1: Lu Ming

Outside Green Bamboo Market, in the Cloud Mist Mountain Range.

Five Cultivators were moving stealthily through the dense forest.

“Dongzi, does that kid really have a Talisman Master Legacy on him?”

A middle-aged Cultivator with a sharp mouth and monkey-like cheeks couldn't help but ask.

The Cultivator called Dongzi nodded, saying with a serious expression,

“We’ve been working together for so many years; there’s no need for me to lie to you all.”

To dispel everyone’s doubts, he continued,

“That kid used to have a father who was a First-Tier Talisman Master, but he just died not long ago. I’m just worried he left behind some hidden defenses.”

“If I wasn’t uncertain about taking him down alone, do you think this good fortune would fall to you all?”

Upon hearing this, everyone felt a little more at ease. Although they knew Liu Dong was usually unreliable in his dealings, he at least wouldn’t dare to deceive them in such matters.

Moreover, they had been ‘working together’ for so many years, knowing each other’s backgrounds, so they figured he wouldn’t dare to hide anything.

Liu Dong indeed hadn't lied to them. The target this time was Lu Ming, the orphaned son of a deceased ‘friend’ of his.

Liu Dong usually hid himself very well. Besides these few people around him, no one knew what kind of shady business he was involved in daily.

Instead, in the eyes of some Cultivators, he was an upright Fellow Daoist worth befriending.

His ‘friend’ also thought so, which was why he entrusted Liu Dong to look after his son before his death.

Liu Dong did not break his word; he indeed ‘looked after’ him very well.

His friend was a First-Tier Talisman Master, quite renowned within Green Bamboo Market. He coveted the relics and Legacy his friend left behind.

A few days ago, he lured that kid into the Cloud Mist Mountain Range and dealt with him.

Afterward, he returned to Green Bamboo Market full of anticipation, intending to claim his friend’s inheritance.

However, he didn't expect that just as he arrived, Lu Ming, who should have died and whose bones should have been gnawed to nothing by Yao Beasts in the Cloud Mist Mountain Range, actually returned to Green Bamboo Market.

He was so scared at the time that he wanted to flee Green Bamboo Market.

But after a period of observation, he found that this person’s actions were somewhat peculiar at first, and he seemed out of place with the surrounding Cultivators.

So, Liu Dong boldly speculated that this person must have been ‘Possessed’.

Rumor has it that after some great Cultivators fall, their Divine Soul can still linger in the world for some time. As long as they Possess other Cultivators and occupy their bodies, they can still survive.

This ‘Lu Ming’ now must be in such a situation.

He was somewhat panicked and uneasy, not knowing if his actions had been discovered by anyone.

Once it was found out that he was the notorious ‘Robber Cultivator’ of the Cultivation world,

then Green Bamboo Market would certainly have no place for him.

He didn’t want to live such a wandering life, so he planned to kill ‘Lu Ming’ again.

The reason he called upon this group of people around him was also as a precaution.

No one knew what unknown methods this person who Possessed Lu Ming might have.

He would let them test the waters, while he would lie in wait to ambush from behind.

If possible, he also wanted to interrogate this ‘Senior’ for some Cultivation Technique, secret arts, and other related secrets.

“Something’s wrong, there’s a problem!”

A sudden low shout from beside him interrupted Liu Dong’s reverie.

From the corner of his eye, he saw wisps of mist beginning to spread not far away, enveloping their group in a surrounding manner.

In an instant, his hairs stood on end, his spiritual sense trembled violently, and he felt a fatal crisis approaching.

Liu Dong reacted quickly, forming a hand seal, reaching into his Storage Pouch, and two Talismans with green light appeared before him.

He pointed a finger, injecting spiritual power, and a gust of strong wind arose out of nowhere, attempting to disperse the mist, but it had little effect.

The white mist, swept by the strong wind, only slightly retracted before surging towards them again.

The five people’s expressions immediately changed.

“A Formation… how is this possible?!”

The sharp-mouthed, monkey-faced middle-aged Cultivator let out a shrill shriek.

He stared intently at Liu Dong, saying with hatred,

“Liu Dong, are you behind this?!”

The other three also looked over with unfriendly gazes.

Liu Dong was startled by their fierce eyes but quickly calmed down.

He knew he had to give an explanation. These people were not kind-hearted, and a wrong answer might lead to them ganging up on him.

Moreover, now was not the time for internal strife.

He hurriedly prepared to make a Heart Demon Oath to prove his innocence.

