Chapter 641 - 307: Ultimate Mystical Technique

His aura was imperceptible, and his figure was like a phantom. As he passed, even powerful Tier Four and Tier Five Demon Beasts had no reaction.

Demon Beasts were known to be extremely sensitive to a Martial Artist's Qi Blood Power. They could clearly detect a Martial Artist approaching from miles away.

The middle-aged man sped along without alerting any of the Demon Beasts on his path, a testament to his extraordinary Concealing Breath technique.

Arriving near the Short Mountain, he saw a gray-robed corpse on the ground and a severed head that had rolled to the side. The middle-aged man's gaze instantly hardened.

At that moment, another middle-aged man, who appeared slightly younger, slowly emerged from a grove of trees not far away. He was also dressed in a gray robe and wore a sheathless, dark Longsword at his waist.

"How did Steward Yan die?" Duan Shen, known as Ghostly Sorrow, asked in a heavy tone. He carried a large bundle on his back.

"Steward Yan's luck ran out. He ran into a Gate of Celestial Revelation and someone took advantage of the situation."

The expressionless Ling Aqi, known as Life-taking Sword, gestured toward a deep pit nearby.

He, Duan Shen, and the Judge, Yan Liben, who had been killed by Chen Cheng, were all Blood Moon Sect Stewards. They were all Perfect Martial Artists of the Organ Refining Realm who had been famous for years. Their actual combat strength was even greater than that of the two Blood Moon Sect True Disciples who had entered the cave mansion with them.

With the three of them as protectors, as long as they didn't provoke prodigies like the Taiyi Sect's True Disciple Ji Lingxiao or the Kunlun Divine Son Ning Hao, the Blood Moon Sect's True Disciples would be safe.

But life is unpredictable. Who could have expected that Yan Liben would be killed just after entering the cave mansion?

"So it really was a Gate of Celestial Revelation!" Duan Shen walked over to the pit and inspected it carefully before examining Yan Liben's corpse. Then he fell into deep thought.

After a long moment, he sighed softly and said, "With Steward Yan's strength, even encountering a Gate of Celestial Revelation would at most have destabilized his Qi Blood, and he would have recovered quickly.

The attacker seized that moment of opportunity to kill him with ease!

This person is ruthless and decisive. It's really quite similar to our Blood Moon Sect's style!

If not for the fact that none of us use a Long Saber, I would have suspected it was one of our own."

"Indeed," Ling Aqi nodded, his gaze turning toward the Cold Water Lake dozens of miles away.

He was always a man of few words, and he never wasted breath when it came time to take a life.

Duan Shen also looked toward the Cold Water Lake. "You suspect the one who killed Steward Yan went to the Cold Water Lake?"

"Probably," Ling Aqi's reply was simple, but his tone carried a faint, murderous chill.

Duan Shen's expression grew serious, and he said with some hesitation, "Thunder is pouring down over that Cold Water Lake with immense power. It's either a Thunder Attribute Heaven and Earth Spiritual Object being born...

...or there's a powerful Tier Five Demon Beast hidden within, about to generate Demonic Power and advance to a Tier Six Demon Beast, which is causing the cave mansion's Array to suppress it with lightning.

Moreover, judging by the speed at which the lightning is gathering, the Array Hub for this region should also be in that lake.

The person who killed Steward Yan would certainly go there looking for opportunities.

If we head over, we could indeed kill this person and search for various Heaven and Earth Spiritual Objects to reap the benefits.

But that would likely cause a significant delay. Our main duty in this cave mansion is to ensure the safety of Jin Chengguang and Shu Xiaofeng. We should find them first to prevent any other mishaps."

Ling Aqi turned around and said flatly, "Among those who entered the cave mansion this time, there aren't any powerful saber users.

You and I together... killing one person is just a detour. We kill him and leave!!"

"Fine!" Seeing Ling Aqi's firm attitude, Duan Shen made a decisive choice and shot off toward the Cold Water Lake first.

Both were Killing Dao Experts. To them, killing a person was as simple as eating or drinking—nothing more than a small detour.

Even if something unexpected happened and they couldn't kill their target, they could still retreat with ease thanks to their highly advanced Concealing Breath techniques.

Ling Aqi's figure became a phantom, disappearing into the nearby mountain forest. A moment later, he reappeared several hundred yards from Duan Shen, subtly forming a covering formation with him.

Killing Dao Experts were not only skilled at concealing their auras but also at coordinating their attacks!

After the two had gone far, a faint ripple stirred in a nearby thicket, and a woman in a green dress holding a sword slowly emerged.

It was none other than Xiao Yingluo!

