Chapter 238: Shadows of Treachery

### The Depths of the Ghost King Sect: The Blood Pool

Within the depths of the Fox Ridge Mountain, the Blood Pool of the Ghost King Sect, the state of the Four Spirit Blood Array has transformed yet again. The four colossal spiritual beasts, once brimming with life, now lie in a pitiful state, barely clinging to their existence as they lay submerged in the blood-filled pool. The dark red light that once enveloped them has grown faint, almost imperceptible unless one scrutinizes closely. The remnants of their spiritual essence continue to be drawn into the Celestial Dragon Cauldron hovering above, draining away what little vitality remains.

In stark contrast, the entire Blood Pool seems to have come under the influence of an invisible, immense force. The vast surface of the pool is now a tumultuous sea, with bubbles rising and bursting, emitting a low, ominous rumble. The once stagnant blood water now whirls on its own, as if responding to the mysterious beams of light that shine down from above, causing the blood to surge and churn wherever they pass.

The air is thick with the pungent, metallic scent of blood.

On the Celestial Dragon Cauldron, the last of the grotesque, ancient runes has finally merged with the cauldron’s surface, transforming it into a single, seamless entity. The cauldron, now utterly unrecognizable, has lost all traces of its once-ancient, rustic charm. Instead, it exudes an eerie, malevolent power, as if the immense spiritual energy it has absorbed is slowly awakening a dormant, sinister force within.

Suspended in the void, the Celestial Dragon Cauldron gazes down upon everything, as if all creation lies at its feet, bowing in submission. A faint, thunderous sound echoes around the vast space, resonating with the cauldron’s flickering, otherworldly light. This light, like the breath of a slumbering god, wavers and pulsates, adding to the unsettling atmosphere.

An unseen force seems to be gestating within this immense space, as if a deity, long dormant, is about to awaken.

The surging, malevolent power ripples across the sky above the Blood Pool, crashing against the stone walls with reckless abandon.

As this eerie scene unfolds, the Ghost King and the Ghostly Scholar stand side by side, silent. Yet, there is no trace of fear or hesitation in their eyes.

After a long silence, the Ghost King let out a low, sinister laugh. “Indeed, it is powerful. Even though the seventy-seven days have not yet passed, and the Four Spirit Blood Array is not fully formed, it already exudes such might!”

The Ghostly Scholar did not immediately respond, but after a moment of contemplation, he spoke, “My Lord, the recent disturbance was indeed caused by the Four Spirit Blood Array. I failed to protect the array, and I beg for your punishment.”

The Ghost King waved his hand dismissively, his gaze still fixed on the Celestial Dragon Cauldron. “It is a minor matter; do not mention it. The array’s power is too great. Even I could not have anticipated such a turn of events. Your mistake is understandable.”

The Ghostly Scholar hesitated, then continued, “Thank you for your magnanimity, My Lord. But…”

The Ghost King turned, his eyes piercing. “But what?”

The Ghostly Scholar, meeting the Ghost King’s gaze, felt a shiver run through him. The intensity of the Ghost King’s eyes made even him, with all his cultivation, feel uneasy. He quickly masked his expression behind the black veil, and his voice remained calm. “As you said, the Four Spirit Blood Array is extremely powerful. As the day of completion draws near, its spiritual energy will only grow stronger. Though I have set up eighteen protective barriers around the Blood Pool, I cannot be entirely certain of their effectiveness, especially on the final day. When the array is complete, the chaos will be immense, and these barriers may not hold. I fear that without proper precautions, many of our disciples in the mountain’s interior may be affected.”

The Ghost King laughed coldly. “So what?”

The Ghostly Scholar paused, looking at the Ghost King, then replied, “I merely remind you, My Lord. If necessary, we should consider evacuating some of the less skilled disciples from the mountain’s interior in advance.”

The Ghost King’s eyes flashed with a fierce light, and he snorted, “There is no need.”

The Ghostly Scholar remained silent.

The Ghost King’s tone grew colder. “This wondrous array, gathering the essence of the four spirits and nurturing it with blood, is meant to open the gates to the Underworld. Some sacrifices are insignificant in the grand scheme of things.”

The Ghostly Scholar nodded slowly. “I understand, My Lord.”

The Ghost King let out a triumphant laugh, his arrogance evident. He turned and took a deep breath, his gaze returning to the Celestial Dragon Cauldron. As he watched the ever-shifting surface, his eyes seemed to glaze over, as if entranced.

Behind him, the Ghostly Scholar’s eyes betrayed a thoughtful look, but more than that, they were cold and calculating, far from the zealotry of the Ghost King.

### The Summit of Azure Ethereal Conclave: The Dragon’s Head Peak

The Dragon’s Head Peak, the second highest among the seven peaks of the Azure Ethereal Conclave, stands tall and majestic. On this moonless night, a hidden path winds through a secluded forest behind the peak.

A cold wind blew as two figures, one tall and one short, descended from the sky, landing on the path. They were the Daoist Priest Cang Song and Jin Ping’er.

Far from the bustling halls and towers where the disciples resided, this area was usually deserted, especially during the quiet hours of the night. Cang Song’s gaze, cold and stern, swept the surroundings, and he glanced up at the sky, letting out a sharp humph.

Jin Ping’er, intrigued, asked, “What is it, Daoist? You seem quite angry.”

Cang Song’s face was grim. “These disciples are becoming more and more incompetent. It’s a waste of the efforts I put in all those years ago.”

Jin Ping’er’s curiosity was piqued. “What happened?”

