Chapter 555 - 57: Do-or-Die Seclusion, Surging Undercurrents

I went to investigate personally. The Holy Sect never deployed any assets there, which means either the Song Clan is spreading this rumor to frame us, or it isn’t a rumor.

I’m inclined to believe it’s not a rumor. The aura of the Sacred Body appeared in the Southwest, where Ling Province is located. Furthermore, the Sacred Body’s aura vanished at the exact same time the Song Clan annihilated that minor sect.

I have every reason to suspect that the sect leader of that minor sect stumbled upon the Holy Scripture our Holy Sect lost long ago, cultivated the Sacred Body, but was then mistaken for one of our members and killed.

And our Holy Scripture is very likely now in the hands of the Song Clan!" the Blood-Eyed Crow said in a low voice.

Upon hearing this, Soul Slayer shot to her feet, her voice sharp and cold. "Are you certain?"

"If that minor sect’s leader truly was a Blood Demon, then the Holy Scripture is almost certainly in Ling Province."

Soul Slayer clasped her hands behind her back and paced back and forth within the palace, her excitement palpable.

’The Blood Demon Sect had fallen to its current state precisely because it had lost the Holy Scripture. If I can retrieve it, my position within the sect will be unshakable. I could even use the opportunity to awaken the sleeping experts within the sect and seize control of the entire Daqi Cultivation World in one fell swoop!’

At this thought, she suddenly turned back to the Blood-Eyed Crow, asking impatiently, "What do you plan to do?"

"The Holy Sect is in no position to make any major moves right now. To retrieve the Holy Scripture, we must plan carefully and use outside help. If you trust me, Sect Leader, please leave this matter to me. I will not let you down."

Soul Slayer’s excitement instantly cooled. She returned to her throne and sat, her fingers fiddling unconsciously.

’The Holy Scripture is monumentally important to the Blood Demon Sect. Whoever gets their hands on it would have the power to challenge me, the Sect Leader. In fact, most of our members would probably side with whoever holds the Holy Scripture.’

’It would be fine if I was the one to get it, but if it falls into the hands of someone in the sect with ill intentions, my position will definitely be threatened.’

’The Blood-Eyed Crow has been my trusted confidant for many years, but with something like this, you can never be too sure.’

After a long period of contemplation, Soul Slayer finally decided to entrust the matter to the Blood-Eyed Crow. She had no other choice; she simply had no one else she could use.

Her ability to sit on the Sect Leader’s throne was naturally due to her own unquestionable strength, but it was also because the vast majority of the sect’s experts had been on her side.

But over the years, the experts under her command had either grown old or died. The defections of Yinr Sheng, Soulless, the Blood Princess, and others left her with fewer and fewer usable subordinates. On top of that, she had lost the intelligence network the sect had spent years developing.

Although the Blood-Eyed Crow’s strength could only be considered average, it was responsible for establishing a second intelligence network, which had already begun to take shape over the years, giving it a pivotal position within the sect.

Now that it had stepped forward to share her burdens, she had no room to refuse.

’I just have to be careful, lest I lift a rock only to drop it on my own foot.’

"Then you shall handle it. You have full authority to decide how to proceed. But the Holy Sect is currently biding its time and cannot offer you much support," Soul Slayer said flatly.

A barely perceptible flicker passed through the depths of the Blood-Eyed Crow’s eyes. It said in a low voice, "Please rest assured, Sect Leader!"

——————

「Within a secret chamber of the Lieyang Sect, located in the Celestial Yang Mountain Range of Yang Province.」

Zhang Hongguang, seated cross-legged on a meditation cushion, slowly concluded his cultivation. He let out a long, foul breath as a sharp glint flashed in his eyes. Several months after his breakthrough, he had finally consolidated his cultivation base.

He stood up, bowed deeply to an old man whose hair and beard were completely white, and said respectfully, "Disciple thanks Grand Martial Uncle for your teachings!"

"Mm..."

Hex Tai nodded lightly, accepting the bow. "Is your cultivation base completely stable?" he asked calmly.

"It’s stable now. I was inept and almost suffered a cultivation deviation. It was all thanks to you, Grand Martial Uncle, for saving me at the expense of your own cultivation. Otherwise, I would have died a violent death. I will never forget your grace for as long as I live."

At this, a lingering fear still gripped Zhang Hongguang’s heart.

