Chapter 417: Chapter 135: Suspected Undercover
With the mediation of the Rashamon, Jiang Li had finally succeeded in integrating into the members of the Devil God Sect.
So, next on the agenda was how to deal with the Taiping Sect.
You Mountain Lord traced with his finger, drawing out a stream from the pond, following his finger he drew a simple map of the land.
"News of the changes in the Divine Capital has already spread to Liangzhou Province, you all must have heard about it. Coupled with the command from the Great Venerable, wise men should know that a chaotic era unseen in eight hundred years of the Great Zhou is about to come."
You Mountain Lord spoke clearly and concisely with the demeanor of a scholar, his attire resembling that of a black robe. "These days, there have been reports of demon cultivators consuming humans everywhere; the government, if not utterly dismayed, is too preoccupied to attend to other affairs. I believe soon enough, some old friends unable to restrain themselves, will make a big move. My idea, however, is to be the first one to ’eat the meat.’"
The Nineteen Demons, although notorious and always causing trouble, could not gain prestige if their only capability was to stir trouble.
Not to mention the Heluo God who could be considered as the sneakiest, with a presence that was both tangible and elusive, making him difficult to pin down. Even before his sudden attack on the Dinghu Sect, no one knew he had advanced to fourth-rank, and the entity he advanced was not Xiang Liu but an unknown great snake.
There’s also Da Feng and Zaochi, who managed to attack Queen Lu and escaped unscathed, a testament to their scheming nature. Without a good plan, one cannot achieve great things nowadays.
So now, the other Nineteen Demons are probably still watching, not wanting to stick their necks out.
But You Mountain Lord saw an opportunity.
Being the first to act can surely lead to being targeted, but it also means being the first one to break the old order. At a time when the situation is about to change but has not yet changed, many people have not yet realized the imminent storm, presenting an excellent opportunity.
"A hundred and fifty miles to the west from here lies Jiangyang County, where seventy percent of the populace are followers of the Taiping Sect. We will massacre Jiangyang and then continue westwards, summoning groups of demons to attack the Jun City."
You Mountain Lord stuck out his sharp tongue, hissing, "Massacring the whole province would not only earn merit but would also benefit everyone’s cultivation tremendously."
Among those present, Ashuren’s Asura Fruit was the simplest—it thrived on killing, continuously and relentlessly. Furthermore, murder was not only instrumental in Demonstrating Dao Fruit, but even the Promotion Ceremony was tied to slaughter.
Ashuren, though he had reached a Perfect Fifth Rank, still found murder beneficial, meeting the requirements for his advancement to Asura King, although it was unknown whether or not he possessed the Asura King Dao Fruit...
As for the Holy Infant King and Rashamon, one being a demon cultivator and the other deeply associated with Rashamon by name, slaughter would also fulfill their needs.
You Mountain Lord’s words were less of a plan and more of a temptation, enticing those present to join in the massacre.
Jiang Li coldly observed You Mountain Lord’s detailing, making a judgment in his mind: ’Among the four, You Mountain Lord is most likely to be from the Taiping Sect.’
"I have no interest in fighting with the weak," Ashuren complained discontentedly.
"The Jun City’s Ping Chang holds a branch of the Taiping Sect, it won’t lack fifth-ranks."
You Mountain Lord responded with a smile, "This is my thinking, if there are no objections, we can depart right now."
Having said this, You Mountain Lord’s figure sank, causing ripples to sweep across the pond, and a massive Black Water Mysterious Snake reappeared, "Come aboard my back."
His body was vast, about three zhang thick, fully capable of carrying four people.
People on shore exchanged glances, and Ashuren was the first to land on the back of the Black Snake.
Following closely, Jiang Li and the Holy Infant King almost simultaneously leaped aboard.
Naturally, the last to get on was Rashamon Lady, and this seductive Daoist nun, standing intentionally or unintentionally very close to Jiang Li, was much closer than what would be expected between strangers.
A tantalizing fragrance wafted into Jiang Li’s nose as he turned to look at Rashamon Lady, meeting a pair of large, bright eyes. Her eyes, almost as if they could speak, seemed poised to talk yet hesitated.
"Heh, woman."
Jiang Li glanced at her indifferently then turned to face forward, his body emanating the Five Vile Qi that insulated him inside and out, not giving the woman any chance to make her move. Silently, he edged closer to the Holy Infant King.
As the Affiliated Son-in-law of the Gongsun Family, Jiang Li always had a sense of propriety. He was wholeheartedly devoted to his master and martial sister; how could he have eyes for the flashy trinkets on the outside?
The Holy Infant King noticed this and provocatively glanced at Rashamon, the rage flaring about him as if to warn her.
Jiang Li was an outsider help brought by the Holy Infant King, and this fifth-grade demon cultivator, whether due to a mental or Dao Fruit issue, was somewhat childlike. His own help couldn’t tolerate others getting too close.
Over this period, Jiang Li had completely figured out the temperament of the Holy Infant King. With one move, he not only avoided the harassment of a vile woman but also managed to draw closer to the Holy Infant King.
"Steady yourselves."
Black Water Mysterious Snake gave a warning and suddenly dived headfirst into the water, submerging into the pond.
Everyone collectively used their Qi to fend off the currents, while the Black Water Mysterious Snake delved deeper beneath.
Beneath this pond was a deep, seemingly bottomless waterway. With the arrival of the Black Water Mysterious Snake, a dim light spread, illuminating the underwater world while numerous currents of Qi were quickly approaching.
One after another, shadowy figures with chilly auras drew near to the Black Water Mysterious Snake, their thin, cold hissing incessant.
These, unmistakably, were a group of snake demon cultivators.
Jiang Li’s gaze swept across them, among which he recognized some familiar shadows.
"Transformation Snakes," he thought to himself.
As far as Jiang Li knew, the Taiping Sect had nurtured quite a few transformation snake demon cultivators.
When a drought occurred in Yong Province, it was the transformation snakes that transported the rainwater. Also, the transformation snakes could induce rain, which aided the Thunder Technique of the Taiping Sect.
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After about fifteen minutes, the Black Water Mysterious Snake began to surface, the pristine moonlight penetrating the river water and shining on the snake’s back, signaling they were not far from the surface.
The entwined snake shadows around the Black Water Mysterious Snake sped up, emitting excited shrieks as they broke through the water, as fierce Qi extended in all directions.
As the Black Water Mysterious Snake emerged from the water, screams and roars were already audible in the distance, mixed with various chaotic noises, including the hoarse and fierce howls of demon cultivators.
Flames began to burn, presumably due to an overturned lamp. The scarlet flame illuminated ghostly shadows, which in turn added a touch of blood to the flame light.
"Folks, anyone need a bit of a feast?" The Black Water Mysterious Snake issued a hoarse laugh.
At the same time, Jiang Li could sense a faint fluctuation of Qi.
"It seems... someone’s heart is not at peace?"
Sensing this Qi, Jiang Li thought, "Could it be that apart from the Taiping Sect, there are other infiltrators?"
The words of the Black Water Mysterious Snake seemed like a test but also just an expression of the beastly nature of a demon cultivator. Yet, the Qi sensed by Jiang Li suggested there might be members of the Righteous Path around him.