Chapter 165: The Cliffhanger – Qianhong Zhenren's Bewilderment

Chapter 165: The Cliffhanger – Qianhong Zhenren’s Bewilderment

Qingyang Spirit Mine.

At the break of dawn, the sky still painted in faint hues of light.

Unable to sleep, Chang Shunping had already risen and headed outside the spirit mine for his daily patrol. Truthfully, the routine served little purpose beyond granting him peace of mind. Yet when he reached the mine’s entrance, he froze in shock—startled so thoroughly he nearly leapt backward.

Outside stood a gruesome sight: a mountain of demonic cultivators’ corpses.

More precisely, a pile of lifeless bodies stacked into a small hill. At the forefront, a row of wooden stakes had been erected, each suspending a Foundation Building demonic cultivator.

This was Xiao Chen’s handiwork from his overnight purge. Though demonic cultivators yielded meager cultivation points, even the smallest gain was still a gain. Having already drawn his sword, he’d eliminated not only the enemies but also some turncoat allies who’d betrayed their sect—a convenient double stroke of the blade.

But Chang Shunping knew nothing of this.

Stepping out to face this macabre display, sweat instantly broke across his brow. Dozens of Foundation Building cultivators blocking his path? This was worse than any nightmare. Though the row of corpses bore no life, his heart still lurched in terror.

Instinctively, he summoned a spirit shield to envelop his body while his right hand activated a Huayang Talisman, casting a protective aura around himself. The sudden surge of spiritual energy immediately alerted Yang Zhenghao, who was resting nearby within the mine.

Yang shot upright, shouting, “Something’s happening outside!”

Du Mingjie, who had just returned from night duty and barely lain down, was jolted awake. In one swift motion, he bolted out the door, yelling, “Fellow Cultivator Chang, what’s occurred?”

His voice, however, met no reply.

Chang stood frozen, unsure how to describe the surreal scene before him. The silence only heightened the tension inside the mine. Steeling themselves, Yang and Du rushed out, swords in hand, only to freeze mid-step.

Before them hung the row of corpses, their sightless eyes staring.

Du, as an inspector who’d witnessed the horrors of the Luoyan Mountain frontline, recovered first. “Fellow Cultivator Chang, what in the heavens is this?”

Chang shook his head. “I’ve no idea. This was the scene when I stepped out this morning.”

Yang suddenly pointed. “A sword cultivator did this! A senior sword cultivator struck here!”

He’d noticed the fatal wounds—all pierced cleanly through the heart by a flying sword. The others followed his gaze, realization dawning.

Chang examined the wounds, thin as a cicada’s wing, and marveled, “What incredible swordsmanship! I didn’t even notice until Yang mentioned it.”

“Every wound identical,” Yang added, “and even the late-stage Foundation Building cultivators fell with a single blow.”

Du, inspecting the corpses further, gasped, “The talismanic robes—top-grade ones—only sliced through half an inch at the heart. No damage to the backs. Such precision!”

The trio exchanged stunned glances, baffled by the mystery of the swordsman’s identity.

“Could this be the work of a Golden Core Zhenren?” Du speculated, his voice trembling. “Could a Foundation Building cultivator achieve such mastery?”

Chang’s eyes flickered with memory. “My ancestor once reached False Core cultivation. According to our clan records, he wielded similar skill—perfect control, every motion precise, no energy wasted.”

“Perhaps a reclusive False Core senior has emerged.”

Du’s face brightened. “If true, this invasion might end swiftly!”

Yang, however, frowned. “If a False Core senior acted, why bring the corpses here? Could this be Cultivator Xiao’s doing?”

Chang shook his head. “Unlikely. Though Xiao wields a sword, he’s no sword cultivator by training. I’ve seen his sword beams—vast and overwhelming, nothing like this refined style.”

Du nodded. “Timing also conflicts. He’s only been gone two days. Too short to eliminate so many Foundation Building cultivators.”

Yang scratched his head. “Then who is this mysterious swordsman?”

Meanwhile, Yao Dehai, a grand elder of the Spirit Origin Sect, led a team toward Dongyuan County’s outskirts.

Faced with the Divine Flame Cult’s invasion, retreat was no longer viable. With the sect’s elite, including Elder Zhui Fenghu and the Demon-Slaying Guard’s Ruan Hui, already fallen, reckless counterattacks would be suicidal. Yao had mobilized several late-stage Foundation Building cultivators and joined them personally, determined to assess the situation.

