Chapter 601: Scheming

Chapter 601: Scheming

Chu Ning continued to burrow deeper into the ground.

The entire mountain was still trembling incessantly.

In the sky above, the cold shout that had sounded earlier was still echoing.

"We've been keeping an eye on this area for hundreds of miles for years, waiting for someone to use this teleportation array. And now that someone has, you want to let them escape?"

Hearing this, Chu Ning's heart sank as he was burrowing underground.

It seemed that the Demon Vortex Sect had already suspected him and the Cangxuan Sacred Turtle after the Nine Transformations Spirit Mountain's space collapsed.

That was why they had been keeping a close watch on this area.

They had thought that Chu Ning and the Cangxuan Sacred Turtle might be heading to North Cold.

Perhaps they couldn't pinpoint the location of the teleportation array, but they had managed to narrow down the general area.

And now, with the help of the Gale Wind Dagger, they not only sensed the spatial fluctuations in this area but also directly affected the Cangxuan Sacred Turtle's recent teleportation.

The Gale Wind Dagger was an extremely famous spiritual treasure on the Skylid Continent.

With its aid, one could sense spatial fluctuations within a hundred-mile radius.

Moreover, when wielded, it could influence spatial power and disrupt spatial teleportation.

The spatial power fluctuations from the teleportation array earlier must have been too strong for the Earth Spirit Illusion Array to conceal.

Then, the Demon Tyrant Lord of the Demon Vortex Sect discovered it and immediately used the Gale Wind Dagger to affect the spatial power.

However, the Demon Tyrant Lord was still quite far away when he used the Gale Wind Dagger, perhaps several dozen miles distant.

The Cangxuan Sacred Turtle's teleportation wasn't interrupted.

But under such interference, whether it would still teleport to North Cold as intended was uncertain.

In this situation, Chu Ning naturally wouldn't dare to use the teleportation array again.

However, Chu Ning also understood that the Gale Wind Dagger's most significant function was sensing spatial power.

As long as he didn't use Void Escape but instead relied on ordinary Earth Penetration Techniques, he might not be discovered by the Demon Tyrant Lord.

Indeed, things unfolded as Chu Ning had anticipated.

Not long after he used the Earth Penetration Technique to move away, a formidable figure flew to the mountain's summit.

This person wore a black robe, its hem fluttering in the wind, and his deep eyes shone with a cold light.

His brows exuded a murderous aura, a testament to his years of cultivating the demonic path.

As soon as the Demon Tyrant Lord appeared, his divine sense enveloped the entire mountain peak.

But soon after, his expression turned unpleasant.

Within the range of his divine sense, there was not only no trace of any human presence but also no sign of any array at all.

"The spatial power fluctuations just now were clearly coming from this mountain, but now I can't sense the teleportation array at all. What kind of array or restriction could have such a perfect concealment effect?"

A hint of surprise flashed in the Demon Tyrant Lord's eyes, but he immediately plunged into the earth, searching meticulously.

However, the Earth Spirit Illusion Array was incredibly intricate.

Even the Cangxuan Sacred Turtle couldn't detect it, and although the Demon Tyrant Lord's divine sense was indeed powerful, he couldn't easily sense it either.

Holding the Gale Wind Dagger, he kept shuttling back and forth through the mountain but still found nothing.

Finally, the Demon Tyrant Lord's expression turned truly unpleasant.

"The spatial power is no longer fluctuating, and there's not a trace to be found. Could it be that they've already teleported away using that array? Long-distance teleportation arrays often have restrictions and can only teleport one person at a time.

I immediately used the Gale Wind Dagger to disrupt the spatial power, so even if they teleported, it should only have been able to transport one cultivator. Could it be that only that one Demigod cultivator arrived?"

The Demon Tyrant Lord muttered to himself, then emerged from the earth and flew into the sky, sending out a signal.

Soon after, a Nascent Soul cultivator arrived.

"Lord!"

The Nascent Soul cultivator bowed respectfully to the Demon Tyrant Lord, but before he could speak, the Demon Tyrant Lord's cold voice interrupted:

"Arrange for three hundred sect members to come here and dig this mountain inside out!"

The Nascent Soul cultivator from the Demon Vortex Sect was slightly startled by this command.

"Lord, do you mean we've discovered a spirit stone mine here?"

"What spirit stone mine? We've found an enemy!"

The Demon Tyrant Lord coldly recounted the recent events.

Upon hearing this, the Nascent Soul cultivator's expression changed drastically, and he immediately returned to make the necessary arrangements.

Before long, three hundred Demon Vortex Sect cultivators of varying cultivation levels arrived at the mountain.

"Dig up this mountain, inch by inch!"

The Demon Tyrant Lord issued a cold command from the air.

The Demon Vortex Sect cultivators exchanged glances, their faces filled with disbelief.

Although this mountain wasn't particularly large, its highest point reached two hundred zhang, and it covered nearly twenty li.

