Someone Was Plotting

Night.

The mountain gate of the Yin Underworld Ghost Sect was drenched in starlight.

Ten thousand miles from Ghost Peak Mountain, on Yellow Springs Peak, a secret meeting targeting Lu Li was underway.

Inside the Gold Stone Cave Abode.

Li Jing sat in the seat of honor.

Two men and a woman sat on either side of him.

All three were at Foundation Establishment Perfection.

"Did you bring what I asked for?"

At that moment, Li Jing wore a golden robe. His gaze was icy as it swept over the two men and the woman.

"Don't worry. It's all ready."

The Green-Robed Young Master, seated at the upper left, waved a jade fan with a smile and took out a tiny dice, setting it on the table.

The dice seemed to be made of black iron, with gold paint on all six sides.

"What is this?"

Li Jing asked with a frown.

"A hidden weapon."

The Green-Robed Young Master gave a wicked smile. "I borrowed this from a Demon God Hall disciple especially for the occasion. Toss it, and it shoots out over a thousand poisoned needles. Each needle is made from the stinger of a Golden-Winged Poison Bee. They're peerlessly sharp, able to pierce anything, and lethally poisonous. A single drop of blood seals the throat. Its power rivals a low-grade spirit artifact. This hidden weapon even has a poetic name: Pear Blossom Bloom."

"Good!"

A fierce glint flashed in Li Jing's eyes. He reached out and drew the Black Iron Dice directly to him.

Then he turned his gaze to the red-clad girl seated beside the Green-Robed Young Master.

The red-clad girl had one leg crossed over the other and was using a silver dagger to trim her toenails.

Sensing Li Jing's sharp gaze, she looked up, revealing a Yin-Yang Face. She opened her mouth and spat out a long, blood-red jade talisman.

A fierce tiger's head was carved into the talisman.

"The Soul-Absorbing Tiger Talisman. Once activated, a sliver of the Golden Core tiger's soul sealed inside will spring out and enter the enemy's sea of consciousness, frightening their soul."

After speaking, the red-clad girl lowered her head again and resumed trimming her toenails.

"Good!"

The fierce glint in Li Jing's eyes deepened. He didn't even bother to inspect it, simply sweeping out a hand to draw the blood-red tiger talisman to him.

His gaze shifted again, settling on the Yellow-Robed Elder seated at the upper right.

The Yellow-Robed Elder was slightly plump and wore a genial, kindly smile, like a grandfather from the neighborhood.

"Senior Brother Li, isn't this making too much of a fuss over a mere brat at the fourth level of Qi Refining?"

The Yellow-Robed Elder stroked the goatee beneath his chin and asked with a chuckle.

"Hmph. Blood must pay for blood! He killed my younger brother, so naturally I want his life! Old Ghost Lin, where's your item?"

Li Jing was brimming with murderous intent and growing impatient.

"Heh heh, right here."

The Yellow-Robed Elder gave his hand a light wave.

A pure-silver pellet appeared from nowhere on the jade table beside him.

It was perfectly round, about the size of a longan, with an utterly smooth surface speckled with silver stars.

No one could tell what it was.

"Hmm? A Sword Pellet?"

Li Jing narrowed his eyes.

The Green-Robed Young Master and the red-clad girl also looked up at once, staring at the silver pellet.

"That's right. A Sword Pellet."

The Yellow-Robed Elder smiled as he picked up his jade cup and took a sip of tea. He continued unhurriedly, "I searched all over Ten Thousand Demon City and happened to find this Sword Pellet. It must have come from the Heavenly River Sword Sect."

Li Jing and the others grew solemn.

The sword cultivators of the Heavenly River Sword Sect were unrivaled beneath the heavens.

And within the Central Province Dao Alliance, the Heavenly River Sword Sect was the most zealous in exterminating demons and upholding the righteous path.

Whenever a sword cultivator from the Heavenly River Sword Sect spotted a Demon Sect disciple, they charged in like a mad dog, fighting to the death.

Over the past century, at least a hundred thousand Demon Sect disciples had died beneath the swords of Heavenly Sword Sect disciples.

There was, of course, a reason for this.

It seemed that several hundred years ago, the sect leader of the Heavenly River Sword Sect had been deceived by a Demon Sect woman in matters of the heart.

She had even swindled him out of money.

Rumor had it she had also stolen several of the Heavenly River Sword Sect's supreme sword arts.

The saddest part was that the sect leader apparently hadn't even managed to hold that Demon Sect woman's hand.

Afterward, the Heavenly River Sword Sect added a rule to its sect laws: upon encountering anyone from the Demon Sect, kill them without fail.

"This Sword Pellet can only be used once. When activated, it transforms into a streak of pure silver sword light. Its power rivals a full-force strike from a Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivator wielding a mid-grade spirit artifact. It can split metal and shatter stone; nothing can withstand its blade. Anyone below Foundation Establishment is certain to die. Senior Brother Li, with this Sword Pellet, you can avenge your great hatred!"

The Yellow-Robed Elder chuckled.

"Good!"

Li Jing seemed to already see Lu Li cut in half by the sword light. Gritting his teeth, he uttered a single word.

Then he reached out and drew the Sword Pellet to him.

