Chapter 152: Jade Lotus Palace Sect Attacks White Bone Sect Camp

Wang Li surveyed the clearing, his gaze sweeping across the disturbed earth. There, half-hidden beneath a layer of leaves, lay a trail of footprints. They were faint, quickly covered in an attempt to erase their existence, but thanks to his heightened senses, they couldn't escape his notice.

A glint of steel flickered in his eyes. 'These footprints...' he thought, crouching to examine them closer, 'they lead deeper into the forest.'

Following the faint trail, he navigated the dense foliage, his movements silent and swift. It wasn't long before he stumbled upon a subtle shift in the air – a telltale sign of illusionary formations. A wry smile played on his lips. 'Trying to hide, are we?'

These formations, while effective against most cultivators, were mere child's play to Wang Li with his Heavenly Fate Pupils. He focused his enhanced vision, the intricate patterns of the illusion revealing themselves to him like a child's scribble. With practiced ease, he weaved through the formation, his presence undetected.

The illusion cleared, revealing the entrance to a cavern, its dark maw a silent invitation. Wang Li, his guard raised, cautiously approached. Faint sounds of laughter drifted from within, the unmistakable cadence of boisterous conversation.

Peeking inside, he found a group of Iron Hammer Sect disciples huddled together, their faces flushed with excitement. An elder, his weathered face etched with a malicious grin, sat at the head of the group.

"...and then those fools from the Jade Lotus Palace just walked right into the trap!" roared a burly disciple, slamming his fist on the ground.

Chuckles erupted from the others. "Serves those righteous hypocrites right," another sneered. "Let them stew in their righteous fury while we watch the White Bone Sect squirm."

Wang Li listened intently, his expression hardening as their conversation unfolded.

Another voice, gruff and seasoned, chimed in, "Indeed. Ye Fan's plan was a stroke of genius. Those puppets we crafted from the White Bone Sect's corpses... flawless!"

A chorus of agreement erupted, punctuated by excited banter. Wang Li raised an eyebrow. Ye Fan? This name sent a jolt through him. It couldn't be... could it?

"Speaking of Ye Fan," a younger voice chimed in, filled with awe, "his mastery of the puppet arts is truly awe-inspiring. Controlling so many corpses at once... it's no wonder these righteous fools were killed so quickly! "

"Indeed," the elder agreed, a note of respect in his voice. "He's a prodigy in the making. With his cunning and our puppet techniques... the righteous sects won't stand a chance!"

Wang Li's mind raced. So, Ye Fan was behind this entire operation. He had not only orchestrated the attack but also controlled the puppets himself. The depth of his puppet mastery, the sheer audacity of the plan... it all pointed towards one conclusion.

Ye Fan's prestige in the Iron Hammer Sect was very high. He was a threat, a potential storm brewing on the horizon. A cold smile hardened his features. He wouldn't let these schemers have their way.

A wave of murderous intent surged through Wang Li, his hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of his sword. But he held back.

Slaughtering these fools would be a simple task, yet a reckless one. If he left no survivors, the Iron Hammer Sect would sense something amiss. It was far more advantageous to let them stew in their ignorance, believing their victory complete.

With a cold smile, Wang Li swept out of the cavern. He retreated a safe distance, his mind formulating his next move.

Amongst them was Liu Xue's group, led by the beautiful Elder Ning Changying. As they started their search, Wang Li, concealed by an invisibility technique, contacted Liu Xue through their spiritual link.

"Xue'er," his voice echoed in her mind, gentle yet firm. "I will leave a trail here, one laced with spiritual presence. Follow it, and it will lead you to the White Bone Sect's base."

Relief flooded Liu Xue's heart. Having Wang Li involved brought a spark of hope to the grim situation. "Thank you," she whispered, vowing silently to find a way to repay him later.

Disconnecting from the connection, she scanned the ground, her eyes falling on subtle indentations in the earth and faint wisps of an unnatural aura.

"Elder Ning," she called out, pointing towards the barely discernible tracks. "Look! Signs seem to be leading further south-east."

Elder Ning Changying's eyes narrowed, but a flicker of excitement lit them up. "Excellent work, Liu Xue! It seems the White Bone Sect wasn't as careful as they thought."

Unaware of the deception, the group followed the meticulously crafted trail. Wang Li had expertly masked his presence, making the tracks seem genuine, even to seasoned cultivators like Elder Ning Changying.

They appeared to be remnants of hurried movement, hastily covered up.

The trail led them deeper into the desolate landscape, eventually reaching a desolate area of jagged rocks and swirling mists. The air itself seemed to crackle with an unsettling energy. Elder Ning Changying stopped, a frown creasing her brow.

"This far," she declared, her voice firm. "Beyond this mist lies an illusionary formation, undoubtedly masking the White Bone Sect's camp. We will report back and join forces with the others for a coordinated attack."

Satisfied with their progress, Wang Li watched them retrace their steps. He had successfully manipulated them without raising suspicion. Back at the rendezvous point, Elder Ning Changying and Liu Xue reported their findings to Palace Mistress Jiu Lan.

"Tracks leading south-east," the elder explained, "ending at a mist-shrouded area likely concealing an illusionary formation. Classic White Bone Sect tactics."

Jiu Lan surveyed the map they had compiled, her brow furrowed in concentration. "This... this does indeed seem like how the White Bone Sect sets up their camp," she muttered. "Elder Ning Changying, good work. We shall wait for the remaining groups to return and then launch a swift, decisive attack!"

The night deepened, and soon, all the scattered groups returned, some bloodied and battered after encounters with ferocious beasts. But thanks to Palace Mistress Jiu Lan's foresight and the provided talismans, they had all survived.

Palace Mistress Jiu Lan herself intervened in several skirmishes, saving her disciples with impressive speed and terrifying power.

By nightfall, all the groups had regrouped, their faces etched with a mixture of exhaustion and righteous anger.

Under the pale moonlight, Palace Mistress Jiu Lan addressed the assembled disciples. "My disciples," her voice resonated with power, "we have found the lair of the vipers that stole the lives of our sisters! Tonight, we shall avenge them!"

A collective roar of approval erupted from the assembled disciples. Their beautiful faces, usually serene and serene, were now transformed into masks of righteous fury. The desolate night echoed with their war cry, a chilling prelude to the storm that was about to descend upon the White Bone Sect.