Translator: CinderTL
"Alright, we'll take turns standing guard in groups of three while the rest of you get some rest. This is a Breath Concealing Formation; it will mask our presence, making it difficult for even Dao Seeking Realm demon beasts to detect us," Luo Yu announced, closing his eyes to meditate.
After a day of relentless tension, everyone was exhausted. Except for the three on watch, the others casually sat on the ground and began circulating their qi.
As the night deepened, the distant mountains echoed with the roars and howls of various demon beasts. Xu Sanyan glanced sideways at Xiang Tan, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
"Coo... coo..."
An unfamiliar sound drifted through the surrounding darkness. Luo Yu's eyes flickered open, gazing into the depths of the night. "Senior Brother Zhou, you've been following us all this way. Why not reveal yourself?"
Xiang Tan's heart skipped a beat. She abruptly lunged into the darkness.
Luo Yu's words implied that he had known all along that Zhou Longsheng and his group were trailing them, meaning her own cover had likely been blown.
What she couldn't comprehend was how she had been exposed. She had believed her deception to be flawless.
Luo Yu paid her no mind. An insignificant Initial Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator wasn't worth his attention.
A group of figures emerged from the shadows of the night, led by Zhou Longsheng in his signature gray robes.
"Junior Brother Luo, long time no see," Zhou Longsheng said, probing.
Luo Yuqi smirked. "Not that long. We saw each other this morning."
"Knowing I was coming, yet daring to wait here... It seems you were well-prepared, Junior Brother Luo," Zhou Longsheng continued, his eyes darting around nervously as he hesitated to advance.
Xu Sanyan and the others rose to their feet, their gazes wary as they assessed the approaching group.
Luo Yu turned to Chi Yu. "Junior Brother Chi, dismantle the formation."
"Right." With a flick of his wrist, Chi Yu retracted the formation plate into his palm.
"How did you discover my presence?" Zhou Longsheng asked, genuinely curious.
"Heh, if you can plant spies in my camp, why couldn't I do the same in yours?" Luo Yu replied with a cryptic smile, applying psychological pressure.
As expected, Zhou Longsheng couldn't help but subconsciously tighten his guard against those behind him, regardless of whether he believed Luo Yu's words.
Xiang Tan, huddled beside Zhou Longsheng, cast a suspicious glance at Xu Sanyan. She couldn't shake the feeling that he had betrayed them.
She couldn't understand why Xu Sanyan would do this.
From every perspective, Zhou Longsheng was a better choice than Luo Yu. Following Zhou Longsheng undoubtedly offered greater prospects.
But she never imagined Xu Sanyan had no intention of aligning with either of them. He was determined to vie for the position of Holy Son himself!
Zhou Longsheng's eyes flickered as he slowly spoke. "Junior Brother Luo, you're no match for me. Why struggle like a trapped beast? Why not join forces? Help me become the Holy Son, and you'll undoubtedly secure a position among my loyal followers. In time, I can even help you become an elder of the Hall of Affairs."
"Hahahaha..."
Luo Yu's laughter dripped with mockery as he pointed at Zhou Longsheng. "You're still living in a fantasy world! Why don't we switch roles? You help me become the Holy Son instead!"
Luo Yu felt nothing but contempt. If Zhou Longsheng became the Holy Son, what chance would he have of survival?
"It seems there's no room for negotiation," Zhou Longsheng said, his gaze turning icy.
"Hmph! There was never anything to discuss between us in the first place!"
Their long-standing animosity had reached its breaking point. Today, they would settle the score once and for all.
Xu Sanyan stood aside, watching the spectacle unfold. He had deliberately leaked the information to Luo Yu, unwilling to let him be ambushed and killed defenselessly. At the very least, he wanted to cause some trouble for Zhou Longsheng, making it easier for him to reap the final rewards.
If both Luo Yu and Zhou Longsheng died, Xu Sanyan would become the highest-ranked cultivator in the Crimson Heart Faction, and everyone would have no choice but to support his bid for the position of Holy Son.