Cang Song, with a scowl, continued down the path. “The Heavenly Lock on the back of the mountain, though it looks like any other place, is a critical location. The ancestors left strict orders for the disciples to guard it. It’s only the second watch, and yet there’s not a soul in sight. A bunch of worthless fools!”

Jin Ping’er smiled. “Isn’t that convenient for us? You should be happy.”

Cang Song’s scowl deepened, but he kept walking. “Don’t misunderstand. I can’t blame them entirely. The Heavenly Lock has been opened only a few times in a thousand years, and that was only because of the Beast God’s recent attack. It’s natural for the disciples to think it’s just a normal forbidden area. Even with me leading the way, and knowing that I’ve been in charge of the security for decades, they wouldn’t have found us.”

Jin Ping’er’s smile was coy. “True, but don’t you feel a twinge of regret? After all, you were once the master of this mountain.”

Cang Song’s steps faltered, and he shook his head, as if trying to shake off a thought. He continued forward, Jin Ping’er following behind. She observed his back, sensing the turmoil in his heart, but she was no saint. Her eyes gleamed with a hint of schadenfreude as she followed him, her steps light and graceful.

The path was long and winding, overgrown with weeds, a sign that it had not been used in a long time. As they walked, the weeds grew taller, and the path became less visible. Cang Song’s expression grew darker, and Jin Ping’er, who had been thinking about the young girl, Xiao Huan, softened. Perhaps, she thought, traveling with Xiao Huan would be a welcome change.

Eventually, they reached the end of the path, and Jin Ping’er was taken aback. “Is this the Heavenly Lock?”

Cang Song nodded, his expression neutral.

Before them was not a shimmering divine artifact or a grand palace, but a simple, ordinary pit. The only difference was its size and depth, but it was still just a pit, overgrown with weeds and eroded by time.

Jin Ping’er couldn’t believe it, but Cang Song had already jumped down, motioning for her to follow. She sighed and leaped down, feeling the earthy scent rise around her. Looking up, she realized the pit was deeper than it appeared, and the edge was higher than a man’s height.

The soil was soft, but fortunately, it was dry, making it easier to walk. Jin Ping’er followed Cang Song, and as they descended, the trees and mountains seemed to tower over them, making them feel small.

Cang Song stopped in the center of the pit, and Jin Ping’er followed. In the middle was a small mound with a three-foot-long, one-foot-wide log embedded in it. Cang Song stared at the log, his eyes glowing with an odd light.

“Wait, Daoist,” Jin Ping’er called out. “Let me see the surroundings.”

Cang Song turned, and Jin Ping’er looked up, taking in the view. The Dragon’s Head Peak loomed over them, with three peaks encircling the pit. The night sky, dark and oppressive, made her feel dizzy, but she composed herself and scanned the pit, then floated up to the log.

Cang Song’s expression softened, and Jin Ping’er exclaimed, “Brilliant! Your ancestor, the founder of the Azure Ethereal Conclave, truly had a keen eye. The mountain’s spirit energy converges here, and the three peaks prevent it from dissipating. But the most ingenious part is this thousand-year-old log, which suppresses the energy at its weakest point, like striking a snake at its vital spot. Amazing!”

Cang Song’s pride was evident. “The founder, Qing Yunzi, discovered this place, and the log was placed by either him or the founder of the Immortalbane Nexus, Qing Ye.”

Jin Ping’er nodded. “Your sect has many remarkable figures. I must admit, I’m impressed.”

Cang Song’s chest swelled with pride. “The Azure Ethereal Conclave is unmatched by any other sect, and our ancestors are—”

He stopped, his voice trailing off. Jin Ping’er, feeling a pang of sadness, quietly jumped down from the log.

“Let’s begin,” Cang Song said, his voice low and steady.

Jin Ping’er nodded. “What do we do?”

The wind rustled through the trees, and the night deepened. For a while, the pit was filled with the sounds of their work. Suddenly, a dull thud echoed, and the log was thrown out of the pit, landing on the path.

In the dim starlight, Jin Ping’er and Cang Song emerged, both looking weary. Jin Ping’er, catching her breath, asked, “If we’re destroying the Heavenly Lock, why not just remove the log? Why change the energy flow?”

Cang Song shook his head. “The Azure Ethereal Conclave is a sacred place, full of spirit energy. Simply removing the log would let the energy escape, but the three peaks make it difficult. Changing the energy flow ensures that the spirit energy disperses, making it impossible to gather. When the Immortalbane Nexus is activated, the energy here will be too dispersed to be of use.”

Jin Ping’er understood. “And the other six peaks?”

Cang Song thought for a moment. “We can destroy the Heavenly Locks on the remaining three peaks, but the other three are beyond our reach.”

Jin Ping’er was curious. “Why?”

“The Main Peak, the Grand Bamboo Peak, and the Small Bamboo Peak are heavily guarded. The Grand Bamboo Peak is the main source of energy, and any disturbance would alert my brother, Daoxuan. As for the other two, I don’t know the locations of their locks.”

Jin Ping’er laughed. “Quite the strategist, aren’t you?”

Cang Song’s expression darkened. “With the destruction of the four peaks, the array will be weakened. The spirit energy of the other peaks will be insufficient to maintain the balance.”

Jin Ping’er smiled. “Indeed, you are a master planner.”

Cang Song, his expression grim, turned and left. Jin Ping’er watched him go, then kicked the log into the weeds and followed. Behind her, the pit, once so mystical, now seemed like just another ordinary hole in the ground.