Chapter 654 543: Palace-wide Manhunt for Pei Yuhang (2)

"I have a way to get you into the Inner Palace."

"As a Red Lotus Guard of the Holy Daughter, I am skilled in Illusion and Stealth Techniques. I can help disguise you as Cultivators from the Yin Yang Sacred Land.

That way, we can bring these three corpses with us and enter the Inner Palace ahead of schedule."

Hearing this, Qing Yueqiu's beautiful eyes lit up.

"Wonderful! If we can get into the Inner Palace early, not only can we rendezvous with Master sooner, but we can also gather more information about Grandmaster and Ji Shenyun!"

As someone who personally experienced the battle in the Endless Sea, Qing Yueqiu knew very well that Ji Shenyun and Yuan Tianming were the most difficult existences to deal with on this trip to the Abyssal Sea Palace.

But the fact that those two had yet to make a single move was not a good thing. On the contrary, it was an extremely dangerous sign.

Not knowing the enemy's whereabouts or objectives—that was the most terrifying part.

Lin Qianyan no longer hesitated. She said softly to Fan Xuan:

"Miss Fan, we'll be counting on you, then."

...

...

Meanwhile, Pei Yuhang and his group had also reached the edge of the outer labyrinth, on the verge of entering the Inner Palace.

Along the way, they noticed that the signs of battle and bloodstains were becoming more and more frequent, yet they hadn't found a single body.

Pei Yuhang felt that something was wrong.

"Everyone, be careful. Someone might be collecting the bodies, or perhaps guiding everyone to kill each other. In any case, something unexpected has likely happened in the Inner Palace."

Shang Miaoyan was silent for a moment before asking softly, "Should we grab someone to interrogate? I can perform a Soul Search."

Sensing Pei Yuhang's slightly repulsed gaze, Shang Miaoyan changed her tune. "Alright, I know you don't like the methods of the Demon Dao. I was just kidding.

With a little Charm Technique, I can make them spill everything they know."

Pei Yuhang considered it for a moment, then finally nodded.

They were currently lacking information, which was bad news. Pei Yuhang couldn't let Senior Sister Lu and Xiaoxiao fall into grave danger.

After Pei Yuhang and the group of beauties waited for a while, they finally heard the sound of footsteps approaching from a distance.

A group of people slowly approached from a fork in the path. Each of them was carrying a corpse dressed in the same Sect uniform as their own.

Upon seeing Pei Yuhang and the group of Fairies, they were first stunned by their beauty, then became wary.

"Fellow Daoists, we're not from the same Sect. Why are you blocking our path?"

Pei Yuhang was a little confused. Seeing that he seemed unaware of the Inner Palace's new rules, the leader of the opposing group began to explain without waiting for Shang Miaoyan to act.

When he learned that the Inner Palace had been occupied by three infamous old Demons—the Sect Leader of the Celestial Killer Sect, the Sect Leader of the Blood Shadow Sect, and the True Monarch of Ten Thousand Dragons Mountain—Pei Yuhang had a bad feeling.

These three great figures of the Demon Dao were all old monsters at the Mahayana Stage. Any one of them could stir up a storm across the world if they appeared. To make matters worse, the Young Sect Leader of the Blood Shadow Sect had died at his hands...

"Fellow Daoist, if there's nothing else, let's part ways here. After all, we don't need to hunt each other. There's no reason for a pointless confrontation, right?"

The old Cultivator leading the other group said in a low voice.

Pei Yuhang nodded and slowly stepped aside to let them pass.

But the instant his gaze moved away from them, the old Cultivator shot out a small, scarlet arrow. The arrow was coated with a deadly poison, potent enough to threaten a Divinity Transformation expert.

Here in the Abyssal Sea Palace, where everyone's Cultivation was suppressed to around the Golden Core Realm, it was a guaranteed kill!

But then came the sound of metal striking metal.

The old Cultivator's eyes widened as he saw that the small arrow he controlled had been sliced in two by Pei Yuhang's sword.

Seeing them dare to attack Pei Yuhang, Ji Xichan and Yu Xiaoyan instantly drew the Spirit Swords at their waists, glaring fiercely at their opponents like lion cubs with their fur on end.

"Old man, didn't you already kill your own sect members to get a 'Pass' for the Inner Palace? Why attack me?"

