: The Demon Cultivators' Conspiracy

2024-07-31 Author: Gu Zhenren

: The Demon Cultivators' Conspiracy

Han Ming entered the secret room, her mind alert and guarded.

Only two people were inside.

"Welcome, welcome!" From the main seat, Sun Lingtong clapped his hands, his tone enthusiastic.

The main seat was centrally located, with a row of three seats on each side. On the left row, in the middle seat, sat an old man. His face was weathered, his expression gloomy. Seeing Han Ming arrive, he cast a scrutinizing gaze her way.

Han Ming's eyes flickered slightly as she also looked at the old man, finding his face somewhat familiar.

After a moment's thought, she recalled: "He's the artifact master selling the Flexible Rope at the black market."

"Please, have a seat," Sun Lingtong urged.

Han Ming sat in the right row, but chose the farthest seat, which was also closest to the secret room's exit.

"Sun Lingtong, you invited me here with a heavy reward. What do you want me to do? Just say it directly." Han Ming got straight to the point as soon as she sat down.

Han Ming was a Foundation Establishment stage demon cultivator. Her face was delicate and beautiful, yet tinged with a grayish-green hue. Combined with the perpetual chill she exuded, she possessed an eerily cold beauty.

Sun Lingtong clapped his hands in praise. "Straight to the point! Good, I'll be direct then."

"I want to deal with Sun Lie. After thinking it over, you, Han Ming, are the most suitable collaborator."

Han Ming let out an "Oh?" and raised an eyebrow. "You want the Phoenix Soul Blood Incense Pills too?"

A year ago, Sun Lie refined eighteen Phoenix Soul Blood Incense Pills. After delivering some to the Zhou family, he intended to distribute the rest on the spot.

Sun Lie was generous, bold, and carefree. At that time, he was also drunk, declaring that interested cultivators should compete then and there, with the winner taking all.

Han Ming happened to be present.

She was an outer sect disciple of the Soul Devouring Sect, cultivating the Nine Revolutions Soul Devouring Art. The Phoenix Soul Blood Incense Pills were extremely suitable and valuable for her.

She immediately joined the competition. However, there were many opponents, and the competition was fierce. Forced to use her demonic arts, she directly killed one Foundation Establishment cultivator and severely injured three others.

Her identity as a demon cultivator was thus exposed.

Sun Lie, of course, would not publicly give Phoenix Soul Blood Incense Pills to a demon cultivator.

Han Ming had no choice but to flee.

Ning Zhuo spoke, his voice hoarse and his tone slow. "Who wouldn't want the Phoenix Soul Blood Incense Pills?"

Sun Lingtong nodded. "Actually, we want more."

"Sun Lie is a master alchemist. He has been living in Fire Persimmon Immortal City for over a year now, and those seeking elixirs come in an endless stream."

"His success rate in alchemy is extremely high. For each commission he completes, he usually has several pills left over."

"I have found out: the shelves in his pill storage room hold over a hundred bottles of pills!"

Han Ming nodded slightly, her interest piqued.

Her exposed identity incident happened a year ago. Until now, she hadn't left Fire Persimmon Immortal City, unwilling to give up, still scheming to get the Phoenix Soul Blood Incense Pills.

Over the past year, she had collected considerable intelligence and had probed Sun Lie's defenses several times, but returned defeated each time.

Han Ming said, "Sun Lie is at the peak of Foundation Establishment, and his combat prowess is not to be underestimated."

"Moreover, he is a master alchemist, treated as a guest by the City Lord's Manor, and has been staying in the Purple Sun Villa."

"The Purple Sun Villa is property of the City Lord's Manor. The protective formation within the courtyard is interconnected with the city's grand formation."

"Therefore, the Purple Sun Cauldron in the villa can draw upon the endless earth fire of Fire Persimmon Mountain through the formation for alchemy."

"Not to mention the guards within the Purple Sun Villa, even the protective formation itself isn't something we can breach quickly."

"If we get bogged down, we'll have to face the city guard army rushing in from all directions."

