Chapter 404: A Perilous Scheme

The night passed without incident.

At the first light of dawn the next day, the cultivators silently appeared in the sky above the “evil cultivators’ lair.”

“Is this the place?” Fairy Violet Spirit scrutinized the dark, small island beneath them several times with a hint of doubt. The island was simply too small, spanning only a few miles in circumference. It was less an island and more like a massive reef.

“Indeed. Not only did the Golden Cicada Bees track them here, but the two elders also came to verify separately. The people coming and going are definitely those evil cultivators,” Madame Fan replied softly beside her.

Hearing this, the purple-robed woman nodded silently, her doubts completely dispelled.

However, this place was clearly only a temporary hideout for their enemies. Not only was the island pitifully small, but even the illusion array set up above it was extremely rudimentary, incapable of stopping anyone.

“Show no mercy!” Following Fairy Violet Spirit’s icy command, the Red Flame Old Freak hidden within the dark clouds let out a strange laugh. A few rumbling bolts of thunder and fire rained down, effortlessly obliterating the array. Without further hesitation, the cultivators charged downward.

The commotion from breaking the array had clearly alerted those on the island.

After several sharp whistles, nearly forty or fifty beams of multicolored light rose from the island as a large group of cultivators rushed to meet them. Leading the charge were three Core Formation cultivators, who froze in surprise upon recognizing the Miaoyin Sect members.

Before they could react, Madame Fan shouted, “Attack!” and unleashed a silver wheel artifact, taking the lead in the assault.

Seeing this, the other cultivators joined in without hesitation.

Instantly, the sky filled with dazzling lights and piercing shrieks.

Since Han Li intended to seize the Heavenly Lightning Bamboo, he felt obliged to contribute. Together with Qu Hun, he casually summoned his magic treasures and encircled five or six Foundation Establishment cultivators, planning to eliminate them in one swift move.

Given that Han Li and Qu Hun were both at the Core Formation stage, dealing with a few Foundation Establishment cultivators should have been effortless. Yet, to his astonishment, something unexpected occurred.

As soon as the four or five Foundation Establishment cultivators realized Han Li and Qu Hun were Core Formation experts, their expressions changed drastically. They tore through their robes, their bodies swelling dramatically, transforming into forms Han Li knew all too well—the Sinister Artemis forms. Han Li was so shocked he nearly lost his composure.

Although the transformed cultivators saw a significant boost in speed and cultivation, Han Li was no longer the Foundation Establishment cultivator he once was. After holding out for a brief period, the transformed foes were reduced to ashes by Han Li’s Green Brilliance Sword and Qu Hun’s Chaos Cauldron.

It was then that Han Li noticed these transformations differed from those of the Black Sinister Sect’s Sinister Artemis. Not only did they not require incantations or cocooning to transform, but their bodies also showed no signs of condensed Bloodlust Five Elements Pills.

This left Han Li utterly bewildered, deepening his suspicion about the connection between these bandits and the Black Sinister Sect.

However, he quickly refocused, scanning the battlefield. Now was not the time for contemplation—being caught off guard by a sneak attack would be a truly unjust misfortune.

Yet, what he saw only amplified his doubts. Most of the Foundation Establishment evil cultivators had activated Sinister Artemis transformations, forming small groups and fighting with ferocious desperation!

Their three highest-level Core Formation cultivators had already been dragged into the dark clouds by the Red Flame Old Freak’s magic, trapped and unable to break free. The continuous rumbling from within the clouds suggested they were struggling desperately.

As a result, under the fierce assault of several Core Formation and over a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators, more than half of the enemy’s Foundation Establishment forces were swiftly eliminated. Yet, the survivors fought on fearlessly, their ferocity astonishing even the ruthless Miaoyin Sect cultivators.

Just then, an enraged roar erupted from below, shaking the eardrums of the Miaoyin Sect members and turning their faces pale.

“What are you waiting for? Eliminate them now! The troublesome one is coming!” the Red Flame Old Freak’s metallic voice echoed from within the clouds. Only then did the cultivators snap back to attention, urgently driving their magic treasures and artifacts to intensify their assault.

However, upon hearing the roar, the remaining island cultivators rallied, resisting with such tenacity that the attackers struggled to gain further ground.

Several grayish-white streaks shot up from the island, arriving mid-air in an instant.

The cultivators halted their attacks, warily eyeing the five newly arrived Core Formation opponents.

