Diverting Disaster and Firing Hidden Arrows

The Nine Yin Ice Cave was slightly smaller than the Lava Cellar, and it wasn't an exaggeration to say that water dripped and froze. A mouthful of spit would turn into ice shards before it even hit the ground.

After a visual scan of the area, Qin Haoxuan was surprised to find that the people here were divided into two groups. One side had about a dozen people, while a middle-aged man around fifty years old occupied the other side alone. Those dozen people would rather squeeze together than dare to sit near him, yet even so, their occasional glances at the middle-aged man were filled with disdain.

In the cultivation world, where lifespan is generally much longer than for ordinary people, fifty or sixty years old is only considered middle-aged.

When Qin Haoxuan walked in, no one bullied him, and no one paid him any attention. Sensing that his aura was very weak, not even at the Immortal Seedling Realm, they couldn't even be bothered to look at him.

"A strange group of people."

Qin Haoxuan muttered to himself and found a random spot to begin meditating and cultivating. Although the Nine Yin Ice Cave wasn't as comfortable as the Lava Cellar, he, feeling hot all over, found it quite suitable here. Drawing in the unique spiritual power of the Nine Yin Ice Cave and neutralizing the medicinal power from his body created a unique experience.

What he didn't know was that as the frigid spiritual power was absorbed into his body, and the medicinal power of the One-Leaf Golden Lotus surged into his dantian, flowing from his Immortal Root into his Immortal Seedling, the demonic seed part of the Immortal-Demon Seed within him, which had been sprouting its main root, began to stir.

Qin Haoxuan, who was cultivating with great pleasure, finally found some peace. However, the heroic deed of him severely beating Gu Xiaoyun, who was at the Immortal Seedling Realm Seventh Leaf, before he was locked up had deeply shocked everyone in Spirit Field Valley. Even after he left, many people still thought of him, and Li Jing was one of them.

Sitting alone in his room, gazing at the dark, ink-like sky, Li Jing muttered to himself, "What a guy, to actually be able to take down Gu Xiaoyun at the Immortal Seedling Realm Seventh Leaf! Even if it was a sneak attack, it's a bit too much."

He gritted his teeth, seemingly making a decision, and a sharp killing intent flickered in his eyes. Finally, he slammed the table and resolutely declared, "It's decided! Qin Haoxuan, Qin Haoxuan, you can only blame yourself for being too much of an eyesore. If Xu Yu hadn't been so obedient to you and refused to join me, perhaps I could have spared your life. But now... since you've hidden yourself in the Nine Yin Ice Cave, don't blame me for using underhanded tactics to frame others."

Having made up his mind, Li Jing also decided to reveal his hidden strength. He personally summoned two disciples at the Immortal Seedling Realm Sixth Leaf, who outwardly hadn't pledged allegiance to him but were actually already in his faction. After glancing at their faces, he said softly, "Please, sit down, senior brothers. I have something I'd like to ask of you this time."

These two disciples at the Immortal Seedling Realm Sixth Leaf were flattered. Although their cultivation was far superior to Li Jing's now, Li Jing possessed the Supreme Purple Seed, and was destined to be an incredibly prominent figure in the future. After joining Li Jing's faction, they had been intentionally kept in obscurity by him, and they regretted not having the opportunity to prove themselves.

Now that the opportunity had arrived, they immediately said repeatedly, "We will not refuse anything within our power. Junior brother, just give the order."

"Good, then I'll be direct. I want to ask you two senior brothers to deliberately cause trouble, get yourselves thrown into the Nine Yin Ice Cave, kill Qin Haoxuan, and then frame Zhang Kuang and Zhang Yang!"

The two strong cultivators at the Immortal Seedling Realm Sixth Leaf were startled. Fratricide was a serious crime in the Taichu Sect, and they could even be expelled from the sect, or at the very least, severely punished. Moreover, framing Zhang Kuang and Zhang Yang meant that if they were ever retaliated against in the future...

