https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-80-Tracking-Compass-Heifeng-Sanren/13509974/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-82-Acquiring-an-Earth-Attribute-Foundation-Building-Spirit-Herb/13510265/
Chapter 81: Xiao Chen, Even a Rabbit Bites When Cornered
Chapter 81: Xiao Chen, Even a Rabbit Bites When Cornered
After the massive crackdown on demonic foundation-building cultivators settled down, the Lihuo Sect once again dispatched inner sect disciples to form patrol teams and hunt down remaining fugitives.
Elder Chen summoned Xiao Chen and handed him a document. "I’ve got a lead—take a team to investigate. See if you can catch any surviving demonic cultivators."
Xiao Chen glanced at the paper. It was testimony from ten days ago. A captured demonic cultivator had implicated accomplices hiding in another location. But with so much time passed, wouldn’t they have fled already?
Elder Chen then called over a junior male disciple and a female disciple from the Second Sub-Academy. "These two joined a few months ago", he said with a smile. "They’ve performed well. Take them along—let them gain some field experience."
"Give them minor tasks. Let them handle the grunt work."
Xiao Chen studied the pair. Both were at the Core Formation mid-stage and looked strikingly similar—likely siblings.
They greeted him politely. "Senior Brother Xiao, we’re Chen Zixuan and Chen Zirui."
Ah! Xiao Chen immediately understood.
This lead, no doubt, was a setup by Elder Chen—a guaranteed trap. While officially framed as an investigation, it was merely a formality.
Who would’ve thought he’d get such an easy assignment now?
To prevent another ambush like the inner sect disciples’ previous disaster, teams had been expanded from seven to twelve members. With the Chen siblings from the Second Sub-Academy, their group numbered fourteen as they headed west to Heyang County, over six hundred li from the Lihuo Sect.
The younger disciples, unaware of the ruse, marched eagerly. They feared delays and pushed hard, traveling overnight to reach Heyang County in just two days.
Xiao Chen didn’t stop them but asked a fellow disciple from Azure Water Peak, "Why are you all so eager to fight demonic cultivators?"
The junior disciple grinned. "The sect’s offering huge rewards! Just participating in a capture grants two contribution points. Capture one yourself, and you’ll earn twenty to two hundred points!"
"If I catch one this time, I’ll finally have enough to trade for a new magic artifact!"
Xiao Chen hadn’t paid attention to the rewards before. But if even assisting earned points, the sect was clearly incentivizing disciples to grow stronger.
"Senior Brother Xiao, are we here already?" Chen Zixuan asked excitedly, pointing at the gate marked with "Heyang County."
Xiao Chen checked the testimony. "Yes. Everyone rest here—we might have to fight soon after entering."
Chen Zixuan, on his first official mission, gripped his Flying Sword tightly, eyes scanning the county. His sister Chen Zirui sat cross-legged, calmly meditating.
Soon, Xiao Chen led them to a grand estate—the Xuan Clan’s ancestral home. Twenty-eight years since their Foundation-Building ancestor’s death, the clan had no high-level cultivators left.
But to Xiao Chen’s surprise, seven Great Perfection cultivators awaited him in the reception hall, flanked by ten late-Lian Qi stage guards. The Xuan Clan Patriarch welcomed them warmly, offering spirit tea served by twenty young maids.
"Esteemed guests from the Lihuo Sect, what brings you to our humble estate?"
The atmosphere should’ve been cordial, but the Lihuo disciples refused the tea, hands gripping swords instead. Chen Zixuan hadn’t even loosened his grip on his blade since entering.
Xiao Chen remained calm. "A captured cultivator accused you of harboring demons. Any thoughts?"
The clan erupted. "Lies! Someone’s framing us!"
The Patriarch turned to two guests. "Master Zhang and Master Zhao, please vouch for us—we despise demons!"
The two Great Perfection cultivators nodded in agreement.
Xiao Chen flipped open the sect manual. "Sect law states: sheltering demons makes you an accomplice, punishable by eradication. This is your only warning."
The Patriarch sipped tea silently. A clan elder challenged, "Are you accusing us outright?"
Another snapped, "The Lihuo Sect can’t just slander us!"
Outside, clan cultivators stirred angrily.
Chen Zixuan stepped forward. "You’re hiding demons! Do you plan to join the Demonic Dao?"
An elder smirked, half-threatening, "The Lihuo Sect can’t bully us like this!"
Suddenly, a dozen late-Lian Qi cultivators unleashed their auras, pressing down on the group.
Most Lihuo disciples were inner sect trainees. Except Xiao Chen, only one disciple at Lian Qi ninth stage stood firm. Several disciples shot to their feet, tense and ready.
The Xuan Clan Patriarch chuckled. "Xiao Chen, even a rabbit bites when cornered."
"Is that so?" Xiao Chen shook his head. "I doubt it."
He snapped his fingers. Thorned brambles erupted from the ground, coiling around everyone—hosts, maids, and all. Five Great Perfection cultivators, including the Patriarch, received extra bindings. Their protective light barriers shattered instantly. The brambles’ barbed thorns pierced their flesh, draining mana like leeches.
Within three breaths, the entire Xuan Clan force was incapacitated.
Only the two guests, Zhang Daoyou and Zhao Daoyou, stood frozen, swords dropped, eyes shut—pretending to be lifeless statues.
(End of Chapter)
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