The Failsafe

Seeing that there were more and more people on the stone bridge, Lu Yang suggested that they leave the area and find a secluded place.

The four arrived at a secluded mountain forest. Lu Yang took out a map of Yanjiang County, which marked the nodes of the Reverse Lifespan Array that had been deduced last time. "The node locations of the Reverse Lifespan Array should be the same as before. Before that, I want to confirm one thing. Lan Ting, when you said 'blood sacrifice,' do you mean killing people at the nodes, or using the Essence Blood of cultivators as a sacrifice to activate the array?"

Lanting didn't understand Lu Yang's meaning. "Both methods are acceptable, but the former is usually used. Killing only requires killing mortals. Using too much of a cultivator's Essence Blood will affect their cultivation and be detrimental to their future cultivation."

Lu Yang pondered, "The person who set up the formation must have used the second method."

The three were puzzled. The person who set up the formation must be a demonic cultivator. For a demonic cultivator, killing someone is naturally much easier than using their Essence Blood.

"Who do you think has the resources to hide the Reverse Lifespan Array inside Squad Commander, and even set it up overnight to conceal it under the cover of night? No one would suspect anything even if I were sleepy?"

Meng Jingzhou instantly realized. "A government official, and a high-ranking one at that!"

Lu Yang nodded. "Yes, to be precise, he's a prefect!"

"What!"

Upon hearing this, Man Gu and Lan Ting were greatly shocked, but Meng Jingzhou, who had anticipated it, did not react much.

When he first entered Yanjiang County, he said that it was not uncommon for the government and the demonic path to collude with each other.

"Last night I heard from the officials that when the Squad Commander were being set up, Prefect Li personally supervised the process and demanded that the Squad Commander be placed in the correct positions."

"Does this matter require the prefect's intervention? Even using the excuse of being dedicated to his work and serving the people is far-fetched!"

"This can only mean that Prefect Li used Squad Commander to set up this Reverse Lifespan Formation that covers the entire prefecture!"

Man Gu suddenly realized, feeling that the world was truly dark. "So, the spy that the branch planted in Yanjiang County is Prefect Li. Given Prefect Li's cultivation and status, a cooperative relationship would be a more accurate description?"

Lu Yang shook his head. "He's neither an undercover agent nor a partner. I suspect that Chief Chu and Prefect Li are the same person!"

"There is no direct evidence, only two points of doubt."

"Firstly, Chief Chu always summons us at night. I and the other stewards inquired about this, and they said that other branches don't do it this way."

"Secondly, both Chief Chu and Prefect Li are to be promoted, at almost the same time."

Man Gu gasped in shock. This world was darker than he had imagined. If Chief Chu and Prefect Li were the same person, wouldn't that mean the righteous and the demonic paths were both being exploited?

"Of course, there might be two of them; these are just speculations. But in either case, the method to activate the Reverse Lifespan Array would definitely not be killing mortals!"

Man Gu still didn't understand, Meng Jingzhou explained, "Prefect Li wanted a promotion, but a vicious murder occurred during the Spring Festival. Does he still want the promotion? Even if he pulled strings with the higher-ups, they can't openly promote him."

"Moreover, given the prefect's status, what difficulty would it be for him to obtain the Essence Blood of cultivators? He could simply find a few cultivators in the prison."

Lanting still had some questions. "Was it a coincidence that Prefect Li and Yizhanghong both set up the Reverse Lifespan Formation, or was it related?"

"I think there's a strong connection." After figuring out the relationship between Chief Chu and Prefect Li, Lu Yang had a new perspective on many things.

"Leaving aside the impact of capturing three Foundation Establishment Realm Devil Cultivators on Prefect Li's political achievements, three Foundation Establishment Realm Devil Cultivators —if there were no branch sects, a small prefecture would only have that many Foundation Establishment Realm Devil Cultivators. This is equivalent to eliminating the Devil Cultivator leader of a prefecture."

