Chapter 305 - 274: Demon Cultivator Yann Nanshuang (2)

"Even if you relied on the power of a Magical Treasure, to unleash such Sword Dao Divine Techniques... Elder Miao, you certainly haven’t lived all these years in vain."

"...A Demon Cultivator!" Elder Miao’s face was grim, his mind racing.

"So you were the one pulling the strings all along!"

"That’s right." Yann Nanshuang nodded.

"Unfortunately."

"You found out too late."

As she spoke, she beckoned lightly. One by one, Walking Corpses emerged from all directions and closed in.

Although these Walking Corpses had tough hides, Elder Miao paid them no mind.

But,

"Yann Weiran!"

Elder Miao’s gaze fell on one of the Walking Corpses. The veins on the hand gripping his cane bulged, and his face twisted into a ferocious expression.

"You actually refined your own family’s Patriarch into a Walking Corpse!"

"So..."

"From the very beginning, when the Dao Foundation Cultivators on the island met their demise, it was you, controlling Yann Weiran, who did it. You intentionally stirred up internal strife within the Yunjing Commerce Association?"

"Correct." Yann Nanshuang clasped her hands behind her back and spoke leisurely.

"Yann Weiran failed to break through during his seclusion and became a Fallen Demon. I used a Secret Technique to refine him into a Walking Corpse so he could continue to serve the Yann Family. In a way, I fulfilled one of his wishes. Isn’t this the best of both worlds?"

"I am a Demon Cultivator. There is no place for me on Yunjing Island."

Sighing, Yann Nanshuang continued.

"Fortunately, the major families on the island are at odds with each other. The Fang and Sunx Families, in particular, have always wanted to replace the Yann Family."

"So..."

"I gave them a chance!"

"You controlled Yann Weiran to kill the Dao Foundation Cultivators on the island, causing the other families to grow suspicious of the Yann Family." Elder Miao’s thoughts spun rapidly as he spoke.

"You secretly pushed the major families to join forces against the Yann Family, and when the Yann Family was in a desperate situation, you proposed activating the Hundred-Change Prison Cage Array."

"Because once this array is active, Yunjing Island will fall into disarray, allowing you to spread your Walking Corpses and turn the entire island into a Demon Realm."

Everything clicked into place. Elder Miao sucked in a cold breath, his eyes filled with terror as he looked at her.

’Terrifying!’

’With her power alone, she provoked internal strife in the Yunjing Commerce Association and even planned to use an army of corpses to sweep across Yunjing Island.’

The key was,

although it seemed incredible, at this point, it was highly likely she could actually succeed.

Who could have imagined!

That the once delicate, charming, and courteous young junior of the Yann Family was playing such a grand game of chess?

CLAP... CLAP CLAP...

Yann Nanshuang clapped her hands lightly, her face filled with admiration. "As expected of Elder Miao. You haven’t missed a single detail!"

"If Yunjing Island doesn’t fall into chaos, with the island’s strength, killing a single Demon Cultivator like me would be effortless."

"And without the Hundred-Change Prison Cage Array, I couldn’t have expanded the number of Walking Corpses."

"Heh..."

She let out a light laugh.

"You brought all of this upon yourselves. If not for the greed in your hearts, my plan would never have worked."

"Why?" Elder Miao was still confused.

"You are also a member of the Yann Family. How can you just stand by and watch your own family members die one after another? Don’t you feel any pain at all?"

"Hee hee..." Yann Nanshuang chuckled softly.

"Elder Miao."

"I’m a Demon Cultivator!"

While Demon Cultivators didn’t necessarily have to sever all emotional ties, abandon their desires, and kill their loved ones, being cold and unfeeling was all too normal.

As long as the benefits were great enough, nothing was off the table.

Family?

Even blood relatives were no exception!

"Time’s about up."

Glancing at the surrounding Walking Corpses, Yann Nanshuang waved a delicate hand.

"I’ll see you on your way, Elder Miao."

"ROAR!"

The already impatient Yann Weiran let out a low roar and lunged at Elder Miao like a bolt of lightning, the other Walking Corpses swarming in right behind him.

Unbeknownst to many, the situation on Yunjing Island had changed.

While others were still fighting amongst themselves, they were unaware that a group of mutated corpses now held the absolute advantage.

Everything was shrouded in a thick fog.

*

*

*

「A cabin in the woods.」

Dong Ping and her two companions were gathered together.

Steam rose from the teapot, its lid rattling softly as the aroma of tea filled the air.

"When is your friend leaving?"

Cui Jin adjusted the heat of the stove and asked in a low voice.

"It’s been half a month. He’s just been wandering around nearby, so we can’t even do business."

"This can’t go on!"

