He let out a helpless inward sigh. As expected, trouble followed closely after showing off.
“Since that is the case…”
Chen Ping nodded, a seemingly helpless smile appearing on his face. “Then I shall impose on Sect Master Ling for a few days.”
“Hahaha, excellent! Fellow daoist Chen is indeed a reasonable man!”
Ling Yunzi smiled broadly, relief evident in his heart.
He was truly filled with curiosity and wariness towards Chen Ping, but he also sincerely wished to obtain information about Soul Devourer from him.
This demonic fiend from ten thousand years ago, who had once thrown the Ninth Heaven and even higher realms into turmoil, had reappeared. Ling Yunzi could not treat it lightly.
“Clean up the battlefield, treat the wounded, and return to the sect!”
Ling Yunzi issued the order, then gestured invitingly to Chen Ping. “Fellow daoist Chen, please come this way.”
Chen Ping nodded. He cast one final glance towards the direction of the Myriad Beasts Gate, a faint unease stirring in his heart.
But for now, he could only set it aside. He followed Ling Yunzi, the two transforming into streaks of flowing light heading towards the Xuantian Sword Sect in the Myriad Swords Mountain Range.
…
Meanwhile, on the road from the Scarlet Blood Plain back to the Myriad Souls Demonic Sect headquarters.
The retreating army of the Myriad Souls Demonic Sect was enveloped in an atmosphere of extreme oppression.
They had come with overwhelming momentum, yet returned like routed dogs. Most importantly, their sect master Hun Sha had been publicly slapped across the face by a mere seventh-grade Human Immortal realm junior.
This unparalleled humiliation hung like a heavy dark cloud over the heart of every demonic sect disciple.
Hun Sha had already taken healing pills. The swelling on his face had subsided somewhat, but the clear five-finger imprint remained faintly visible.
He remained silent the entire way, the venom and killing intent in his eyes nearly spilling over. The low pressure radiating from him made the elders following close by tremble with fear, none daring to speak lightly.
“Sect Master…” One trusted elder finally steeled himself and cautiously spoke up. “This defeat was entirely due to that cunning and insidious little beast Chen Ping stirring discord! If this grudge goes unavenged, how can our Myriad Souls Demonic Sect maintain a foothold in the Tenth Heaven?”
Hun Sha abruptly halted his escape light and turned his head. His scarlet eyes fixed deadly on the speaking elder, startling the latter so much he nearly plummeted from the sky.
“Revenge? How to take revenge?!”
Hun Sha’s voice was hoarse like grinding sandpaper. “This seat’s condition has not recovered. The sect’s elites have lost nearly thirty percent! Though the Xuantian Sword Sect also suffered heavy casualties, with that bizarre Chen Ping present, attacking the Myriad Beasts Gate now would be no different from walking into a trap!”
The trusted elder swallowed hard. A sinister glint flashed in his eyes as he lowered his voice. “Sect Master, since Chen Ping knows how to provoke discord, causing our sect and the Xuantian Sword Sect to injure each other severely, why can we not treat him as he treated us?”
“Oh?”
Hun Sha’s gaze sharpened. “Explain in detail.”
“Sect Master, from what this subordinate knows, the Myriad Beasts Gate is far from monolithic.”
The elder smiled sinisterly. “In the Myriad Beasts Gate, pure-blooded beast clans hold supremacy. However, there is also a portion who are descendants born from unions between humans or demons and beasts. They are called the Fused Beast clan.”
“Fused Beast clan?” Hun Sha frowned slightly. He had heard a little about them.
“Exactly.”
The elder continued. “It is said that due to the laws of heaven and earth, although these Fused Beasts are born with powerful physiques and can even inherit partial innate divine abilities from both parents, their intelligence generally develops incompletely. Or rather… they have mental deficiencies, easily becoming obsessive and impulsive.”
“Their status in the Myriad Beasts Gate is low. They are often excluded and discriminated against by the pure-blooded beast clans, relegated to menial and lowly tasks. Resentment has long accumulated in their hearts.”
“You mean…” A dangerous light began to flicker in Hun Sha’s eyes.
“We can secretly contact influential figures among the Fused Beast clan, offering great benefits to incite them to rebel against the rule of pure-blooded beasts like Lietian!”
The elder grew more excited as he spoke. “We can promise that as long as they seize control of the Myriad Beasts Gate, our Myriad Souls Demonic Sect will recognise their status, form an alliance with them, and share resources!”
“Even… we can help them remedy their intelligence defects!”
