Wang Qingfeng.
An inner disciple of the "Sheng Feng Sect."
At the peak of Qi Refining.
Wang Qingfeng was feeling a bit dejected. He, a dignified inner disciple, had been dispatched to search for someone. What a waste of talent!
The person Wang Qingfeng was looking for was Gu Ziming, also an inner disciple of the "Sheng Feng Sect."
More than half a month ago, Gu Ziming had gone out for training and subsequently disappeared.
According to reliable information, the last known location of Gu Ziming was in this vicinity.
Wang Qingfeng, leading two outer disciples, Zhan Pengda and Qu Ruinian, had come specifically to find him.
The sect's actions were not due to their great concern for Gu Ziming, but rather because the current period was sensitive.
The "Sheng Feng Sect" and the "Medicine King Manor" had been negotiating a major business deal for ten years, and the official transaction was about to commence.
With Gu Ziming's sudden disappearance, the elders of the "Sheng Feng Sect" worried about sabotage from demonic sects. Those fiendish cultivators might have their sights set on the significant transaction between the "Sheng Feng Sect" and the "Medicine King Manor."
Such needless worry!
Wang Qingfeng curled his lip.
He didn't believe Gu Ziming's disappearance was related to demonic sects.
If the demonic sects truly intended to target the "Sheng Feng Sect," they wouldn't be looking for Gu Ziming; they should be after him, Wang Qingfeng! Although he was also an inner disciple, he was the biological son of Wang Shanhe, the Sect Master of the "Sheng Feng Sect," and thus held a noble status...
Bah!
Wang Qingfeng spat mentally several times.
He certainly didn't want to be on the demonic sects' radar.
As Wang Qingfeng was lost in thought, Zhan Pengda's startled cry suddenly pierced the air.
"Senior Brother Wang, quickly look, what is that?"
Wang Qingfeng followed Zhan Pengda's pointing finger.
Corpses!
He saw two corpses.
One of the corpses was even wearing the robe of the "Sheng Feng Sect."
Wang Qingfeng's eyes narrowed.
The corpse wearing the "Sheng Feng Sect" robe was Gu Ziming, who had been missing for over half a month.
Gu Ziming had indeed met his end.
The other corpse, not far from Gu Ziming, was clad in the robe of the "Yuan Tong Divine Cult."
It seemed a demonic cultivator from the "Yuan Tong Divine Cult" had killed Gu Ziming.
Damn it!
"Yuan Tong Divine Cult," this feud is now set.
Wang Qingfeng cursed inwardly and was about to step forward to examine the two bodies when, at that very moment, two cultivators suddenly charged out from the opposite direction.
These two cultivators had brutish faces and exuded an aura of malevolence; they clearly weren't good people.
They were also wearing the robes of the "Yuan Tong Divine Cult."
Wan Yingfa, an inner disciple of the "Yuan Tong Divine Cult"!
Cao Gongding, an inner disciple of the "Yuan Tong Divine Cult"!
Wang Qingfeng's pupils contracted sharply, his muscles tensing, as if facing a formidable enemy.
Those accursed demonic cultivators, they've arrived so quickly!
Wait, could it be such a coincidence? I've just discovered Gu Ziming's body, and they've appeared immediately. Could it be... these two demonic cultivators have been lying in ambush here all along, specifically waiting for me.
The more Wang Qingfeng thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.
After all, he was the biological son of Wang Shanhe, the Sect Master of the "Sheng Feng Sect." His noble status made him an easy target for demonic cultivators' covetous desires.
Damn it!
We've fallen into an ambush!
Wang Qingfeng faced the situation as if it were a grave enemy. Wan Yingfa and Cao Gongding were equally on high alert.
They were inner disciples of the "Yuan Tong Divine Cult" and had been dispatched by the sect to pursue and kill Xing Yidao.
Xing Yidao, this traitor, had always kept a low profile, never revealing his true nature. Unexpectedly, he was a "mole" sent by the righteous path cultivators.
After gaining the trust of the "Yuan Tong Divine Cult"'s high-ranking members, Xing Yidao had stolen the sect's most precious treasure – the "Book of Curses"!