Even with their cultivator's superior digging speed compared to ordinary people, it would still take them tens of days to excavate the entire mountain.

Even if cultivators have divine sense to scan, they wouldn't usually go through such trouble.

However, they naturally dared not disobey the Demon Tyrant Lord's words.

At that moment, three hundred people descended upon the mountain, starting to dig up the mountain bit by bit.

Most of these cultivators were at the Foundation Establishment stage, and with their mana in motion, the spirit energy of the entire mountain peak quickly began to disappear at a visible rate.

After more than half a month, the entire mountain had been flattened.

But there was no harvest at all.

Upon seeing this, the Demon Tyrant Lord's expression remained unmoved.

He coldly said, "Continue digging downward!"

With these words, numerous Demon Vortex Sect cultivators continued to dig downward.

One zhang after another, the soil was excavated.

The original mountain began to transform into an abyss.

Meanwhile, in the surroundings, numerous peaks of varying sizes appeared.

At the same time, various rumors spread throughout the Demon Vortex Sect and even the Skylid Continent.

"Have you heard? It's said that the Demon Vortex Sect has found a great treasure!"

"It's rumored to be the ruins of an ancient sect, and the treasures within are countless.

Now, the entire ruins are about to be unearthed, and this time, the Demon Vortex Sect's harvest will be extraordinary."

"First, they dug up a large spirit mine, and now they've found the ruins of an ancient sect. It seems like their bad luck in the Nine Transformations Spirit Mountain has turned into good fortune."

...

These rumors were so detailed that other cultivators couldn't help but believe them.

Gradually, many cultivators began to head towards the Demon Vortex Sect.

Naturally, the Demon Vortex Sect refused entry to these cultivators who dared to intrude into their territory.

Various conflicts of different scales occurred in different places.

Initially, the Demon Vortex Sect could hold them off, but as more and more cultivators flooded in, especially Nascent Soul cultivators, even the Demon Vortex Sect couldn't stop them.

This situation was completely unexpected by the Demon Tyrant Lord.

It made him extremely annoyed.

A month later, after the Demon Vortex Sect had dug down three hundred zhang, there was still no harvest.

Instead, half-god cultivators from the Tianyi Sect, Ten Thousand Demons Sect, and Sea God Palace had gathered.

"Old Demon Xu, according to what you said.

Beneath this mountain, there's a teleportation array, but it's hidden by other formation arrays and restrictions."

"And that half-god cultivator who came from the North Cold Region has already left alone?"

After the Dark Demon asked, the Demon Tyrant Lord nodded.

A strange expression appeared on the Spirit Wind Venerable's face.

"According to the news I heard before coming here.

This person was always together with that late-generation cultivator named Chu Ning, and the two of them went to the Thunderlight Sect and Sky Vault Palace one after the other.

How is it that only one person left in the end?"

At this moment, the Demon Tyrant Lord's gaze was fixed on the abyss below, which had been dug out to a depth of five hundred zhang.

"So, I suspect that one of them is still hiding in the formation array and restrictions down there.

After all, in the more than a month that we've been here, I haven't felt any spatial fluctuations coming from this place.

And under my divine sense's scan, there's been no sign of any cultivator leaving."

Upon hearing the Demon Tyrant Lord's words, the other three half-god cultivators all looked towards the abyss below with doubtful expressions.

The Spirit Wind Venerable spoke first.

"What kind of formation array and restrictions could possibly hide from the divine sense scans of the four of us?"

"What if it's an array and restrictions set up by ancient Incarnation cultivators?"

The one who replied was the Sea God Palace's so-called Divine Sea Venerable.

His eyes flashed with a sharp light.

"It's said that ten thousand years ago, more than ten Nascent Soul Late Stage cultivators from our Skylid Continent went to the North Cold Region in search of immortal seeds.

All of you should have seen this message in your sect's records.

But as for how they got there, no one knows except for those who went."

At this point, the Divine Sea Venerable paused slightly before continuing, "If these two came from the North Cold Region, and you, Old Demon Xu, sensed the spatial power's teleportation fluctuations.

Then it's possible that this could be a teleportation array leading to the North Cold Region.

After two cataclysms, many of the ancient cultivators' abilities have been lost.

What we know is far from complete."

"If that's the case, what are we waiting for? Old Demon Xu, let your people continue digging downward."

At this moment, the Dark Demon immediately waved his hand.

"Even if there's a formation array and restrictions with powerful shielding effects, allowing us four to not detect it.

If the cultivators keep digging, they'll eventually reach the formation array and restrictions.

Once the exact location is confirmed, even if the formation array and restrictions are strong, it won't be difficult for us four to break it."

"No need for you to say it."

At this moment, the Demon Tyrant Lord glared at the three of them.

"If not for your interference, I would have gathered all the cultivators to concentrate our efforts on digging.

