"Elder Mei, what is the meaning of this?" Elder Guo questioned, his sword pointing directly at Elder Mei's throat. The courtyard had descended into chaos around them, with disciples fleeing in every direction and bodies of the fallen scattered across the ground. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞
"You actually colluded with outsiders to attack your own people," Elder Huang added, her blade steady as she flanked him from the other side. Her eyes burned with fury. "Martial Uncle treated you so well, and this is how you repay him?"
"Colluding?" Elder Mei's lips curved into a smile. He threw his head back and erupted into laughter that echoed across the courtyard. The sound sent chills down the spines of the remaining disciples who watched from a distance.
Elder Guo and Huang exchanged nervous glances, their grip on their weapons tightening.
"Why would I need to collude with them?" Elder Mei wiped away a tear of mirth. "I was never one of you to begin with."
In the next heartbeat, his hands began channeling a dark, ominous energy that seemed to devour the surrounding light. Black mist swirled around his fingers, carrying the unmistakable taint of demonic cultivation.
Elder Guo's eyes widened in disbelief. "You—you were actually a demonic cultivator from the start?"
Elder Mei's smile only widened. "I hadn't planned to reveal myself before getting the treasure, but who cares now?" The demonic energy around his hands intensified.
"Treasure?" Elder Huang followed his gaze toward the towering pagoda behind them. Realization dawned on her face. "You're actually after the Heaven-Testing Pagoda?"
"Hmph." Elder Mei scoffed, the sound dripping with disdain. "What Heaven-Testing Pagoda? That's clearly a treasure of our Wuming Cult ancestor's making." His eyes gleamed with fanatical devotion. "The Demon-Sealing Tower."
He shook his head dismissively. "Well, there's no point in educating you orthodox sect bastards."
Without warning, Elder Mei unleashed a vicious claw attack toward Elder Guo. Though the elder attempted to block, the demonic strike connected squarely with his chest, sending him flying backward through the air.
Elder Huang seized the opportunity to attack from behind, but Mei sensed her approach. He caught her sword arm mid-strike, then pivoted and hurled her like a ragdoll toward the already airborne Elder Guo.
Their bodies collided with a sickening thud before both crashed against the pagoda's outer wall.
"Junior Sister, are you okay?" Elder Guo asked, cradling Elder Huang in his arms amidst the dust and debris.
A faint blush colored her cheeks before she quickly jumped to her feet, composing herself. Elder Guo attempted to rise but stumbled, coughing violently. A stream of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
Elder Huang rushed to his side. "Senior Brother, are you okay? Did your injury relapse?"
Elder Mei approached them leisurely, his step unhurried, his laughter echoing in the courtyard. Elder Huang positioned herself protectively in front of Elder Guo, her sword raised despite her trembling hands.
"To think the sect genius has fallen to this state," Elder Mei mocked, looking down at Elder Guo with undisguised contempt. "This wouldn't have happened if you had just minded your own business."
"What do you mean by that?" Guo struggled to rise, his face pale with exertion.
Elder Huang placed a steadying hand on his shoulder. "Senior Brother, don't force yourself."
"Well, I guess I can tell you now that things have come to this," Elder Mei said.
Years ago, the Sect Master of the Azure Cloud Sword Sect had three disciples: his biological son, and two adopted sons he treated as his own—Mei Zhiyuan and Guo Shantian. Among them, Guo Shantian shone brightest, his talent unrivaled and his future limitless. He was the natural successor to become Sect Master when the old master passed away.
"But the sect genius didn't want to be Sect Master," Elder Mei continued, his voice bitter with old resentment. "So all I had to do was get rid of the useless son, and I'd be Sect Master." His eyes narrowed. "But you just had to interfere."
If he had become Sect Master back then, his mission would have been completed years ago. Because of Guo Shantian, his plans had been delayed for over a decade.
"You—" Elder Guo rose to his feet, pushing Elder Huang away as understanding dawned on his face. "Does that mean you had something to do with Master's death?"
Elder Mei's only response was a smug smile.
Something snapped within Elder Guo. His face contorted with rage. "You bastard!" he roared.
Suddenly, a brilliant golden aura erupted around him, pulsating with pure spiritual energy so intense that it forced Elder Huang back despite her attempts to approach him.