Upon discovering this, the "Yuan Tong Divine Cult"'s leadership was enraged and immediately dispatched a large number of disciples to hunt down Xing Yidao.
Wan Yingfa and Cao Gongding had traveled together and, to their surprise, had discovered Xing Yidao's corpse.
They couldn't tell if this was fortunate or unfortunate.
Beside Xing Yidao's body were three righteous cultivators.
Demons and righteousness are irreconcilable!
According to the usual script, when demonic and righteous cultivators met, a fight to the death was inevitable!
However, Wan Yingfa and Cao Gongding actually hesitated to make a move.
They were only two people, while the other side had three.
It would be disadvantageous to fight!
Besides, could anything be this coincidental? They had just discovered Xing Yidao's body, and three righteous cultivators were standing nearby. Could this be a trap? Perhaps the righteous cultivators had been lying in ambush here, waiting for them to arrive.
Danger!
No hasty actions!
...
A gentle breeze drifted by, scattering several fallen leaves.
The five individuals at the scene maintained a peculiar, unified stance.
Wang Qingfeng: If the enemy doesn't move, I won't move!
Wan Yingfa: If I don't move, the enemy won't move!
Zhan Pengda: If Senior Brother Wang doesn't move, I won't move!
Qu Ruinian: If I don't move, Senior Brother Wang won't move!
Cao Gongding: If everyone doesn't move, I won't move either!
Motionless as turtles!
This bizarre state persisted for a full thirty minutes.
Wang Qingfeng's eyes watered profusely; he didn't want to blink, but he dared not! What if the enemy launched a surprise attack while he blinked? Demonic cultivators were all despicable!
Wan Yingfa's eyes also streamed with tears; he dared not blink either. Damn it! Righteous cultivators were despicable and hypocritical. If he blinked, the righteous cultivators would surely seize the opportunity for a sneak attack. He couldn't give these "hypocrites" any opening!
The tension escalated, on the verge of explosion.
Just then, a strange sound suddenly broke the silence.
*Pfft!*
The sound was faint, but it snapped the nerves of everyone present.
Wang Qingfeng shouted: "Demonic cultivators are despicable, daring to launch a sneak attack! Shameless! I'll fight you to the death!"
Wan Yingfa also yelled: "Shameless righteous cultivators, hypocritical and vile, daring to launch a surprise attack in secret! Filthy! I'll fight you to the death!"
Zhan Pengda: "Kill!"
Cao Gongding: "Fight!"
Qu Ruinian.
(⊙＿⊙)?
Utterly bewildered!
Yes, Qu Ruinian's demeanor was completely different from the others.
The other four were radiating murderous intent, their faces contorted with ferocity, shouting for battle.
But Qu Ruinian was simply dumbfounded.
Senior Brother Wang, Senior Brother Zhan, and you two demonic cultivators, do you have some misunderstanding?
No one is attacking, really, no one is attacking. I just couldn't hold it in, and let out a little fart!
A bloodbath triggered by a fart!
By this time, both sides had already engaged in a fierce and bloody battle, and no one cared about the true reason for the conflict.
The battle entered a white-hot stage from its very beginning.
Sword Qi crisscrossed, unleashing furious chops and slashes.
Balls of fire and ice arrows shot out in volleys.
Roars and battle cries mingled, rising one after another.
Kill! Kill! Kill!
By the third minute of the battle, Cao Gongding had decapitated Zhan Pengda with a single saber strike. He himself was not unscathed, having been hit by Zhan Pengda's spiritual fire talisman, half his body scorched.
By the fifth minute of the battle, Wang Qingfeng seized an opportunity and unleashed his sword Qi, cleaving Wan Yingfa in two. Wan Yingfa, a ruthless individual, self-destructed on the spot, killing Wang Qingfeng instantly. Qu Ruinian, who was nearby, was caught in the blast and severely wounded.
Three dead, two injured, out of five cultivators.
Finally, Qu Ruinian and Cao Gongding shouted in unison.
"You wait! Our Sheng Feng Sect will not let you go!"
"You wait! Our Yuan Tong Divine Cult will not let you go!"
Then, with unspoken understanding, they each fled in different directions.
Peace returned to the surroundings.