The old Cultivator's face was grim. "Because you're dressed in dashing white robes, and you're so handsome it's unnatural—even more beautiful than a Fairy!"

"You can't hide such obvious features.

You dared to kill the Young Sect Leader of the Blood Shadow Sect. Did you know that the Sect Leader, Blood River True Monarch, has put out a warrant for your arrest throughout the entire Palace?!"

Pei Yuhang was silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke. "You only know that I killed Yao Feng. Did you not know that Sect Leader Zhang of the Tianya Blade Association couldn't even withstand a single one of my strikes?

It seems you're nothing more than cannon fodder being used by someone else."

The old Cultivator's eyes widened. The next moment, a dazzling, blindingly cold light surged toward him, blotting out the sky.

A moment later, Pei Yuhang sheathed his sword.

Yu Xiaoyan immediately ran to Pei Yuhang's side, cheering.

"As expected of Master! The world's number one Sword Immortal is so cool!"

Shang Miaoyan also got up and walked over. Taking advantage of the fact that the souls hadn't completely dissipated from the corpses, she began to perform a Soul Search to retrieve their memories.

Standing at the very back, Ji Xichan glanced at Pei Yuhang, then at the bodies littering the ground, feeling a little dejected.

'In our little group right now, it seems everyone has value except for me.

Shang Miaoyan has all sorts of Secret Techniques for gathering intelligence, Lu Ruoxi can perform Alchemy, and Pei Yuhang can kill enemies and even replenish their Spiritual Qi.

Even Yu Xiaoyan can run over after a fight and shower him with praise, providing emotional support. But I can't bring myself to do that...'

Now, Ji Xichan felt that by Pei Yuhang's side, she was completely useless and was just being protected!

This left her, with her immense pride, feeling terrible... She had been separated from Pei Yuhang for so long and had been desperate to prove herself.

As if sensing Ji Xichan's low spirits, Pei Yuhang said to her in a low voice:

"You want to fight, too?"

Ji Xichan was silent for a moment before replying, "Pei Sword Immortal can handle everything with ease. Where would I be needed?"

Pei Yuhang pressed his lips together, then suddenly smiled. "I will need your help later."

"At the Golden Core Realm, you're the strongest one here besides me. If I'm temporarily trapped by an enemy, I'll need to entrust Xiaoxiao and Senior Sister Lu to your care."

Ji Xichan didn't speak, but she nodded.

Just then, Shang Miaoyan suddenly walked over.

Her expression was grim, her beautiful eyes filled with worry.

"This is bad, Ah Han. Those people just now already sent a message to their companions in the Inner Palace using a special Secret Technique."

"Our position has been exposed."

...

...

「In the Inner Palace.」

In an extremely spacious, secret chamber, several Cultivators were gathered. Each one was an infamous Demon Cultivator in the outside world.

The reason they had been able to seize the Inner Palace ahead of the experts from the Righteous Forces was—

These old Demons had received help from Yuan Tianming.

Or rather, they had made a deal with Yuan Tianming.

"With the blood mist as a threat, we've lured Cultivators from every Sect to hunt their own and turn in the corpses as the price of admission to the Inner Palace to escape the mist.

We've already collected over a thousand Cultivator corpses. Take them to Yuan Tianming, and while you're at it, remind him not to forget our agreement."

The Sect Leader of the Celestial Killer Sect, Profound Evil True Monarch, spoke slowly.

"Alright, this meeting is adjourned."

"Wait—"

A gloomy, pale-skinned man sitting next to Profound Evil True Monarch suddenly spoke up. His eyes narrowed as he said in a low voice:

"I just received word. The White-clothed Sword Immortal who killed my grandson has been found."

"I now ask all of you, fellow Daoists, to join me in executing this fiend!"

"After it's done, whether it be Divine Techniques, spiritual pills and elixirs, or beautiful women—whatever can be given, my Blood Shadow Sect will spare no effort to provide."

Profound Evil True Monarch frowned slightly and said in a grave tone:

"Blood River Old Ghost, can't you deal with him yourself?"

Blood River True Monarch shook his head. "Zhang Qulai fought him before and didn't even survive a single strike.

Although Yuan Tianming has boosted our Cultivation within the Abyssal Sea Palace, it's still not safe for me to go alone."

"Besides—according to my investigation, this Pei Yuhang is Yuan Tianming's personal disciple.

We still can't trust that old fox. If we can capture his disciple, we might have another card to play."