Lurking on the Mountaintop

Wang Ding's group of four soon reached the mountainside, where the surroundings were already completely encircled by Black Death Demon Eagles. Along the way, Wang Ding discovered that these Black Death Demon Eagles were probably also a type of heavenly demon, because after killing each one, he would gain a bit of heavenly merit. These Black Death Demon Eagles were not very powerful; on average, they possessed the strength of five flying dragons, while the stronger ones only had the strength of six or seven flying dragons. Along the way, he had killed nearly a hundred at the very least. Although Wang Ding was not afraid, as the saying went, the few could not overcome the many. Huang Tutian and the other two had already consumed quite a bit of Innate True Qi controlling their Magic Tools.

Wang Ding thought for a moment, then said to the others, "Everyone, grab hold of me. I have a top-grade Magic Tool, the Earth-Piercing Shuttle, that can travel through the earth, mountains, and rivers."

When Long Lingyu and the other two heard this, they immediately each grabbed hold of a part of Wang Ding. Wang Ding then brought out the Earth-Piercing Shuttle. A ray of earthy-yellow light wrapped around the four of them, and they easily sank beneath the ground, then swiftly burrowed toward the mountaintop.

The Black Death Demon Eagles that had originally surrounded them suddenly saw them vanish without a trace. Unable to make heads or tails of it, they could only circle around the area for a while, letting out bursts of ugly screeches before charging toward other enemies. At this moment, Wang Ding's group of four was wrapped in a layer of yellow light film, ceaselessly shuttling through the mountain rock. However, because Wang Ding was now carrying four people, the Innate Qi within his body was being consumed extremely quickly, draining by one-tenth with every breath.

Wang Ding had no choice but to continuously consume Vitality Pills to replenish the consumption of his Innate Qi. After a full quarter of an hour, the four of them finally arrived at the mountaintop.

However, Wang Ding did not rush out. He merely stopped underground, one zhang beneath the mountaintop, and used the Earth-Piercing Shuttle's unique ability to check the situation above.

At the summit was a platform several dozen zhang in circumference. On the platform stood a pitch-black little mountain right in the center, three zhang around and one zhang high, radiating waves of sinister cold air. Upon it grew a nine-petaled flower, black and white interwoven, which was emitting waves of mysterious fluctuations.

Four groups of people were standing abruptly around the little mountain, facing off against one another.

In the air above the platform, countless Black Death Demon Eagles were circling, yet they did not attack these cultivators, who had somehow arrived here. They seemed to have some sort of misgiving. Wang Ding's group of four lay hidden underground, quietly watching these four groups.

Of the four groups facing off against one another, two factions were dressed in sect attire. One of them was none other than Wang Ding's sect, the Wongchuan Sect, while the other was from the One Sword Sect. Of the remaining two, one was made up of Rogue Cultivators, dressed in a disorderly mix of clothing, while the other was entirely shrouded in black robes, their origin impossible to discern. Only waves of evil aura emanated from their bodies, filling people with unease.

The leader of the One Sword Sect said, "I don't care who you are. All of you, get out. This Mystic Yin Yang-Resolving Flower belongs to my One Sword Sect. Whoever dares reach for it, I'll kill them."

At this moment, the leader of the Wongchuan Sect stepped forward. His entire body surged with spiritual will, as though he might break through realms at any moment. He gave a cold laugh and said, "What grand authority the One Sword Sect has. Jian Tianxia, do you think your One Sword Sect is still one of the nine great sects of the past? Ever since your One Sword Sect lost its sect-guarding supreme divine sword—the Heaven-Reaching Sword—you have been a sinking sun on the western hills, your former glory gone. It's time to abdicate and let the worthy take over, to give your place among the nine great sects to our Wongchuan Sect. Others may fear your One Sword Sect, but my Wongchuan Sect does not."