"Senior Brother, don't!" she cried out, shielding her eyes from the blinding light.
Elder Mei took an involuntary step backward, momentary fear flashing across his face. "You actually managed to recover your strength?" Then, noticing Elder Guo's strained expression, his confidence returned. "No, there's no way a lower-level sect like the Azure Cloud Sect could afford it. You're burning your Golden Core to achieve this power. If you do this, you'll never be able to advance again, even if you survive."
But Elder Guo was beyond listening. The golden aura intensified until it seemed he stood within a miniature sun. When the light stabilized, he fixed Elder Mei with a gaze of pure hatred.
"It doesn't matter if I can't advance anymore," he declared, his voice resonating with power. "I will definitely kill you today."
He charged forward, his sword coated with brilliant energy as it descended upon Mei. The traitor raised a shield of demonic energy that met the blade with a sound like metal striking metal. But Elder Mei lost the contest of strength and was thrown several meters backward, his feet carving furrows in the earth.
He stared at Elder Guo in shock. How could a mere burning of the Golden Core produce such power? Elder Mei himself had reached the early stage of the Golden Core realm using resources from the Wuming Cult. He had calculated that with his strength and subordinates, he should have easily overwhelmed the sect. Yet here he was, being tossed around like a novice.
As another blow sent him flying, his face twisted with hatred. This damn Guo Shantian, always ruining his plans—back then, and now again today.
No, he wouldn't allow it. Elder Mei's body began emitting even more demonic power until he was completely enveloped in darkness. When Elder Guo's next punch came, he caught it mid-air, his palm smoking where it connected with the golden energy.
"It's my turn now," he spoke menacingly, demonic qi swirling around him.
Xiang Yu exhaled heavily, his gaze falling upon the impressive stack of talismans he had created—over a hundred of them now rested in his hands. His spiritual sea had really improved after the system's doubling effect, allowing him to produce far more talismans than he initially thought possible. Still, it wasn't nearly as many as he had hoped for.
He settled into a meditative position, focusing on recovering his depleted spiritual sea. Though he preferred to craft more talismans, time was running short. His qi sense had detected the two Foundation Establishment cultivators drawing closer to his location. He couldn't risk them discovering the spirit vein—even if he managed to kill them afterward, what if they somehow managed to send information back and expose the existence of the spirit vein.
His lips curled into a frown. He couldn't sense the Core Formation cultivator among them, he assumed that he might be trying to recover from the earlier attack. Still, this presented a perfect opportunity to eliminate the weaker threats first. As for the Core Formation cultivator—he would devise a strategy when the time came.
After several minutes of focused meditation, Xiang Yu felt his spiritual energy stabilize at an acceptable level. Rising from his position, he cast one final glance at the spirit vein, noting with satisfaction that the spring was gradually regaining its multicolored hue.
Xiang Yu removed the large rock blocking the cave entrance. After slipping through the opening, he meticulously replaced the stone, ensuring no casual observer would discover this hidden treasure. Outside the small cave, he gathered fallen branches and foliage, arranging them to conceal the entrance completely. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺
Expanding his qi sense outward, he located the two Foundation Establishment cultivators. He wasn't concerned about them detecting his probing—the qi sense of a Foundation Establishment cultivator wasn't that strong, he had already tested this with the previous assassins. Still, he remained cautious about extending his awareness too far, wary that the Core Formation expert might possess methods beyond his current understanding.
Moving silently through the forest, Xiang Yu approached his targets stealthily. From his elevated position in a tall tree, he finally spotted them—the two Foundation Establishment cultivators stood in a small clearing, engaged in conversation.
Initially, Xiang Yu felt a flutter of concern at finding them together rather than separated. Dealing with two Foundation Establishment cultivators simultaneously wouldn't be easy. But thinking about it, maybe this wasn't so bad after all. This way, he could get rid of both at the same time.
A devious plan formed in his mind, causing his lips to spread into an unsettling smile. "They won't know what hit them," he thought.
Without further hesitation, Xiang Yu leapt from his hiding place.
...
The two Foundation Establishment cultivators huddled together, frustration evident in their expressions as they exchanged findings from their separate searches.
