Chapter 676: Beating the Grass to Startle the Snake

Furthermore, I only wish to enter the Array Hub to cultivate. Brother Ke will remain the Chief of the Dali Alliance, and any benefits we acquire will be split evenly among everyone.

Brother Ke and everyone else, please consider my proposal.

Hearing this, Ke Dali and the other members of the Dali Alliance all looked tempted.

Ke Dali had previously assigned two Jianghu Wanderers to act as Scouts, but their strength was lacking, and they only dared to operate near the main group.

They would only exchange a bit of information when they occasionally ran into Scouts from other alliances. There was basically no difference between having them and not having them.

Even if he were to replace them with two stronger individuals, the result would likely be the same.

After all, everyone was afraid of being separated from the group and running into that Demon Cultivator or the Innate Realm Expert!

With Ning Hao’s power, he would indeed dare to venture farther out.

If he discovered any trace of the Demon Cultivator or the Innate Realm Expert, he could provide an early warning.

Besides, for the foreseeable future, the group’s main objectives were to hunt Pseudo Tier Six Demon Beasts and search for various resources, so they truly needed a competent Scout.

For example, on their recent trip to the Dui Palace Array Hub, if a Scout had discovered that the Sutra of Ultimate Alliance had arrived first, the Dali Alliance wouldn’t have needed to make a wasted journey.

“What does everyone think?” Ke Dali turned to ask for the others’ opinions.

Given Ke Dali’s personality, he had long found Ning Hao irritating. He would rather go without a Scout than deal with a guy like him.

However, Ke Dali still wanted to find his junior brother, Chen Cheng, as quickly as possible, and having a Scout would naturally be a great help.

“Ke Zhenchuan can decide,” Xiao Nianci said indifferently.

The rest of the group also expressed that they had no objections.

Only then did Ke Dali turn to Ning Hao and say, “If Divine Son Ning wishes to join the Dali Alliance as a Scout, I welcome it. However, there is some friction between us. How can you guarantee that we can trust you, Divine Son Ning?”

Ning Hao was delighted. He immediately straightened his back and said proudly, “I am a Divine Son of the Kunlun Divine Palace, and I represent the Kunlun Divine Palace when I am abroad. Do you suspect that I would break my word and tarnish the reputation of the Kunlun Divine Palace, Brother Ke?”

“Fine!” Ke Dali nodded and said seriously, “In that case, I will agree to let Divine Son Ning join the Dali Alliance. But the membership fee cannot be waived, and a single piece of Source Crystal Jade isn’t enough to show your sincerity!”

Ning Hao could naturally see that he was being deliberately difficult, but he didn’t care. He took out a Low Grade Organ Refining Pill and said, “How about I add one Low Grade Organ Refining Pill?”

“Excellent!”

Ke Dali laughed heartily, then stepped forward to accept the Source Crystal Jade and the Low Grade Organ Refining Pill, stowing them away carefully.

His attitude toward Ning Hao did a complete 180. He said with great enthusiasm, “Divine Son Ning is truly generous! Let’s walk and talk!”

…

On a nearby mountain peak, an old man in blue emerged from the bushes where he was hiding. He looked at a large boulder several zhang away and said coolly,

“Friend from the Loose Cultivator Alliance, come out and have a word.”

After a long moment, a young man in black finally revealed himself from behind the boulder. He glanced warily at the old man in blue and said,

“Elder Mu, you were actually able to see through my Concealing Breath Method. You truly are amazing!”

Mu Qingfeng sighed softly. “The Blood Moon Sect’s Concealing Breath Method is unparalleled. If you hadn’t left the prearranged signal, young friend, this old one truly would not have known you were nearby. I wonder, which True Disciple of the Blood Moon Sect might you be, young friend?”

“This junior is Shu Xiaofeng,” the young man in black, Shu Xiaofeng, replied. “Steward Lei is still investigating in the direction of the Kan Palace, so this junior came this time to represent the Loose Cultivator Alliance and exchange intelligence with the Sutra of Ultimate Alliance.”

“I see.” Mu Qingfeng nodded slightly. “Is your Loose Cultivator Alliance planning to go to the Kan Palace Array Hub to hunt Pseudo Tier Six Demon Beasts?”

Shu Xiaofeng said, “At the Kan Palace Array Hub, there is a Young Master Xiu Chen who is skilled with a great hammer. His Martial Arts Power is extremely formidable, and even Ning Hao was nearly killed by him. The people from the Dali Alliance don’t seem to dare to make an enemy of him either. Therefore, our Loose Cultivator Alliance has decided to give up on competing for the Kan Palace.”

“There’s another expert of that caliber in the cavern estate?” A look of shock appeared on Mu Qingfeng’s face.

Shu Xiaofeng nodded. “Not only is this person incredibly powerful, but his methods are ruthless. On the island, he killed two Stewards from our Blood Moon Sect, four people from the Taiyi Sect, and three Stewards from the Tide Hall. For that reason, we suspect he might be that mysterious Innate Realm Expert.”

“Oh!” Mu Qingfeng’s gaze flickered.

