Chapter 137: Two Sinister Schemes

Meanwhile, the leaders of the Symbol Sect and the Artifact Sect could no longer remain calm, as news of the Dan Sect’s misfortune had already reached their ears.

“Daoist Maocheng, I suppose you are already aware of what happened to the Dan Sect?”

“I wouldn’t have come here for no reason. My visit is precisely regarding the matter of the Dan Sect.”

The two speakers were known as Master Maocheng and Master Luoheng, the respective heads of the Symbol Sect and the Artifact Sect.

“Alas, now even the Dan Sect has suffered losses at the hands of that monster. What are we to do?” Master Luoheng said, clearly unsettled and unsure of how to proceed.

Master Maocheng sighed helplessly. “I’m troubled by this as well. Unexpectedly, Daoist Luoheng, you’ve arrived just in time. This is perfect—we can discuss countermeasures together.”

The Dan Sect, the Symbol Sect, and the Artifact Sect were the three great sects of the cultivation world. Yet in terms of strength, even if the Artifact and Symbol Sects joined forces, they might not stand against the Dan Sect.

The Dan Sect had lost a senior cultivator in the Tribulation stage, and even its sect leader had been severely wounded. This incident had become widely known throughout the cultivation world.

It was a major headline in the current cultivation realm.

However, what terrified them even more was that all of the Dan Sect’s seniors in seclusion had been trapped within an array. If one day, the enemy decided to trap another sect’s secluded elders the same way, the consequences could be even more dire than what the Dan Sect faced.

If the Dan Sect was almost wiped out, wouldn’t that mean certain destruction for them?

The two men were drenched in cold sweat at the thought.

Now, they deeply regretted ever involving themselves in this matter.

“Daoist Maocheng, do you have any good ideas?” Luoheng asked.

“What ideas could I possibly have? If I had a solution, I wouldn’t be sitting here.”

“Daoist Maocheng, I do have a plan,” Luoheng whispered into his ear.

“Oh? Please, Daoist Luoheng, do tell,” Maocheng’s eyes lit up.

“The Dan Sect won’t let this go easily. Surely, among them, one will die and another will be injured.”

“Please continue,” Maocheng urged eagerly, curious to hear the solution.

“If that drought demon is destroyed by the Dan Sect, that’s great. If not, it means even the Dan Sect cannot defeat it. In that case, both sides will suffer heavy losses. Even if the Dan Sect manages to eliminate the drought demon, they will be severely weakened.”

Luoheng’s expression turned grim, clearly harboring some secret scheme.

“Exactly. If that’s the case, the drought demon won’t have time to bother with us, and our problem will resolve itself. Daoist Luoheng, you’re very clever.”

“No, no, I haven’t finished yet.”

As expected, Luoheng had more plans in mind.

“What else could there be?” Maocheng asked, puzzled. “What you said just now already solves all the problems. What more is there?”

“Think about it—when the Dan Sect is severely weakened, our two sects can easily join forces and absorb the Dan Sect without much effort.”

He looked at Maocheng, awaiting his response.

“That doesn’t seem right. Taking advantage of others’ misfortune isn’t exactly ethical,” Maocheng said, conflicted. Luoheng’s proposal was tempting, but he hesitated.

“Daoist Maocheng, stop hesitating. Have you forgotten how the Dan Sect became so powerful?”

Seeing Maocheng’s hesitation, Luoheng knew the plan had a high chance of success.

“Right. They acted without morality first. We are merely delivering justice, repaying evil with its own methods.”

At this, Maocheng finally agreed to Luoheng’s proposal.

It turned out that the Dan Sect had swallowed countless smaller sects to become the behemoth it was, employing all manner of despicable and shameless tactics.

Thus, the two men conspired together and reached a secret agreement.

...

By evening, under the hazy moonlight, Bone Rock and Lin Yanghao had traveled thousands of miles before finally stopping.

Having run so far, how could anyone still catch up with us?

“Let’s return to the Thousand Saints Marsh. As long as your array remains intact, the Dan Sect stands no chance against us,” Lin Yanghao said. He hadn’t cultivated in a long time; his power had long since waned. Without strength, even self-defense would be impossible, and death inevitable.

Returning to the Thousand Saints Marsh for seclusion might be a good choice.

“Go back if you want—I have other matters to attend to,” Bone Rock said stubbornly. He was determined to exact a bloody price from the three great sects to ease his hatred.

Night had fallen when Lin Yanghao and Bone Rock finally found an inn to stay.

Ten medium-grade spirit stones a night was nothing to Lin Yanghao.

The inn was bustling with all sorts of cultivators, which suited Lin Yanghao perfectly—the more chaotic, the better.

This way, the Dan Sect would find it harder to track them. Naturally, Lin Yanghao and Bone Rock would not reveal their true appearances.

They had changed their attire completely; now, they bore no resemblance to their former selves. If they weren’t together, they wouldn’t recognize each other.

Settling in, Lin Yanghao ordered a large amount of spirit wine and spirit food.

As soon as the dishes were served, Lin Yanghao’s mouth watered.

Since parting with Shang Tian, he hadn’t tasted spirit wine or spirit food, nor even ordinary food.

This time, he ordered only top-grade spirit food, far superior to last time. Of course, the price was staggering—each portion cost over a thousand medium-grade spirit stones, and he had ordered so much.

This meal alone cost Lin Yanghao ten thousand medium-grade spirit stones.

Although he had plenty of spirit stones, he couldn’t afford such extravagance forever. At this rate, his fortune would soon be depleted.

This feast gave Lin Yanghao a true taste of luxury.

“Didn’t expect it, kid. Your cultivation isn’t great, but you’re quite wealthy,” Bone Rock said, clapping in amazement. Lin Yanghao’s wealth probably rivaled that of many cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage.

“Still nowhere near your level,” Lin Yanghao replied. Knowing Bone Rock used top-grade spirit stones for his array’s core, he realized the latter was a hidden powerhouse.

It made sense—Bone Rock’s sect gates were even forged from Star Emperor Purple Iron.

“Don’t blame me for not warning you. With your current cultivation, eating so much spirit food will only overwhelm your body,” Bone Rock said. He had never seen anyone order so much—why such extravagance? It’s not as if you’re starving and about to be reborn.