Li Jing saw the worry in their eyes and smiled. "If this matter is accomplished, Li Jing will certainly not treat you two senior brothers unfairly. As long as you two endure a few years of punishment, and use this matter to bring down Zhang Kuang and Zhang Yang, my day of success will be the day I heavily reward you two senior brothers."

The two men's faces were very grim. After all, the fate of the Yuan Family Brothers just a few days ago was right there for them to see! If they really killed Qin Haoxuan, the one who would bear the brunt of the anger would not be this junior brother with the Purple Seed, but themselves.

They could engage in bullying others with their status, and they could help in fights, but something like this, which clearly offered no benefit afterward... forget doing it! They wouldn't even think about it.

Seeing the grim expressions on their faces, Li Jing cursed inwardly, but still maintained a smile. "Are you two senior brothers worried about ending up like the Yuan Family Brothers? Senior brothers, after killing Qin Haoxuan, say that he went mad for no reason and attacked you. You had no choice but to defend yourselves. In this way... I will also bribe the others in the Nine Yin Ice Cave..."

The two of them really wanted to refuse, as this was too dangerous. However, after hearing Li Jing's arrangement, they felt that perhaps it was worth a try. Because if it succeeded and they weren't punished, they would definitely be able to follow Li Jing to greater heights in the future.

Li Jing watched them quietly. He knew very well that these two senior brothers had been in Spirit Field Valley for too many years! With their talent, they would never get ahead. He was their only chance! Even if it was extremely dangerous!

Under Li Jing's gaze, the two men were moved!

Even if Li Jing couldn't surpass Zhang Kuang in the future, he would definitely be a powerful figure in the Taichu Sect. As the saying goes, "shelter under a big tree makes for a cool breeze," and their lives in the Taichu Sect would still be quite comfortable.

After weighing the pros and cons, these two strong cultivators at the Immortal Seedling Realm Sixth Leaf hardened their hearts. They saw the determination in each other's eyes and, in unison, said to Li Jing, "Please tell us your plan, junior brother!"

The three of them plotted for a long time, then quietly departed, waiting until the next morning to act according to the plan.

As soon as it was dawn, Li Jing went to Xu Yu's door, looking somewhat anxious and worried. After knocking and opening Xu Yu's door, he whispered to her, "Junior Sister Xu, I received a tip that Zhang Kuang and Zhang Yang found people overnight and plotted to send more experts into the Nine Yin Ice Cave to harm Junior Brother Qin."

"Ah!" Xu Yu was startled. Although she had also been worried about this, she hadn't expected Zhang Kuang to act so quickly. However, after spending these days with Qin Haoxuan, she had become more composed and no longer rushed to protect him herself.

"Junior Sister Xu, don't worry. I won't stand by and let Zhang Kuang and Zhang Yang's scheme succeed. I'll find an expert later and go in to protect Junior Brother Qin. However, you must not let this leak out, and definitely don't tell the sect elders, lest we alert Zhang Kuang and the others and make their actions more cautious, which would be troublesome." Seeing that Xu Yu's expression wasn't very strong, Li Jing, fearing she would seek help from the sect elders, quickly soothed her, half-selling a favor, half-threatening.

After all, she was a pure-hearted young girl, inexperienced in the ways of the world. And it concerned the safety of her most cherished Brother Haoxuan. Frightened by Li Jing, the thought of seeking help from the sect elders that had just arisen in Xu Yu's mind was immediately dispelled. She said to Li Jing, "I'll have to trouble you, Senior Brother Li!"

Seeing her earnest plea, Li Jing repeatedly agreed, feeling even more smug. It's just a little girl, easily fooled. Once I kill Qin Haoxuan and frame Zhang Kuang and Zhang Yang, you'll be grateful to me, and without Qin Haoxuan as your pillar of support, won't you obediently join me!

Qin Haoxuan was naturally unaware of everything happening outside. However, with the experience of being ambushed by Zhang Kuang's men in the Lava Cellar, he was cautious even when cultivating or sleeping. Fortunately, the first day passed peacefully. The people locked in the Nine Yin Ice Cave, apart from occasionally chatting with a few acquaintances during meals, didn't even glance at him. The middle-aged man who occupied one side alone kept to himself and didn't interact with him or anyone else.

