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Five hundred years ago, the Tianyan Sect had specialized in divination. Although it had declined somewhat over those five centuries, its sect-guarding treasure, the Myriad Phenomena Disc, had kept up appearances.

Ling Tian had been unable to divine any information about Ghost Mask with the Myriad Phenomena Disc—not even his location. That was why he had offered an enormous bounty in spirit stones and resorted to strength in numbers.

Yet now the Myriad Phenomena Disc could divine the Ghost-Masked Cultivator's whereabouts again. This was so strange that Ling Tian could not help growing wary.

But Yan Tongchen dismissed his concerns. "Junior Brother Ling, you're being too cautious. He may have some ability, but his cultivation is only at Golden Core. There aren't that many cultivators in this world who can successfully challenge someone above their realm."

Once they confirmed that he was not someone from within the seal, Yan Tongchen and the others had stopped taking the assignment very seriously.

Another Xuanxiao Immortal Sect disciple said impatiently, "Whatever the case, we just have to kill him, don't we? We're not like your Tianyan Sect, nor are we like those stray dogs outside chasing the bounty. Don't underestimate us."

Only after he finished speaking did Yan Tongchen raise a hand to stop him. "Enough. Say no more." He turned to Ling Tian. "Lü Suo speaks bluntly. Junior Brother Ling, please don't take offense."

Ling Tian replied good-naturedly, "Not at all. I must thank all of you senior brothers for your wholehearted assistance."

Now that they had divined the Ghost-Masked Cultivator's location, they wasted no more time. They assembled their party and set out.

The black mist around Xie Xiyi carried Chi Yu to a stretch of plains. Spirit Herbs and immortal plants covered the ground, and rich spiritual energy churned through the air, carrying a faint, distinctive floral fragrance. After only a short while there, Chi Yu felt refreshed and comfortable all over.

Even the bloody smell clinging to Xie Xiyi seemed to have been diluted somewhat by the peaceful scenery.

Xie Xiyi's state of mind was like a lake without a single ripple. His aggression and murderous aura had both been smoothed away.

But the more he was like this, the more Chi Yu felt it resembled the calm before a storm.

At a time like this, Chi Yu really should have behaved himself and avoided stirring up trouble. But he simply could not sit still. He went around plucking wildflowers, gathered a whole handful, and happily ran up to Xie Xiyi. "Boss, these flowers are for you."

Xie Xiyi glanced down. A wisp of black mist settled on the bouquet Chi Yu held up, and in an instant, the flowers turned to drifting ash.

Chi Yu's hand was covered in black residue. He looked down at it, then went off as though nothing had happened, picked another bouquet, and brought it to Xie Xiyi.

The bouquet turned to drifting ash again.

Chi Yu gathered another handful, which, unsurprisingly, also turned to drifting ash.

Watching from inside Chi Yu's earring, Ling Hezhou found the scene very strange. It even gave him an indescribable sense of déjà vu.

After several repetitions, Chi Yu had picked all the wildflowers growing among the Spirit Herbs around Xie Xiyi, so he ran farther away to pick more.

In that short span of time, a bank of golden clouds rose on the horizon. An ethereal, imposing voice carried over from afar. "Demon, you've killed countless people and slaughtered two cities. Even ten thousand deaths would be too light a punishment. We have come today to execute you. If you know what's good for you, surrender at once, and we may still leave your corpse intact."

Chi Yu immediately dropped his flowers and ran toward Xie Xiyi.

Xie Xiyi spread his divine sense, ascertained the newcomers' numbers and cultivation, and laughed. His voice was leisurely, carrying a measure of ease. "And if I don't know what's good for me?"

"You don't? Hmph-"

Chi Yu muttered, "Refuse a toast, only to drink a forfeit."

"-refuse a toast, only to drink a forfeit..."

They had spoken almost in unison. The Xuanxiao Immortal Sect disciple stopped short.

Xie Xiyi burst out laughing. "Such tired clichés. Try something fresh, hmm?"

The Xuanxiao Immortal Sect disciple flew into a rage. "How dare you! We gave you a chance, yet you refuse to appreciate our kindness!"

As he said "yet you," Chi Yu promptly piped up, "Refuse to appreciate our kindness!"

The disciple who had spoken: "..."

Yan Tongchen said, "Don't waste your breath on them. Jin Yuan, they're yours. You can get some practice in. Remember to leave an intact corpse."

Behind them, the Tianyan Sect disciples led by Ling Tian conversed privately through voice transmissions. "Looks like we won't be needed?"

"I took a close look at that Ghost Mask. He doesn't seem all that impressive. His cultivation realm can't be faked. He really is in the Golden Core Realm."

"Don't jump to conclusions. There are plenty of secret treasures that conceal cultivation, especially among these Rogue Cultivators. They're well versed in survival. Playing weak to take down the strong never goes out of style."

If Chi Yu had heard this disciple's remarks, he would definitely have kicked him out of Divine Path. Was this the intelligence an extra in a Long Aotian novel should have? Clearly not.

The Xuanxiao Immortal Sect disciples, on the other hand, played their roles as cannon fodder to perfection, declaring arrogantly, "How can a firefly's light compete with the sun and moon? You insignificant ant, let us show you the true might of an immortal sect!"

"Senior Brother Jin Yuan, kill him! Proclaim our immortal sect's glory!"

"Die, demon!"

Chi Yu slapped his thigh wildly as he listened. Yes, yes, exactly! That's the flavor!

His reaction drew several extra glances from Xie Xiyi, who asked with interest, "What are you so happy about?"

Chi Yu's excited expression froze as he immediately came to his senses-

Right, what was he so happy about? The people opposite them weren't the villains! The one beside him was the real villain!!