“Stay alert,” he warned. “If we encounter enemies, signal immediately with messenger arrows.”

The seventeen cultivators nodded, maintaining formation within a hundred-pace radius as they advanced.

Yet by the time they reached Dongyuan County’s eastern exit, not a single demonic cultivator had appeared. Though signs of destruction lingered, the streets were eerily empty—only frightened cultivators and civilians hiding indoors.

This was unnatural.

They’d expected scenes of horror: demonic cultivators capturing prey, extracting Vital Blood. Such atrocities had marked past invasions. Yet now, the enemies had vanished post-haste.

Why abandon such a vital resource as Vital Blood? Yao’s brow furrowed. What new scheme was this?

Yang Huaian muttered, “What trickery does the Divine Flame Cult plot now?”

Qiu Qichen, reassigned to this mission, asked, “Senior Brother Yao, do we press onward or search elsewhere?”

Their original plan had been reconnaissance. With no enemies found, their next move was uncertain.

Yao decided swiftly. “We advance. Qingyang Mountain lies a hundred li ahead. We’ll investigate the spirit mine.”

Xiao Chen had sent no word, likely still there. Du Mingjie’s unexplained absence suggested he might be trapped. If they hurried, they might yet rescue them.

At Wangyan Mountain, Guardian Wang Tianhu scanned the horizon from his peak, spotting no demonic cultivators.

Since the Luo Mountain invasion, Wangyan’s outer defenses had swarmed daily with enemies. For the past two days, harassment had begun at dawn. Yet now, at noon, not a soul appeared.

The unnatural silence unnerved him. His subordinates lounged in the sun, relishing the respite, but Wang’s instincts screamed—something had shifted.

At the mountain’s heart, Gu Qiuling tugged her junior sect sister Pan Qiaochun’s sleeve. “Junior Sister, this sudden retreat reeks of trouble. Let’s scout the area.”

Pan shook her head. “With the formation’s stability paramount, we must stay. If we leave and encounter the Four Great Wanderers, who’ll maintain the array?”

Gu sighed. The two late-stage Foundation Building cultivators assigned here had returned home for rest, and Yang Huaian was absent. Their weakened ranks made venturing out perilous.

“If only we had two more late-stage cultivators,” she mused. “I should’ve insisted on more reinforcements.”

Eventually, she abandoned the idea.

Yao Dehai, however, pressed on, reaching Qingyang Spirit Mine’s entrance.

The path remained eerily empty until they neared the mine. Yang Huaian, leading the formation, spotted the carnage below and yanked his flying sword upward, twisting midair as he gripped twin magic artifacts.

The sight below—hundreds of corpses—startled even the seasoned team. Yao’s shock turned to relief when he spotted a mine disciple hiding in the grass, still wearing the sect’s insignia. The mine held firm; Xiao Chen and the others must be inside, defending.

Inside, the trio spotted Yao’s group. Joy erupted—Chang felt reborn, Du’s heart soared.

“Senior Brother Yao,” Du called, “who among the seniors eliminated these demons?”

Yao blinked. “You mean… you didn’t do this yourselves?”

Du froze. “We… did this?”

He doesn't have that kind of ability! He hasn't even lifted a finger these past two days.

"Such precise sword qi!"

Yang Huaian had also noticed the anomaly and couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

Soon everyone saw the wounds - small, unremarkable injuries that shouldn't have been fatal.

Yao Dehai and the others fell into confusion. Who could have done this?

"Wait a second, where did Cultivator Xiao go?"

Qiu Qichen asked suddenly. Where was Xiao Chen? He'd only seen the trio so far.

Du Mingjie quickly stepped forward to explain the situation.

When they learned Xiao Chen had deliberately gone to find the Four Great Wanderers, everyone was shocked.

Yao Dehai immediately panicked. "Why didn't you stop him?!"

"Leaving aside the Soul Severing Needle, the Four Great Wanderers have been roaming freely for years. None of them are easy opponents!"

"The weakest, Northern Wanderer, already has Linsui Divine General strength - almost equivalent to a late Foundation Building Body Cultivator. Facing him would mean fighting two opponents at once!"

