Xiao Yicai

Just then, the unremarkable young man moved.

As if he had just woken up, he stretched and said lazily to a Demon Sect underling beside him, "Boss, this godforsaken place is cold and damp. It's so boring standing guard here. Why don't we go inside and have a couple of drinks to warm ourselves up?"

The underling's eyes lit up at his suggestion.

"You've got some ideas, kid."

He glanced around, saw nothing amiss, and waved a hand.

"Fine. Take a few brothers inside and bring out a few jars of good wine. We'll drink right here at the cave entrance. That still counts as keeping watch."

"Sure thing!"

The young man answered and immediately beckoned five or six other Demon Sect disciples. Grinning, they headed into the cave.

Watching this, Li Xiaoyu furrowed his brow.

He had a feeling things weren't that simple.

Sure enough, after the young man led several Demon Sect disciples deep into the cave,

"RUMBLE!"

A muffled boom suddenly rang out from within.

The entire cave shuddered violently.

Then a torrent of violent energy surged out from inside.

The Demon Sect disciples guarding the entrance hadn't even realized what was happening before the shock wave hurled them away, leaving many dead and wounded.

But just before the explosion, the young man had slipped out through another hidden exit in the cave like a ghost, completely unharmed.

The earlier indolence and ordinariness had vanished from his face.

Now it was cold and grim.

His gaze was sharp.

Looking at the collapsed cave, the young man curled his lips into a cold smile.

"A bunch of fools."

He muttered the words, then his figure blurred as he prepared to disappear into the night.

But the instant he turned around, a figure appeared silently in front of him, blocking his way.

"Senior Brother, in such a hurry to leave. Where are you headed?"

A calm voice sounded beside him.

The young man—Xiao Yicai, who had entered the Demon Sect under an assumed name on Daoist Daoxuan's orders—stiffened.

He raised his head and saw a handsome face wearing an amused smile.

Xiao Yicai's pupils contracted, and a storm surged through his heart.

Who was this?

How had he ended up here?!

And how had he discovered Xiao Yicai's whereabouts?!

Shock and wariness filled Xiao Yicai's heart.

He had gone undercover in the Demon Sect for years on the orders of his Sect Leader, Daoist Daoxuan, and had always acted with the utmost caution. He had never made a mistake.

Xiao Yicai had thought his disguise flawless. Even the Demon Sect's elders wouldn't have seen through his true identity.

Yet today, someone even younger than him had identified him at a glance.

How could he not be shocked?

"Your junior brother, Li Xiaoyu, pays his respects to Senior Brother."

"Li Xiaoyu?"

"The first-place winner of the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament?"

Of course he had heard of him.

Xiao Yicai felt a little relieved, but his eyes remained just as guarded.

"How did you discover me?"

Li Xiaoyu looked at him, still smiling.

"Senior Brother, your disguise really is excellent. Your aura, your words and actions—all of them are indistinguishable from those of an ordinary Demon Sect disciple."

"Unfortunately, that trace of the Taiji Profound Clarity Path on you remains, even though you've suppressed it to the utmost with a secret technique."

"Perhaps others wouldn't notice it, but to me, it's as clear as a firefly in the dark."

Li Xiaoyu's words sent another jolt through Xiao Yicai.

Only then did he remember that this junior brother of his was another prodigy who couldn't be judged by ordinary standards.

This junior brother had broken through two realms in a single night and defeated Qi Hao, who was at the eighth level of the Jade Purity Realm, while only at the sixth. His spiritual perception and understanding of the Dao were probably already beyond the reach of ordinary people.

There was no way Xiao Yicai could conceal himself from him.

Once he had thought it through, Xiao Yicai stopped pretending.

He cupped his fists toward Li Xiaoyu, a bitter smile appearing on his face.

"I see. I underestimated you, Junior Brother Li."

"Since you've discovered me, I expect you've already guessed my identity and purpose."

"I'm Xiao Yicai. I was ordered by my Sect Leader and Master to infiltrate this place and sabotage the Demon Sect's plans."

He openly admitted who he was.

Li Xiaoyu nodded, admiration in his eyes.

"Senior Brother Xiao ventured alone into the tiger's den. I admire your courage and sense of responsibility."

"That trick just now—luring them out, then triggering the formation—was nothing short of inspired. I presume you've completely destroyed the Demon Sect's supplies."

A trace of pride appeared on Xiao Yicai's face.

"It was nothing more than a few paltry tricks."

He paused, then continued, "Since we've met here, I assume Junior Brother Li was also ordered to come and carry out the same mission."

"Now that the Demon Sect's supplies are gone, their morale will surely collapse. This is the best time for us to launch a full assault."

"Let's go join our fellow disciples at the front and attack from both sides. We can wipe out every one of these Demon Sect fiends in one fell swoop!"

Excitement gleamed in Xiao Yicai's eyes.

But Li Xiaoyu slowly shook his head.

"No."

"Now isn't the time."

Li Xiaoyu's words left Xiao Yicai momentarily stunned.

"Why?"

"The Demon Sect's true main force hasn't appeared yet."

His gaze turned toward the dark summit of the main peak, his expression grave.

"The Ghost King, Poison God, and Yu Yangzi—those three giants of the Demon Sect—haven't shown themselves once."

"They're like three venomous snakes lurking in the shadows, waiting for us to expose a weakness so they can strike a fatal blow."

"If we rashly launch a full assault now, we'll be walking straight into their trap."

"They're hoping we'll fight those Demon Sect disciples until both sides are battered, so they can reap the rewards."

Li Xiaoyu's analysis poured cold water over Xiao Yicai's burning enthusiasm.

Once he calmed down and thought it over, he realized Li Xiaoyu was right.

He had been thinking only about earning credit and had overlooked the greatest danger.

If the three sect leaders made their move, forget about young disciples like them—even the Chief Seats of the various sects might struggle to withstand them.

"Then what should we do now?"

Xiao Yicai looked at Li Xiaoyu and asked sincerely.

At that moment, he had come to regard Li Xiaoyu as someone he could speak to as an equal—or even someone whose strategic insight surpassed his own.

Li Xiaoyu pondered for a moment and said, "Wait."

"Wait?"

"Yes. Wait for an opportunity."

Wisdom gleamed in Li Xiaoyu's eyes.

"The Demon Sect's three factions aren't of one mind. They're just as full of suspicion and conflict among themselves."

"Now that their supplies have been destroyed, they'll inevitably blame one another and pass the buck."

"What we need to do is hide in the shadows and watch how things unfold. We can even fan the flames and make their infighting worse."

"Once they've thrown themselves into disarray and are run ragged, that will be the best time for us to launch a full assault!"

As Xiao Yicai listened to the plan, his eyes grew brighter and brighter.

He realized that his junior brother's thoughts were so meticulous and his methods so seasoned that he seemed nothing like a young man barely twenty years old.