What the Demonic Cults Plot

As the cave deepened, the sounds became more chaotic. Upon reaching the inner depths of the cave, Su Changqing saw over a hundred demonic disciples busy with their tasks in the vast cavern, seemingly constructing some sort of array.

Su Changqing was very curious why they were building an array here on Nine Yin Mountain.

However, before Su Changqing could figure out how to learn more about this, he heard a fellow disciple call out to him, "Old Chong, what are you standing around for? Hurry up and get to work!"

"Oh, alright!"

Su Changqing responded and walked over, starting to busy himself with the same tasks as the others.

"Old Chong, you're usually the sharpest one. Do you think the Kui Ox will appear on Nine Yin Mountain?"

As they worked, the fellow disciple asked Su Changqing.

"How could I possibly know that?"

Su Changqing smiled subtly, politely refusing to answer.

While Su Changqing didn't know how the story would unfold, his familiarity with it led him to believe that the Kui Ox would definitely not appear on Nine Yin Mountain, but rather on Flowing Waves Mountain in the East Sea.

"That's true. If even the Sect Master can't figure it out, how could you, a mere youngster, guess it?"

The demonic disciple chuckled and didn't think much of it.

Just then, a person in black entered the cave. Their attire was different from that of the ordinary demonic disciples, and they were accompanied by a few followers.

"Sect Leader Qiu of the Ghost King Sect is here! Get back to work!"

Upon seeing Sect Leader Qiu, the demonic disciples intensified their efforts in constructing the array.

"Core Formation stage?!"

Su Changqing secretly observed the newcomer in black and quickly determined his cultivation level. He was a demonic cultivator in the Core Formation stage.

A sense of unease settled in his heart. It seemed the worst had happened.

No matter how heaven-defying his Heaven Concealment Art was, it couldn't overcome the suppression from a higher cultivation level. If a Core Formation stage cultivator were to investigate seriously, they would surely discover his hidden cultivation, and then his identity would be exposed.

However, Su Changqing was perhaps worrying too much. Although the Core Formation stage Sect Leader Qiu had appeared suddenly, he was merely there to supervise. He never suspected anyone was lurking within their demonic sect ranks, so he naturally wouldn't use his spiritual energy to seriously investigate their identities.

Sect Leader Qiu strode forward, overseeing the work of the demonic disciples as he headed towards a platform in the cave.

"Alright! Everyone stop what you're doing for a moment!"

As Sect Leader Qiu spoke, everyone ceased their work and turned their gaze towards him.

"My Ghost King Sect Master has ordered all fellow disciples to construct an array on Nine Yin Mountain. Simultaneously, other mountain ranges also have your comrades engaged in the same task."

"If you are the first to complete the array on Nine Yin Mountain, besides the rewards for your respective sects, our Ghost King Sect will also generously reward you."

Sect Leader Qiu said with a smile.

"The Sect Master is wise! The Sect Master is wise!"

Upon hearing about the rewards, the demonic disciples became impassioned and shouted in unison.

Sect Leader Qiu waved his hand, signaling them to stop cheering. His smile turned somewhat grim, and he continued, "Of course, don't get too happy too soon."

"As the saying goes, for every reward, there is a punishment. If you are the last to complete the array, you will not receive rewards, but rather punishments from your respective sects."

"Hmph! Don't say I didn't warn you beforehand."

The crowd, which had been cheering enthusiastically moments before, instantly grew cold again.

It turned out that Sect Leader Qiu had only come to inform them of the reward and punishment system. He came and left quickly, saying only a few words before departing.

After his departure, the heavy stone that had been weighing on Su Changqing's heart finally lifted.

"Phew! He's finally gone. That guy was really scary!"

As Su Changqing exhaled his pent-up emotions, he heard a few of the demonic disciples beside him also sigh in relief, patting their chests.

What's going on?

Why are you all so nervous? Could it be that you're all righteous cultivators like me, secretly infiltrating this place?

"Why are you all so nervous?"

Su Changqing found it amusing. These demonic disciples were even more terrified of Sect Leader Qiu's appearance than he was. Could there be some hidden secret? He curiously asked them.

"Old Chong, you only arrived today, so you don't know what Qiu Buping is like."

The demonic disciple, Old Li, gave a wry smile and explained to Su Changqing, "Yesterday, Qiu Buping also came to Nine Yin Mountain to supervise. Relying on his status as the Sect Master of the Ghost King Sect, he saw a disciple from the Longevity Sect slacking off and immediately killed him on the spot. We're all terrified of him now."

Su Changqing finally understood. So, they were all afraid of his capricious nature.

"By the way, Sect Leader Qiu mentioned earlier that arrays are also being built on several other mountains. Why haven't I heard about this? Tell me in detail."

Su Changqing suddenly recalled Qiu Buping's mention of other mountain ranges also building arrays. He planned to use this opportunity to extract information from them.

Hearing Su Changqing's question, Old Li frowned.

"Don't even mention it. The Ghost King Sect Master somehow got news that the Ancient Fierce Beast Kui Ox is about to appear, but the information is inaccurate, and they don't know where it will appear. So, they chose several potential locations to pre-emptively construct these troublesome Spirit Trapping Arrays."

Old Li waved his hand and explained to Su Changqing with a helpless expression, "Besides Nine Yin Mountain where we are, there are other disciples on White Jade Mountain, Prajna Mountain, Congqing Mountain, and six other mountain ranges. They've even sent many sect disciples to Flowing Waves Mountain in the East Sea to construct arrays."

"Flowing Waves Mountain?"

Su Changqing's expression shifted, and he emphasized his question to Old Li.

"Yeah, they sent a lot of disciples by boat across the sea to set up arrays just for some Ancient Fierce Beast. Luckily, we had good fortune and weren't assigned to Flowing Waves Mountain."

Old Li pursed his lips and continued speaking to Su Changqing.

Su Changqing nodded noncommittally. He now understood the intentions of this group from the demonic sects and didn't press further.

It turned out that these people from the demonic sects had received news in advance that the Ancient Fierce Beast, the Kui Ox, was about to appear. However, they didn't know the exact location of its emergence. They had preemptively set up arrays in several anticipated areas to subdue this fierce beast, whose strength could not be underestimated, as soon as possible.

Nine Yin Mountain was one of these anticipated emergence sites. Furthermore, they had also dispatched people to Flowing Waves Mountain, the true emergence location of the Kui Ox.

It seemed they had grand ambitions!

With the situation as it was, Su Changqing had obtained the information he wanted. The immediate priority now was how to escape.

Fortunately, after Qiu Buping left, these disciples from the demonic sects became very lax. He used the excuse of needing to relieve himself to easily leave the cave. Cautiously, he found a secluded spot to change his clothes and leave the area.

"Hmph hmph! I noticed something was off about you ages ago!"

Just as Su Changqing was about to leave, he heard a cold snort from behind him.