"Attack!" Zhou Longsheng roared, his palm emitting a faint gray mist as he slammed it toward Luo Yu.
Zhou Longsheng was confident that Luo Yu was no match for him. They had fought before, and Zhou Longsheng had always won. Only the Sect Rules had previously prevented him from killing Luo Yu outright. But this time, things were different.
This time, he could kill!
At Zhou Longsheng's command, the two sides clashed fiercely.
The numbers were roughly equal, with Zhou Longsheng's side having a slight advantage. However, this small difference didn't significantly affect the overall balance, and the battle quickly devolved into a fierce stalemate.
Xu Sanyan's gaze fell on Xiang Tan, and he charged straight toward her.
Xiang Tan's heart tightened. She knew that Xu Sanyan was at the Mid Stage of Foundation Establishment, surpassing her in cultivation level. Without hesitation, she abandoned any thought of a direct confrontation, darting left and right to evade his attacks.
"Junior Brother Xu, we have no quarrel. Why are you hounding me so relentlessly? Could it be I didn't satisfy you enough last night?" Xiang Tan ducked and darted aside, narrowly avoiding Xu Sanyan's fist.
Xu Sanyan grinned. He only wanted to tangle with a weaker opponent for a while to conserve his strength, waiting for the opportune moment to reveal his true power. If he fought seriously, Xiang Tan wouldn't last ten moves before her beauty faded like a wilted flower.
"Little darling, Junior Brother will be gentler," Xu Sanyan purred lewdly, sounding every bit the lecherous rogue. "Don't run away."
Xiang Tan pursed her lips. "Junior Brother, spare me this time. Once this matter is settled, we can entwine all night long. What do you say?"
"Hahaha..." Xu Sanyan shook his head, his laughter tinged with mockery. "By the time this is over, you'll be lucky to survive. How could you possibly keep me company all night?"
As they traded barbs and continued their chase, Xiang Tan gradually realized that despite Xu Sanyan's threats, his punches landed lightly, devoid of real force. It dawned on her: he was deliberately holding back. Understanding his charade, she began to play along.
Most of the combatants on both sides knew that the main battleground was between Zhou Longsheng and Luo Yu. Regardless of who won or lost, it was unlikely they would be completely wiped out. More likely, the victor would absorb the defeated to bolster their own forces.
After all, they were all fellow disciples of the Crimson Heart Faction. Even if they didn't know each other personally, they had at least crossed paths, making them more comfortable fighting alongside familiar faces.
Thus, most were merely going through the motions, with only a few die-hard loyalists like Chi Yu fighting with genuine ferocity.
If Luo Yu were to fall, Zhou Longsheng would undoubtedly eliminate Chi Yu. Their intertwined history made him too dangerous to spare.
The arena was now divided into dozens of small battlefields, mostly one-on-one skirmishes. However, everyone's attention remained fixed on the clash between Zhou Longsheng and Luo Yu.
Xu Sanyan pressed his palm against Xiang Tan's chest, his fingers curling inward to give her a painful pinch.
Xiang Tan, pinched a little too hard, furrowed her delicate brows and muttered indignantly, "Easy there! Weren't you done pinching yesterday?"
Xu Sanyan braced her arms, a teasing grin playing on his lips. "Senior Sister, you're so captivating, this Junior Brother could pinch you for a lifetime and still not get enough."
"Cheeky! Always with the smooth talk," Xiang Tan retorted, rolling her eyes.
Their playful banter hardly resembled a serious fight. A tall, lean youth standing nearby watched with growing impatience, muttering under his breath, "Little hussy."
Xu Sanyan glanced over and recognized one of the "good buddies" from earlier, now locked in a half-hearted tussle. Neither seemed eager to spill blood; after all, they had no real grudge to settle. Why risk their lives?
Undeterred, Xiang Tan puffed out her chest proudly. "You wish you could be this provocative!"
"Hmph!" The tall youth turned away, stung.
While this pair squabbled playfully, elsewhere the battle raged with deadly intensity.
(End of the Chapter)
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