Chapter 214 – Right and Wrong Don't Matter, Only Stance—Using Fiends as Bait, One…

“Tsk tsk, what a bunch of useless trash.”

“I truly don’t understand how those Direct Lineage Disciples from the major sects died at your hands. Was it just by relying on those little insects inside you?”

Hong Hua of the Giant Spirit Gate held a Gu insect, examining it curiously.

At this moment, he was sitting on the back of Zeng Jue, the squad leader of the Demon Suppression Division.

Zeng Jue lay on the ground like a human stump, his limbs brutally broken by Hong Hua.

The spirited expression he once had was gone, replaced by indescribable despair.

Just moments ago, their twenty-five-member squad had encountered seven demons from beyond their realm.

These demons were completely different from any they had faced before—not only were they immensely powerful, but, more crucially, they seemed to care nothing for honor or face.

They would ambush without hesitation, gang up on opponents whenever possible.

In essence, they were a group that would stop at nothing to achieve victory.

And when such individuals were paired with formidable strength, they became a living nightmare for Zeng Jue and his team.

In just a few clashes, over twenty Gu Cultivators from the Demon Suppression Division were slaughtered.

A squad consisting of one Peak Second Realm, four Second Realm, and five Peak First Realm Gu Cultivators was utterly powerless to resist.

Against these monsters, they couldn’t even fight back, let alone send out a signal for help.

Even the usually steady Zeng Jue had never anticipated such a situation.

Yet, even in this dire state, Zeng Jue refused to give up.

Staring at Hong Hua, who sat atop him and toyed with his comrades’ Gu insects, he rasped, “Why are you doing this…?”

“Hmm?”

Hearing the noise from beneath him, a hint of surprise crossed Hong Hua’s rugged face.

“Are you asking why we killed you all?”

Though Zeng Jue didn’t respond, his eyes, filled with hatred, answered the question clearly.

Hong Hua chuckled at this. “You’re actually asking me why? That’s quite amusing.”

With that, Hong Hua stood up, then lifted the limbless Zeng Jue with one hand.

“If I must give a reason, it’s that if we didn’t do this, we’d be the ones dead. It’s as simple as that.”

“Besides, before questioning us, shouldn’t you ask yourselves the same thing?”

“What did those Central Province Cultivators you killed do to deserve it?”

“I heard from one Cultivator that your people not only deceived them but also exploited their goodwill to trap and kill two of his Junior Brothers.”

“We haven’t questioned you, yet you dare to question us?”

“Drop your naive thinking. The moment you labeled us as Demonic Heresy, any possibility of reconciliation between us vanished.”

“This has nothing to do with right or wrong—only stances.”

“But you know what? This kind of situation… actually feels more familiar to us.”

As he spoke, Hong Hua seemed to recall something amusing and leaned close to Zeng Jue’s ear. “Let me tell you one more thing: we’re not actually allied with those Cultivators. In your terms, in their world… we are what you’d call Sky Demons.”

Zeng Jue’s pupils contracted sharply, his mind going completely blank.Just as he wanted to ask something more, Hong Hua smashed his head with a single punch, giving him no chance to speak.

After finishing this, Hong Hua turned to the other Immortal Fiends who wore similarly eerie smiles and said, “Clean up the battlefield and wait for the next prey to arrive.”

“Understood!”

Watching the group begin to rummage through the corpses and search for spoils, Hong Hua lifted his gaze and looked into the distance.

The Jade Bamboo Forest was neither too large nor too small, spanning only a few dozen square kilometers. Normally, a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator could fly back and forth across it in just a few minutes. However, this was only possible if one could fly.

For some unknown reason, the entire Jade Bamboo Forest restricted the ability to fly. Once you left the ground beyond a certain height, a terrifying pressure would descend upon you. Although cultivators could resist this pressure with their cultivation, allowing for brief flight, the consumption was immense. An average Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator could only sustain flight for a dozen seconds, or even just a few seconds—barely better than nothing.

This force was not unfamiliar to the cultivators participating in the True Immortal Trial, as it was identical to the special Restriction they had encountered on the Ascension Stairway. Additionally, the spiritual sense perception of cultivators in the Jade Bamboo Forest was suppressed to a terrifying degree, extending only about a hundred meters around them. For most Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators, this was undoubtedly an uncomfortable adjustment.

The Great Ying Dynasty had explored the Jade Bamboo Forest multiple times, hoping to uncover its hidden secrets, but each attempt ended in failure, forcing them to abandon the effort. It was precisely due to these unique geographical conditions that the Demon Suppression Division remained unaware of their subordinates’ situation for the time being.

