Schemes

The cultivator who asked the question was none other than the Golden Core cultivator who had accompanied the now-deceased Shu Yuanjiang.

At this moment, the senior monk showed no sign of grief, but his question was extremely serious.

Upon hearing the question, Fei Dongwen, who was standing beside Fei Ye Shui, pondered for a moment before replying calmly, "Fellow Daoist Shu, please don't be offended. When this official was imprisoned, Grand Eunuch Wei happened to be visiting the office. He valued talent and specially ordered that his life be spared temporarily, pending his later transfer to the Liangxi border. That's why the supervisor didn't take any action."

"A mere False Core, what future does he have?! What talk of treasuring talent!" The upper cultivator of the Shu Household looked grim as he stared at the sword-wielding cultivator on the Mirage Qi Screen, his heart filled with resentment. However, once Fei Dongwen uttered the words "Grand Eunuch Wei," he dared not utter another word.

The cultivators present had been practicing for many years and were mostly indifferent in nature. Therefore, regardless of whether they knew about the grudges between the two sides, they did not take the reaction of the Shu Household cultivator to heart at the moment.

Fei Shuhe stood with her two sons in a corner of the Jade Hall. She was somewhat relieved to see that Kang Dabao were gaining the upper hand in their battle against the old man with the braided hair. However, she became nervous again as soon as she saw the reaction of the Shu Household's Golden Core cultivator after the sword-wielding cultivator entered the arena.

Kang Changxi had complete confidence in his father, showing no sign of worry. However, he did not expect that after only a few breaths, the scene in the Mirage Qi Screen would change, startling him and Kang Changyi beside him, who almost cried out in alarm along with Fei Shuhe.

With a clang, the halberd and the blade collided heavily. As Master Sect Leader Kang Da caught Slaughter and Extermination, a tingling sensation spread through his palm. As his tiger's mouth split open, bright red blood gushed out, soaking the thick soil beneath his feet into a purplish-black color.

Kang Dabao sensed something was wrong, but remained calm. The Spiritual Qi from the "Profound Clear Withering and Flourishing Secret Manual" within his body circulated back to the acupoints in his palm, and the tiger's mouth on his right hand quickly scabbed over.

The Primeval Spirit Body is indeed not an ordinary body-refining method. However, after a few more breaths, the black scab on the tiger 'Sect Leader Kang Da was broken by new skin, and the discomfort immediately stopped.

A hint of surprise appeared on the face of the man holding Cui Wuyang's weapon.

The person who could make even Kang Dabao suffer a slight setback was someone that the clerk of the Demon Correction Office had emphasized beforehand. The swordsman in front of him was called Cui Wuyang, and he was indeed from a poor and lowly background.

However, after Ice Leaf Dao Foundation a hundred years ago as Rogue Cultivator, he gained the favor of the Great Wei Imperial Guard.

Before he committed a crime and went to prison, he had already risen to the position of deputy general in the Thousand Ox Guard, commanding a battalion, a position second only to the rank of Shangxiu.

However, for some unknown reason, Cui Wuyang offended some powerful figure. Not only were the Core Formation artifacts he acquired switched by someone, causing his Dao heart to be in turmoil, but he also ended up forming a False Core.

He was later imprisoned for his crimes, going from a high-ranking official in the Immortal Dynasty to a lowly convict, a truly lamentable situation.

The Sect Leader Kang Da had no time to lament for the person before him. Seeing that the old monk with the braid had given up the idea of escaping after Cui Wuyang entered, the black arrow in his hand emitted a bright light again, almost piercing Fei Wanqing's beautiful face.

Fei Nanyi was naturally going to save him. His Thunder Method had consumed a great deal of energy, and even with the help of the Restore Spirit Pill, its power was not as great as it was at the beginning. The old cultivator with the braided hair was naturally able to control it.

The air was scorching hot from the thunderstorm. The old man with braided hair gripped the black arrow with his thin, withered fingers, easily dispersing the lightning in front of him. Then, the arrow's shaft emitted a viscous black light, corroding the surrounding gravel into dust.

