Translator: CinderTL
"Yin Shuo, now that you're the last one left, surrender. I can promise you a swift death," Gui Ni said, a smug expression on his sinister face.
"Demon Race lapdog, how dare you speak such nonsense," Song Wen sneered.
"You're courting death..."
Before Gui Ni could finish speaking, a massive surge of Blood Qi erupted from Song Wen, engulfing his figure.
"Hmph, the Blood Escape Technique! I've been waiting for this," Gui Ni sneered.
With a wave of his Ghost Banner, the Ghost Qi swirling in the air rapidly condensed, instantly forming a massive black barrier that enveloped a hundred-mile radius.
Boom!
A deafening muffled explosion echoed through the air.
At the edge of the black barrier, Song Wen's figure suddenly materialized.
He slammed into the barrier, his Blood Escape Technique forcibly interrupted.
"Yin Shuo, you can't escape!"
Gui Ni roared, shaking his Ghost Banner. Ghost Qi poured out like a tidal wave, transforming into a massive black hand that slammed down on Song Wen with overwhelming force.
Trailing behind the giant hand were four Ant Kings, hot on its heels.
Brilliant lightning erupted from Song Wen's body, piercing through the dim, Ghost Qi-filled barrier space.
He slammed both hands onto the black barrier.
Lightning spread outward from Song Wen's hands, crawling across the barrier in all directions.
The lightning raged, its celestial might overwhelming.
The sinister Ghost Qi rapidly dissipated.
The barrier visibly thinned at an alarming rate, suddenly cracking open a man-sized hole.
Song Wen flashed through the opening, disappearing in an instant.
Just then, the Ghost Qi giant hand slammed down.
Boom!
The hand struck the barrier.
Already weakened, the barrier couldn't withstand the blow and shattered completely, scattering into a swirling mass of Ghost Qi that swept in all directions.
Caught in the vortex of Ghost Qi was a cloud of blood mist.
Song Wen's figure had already vanished within the mist, his whereabouts unknown.
"Damn it! He actually escaped!" Gui Ni's voice was thick with resentment and fury.
"Gui Ni, you couldn't even hold onto a mere early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator? It seems you're not worth keeping around!" The Ant Queen's voice suddenly cut through the air.
Gui Ni's body trembled violently, his expression turning ashen with terror.
"Lord Fu, please understand. It's not that this subordinate is incompetent. Yin Shuo's Thunder Magic is simply too powerful, far beyond the ordinary. Moreover, Thunder Magic is exceptionally effective against my Ghost Dao techniques. That's why he escaped."
"Incompetent is incompetent. You repeatedly assured me you could eliminate Yin Shuo," the Ant Queen rebuked.
"Lord Fu, please give this subordinate a chance to redeem myself. My Profound Yin Sect is one of the Eight Great Immortal Cultivation Sects. We have many experts skilled in formations. If we can trap Yin Shuo with a formation, no matter how powerful his Thunder Magic, he'll have no chance of escape," Gui Ni pleaded.
"Gui Ni, are you trying to convince me to let you leave independently and return to the human lands?" the Ant Queen asked coldly.
Gui Ni quickly explained, "Master, you misunderstand my meaning. I'm inviting you to join me at the Profound Yin Sect. The sect possesses countless cultivation resources, and there's a vast supply of human blood and flesh for your clan to feast on. I believe the Gold-Eating Ant Clan will grow rapidly within a few years."
"Go to the Profound Yin Sect?" The Ant Queen seemed hesitant.
Before this, Gui Ni had roughly explained the situation between humans and demons on the Tianyuan Continent.
Though the Tuocang Mountains were Demon Race territory, the most fertile lands, rich in Spiritual Qi and resources, had long been claimed by various Demon clans.
For the Gold-Eating Ant Clan to establish itself in the Tuocang Mountains would inevitably lead to conflict with other Demon clans.
As an outsider clan, they would be vulnerable to a united assault by the native Demon clans of the Tuocang Mountains.
As for seeking refuge with the Profound Yin Sect, while it might temporarily avoid conflict with the Demon Race, it could expose them to attacks from Human cultivators.
After a moment of silence, the Ant Queen said, "Very well. I will go with you to the Profound Yin Sect."
From Song Wen and the others, the Ant Queen had already understood the Human cultivators' selfish nature. As long as the Gold-Eating Ant Clan didn't threaten the interests of the larger Human cultivation sects, it would be difficult for Human powerhouses to unite and exterminate them.
