[Name: Jiang Hao] [Age: Twenty] [Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Perfection] [Cultivation methods: Heavenly Sound, Hundred Turns; Primordial Chaos Heart Scripture] [Divine Abilities: Nine-Turn Substitute Death (Unique), Daily Appraisal, Clear Mind, Pure Heart] [Vitality: 49/100 (Cannot cultivate)] [Cultivation: 54/100 (Can cultivate)] [Divine Ability: 1/3 (Cannot obtain)]
"Halfway there."
Jiang Hao walked through the Spirit Medicine Garden, absorbing the bubbles around him.
His strength and mental power increased little by little.
Nothing would have pleased Jiang Hao more than for these days to continue forever.
But a month later, he sensed a hostile gaze.
As he walked through the Spirit Medicine Garden, he kept feeling that someone was watching him.
It was faint, yet perceptible.
When he turned to look, he saw only a few Qi Refining disciples gathering spirit herbs.
Some of their faces were unfamiliar.
"Who are they?"
Jiang Hao called over an outer sect disciple who often worked here.
"Senior Brother, they're people from other main branches, here to help," Cheng Chou answered respectfully.
"Are they?" Jiang Hao looked at the five people over there and continued asking:
"Which branch?"
The five of them did indeed appear to be at Qi Refining.
But that was only how they appeared.
Jiang Hao had cultivated using the Nameless Manual. Since he could conceal his own cultivation, he naturally also understood how to assess others from multiple angles and discern their cultivation.
One of these five seemed to have just advanced to the early Golden Core stage.
Yet he presented himself as being at the fifth level of Qi Refining, like a rogue cultivator who had joined the Heavenly Sound Sect.
Appraise.
He was a burly man with a full beard, brimming with vitality.
In the blink of an eye, the Divine Ability returned its findings.
[Jin Zhouheng: Inner Sect Disciple of the Sunset Glow Sect, undercover at Thunderfire Peak. Having cultivated together with his junior sister Yun Ruo years ago, he became infatuated with her beauty. Upon learning of Yun Ruo's death, rage seized his heart, and he broke through to the early Golden Core stage. He has come specifically to seek revenge on you, even at the cost of his life.]
Jiang Hao: "..."
Reading the appraisal results, Jiang Hao felt a chill in his heart.
He did not particularly care about the earlier details. What worried him most was the final phrase.
Even at the cost of his life.
In other words, the man wanted to perish together with him.
Against someone like that, no matter how strict the Heavenly Sound Sect's oversight was, it would be useless.
Because the man was not afraid to die.
He did not understand. What was so wonderful about Yun Ruo that she was worth an early Golden Core cultivator risking his life?
Golden Core cultivators enjoyed long lives and high standing. Why seek his own doom?
Even people in demonic sects know to cling to life, however shamefully. Yet this disciple of an immortal sect would throw away his bright future and come running here over romantic attachments?
Among the Foundation Establishment disciples, could he really not find anyone more beautiful than Senior Sister Yun Ruo?
Jiang Hao sighed softly, without much emotion.
While he was thinking, Cheng Chou spoke beside him:
"They should be from Thunderfire Peak. The detailed roster is outside. Would you like it, Senior Brother?"
"Let's go out and take a look." Jiang Hao nodded almost imperceptibly.
He did not dare linger here now, afraid the man might suddenly rise up and kill him.
Foundation Establishment Perfection could not withstand more than a few blows from someone at early Golden Core.
There was no need to take that risk.
Still, his cultivation and vitality were almost full. In a few days, he could attempt to advance.
But...
The man had already seen him and would soon learn where he lived, so he might make his move in the near future.
He hasn't acted yet. He probably wants to leave alive too, Jiang Hao thought.
All the man needed to do was find him at night, kill him on the spot, leave the Heavenly Sound Sect, and return to the Sunset Glow Sect.
Then there would be nothing the Heavenly Sound Sect could do.
After obtaining the roster, Jiang Hao left Heartbreak Cliff.
Looking toward Law Enforcement Peak, he let out a heavy sigh.
He had come to find Liu Xingchen. Although they were both undercover agents, not every one of them wanted him dead.
So he could only ask Liu Xingchen for help.
"Do you need something, Junior Brother?" Liu Xingchen was somewhat surprised when he came out.
Jiang Hao was famously reluctant to leave Heartbreak Cliff, especially after offending the Heavenly Joy Pavilion.
Never mind leaving the sect-he practically held his ground to the death in Heartbreak Cliff's Spirit Medicine Garden.
Of course, everyone knew Jiang Hao did not dare leave the sect.
Inside the sect, killings were judged on merits and faults.
Outside the sect, killings depended on one's mood.
"There's something I'd like to tell you, Senior Brother." Jiang Hao took out the roster and handed it over:
"There may be a traitor among these five people."
"Are you certain, Junior Brother?" Liu Xingchen took the roster without betraying any emotion.
"Not entirely." Jiang Hao did not make an absolute claim.
Liu Xingchen did not say whether he would investigate, but simply continued asking:
"Where did you see them, Junior Brother?"
"In Heartbreak Cliff's Spirit Medicine Garden," Jiang Hao answered truthfully.
Hearing this, Liu Xingchen pondered for a moment before saying:
"I'll look into it. You'd best be careful over the next few days, Junior Brother."
Jiang Hao nodded and thanked him. Although he had not said it, Liu Xingchen would surely realize that if there really was a traitor, the man was most likely coming for him.
Back at his residence, Jiang Hao began leafing through the Heavenly Blade First Form. Over the past month, he had already mastered this blade strike.
He simply was not proficient enough yet.
At midnight.
He took out the Half-Moon saber and began swinging it.
Blade intent emerged.
The blade's radiance swept down like shining moonlight, leaving a deep furrow in the ground.
With just a little force, it's already no weaker than Demonic Sound Slash. If I used my full strength, how powerful would it be?
Looking at the saber in his hand, Jiang Hao briefly entertained the idea of testing it on a Golden Core cultivator.
He quickly snuffed out that thought.
It was too dangerous.
Strength blinds the eyes.
Jiang Hao was deeply alarmed. He had advanced too quickly lately, and after obtaining a saber technique like this, he had nearly let it go to his head.
Before you continue