"I don’t know either." Dong Ping shook her head with a bitter smile.

"He seems to be analyzing an array, trying to determine its orientation."

"A Tier Three Transformation Array? How could that be so easy to analyze?" Fanx Liren shook his head and spoke slowly.

"If he doesn’t leave, we can’t keep sheltering him forever. You should prepare yourself for what comes next."

Dong Ping’s expression froze.

She had actually anticipated this for a while. After all, the two men hadn’t made any effort to hide the greed in their eyes from her.

"Heh..." Seeing her reaction, Cui Jin chuckled.

"Are you two close?"

"Not really." Dong Ping shook her head.

"When Zhu Ju entered Yunjing Island, Guu Xinglan and I were the ones who assessed him. We’ve been in contact ever since he arrived."

"It’s mostly business. We see each other around."

"Oh!" Fanx Liren said thoughtfully.

"So you sell all the things you get from the Commerce Association to him? In that case, this Fellow Daoist Zhu must be quite wealthy."

"He only advanced to the Dao Foundation stage about twenty years ago, so his Cultivation can’t be that high," Cui Jin muttered, stroking his chin.

"But for me to sense danger from him, he must have some special item on him. Perhaps a..."

"Talisman Treasure?"

"Talisman Treasures are incredibly powerful. It wouldn’t be difficult for one to kill us, but it takes time to prepare one for use," Fanx Liren said.

"Fellow Daoist Dong..."

"How about you do it?"

Dong Ping’s hands trembled slightly, panic flickering in her eyes.

As an Inspector for the Yunjing Commerce Association for so many years, she had fought her fair share of battles and had plenty of Combat experience.

But when it came to striking down an acquaintance, she couldn’t help but hesitate.

"I’ll do it."

Cui Jin’s eyes glinted.

"My sense for danger is sharper, and if Fellow Daoist Dong makes a move, I’m afraid he might notice something is off."

Dong Ping gave a bitter smile.

Faced with their insistent stares, she could only nod helplessly.

In their eyes, a lone Dao Foundation Cultivator was a juicy piece of meat. Even knowing the risks, they couldn’t suppress their desire.

But before they made their move, they needed to reach a consensus. They couldn’t have Dong Ping suddenly backing out when the time came.

Half a month had been long enough for them to learn a bit about Zhu Ju.

"I’ll go get him."

Fanx Liren clapped his hands together, stood up, and glanced at Dong Ping.

"Don’t worry, we won’t do anything today."

Dong Ping sighed helplessly and slowly sat up straight. Although she felt reluctant, she knew she had no choice.

’If the three of us attack together in a sudden ambush, even if Zhu Ju has some special tricks, he won’t be able to escape death.’

’Fellow Daoist Zhu, rest in peace. I’ll be sure to build you a grave.’

Just then.

TAP...

Footsteps rang out.

"Huh?"

Fanx Liren, who had just stepped out the door, had a change of expression.

"Someone’s coming!"

And it wasn’t just one person, but more than a dozen. Their auras varied in strength, and there were several Dao Foundation Cultivators among them.

Among the crowd was a burly man in heavy armor, carrying a greatsword on his back. The ground trembled slightly with his every step.

"Sunx Tuo of the Sunx Family."

The trio’s expressions tensed.

This man was a standout of his generation in the Sunx Family. With his Mid-Stage Dao Foundation Cultivation, supplemented by his Body Refining Second Realm Hard Skill, and covered in Treasures, he could hold his own even against a Late-Stage Dao Foundation Cultivator.

"Fellow Daoist Sunx!"

Fanx Liren walked up to greet him with a smile.

"What brings you here at a time like this?"

"It’s you." Sunx Tuo recognized Fanx Liren as well, and his expression relaxed slightly.

"We ran into some bloodthirsty Tribulation Cultivators, and a group of Walking Corpses that appeared out of nowhere. We ended up here without realizing it."

"Yunjing Island right now..."

He shook his head with a bitter smile.

"Even I, who have lived here for nearly two hundred years, can get lost!"

"Please, sit." Fanx Liren hurriedly welcomed them.

"Everyone, have a seat. I’ll go make some tea."

"Wait!" Sunx Tuo held up a hand, his gaze fixed on Zhu Ju, who was walking toward them in the distance. His eyes narrowed.

"Zhu Ju?"

"That’s me." Zhu Ju cupped his hands in a salute.

"Fellow Daoist Sunx, it’s been a while."

"Indeed." Sunx Tuo nodded.

"I never thought I’d see you here. You protected Yann Ying’s descendant and killed my Sunx Family’s Guest Minister. Perfect. I’ll be taking your life now."

"You three!"

He turned and looked at Dong Ping and her two companions.

"Are you with him?"