xuhe's heart-piercing words enraged Wang Borong so badly that he nearly spat blood. Zhao Xuhe seized the opening, and the flying blade flashed, plunging straight into his chest.

Thud!

Wang Borong's lips moved, his face filled with unwillingness, but he could not utter even half a sentence before the flying blade drained all the qi and blood from his body. At last, he collapsed limply to the ground.

With Wang Borong dealt with, the dust settled.

Only after another short while did the wails gradually cease.

"Congratulations, Senior Brother!"

Fairy Qingchen was likewise drenched in fragrant sweat. The Blood Demon Soul-Slaughtering Blade consumed immense power, and Zhao Xuhe's slaughter of so many people naturally owed much to her as well.

"I must thank Junior Sister as well."

Zhao Xuhe smiled faintly and recalled the Blood Demon Soul-Slaughtering Blade into his hand. "How is it? With its current power, can it break that restriction?"

Fairy Qingchen studied it for a moment, her delicate brows knitting slightly. "It seems to still be lacking a little."

Swish—!

The blade went in and came out. Fairy Qingchen's pretty face was blank as she stared dully at the scarlet flying blade embedded in her lower abdomen. In the blink of an eye, she too was drained into a desiccated corpse.

"Now it is not lacking."

Zhao Xuhe looked at the Blood Demon Soul-Slaughtering Blade in his hand and nodded in satisfaction. He then walked to a tightly shut meditation chamber deep within Coiling Dragon Island.

Without another word, he raised his blade and slashed.

Boom!

A thunderous crash, like the shaking of earth and mountains, rang out. The meditation chamber's doors shattered in response, revealing what lay inside: a jade box.

Zhao Xuhe walked forward with wild joy on his face. He opened the jade box and saw two volumes of a Dao Book inside.

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

The lower volume was titled "Ten Thousand Chariots Dragon Ascension Scroll."

Looking at the two Dao Books in the jade box, Zhao Xuhe's hands trembled with excitement. "A Third Grade true cultivation method! It truly is a Third Grade true cultivation method pointing directly toward the Golden Core Great Dao!"

"Master truly did not deceive me."

"Master said that after three lifetimes of bitter cultivation, I had accumulated Merit for Coiling Dragon True Person. In this life, my Merit has finally reached fruition, and Coiling Dragon True Person's inheritance is my destined opportunity."

"After today, so long as I cultivate with all my heart, refine True Dragon Qi, and build the Ten Thousand Chariots Dragon Control Dao Foundation, I will surely recover my true self in the future and return completely after transcending the tribulation! And with a Third Grade true cultivation method, not only will the path to Foundation Establishment be a broad, level road, even the Golden Core Great Dao will be within reach!"

The more Zhao Xuhe thought about it, the more excited he became. He immediately put away the Dao Books.

"Changing cultivation methods requires dispersing my cultivation. Time waits for no one—I must return to my cave dwelling at once and enter seclusion. Once I emerge, I can formally enter Master's tutelage."

With hopes for the future burning in his heart, Zhao Xuhe raised his escape light and swiftly flew out of Coiling Dragon Island.

Yet in the next instant, Zhao Xuhe's expression changed drastically.

"Who is it—"

Boom!

At that moment, Zhao Xuhe's eyes widened. Yet all he saw was a majestic Sword Light, swift as lightning, slashing before him in an instant!