Rainy Night Killing Intent

"Phew..."

"So tired."

At the foot of the mountain, Fan Jianqiang wiped the sweat from his brow, then looked toward Moon Embracing Sect in the distance.

"The restrictions were never triggered, and the strawman avatar wasn't watched either. They actually trust me this much?"

He was somewhat surprised. "The Second Elder should already be suspicious of me. Yet he's still this trusting?"

Though he would not have feared being watched—he had ways to mislead them—the feeling of being trusted right after joining the sect still made Fan Jianqiang exceptionally comfortable.

"Looks like Moon Embracing Sect isn't bad."

"It is indeed a little weak, but it's not as if it can't grow stronger."

"With this kind of atmosphere, what great undertaking could possibly fail?"

"If I'd known Moon Embracing Sect was like this, then even without the Sect Master's words..."

With a faint smile, Fan Jianqiang let the cool breeze wash over him and muttered, "Thinking too much, thinking too much."

"How far have we even gotten?"

"If a powerful enemy invades, this will be certain death!"

"No, I have to keep going!"

"..."

Then, he once again got to work, laboring away without pause.

Hongwu Immortal City, Liu Family.

Liu Xun hung his head in dejection, looking as though his parents had died.

"How could you lose track of him?"

The Patriarch of the Liu Family frowned deeply. "A mere Moon Embracing Sect, whose strongest member is only at the Cave Heaven Realm Ninth Level! Fine, you lost track of him—but you even lost your own storage pouch?"

Liu Xun shrank his neck. "Father..."

"Call me Patriarch!"

"Patriarch, I... I was careless."

He was too embarrassed to admit that his own cleverness had backfired on him.

"Rest assured, my injuries have now fully recovered. Once I make a trip to Moon Embracing Sect, I'll definitely bring him back."

"As for the storage pouch, in my view, it definitely wasn't Moon Embracing Sect's doing. There are no clues at all, so I'm afraid recovering it will be difficult."

The Patriarch glared at him. "You still know how to say that?!"

"You may go, but do not be careless!"

"And it may not necessarily have had nothing to do with Moon Embracing Sect!"

"Father... Patriarch, what do you mean?"

"Moon Embracing Sect was once a first-rate sect. Though it has now fallen into utter ruin, no one knows whether it still has hidden foundations. Therefore, you must not be careless."

"Is that really necessary?"

"Hmph, fool!" The Patriarch raged, bitterly disappointed that his son had failed to meet expectations. "What do you think we relied on to remain established in Hongwu Immortal City?!"

"Luck?"

"Luck is one part of it! But more than that, it is caution!"

"It is using your brain!"

"If you don't use your brain, then you can only get things done at noon."

"Why?"

"Because sooner or later, you'll die!"

Seeing his son's utterly bewildered look, the Patriarch grew even more furious. "Take two elders with you. At least then you'll have someone to watch your back."

Just as Liu Xun was about to slip away, he added, "Wait!"

"Once you arrive, do not rush into action."

"Even if few people are paying attention to Fan Jianqiang, and few know that he was taken away by Moon Embracing Sect, do not forget that Xiao Ling'er was the champion of the Alchemy Conference. Many people are watching her, and she also happens to be from Moon Embracing Sect!"

"It would be one thing if Xiao Ling'er had been abducted, but there has been no trace of her these past few days. I fear she has already left by some unknown method. Presumably, quite a few people will set their sights on Moon Embracing Sect at this time!"

"And Moon Embracing Sect is in such a state of decay that it is already a boat tossed amid wind and rain."

"There will definitely be no shortage of people making a move. So for now, observe from the sidelines and probe Moon Embracing Sect's true strength!"

"If Moon Embracing Sect is destroyed, then you can step in afterward. You can play the good man and leave a favorable impression on Xiao Ling'er and Fan Jianqiang, making it easier for them to give you their loyalty."

"On the other hand, if those who strike are destroyed while Moon Embracing Sect remains..."

With his hands behind his back, the Patriarch of the Liu Family paced back and forth.

Only after a moment did he say, "Then make friends with them. Do not make enemies!"

"Ah?!"