With another whoosh, Fei Nanyi formed a hand seal to block it, and the lightning emanating from the talisman in his hands became even more dazzling.

However, the old man with the braided hair did not hold back in this attack either. The black arrow easily pierced through the lightning, and a large area of black light eroded outward, suppressing the lightning in the arena and making it disappear in an instant.

With a "bang," a mysterious light emanated from the single horn on Fei Nanyi's head, finally blocking the tip of the black arrow, but his Movement Method was torn to shreds by the gale.

Even though his bare back was covered in bloodstains, Fei Nanyi still held onto the Thunder Incantation, refusing to retreat even a step. With his life on the line, he finally managed to knock the black arrow back.

The old man with the braided hair showed a look of surprise and doubt. He felt that the black arrow he had just picked up was also extremely hot. His palm skin tore open and blood flowed out like a thread.

After fighting for so long, his spiritual power was exhausted, and with just this one pause, Fei Nanyi seized the opportunity to exploit his weakness.

"Boom--"

Fei Nanyi cleaved down with his fingers, and a blue-purple lightning bolt, like a poisonous dragon piercing the clouds, suddenly fell, only to twist abruptly three inches from the old man with the braided hair.

The latter, of course, would not sit idly by and wait for death. The old cultivator with the braided hair gathered the little spiritual power he had left and channeled it into the tip of the black arrow, creating a vortex of black mist that actually twisted the violent arc of lightning into tiny stars.

Gusts of wind lifted the old cultivator's braid, bringing a hint of joy to his face. "Is this all the skill they have from outside? If so, then this whetstone of mine will break their blades today!"

The old man with the braided hair let out a hoarse laugh, which was accompanied by a stench of blood. He flicked his fingers into a sword shape, and with a single stroke, the gleaming black arrowhead was already aimed at Fei Nanyi's brow.

As the fierce winds swept in, the solid ground beneath Fei Nanyi suddenly sank again.

Fei Nanyi frowned, and spiritual light rose from his feet, narrowly avoiding the attack. However, at this moment, the old cultivator with the braided hair's Law Treasure arrived, Fei Nanyi could not withstand it with just his horn and the Xuan Seal. He was knocked down.

He felt a burning sensation in his throat, and as he spat out a mist of blood, his boots were covered in sticky, foul-smelling mud.

Before Fei Nanyi could react, he saw the blood mist he had vomited floating in mid-air, being scorched into crimson steam by the remaining lightning and fire.

The old monk with the braided hair changed his hand seals again, and the black arrow that had just been so fierce instantly transformed into nine phantoms that blocked off all directions. The yin and foul energy trailing behind the arrows condensed into chains, which were about to bind Fei Nanyi was still chanting Hand Seals hand seals.

Fei Wanqing turned pale and hurriedly used her flying sword to save him. The old man with the braided hair was already confident of victory and naturally did not want to cause any further trouble.

This old man had lived for nearly sixty years and was indeed extremely decisive. He then used the tip of his left palm as a blade to flatly slice off the knuckle of his right little finger.

With a puff of his mouth, a wisp of black smoke swept over his knuckles, transforming them into a tall, white skeleton wielding a sword and shield, which then fought alongside Fei Wanqing.

The old cultivator's use of this technique also severely damaged his vital energy, and he visibly weakened. The skeletal figure wielding the sword and shield was clearly no match for Fei Wanqing; after only a few exchanges, he was...

However, at this moment, he was somewhat excited, because if he could really capture these juniors sent in by the external cultivators for training, there might be another way out.

He was already nearing the end of his life, and his lifespan was also running out, but he did not want to have his mind worn down and be forced to go to Liangxi to fight against the endless hordes of Demon Beasts.

Fei Nanyi showed no fear, and the single horn on his head emitted a mysterious light again, finally managing to temporarily stop the old man with braided hair from using his magic Law Treasure.

However, the latter seemed to have a do-or-die mentality. The old man with the braided hair strode closer, stepping through the cracks in the ground. With each step, the ground was turned into mud by the black light.