"After the Reverse Lifespan Formation is activated, it may not be noticeable on the surface, but over time, people will definitely discover its secrets."

"If there hadn't been the first instance of the severe punishment, the government would have pursued the murderer relentlessly, and both Yan Jiangduo and Prefect Li would have been at risk of being exposed."

"Prefect Li cleverly arranged for the execution of the one-zhang-long whip."

"Since Yi Zhang Hong has set up the Reverse Lifespan Formation, even if Prefect Li activates the Reverse Lifespan Formation and reduces the lifespan of mortals, the government will only focus its attention on Yi Zhang Hong."

Man Gu exclaimed in surprise, "But the 'One-Zhang Red' formation wasn't successfully set up!"

Lu Yang sneered, "The claim that the formation was not successfully set up is only Yi Zhang Hong's side of the story. Perhaps the formation was indeed activated, but it is also very possible that Yi Zhang Hong mishandled it and only reduced her lifespan without increasing her cultivation. After all, it is an unfamiliar formation, and anything can happen."

Man Gu still couldn't understand. "Those two companions of Yi Zhang Hong can also confirm that the setup was unsuccessful."

Lu Yang said, "Companions? Devil Cultivators don't have companions; they all use each other. It's understandable that Yi Zhang Hong wouldn't tell the truth to those two."

"With such a readily available suspect, who else should we suspect if not Yizhanghong?"

"Moreover, Yi Zhang Hong has committed numerous crimes and is certainly sentenced to death. Perhaps by the time the authorities discover that the Reverse Lifespan Formation has been activated, Yi Zhang Hong will already be executed."

With the target of "One Zhang Red" (a metaphor for a severed red flag), who would still suspect Prefect Li?

Meng Jingzhou and Lan Ting nodded repeatedly after listening, agreeing with Lu Yang's point of view.

Lu Yang then asked, "Also, are there seven nodes that require blood sacrifice?"

Lan Ting glanced at Lu Yang in surprise, then nodded, wondering how Lu Yang knew. Didn't he say he didn't understand formations?

"When I left yesterday, I encountered seven deacons. They were summoned by Chief Chu on short notice. They must have some mission. I guess they were assigned to take the Essence Blood to the array node and wait for the right opportunity."

"Then, please explain the knowledge of the Reverse Lifespan Formation."

Lanting did not refuse and circled seven points on the map of Yanjiang County: "These seven places are the key nodes for activation, near the scenic spots in Yanjiang County, and the core of the formation is... halfway up Songshan Mountain!"

To break through using the Reverse Lifespan Formation, one should naturally choose a secluded place.

"Let's remove some of the life-sustaining talismans first to prevent the formation from activating. However, this will most likely attract the attention of Chief Chu. Rather than letting him come knocking on our door, it's better for us to lay an ambush and catch him off guard," Lu Yang said.

Lu Yang didn't leave the four people's fighting methods in the recording sphere precisely because he was worried about a battle with Chief Chu.

All three felt troubled, knowing it would be a life-or-death battle, as Chief Chu was a late-stage Golden Core cultivator and extremely difficult to deal with.

"Can we report this to the authorities and tell Fang Qingyun about it?" Man Gu asked.

Lu Yang shook his head. "If Fang Qingyun learns about the formation on the Squad Commander, he will definitely suspect Prefect Li. If Prefect Li is captured, our identity as members of the Demonic Sect will also be exposed."

Lan Ting hesitated and said, "With just the four of us, I'm afraid it will be difficult to take down the late-stage Golden Core cultivator."

Lu Yang, however, was confident. "Don't worry, we'll be fully prepared. If things really get desperate, I have a backup plan."

What is it?

"Senior Sister's Imitation Boxing!"

Upon hearing this, Meng Jingzhou and Man Gu's expressions changed drastically. Lan Ting noticed their change and asked, puzzled, "Senior Sister, what is the Imitation Boxing?"

"It's the ultimate move of Lu Family Imitation Boxing!" Lu Yang said confidently.

Lanting nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.