Long ago, they had already dug down five hundred zhang."

The remaining three exchanged glances, and at this moment, Spirit Wind Venerable spoke up:

"You guys from Demon Vortex Sect were being secretive and didn't clarify the situation, which naturally piqued the curiosity of others."

"Alright, let's step in and ask the various sect forces to withdraw their cultivators."

Hearing Spirit Wind Venerable's words, Demon Tyrant Lord's expression finally improved significantly.

Next, the three Demigod Cultivators directly intervened.

Upon hearing that Demon Vortex Sect was pursuing a Northern Cold Cultivator, the various sect forces immediately retreated.

This was a matter that required at least Nascent Soul Late Stage Cultivators or even Demigod Cultivators to get involved, so naturally, they wouldn't go and stir up trouble.

Thus, after Demon Vortex Sect dispatched people to continue digging for another month, they finally found the Earth Spirit Illusion Array set up by the Earth Spirit Illusion Sect.

Four Demigod Cultivators stood before the Earth Spirit Illusion Sect, their faces filled with peculiar expressions.

As the cultivators dug deeper, they encountered a seal, but the four of them, standing before the array, didn't discover anything.

"I never expected that an ancient cultivator would still have such means."

As Demon Tyrant Lord spoke, he suddenly waved his hand.

A powerful blood-demonic energy surged out, striking the front.

The next moment, a yellow light flashed.

Seeing this obvious fluctuation of the formation seal, the faces of the few Demigod Cultivators showed a hint of surprise.

With their cultivation, they could naturally sense that the defensive power of this formation seal was far from top-tier.

Initially, they had thought that such a well-concealed formation would be quite advanced.

Right then, Demon Tyrant Lord continuously attacked.

In just a moment, along with the fluctuation of an Earth Attribute Spirit Energy seal, the golden aura dissipated, revealing the teleportation array inside.

"The teleportation array is indeed here!"

After speaking, Demon Tyrant Lord's face changed slightly.

"It seems there really aren't any cultivators? That person named Chu Ning isn't here."

"Old Demon Xu, could it be that he slipped away right under your nose?"

The Dark Demon beside them spoke up without thinking.

"Impossible!"

Demon Tyrant Lord immediately let out a cold snort.

"These past few months, I've been holding the Gale Wind Dagger, keeping watch here. Even a Demigod Cultivator wouldn't dare to escape.

That Chu Ning, no matter how powerful his abilities are, is just a Nascent Soul Cultivator.

How could he possibly slip away from under my nose?"

"That's true, his various means are indeed those of a Nascent Soul Cultivator." Dark Demon responded at this moment.

"Then there's only one explanation. That Northern Cold Demigod Cultivator has already left Skylid Continent.

As for Chu Ning, he's either still on Skylid Continent or has left from elsewhere."

Spirit Wind Venerable continued:

"The possibility of him being on Skylid Continent is greater.

If he really wanted to leave, there's no need for the two of them to separate.

However, since that peer of theirs has already left, this Chu Ning..."

Hearing Spirit Wind Venerable's words, the remaining three exchanged glances, all understanding the meaning behind his words.

Chu Ning was merely a Nascent Soul Cultivator, yet his abilities far surpassed his peers.

If he advanced to the Demigod stage, it would undoubtedly pose a significant threat to them.

In that case, it would be best to find an opportunity to eliminate him as soon as possible.

Dark Demon, among the four, was the one most eager to kill Chu Ning, just like Spirit Wind Venerable.

At this moment, he frowned slightly and said, "If we could kill him, that would be best, but Skylid Continent is so vast.

If a Nascent Soul Late Stage Cultivator deliberately hides, even we won't be able to find him, unless we lure him out."

Demon Tyrant Lord spoke thoughtfully, "We've made such a ruckus this time, and I'm afraid this person has already gotten the news.

He probably won't dare to come to the Demon Vortex Sect's territory again. However, if we spread the news that...

That Demigod Cultivator didn't use the teleportation array to leave but was chased away by the four of us.

Do you think he'll show up?"

"Old Demon Xu, your idea is good. We can give it a try."

Dark Demon continued, and Spirit Wind Venerable and Divine Sea Venerable had no objections.

Immediately, the four of them pretended to make a move, creating a huge commotion.

Then, they spread the news that the Northern Cold Demigod Cultivator had escaped under the pursuit of four Demigod Cultivators.

Upon hearing that the Northern Cold Demigod Cultivator had escaped the pursuit of four Demigod Cultivators, the cultivators of Skylid Continent were shocked.

In an instant, the entire cultivation world of Skylid Continent was in an uproar.

The news spread rapidly, becoming common knowledge.

The four Demigod Cultivators of Skylid Continent had their plans, but these assumptions were based on Chu Ning being unaware of what had transpired here.

In reality, Chu Ning had indeed slipped away right under Demon Tyrant Lord's nose.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end