I felt my demonic energy surge in waves with my emotions. I took a second to suppress it, looking around to see if anyone noticed. Fortunately, there weren't any high-level cultivators nearby; otherwise, I would've been exposed already.
My brow twitched, another round of annoyingly loud explosions ringing throughout the market.
That damn snake!
He couldn't even wait for the set time before making a scene! Knowing his incompetence, he probably got caught by some cultivators and decided to start the plan early.
I circulated my demonic qi throughout my body, dashing through the marketplace, Jiě jie following beside me.
After an instant, we arrived at the site of explosions. Everything was covered in malevolent fire, a glowing array emiting demonic energy in waves as Shrieking spirits wreaked havoc throughout the market. Screams of burning souls, mortals and cultivators alike, and the sound of destruction.
So noisy.
I rubbed my ears, a headache surfacing from all the noise. Looking at all the chaos caused by that idiot snake.
Well, it's too late to turn back now.
I took out a message talisman from my storage bag, activating it. The talisman burned into golden ashes, the specks scattering into different directions. Moments later, a series of explosions and screams rang out in nearby areas, cold yin fire roaring into the night sky, the miserable screams of wronged souls along with it.
I turned back to Jiě jie, who was trying to contact the snake through the communication plaque. I shook my head.
That damned snake is probably too busy being foolish to respond to her.
After mentally cursing him for a few rounds, I ran into the flames, expending my spiritual sense for his location. I easily found him, picking up my pace as I coated my fist with demonic energy.
Just as his figure appeared in my vision, I pushed off the ground, appearing right beside him with a punch. My fist slammed into the side of his face, sending him flying into the ruined wall of a nearby building. I landed where he once stood, dusting off the dirt that had clung to my robes.
A groan came from the snake still lying flat on the ground. He got up, a large bruise on his face, blood spilling from his mouth. He glared up at me for a moment before immediately backing down.
"S-senior, w-when did you arrive?" he stuttered, quickly staggering up to his feet.
I scoffed, glaring at this sad excuse for a golden core cultivator before answering.
"Just now. Why are you activating the formation early?" I asked, my anger seeping through my question.
The coward flinched, trembling a little as he stammered an answer, "W-well, some disciples from the Boshai sect found me out, so I had no choice-"
"Excuses," I cut off before he could spout more nonsense.
If he was caught, then he could've messaged the others. That way, we could've regrouped and take care of any witnesses. Besides, the fact that he got caught at all just shows how incompetent he is. Now he dares to make up excuses in front of me?
I had to cut off my free time for this. If Jiě jie didn't stop me, I would've killed this leech long ago.
I glared at him, having to look up even though he was slouching. My hand slowly gripped the hilt of one of my swords.
Maybe I should cut off a few inches so we can meet each other at the same level.
He flinched, lengthening the distance between us.
Tch, like I said, coward.
I sheathed my sword, letting go of the hilt with some reluctance before scanning the area for any sign of other cultivators nearby.
Other than a few qi-refining cultivators, everyone else ran away; most likely due to the Soul Shrieking spirits wandering around.
Evil spirits cultivated by the sect are pretty harmless. They don't have a physical form, so they attack the soul instead, but most of the spirits here are only as strong as peak formation establishment cultivators, so any cultivator stronger than that can destroy them easily.
Suddenly, a shrieking spirit latched onto me, its claws gripping my arm as it tried to devour my soul.
I frowned, flicking it away.
Its body was destroyed in an instant, another shriek leaving its mouth before the last of its body disappeared.
I brushed off my sleeve, my frown deepening.
I know these spirits are weak, but their bodies shouldn't be this fragile.
I turned to the snake, deciding to ask, "Who raised these spirits?"
He looked up, straightening his back before answering, "Reporting to senior, these evil spirits were cultivated by Junior brother Feng Qi."
Of course it was that lazy mut. Whether in cultivation or his duties, he's always slacking off. No matter how many times I beat him, it's like his laziness is carved into his bones.
I paused for an instant, detecting a certain dog nearby. I turned towards the ruins of a destroyed building, broken brick and debris littered the ground with piles of rubble that used to be walls.
I clicked my tongue, glaring at one of the mostly intact walls.
Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrives.
After a moment of silence, a head of black hair poked out from the wall, his eyes meeting mine before looking away.
"Junior Feng Qi greets Senior brother Feng Si."
"Did you trigger the other arrays in the city?"
He nodded, "This junior has also released the Soul Shrieking spirits in the scouted areas as well. I have ensured we will not fail."
I nodded in satisfaction before turning to the snake.
He shrank into himself, and I had to stop myself from sighing.
I don't have the energy to curse him anymore. Sometimes, I wondered if he was really supposed to be my senior brother. When I first met him, I was convinced that he was younger than me, only to find out he was five years older. I couldn't believe it, and still don't.
A black line showed up between my brows, pointing to the mut I ordered, "Go with him to activate the central array. Do not fail."
They both nodded like chickens pecking rice before running off towards the central array. I rubbed my temples, demonic energy leaking out as a heaviness settled in my chest. Maybe I'll need that heart-suppressing pill sooner than I thought.
I shook my head, taking deep breaths as I suppressed the demonic qi back into my body. I patted my heart, looking around the ruined surroundings.
Maybe I can find a heart-suppressing pill in the debris.
Just as I was turning away to dig out some treasures, an irritating presence suddenly appeared. I turned around, unsheathing one of my swords as I blocked a flaming blade, my sword melting from the heat.
On the other end stood a foundation establishment cultivator dressed in Boshai sect robes, and eyes like amber gems with specks of green that glared at me like I killed his entire family.
This brat.
A/N
Aye, I got this one on time! Horrah!