His aptitude was not considered top-tier. He was already over 150 years old when he reached the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection stage. By all rights, this Yin Yang Purple Tree Heart should never have been his.

But then, the previous Sect Leader and Purple Mansion Seed, Wang Yuesong, committed a grave error and was dismissed from his post. With Hex Tai’s strong backing, he became the new Sect Leader, and the Yin Yang Purple Tree Heart thus fell into his hands.

This had rekindled his nearly dead heart.

But his foundation was weak, and even with the help of the Yin Yang Purple Tree Heart, an accident occurred at the final moment. Fortunately, Hex Tai helped him without regard for the cost, allowing him to break through successfully.

To him, Hex Tai had essentially given him a new life, which was why even though they were both at the Purple Mansion realm, his attitude remained extremely respectful.

His attitude greatly satisfied Hex Tai. ’He knew, of course, that Zhang Hongguang wasn’t an ideal choice, but he’d had no other option. Wang Yuesong wasn’t on my side, and he would have been difficult for me, the Supreme Elder, to control. If he had broken through to the Purple Mansion realm, he would have certainly seized all the power for himself.’

’To maintain my absolute authority in the sect, I had to choose someone obedient for the Sect Leader’s seat. It seems my decision was the right one.’

"Mm, good that it’s stable. For now, focus on refining your Magical Treasure and comprehending your Divine Techniques. I’ll handle the sect’s affairs for you." With those few casual words, Hex Tai once again held the sect’s power firmly in his hands.

Zhang Hongguang naturally did not dare to object and could only accept the fact that his power had been "usurped."

After giving Zhang Hongguang a few more words of warning, Hex Tai rose and left the secret chamber. However, he did not return to his own residence. Instead, he turned a corner and entered another secret chamber.

Inside the secret chamber, a figure was waiting for him. They were completely shrouded in a black robe and wore a mask, revealing only a pair of strange, demonic eyes that faintly glinted with blood-red light.

Seeing Hex Tai enter, the black-robed figure stood and clasped their hands. "The Lieyang Sect now boasts two Purple Mansion Cultivators. My sincerest congratulations."

Hex Tai seemed to dislike the person before him. He remained unmoved, his expression cold. "Hmph. Did you come here uninvited just to congratulate me?"

"Why such words, Fellow Daoist? Are we not friends? The Lieyang Sect is celebrating a joyous occasion, so of course I came to offer my congratulations."

"Silence! How could I be friends with a vile demon like you!" Hex Tai roared.

A cold glint flashed in the black-robed figure’s eyes. "Fellow Daoist Hex, if I hadn’t helped you, do you really think you could have killed that Purple Mansion Cultivator from the Celestial Vein Sect and obtained the Yin Yang Purple Tree Heart on your own?

You took the prize, and now you want to deny our deal? Heh. There’s no such thing as a free lunch. Tell me, if the Celestial Vein Sect and the Golden Crow Sect learned that you were colluding with an evil demon... do you think you’d survive?"

"I was deceived by you!" Hex Tai’s expression turned grim. He had never imagined that his close friend of many years would actually be a Demon Cultivator.

"Heh. I hold the evidence of our transaction. Go ahead, guess if the two major sects will believe that little story of yours."

At this, Hex Tai paradoxically calmed down. "What do you want?"

"It’s simple. I’m looking for something, and it’s very likely in the hands of the Song Clan. All you need to do, Fellow Daoist, is help me destroy the Song Clan, and our secret will never be known to another soul."

"That’s impossible. The Song Clan’s defenses are impregnable. The Lieyang Sect doesn’t have the strength to do it," Hex Tai refused flatly. ’A war of annihilation is never that easy,’ he thought. ’The Lieyang Sect only has two Purple Mansion Cultivators. Even with this person’s help, it’s still impossible.’

The black-robed figure was somewhat surprised and said mockingly, "I thought Fellow Daoist Hex would gladly accept. After all, the Lieyang Sect and the Song Clan have an irreconcilable blood feud, and your most outstanding descendant died at the hands of Song Changsheng.

I never thought you’d played the coward for so long you’d forgotten how to hate, Fellow Daoist Hex."

"Shut up! Aren’t you afraid you won’t walk out of this door alive?" Hex Tai flew into a rage.

"Then by all means, try me," the black-robed figure said, sitting brazenly opposite Hex Tai. "I guarantee, you will regret it."

A murderous intent suddenly surfaced in Hex Tai’s heart. ’Only the dead can truly keep secrets!’

...