Moreover, the Profound Yin Sect was located on the foothills of the Tuocang Mountains. If a large army of cultivators were to attack, they could retreat into the mountains in time.
"Lord Fu, please."
Gui Ni gestured toward the Profound Yin Sect's direction, speaking respectfully.
Surrounded by the four Ant Kings, the Ant Queen took flight.
Watching the five ants' backs, a cold glint flashed in Gui Ni's eyes. His gaze was icy, yet tinged with a hint of mockery.
After everyone had left, Mi Hai appeared atop a small mountain, his expression one of utter despair.
He had been anticipating a grand battle, but it had ended so anticlimactically.
After a long while, the Absolute Cliff suddenly erupted in a dense crimson glow once more, and Gou Jun materialized outside it.
Song Wen was somewhat surprised. Escaping from Gui Ni and the Gold-Eating Ant Queen so easily felt almost too smooth.
However, he didn't dwell on it. He immediately fled toward Yishi Ridge.
Three days later, Song Wen appeared at the Asura Sect's headquarters on Tiancang Mountain. In the main hall, he met with Yu Wen.
"Chief Yu, this Sect Leader's recent journey included a special trip to the Tuocang Mountains, where I personally eliminated the remaining Lei Clan members," Song Wen said, tossing four severed heads onto the floor.
These were the heads of the Lei Clan members that Wolf King Xiaoyue of the Silver Wolf Clan had obtained before his death.
Yu Wen's pupils widened sharply as she recognized the heads. Her expression became intensely emotional, her eyes slightly reddening.
She bowed deeply to Song Wen, her voice filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Sect Leader, for avenging my clan's annihilation. I will forever be grateful for your kindness."
Song Wen replied, "It was a simple task, Chief Yu. There's no need for such formality. Just manage the Asura Sect well for me."
"Yes!" Yu Wen bowed deeply, her hands clasped together. "I will not fail to fulfill the Sect Leader's trust."
Song Wen nodded, then changed the subject. "Chief Yu, how are the Spirit Herbs in the Blood Demon Spirit Field growing lately?"
Twenty years ago, Song Wen had collected over forty types of Spirit Herbs needed to refine the Blood Demon Pill. These were initially planted in the Spirit Fields of Qingluo Mountain.
As the Spirit Herbs gradually multiplied, the Spirit Fields of Qingluo Mountain and the available manpower proved insufficient. To obtain more Spirit Herbs, five years ago, Song Wen had transplanted a portion of each type to the Asura Sect, naming the Spirit Fields where these herbs were cultivated the Blood Demon Spirit Field.
"Reporting to the Sect Leader, all the Spirit Herbs in the Blood Demon Spirit Field are growing exceptionally well," Yu Wen replied.
"Chief Yu, you recently sent people to the Four Great Righteous Sects to pay respects to their top cultivators in my name," Song Wen said.
Yu Wen looked puzzled. "Sect Leader, I could only send Golden Core cultivators. Would the top cultivators of the Four Great Sects even grant them an audience?"
Song Wen replied, "Whether they meet them or not doesn't matter. Our true goal is to purchase more Spirit Herbs from the Four Great Sects."
During the trip to the Divine Blood Hall, Song Wen had provided some assistance to Lan Chen, Mo Yexue, Mi Hai, and Yang Yu. Regardless of their true feelings, they all displayed some degree of friendliness towards him.
Song Wen seized this opportunity to gather more Spirit Herbs.
However, the trip to the Divine Blood Hall had also earned him the enmity of Gou Jun and Gui Ni. The Corpse Demon Sect and the Profound Yin Sect could attack at any moment, and the Asura Sect faced the imminent threat of annihilation.
Song Wen had to extract the maximum value from the Asura Sect before it was destroyed.
Yu Wen hesitated slightly as she spoke. "Sect Leader, the sect currently has less than a million Spirit Stones remaining. We won't be able to purchase many Spirit Herbs with that."
While the Asura Sect couldn't compare to the Eight Great Sects of the Immortal Cultivation World, it was still far more powerful than second-tier Immortal Cultivation forces.
A mere million Spirit Stones seemed rather meager for the entire Asura Sect.
Song Wen didn't suspect Yu Wen of embezzlement. He knew the Asura Sect had limited income and vast expenses, always operating at a deficit.
After a moment of thought, Song Wen asked, "What's been happening recently at Jie Mountain?"
(End of the Chapter)
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