Chapter 10: Could Senior Brother Chu Have Run Into the Shengang Sect?

Elsewhere.

Within a secluded courtyard of the Wu Family Manor, a heavily built cultivator sat cross-legged on a bed, immersed in his cultivation. A jagged wound marred his left arm, laced with lingering sword energy that stubbornly resisted his attempts to purge it. Every so often, a grimace of pain would twist his features.

This was Liu Zhenxiong, a Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Wuji Sect and the personal disciple of the Third Patriarch.

Suddenly, his eyes snapped open, a cold, dangerous glint flashing in their depths.

"The Shengang Sect is here?" Liu Zhenxiong retrieved his identity token, injecting a surge of spiritual power into the jade. "Wuji Sect disciples," his voice echoed through the transmission, "gather at my location."

The Wuji Sect identity tokens doubled as transmission talismans, though their range was strictly limited to a thousand miles.

Upon hearing the summons, disciples like Chen Ge and Wei Hua immediately rushed over. Within moments, over a dozen Qi Condensation cultivators had crammed into the small courtyard.

Liu Zhenxiong's voice was grim. "Two Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Shengang Sect have breached the perimeter. They are likely here for me."

A wave of shock rippled through the gathered disciples.

"Xu Ming, Bai Feng," Liu Zhenxiong continued, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You two are the strongest among the Qi Condensation disciples present. Split the group in half and evacuate separately. I will hold the line here and buy you time."

Moved by their martial uncle's sacrifice, the disciples bowed deeply. "Yes, Uncle-Master!"

Chen Ge and Wei Hua were both assigned to Xu Ming's squad.

As they hastily packed their meager belongings, a sudden thought struck Chen Ge, making his stomach drop. "Senior Brother Chu purchased the Blood Transformation Great Array and left just moments ago. Do you think he ran straight into the Shengang Sect?"

Wei Hua sighed softly. "It's hard to say. Let's just hope the heavens favor him and he managed to slip past them."

Xu Ming let out a derisive sneer. "Wasn't he the one who refused to follow Uncle-Master Liu because he thought a large group would make him a target? Why waste your breath worrying about him? If he dies, that's his own problem."

Wei Hua frowned, his expression tightening. "Xu Ming, we are all bound to the same fate right now. We need to pull together. Must you really kick Chu Xuan while he's down just to satisfy your petty grudge?"

"My business with him is none of your concern," Xu Ming snorted coldly. "Or did you forget what Uncle-Master Liu just said? I am the one leading this team!"

Wei Hua gritted his teeth, ultimately forcing himself to swallow his retort.

Back when the Wuji Sect still stood, Xu Ming and Chu Xuan had been locked in a bitter rivalry for the tenth rank among the inner sect disciples. The top ten were highly coveted positions, as those who held them were eligible to be scouted by an Elder and potentially taken as personal disciples.

However, despite Xu Ming possessing a slightly higher cultivation base, his actual combat prowess always fell short. Chu Xuan had defeated him time and time again, leaving Xu Ming permanently stuck at rank eleven, forever living in Chu Xuan's shadow. Because of this, Xu Ming harbored a deep-seated, festering resentment toward him.

It was an open secret among Chen Ge, Wei Hua, and the rest of the disciples.

"Bai Feng's group is taking the east gate toward Luofeng Mountain," Xu Ming stated, his tone regaining its calm authority. "We will detour through the west gate, cross Hong Lake, and vanish into Baimang Mountain."

Any Demonic Cultivator who had survived this long was far from a fool. Ever since they had taken refuge in the Wu Family Manor, Xu Ming knew it was only a matter of time before the righteous sects came knocking. He had mapped out his escape routes long ago.

Luofeng Mountain and Baimang Mountain were two of the most treacherous, dense primeval forests in Qinghe Prefecture. Once they disappeared into the treeline, even if the Shengang Sect mobilized an army to search for them, it would take months to find a single footprint.

Of course, if the Shengang Sect deployed a Golden Core mighty figure, a single sweep of their Divine Sense could map every blade of grass in the mountain range, leaving them with nowhere to hide. If that happened, they could only curse their luck and accept death.