“Girl Shangguan, when did your sword technique become so formidable?” Meow King looked at the Demon Suppression Division Gu Cultivators, whom Shangguan Yunmeng had turned into ice sculptures, with an expression of astonishment.

The other cultivators nearby were equally surprised. After all, this team of Gu Cultivators from the Demon Suppression Division was not weak—eight of them had reached the second realm or higher. Yet, nearly all of them were annihilated by Shangguan Yunmeng alone, without Meow King or the others even needing to intervene.

It was at this moment that Meow King and the others discovered another side of Shangguan Yunmeng: she did not seem to resist combat. Or rather, she was not bound by so-called ‘sympathy’ during battle. Although she had killed over twenty Gu Cultivators, she treated it as if she had done something trivial, showing no trace of guilt. This was what surprised Meow King the most.

Based on his previous interactions with Shangguan Yunmeng, he had always thought she was the type who wouldn’t even step on a small flower by the roadside. But now, it seemed his assumption was not only wrong but completely mistaken.

Hearing Meow King’s words, Shangguan Yunmeng replied blankly, “My sword technique is formidable? I feel it’s far inferior to Fellow Daoist Lu’s.”

“…”

Hearing Shangguan Yunmeng use Lu Chen as a benchmark, Meow King had no rebuttal. Compared to Lu Chen, her sword technique indeed fell short. But was Lu Chen an ordinary person? However, now was not the time to dwell on such thoughts.Meow King looked at the ice sculptures around him and said, “First, find the Gu insects on them. Junior Brother Lu mentioned that if Gu Cultivators identify us and other Gu Cultivators based on Gu insects, then as long as we can implant a Gu insect into our bodies or carry one with us…”

“…the Gu Cultivators might regard us as one of their own. That way, we can officially enter the Great Abundance Dynasty.”

“However, Junior Brother Lu still needs some Gu insects to verify his theory, so we must bring back as many Gu insects as possible for him.”

Upon hearing Meow King’s words, the surrounding cultivators quickly extracted the Gu insects carried by the Gu Cultivators, as well as those inside their bodies.

Afterward, they left the area and headed to the next prepared ambush location.

On the outskirts of the Jade Bamboo Forest, Cui Chengyun watched as no one had returned despite the long wait.

His initially relaxed mood gradually grew heavy.

He even recalled the great Devil Head, Gu Liqing, who had swept through most of the Gu Cultivators in the Great Ying Dynasty 1,500 years ago.

Back then, Gu Liqing had appeared similarly, causing immense casualties across the Great Ying Dynasty as soon as he emerged.

Cui Chengyun had specifically instructed his subordinates not to engage in prolonged battles upon discovering the exact location of the evil demons—they only needed to send a signal.

But so far, he hadn’t seen a single signal appear.

Cui Chengyun didn’t believe his subordinates had been negligent; it was more likely they couldn’t even release a signal.

Thinking this, Cui Chengyun felt he could no longer remain passive.

“Sir, should we contact the Imperial Court first?” one of Cui Chengyun’s subordinates stepped forward, clearly sensing that something was amiss.

Unexpectedly, these words seemed to strike a nerve with Cui Chengyun.

“Contact the Imperial Court? Are you implying that I alone cannot handle these insignificant evil demons?”

Seeing Cui Chengyun’s cold expression, the Gu Cultivator from the Demon Suppression Division broke into a sweat.

Cui Chengyun had no patience for further discussion and directly headed in one direction of the bamboo forest.

He had detected a strong scent of blood coming from that direction.

This time, Cui Chengyun decided to bring all his remaining men with him.

Although he appeared to disregard the cultivators in the bamboo forest on the surface,

in his heart, he was already on high alert.

It was only because these evil demons appeared once every five hundred years, and it concerned his chance to break through to the third realm and aspire to the fourth realm,

that Cui Chengyun would act so rashly.

Otherwise, he would have waited for more Patrol Envoys to arrive before making a move against the evil demons in the bamboo forest.

But now, the hope of breaking through was right before his eyes.

If he waited for other Patrol Envoys to arrive, they would undoubtedly share in the Opportunity that should belong to him alone.

Although this approach was somewhat risky,

compared to the immense benefits at stake, Cui Chengyun felt the risk was worth taking.

In the Jade Bamboo Forest, Meow King and his group.

After clearing the previous battlefield, Meow King secretly transmitted a message to Shangguan Yunmeng.

“Girl Shangguan, did my Junior Brother tell you that we should only focus on our own positions and ignore any incidents elsewhere, as he would handle them personally?”