When Jian Tianxia heard this, his sword-like brows immediately lifted. Sword Qi surged around his body as he looked at the speaker from the Wongchuan Sect and rebuked, "A sinking sun on the western hills, our former glory gone? What a joke. Ice Prince, do you think your Wongchuan Sect is so impressive? I'm telling you, the foundations of the nine great sects far exceed your imagination. The position of a nine great sect is not something any stray cat or dog can sit in. If you know what's good for you, roll as far away as you can. There is no place for you to speak here."

The two sides were like drawn swords and bent bows. For a time, the atmosphere grew extraordinarily heavy, as though they might begin fighting at any moment.

At this moment, beneath the ground at the mountaintop, Wang Ding, Huang Tutian, Long Lingyu, and Dongfang Riyue were safely watching the situation above, which was ready to explode at the slightest touch, under the protection of the Earth-Piercing Shuttle.

Huang Tutian looked at the three of them and said, "What do we do now? Four forces are facing off above, and there are still many people rushing here from below. If this keeps going, we won't have any chance left."

At this moment, Wang Ding looked at Long Lingyu and the other two with a grave expression, then slowly said, "You three, I have a method to seize the Mystic Yin Yang-Resolving Flower, but I hope you will help me get rid of Ice Prince."

The three of them were shaken when they heard this. Huang Tutian looked at Wang Ding in shock and said, "Brother Wang, have you gone mad? Killing a fellow sect member is a capital offense. If anyone finds out, there will be no good end for you."

Wang Ding's expression did not change. "Of course I know that. But as the saying goes, strike first to gain the upper hand; strike later and suffer disaster. If I don't hurry up and kill him, I'm afraid the next one to die will be me."

Wang Ding then explained the grudge between himself and Li Yiqi. Long Lingyu and Dongfang Riyue had both been present at the time. Thinking of Li Yiqi's vicious and perverse temperament, they immediately knew that Wang Ding's concern was absolutely reasonable. Moreover, it was entirely possible that Li Yiqi had come to hate even them as well, because they had personally witnessed his ugly affair.

After the three of them looked at one another, Huang Tutian was the first to speak. "Senior Brother Wang Ding, since we have already taken the same master, then we should naturally advance and retreat together. I'll help you kill Ice Prince, but you must seize the Mystic Yin Yang-Resolving Flower."

Wang Ding looked at Huang Tutian and nodded gravely. "Good. Junior Brother Huang, just on the strength of those words, even if my body is smashed to pieces, I, Wang Ding, will definitely seize the Mystic Yin Yang-Resolving Flower. When the time comes, we will all be promoted to true disciples. From then on, we can truly set foot on the path of immortality, and by then, we won't have to fear others investigating us."

At this moment, Long Lingyu also said, "Senior Brother Wang Ding, I'll join as well. Now that the four forces above have gathered, only by banding together do we have a chance to seize the Mystic Yin Yang-Resolving Flower. Besides, that Ice Prince is no good person either. Again and again, he has harassed us female cultivators. He's truly hateful. If I had not been under the protection of Eldest Senior Sister Shuiyuan Jinhua, something might have happened to me already. Count me in for killing him."

At this moment, Dongfang Riyue's eyes shone brightly. The corner of his mouth split into a grin, revealing a mouthful of white teeth, and he said grimly, "Good, I'll join too. This Ice Prince truly deserves to die. He actually dares set his sights on Junior Sister Long Lingyu. If this can be endured, what cannot?"

Seeing the three of them agree one after another to help him kill Ice Prince, Wang Ding suddenly felt a surge of emotion in his heart.

Although the benefits of the Mystic Yin Yang-Resolving Flower were certainly involved, the fact that they were willing to stake their lives and fortunes to help Wang Ding truly gave Wang Ding a trace of comfort on this cruel road of cultivating immortality.

Ever since entering this world, all Wang Ding had seen along the way was bloodshed and slaughter. There was not the slightest trace of the immortal bearing and moral nobility supposedly found on the path of immortality. Instead, everyone ran about for profit, and even mutual slaughter for profit was commonplace. Now, having encountered Long Lingyu and the other two, whose temperaments were in harmony with his own, Wang Ding truly felt a sense of having blended into this world.