Chapter 97: Melee and Betrayal

Zhou Yu's heart twitched uneasily. Chosen because he was the weakest? This kind of supposedly easy job landing on him just seemed like a setup to push him into danger.However, he managed to keep his composure and instead expressed a calculated surprise, "Fellow Daoist Lu, I've heard that your master Zhao Wuya has some private dealings with Wan Wuying of the Extreme Yin Cave. Would he agree to you targeting them?"

Lu Yin laughed heartily, "My master will not know of this. Whether the Extreme Yin lineage is wiped out or not, his agreement or disagreement is irrelevant."

Zhou Yu pretended to mull over the proposal, taking his time much to Lu Yin's growing impatience. Finally, with a look of difficulty, he spoke, "Fellow Daoist Lu, I believe that the cultivators of the Extreme Yin Cave are not to be trifled with lightly. I'd rather not get involved in this murky business."

Lu Yin frowned, "Are you truly not joining?"

Zhou Yu gave a bitter smile, "Demonic cultivators are desperate folk, and I'm afraid they might drag me down with them in their last moments. Let's forget it."

He added, "But rest assured, I will not speak of this to anyone. I can swear a Heart Devil Oath to that effect! After all, as you said, the injuries I bear were caused by those from the Extreme Yin Cave."

With that, he indeed made a Heart Devil Oath. Such oaths were serious commitments, taken by Foundation Establishment stage cultivators and above. Violating them often led to severe spiritual tribulations, akin to a blemish on pristine white jade, potentially obstructing a cultivator's Dao to immortality. Few dared to break a Heart Devil Oath.

Of course, these oaths mostly bound the righteous cultivators. Demonic cultivators had numerous ways to deceive or even break such oaths.

Initially, Lu Yin's eyes had glinted with dangerous intent, but seeing Zhou Yu make the oath on the spot, he relaxed. Killing Zhou Yu, if it ever came to that, would require some effort.

Moreover, being a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Zhou Yu wasn't likely to be so easily fooled. Despite claims of having depleted his resources, who could say for sure if he wasn't still hiding something? S~eaʀᴄh the Novelƒire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"Alright, Fellow Daoist Zhou, you are a wise man. Until next time," Lu Yin said, and without further ado, turned and left.

Watching Lu Yin's retreating figure, Zhou Yu sighed deeply. "Li Xuanming, Liu Zhenxiong, Wu Teng, Chu Xuan... among the four from the Extreme Yin Cave, you just had picked the strongest. If you don't die, who will..."

As days turned into months, the fierce offensive of the Heavenly Seal Sect suddenly slowed. The main combatants, Golden Core cultivators Zhao Wuya and Huang Yuanwu, were recalled by an urgent order back to the main hall. Replacing them were Zhu Taiji, Guo Zhen, and Chu Qiong, who adopted a strategy of siege without attack.

It seemed they intended to starve out the Thousand Insects Sect's Gu cultivators without shedding a drop of blood, given that maintaining normal cultivation and the operation of defensive arrays consumed considerable amounts of spirit stones. Inevitably, the Thousand Insects Sect would have to surrender as their resources dwindled.

The lower ranks of the cultivators didn't grasp the intentions of their superiors and could only wait helplessly. This siege tactic continued for over two months. Every few days, Gu cultivators from the Thousand Insects Sect made desperate attempts to break through, but all were repelled. It was clear to everyone that the Thousand Insects Sect was reaching its breaking point, likely prompting the remaining Golden Core cultivators to attempt a breakout soon.

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And indeed, when the protective mountain array of the Thousand Insects Sect flickered and dimmed completely due to the lack of spirit stones, dozens of luminous streaks suddenly shot towards the southeast, heading towards the borders of Yue Country. Should they cross into Yue Country, the Heavenly Seal Sect's cultivators would dare not pursue further.

From the Heavenly Seal Sect's camp, four luminous figures promptly took flight, pursuing the escaping lights. They were Zhu Taiji, Guo Zhen, Chu Qiong, and Wan Wuying, aiming directly for the fleeing Gu cultivators.