Chang Shunping hurried to explain, "Cultivator Xiao insisted on going. We couldn't stop him."

Yao Dehai sighed, "Escape techniques are good, but they depend on circumstances."

"If having an escape technique meant coming and going freely, wouldn't everyone just cultivate escape techniques?"

"The Western Wanderer has that Ice Toad technique. Over the years, it's claimed countless cultivators' lives."

"No matter how advanced your escape technique is, once swallowed whole, can you still fly out of someone's stomach?"

His words immediately made the previously relaxed trio anxious too.

"I think it's fine. That ice toad looks big, but it's not that sturdy."

A voice suddenly spoke from behind.

"You think so?"

Yao Dehai turned sharply to see who was so arrogant. "You...!"

He blinked, suddenly losing his voice.

Everyone turned to see Xiao Chen standing there with a smile, holding an enormous sack.

The sack was ten feet tall and three feet wide, bulging full.

The nearest Foundation Building cultivator jumped back in shock. Xiao Chen had been just three feet away, yet he hadn't sensed him at all before he spoke.

If this were a demonic cultivator sneaking up, ten lives wouldn't be enough to die.

"Xiao Chen?!"

Yao Dehai was flustered. "What you said... you've already met the Western Wanderer?"

Xiao Chen nodded. "Yes, he's right here."

He opened the sack and used his mana to extract three wanderers' corpses.

"This headless one is Northern Wanderer - the weakest."

"This pile of pieces is Southern Wanderer. Chopped up, but still reassemblable."

"This last one is Western Wanderer. I deliberately left the head intact for easy identification."

Xiao Chen laid the three wanderers on the ground and pulled out twenty-three more corpses from the sack. "These are the Foundation Building demonic cultivators who invaded this time."

"Adding to the fourteen over there, exactly forty. Complete set."

Since forming his false core, he'd been either capturing or on his way to capturing demonic cultivators.

Even passing Qingyang Spirit Mine, he hadn't stopped to rest, determined to secure all the points first.

"By the way, Dongfang Xingzhe went to Li Zhou earlier. I dealt with him before coming here."

"So the Four Great Wanderers have all been eliminated. Before any new demonic cultivator masters the Soul Severing Needle secret technique, this problem is temporarily solved."

"Du Fellow Cultivator, since you're here, help me tally the points."

.

The scene was eerily quiet.

One could even hear everyone's breathing.

Just fifteen minutes ago, they'd been speculating who had killed these demonic cultivators.

When they noticed Xiao Chen missing, some had worried for him, others secretly laughed at his overconfidence, while a few admired his courage.

But no one had expected he'd single-handedly killed all the invading demonic cultivators.

All eyes turned to Xiao Chen, filled with different emotions.

Chang Shunping quickly reviewed his clan records.

Forty Foundation Building cultivators, including at least three peak-stage experts.

Du Mingjie felt dazed. Though he occasionally went to the frontline, he mainly worked in the rear.

Excluding last month's battle, he'd verified fewer than forty demonic cultivators in the entire previous year.

All the rear's achievements combined hadn't matched Xiao Chen's two-day tally.

Yang Zhenghao's eyes shone with joy and sincere relief.

When three Foundation Building demonic cultivators surrounded Dongyuan County, he'd chosen to flee toward Qingyang.

Events proved that decision completely correct.

Yao Dehai opened his mouth but no sound came out.

His mind was a mess - ice toads on the left, Dongfang Xingzhe on the right.

Forty Foundation Building cultivators down, Soul Severing Needle problem solved.

He'd lived over a hundred years but never seen such a scene. He couldn't decide what to say.

Qiu Qichen recalled Xianghe Bazaar incident - Xiao Chen killing Open-Air Stall Zhang with one sword.

He remembered the burned private room and the untriggered warning formation.

If he hadn't heard Xiao Chen's name first, and just learned about the Qianzhu Building auction...

He would have certainly followed bazaar rules to punish someone for attacking within the bazaar.

Qiu Qichen looked around, shivering.

Given this man's killing intent, he was lucky no conflict had occurred.

Otherwise, his fate would have been the same as these Foundation Building demonic cultivators lying around.

As a Demon-Slaying Guard, Yang Huaian began suspecting he was trapped in an illusion formation.