"Patriarch, do we really need to be this cautious?! Isn't this making a mountain out of a molehill?" Liu Xun felt there was absolutely no need for it. This was far too troublesome!

At his words, the Patriarch of the Liu Family's temples throbbed with pain!

He could not help but wonder: Was this really my son?!

Too lazy to explain any further, he said, "Do as I say!"

"If the Moon Embracing Sect gains the upper hand, directly step in and help them. Slaughter the other riffraff, then befriend the Moon Embracing Sect. Better yet, establish cooperation with them. You can secure priority purchases of the high-quality pills they produce."

"I'll have two elders keep an eye on you."

"If you dare mess around, I'll skin you alive!"

The Patriarch of the Liu Family felt he had finally seen through his eldest son. The brat was damn well built like an ox—he had to keep cracking the whip, or the fool would surely start acting muddleheaded.

Couldn't make him understand?

Then he would stop explaining. Too tiring!

He would simply issue hard orders.

Several days later.

A torrential downpour arrived, accompanied by rolling thunder.

Lin Fan finished cultivating. Profound Origin Qi wreathed his body; even standing amid the lashing rain, his robes remained completely dry.

Watching the dense, layered clouds bear down overhead, Lin Fan remarked with feeling, "Black clouds press against the city walls—the city seems ready to crumble..."

"By my calculations, they should be here soon."

Braving the rainstorm, Lin Fan saw Fan Jianqiang racing up the mountain.

These past days, Fan Jianqiang had gone down the mountain every morning and returned beneath the moon.

Today was the sole exception.

As for cultivation, Xiao Ling'er had advanced another step and was already at the Core Condensation Realm Eighth Level.

Fan Jianqiang...

Was still at the Core Condensation Realm First Level.

At least, on the surface.

Lin Fan, meanwhile, had climbed yet another step. He was no longer far from the Mysterious Origin Realm Third Level, and his strength had grown ever more formidable.

"All necessary preparations have been made."

"Whether we can survive this calamity now depends on doing all we can and leaving the rest to fate."

"..."

Afterward, Lin Fan sent word that the five elders were not to leave the sect in the coming days and had to remain behind to guard the mountain gate.

The sect-protecting formation was to remain activated around the clock!

Night.

A group of several figures flickered in and out of sight within the darkness, gazing toward the Moon Embracing Sect's mountain gate.

"The Moon Embracing Sect was once at the peak of the first rank, only one step away from becoming an immortal sacred land. Yet now, it is nothing more than this! A genius like Xiao Ling'er is not someone they deserve to possess."

"Are the preparations complete?"

"They are complete."

"Since everything is ready, prepare to make our move."

The leader stood proudly, utterly disregarding the Moon Embracing Sect.

"Only... it seems others have designs on them as well."

"I can sense quite a few auras. Some people have not even concealed themselves, as though they are brimming with confidence. If we strike first, I fear..."

"What is there to fear?"

Though the leader claimed to fear nothing...

He did not give the order to attack for a long while.

His subordinates secretly grumbled, but they also breathed a sigh of relief.

If they really charged in first, then even if they instantly wiped out the Moon Embracing Sect and abducted Xiao Ling'er, there would definitely be no way out alive.

"Huh? More people have arrived!"

A cultivator skilled in perception looked uncertain. "This aura... the Demon Race?!"

"Why is the Demon Race interested too?"

"After all, she was the champion of the Alchemy Convention. The Demon Race can take pills too! Or perhaps it isn't interested in Xiao Ling'er at all—it just wants to lick someone else's ass."

"Don't forget that the Third Divine Son of the Feather Clan lost face at the Alchemy Convention."

"If it isn't making a move, it must know that other demons will naturally act to curry favor with it..."

CRACK!

Another thunderclap exploded.

At last, someone could no longer sit still. It transformed into a streak of black light, cutting through the rainy night as it sped toward the mountain gate of the Moon Embracing Sect.

Thanks to 'Desert Clear Autumn,' 'Reader Ending in 1267,' and the other friends for their tips. Thank you all for your Follow-up Reading support. Wishing everyone good health, good fortune at your side, all your wishes fulfilled, and happiness every day~~~