Chapter 176: Who is the Hunter, Who is the Prey?

Chapter 176: Chapter 176: Who is the Hunter, Who is the Prey?

Hu Jishan of the Celestial Sect, Shui Zebo of the Celestial Derivation Sect, and Yu Haiyuan of the Wuji Sect departed from the Cyan Cloud Sect, taking their sects’ Elders and disciples who had attended the Tengxing Grand Assembly with them.

Shui Zebo’s son, Shui Yuntian, the Saint Heir of the Celestial Derivation Sect, had been grievously wounded by Chu Fan.

Shui Zebo had already been filled with rage when he heard the Elder’s report in the side hall. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have tried to attack Chu Fan in front of so many people.

But when he saw his son’s injuries for himself, his fury reached its peak.

Three years ago, it was this same Chu Fan who had caused him and the Celestial Derivation Sect to lose so much face before the entire Eastern Domain Cultivation Realm. In that battle, not only were he and his son severely injured, but several Elders were also killed or wounded. The Celestial Derivation Sect had suffered a devastating blow.

And this time, not only had his son’s Cultivation been crippled, leaving him on the verge of death, but that scoundrel Chu Fan had even thrown them, the Celestial Derivation Sect, out of the Cyan Cloud Sect in front of so many sects from the Eastern Domain. How could he not be furious?

Shui Zebo felt this way, and so too did Hu Jishan and Yu Haiyuan.

On the way down the mountain, the three of them—Hu Jishan, Yu Haiyuan, and Shui Zebo—gathered together.

They couldn’t swallow this insult, no matter what. And if Chu Fan’s scheme truly succeeded, their three sects would be excluded once again. When that time came, what say would they have in anything?

"Sigh... I truly regret it. Three years ago, I should have requested the Supreme Elder to execute that scoundrel Chu Fan on the spot. If I had, he wouldn’t be acting so outrageously today," Shui Zebo said, filled with remorse.

"There’s no use crying over the past, Brother Shui. Don’t be like this. Although this Chu Fan’s wings are now fully fledged, the power he displayed today wasn’t all that impressive. He’s at the Divine Separation Realm, true, but all three of our sects still have Ancestors and Supreme Elders watching over us! Even if we don’t abide by their damned rules, what can they do to us?" Hu Jishan patted Shui Zebo on the shoulder, consoling him.

His words were meant to comfort Shui Zebo, but wasn’t he also comforting himself?

"If I don’t kill Chu Fan, how can I ever swallow this insult?" Shui Zebo said furiously.

"Enough. Is there anyone among us who doesn’t want to eat Chu Fan alive right now? What we should be doing is discussing how to kill that bastard!" Yu Haiyuan said.

"In the current situation, I’m afraid killing Chu Fan won’t be that easy," Hu Jishan said after a moment of thought.

By now, they had already left the Cyan Cloud Sect and crossed two mountains. Looking back, they could only see the silhouette of the Golden Summit atop the Cyan Cloud Sect’s main hall.

The disciples walking ahead of them were all dejected, whispering amongst themselves.

Shui Zebo looked back at the Golden Summit, his eyes filled with killing intent.

"Actually, it’s not like there’s no opportunity to kill Chu Fan," Yu Haiyuan said suddenly.

Hu Jishan and Shui Zebo both frowned slightly, looking at Yu Haiyuan and waiting for him to continue.

A vicious glint flashed in Yu Haiyuan’s eyes as he said, "He promised to annihilate the Red Blood Mansion within half a month, and without borrowing the strength of any other sect. That is our chance."

Hearing this, Hu Jishan’s eyes lit up. "You mean, when he leads his people to attack Three Mountains Island, we also lie in ambush. We wait until his fight with the Red Blood Mansion leaves them both grievously wounded. Even if he manages to destroy the Red Blood Mansion, his own forces will surely be exhausted and have suffered heavy losses. That would be the perfect time for us to strike."

"I’m afraid that alone might not be enough. Since that scoundrel Chu Fan is confident he can annihilate the Red Blood Mansion without the help of other sects, he must have other trump cards," Shui Zebo said after a moment’s thought.