Shu Xiaofeng said, “This is all the recent intelligence the Loose Cultivator Alliance has. Now, it’s Elder Mu’s turn to provide the Sutra of Ultimate Alliance’s intelligence.”

Mu Qingfeng replied, “Our Sutra of Ultimate Alliance hasn’t discovered any useful intelligence. However, we are heading to the Xun Palace Array Hub in the southeast next, so it would be best for your Loose Cultivator Alliance to choose a different location.”

“Fine. In that case, our Loose Cultivator Alliance will go to the Gen Palace Array Hub in the northeast. I will take my leave.” Shu Xiaofeng cupped his fists, and with a few flickers, he was down the mountain peak, soon disappearing into the forest.

Mu Qingfeng, however, did not leave in a hurry. He walked over to the large boulder and stood there silently.

After a long while, a burly, red-faced man with a full beard, dressed in black combat attire and holding a simple, unadorned Long Saber, arrived on the mountain peak and concealed himself beneath a large tree.

This man was none other than the feared Demon Cultivator, Batulu.

And Mu Qingfeng was no simple character either. On the surface, he was a Jianghu Wanderer who had joined the Sutra of Ultimate Alliance to serve as a Scout, but his true identity was that of the mysterious Innate Realm Expert.

Batulu said in a deep, rumbling voice, “The people from the Dali Alliance should have gone to the Li Palace Array Hub in the south. That punk Ning Hao joined the Dali Alliance, so there’s no chance to kill him now.”

Everyone who entered the cavern estate this time had formed alliances. Aside from the few Martial Artists Batulu had hunted in the first few days, he hadn’t been able to find any more targets since, which naturally left him quite frustrated.

The only one he could hunt was Ning Hao, who was alone, but Ning Hao possessed the Yellow Tier Spiritual Artifact, the Sun and Moon Mirror Light Sword, and was extremely powerful.

Although Batulu could defeat Ning Hao, he couldn’t kill him!

He had originally arranged for Mu Qingfeng to help him kill Ning Hao together, but who would have thought that Ning Hao would join the Dali Alliance? The plan was now ruined.

Mu Qingfeng turned around and said leisurely, “There is another Martial Artist at the Kan Palace Array Hub named Xiu Chen. Brother Batu can go kill him.”

“Oh?” Batulu was overjoyed. He licked his lips and said, “I’m only five or six Demon Hearts away from condensing my Demon Core. As long as this person’s strength isn’t too poor, he should be worth one Demon Heart. Not bad.”

Mu Qingfeng said, “His strength is certainly not poor. Even Ning Hao is no match for him.”

“Stronger than Ning Hao? How is that possible?” Batulu was shocked and his voice was filled with disbelief.

Mu Qingfeng said seriously, “This is intelligence from the Loose Cultivator Alliance. It should be accurate.”

Batulu said, “With my power, I would need Brother Mu’s help just to kill Ning Hao. How could I possibly kill this Xiu Chen?”

Mu Qingfeng said, “No matter. If you are set on killing him, Brother Batu, this old one will accompany you. After we kill this man, this old one will lure out two or three Scouts from the Loose Cultivator Alliance to serve as blood-food for you, Brother Batu. Then, if you hunt one or two more Pseudo Tier Six Demon Beasts, Brother Batu, that should be enough.”

Batulu cupped his fists. “Many thanks for your assistance, Brother Mu. Rest assured, Brother Mu, once I condense my Demon Core and my power skyrockets, I will naturally join you in dealing with Ji Lingxiao to seize the Central Palace Array Hub.”

“Mm.” Mu Qingfeng nodded, then gave a solemn warning,

“Ji Lingxiao, after all, has the Profound Tier Spiritual Artifact, the Lingxiao Sword. Even if we join forces, I’m afraid we will be no match for her. Therefore, this old one still needs to use the people within the cavern estate to carry out my plan, and the more people, the better. During this time, Brother Batu, you must follow my arrangements. You must not act on your own to hunt others and alert the enemy.”

Batulu slapped his chest and said earnestly, “I only wish to condense my Demon Core. I will absolutely not ruin Brother Mu’s plans.”

“Excellent.”

Mu Qingfeng thought for a moment, then added, “The Sutra of Ultimate Alliance is heading to the Xun Palace Array Hub in the southeast this time. It isn’t convenient for this old one to be away from the alliance for too long. You should first go to other places to hunt Pseudo Tier Six Demon Beasts. We will arrange another time to go to the Kan Palace Array Hub and kill this person.”

“Fine. I’ll take my leave then.”

Batulu cupped his fists, and with a few leaps, he shot down the mountain peak.

He sprinted through the forest for several li before finally stopping on a hilltop. He turned his head to look at the distant mountain peak, a vicious gleam in his eyes.

‘Mu Qingfeng is a deep schemer. I’m afraid he’s plotting against me as well.

But am I not plotting against him, too?

Once I condense my Demon Core, he will be the first one I kill! After that, I will go on a rampage in the cavern estate, gathering as much blood-food as possible to quickly break through to a Tier Seven Demon Body!

Once my Demon Body is formed, even Ji Lingxiao will be nothing but blood-food for me!’