The yin and foul energy emanating from the tail of the black arrow seemed inexhaustible, tearing at Fei Nanyi's Protect Body, which was already showing signs of collapse.

However, the latter showed no sign of panic. In terms of ability, he was no match for the top-tier False Core cultivator, the old man with the braided hair. But after all, the latter had been locked in the Xiezhi Dark Prison for nearly twenty years. Even if his strength was still there, he had lost all his foundation and did not even have a single Restore Spirit Pill, so it was difficult for him to last.

Fei Nanyi had thought it through clearly. If he and his nephew could withstand the old man's fiercest three blows, there might be a chance to turn the tide and win—provided that nothing unexpected happened with Kang Dabao.

Sect Leader Kang Da clearly saw the situation on the field. The old man with the braid was shrewd, and it was already remarkable that the Fei Household uncle and nephew could hold on alone. The key to breaking the deadlock was not elsewhere, but between himself and Cui Wuyang.

Cui Wuyang stood with his High Antiquity, his face calm and composed, the blade gleaming with a spiritual light, the swirling winds cutting through the cracked earth with a rustling sound.

Kang Dabao's expression turned serious. He knew that Cui Wuyang had been taught a Zhou Grade Upper-Grade Swordsmanship called "Udumbara Flower Nirvana Sword" when he was in the Imperial Guard. Like Jiang Qing, he often Core Thesis and was considered a prodigy of his time.

What's even more remarkable is that, according to the Demon Correction Office Division, Cui Wuyang has already grasped the True Intention of it and touched the edge of the Sword Essence.

The Swordsmanship "Udumbara Flower Nirvana Sword" is favored by high-ranking cultivators in the Great Wei Imperial Guard, which must be due to its unique qualities. This Swordsmanship emphasizes the three realms of "true sword, like a sword, and Wujian".

At the beginner level, one only learns the form of Swordsmanship and comprehends the profound mysteries of the moves. While the Swordsmanship is still sharp and formidable in power, it Lower Vehicle.

Once one reaches the state of "like a sword," everything becomes a sword. At first, one uses knives, halberds, clubs, and other weapons as swords. When one reaches a higher level, even flying flowers and falling leaves can become swords, with no loss of power.

Once one cultivates to the state of "Wujian," that is the Sword Essence Great Accomplishment. Even True Person would be invited to sit down and discuss the Dharma with one another.

However, while this sword manual is tempting and considered an excellent ingredient for cultivating Sword Essence, few scions of wealthy families study it. This is because the "Udumbara Flower Nirvana Sword" is known for emphasizing comprehension over resources, and mastering it requires much more hard work than other Cultivation Method.

Therefore, even though this Swordsmanship is relatively easy to obtain, those who practice it are mostly poor children like Cui Wuyang who have some talent and perseverance. Without the help of resources or the support of elders, they can only rely on hard work and dedication to earn a bright future.

At this moment, Cui Wuyang used his saber as a sword, which meant he had already glimpsed the threshold of Sword Essence, just like Jiang Qing back then, and could become a guest of honor for those cultivating to the Golden Core stage. Given the cautious nature of Sect Leader Kang Da, he naturally dared not underestimate him in the slightest.

The halberd clashed with the blade, and Sect Leader Kang Da was forced back several steps, deep cracks appearing beneath his feet. This was yet another test of Cui Wuyang's extraordinary strength.

What's even more remarkable is that even when he had the upper hand, he didn't make any rash moves. Instead, he stood there cautiously with his knife, revealing an unusually cautious nature.

Kang Dabao was naturally familiar with this. Indeed, people like him, who rose from humble beginnings, were used to this when engaging in magical duels. The saying "thinking of defeat before victory, and of loss before gain" perfectly encapsulates the impoverished and shrewish nature of such people, which is quite glaring and offensive.

Moreover, regardless of their skill level, these types of individuals rarely make mistakes, which is why Sect Leader Kang Da doesn't particularly enjoy fighting against them.

