Chapter 429: Ch-429: Attack on Sects (4)
"What!? Fifth Stage of the Pure Core Realm!?" Jiang Hong and Lei Ping were dumbfounded. They stared at Feng Chang in shock and disbelief, then hurriedly used their spiritual sense to confirm it. The moment they sensed her cultivation, their eyes lit up with relief and joy.
’Heavens, she really broke through!’ Jiang Hong clenched his fists, a wave of relief washing over him. If Feng Chang hadn’t advanced, no one would’ve been able to stop this so-called Number 9 from destroying the sect. The mere thought that the Yang-Yin Sect could have been wiped out under his leadership filled him with dread. Even if no one else blamed him, he would have been consumed by guilt if the sect got destroyed under his watch and would end his life with his own hands.
"Who exactly are you? Why have I never heard of you before?" Number 9 asked cautiously, narrowing his eyes at Feng Chang.
"Me?" Feng Chang smirked and let out a disdainful snort. "You don’t need to know. The only thing you should remember... is that I’m the one who’s going to kill you."
Her crazed grin made Number 9 flinch as she suddenly lunged toward him.
Bang!
’Such a strong body... at least a Heaven-rank physique,’ Feng Chang thought as he blocked her first attack, crossing his arms to absorb the impact.
Bang! Bang!
Jiang Hong and Lei Ping could only watch as Feng Chang and Number 9 exchanged devastating blows in midair, each clash sending shockwaves rippling through the sky.
"Supreme Elder, come with me to the other peaks. I sense another Pure Core Realm cultivator," Jiang Hong said, tearing his gaze away from the fierce battle and looking toward the distant mountains.
---
"Damn it, Black Church members! Why the hell are they attacking us all of a sudden?" Qin Mu growled through gritted teeth as Heaven’s Peak, along with the others, came under siege.
Shing!
He swung his sword, unleashing a powerful technique to intercept the incoming barrage of attacks descending upon his peak.
Splurt!
"Damn it!" Qin Mu cursed as he felt a dagger pierce into his shoulder from behind. He turned sharply, spotting another person clad in the Black Church’s robes. The attacker had managed to sneak up on him while he was focused on defending his peak. Cold sweat ran down Qin Mu’s back — had he not sensed the killing intent at the last moment and twisted his body, the dagger would’ve pierced his heart instead of his shoulder.
Bang!
He elbowed the attacker hard, sending the man flying backward. The assassin landed smoothly, his expression calm and unbothered.
"Ugh..." Qin Mu staggered forward, ready to chase him — but his body froze as searing pain shot through his shoulder. His eyes widened when he saw his flesh turning purple.
"Poison..." Qin Mu muttered, face paling. Gritting his teeth, he made a split-second decision.
Splurt!
Veins bulged on his forehead as he sliced off a chunk of his own flesh where the poison had spread. His breathing turned ragged, and he grimaced as he lost the use of his dominant hand.
"As expected of a Peak Master — truly ruthless," the Black Church assassin said indifferently, his aura suddenly flaring. Qin Mu’s eyes widened when he sensed the man’s cultivation.
’Peak of the Golden Core Realm! Damn it, no wonder he’s so confident. I can’t handle him alone... and my main arm is useless!’ Qin Mu cursed inwardly, despair creeping in.
"Peak Master Qin Mu!"
His eyes lit up when he heard a familiar voice. A figure covered in blood and dirt rushed toward him — it was Mu Feixu.
"Peak Master Mu Feixu!" Qin Mu called out in relief.
Mu Feixu frowned deeply when she saw Qin Mu’s condition, then turned her solemn gaze toward the assassin standing before them.
"I just finished dealing with the ones who invaded my peak," Mu Feixu said coldly. "Looks like I arrived a little late."
"No, you are just in time. Let’s team up otherwise I won’t be able to handle him alone," Qin Mu said, switching his sword to his left hand.
"Alright," Mu Feixu replied firmly — but before either could move, both of their bodies stiffened.
A suffocating pressure suddenly descended from above, and a female figure appeared before them, radiating overwhelming power.
---
Woosh
"This place looks dangerous," the masked man said as he and Wang Ming appeared within the area of the third trial.
"No wonder it gave a warning... this place looks like something straight out of hell," Wang Ming muttered, scanning their surroundings. Molten rocks and magma covered the ground, lightning crackled across the sky, and patches of poisonous purple smoke drifted in the distance.
They walked in silence for a while as the magma gradually disappeared, replaced by frost and snow. The temperature dropped sharply, creating a strange landscape where one half burned like fire and the other froze like ice — with venom in the air and poison mist swirling above. It was a truly apocalyptic scene.
The oppressive atmosphere was uncomfortable, but still bearable for cultivators of their level.
"Hmm?" Wang Ming frowned as he walked forward and spotted a glowing portal in the distance.
"Looks like that’s where the trial is," the masked man said, stepping up beside him. His gaze sharpened as he noticed something else near the portal. "Corpses... looks like the Black Church."
Wang Ming followed his gaze and saw dozens of bodies lying scattered across the snow. Each wore a black mask, and their shriveled bodies looked as though the life had been completely drained out of them.
"Hmm?" The masked man walked forward, crouched beside one of the corpses, and slowly removed its mask.
"Damn it... fuck!" he cursed, stumbling backward in shock and landing on his butt.
"Huh?" Wang Ming approached to see what had happened, and his lips twitched when he saw the corpse’s face. Every mask the man removed revealed the same eerie, twisted smile — one so unnatural it sent chills down his spine.
"Looks like whoever was here went inside," Wang Ming said, pointing at the line of footprints leading toward the dungeon entrance.
"Yeah... probably members of the Black Church," the masked man muttered as he got back to his feet.
"Let’s go," Wang Ming said, stepping through the portal first. The masked man glanced one last time at the smiling corpses before following him inside.