Schemes

The area around Horse-Tethering Road had fallen entirely into a battlefront between the two factions.

Black Wind Valley's actions were baffling. It merely sent Fetal Breath-level demons and gu beasts to attack; none at the Qi Refining level had appeared again.

Xie Miao must have suffered serious injuries, but Xie Shu had yet to show himself. He remained behind the scenes, seemingly calculating something.

Horse-Tethering Road faced Green Luo directly. A Qi Refining-level formation, the [Little Baleful Wind Formation], had already been laid there. Xu Xuan had bought it from the Duan Clan's shop in Jade Glass Market; only that clan had the means to sell formations at the Qi Refining level.

When Wang Qiyun saw that Xu Xuan had brought back a new formation, he volunteered to set it up. He had recently taken a keen interest in formations, but had been frustrated by having none to study. Seeing Xu Xuan bring back a new one, he happily went off to delve into it.

Wang Qiyun's cultivation was still at the first level of Qi Refining, though he was nearing perfection and would be able to break through after some time.

With the Red Fruit in the sect supplying their cultivation needs, Wen Si'an had already broken through to the fourth level of Qi Refining. Her cultivation had grown swiftly, and over these years she had also developed sword essence. Wang Xiwei had successfully reached the fifth level of Qi Refining as well, but the sixth loomed like Heaven's Gate. Taking another step forward would likely be difficult.

Xu Xuan faintly sensed that he had touched the threshold of the seventh level of Qi Refining. His accumulated cultivation was still insufficient, but his understanding of the realm had already reached it.

Seeing the Great Red Abbey go to war with Black Wind Valley, the Lotus Temple seemed inclined to throw stones at someone already down a well. It sent a warrior monk at the Hearer realm, equivalent to early Qi Refining. With the aid of the vow power from the Buddhist temple behind him, however, he could protect himself against Xu Xuan.

The warrior monk would come to the foot of the mountain from time to time and issue a challenge. Yet whenever Xu Xuan attacked, the man immediately used vow power to form an auspicious cloud and flee. His sole intention was to keep Xu Xuan from cultivating diligently in seclusion.

Xu Xuan knew that the monk's Dharma name was Chifa. He was a disciple of the old monk Cihai, and had likely been sent specifically to issue challenges and delay Xu Xuan's progress toward Foundation Establishment.

As long as Cihai attained the rank of Dharma Master first, he would be able to draw fully upon the vow power the Lotus Temple had accumulated over the years, making him far more formidable than an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Last time, Wang Xiwei, Wen Si'an, and Xu Xuan had laid an ambush early along the road from Great Basin to Green Luo. Catching Chifa unprepared, they attacked together to kill him. Unfortunately, his head survived and was swept back by that auspicious cloud. Recently, the Lotus Temple had sent no one else, bringing considerable peace.

Now the three factions seemed trapped in a mire, each harboring its own designs. The Lotus Temple and Black Wind Valley were not allies; they merely happened to have both turned against the Great Red Abbey. For now, the fighting remained little more than minor skirmishes. With Wang Xiwei leading the disciples and relying on the formation, the sect could still hold them off.

The real fighting would likely begin when Foundation Establishment drew near.

In the True Abode Hall, Xu Xuan was studying the Witchcraft Treatise on Gu.

The gourd in his hand no longer held wine, but these Gu Worms instead. It was divided into two layers. The bottom held the Sleeping Thunder Gu, embodying the meaning of the Awakening of Insects. As soon as Xu Xuan sounded thunder, they would awaken and strengthen the thunderlight and heavenly sound.

The second layer held the Qi-Absorbing Gu. They could be nourished with Sword Qi and enjoyed feeding on metal and iron. Over the years, they could produce a piece of [toothedge stone], which could hone weapons and increase their sharpness.

He currently lacked materials and all manner of strange spiritual objects, most of which were produced only in the Wilderness of Witches. For now, he could refine only these two kinds of Gu Worms. Although their powers were wondrous, he always felt something was missing; they differed from the descriptions in the book.

According to the records, the Thunder-Sleeping Gu should fly out of his body and draw in thunderlight. Now, they merely awakened and did nothing else. The Qi-Absorbing Gu should also be able to nurture Sword Qi and use it against enemies, but now their only remaining function was producing toothedge stone.

"These Gu Worms seem to have degenerated."

Considering the preface he had read earlier, perhaps this was due to the fall of the High Shaman who had governed this path in ancient times. Yet now this path had become active again, extending its hand into Red Cloud.

Was someone trying to restore this lineage?

Xu Xuan had a vague suspicion. Perhaps the earlier refinement in the Underground Palace had been part of a scheme involving this matter. The people of this path also seemed to have colluded with Black Wind Valley and begun targeting him.