After all, someone suddenly killing forty Foundation Building demonic cultivators seemed less plausible than a demonic cultivator preparing an illusion as a trap.

Thinking thus, Yang Huaian immediately activated his Ice Heart Sutra to dispel the illusion, but found no effect.

Something's wrong. This illusion formation seems unusually strong.

Drawing on years of experience fighting demonic cultivators, he bit his tongue hard.

A sharp pain came, bringing momentary clarity.

Yang Huaian quickly used this brief window to observe his surroundings.

Wait, something's off?

Why is everything still unchanged?

Could this method not work either?

As he struggled, Xiao Chen curiously looked over. "Yang Fellow Cultivator, what's wrong?"

Yao Dehai also turned, seeing Yang Huaian with blood at his mouth, expression strained.

Looks like he's been hit by a demonic cultivator's illusion technique.

Yao Dehai quickly took out a Bright Heart Sutra Bead to dispel the illusion. "Yang Junior Sect Brother, are you alright?"

The Bright Heart Sutra Bead, specifically effective against illusion formations, finally cleared Yang Huaian's mind.

Realizing he'd been under no illusion, he flushed with embarrassment.

Yao Dehai asked with concern, "Did you encounter a lingering illusion formation while maneuvering in the sky?"

Yang Huaian's face stiffened but he nodded. "Yes."

"But with the Bright Heart Sutra Bead's help, I'm fine now."

He quickly changed the subject. "Cultivator Xiao's achievement this time is truly... incredible."

Yao Dehai immediately nodded in agreement.

If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn't have believed anyone could be this powerful.

"Two thousand five hundred forty... two thousand six hundred."

Du Mingjie had finished counting, voice trembling slightly. "Exactly two thousand six hundred points!"

The current highest scorer was Ning Haochen, the Spirit Origin Sect's senior disciple, with one thousand three hundred points.

Second place was Ye Fei with nine hundred eighty points.

Combined, they had only two thousand two hundred eighty points - three hundred twenty points less.

This didn't even include Xiao Chen's previous four hundred points.

Adding those, Xiao Chen alone would surpass the combined total of the top three.

This was what they called a cliff-style lead.

When everyone heard this number, they were shocked again, but quickly accepted it.

If Xiao Chen had earned six hundred points after a month of fighting, people would discuss it for days.

Some might even try to learn, chase, or surpass.

But two thousand six hundred points? Everyone had only one reaction - That's just too damn many.

"By the way, there's another thing."

Xiao Chen took out six formation disks from his storage bag. "Any fellow cultivator familiar with formations, help identify what these are."

"These demonic cultivators' invasion seems related to these formation disks."

Yao Dehai stepped forward. "Let me see."

Before he could approach, black qi suddenly surged from the formation disks.

A blood-colored light pillar shot into the sky, but lasted only a moment before collapsing.

Had it not been for the demonic fire raining down, igniting mountains and trees, people might have thought they'd imagined it.

"What's going on?!"

"What's happening?!"

Outside Luoyan Mountain, Qianhong Zhenren frowned, repeatedly activating his techniques with no response.

Above Luoyan Mountain floated five Golden Core Zhenren from different sects.

Beside him, four companions waited.

Divine Flame Cult had been hiding their strength, mobilizing now specifically to hunt Golden Cores.

But at this critical moment when both sides had revealed themselves and battle was imminent, Qianhong had failed.

The Jiutian Demonic Fiend that should have descended from heaven to destroy Luoyan Mountain's defense formation likely wouldn't arrive.

At that moment, a red glow suddenly appeared hundreds of miles away.

"Now! Attack!"

The Golden Core True Men reacted instantly. Within less than a tenth of a breath, all Demonic Dao Golden Cores launched their prearranged assault on Luoyan Mountain.

The spiritual energy around Luoyan Mountain was instantly drained, the massive spiritual energy tide affecting even spirit plants within a hundred-mile radius.

But the next instant, the distant red glow vanished.

Luoyan Mountain's super defense formation dimmed briefly but stubbornly withstood the attack.

"Qianhong! What the hell are you doing?!"

A furious roar erupted as four Demonic Dao Golden Cores immediately withdrew.

Qianhong Zhenren looked bewildered. He didn't know what had happened either.

But the Orthodox Dao Golden Core's spiritual artifacts mercilessly pressed down upon them.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end