She had been drawn to this area by the cave mansion and had been delighted to discover that Chen Cheng was nearby. She had immediately rushed over to rendezvous with him.

After all, Chen Cheng was a powerful expert ranked thirty-first on the Earth List, and he had accepted her silver taels. He was truly her Gold Medal Boxer.

If she joined up with Chen Cheng, she would naturally be much safer in the cave mansion.

However, she soon discovered that the light on Chen Cheng's Communication Jade Token had vanished. She hesitated for a long time before finally heading toward the place where he had last disappeared, searching for Heaven and Earth Spiritual Objects along the way.

When she arrived at this mountaintop, she naturally didn't find any trace of Chen Cheng, only the corpse of the Blood Moon Sect Steward, Yan Liben.

Xiao Yingluo was quite sharp. She knew that the people of the Blood Moon Sect were not to be trifled with. With one of their Stewards dead, other members would rush over immediately and might already be nearby.

So, instead of retreating, she had immediately activated the Concealing Breath Cloak she had received from an elder and hidden herself nearby.

This proved to be a very wise decision. She avoided an encounter with Ling Aqi and Duan Shen, successfully averting a crisis.

After all, in this cave mansion, strength was all that mattered. If two experts like Ling Aqi and Duan Shen had found her alone, they would have most likely attacked without hesitation.

'That jerk Chen Cheng, why would he block his Communication Jade Token for no reason?'

Glancing at Yan Liben's corpse again, Xiao Yingluo's delicate eyebrows furrowed, and she muttered resentfully.

Yan Liben had been killed in this area by a Long Saber. The attacker was very likely Chen Cheng.

'Since Chen Cheng is safe, there's really no reason for him to block his Communication Jade Token!'

'Could it be that Chen Cheng took my silver taels and doesn't plan to honor our deal?

If he's nearby, he probably went to the Cold Water Lake. Those two Blood Moon Sect Stewards are heading there too.

In terms of real combat strength, Chen Cheng might not be afraid of them joining forces.

But the people from the Blood Moon Sect excel at the Path of Assassination. If they hide their tracks and launch a sneak attack, even someone as powerful as Chen Cheng will be killed.

Should I follow them and lend Chen Cheng a hand?

Forget it. Since he blocked his Communication Jade Token, I have no reason to help him. I'll just follow from a distance and watch the show.

Of course, if I can swoop in and save his life at a critical moment, he'll be eternally grateful. Then he'll pledge his sincere loyalty to me and follow my every command. That would be pretty great too!'

Xiao Yingluo pondered for a long while before finally changing direction and taking a roundabout route toward the Cold Water Lake.

...

「On the shore of the Cold Water Lake.」

The Taiyi Sect's True Disciple, Nangong Yi, and two Taiyi Sect Stewards were staring at the Lake Heart Island with uncertainty and alarm.

At that moment, thunder rolled in the sky above the Lake Heart Island. Bolts of lightning crashed down relentlessly, creating violent explosions that shook the heavens and the earth, even causing ripples to spread across the lake's surface.

"The Kan Palace Array Hub is indeed on this small island in the lake's center.

Zhang Daozong's Communication Jade Token isn't showing his location, and I can't even sense his Qi Blood. He's most likely met with disaster."

Steward Shi Liangcai said with a grave expression, holding a White Jade Compass that he had activated to sense the Array.

"Hmph!" Nangong Yi snorted. "Zhang Daozong has always been arrogant. He doesn't follow the Sect's rules and doesn't give us True Disciples any respect.

He knew we were nearby but didn't wait for us to regroup. He went ahead alone, clearly wanting to claim the Kan Palace Array Hub for himself. If he's met with disaster, he has only himself to blame!"

The other Taiyi Sect Steward, Pan Yi, spoke cautiously. "Zhang Daozong carried a Pseudo-Spiritual Sword gifted by a clan elder. His actual combat strength was no weaker than ours.

Whoever killed him must be incredibly powerful. It could be the Kunlun Divine Son, Ning Hao, or someone from the Blood Moon Sect who specializes in assassination.

We don't have a good chance of winning against people like that. Should we give up on this Array Hub and go after another one?"

Hearing this, Nangong Yi also became hesitant. He too carried a Pseudo-Spiritual Sword, and his combat strength was even greater than Zhang Daozong's.

But he was no match for the Kunlun Divine Son, Ning Hao, who possessed a Yellow Tier Spiritual Artifact.

In a direct confrontation, the three of them wouldn't fear the assassination specialists from the Blood Moon Sect.

But if it really was the Blood Moon Sect, they had likely already set up an ambush on the island, seizing the advantage. If the three of them rushed in recklessly, they were bound to suffer a great loss.