However, at this moment, there was no way to avoid it. Kang Dabao's hands did not hesitate. With a flick of his Slaughter and Extermination, a large area of black flames roared out again. The rolling heat wave completely eroded everything in the flames, but it was suddenly cut in two by a bright light.

"That's really sharp!"

Kang Dabao neither dodged nor avoided, but instead went against the grain, facing the light with his halberd in hand. However, as he took a step, the golden light in his eyes also shone brightly, and the two golden rays collided directly with the incoming sword light. They were not at a disadvantage, and after a few breaths of stalemate, Kang Dabao even gained the upper hand over the sword light.

Even the Sect Leader Kang Da could see the sudden look of surprise in Cui Wuyang's eyes. However, his spiritual light did not stop for a moment. He stepped forward and slid his halberd down towards Cui Wuyang's head.

The latter remained calm, making no surprising moves as usual, simply raising his knife to block.

The weapon, though a knife, contained the intent of a sword, causing Kang Dabao's hand to tremble. A burning sensation spread through half of his body's meridians, indicating that he had already suffered damage. The pain came suddenly and intensely, almost causing the Slaughter and Extermination to drop his hand.

However, this also stirred up the ruthlessness in Sect Leader Kang Da's bones. He simply ignored his injuries and let Slaughter and Extermination fall to the ground, causing Cui Wuyang, who had been calm on the other side, to raise an eyebrow in surprise.

Then, an unstoppable force shot out from Kang Dabao's fists. Before Cui Wuyang could react, he saw that the former's fists were already close to his eyebrows.

"What's this fellow's background? How come he comes out with such a ruthless, life-or-death approach? Where's the slightest hint of noble pride?!"

In an instant, Cui Wuyang abandoned his offensive strategy. He valued his own life and chose to temporarily avoid the attack. He used his footwork to its fullest extent to barely evade the ferocious blow of the Eight Wastelands Suppress the Mountain.

When Sect Leader Kang Da's fists landed on empty air, they smashed a huge crater in the ground. Amidst the dust and the difficulty of seeing, the two of them simultaneously attacked again.

Kang Dabao's eyes shone brightly with Golden Light. Cui Wuyang's weapon was sharp and unstoppable. After one strike, the battle ended in a draw.

Cui Wuyang, who had already distanced himself from the attacker, looked even more surprised and thought to himself, "This fellow's methods are no less than those of that little bald monk from Original Response Temple."

In truth, he might be even more cunning than that little bald monk, and perhaps Golden Core seed from some major sect? In that case, he might be more valuable than the two from the Fei Household. If we could capture him safely, we could use him as leverage.

The thought had barely formed in Cui Wuyang's mind when his hand formed a hand seal. At this crucial moment in the battle, the usually taciturn man finally uttered his first word. "Break!"

Kang Dabao heard a sound like metal clashing, seemingly coming from the throat of the person in front of him, before he spun around and unleashed a hundred sharp beams of light.

This strike was clearly extremely strenuous. Fine sweat beaded on Cui Wuyang's forehead, and his knuckles were shattered. As his skin and flesh tore open, several drops of blood splattered out. The pain made his face turn solemn, and he let out a long breath.

The swordsmanship that could cause such depletion of the False Core must be extraordinary. Kang Dabao felt as if the sharp light was accompanied by the weeping of ghosts and gods when it struck. If his Divine Sense had not been far stronger than that of others of the same level, his spiritual platform might have been damaged at this moment.

Faced with the sharp light, Sect Leader Kang Da didn't hesitate and immediately summoned the secondhand talisman he had just acquired. The azure light shield had only just taken shape and could only withstand the light for a few breaths before it was shattered by the beams of sharp light.

Kang Dabao seemed to have anticipated this, but he remained calm, simply unleashing several more Golden Light to block. Cui Wuyang's methods had already been somewhat weakened by the talisman, so Kang Dabao was able to barely manage to block them.

The former had foreseen that this Aristocratic Clan nobleman would possess a protective treasure, but he had not anticipated that the young man's pupil technique would be so astonishing.

