Chapter 465 - 463: End of the Road

Chapter 465: Chapter 463: End of the Road

At this moment,

everyone was gathered here.

They gazed at the scene before them, their pupils constricting.

The Li Family of Heaven’s End Valley had no fewer than thirty members in the Soul Emergence Realm.

But now,

all thirty-plus of them lay dead here!

Their bodies, as if drained of all blood and Essence Qi, had been reduced to withered corpses.

"This must be some kind of Demon Secret Technique!"

Gu Xuanqing’s figure descended. He crouched down to carefully inspect the withered corpses on the ground, examining their wounds in detail before speaking, his voice grave.

"The Magical Power and Vitality of over thirty Soul Emergence Realm Cultivators have been completely drained. What in the world is that person trying to do?!"

A hint of worry surfaced on Gu Xuanqing’s face.

Among the corpses of the Li Family Members,

the figure of Patriarch Li, Li Changzun, was nowhere to be found.

This meant he was almost certainly the one responsible for this massacre.

"Such methods... this is the desperate struggle of a cornered beast, a final, death-defying strike!"

Meanwhile,

Jian Wuheng remarked in a low voice,

and even someone as proud as him now wore a grave expression.

He did not know what Li Changzun planned to do,

nor what kind of Demon Secret Technique had caused the scene before them.

But any power gained by draining the Magical Power and Vitality of over thirty Soul Emergence Realm Demon Cultivators

would be incredibly strong!

This had to be the enemy’s all-or-nothing, final act of defiance!

Every hunter knows

that a beast backed into a corner is the most dangerous of all!

"Why don’t we call it off? This is the Li Family’s den, after all. Who knows what other traps lie deeper within."

"A great family with an eight-hundred-year legacy is bound to have some tricks up its sleeve."

"Besides, if that Li Changzun, or the Li Family Ancestor, uses this unknown Demon Secret Technique to drastically increase their power, and we fall into a trap deep in their territory, I fear we won’t even be able to escape!"

Patriarch Ouyang’s brow furrowed.

He pondered for a moment before offering his suggestion.

"Our current objectives are basically complete."

"The Li Family is finished. Even with Li Changzun and that Ninth Layer Soul Emergence Li Family Ancestor remaining, the two of them alone can’t pose much of a threat."

"Furthermore, the power gained from a Demon Secret Technique is almost always temporary."

"We just need to seal off Heaven’s End Valley for a while. Once their power fades, we can move in and finish them off. That would undoubtedly be much safer!"

"It’s like with a cornered beast. The best time for us to strike is after it has exhausted its strength from struggling!"

Patriarch Ouyang was clearly intent on retreating.

In fact, even five days ago,

he hadn’t been keen on attacking Heaven’s End Valley.

Now, seeing this scene, a sense of unease grew even stronger in his heart.

’For Li Changzun to dare pay such a price,’

’he must be confident he can turn the tables with it!’

’Our own strength is completely exposed, yet the enemy is still mounting this desperate counterattack.’

’A last-ditch struggle from someone at the end of their rope...’

’...is not going to be weak!’

’It’s better to be cautious.’

As he spoke,

Patriarch Ouyang looked toward Gu Xuanqing, Jian Wuheng, and Shen Changchuan.

Among their group, only the four of them had the authority to make the decision.

Gu Xuanqing had a thoughtful expression and seemed swayed.

Jian Wuheng was silent.

He didn’t really mind either way.

However, he wasn’t a complete battle maniac, and the current situation made him sense the danger as well.

He, too, was leaning toward Patriarch Ouyang’s suggestion.

Finally,

the group turned their eyes to Shen Changchuan.

Shen Changchuan’s expression was hesitant and pensive.

But very quickly,

the light in his eyes became firm with resolve!

"Seniors, I want to go and investigate!"

Shen Changchuan gave his resolute answer.

All this way,

he hadn’t found any trace of the Flying Heaven-Splitting Spirit Ant.

With all these Li Family higher-ups dead here and their Storage Bags missing,

the only remaining clue

had to be on Patriarch Li, Li Changzun, or perhaps that ancestor of the Li Family!

The Flying Heaven-Splitting Spirit Ant was related to the Void Escape Gu.

It was also crucial to his future plans.

It even concerned his opportunity to advance to the Divine Travel Realm!

He absolutely could not let it go!

What’s more,

it wasn’t as if he was completely without support.

’With the trump card my master gave me, my safety is more or less guaranteed.’

’The path of Immortal Cultivation is fraught with hardships and crises. If I don’t even dare to face a little danger, how can I ever have the confidence to climb to greater heights?’

’Time waits for no one!’

The stakes were too high.

Even knowing there was potential danger,

Shen Changchuan had to take this risk.

...

「Half a day later.」

The forbidden grounds deep within the Li Family estate.

Led by Gu Xuanqing, Jian Wuheng, Patriarch Ouyang, and Shen Changchuan,

the dozen or so Soul Emergence Late Stage Cultivators on this expedition had all gathered here.

Evidently,

Shen Changchuan had ultimately convinced everyone,

allowing them to press deeper.

However, although they continued the pursuit,

they were wary of being ambushed.

Haunted by the scene in the main hall—a result of that vicious Demonic Secret Technique—

they proceeded with extreme caution,

remaining on high alert for anything in their surroundings.

As a result, their pursuit was incredibly slow.

It had taken them half a day just to reach the depths of the Li Family’s forbidden grounds.

Fortunately,

they had finally found their target!

However,

the scene that now lay before them

made everyone who had pursued them this far freeze in their tracks.

Before them

stood a platform eighty or ninety feet high,

built from massive, blood-colored bricks of an unknown material.

At the center of its peak,

the Ninth Layer Soul Emergence Li Family Ancestor, who had previously fought Jian Wuheng, was bound to a cross. His flowing blood had stained the massive crucifix crimson.

Patriarch Li, Li Changzun, stood on the platform, facing the bound Li Family Ancestor, his actions unclear.

Everyone present exchanged glances.

But one thing was certain:

the massacre of the Li Family Members in the main hall was undoubtedly the work of this Li Changzun.

"Li Changzun! Your Li Family has been defeated! Surrender now!"

Gu Xuanqing was the first to step forward,

shouting sharply at Li Changzun ahead.

"Heh heh..."

Li Changzun let out a cold laugh,

his shoulders shaking.

He turned his head to look back at them.

"If you had arrived a quarter of an hour sooner, I might have actually considered surrendering..."

"But unfortunately for you, now *you’re* the ones who should be considering surrender!"

Without another word,

Li Changzun waved his hand.

In that instant,

RIP!

On the head of the bound Li Family Ancestor, a large bulge swelled up. Then, a fist-sized ant—jet-black with markings that shimmered like gilded gold—tore through the flesh and brutally burrowed its way out!

HISS!

The golden-patterned ant stood atop the Li Family Ancestor’s head and let out a piercing screech.

In that same instant,

a terrifying sense of crisis

suddenly enveloped them all!