Hearing Meow King’s words, Shangguan Yunmeng replied via transmission, “Yes, Fellow Daoist Lu did say exactly that. Why do you ask?””N-nothing…”

Meow King lowered his head, seemingly pondering something.

Based on his understanding of Lu Chen, Meow King felt Lu Chen’s arrangements were undoubtedly somewhat overconfident.

Although Lu Chen had set up Sword Formations in all four directions, that didn’t mean these formations were necessarily invincible.

After all, they still hadn’t encountered a Three Realms Gu Cultivator and didn’t know what specific methods they possessed.

While Three Realms Gu Cultivators were comparable to Golden Core Stage Cultivators,

this didn’t mean Three Realms Cultivators were truly identical to Golden Core Stage Cultivators.

Many of the Gu Cultivators’ techniques had never been seen before in the Immortal Cultivation World.

With just one careless moment, it was still possible to suffer an unexpected defeat.

Given Lu Chen’s cautious nature, he couldn’t possibly have overlooked this point.

Unless he was doing this intentionally.

The only explanation Meow King could think of was that Lu Chen planned to use these Gu Cultivators to accomplish something he couldn’t openly do himself.

As for what that something was, Meow King already had an answer in his heart.

Though he wasn’t certain who Lu Chen’s targets were, Meow King felt there must be some personal purpose behind Lu Chen’s actions.

Thinking of this, Meow King couldn’t help but sigh: “Human hearts are truly complicated. The companions at Great Cool Mountain are much easier to understand.”

“Huh?”

Shangguan Yunmeng was momentarily stunned, not understanding why Meow King suddenly said this.

Jade Bamboo Forest, Eastern Side.

Hong Hua and six other Immortal Fiends were hiding idly in the surroundings, waiting for the next group of Demon Suppression Division Gu Cultivators to arrive.

According to the plan Lu Chen had previously arranged, they were distributed around the Bamboo Forest to ambush any Gu Cultivators entering the area.

If they encountered only Second Realm or First Realm Gu Cultivators, they would strike immediately without giving the enemies much reaction time.

But if they encountered Three Realms Gu Cultivators, they would directly lead them toward the Sword Formations Lu Chen had set up.

Hong Hua had witnessed the power of those Sword Formations during the Heroes Gathering.

Even ordinary Golden Core Stage Cultivators couldn’t gain any advantage when trapped within them.

He presumed Three Realms Gu Cultivators, being similar to Golden Core Stage practitioners, would meet similar fates.

Therefore, Hong Hua considered this mission not particularly difficult.

Moreover, even if something went wrong with Lu Chen’s plan, Hong Hua was confident he could kill an ordinary Three Realms Gu Cultivator, or at least escape from them.

Of course, all this was predicated on not exposing their true identities.

This was why Hong Hua and the others appeared so relaxed.

As Immortal Fiends, they still possessed powerful trump cards.

But all this was under normal circumstances…

“Sigh, I wonder what’s taking those guys so long. Why haven’t they come after half an hour? Could they be scared?”

Hong Hua leaned against a tree, yawning boredly.

But just as he was about to stretch, a terrifying pressure instantly descended upon him.

The pressure felt almost tangible, even bending the surrounding jade bamboos.

The ease on Hong Hua’s face vanished instantly as he abruptly retreated backward.

Above them, a scholar holding a feather fan and wearing a silk scarf floated expressionlessly in the air.

Being able to disregard the Jade Bamboo Forest’s Restrictions through cultivation alone confirmed the scholar was undoubtedly a Three Realms Gu Cultivator – equivalent to a Golden Core Stage Cultivator.

Although Hong Hua and the others were confident about confronting a Three Realms Gu Cultivator,

with backup available, they weren’t foolish enough to take unnecessary risks.Therefore, their current plan was to drive Cui Chengyun toward the nearest Sword Formation Lu Chen had set up.

At the same time, Lu Chen seemed to sense something and looked up in a certain direction.

Although he was still some distance away from Hong Hua and the others, relying on his Three Realms Spirit Sword, he could see scenes beyond the range of his divine sense.

Watching Hong Hua and the others rushing toward his Sword Formation, followed closely by the Three Realms Gu Cultivator, Lu Chen knew it was almost time to close the net.

What Hong Hua and the others didn’t realize was that the fish in this net included not only the Gu Cultivators but also themselves.

That’s right, Lu Chen intended to take this opportunity to capture both the Gu Cultivators and the Immortal Fiends… in one fell swoop.

As for whether this was somewhat unethical, Lu Chen had ample justification.

When dealing with Demonic Heresy, is there any need to reason with them?

(End of Chapter)