Chapter 160

Chapter 160: Hidden Motives

The Silver Devil Guard paused, swept her gaze over everyone on the field, then said calmly: “For the remaining two hundred and one, we will take your blood and add it as material to this cauldron of blood.”

She continued in a flat tone: “Only the Heavenly Sovereign can refine a Cultivator’s blood. This time you are lucky. The Heavenly Sovereign Society will act in person and refine the blood to a level you can withstand.”

“With Cultivator blood as your foundation, you will be able to go much farther on the path of forging the body.”

“Fifty people will rise in one step.”

“Two hundred and one will become nourishment.”

“These are the rules set by the Heavenly Sovereign.”

When she finished, she ignored the terror on their faces. A stick of incense appeared in her hand as she said without expression: “This incense will burn out in one hour. When it burns out, if more than fifty people remain, I will randomly choose those over fifty and kill them on the spot until only fifty remain. If you kill each other down to fifty earlier, the ritual ends early.”

The Silver Devil Guard spoke lightly: “You have a quarter hour to prepare. After a quarter hour, the incense will be lit. Then the real killing begins.”

At her words, the crowd clearly grew restless.

Those who had just been bewitched came to their senses a little under such a bloody rule.

Their lips trembled.

To temper the body with fresh blood was the Devil Path of the Devil Path.

Once they joined, they would become targets for the Righteous Path to encircle and wipe out.

They were not the Three Great Devil Sects, able to stand equal with the Six Great Sects.

With the Heavenly Sovereign Society’s small strength, if it was found, a few Disciples from any one of the six sects could pull it up by the roots.

Even if the Heavenly Sovereign Society stayed hidden, its growth would still be paid for with the lives of countless mortals and Cultivators.

They were rogue cultivators, not villains beyond saving. To suddenly become so ruthless and cold was something many could not accept.

In a corner of the crowd, Ye Qing Er’s face turned pale. She gripped Liu Bai’s hand tight, her body shaking.

[The worst guess has come true.]

This Heavenly Sovereign Society really was a Devil Path group, and its methods were brutal to the extreme. Once it was exposed, it would be wiped out without mercy.

Join, and one day the Righteous Path might destroy you.

Refuse, and you could not survive what was right in front of you.

A trace of despair flashed in Ye Qing Er’s eyes. [Is my future already set to be darkness?]

“Qing Er, do not worry too much,” Liu Bai whispered, a bewitching light flickering at the bottom of his eyes as he said: “The Body Tempering Method advances very fast. It may not be worse than orthodox cultivation. Among the Three Great Devil Sects, there is the Sunlight Sect, which focuses on the Body Tempering Method. As long as we become two of the fifty, we live. If we live and train hard, we may even join the Sunlight Sect in the future. The Three Great Devil Sects stand on equal footing with the Six Great Sects. When that time comes, who could touch us?”

A hint of fanatic heat crossed Liu Bai’s face.

Ye Qing Er looked at him in disbelief and said: “But the Heavenly Sovereign Society uses fresh blood as nourishment.”

“What of it? Strength rules. You know how cruel the road of cultivation is,” Liu Bai said coldly. “If we keep being soft, when will we ever reach Foundation Establishment, then Core Formation, then the Great Dao?”

He had already lived through one slaughter.

Last time, he survived as one of the fifty.

After that, he received a reward from the Heavenly Sovereign. His spiritual power barely grew, but his body became much stronger. Though he was only at the Qi Refining Stage, his true strength was no worse than the Foundation Establishment Stage.

This time, he had taken the initiative to join a new round of killing.

His goal was clear. He would again become one of the fifty and claim a second reward.

After that, as long as he kept winning, he would one day become someone like the Three Great Devil Guards, and might even challenge the Nascent Soul Stage.

[His ambition has no end.]

After joining the Heavenly Sovereign Society, he had personally brought Ye Qing Er to this point.

Ye Qing Er was his Daoist Friend. He did have some feelings for her, so he was willing to bring her onto this Path of Body Tempering with him.

But if Ye Qing Er stayed foolish and soft-hearted, then dying would be what she deserved.

Ye Qing Er’s body trembled. For a long time she said nothing.

Liu Bai lowered his voice and said: “No matter what, we first pass this test. Survive, and we can talk about the future. Qing Er, look at their eyes. They are already changing. When the incense is lit, many will attack at once. You and I must fight together to have a chance to live.”

With her thoughts in chaos, Ye Qing Er nodded.

On the other side, the Sword Sect group gathered together.

Luo Ming Yue sent her voice to them, saying: “The Heavenly Sovereign’s true body is not in this hall. I have a Secret Art that can see through all disguises. Help me stall for a little time. Once I find the Heavenly Sovereign’s true body, you attack the Three Great Devil Guards.”

Everyone gave the faintest nod.

Luo Ming Yue finished speaking and focused on searching.

They waited for Luo Ming Yue’s result.

Suddenly, a kindly looking man walked over with a smile.

“Stop,” Liu Jun Cheng said without expression.

The man did stop. Smiling, he said: “Friends, the killing is about to begin. I think that instead of letting others pick the fifty, we should act first.”

He lowered his voice and said: “There are many Cultivators here, but the Foundation Establishment Stage experts do not reach fifty in total. My idea is that those of us at the Foundation Establishment Stage should avoid fighting each other and instead join forces. Then we will be unbeatable. I have already gathered a dozen Foundation Establishment Stage experts. If you join us, we will pass twenty. At that point, who could touch us?”

As soon as he finished, Sheng Yuan gave a cold laugh and said: “Get lost. You are not worthy to talk cooperation with us.”

The man’s face stiffened, and his voice turned cold as he said: “You are only seven. We already have more than ten Foundation Establishment Stage experts. Inviting you is a win win. Daoist Friend, there is no need to insult us.”

Sheng Yuan sneered in silence, looking very proud.

Getting only scorn, the man left in anger.

Sui Jin glanced at Sheng Yuan and said: “Junior Brother Sheng, why be so obvious. A few words to send him off would do.”

“That man is on the list Fellow Daoist Fang gave us,” Sheng Yuan said coldly. “He is already Devil Path. He clearly came with bad intentions. Why be polite to that kind of person?”

He had smiled and played along with Devil Path people this whole way, and it was already more than enough patience. They were now at the enemy’s headquarters, one step from the end. What was the point of holding back?

Sui Jin looked at Sheng Yuan once and said nothing more.

Li Shuang watched the field, thoughtful.