"I've checked the eastern sector thoroughly. Nothing," the first cultivator reported, his brow furrowed with annoyance.
The second shook his head. "The western quadrant is clear as well. How far could a mere mortal have gone? We've searched nearly the entire pavilion without finding a single trace."
A subtle rustling of leaves interrupted their conversation. Both cultivators tensed, hands instinctively moving toward their weapons as they turned toward the sound. Their eyes widened simultaneously as they beheld an impossible sight—the very person they had spent hours hunting was standing directly before them, arms crossed casually over his chest.
Xiang Yu's posture radiated an unsettling confidence that seemed entirely at odds with his supposed status as a powerless mortal.
"Looking for me?" Xiang Yu's voice carried a hint of mockery that immediately set the cultivators on edge.
The taller of the two recovered first, his initial surprise giving way to a predatory smile. "You should've just stayed hidden, kid," he growled, taking a deliberate step forward as his companion mirrored his movement.
"Wait! Wait! Wait!" Xiang Yu waved his hands. He then thrust his hands forward, revealing nearly twenty talismans clutched between his fingers. "Don't get any closer, or I'll explode these talismans!"
The two cultivators froze momentarily, exchanging puzzled glances before they simultaneously erupted into unrestrained laughter. Their bodies shook with laughter, one cultivator actually leaning against his companion for support as tears of amusement streamed down his face.
"You're really funny," the shorter one wheezed, wiping tears from his eyes. "Do you really think we'll fall for that trick twice?" His companion snickered in agreement as they resumed their advance, completely dismissing Xiang Yu's threat.
When Xiang Yu saw this reaction, he thought to himself that it was a success, but externally...
His body began to visibly tremble, fear seemingly overtaking his features as he took a step back.
"I'm really serious this time," he stammered, his voice cracking with terror. "Don't come any closer. I'll really throw them!" His fingers clutched the talismans so tightly that his knuckles whitened.
Their laughter intensified at this pathetic display, the taller cultivator actually doubling over with amusement.
"Why don't you throw it?" he taunted between gasping breaths.
Xiang Yu retreated another step, his shoulders hunched. "I'll really do it," he insisted.
The cultivators exchanged amused glances, clearly enjoying what they perceived as a mortal's futile attempt at intimidation.
"Tell you what," the shorter one proposed mockingly, "we'll just stand here and not move. Why don't you throw them?" His companion nodded, both grinning.
In his mind, Xiang Yu thought coldly, Since you insist, then don't blame me for being impolite. Yet his facade of terror remained perfect, his body continuing to tremble as he slowly raised his hands holding the talismans.
"I'll really do it," he warned one final time, his voice wavering.
The cultivators responded with renewed laughter, completely oblivious to Xiang Yu's thoughts.
Xiang Yu's trembling lips curved into a subtle smile—his plan had worked perfectly. In one fluid motion, he hurled all twenty talismans directly at the two cultivators. Without waiting to witness the immediate aftermath, he instantly activated his movement technique and propelled himself away from the soon to be blast zone.
As he moved through the forest, Xiang Yu noted that a single talisman had been enough to severely injure a Core Formation cultivator—though he had been caught off guard. Now he had deployed twenty simultaneously.
Though some might see this as excessive for two Foundation Establishment cultivators, Xiang Yu believed in being thorough. What if they possessed some heavenly defensive treasure? When making his move, he always made sure it was lethal.
Several meters away, he halted atop a tall tree and turned to observe his handiwork. The talismans didn't detonate in one massive explosion but rather in a devastating chain reaction. The rapid succession of blasts reminded him oddly of popcorn popping.
He extended his qi sense over the explosion site, monitoring for any sign that either cultivator might have somehow escaped the explosion.
As the final explosion faded and the dust began to settle, Xiang Yu confirmed with satisfaction that both cultivators had been completely annihilated—not even their ashes remained. He exhaled softly in relief; it seemed they didn't possess any heavenly defensive treasures after all.
In the very next instant, a powerful presence materialized at the explosion site. The Core Formation cultivator had arrived, his body fully recovered—even the arm that Xiang Yu had previously blown off had been completely regenerated. The cultivator's head turned, his piercing gaze locking directly onto Xiang Yu's position among the trees.