Sorry, scored an own goal.jpg

Before Chi Yu could speak, Xie Xiyi drew Phantom Lightning. The sword hummed, not in resistance this time, but in excitement. Thick blood energy and killing intent wreathed its Jade White blade. Xie Xiyi's voice was delighted. "Phantom Lightning, drain their blood and grind their bones to ash. We'll use their nascent souls to light ever-burning lamps."

Phantom Lightning gave a long cry, clear and soaring into the clouds, brimming with fighting spirit.

Chi Yu: "..."

There it was-the villain's dialogue!

Cultivators possessed astonishing hearing and perception. Naturally, the disciples of the Xuanxiao Immortal Sect and Tianyan Sect heard Xie Xiyi's words perfectly clearly.

The Tianyan Sect disciples were so shocked that they forgot to use voice transmissions and whispered among themselves. "How does he dare? We have nine Nascent Soul cultivators on our side!"

"Has he really hidden his cultivation? Why else would he be so fearless?"

The Xuanxiao Immortal Sect disciples, however, were furious. "You scoundrel! How dare you!"

The Nascent Soul cultivator named Jin Yuan turned into a streak of light and flew toward Xie Xiyi.

The black mist around Xie Xiyi abruptly thickened, enveloping his entire figure. He stood suspended in midair, remaining where he was, still looking utterly at ease.

Jin Yuan flew to a point over a thousand meters from Xie Xiyi. In white robes and a jade belt, his garments fluttering, he was as refined as jade and extraordinarily handsome, with the bearing of an immortal. He held a heaven-grade spirit sword. Turning his wrist, he unleashed a flowing series of Sword Techniques, shifting between feints and real strikes, illusion seeming real and reality seeming illusory. These were moves he had created himself. Amid the sword shadows, sword intent cleaved toward Xie Xiyi's head, surging at him like towering waves.

A Tianyan Sect disciple exclaimed, "He's actually cultivated a trace of supreme sword intent!"

"As expected of the Xuanxiao Immortal Sect!"

Yet Xie Xiyi did not move. The black mist around him suddenly swelled, swallowing every last flourish of sword intent that filled the sky. His smiling voice rang out. "All flash and no substance. Is this all the might an immortal sect has? Give me something more original."

Chi Yu could tell that Xie Xiyi was truly in a very good mood. He was even talking more-although he had never been a man of few words, it was rare for him to talk this much.

Xie Xiyi was quite skilled at adding fuel to the fire. Sure enough, the Xuanxiao Immortal Sect disciples were provoked into fury. "You insolent brat! A mere Golden Core cultivator, and you're gloating just because you got lucky and broke Senior Brother Jin Yuan's move!"

"Senior Brother Jin Yuan, hurry up and kill him!"

Jin Yuan's expression darkened. He unleashed another sword technique: the Nine Heavens Sword Art, taught only to the Xuanxiao Immortal Sect's direct disciples. He had trained through the bitterest winter cold and the fiercest summer heat without a moment's rest. No heavenly materials or earthly treasures had artificially accelerated his growth. Every shred of his cultivation had been earned through hard work.

The Sword Technique burst forth, wrapped in sharp sword intent, and transformed midway into a majestic dragon. Its roar carried the force of thunder as it charged straight at Xie Xiyi.

This move contained all the sword intent he had comprehended over a hundred years. It was his most perfected move.

Yet this earth-shaking attack was swallowed clean by the black mist around Xie Xiyi, just like the one before it.

Xie Xiyi's smiling voice cooled somewhat. "Is this all a Nascent Soul cultivator amounts to? I'm very disappointed."

As soon as he finished speaking, he reproduced Jin Yuan's Nine Heavens Sword Art without the slightest deviation. The Sword Technique, carrying towering sword intent, transformed into a giant tiger that charged at Jin Yuan.

Jin Yuan's pupils contracted sharply, and he blurted out, "How do you know it too-"

Before he could finish, his body suddenly split apart in midair, falling in several chunks.

The giant tiger had only been a feint. What had cut Jin Yuan into pieces was some hidden forbidden curse.

And the giant tiger's target was not Jin Yuan, but the Xuanxiao Immortal Sect disciples and the others on the horizon. Its roar shook the heavens as it bore down on them with the power to pulverize everything.

Yan Tongchen acted immediately, neutralizing the unexpected Sword Technique, but its immense spiritual power still shook him hard enough for the taste of blood to rise in his throat.

"What happened!? Senior Brother Jin Yuan is dead?? How did he die??"

"Useless! He got killed in a single move! Trash is trash, even if he reaches Nascent Soul! What a disgrace to our Xuanxiao Immortal Sect!"

Yan Tongchen raised a hand to stop their angry curses. "This isn't the time for infighting."

The Tianyan Sect disciples felt deeply chilled as they watched the others curse Jin Yuan. A disciple had died in defeat, yet rather than grieve, they were furious at him for disgracing the sect.

Ling Tian's expression was grim as well. The Xuanxiao Immortal Sect had come specifically to help, only to lose a Nascent Soul cultivator. This was definitely not a good thing.

What cultivation did that Ghost-Masked Cultivator actually possess? How had he learned the Xuanxiao Immortal Sect's sword art?

Now was not the time to think about that. Ling Tian immediately said, "Senior Brother Yan, Senior Brother Jin Yuan's nascent soul-"

Before he could finish, everyone saw Jin Yuan's nascent soul, enclosed in a sphere formed from Talismanic Rune Chains, flying swiftly toward Xie Xiyi.

Xie Xiyi landed beside Chi Yu. His fingers, pale as bone jade, closed around the black sphere, and he said to Chi Yu with a smile, "You can use this nascent soul to light a night lamp. You can't go stumbling around in the dark when you need the privy."