Sun Lingtong laughed heartily. "Han Ming, don't forget which sect I come from. Look at this!"

As he spoke, Sun Lingtong took out a talisman.

Han Ming glanced over, a flash of joy immediately appearing in her eyes. "A Formation Breaker Talisman? Excellent!"

"I'm in."

"But let's be clear upfront: I want at least three Phoenix Soul Blood Incense Pills!"

Sun Lingtong smiled without speaking.

Ning Zhuo snorted coldly. "You're dreaming! You should be happy if you get one."

"If the agreed-upon manpower had arrived, why would we need to add an outsider like you at the last minute?"

Han Ming's face turned cold, killing intent radiating from her. She stared at Ning Zhuo, narrowing her eyes. "The last Foundation Establishment cultivator who treated me with that attitude died a year ago. There were also three other severely injured Foundation Establishment cultivators."

Ning Zhuo chuckled coldly. "Do you think I'm like those good-for-nothings?"

As he spoke, his hair coalesced into thick, long black whips, rearing up like serpents. From under his cloak, mechanical birds poked out their heads, dozens of bird eyes crackling with electricity scanning Han Ming up and down.

Han Ming's heart tightened.

Fire Persimmon Immortal City was covered by a grand formation. Cultivators like her, who relied mainly on spells for combat, were at a significant disadvantage when fighting here.

Considering the formation's suppression, body refiners, corpse refiners, beast taming cultivators, and artifact masters actually held many advantages.

Han Ming couldn't see through Ning Zhuo's depths. What she knew was: this man made a living selling the Flexible Rope and had earned a lot of money. To have so much wealth and still be alive meant he was certainly not simple.

Sun Lingtong clapped his hands, breaking the tense atmosphere. "Alright, alright."

"We're here to cooperate, not to fight to the death."

"Han Ming, you come from a major demonic sect and are very strong. But I tell you, Tiaoke is definitely not weaker than you."

Han Ming snorted coldly and retracted her killing intent.

Ning Zhuo also dispersed the black whips, his cloak settling back down, covering the restless flock of Thunder-Silent Birds.

Sun Lingtong seized the moment. "For this raid on the Purple Sun Villa, there are only the three of us. For the Phoenix Soul Blood Incense Pills we obtain, each of us is guaranteed at least one."

"The actual situation is hard to predict. Regardless of the quantity, they will be divided based on our specific contributions during the operation."

"What do you two think?"

Silence fell in the secret room.

Ning Zhuo said nothing.

Han Ming was deep in thought.

She didn't trust Ning Zhuo, but she trusted Sun Lingtong. Sun Lingtong was from the Bukong Sect, which, like the Soul Devouring Sect, was one of the world's major sects. Their statuses were equivalent.

Furthermore, Sun Lingtong had managed the Fire Persimmon Immortal City black market for so many years and had a very high reputation.

"He's the local power here. Since he wants to attack the Purple Sun Villa, he must have some confidence."

"If I miss this chance, how much longer will I have to wait relying on my own strength?"

Thinking this, Han Ming nodded slightly, her tone icy. "I agree."

Sun Lingtong looked at Ning Zhuo.

Only then did Ning Zhuo nod. "Very well, let's draft a contract."

Purple Sun Villa.

Alchemy Room.

Sun Lie and Meng Chong stood before the Purple Sun Cauldron.

This alchemy cauldron was over twice a person's height, occupying almost half the space in the alchemy room. Its red copper body radiated intense heat.

Meng Chong examined the Purple Sun Cauldron, still reeling from what he had just heard. "Elder Sun, you want to put me inside the furnace and roast me like an ingredient?"

Sun Lie picked up a gourd, took a swig of strong liquor, his cheeks slightly red. "Hahaha, exactly!"

Meng Chong frowned, puzzled. "Using a person in alchemy... isn't that a demonic cultivation method?"

Sun Lie rolled his eyes. "What demonic cultivation method?"

"Among the hundred arts of cultivation, practicality reigns supreme. Use whichever method is best. Orthodox path, demonic path, both are paths of cultivation seeking truth. What's the fundamental difference?"

(End of )