"I fled into the forest and finally shook off the expert from the Blood Lotus Sect. I don’t know what happened after that."
"By the way, what about the body?"
Gao Lin shook his head. "It must have been taken away."
When they arrived, they did find a patch of blood but no body. What Xu Yang said matched the scene they found.
He believed Xu Yang wasn’t a secret agent for the Blood Lotus Sect, but he had no idea if the Sect’s leadership would believe him when he reported back.
Two at the Great Success of Marrow Cleansing, one at Minor Achievement, including Qiao Yong himself—the first of the Ten Heroes. Three of the Outer Sect’s Ten Heroes had died this time, and a batch of Spirit Iron was lost as well.
The Sect’s leadership might be looking for a scapegoat.
The two waited for about two hours. Lu Ren and the other disciples sent to track the enemy gradually returned, all empty-handed.
They dug a large pit, burying Qiao Yong and the others where they fell. Then, the group returned to the Purple Sun Sect.
That day, the entire Purple Sun Sect was shaken. Everyone learned that a large number of their fellow disciples had been killed.
The Outer Disciples didn’t know the details, but they knew that three of the Ten Heroes, including Qiao Yong, had died. In total, eighteen Outer Disciples were dead.
"It’s a good thing we listened to Brother Xu."
When Qiu Wenjie and Tian Li heard the news, a chill ran down their backs, and they were so frightened they nearly wet themselves.
Eighteen people, not eighteen pigs—dead just like that.
If Xu Yang hadn’t talked them out of it, they would be dead, too.
"...And that is everything that happened, according to Junior Brother Xu."
In the Fire Cloud Elder Hall, Gao Lin recounted what Xu Yang had said.
Elder Huoyun’s face was deathly pale, and his aura was faint. He spoke in a soft voice, "How much of what he said do you think is true?"
Gao Lin replied, "I don’t believe Junior Brother Xu was lying. His story matches what I found at the scene."
"You think he isn’t a Blood Lotus Sect spy? So many people died, including your third and fourth junior brothers, yet he—someone who just entered the Marrow Cleansing realm—managed to survive. Don’t you find that too coincidental?"
Gao Lin sighed internally. ’So Master really has started to suspect Junior Brother Xu.’
"I don’t believe Junior Brother Xu is a spy. He’s always been extremely cautious; he likely survived only because he was the first to escape. If he were truly one of the Blood Lotus Sect’s people, they wouldn’t be foolish enough to leave him as the only survivor, deliberately drawing our suspicion to him.
"Besides, he hardly ever leaves the Sect. That’s not the behavior of a spy."
Elder Huoyun paused. "What you say does make some sense. But whether or not he’s a Blood Lotus Sect spy, we’ll know soon enough. Keep an eye on him for now."
Gao Lin was alarmed. "Master, does that mean..."
A murderous glint appeared in Elder Huoyun’s eyes. "The Sect Leader is enraged. He’s already sent for the Peak Master of Beast King Peak to come out of seclusion. The Blood Lotus Sect has killed our Purple Sun Sect disciples time and again. Do they really think we can’t touch them just because they’re hiding in some gutter?"
Gao Lin’s spirits soared upon hearing this. "With the Peak Master of Beast King Peak on the move, those bastards will have nowhere left to hide!"
Elder Huoyun waved a dismissive hand. "This matter is not to be discussed outside this hall. You may go. And give Xu Yang the contribution points he has earned."
Gao Lin nodded, cupped his hands in a salute, and withdrew from the hall.
...
"Xu Yang, it’s that bastard again!"
In a cave somewhere in the Yunling Mountain Range, Zhang Sai gnashed his teeth as he stared at Li Shao’s corpse—or what was left of it, with only half a head.
During their last attack on the Earth Vein Fire Valley, they had lost one person because Xu Yang had concealed his Cultivation. He couldn’t believe it was happening again. Aside from Li Shao, everyone else had survived.
"Brother Li, calm down," a man stepped forward and said. "A Blood Envoy at the Great Success of Marrow Cleansing went to hunt down Xu Yang. He should be dead by now. Why concern yourself with a dead man?"
Hearing this, the look on Zhang Sai’s face eased slightly. "I hope so."
But a faint sense of unease still lingered. Blood Envoy Xie Bo had yet to return from his hunt for Xu Yang, and he didn’t know if the kill had been successful.
’That bastard hides his strength too well, never revealing his true talent and Cultivation. Both times, he was the first to flee. He’s obviously an extremely cautious person. Xie Bo might not have been able to kill him after all.’
"Cut the crap. Haven’t Qian Kuan and Xie Bo arrived yet?" a deep voice rumbled from the back of the cave.
Zhang Sai quickly cupped his hands in a salute. "Blood Envoy, sir, neither of them has arrived."