Right after that, he flicked his sleeve, sending three black cloth bags onto the jade tables beside the three others. "Everything you asked for is in there."

The Green-Robed Young Master, the red-clad girl, and the Yellow-Robed Elder immediately picked up the bags and opened them.

Satisfied expressions appeared on all their faces.

"Senior Brother Li really knows how to spend!"

"So generous!"

"That's some serious wealth!"

The three put away the black bags and praised him in unison.

"Speaking of which, if we kill his Core Disciple at Ghost Demon True Person's celebration banquet tomorrow, won't that be a bit too insulting? Surely Ghost Demon True Person will step in to save him?"

The Yellow-Robed Elder stroked his beard and asked thoughtfully.

"Don't worry. My master, True Lord Yellow Spring, will stop him. Hmph, Ghost Demon True Person has only just advanced to Nascent Soul and already wants to take over the Penalty Prison Hall. He's far too greedy! Besides, one of his Core Disciples, Bai Jinfei, is Green Lotus's man! Don't you want to sit in the Chief Disciple's seat?"

Li Jing swept his cold gaze over the three of them.

At this, the three fell silent in thought.

Then the Green-Robed Young Master waved his jade fan and sneered. "Exactly! Green Lotus has been Chief Disciple long enough. It's our turn!"

"That woman is fickle and flirts everywhere she goes. Just looking at her makes me sick."

The red-clad woman said coldly.

"Indeed. I've gazed at that position for so long that I'm nearly pining away." A trace of longing also appeared in the Yellow-Robed Elder's eyes.

"Then it's settled! With the three of you giving me your full support, I'll surely replace Green Lotus and become Chief Disciple. Ten years from now, I'll pass the position on to the three of you! I swear it before the founding ancestor!"

Li Jing swore on the spot.

"Good!"

"Agreed."

"Then it's settled!"

"Come, let's drink!"

Soon, cups clinked and the gathering grew lively.

Before long, the silver moon sank toward the horizon. The four ended their secret meeting and dispersed.

As soon as they were gone, Li Jing's expression turned cold in an instant. He gave a soft snort. "Hmph. With faces like the three of you, all bent and twisted, you think you can become Chief Disciple? You'd only disgrace the reputation of my Yin Underworld Ghost Sect if you went out in public!"

"Li Jing, you're wrong. Those three know they can't become Chief Disciple. They're only trying to squeeze more benefits out of you and Green Lotus."

Just then, a calm voice rang out.

A figure suddenly appeared in the center of the hall: a middle-aged man in green robes, carrying a white sword on his back. His eyes were like stars, and he seemed to drift like an immortal.

"Greetings, Master!"

Li Jing's expression turned solemn. He stepped forward and bowed.

It turned out that this man was True Lord Yellow Spring!

True Lord Yellow Spring raised a hand and helped Li Jing up. Calmly, he said, "Rest assured. You are the one I value most. I will never let your younger brother's death become a heart-demon barrier to your breakthrough to Golden Core. Tomorrow, someone will test Lu Li's strength for you. When the time comes, have your people strike and kill him outright."

"This disciple thanks Master!"

Li Jing was overcome with gratitude. He bowed again to thank him.

At the same time, a bone-chilling murderous intent flashed through his heart.

This time, he would make sure Lu Li died without a place to bury him! He would leave not a single bone intact, so his younger brother's spirit in heaven could rest!

The next day.

The sky had only just begun to lighten.

The first ray of sunlight pierced the darkness and shone over the Myriad Demon Mountains.

It also fell upon the Star Gazing Platform.

Lu Li woke up on his own.

Ding.

A system notification rang out in his mind:

Great Mercy and Great Compassion Palm reached the perfected realm and could no longer be cultivated, so it decided to go out and seek an opportunity to break through.

Before leaving, Great Might Heavenly Dragon Dharma Incantation taught it a move, "Flying Dragon in the Sky," for self-defense.

You learned Flying Dragon in the Sky.

Lu Li sprang to his feet like a carp leaping from water, excitement in his eyes.

It was Great Mercy and Great Compassion Palm's turn to go out?

Flying Dragon in the Sky?

He opened the System Log and took a look:

Flying Dragon in the Sky: A secret divine move of Great Might Heavenly Dragon Dharma Incantation. It gathers spiritual power and blood qi, then sends a golden dragon blast surging forward to annihilate everything in its path.

This... was like having someone bring him a pillow just as he was getting sleepy—and throw in a lifelike sex doll, too!

Lu Li's face lit up with delight.

He'd better try it first!

Without the slightest hesitation, Lu Li floated up and became a ghostly blur. After a few flickers, he was in the Martial Arts Arena on the second floor.

Then he activated the Kunpeng Heaven-Swallowing Demon Art and thrust a palm toward the space ahead.

Roar.

Accompanied by a deep dragon's roar, a half-transparent Golden Dragon, as thick as an elephant's leg, silently surged from his palm with a fierce, imposing presence. In an instant, it shot ten zhang forward and slammed into the Black Steel Stone.

It passed straight through!

Then.

Bang.

The three-chi-thick Black Steel Stone exploded on the spot, turning into a sky full of dust.