Hearing Li Feng’s question, Wild Fox’s expression shifted noticeably.
Du Sect had many secrets, but none were as closely guarded as Old Master Du’s plan. From the moment Li Feng began questioning, Wild Fox had dreaded this topic, and now, his worst fear had come true—Li Feng had asked the very question he hoped to avoid.
Unbeknownst to Wild Fox, Li Feng had overheard Wild Leopard and Wild Cat’s conversation, though they hadn’t informed him. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be so conflicted now.
Wild Fox was torn, caught in a dilemma: should he tell Li Feng the truth or not?
The choice seemed simple, but he knew a wrong decision could cost him his life.
“Speak. What’s Old Master Du’s plan?” Li Feng’s icy voice rang out again.
Wild Fox gritted his teeth and said, “Li Feng, Old Master wants to expand into Yongzhou, to extend Du Sect’s influence there.”
He decided not to reveal the truth, believing the plan was a secret known only to the Four Great Vajras. Li Feng couldn’t possibly know anything about it.
“Expand into Yongzhou?” Li Feng asked, his face expressionless.
“Yes,” Wild Fox nodded.
“You’re full of it!” Li Feng erupted in anger, stepping forward to strike Wild Fox’s mute acupoint and unleash a brutal beating. Did Wild Fox really think he was a fool, trying to deceive him even now? Did he believe Li Feng was clueless?
In his fury, Li Feng struck hard and fast, breaking several of Wild Fox’s bones. Unable to scream due to the mute acupoint, Wild Fox could only whimper in agony.
“You dare lie to me now? Looks like you’re begging to die,” Li Feng said coldly, his eyes glinting with lethal intent as he glared at the writhing Wild Fox.
Wild Fox was in excruciating pain, longing to kill Li Feng, but the sight of Li Feng’s emotionless face and murderous gaze sent a chill through him. His anger was doused, replaced by sheer terror.
He couldn’t understand why Li Feng didn’t believe him. Expanding into Yongzhou seemed a reasonable plan to him.
But now, Wild Fox knew pondering was useless. The key was surviving Li Feng’s wrath.
“One more chance. If you don’t tell the truth, I don’t mind adding another corpse to the ground,” Li Feng said coldly, releasing Wild Fox’s mute acupoint.
“I…” Wild Fox looked at Li Feng, his face etched with fear. In his eyes, Li Feng was a demon—a ruthless, bloodthirsty demon. Countless Du Sect members had fallen to him, and Wild Fox didn’t want to join them.
“Speak,” Li Feng commanded coldly.
“Old Master plans to use the Blood Refining Grand Formation to cultivate his divine technique,” Wild Fox said after much hesitation, opting for the truth.
First, this demon was hard to fool. If Li Feng doubted him, he might actually die. Besides, the plan was only three days from completion. As long as he withheld specifics, Li Feng would be doomed if he stayed in Kunyang Town. Wild Fox wouldn’t face punishment for leaking secrets.
Second, he couldn’t come up with a better excuse in such a short time. Unlike Wild Leopard or Wild Cat, who were cunning, crafting a flawless lie on the spot was harder for him than death itself.
“As expected, the Blood Refining Grand Formation. So, you plan to refine the blood essence of thousands in Kunyang Town?” Li Feng asked coldly.
“Yes, yes…” Wild Fox was shocked. How did Li Feng know about the Blood Refining Grand Formation? Had Old Master’s plan been exposed? No wonder he didn’t believe the Yongzhou excuse—Li Feng already knew.
Wild Fox silently rejoiced. Had he tried another lie, he might be dead now.
“To cultivate his technique, Du Wu would sacrifice thousands of lives in Kunyang Town. He deserves death. And that divine technique? It’s more like a demonic one. Du Wu must die, and so must everyone in Du Sect,” Li Feng said, his eyes flashing with killing intent.
Cultivation defied the heavens, but that didn’t justify atrocities. Demonic techniques might boost realms quickly, but they severed the path of martial arts, limiting true achievement.
Some techniques were deemed demonic not due to the techniques themselves but the cultivators’ methods. Improper cultivation turned good techniques into demonic or evil ones.