Zhu Taiji, leading the charge, called out loudly, "Hundred Gu Daoist, it's not too late to surrender. I guarantee you the treatment of an elder of the Heavenly Seal Sect!"

Hundred Gu Daoist, the leader of the fleeing group, roared back defiantly, "I will never align with the demonic cultivators of the Heavenly Seal Sect!"

The Golden Core cultivators of the Heavenly Seal Sect were notably stronger than those of the Thousand Insects Sect and also faster. It was only a matter of time before Hundred Gu Daoist and his companions would be caught.

"I'll cover our retreat!" Hundred Gu Daoist bellowed.

The Foundation Establishment disciples of the Thousand Insects Sect were forced to turn and block Zhu Taiji's group. These disciples were controlled by Gu insects implanted by their Golden Core masters. If they did not turn to confront the attackers, the Gu within them would devour them from the inside.

Yet, if they managed to hold off the Heavenly Seal Sect's Golden Core cultivators, there was a chance they could survive.

"Out of my way!" Wan Wuying waved his hand, sending shadows sprawling and forcefully scattering the Foundation Establishment Gu cultivators.

Their primary targets were Hundred Gu Daoist and the other two Golden Core cultivators. If they failed to eliminate these three, the threat of stealth attacks and curses by these surviving masters would continue to plague the Heavenly Seal Sect.

The disciples of the Thousand Insects Sect housed numerous Gu within their bodies. Killing them would release the insects like flesh-burrowing maggots, which would not only attack but also delay the pursuit.

Thus, it was more prudent to leave these Foundation Establishment cultivators to the Heavenly Seal Sect's own disciples to deal with.

With a whistling sound, over twenty streaks of light surged forth from the Heavenly Seal Sect's encampment, targeting the Foundation Establishment Gu cultivators. Chu Xuan was among them.

Golden Core fought Golden Core, Foundation Establishment clashed with Foundation Establishment.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The sounds of battle between Golden Core cultivators echoed through the sky, sending terrifying shockwaves in all directions. Wherever these forces passed, towering trees were instantly reduced to splinters.

The Foundation Establishment cultivators tactically retreated while fighting, keen to distance themselves from the battlefield of the more powerful Golden Core cultivators. None wished to be inadvertently killed by the stray shockwaves.

Chu Xuan faced off against a Gu cultivator from the Thousand Insects Sect, swiftly withdrawing from the main fray. He did not reveal his full strength, maintaining the guise of a middling second-level Foundation Establishment cultivator. His opponent from the Thousand Insects Sect, in stark contrast, unleashed all his hidden abilities, fighting with flushed cheeks and fiery ears.

Once he had completely disengaged from the battle and found himself unobserved, Chu Xuan employed the Yin Evil Demon Claw, instantly crushing the life out of the Thousand Insects Sect cultivator and casting his body into the Corpse Nurturing Tower.

A few flickers later, Chu Xuan vanished using the Yin Evil Escape technique.

Shortly after his disappearance, two figures arrived together, both familiar faces—Lu Yin and Zheng Changqing. The two were senior brother disciples within the same sect and shared a close bond.

After failing to enlist Zhou Yu for the hunt, Lu Yin turned to Zheng Changqing, who readily agreed. Hunting demonic cultivators was a lucrative affair, rarely as easy as taking down a second-level Foundation Establishment soft target like Chu Xuan.

"Where is he? Wasn't he just here?" Zheng Changqing furrowed his brow. They had clearly seen Chu Xuan engaging with the Gu cultivator from the Thousand Insects Sect as they entered the woods.

Lu Yin sneered, "No hurry, I have a scent-tracker worm. It will find him soon." He then produced a plump worm and allowed it to sniff a low-grade magic tool.

"This magic tool…" Zheng Changqing expressed his surprise.

Lu Yin offered a sinister laugh, "Bought it from Wu Teng; it was once used by Chu Xuan. That fellow has been acting suspicious and has already betrayed the Extreme Yin Cave." He explained, "The scent-tracker worm would stand erect in the direction of its target, growing more upright the closer it was."

Zheng Changqing, astounded, exclaimed, "What? Why is it standing as straight as a chopstick? And it's pointing behind us?"