"How long has it been since the appointed time?" the Blood Envoy’s voice rang out.
"Blood Envoy, sir, it’s been two hours already," Zhang Sai replied.
The Blood Envoy snorted. "Those two wastes of space. I fear they’re already dead."
’They’re more than two hours late. They’re definitely not coming back. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been delayed this long.’
Zhang Sai was stunned. "How is that possible? That Xu Yang is only at the Minor Achievement of Marrow Cleansing! How could he have killed Blood Envoy Xie? And Blood Envoy Qian Kuan... they only scattered after the matter was concluded.
"Could he have taken the Spirit Iron and run off?"
’Qian Kuan was carrying a bag of Spirit Iron. If greed got the better of him, maybe he just took the goods and bolted instead of meeting up.’
"He wouldn’t dare," the Blood Envoy sneered. "Even for ten bags of Spirit Iron, he wouldn’t have the guts to betray the Holy Sect."
’These low-level grunts have no idea what the Holy Sect is capable of.’
"Let’s move. We’re not waiting for them," the Black-robed Blood Envoy said, getting to his feet and heading for the mouth of the cave.
Zhang Sai and the others abandoned Li Shao’s corpse and followed. Outside the cave, they found a Lotus Envoy, a lotus embroidered on their chest, who had appeared at some unknown point.
"We pay our respects to the Lotus Envoy."
Zhang Sai and the others dared not hesitate. They quickly formed the Lotus Seal with their hands, dropped to their knees, and kowtowed.
"You said that Xu Yang is at the Minor Achievement of Marrow Cleansing?" the Lotus Envoy asked, looking at Zhang Sai.
Zhang Sai nodded. "Yes, Lotus Envoy. When the fight began, Xu Yang revealed his cultivation at the Minor Achievement of Marrow Cleansing, killed Li Shao, and then fled. We successfully eliminated everyone else. Blood Envoy Xie went after him, but he never returned, so we don’t know if he succeeded."
’This boy hides his true strength so well. With a talent like that, I fear he’s no weaker than Li Chuyang and his group.’
Killing intent flared within the Lotus Envoy. "Xu Yang didn’t die," they said. "He made it back to the Purple Sun Sect alive."
’He’s not dead?’
’Blood Envoy Xie, an expert at the Great Success of Marrow Cleansing, hunted him personally and still couldn’t kill him? This guy’s ability to stay alive is just too damn good.’
"Give me the Spirit Iron," the Lotus Envoy commanded. "Don’t bother waiting for Qian Kuan and Xie Bo. If they’re not here by now, they’re likely dead."
The Lotus Envoy snatched the bags from the hands of Zhang Sai and his men, then vanished into the mountains like a phantom.
Zhang Sai and his men shared a look before they too vanished.
...
Xu Yang remained in seclusion for three days to "recover" from his injuries. To his slight relief, the Sect’s leadership didn’t seem to suspect him. Even Elder Huoyun hadn’t summoned him for questioning and had even sent over his contribution points.
’I still have less than four hundred contribution points. A Pill Formula for the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm costs over a thousand. I’ll have to take on some missions.’
Elder Huoyun had given him one hundred and fifty contribution points, but even with what he already had, he couldn’t afford the Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill Formula.
Lost in thought, he arrived at the dining hall, where he found all eyes turning to watch him.
"He’s damn lucky to be alive. So many people died, yet he’s the sole survivor," someone whispered.
The Outer Disciples were unaware of the details, but these Inner Sect Disciples knew exactly what had happened.
For Xu Yang to have survived was nothing short of a miracle.
"He’s more than lucky. I heard this is the second time something like this has happened to him at the Earth Vein Fire Valley, and he’s survived both times."
"Lucky? What luck? I say he’s a spy for the Blood Lotus Sect. Otherwise, how could he be the only one to survive when so many others died? We should all stay far away from him from now on."
The moment those words were spoken, the surrounding chatter instantly died down. Everyone turned to look at the speaker, Luo Xin.
Though many suspected Xu Yang was a spy for the Blood Lotus Sect, no one had dared to say it aloud. To make such an accusation in front of so many people was a clear, malicious attempt to seal Xu Yang’s fate.
Xu Yang strode forward, his gaze fixed intensely on Luo Xin. "If you have evidence that I’m a spy for the Blood Lotus Sect, you can report it directly to the Peak Master or go to the Law Enforcement Hall. But if you dare slander my name again, I, Xu Yang, will not rest until one of us is dead."
He couldn’t afford to be branded as a Blood Lotus Sect spy. If this weren’t the wrong time and place, he would have already attacked.
"Whether it’s true or not, you know best," Luo Xin sneered. "Why don’t you tell everyone how you managed to survive when even masters at the Great Success of Marrow Cleansing were killed."