But clearly, someone didn’t want to waste time with them.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Several streaks of Sword Qi carrying the power of Geng Jin shot out from the thick mist, accompanied by several Fire Crow Talismans attacking them.

The five felt a fatal crisis and hurriedly used their respective methods to try and dodge.

Unfortunately, due to the thick mist obstructing their vision, and the extremely fast speed of the Sword Qi and Fire Crow Talismans, two people couldn't dodge in time.

One was riddled with holes by Sword Qi, while the other was hit in the head by a Fire Crow Talisman; his entire skull exploded like a watermelon, shattering into pieces.

Both died without even a single scream.

The remaining three were terrified. In just a moment, they had lost two members.

However, the attacks from the mist did not stop, giving them no chance to breathe, as several more streaks of golden Sword Qi came attacking.

The three hurriedly summoned their defensive Magical Artifacts to block.

Clang! Clang!

Sparks flew, and the sound of metal clashing echoed continuously within the thick mist.

Before the three could even sigh in relief, several thick vines spread out from the ground, instantly entangling them.

Accompanying this was a curtain of water that enveloped them.

The three, trapped by the vines, were about to use their methods to break free when they were enveloped by the sudden water curtain.

A sensation of suffocation came, their spiritual power became sluggish, and their attempts to recall their Magical Artifacts were also interrupted.

Whoosh—

A black light flashed, and the limbs of the three were severed at the root. Crimson blood stained the water prison.

However, the three, with all their limbs severed, were trapped within the water prison and unable to make a sound, only able to stare with bloodshot eyes.

A low, rhythmic sound of footsteps approached.

“Thump… thump… thump…”

Each step seemed to land on their hearts.

Their faces filled with terror as they watched the figure emerge from the mist.

The person was a young man of about twenty, with a handsome face, sword-like eyebrows, and starry eyes.

But at this moment, his complexion was abnormally pale.

The young man walked straight to the water prison, raised his hand, and recalled the black light, which was a short blade as dark as ink.

He surveyed the three in front of him, finally resting his gaze on Liu Dong, a slight smile appearing on his clear and peerless face.

“Uncle Liu, long time no see.”

The young man bared his teeth and smiled gently at Liu Dong.

Liu Dong stared intently at the young man’s lips, which were moving as if he wanted to say something.

But because he was in the water prison, as soon as he opened his mouth, water would pour in.

He could only transmit his thoughts with spiritual sense.

“A… A’Ming, don’t… don’t kill me… listen to my ex… explanation!”

A faint spiritual sense fluctuation entered the young man’s mind.

Liu Dong’s voice, mixed with shock and despair, rang in his ears.

Looking at his pleading eyes, the young man grinned.

“I’m not listening.”

“You…”

Pfft.

Without intending to speak, he thrust the short blade into Liu Dong’s heart, twisting and churning.

A hole was churned out of his chest by the short blade, and his mouth involuntarily opened due to the body’s suffocation.

Water, as if finding a Breakthrough, surged wildly into Liu Dong’s mouth.

Before long, Liu Dong’s life force was completely gone, but his wide, dead-fish eyes revealed his unwillingness and regret before death.

He didn’t regret killing Lu Ming, but regretted not fleeing Green Bamboo Market, that he should have hidden as far away as possible, and shouldn’t have provoked this Possessor again.

Lu Ming no longer paid attention to Liu Dong, and like a Yama King calling names, he performed the same procedure on the remaining two.

Boom—

Dispelling his spiritual power, the water prison, stained with blood, lost its spiritual power support, shattered with a roar, and dissipated as a bloody rain.

The three bodies, reduced to human sticks inside, also fell with it.

He watched Liu Dong’s unclosed eyes staring at him.

His eyes were full of unwillingness and venom, as if wanting to firmly remember this face!

“Still daring to stare at me!”

“Bang”

He stomped down fiercely, crushing Liu Dong’s head.

Lu Ming somewhat disdainfully shook off the red and white matter clinging to his shoe.

Looking at the messy surroundings, his tense nerves finally relaxed a little.

However, he did not leave just yet.

He rummaged through the bodies of the several people, pulling out a few Storage Pouches.

He muttered to himself,

“This time was truly exhausting and costly. I hope that thing lives up to its promise, otherwise, I’ll really have to tighten my belt and live frugally.”

After putting away everyone’s belongings, Lu Ming took out the last few Fire Crow Talismans from the Storage Pouch at his waist.

He burned the scattered limbs and severed arms into ashes, ensuring there was no possibility of them surviving.

After cleaning up the scene again and retrieving several Formation Flags, Lu Ming quickly departed after completing everything.

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