He had served in the Imperial Guard and guarded the Imperial Palace, so his experience was certainly not shallow. But in terms of pupil techniques alone, he felt that the skill of the tall and imposing man in front of him was probably comparable to that of some of the top-ranking instructors in the Imperial Guard.

You must understand that they were all highly skilled cultivators who had reached the mid-to-late stages of cultivation. Even within the Imperial Guard, they were considered among the most prominent figures, far beyond the reach of ordinary people.

"This man's background is probably extraordinary, perhaps even comparable to that little bald monk from Original Response Temple." Cui Wuyang's eyes suddenly became visibly burning.

Even if he were framed and his Dao Path cut off, he is not yet two hundred years old. If he could gain freedom, he would truly be willing to give up anything.

He had just had a hasty battle with Funeng, and after hearing the latter mention his background and origins, he felt a bit more relaxed. He could only muster seventy percent of his true strength, and after a few exchanges, they tacitly parted ways.

But now that he had made up his mind and understood the situation, he wanted to capture the younger generation in the arena to find a way out. However, just as this thought came to mind, Cui Wuyang saw the Sect Leader Kang Da take several Restore Spirit Pills.

Even someone as powerful as Sect Leader Kang Da, after a fierce battle with someone like Cui Wuyang, would find his spiritual energy insufficient in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. It was nothing like fighting someone of the same level, which was as easy as killing a chicken or a dog.

After witnessing this scene, Cui Wuyang checked his own spiritual energy and found it to be completely depleted. The Bing Six Prison Chamber was truly a dead end; even a trace of spiritual energy had to be captured from the air for a long time before it could be absorbed.

The imposing man before him was no ordinary opponent. Cui Wuyang's cautious mind kicked in again. After weighing the pros and cons, he realized that continuing the fight would be unsustainable, and the eagerness in his eyes gradually faded.

"It's best to return to the central area of the prison and plan carefully before we have a real chance of winning."

However, Cui Wuyang did not make any move, but instead looked at the old man with the braid.

The battlefield had also changed. The white bone puppet formed from the braided old man's finger joints was no match for Fei Wanqing's flying sword and had now been reduced to dust by the Azure Firmament Pure Heart Sword.

Having already revealed all his cards and finding it difficult to continue, the old man with the braided hair had no choice but to abandon Fei Nanyi, who was on the verge of collapse under the weight of the filthy chains, and divert his attention to deal with Fei Wanqing.

"You stubborn brute, I told you long ago to come and join us, so you wouldn't end up like the Tong He, picked off one by one and having your souls taken away. But this fool, because of some minor squabble in this godforsaken place, refused to listen to me. In that case, it's truly deserved that you suffer this calamity today!"

Cui Wuyang was indeed decisive. He only regretted that he arrived a step too late and failed to join forces with the old man with the braided hair. Since a complete victory was hard to come by, he no longer lingered. He simply launched another attack, blocking the Sect Leader Kang Da in place, and then walked away with a gentle breeze.

However, this commotion could not be kept secret from the other cultivators present, including the old cultivator with the braided hair.

Knowing he was being treated as a scapegoat, the old man with the braided hair gave a bitter smile, showing no surprise. But in that moment of bitter smile, he suddenly pulled the black arrow away from Fei Nanyi's Protect Body and turned it towards Fei Wanqing's vital points, who was being vigorously attacked.

"Haha, this girl? She thinks she's worthy of being used as a wand sharpener?! I'll take her down with me, she'll be perfect for warming my bed!!"

However, the old man with the braided hair did not expect that the two Golden Light were faster than his black arrow. Just as the black arrow struck down Fei Wanqing's flying sword, the arrow tail was also grazed by the Golden Light.

Not only did all the filth and Evil Qi dissipate, but the black arrow also became so exhausted that it veered off course.

In addition, Fei Wanqing was quick and her footwork, which she had been taught since childhood, was already very familiar with, which is why she barely survived.