In his past life, Li Feng had seen many martial artists, including those from demonic and evil factions, but none had used a Blood Refining Grand Formation to refine human blood essence for training.
“Li Feng, this has nothing to do with me. It’s all Old Master’s doing,” Wild Fox pleaded, knowing the Blood Refining Grand Formation’s exposure would make them pariahs, despised and hunted. He didn’t want to die for this.
“Hmph,” Li Feng snorted, staring coldly at him. “Where is Du Wu now?”
“At the back mountain, in a secret chamber at Du Sect headquarters’ back mountain,” Wild Fox replied shakily. “He’s been cultivating there. Only Wild Leopard can see him now.”
“Back mountain? Where exactly?” Li Feng pressed coldly.
“There’s a pavilion at the back mountain of Du Sect headquarters. Behind it is a cave, converted into a secret chamber where Old Master cultivates,” Wild Fox answered nervously.
“You sure? You know what happens if you lie,” Li Feng said coldly.
“I’m not lying. Old Master is there,” Wild Fox replied hastily. It wasn’t a secret—mid-level Du Sect members knew it. Li Feng could confirm it easily, so there was no need to lie.
“How did Du Wu get the Blood Refining Grand Formation?” Li Feng continued. The formation refined blood essence, and in an era where formation masters were rare, setting up such a complex array was no small feat. Li Feng was curious how Du Wu knew of it.
“I don’t know. Old Master provided it. We don’t know where it came from,” Wild Fox said, shaking his head. Though a martial artist, he was self-taught under Old Master, following orders without questioning their origins. He knew nothing about the formation beyond its role in perfecting Old Master’s technique, possibly pushing him to the legendary Innate Realm.
“Where’s the formation’s core?” Li Feng asked coldly.
Li Feng knew little about formations, but he understood that to destroy one, you target its core. The Blood Refining Grand Formation was no exception, and he needed to know its core’s location to disrupt it.
“In Old Master’s secret chamber,” Wild Fox replied. The Four Great Vajras had set up the core under Old Master’s guidance, with Du Wu personally guarding it. Wild Fox wasn’t worried about revealing this—Li Feng, though strong, wasn’t stronger than Old Master.
Besides, he secretly hoped Li Feng would try to destroy the core, only to be killed by Old Master, avenging him. If Wild Fox survived today, his chances of personally retaliating against Li Feng were slim.
Li Feng’s eyes flickered, his expression growing grave. He hadn’t expected Du Wu to be so cautious, placing the formation’s core in his cultivation chamber. To destroy it, he’d have to get past Du Wu.
“What’s Du Wu’s strength now?” Li Feng asked.
“I don’t know, but even together, the Four Great Vajras can’t last ten moves against him,” Wild Fox said, shaking his head.
Li Feng had fought Wild Leopard and knew his strength. Though unaware of Wild Wolf and Wild Cat’s power, since they called Wild Leopard “Big Brother,” their strength couldn’t be much greater. As for Wild Fox, if he were truly powerful, he wouldn’t have been so helpless during Li Feng’s attack on his men.
Li Feng estimated he could handle the Four Great Vajras, but defeating them in ten moves would be tough. At the fourth level of Qi Refining, he could overpower ordinary sixth-level Acquired Realm fighters and barely contend with seventh-level ones. Thus, Du Wu’s strength was likely above sixth-level Acquired Realm, at least seventh-level.
If it were just Du Wu, Li Feng felt confident using all his trump cards. But with Du Sect and the Four Great Vajras present, he judged Du Wu hadn’t yet broken through to the Innate Realm. Even so, confronting him now could lead to failure.
What to do?
Time was running out. If he couldn’t disrupt the Blood Refining Grand Formation soon, the consequences would be dire. If Du Wu completed his demonic technique, killing him later would be even harder.
But there was a way.
Li Feng’s gaze fell on Wild Fox.
Seeing it, Wild Fox shivered, trembling as he said, “Li Feng, I’ve told you everything. Let me go.”
“No rush,” Li Feng said, shaking his head. “I have more questions. Answer honestly, and if I’m satisfied, I might let you go. If not, you know the consequences.”
“Ask away,” Wild Fox said hurriedly.