On the second day of being confined to the Nine Yin Ice Cave, as a cultivation fanatic, Qin Haoxuan only slept for an hour or two before getting up to cultivate. Just as he was engrossed in his cultivation, the iron gate creaked open, and two newcomers were escorted in by enforcement disciples.

With the experience of the assassination attempt, Qin Haoxuan immediately opened his eyes vigilantly. When his gaze met the eyes of the two new cultivators at the Immortal Seedling Realm Sixth Leaf, he inexplicably felt a sense of crisis.

As expected, after the escorting enforcement disciples left, the two strong cultivators at the Immortal Seedling Realm Sixth Leaf walked up to Qin Haoxuan with cold smiles. "You are Qin Haoxuan?"

Qin Haoxuan secretly tensed his qi and replied without fear, "I am!"

"That's right, that's you! We were entrusted by Junior Brother Zhang Kuang to eliminate you, this guy who has repeatedly offended him and doesn't know his place!" One of them said, forming a spiritual seal with his hands and beginning to mobilize the spiritual power within him. The other also didn't stand idle, blocking Qin Haoxuan's escape route and forming a spiritual seal, preparing to attack Qin Haoxuan together!

With the situation at hand, he couldn't avoid it or escape. Qin Haoxuan wasn't flustered. He didn't have a chance of winning against even one cultivator at the Immortal Seedling Realm Sixth Leaf in a direct confrontation, let alone two. But he wasn't someone who would wait for death. Even when facing death, he would fight back. That way, he wouldn't have any regrets even if he died!

"Die!" The two cultivators at the Immortal Seedling Realm Sixth Leaf formed their spiritual seals. A few breaths later, spiritual energy surged around them, clearly indicating they were using their strongest moves. They didn't dare to underestimate Qin Haoxuan, this monstrous opponent. This attack had to succeed and could not fail. If they couldn't kill Qin Haoxuan, not only might Li Jing's plan fail, but they would also lose their chance to prove themselves. It could even lead to Li Jing's plan collapsing and being exposed.

No matter what, Qin Haoxuan had to die!

The two Taichu disciples at the Immortal Seedling Realm Sixth Leaf simultaneously unleashed their strongest killing moves against Qin Haoxuan. If this attack landed, Qin Haoxuan would be seriously injured, if not killed.

This ruthless attack finally alarmed the other people confined in the Nine Yin Ice Cave.

The middle-aged man sitting alone suddenly leaped up. After the two cultivators at the Immortal Seedling Realm Sixth Leaf who were assassinating Qin Haoxuan formed their spiritual seals, he also quickly formed a spiritual seal. However, his preparation time for the spiritual seal was much shorter than theirs. Almost the moment he formed the spiritual seal, an invincible spirit technique swept out, not only blocking the fatal attack that was about to hit Qin Haoxuan but also sending the two cultivators at the Immortal Seedling Realm Sixth Leaf flying.

The two cultivators at the Immortal Seedling Realm Sixth Leaf were sent flying but were not injured. They got up from the ground and looked at the middle-aged man with disbelief. This middle-aged man was only around fifty years old and had a cultivation of the Immortal Seedling Realm Tenth Leaf. Compared to his age and strength, his talent was very ordinary, and he didn't seem to be from one of the Four Great Halls.

Qin Haoxuan, who had been crouching, slowly straightened up. He had already prepared to dodge even if no one intervened. But with this sudden turn of events, he wanted to watch from the side and see if these three were acting or if someone had genuinely stepped in to help.

One of the cultivators at the Immortal Seedling Realm Sixth Leaf who was trying to assassinate Qin Haoxuan questioned, "Do you know we are from the Purple Seed faction?"

"Enmity between disciples is unavoidable, but sending people to commit murder is too much. And he looks like a new disciple who just joined a few days ago, just starting to take root. You two at the Immortal Seedling Realm Sixth Leaf attacking him simultaneously with killing intent, aren't you afraid of being laughed at if this gets out? As for disciples of the Purple Seed, so what? They are still Taichu disciples!"

Today's second update.