However, the spiritual restraints on her chest robes were easily torn by the arrows. As the Sect Leader Kang Da rushed over, he heard the sound of brocade tearing. Without even looking closely, he could see a plump, snow-white body breaking free.

Unfortunately, this identity and timing were both inappropriate. Despite her breathtaking beauty, Kang Dabao had no time to pay attention to her and joined Fei Nanyi, who had broken free of the filthy chains and whose face was pale.

From the moment that old man with the braided hair chose to switch his Law Treasure, he had no chance of winning. Sect Leader Kang Da coveted his flesh Essence Blood, but he suddenly made his move before Fei Nanyi could unleash his fury again.

His halberd technique has indeed grasped some of the True Intention "The Halberd-wielding Military Strategy of the Wood Palace Star Lord". While he may not have reached the pinnacle of mastery, he can certainly control it with ease.

The halberd flashed out, splitting into two, each striking one of the braided old cultivator's ears. The latter's spiritual power was insufficient even to maintain his Law Treasure. He lightly made a hand seal, but his body, which should have fled, remained motionless. He could only manage a bitter laugh as he watched helplessly as the halberd flash entered his ear, turning the yellow and white inside his skull into a pulp.

It is truly lamentable that three hundred years of cultivation have turned to dust.

Afterwards, Sect Leader Kang Da abandoned his humble and subservient demeanor from when he was away, and directly hooked the old cultivator's soul into the purple jade alms bowl. As for the latter's remains, he took them along with all his belongings for future use.

Even when facing Fei Kang Dabao Fei Nanyi showed no humility. The latter was slightly surprised, but did not show much concern. He simply pulled Fei Wanqing, who had just finished tidying up, over to thank her as well.

Given Sect Leader Kang Da's personality, he naturally declined repeatedly, not daring to reveal even the slightest hint of seeking favors in return.

"In my opinion, the prisoners in these cells are likely to cause some trouble!" After thanking him, Fei Nanyi spoke again. Sect Leader Kang Da, filled with suspicion, suppressed even the slight joy he felt at obtaining the barbarian cultivator's bloodline and asked:

"What does Uncle mean?"

"This Cui Wuyang has always acted alone, and even his fellow imperial guards find it difficult to get close to him. Why would he come to help a barbarian cultivator of unknown origin for no reason?"

As soon as Fei Nanyi said this, Kang Dabao also felt something was wrong. In addition, as the days went by, the prisoners in the jail became increasingly rare, which was quite strange.

"Don't take it too seriously, Da Bao. Those clowns can't do anything respectable." Seeing that Sect Leader Kang Da frowned, Fei Nanyi comforted him again.

The three of them didn't say much, each taking a healing pill to prepare for the next move.

Cui Wuyang Swift Movement to the central area of the prison. There was a Magnet Mountain there, which naturally formed a barrier that was safer than any outside cultivators could spy on. It was the only safe place in the Bing Six Prison Chamber and Cui Wuyang regarded it as his lair.

He was the most accomplished cultivator in the Bing Six Prison Chamber. In the past, apart from that old monk with a braid, no one had ever tried to compete with him for this seemingly special but actually useless place.

When Cui Wuyang arrived, Magnet Mountain was much more lively than usual. It was crowded with prisoners, each of whom was of questionable skill, but all of them looked gloomy and full of hatred.

The Daoist priest had no intention of exchanging a single word with these lackeys. He passed through the crowd of people and arrived at a quiet room.

Inside was a grotesque, pot-bellied young man with Daoist, demonic, and Buddhist runes painted on his face. He sat before a long black curtain in a boiling pool of blood, looking extremely eerie.

"Senior Cui is back? Did you manage to save that old man Wu Baofu?" The pot-bellied youth spoke in a childlike voice, which was extremely eerie.

Seeing that Cui Wuyang's face was ashen and he did not agree, the pot-bellied youth did not bother to ask any further. He simply lifted the long curtain behind him, revealing a person hanging upside down inside, and said with a faint smile, "Senior Cui, don't be impatient. If we can gather a few more people of this caliber, after Core Formation here, we will be able to gain a sliver of hope."