Others didn’t notice Du Dong’s subtle movements, but Han Li, as a precaution, had been monitoring his every action with his spiritual sense since entering the area.
Although Du Dong was now sitting cross-legged with his head lowered, his lips trembled slightly as they opened and closed—clearly, he was whispering to someone through a private transmission. There was an accomplice in the room.
To avoid alerting them, Han Li refrained from forcibly intercepting their conversation and thus didn’t know who the other party was. However, the only ones who could evade his spiritual sweep without detection were the four Core Formation cultivators in the room.
Han Li’s mind raced as his gaze swept over them one by one, though he couldn’t immediately determine who was more suspicious.
Just then, Yin Yue’s voice reached him through a transmission.
“Brother Han, the roots of the Spirit Eye Tree are also protected by a barrier. Though I have a way to force my way inside, I can’t guarantee I won’t alert the Core Formation cultivators within. Do you need me to break through?” Yin Yue whispered.
“Don’t act rashly! Forceful methods should only be used as a last resort. I suspect chaos will erupt here soon—we can act then. Yin Yue, return for now.” Han Li rejected the suggestion without hesitation and recalled her.
Yin Yue obeyed without protest, and the miniature silver wolf silently slipped back into Han Li’s body. Han Li then closed his eyes, focusing only on Du Dong’s movements without any further action.
After an unknown length of time, Du Dong stopped speaking and raised his head to glance around, his eyes flickering with something strange.
Han Li tensed, wondering if the man was about to act—but Du Dong simply lowered his head again, and nothing happened.
Han Li frowned slightly, puzzled.
Then, a deafening explosion shook the cavern violently. Every meditating cultivator jolted awake, their faces filled with shock as they exchanged glances.
The three elders—the gray-robed one included—also showed surprise. The yellow-robed cultivator frowned and hurried toward the stone door, but before he could reach it, the cavern entrance swung open on its own, revealing the long-faced elder stepping in with a grim expression.
“Senior Brother Hu, what’s happening?” the yellow-robed cultivator asked urgently.
“We’ve been exposed! A group of masked cultivators is attacking the valley’s formation outside—some at Core Formation, and possibly even a Nascent Soul elder among them. It must be either the Righteous Alliance or the Six Devilish Sects; no other faction has such resources. Senior Lan has gone to reinforce the formation, but they’re outnumbered. You all must come with me to assist. Only Senior Brother Wei needs to stay here. As for the eye-washing ritual for these disciples, postpone it for now. Fellow Daoist Yue, take them to a quiet chamber. Senior Brother Wei, kill anyone who dares enter the Sacred Tree Cavern.” The long-faced elder spoke rapidly, his voice laced with killing intent.
“Understood. Brother Hu, lead the others to face the enemy. I’ll guard this place.” The disheveled elder inside the barrier replied calmly.
The long-faced elder nodded in relief and quickly departed with the gray-robed elder and the middle-aged man from Hundred Crafts Pavilion.
The yellow-robed cultivator turned to the disciples and ordered bluntly, “You heard him. The ritual is postponed. Follow me to a quiet chamber for now.” Without another word, he strode away.
The young cultivators didn’t dare delay and hurried after him.
Han Li watched as Du Dong obediently followed the group out of the stone forest and cavern without any suspicious movements. He sneered inwardly but maintained his composure, blending in with the others.
If even Du Dong, with his ulterior motives, remained calm, why should he rush? Still, he wondered if the chaos outside was connected to Du Dong. The timing was too perfect—was Du Dong coordinating with someone outside?
Soon, the ten disciples were led through winding passages into a large stone chamber. After a few brief instructions, the yellow-robed cultivator left, presumably to join the battle.
The distant explosions grew louder, and the ground trembled more violently, as if a fierce battle raged outside.
Though uneasy, the disciples relaxed slightly once the elder left and began murmuring in small groups by sect.
Han Li, Du Dong, the Mu woman, and Sun Huo naturally gathered together.
“Who would’ve thought Elder Bai of the Ancient Sword Sect was a spy for the Righteous Alliance? And here I admired him as a Core Formation cultivator who rose from the ranks of rogue cultivators!” Sun Huo sighed, as if this had weighed on him for a long time.
“Junior Brother Sun, do you really think rogue cultivators can reach Core Formation so easily? Without backing from a major family, few have the chance. You, on the other hand, are a genuine rogue cultivator. I’ve heard many families are eager to take you in as a son-in-law. Why not pick one? It’d give you plenty of support in your cultivation.” The Mu woman glanced at him coldly, her tone indifferent.
Sun Huo snorted. “I refuse to believe cultivation depends on family ties. I have no interest in marrying into one.” His expression hardened with determination, though his gaze lingered on the Mu woman’s striking face with a hint of longing. She ignored it.
“Still, Elder Bai was a pitiable man,” Du Dong suddenly interjected.
“Pitiable? What do you mean, Junior Nephew Du?” Sun Huo frowned in confusion. The Mu woman’s eyes flickered with surprise as she studied the burly man.
Instead of answering, Du Dong smirked—his usual simple demeanor gone—and turned to Han Li with a sly look. “Junior Brother Han, don’t you agree?”
“I wouldn’t know. I’m not familiar with Elder Bai,” Han Li replied calmly, unfazed by the sudden attention.
“Is that so? Then why do I feel—”
“Junior Nephew Du, you’re being disrespectful! I asked you a question!” Sun Huo snapped, irritated by the man’s disregard.
“Why shout? I heard you just fine—I just don’t care to answer nonsense.” Du Dong sneered, his eyes glinting coldly as his expression twisted into something sinister.
“What—who are you really?” The Mu woman’s hand flew to her storage pouch as she demanded sharply.
The other disciples noticed the tension and turned to watch in surprise.
A man’s voice answered from outside, icy and mocking: “A direct disciple of the Illusory Veil Sect of the Devilish Path—does that satisfy you, juniors?”
A deafening crash followed as the chamber door shattered into pieces. The disciples gasped, summoning their magic tools in alarm as a familiar figure stepped through the wreckage.
“Elder Bai!” a disciple from the Ancient Sword Sect blurted, paling in shock.
The others stared in disbelief at the scholarly-robed man. They had all witnessed his capture and imprisonment—how was he here now, seemingly unharmed and unrestrained?
“You’re late. We were about to act without you,” Du Dong said coldly, unsurprised.
The white-robed cultivator scoffed. “You don’t know how terrifying that old monster’s sword threads are. Even with precautions, I was truly restrained. If you hadn’t assured me he wouldn’t kill me, I’d never have cooperated.”
Du Dong smirked. “We didn’t expect him to come personally either. But everything’s gone as planned. Uncle Fen and Senior Qin should buy us enough time.”
As they spoke, the other disciples realized the danger. One quick-thinking Ancient Sword Sect disciple bolted toward the door on a red light, hoping to escape.
But as he passed the white-robed man, a flash of blinding white light severed both him and his magic tool in half. His corpse thudded to the ground.
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