Chapter 156: Colluding With The Demonic Iron Hammer Sect

A smirk played on Wang Li's lips as he slipped away from Shi Feiyan. He wasn't about to return directly to the Jade Lotus Palace camp. The devil sects were making their move, and while he knew about the Shadow Blade Sect's involvement in the Crimson Rock Sect's demise, the bigger picture remained murky.

The desolate world was vast, and Wang Li had already covered considerable ground. He'd scoured the north near the Jade Lotus Palace camp, witnessed the carnage wrought by the Shadow Blade Sect and the beasts in the west, and even stumbled upon a hidden camp of the White Bone Sect with a smattering of Iron Hammer Sect cultivators in the east.

Only the southern region, bordering the combined camp of the Azure Peak Sect and Emerald Sea Palace, remained unexplored.

He suspected the Blood Chain Sect had taken great pains to conceal their location, perhaps even using clever formations to mask their presence from the other sects. But Wang Li wasn't just any cultivator. His Yin-Yang cultivation ability not only allowed him to manipulate Yin and Yang Attributes, but also granted him a keen sensitivity to fluctuations in these energies.

Coupled with his Heavenly Fate Pupils, which granted him the ability to see the color of destiny around objects and people, finding them became more a matter of time.

His hunch proved true. It took only a couple of hours before he picked up a faint, unsettling tremor in the Yin energy. It beckoned him southward, deeper into the dense, primeval forest. As he followed the trail, his invisibility technique, fueled by the Yin Attribute, shrouded him from prying eyes.

The scenery gradually shifted from lush greenery to a brooding, darker forest. The silence was broken only by the occasional screech or growl, hinting at the fearsome beasts that resided here. When he finally reached the source of the Yin energy fluctuation, his breath hitched in his throat.

Before him lay a clearing, the ground a gruesome tapestry of crimson. The stench of blood hung heavy in the air, an unmistakable testament to a recent, brutal slaughter. Hundreds, maybe even thousands, of beasts lay slain, their lifeless bodies forming a macabre tribute to the dark power at play.

But the truly unsettling sight awaited him in the clearing's center. There, a group of figures clad in crimson robes stood amidst a swirling vortex of blood-red energy. They were the Blood Chain Sect, their numbers considerably smaller than the other sects, hinting at the heavy losses incurred during the slaughter.

Wang Li watched, his heart pounding a frantic rhythm against his ribs, as the Blood Chain Sect cultivators unleashed a forbidden technique. They channeled their own Yin energy into the vortex, causing it to churn and expand. The spilled blood, pulsating with a dark, unnatural energy, was drawn into the vortex, feeding its growth.

And then, it happened. Monstrous figures coalesced from the blood-red maelstrom, taking the shape of ferocious beasts – Blood Fiends. These creatures, devoid of physical bodies, were formed entirely of blood essence, making them nearly impossible to destroy.

Each strike from a cultivator's weapon would simply phase through the Blood Fiend, causing it to momentarily disperse before reforming moments later.

The Blood Sect's technique was notorious, but its effectiveness was usually limited. In the normal world, gathering enough potent blood essence to create powerful Blood Fiends was a difficult task. Here, however, the beasts of the desolate world provided an unlimited reservoir of raw power.

Wang Li's gaze narrowed as he counted the Blood Fiends. There were hundreds, perhaps even a thousand, teeming with a hunger for destruction. But what truly sent a shiver down his spine were two colossal Blood Fiends, one resembling a Great Blood Tiger, the other a Crimson Blood Wolf.

The young man relaxed slightly, his eyes narrowing. The lack of sound or spiritual signature accompanying the stranger's arrival was a telltale sign of the Shadow Blade Sect's signature movement technique.

"You're from the Shadow Blade Sect?" he inquired cautiously.

"Indeed," Wang Li confirmed. "One tasked with keeping an eye on the Jade Lotus Palace."

The young man's interest piqued. News from a rival sect was always valuable.

"I bring important information," Wang Li continued, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "The Jade Lotus Palace has suffered a heavy blow. Palace Mistress Jiu Lan herself is gravely injured."

The young man's jaw dropped. "Injured? How?"

"A fierce battle with the White Bone Sect," Wang Li lied smoothly. "Their leader, the White Devil Bone Queen, is also incapacitated. But unlike them, we don't have her location."

The news was bombshell. Two powerful sect leaders out of commission? An opportunity too good to miss.

"Why isn't your Shadow Blade Sect striking then?" the young man asked, a hint of suspicion creeping back into his voice.

Wang Li chuckled, a dry, humorless sound. "The Shadow Blade Sect has just dealt a heavy blow to the Crimson Rock Sect. We are currently recovering from our losses." He paused, a hint of manipulation creeping into his voice. "But you, on the other hand..."

The young man seemed to accept the explanation, his eyes gleaming with avarice. This was a chance for the Iron Hammer Sect to seize the initiative. A weakened camp of the Jade Lotus Palace was ripe for the taking.

"Inform your elders," Wang Li urged. "This won't last. Seize this opportunity before they recover!"

Fueled by greed and a sense of superiority, the young man nodded fervently. He imagined the treasures, the glory, the respect he'd garner amongst his peers.

With a satisfied smirk, Wang Li faded away, leaving the young man to his dark thoughts. He had sown the seeds of discord, and now, it was time to return to the Jade Lotus Palace camp. But not just any part of it. He had a specific beauty in mind – Liu Xue.

His invisibility cloak re-activated, Wang Li materialized outside Liu Xue's personal tent. A mischievous glint flickered in his eyes. Perhaps, he could play a little trick on her gentle beauty.