The young cultivators of the Demon Slaying Alliance might lack extensive real combat experience, but their strength is undeniable, surpassing that of ordinary rogue cultivators of the same level by a significant margin.
Most of those who came to participate in the demon-slaying operation this time are mid and high-level Foundation Building cultivators. The fact that they were almost unable to resist suggests that they were likely facing several high-level Foundation Building cultivators working together, or even someone at the higher Golden Core stage.
Shangguan Qing’er and the others couldn’t help but become more vigilant.
Of course, a few high-level Foundation Building cultivators, or a single ordinary Golden Core cultivator, wouldn’t be enough to take their lives, but they could definitely cause a lot of trouble.
“Let’s be more careful while we’re on the move,” Tang Xin said. “As it turns out, moving fast isn’t always a good thing…”
Everyone agreed.
After a brief rest for half a day, the team set off again, continuing their journey towards the swamp area.
Along the way, Shangguan Qing’er and Liu Mei would occasionally come to chat with her.
As everyone knows, the key point of a demon-slaying mission has never been about slaying demons, but about making more friends and good connections for future assistance.
While maintaining her persona of “I can’t be too friendly with you,” Tang Xin shared her knowledge about demonic plants and beasts, adding a “knowledgeable” label to her already “powerful” reputation.
“I really want to discuss with Daoist Tang for three days and nights…”
Liu Mei sighed.
“There will be a chance to try. During the day, we can discuss this knowledge, and at night, we can discuss those positions…”
Only Zhou Yu wouldn’t take the initiative to come over, either due to her personality or not wanting to disturb Shangguan senior sister.
Two days later, according to the map, they had reached the edge of the swamp area, and the number of poisonous insects and snakes had noticeably increased.
“We haven’t encountered a single demonic cultivator along the way,” Shangguan Qing’er said. “Could it be that the number of demonic cultivators in the mountains is less than the elders estimated?”
Just then—
Whoosh! Boom!
A large red light burst in the distant sky, incredibly dazzling even during the day.
It was the distress signal agreed upon by the Demon Slaying Alliance.
Their expressions turned solemn in an instant.
Before setting out, the elder did not explicitly say “If you encounter someone asking for help, you must go to their aid,” but as cultivators of the righteous path, if they were indifferent to such pleas, wouldn’t that make them no different from those of the demonic path?
“Be careful,” Shangguan Qing’er said. “Let’s go have a look.”
This could be their first direct encounter with demonic cultivators, and the expressions of Liu Mei and the others were very serious.
Zhou Yu’s face was even paler.
Tang Xin came to her side and patted her shoulder.
“Stay close to me later.”
And then use your protagonist’s halo to protect us both…
Zhou Yu looked at her and then nodded lightly.
Was she taking care of her? But she couldn’t afford to be a drag…
Moving through the forest, they soon heard intermittent sounds of fighting.
All four of them circulated their Qi quietly and sneaked closer, ready to launch a surprise attack on the enemy.
“It’s a team from Lianxi Sect.”
Liu Mei whispered.
Ahead, two men and a woman, three cultivators, were surrounded by four unfamiliar faces, bearing injuries and bleeding from the corners of their mouths, indicating they had just been through a fierce battle.
Those unfamiliar faces emitted a powerful aura ranging from the high stage of Foundation Building to the peak of Foundation Building, their presence immensely intimidating.
【Options Generating…】
【Option 1: “They’re too strong, let’s retreat!”】
【Success Rate: 100%, Reward: One multicolored stone. Subsequent Impact: Despised by Zhou Yu thoroughly.】
【Option 2: “This is outrageous, let’s charge!”】
【Success rate 100%, reward: three colored stones. Subsequent impact: Zhou Yu suffers serious injuries.】
【Option three: Say nothing and quietly approach Zhou Yu.】
【Success rate 100%, reward: +1 to keen senses, subsequent impact: enter a storyline related to Zhou Yu.】
Hmm?
What does a storyline related to Zhou Yu mean?
Tang Xin quietly moved closer to Zhou Yu, frowning in thought.
“Something’s not right!”
Liu Mei suddenly said.
“What’s not right?”
“I remember the Lianxi Sect’s team was supposed to have two men and two women. Isn’t someone missing?”
She said, puzzled.
Tang Xin’s face changed.
“Wait, when this is mentioned, it usually means…”
On the clearing, the four demon cultivators turned around without warning, raised their arms, and in a few moves, cleared the trees hiding Tang Xin and the others completely.
“It’s a trap…”
Whoosh!
Almost at the same time, three more demon cultivators appeared on their retreat path.
A total of seven people surrounded them.
“What’s going on,” Liu Mei looked at one of the three new demon cultivators, her face drastically changing as she said, “Are you the undercover agent who poisoned us?”
Among the three, there was a female cultivator, indeed a member of the Lianxi Sect team.
She’s actually mingling with demonic cultivators!
The other party did not answer her question, but instead circulated their Qi, looking over with a lifeless gaze.
“Her condition seems abnormal,” Shangguan Qing’er said gravely. “Could it be that she’s been controlled by a demonic cultivator?”
The situation on the field took a sharp turn for the worse, being surrounded by seven enemies of considerable realms was not an optimistic situation.
“Hmph, petty demonic paths,” Liu Mei looked around and said coldly, “There are seven of them, one on one, we are not afraid at all!”
“The moment you say that,” Tang Xin’s mouth twitched, “it’s going to…”
The three righteous cultivators, who appeared to have suffered serious external injuries, stopped their defensive actions and walked over in unison, joining the team of demonic cultivators.
The numbers turned into ten against four…
“All these people, they’ve all been controlled? Was that performance earlier for our benefit?” Shangguan Qing’er’s face turned ugly. “Tang Dao friend, can you tell what method they used?”
“There are many methods for demonic cultivators to control the mind,” Tang Xin shook her head, “Gu insects, poison, spells… Unless we subdue one for research, it’s impossible to tell just by looking!”
While speaking, Tang Xin had already activated the Spirit Eye Technique, observing the surroundings.
Thanks to the increase in her keen senses, her observation ability was stronger than usual, and she already had several solutions for the current problem in mind.
“We can’t get entangled,” Tang Xin whispered to the others, “We don’t know if there are any demonic cultivators lurking nearby. Of the thirty-six stratagems, fleeing is the best. Do you all have your detoxification pills? Take them first, then use the Breath Concealment Technique, and don’t breathe in at all.”
“What are you going to do?”
Shangguan Qing’er asked curiously.
“The usual escape routine.”
Tang Xin also took a detoxification pill.
The poison-blocking pills she had purchased earlier with points couldn’t be wasted here.
“Smoke!”
She took out a bunch of wooden boxes of different colors from her storage bag, her face revealing a signature “cold smile.”
Sleeping Smoke, and it even comes with other effects.
As the saying goes, where there’s smoke, there’s no harm. This thing is absolutely essential for retreats.
Who says that treasures with “Sleeping” in their name can only be used for evil deeds…
“Get ready,” she whispered, “Three, two, one…”
Bang, bang, bang—
“Run!”