However, the odds of a Golden Core cultivator personally hunting down a few Qi Condensation juniors were astronomically low.

First, it was a matter of face. It was simply beneath the dignity of a Golden Core expert to dirty their hands with such weak prey; doing so would invite mockery from their peers. Second, the meager spoils weren't worth their time. The righteous Golden Core experts would only mobilize if a Demonic Cultivator of equal rank fled into the mountains.

"Let's move," Xu Ming ordered, waving his hand.

Chen Ge, Wei Hua, and the other two disciples immediately fell into step behind him. They had all altered their appearances and donned the plain, unassuming robes of Rogue Cultivators.

Not long after they slipped out of the Wu Family Manor, the thunderous sounds of battle erupted behind them.

The sharp, metallic shrieks of clashing Magical Artifacts echoed through the sky. It was clear that Liu Zhenxiong had already engaged the two Shengang Sect Foundation Establishment cultivators. The shockwaves of their intense battle could be felt even from a distance.

"Hurry. The faster we disappear, the sooner Uncle-Master Liu can disengage and retreat," Wei Hua urged in a low growl.

Xu Ming nodded, and the five of them broke into a swift jog.

However, they had barely put seven miles between themselves and the Wu Family estate when Xu Ming suddenly skidded to a halt, raising a clenched fist to signal the group to stop.

"What's wrong?" Chen Ge asked, his voice tight with anxiety. They were all acting like frightened rabbits, jumping at every shadow.

"My Poison Locusts spotted Shengang Sect disciples guarding the intersection ahead," Xu Ming whispered. "We have to detour."

Xu Ming cultivated a specific breed of Gu insect known as Poison Locusts. At first glance, they looked identical to ordinary field locusts, but when thousands of them swarmed, they could strip an enemy's flesh to the bone in seconds. They also served as excellent scouts. Before they had even left the manor, Xu Ming had scattered his entire hive to monitor their surroundings.

"Which way?" Wei Hua asked.

Xu Ming gritted his teeth. "The western route leading to Baimang Mountain is blocked by three Shengang Sect disciples. We have no choice but to head south."

"South?" Chen Ge and the others paled. "But that leads straight to the main road in front of the Wu Family Manor! There will only be more Shengang Sect disciples guarding that route, not fewer!"

"We'll just have to play it by ear," Xu Ming hissed, his jaw tight. "If it comes down to it, we'll force our way through their gaps and pray they don't spot us. Follow me."

Without waiting for a response, Xu Ming took the lead. Chen Ge, Wei Hua, and the others exchanged helpless glances before following. Weak and without backing, they were reduced to scurrying rats trying to survive the night.

The five of them crept forward with agonizing caution, gradually approaching the wide, flat expanse of the main road.

"Senior Brother Chu probably took this exact route," Chen Ge whispered. "I wonder if he made it."

Wei Hua pondered for a moment. "Chu Xuan is an Expert in disguise techniques. If he ran into the Shengang Sect, they might have just detained him, mistaking him for a wandering Rogue Cultivator."

Chen Ge's heart tightened. "If that's true, what should we do?"

Xu Ming let out a harsh, mocking laugh. "What, do you want to blow our cover to save him? Keep dreaming! You can barely keep your own head attached to your neck, and you want to play the hero? If you want to save someone, save yourself first. Don't tell me you've forgotten how the world works."

Chen Ge and Wei Hua fell into a grim silence.

"We're here," Chen Ge suddenly whispered, noticing the dense foliage giving way to the open road ahead.

"Quiet," Xu Ming snapped softly.

"Wait..." Wei Hua paused, his nose twitching. "Why does it smell like blood?"

The group froze, their eyes widening as they took in the scene before them.

Three corpses lay strewn across the dirt road. Judging by their pristine, albeit blood-soaked robes, they were undeniably Shengang Sect disciples.

Two of them had been cleanly decapitated. Their severed heads rested in the dust, their eyes bulging from their sockets in absolute, disbelieving terror.

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