"Then what’s your idea?" Yu Haiyuan asked.

A resolute look flashed in Shui Zebo’s eyes. "We’ll send someone to secretly inform Yan Qi of the Red Blood Mansion about what happened at the Tengxing Grand Assembly. Yan Qi will definitely gather his forces and lie in wait. Then, no matter what trump cards Chu Fan has, he’ll be forced to lay them all on the table. The only possible outcome is that both sides will be crippled."

"Hmph!" Shui Zebo snorted coldly and continued, "At that time, our three sects will be waiting outside Celestial Wave Lake. We can annihilate them in one fell swoop. The Red Blood Mansion has gathered quite a few treasures in the Eastern Domain over the years. And for that scoundrel Chu Fan to have gained such power in just three years, he must have plenty of secrets. In the end, won’t all of it be ours?"

Yu Haiyuan clapped his hands. "Brother Shui is right! Once we have the secret to Chu Fan’s power and the resources of the Red Blood Mansion, those fools who humiliated us today will be crushed under our feet. We’ll make them truly understand the meaning of regret!"

Hu Jishan stroked the small tuft of a moustache on his chin, pondering for a long time before speaking. "Brother Shui’s idea is good, but what if, after we inform the Red Blood Mansion, they make perfect preparations and come out unscathed after wiping out Chu Fan’s forces? Wouldn’t all our efforts be for nothing? My Celestial Sect has no real grudge against the Red Blood Mansion, but the hatred your two sects have for them is no less than your hatred for Chu Fan!"

"That’s why we need to discuss this carefully—what to reveal to the Red Blood Mansion, and what must not be said. Chu Fan deserves to die, but so do the people of the Red Blood Mansion," Shui Zebo said.

Hu Jishan nodded and added, "We’ve been pushed to the edge of a cliff. Our three sects must share a common enemy and harbor no selfish intentions. Otherwise, no matter how much we plan, it will all be a futile effort in the end."

"Brother Hu, there’s no need to worry. We can burn incense and become sworn brothers, clap our hands, and make a solemn vow," Shui Zebo said.

But just then, as their men were passing through a valley entrance up ahead, hundreds of people suddenly rushed out and attacked indiscriminately.

In an instant, the valley entrance was filled with the heavens-shaking cries of battle.

"What’s happening? Could this be a trap set by that scoundrel Chu Fan?" Yu Haiyuan exclaimed in shock.

Shui Zebo looked closely and said, "No, those are people from the Red Blood Mansion. Why are people from the Red Blood Mansion here?"

"Go!" Hu Jishan shouted, hastily flying into the air.

Shui Zebo and Yu Haiyuan followed close behind.

"Stop! All of you, stop! We have no intention of making an enemy of the Red Blood Mansion!" Hu Jishan shouted down at the hundreds of people locked in a chaotic battle below.

"By order of Sect Leader Yan, all sects that came to attend the Tengxing Grand Assembly are to be killed on sight!" an old man shouted from within the battle formation.

Hu Jishan watched as his own group of less than a hundred people seemed to be sinking into a quagmire. More than half were already dead or wounded, and his eyes turned red with fury.

"I am Hu Jishan of the Celestial Sect! We left the Cyan Cloud Sect early precisely because we did not agree with the Six Sects and Eight Gates joining forces to annihilate the Red Blood Mansion! Has there been some misunderstanding?"

"I don’t give a damn if you’re Hu Jishan or Hu Jinhai! None of you so-called righteous sects are any good. You’re all treacherous fiends who say one thing to your face and do another behind your back."

"Don’t listen to his nonsense, everyone! Kill them on sight!"

As the old man’s cry of "kill them on sight" faded, several cultivators at the Divine Separation Realm flew towards Hu Jishan and the other two.

It was obvious that no matter what they said, a battle was now unavoidable.

Overcome with fury, Hu Jishan and the other two drew their weapons and charged forward to meet them.

The four Minor Sects that had followed them down the mountain never would have imagined they would encounter such a thing. If they had known this would happen, why would they have left the mountain at all?

But now it was too late for regrets. Their only chance of survival was to fight for their lives.