The Wu Clan, Great Scenery Plains.

An honored guest had now arrived at the clan. Wu Shanchan did not dare make it known, merely inviting the visitor into the inner residence while avoiding everyone along the way.

The visitor was dressed like a tribesman. He was none other than Yuan Zheng, who had come from Eastern Secret. Now seated beside Wu Shanchan, his expression betrayed neither joy nor anger.

Waiting below was Wu Hecun, the very man who had brought this visitor from the Wilderness of Witches into the clan. He trembled slightly, saying nothing. He could only wait for the two seated men to speak and decide his fate.

"Fellow Daoist Yuan Zheng, can this junior of mine accomplish the task?" Wu Shanchan asked first, worry showing on his face.

Ever since the last refinement in the Underground Palace had failed, the Wu Clan's decline had become unstoppable. Although the clans of the Plainlands had a tacit understanding not to engage in major conflicts before their direct descendants reached Foundation Establishment, what would happen afterward was hard to say. Moreover, the Jade Flow Demon Mountain seemed to be stirring again.

"He is barely usable. There are certain secret arts that can let him break through to Foundation Establishment."

Yuan Zheng looked down at Wu Hecun. His cultivation was merely at the perfected Third Qi Refining Layer. Reaching Foundation Establishment would likely be as difficult as climbing to heaven, but Yuan Zheng had his own methods.

Wu Hecun immediately knelt below and kowtowed in thanks to this tribesman representing Heavenly Poison Mountain in the Wilderness of Witches. Wu Shanchan frowned slightly in his seat, but the old man could hardly say anything now. He could only dismiss his junior.

"I hear that lord has already gathered all five poisonous substances, and lacks only a spiritual sword of the shamanic path imbued with Ancient Shu's destiny." After a brief hesitation, Wu Shanchan still spoke these words.

"The great shaman's Divine Ability will soon be complete, and [Calamity Poison] will reappear in the world. These matters are not for you or me to speculate about. Attend to your work. When the time comes, our Heavenly Poison Mountain will receive your bloodline and provide you with a path of retreat."

Yuan Zheng was somewhat displeased. He did not want to discuss his own faction's affairs here. After all, who knew whether some True Person of the immortal path might be watching from the sky?

"That Zuo Mohe has cultivated Sword Qi, and his sect's Voidless Sword Manual is exceptionally formidable. I fear that even if my junior reaches Foundation Establishment, he will be unable to take him down."

"I will have arrangements when the time comes. There are plenty of secret treasures to deal with him. Just do as I say."

Yuan Zheng said no more, and silence returned to the hall.

If not for all the entanglements between the various parties, I could simply seize those two myself. Why go to all this trouble?

The thought irritated him. Who knew how many benefits Heavenly Poison Mountain had given those people of the immortal path just to pluck chestnuts from the fire and scheme for the sword lineage passed down from Ancient Shu? Even then, they could choose only one person, and had to let him establish his foundation here and gather destiny before taking him away.

That was why Xie Shu had been made to refine the Demon Embryo. Once Xu Xuan and Zuo Mohe reached the ninth level of Qi Refining, one would be selected and captured for Xie Shu to devour. They would merge into Foundation Establishment, then be made into a spiritual sword of the shamanic path according to the prescribed method. A True Person from the northern lands would be invited to wield the sword and perform the ritual.

Yuan Zheng's first target was Xu Xuan, whose lineage had deeper foundations, followed by Zuo Mohe. Although he appeared rough and uncouth, he was cautious in his thinking. He had placed pieces on both sides to prevent any mishaps.

This affair was truly troublesome. The mountain had sent him, the most quick-witted among them, yet even he could only scheme in secret. He still could not act directly.

Now that the five poisons were in place, only two more steps remained before the lord could prepare to seek the position of [Calamity Poison]. Arranging the Witch Sword fell to him. Ideally, he would spirit one of the two away when they reached the ninth level of Qi Refining and finish the matter as soon as possible.

If that failed, he could only wait until the two broke through to Foundation Establishment and the Demon Calamity had passed, then personally capture one. But that would drag things out, making it difficult to answer to his superiors.

"The arrangements here are nearly complete. When will the Moon-Cleansing Temple send over the relic?"

He looked outside, as though his gaze would reach all the way north.

In the northern plains of Great Li, in a place seldom visited by people, radiance rose from a thousand-year-old monastery. The Moonlight Pure Land suspended in the great void manifested, spilling boundless moonlight, and a monk walked out from within.

The monk had delicate features and a compassionate expression. Dressed in spotless moon-white robes, he set his bare feet upon the ground and walked south, step by step, toward Witch South Commandery.

(End of chapter)