The leader, a middle-aged man with a stern face, appeared dignified yet now radiated intense murderous aura. Judging by his mana fluctuations, his cultivation far surpassed the other four, likely at the late Core Formation stage. The other four were merely early Core Formation cultivators, but all glared at the Miaoyin Sect members with fiery eyes.

“Who are you people, daring to slaughter our Hidden Sinister Sect disciples? I will make you pay in blood!” the middle-aged man growled, his expression dark and fierce as he surveyed the few remaining disciples.

His words left everyone stunned. Why did this bandit leader sound so righteous, as if they were the ones in the wrong?

Some quick-witted individuals grew hesitant, glancing toward Fairy Violet Spirit and Madame Fan for guidance.

A trace of doubt flickered in Fairy Violet Spirit’s clear, beautiful eyes. Just as she was about to speak, someone shouted and charged forward: “Enough talk! You all deserve death!” It was Elder Zhao, who had been closely following Madame Fan. He leaped out from the crowd and unleashed a blazing fire streak over ten feet long toward the enemy.

Enraged, the middle-aged cultivator swirled around, and a grayish-white demonic energy over ten zhang high erupted from his body. The energy churned violently, instantly morphing into a massive, phosphorescent ghost face.

The ghost face emerged and immediately opened its mouth, charging fiercely forward.

Elder Zhao’s fire streak plunged directly into the ghost face’s gaping maw, vanishing without a trace. The ghost face continued its assault, lunging straight for Elder Zhao himself.

Panicked, Elder Zhao retreated faster than he had advanced, darting back into the crowd while shouting, “Everyone, attack together! He’s a late Core Formation cultivator—none of us can take him alone!”

His blatantly provocative words actually spurred two Core Formation cultivators and some Miaoyin Sect Foundation Establishment disciples to immediately unleash their artifacts and magic treasures against the ghost head.

However, the majority watched coldly with suspicion, remaining on the sidelines.

The scene descended into chaos.

Witnessing this, Han Li’s face twitched slightly. Without moving his limbs, he and Qu Hun slowly retreated backward.

Something felt off. Though he didn’t know what, Han Li was already preparing to flee at the first sign of real danger.

“Hold your attacks! There’s something suspicious about this!” Fairy Violet Spirit also sensed something amiss and coldly rebuked the Miaoyin Sect disciples. But those who had already attacked ignored her, continuing their relentless assault on the ghost head as if they hadn’t heard.

Seeing this, Han Li and the others who hadn’t joined the attack grew grim, their hearts sinking.

The middle-aged cultivator opposite them was no fool and also noticed the peculiarity.

After a brief pause, he decisively recalled the ghost head with a wave. The ghost head let out a strange screech, spewing countless grayish-white light orbs from its mouth that sent all the artifacts and magic treasures flying chaotically. Seizing the opportunity, it retreated to its master’s side.

The attacking cultivators hesitated, none daring to charge out alone to engage the enemy.

“Can someone explain what’s really going on?” Seizing the moment, Fairy Violet Spirit flew out from the crowd, standing between the two sides as she coldly addressed them.

“What’s going on? You’ve slaughtered so many of our sect’s disciples for no reason, and now you have the audacity to ask me?” the middle-aged man retorted icily, his eyes now an eerie jade-green.

“Was it you who hijacked our Miaoyin Sect’s goods and killed our sect leader?” the purple-robed woman asked emotionlessly, her gaze fixed on his eyes.

“Nonsense! Our Hidden Sinister Sect may keep to ourselves, but we would never commit such despicable acts!” the middle-aged man exclaimed angrily.

Hearing this, the purple-robed woman fell silent, her eyes turning frosty.

The others also sensed something amiss, their expressions shifting uneasily.

“It seems both our sides have fallen into someone’s trap,” Madame Fan suddenly stepped forward from the crowd and said slowly.

“Hmph! You fell into a trap, not us,” the middle-aged man replied grimly, his face dark as water.

Having painstakingly nurtured his disciples over many years only to see them nearly wiped out in a single day, how could he not harbor deep hatred for these people? If not for the overwhelming number of Core Formation cultivators on the other side and the mysterious power hidden within the dark clouds, he would have fought to severely wound them all, even knowing they were pawns in someone else’s scheme.

Fairy Violet Spirit’s eyes turned icy upon hearing this, while Madame Fan could only offer a bitter smile.

“Elder Zhao, Elder Fu, don’t you think you owe us an explanation?” Fairy Violet Spirit slowly turned her gaze toward the two elders in the crowd, her voice calm but piercing.