160: Blood Nine, who hit the jackpot

Yao Delong originally wanted to politely decline, but then he had a change of heart.

Thinking that the Demonic Sect would surely lay heavy ambushes on the few essential routes back to the Sect,

having one more Nascent Soul Stage Great Cultivator as a traveling companion was undoubtedly a massive security guarantee.

He glanced at Liu Tiezhu, who stood beside him with a thick aura and resolute eyes, and nodded in agreement. "In that case, I shall trouble Senior Liu."

"Great Master, you flatter me! Just call me Tiezhu. It is my honor to escort the Great Master!"

Liu Tiezhu cupped his fists, his voice booming like a great bell.

Thus, Yao Delong, Lin Qingxue, and Xin Yuelan, under the protection of Liu Tiezhu,

bid farewell to the deeply grateful Mu Long and his son, left White Cloud City, and set out once more on their journey home.

Flying Swords pierced the air, and the distance of several hundred miles passed in an instant.

Soon, that familiar, sinister valley shrouded year-round in grey-green poisonous fog—Ten Thousand Miasma Valley—appeared once again in everyone's sight.

Looking down at the churning miasma below, the four of them felt various emotions.

Yao Delong and Lin Qingxue exchanged a glance, both remembering the thrilling scene of the Demonic Sect's ambush here months ago.

If not for the timely intervention of powerful reinforcements at that time, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

A flash of complexity crossed the red eyes beneath Xin Yuelan's mask.

This place was exactly where she had first arranged for people to intercept and kill Yao Delong. As it turned out... not only did it fail, but it also indirectly led to her current situation as a 'prisoner.' Fate truly played tricks on people.

Liu Tiezhu, flying at the very front, had a solemn expression, his body's Yuan Qi faintly circulating.

He vigilantly scanned the thick miasma below.

"Great Master Yao, Fairy Lin, this place is dangerous. The poisonous miasma is deceptive, and it's a perfect spot for an ambush to kill and rob. We must be careful!"

He warned in a low voice.

Yao Delong nodded. How could he not know the dangers of this place?

But just as he thought, regardless of which path they chose to return to the Sect, encountering a Demonic Sect ambush was almost inevitable.

Rather than taking a longer, more unfamiliar route that would increase variables, it was better to choose this shortest and relatively familiar Ten Thousand Miasma Valley.

At least he had personal experience with the terrain and potential ambush points here.

"Tiezhu is absolutely right. We will pass through carefully. If there is any movement, we will respond immediately."

Yao Delong said in a deep voice. He already had a plan in mind; the Asura Puppet and his own hidden cards were all ready.

But he never imagined that at this moment, Ten Thousand Miasma Valley...

...was a death trap meticulously prepared for him by the Demonic Sect, with the most intense killing intent and concentrated power!

Rewinding time to a few days ago.

Xue Jiu was like a red-eyed gambler, staring intently at the several routes on the map leading from Canglan City to the Yin Yang Sect.

He deduced repeatedly and finally placed his heavy bet on the "Ten Thousand Miasma Valley" line!

"The shortest and most direct route from Canglan City to the Yin Yang Sect is through Ten Thousand Miasma Valley!

The other routes either circle the edge of the Heavenly Demon Mountain Range or pass through several more Mortal cities, taking at least two or three days longer!

That kid is bringing the Saintess and is eager to return. He also relies on his own means, so it's highly likely he'll choose this shortest, dangerous path!"

A frantic yet shrewd light flickered in Xue Jiu's eyes.

He immediately took action, gathering all the resources he could mobilize.

All the Demonic Sect hidden agents in the nearby area were secretly mobilized to Ten Thousand Miasma Valley!

But that wasn't enough! To ensure absolute success, Xue Jiu spared no expense and used his biggest 'favor card'—

His eccentric and ruthless Junior Martial Uncle, Xue Li, who possessed the Low Grade Heaven-Grade Weapon Magic Treasure, the 'soul devouring banner'!

Xue Li was at the Mid Nascent Soul Stage cultivation level. To refine the soul devouring banner,

he had once committed monstrous blood crimes in the human territories, sacrificing the living beings of several small towns, and his name was infamous.

"Junior Martial Uncle, this is the Sect Master's personal order! It concerns the safety of the Saintess and the Sect's grand plan!

If we can intercept that kid here and reclaim the Saintess, you will have the top merit! The Sect Master will surely give a heavy reward!"

Xue Jiu was silver-tongued, bringing up the Sect Master's order and promising great benefits, finally convincing this ferocious man.

As soon as Xue Li arrived at Ten Thousand Miasma Valley, he immediately began setting things up.

He personally surveyed the terrain, and at several key passes where the miasma was thickest and visibility worst,

he laid down an extremely sinister demonic array—the Nine Nether Origin Locking Grand Array!

Once activated, this array could draw upon the subterranean Yin-shale Qi and combine it with the valley's poisonous miasma,

forming a powerful Domain suppression that would greatly weaken or even briefly imprison the Yuan Qi circulation of Righteous Path Cultivators within, preventing them from utilizing even half of their full strength!

At the same time, it could confuse the mind and create illusions, making it a perfect means for ambush and entrapment.

Xue Jiu looked at the grim demonic array his Junior Martial Uncle had set up,

as well as the dozens of Demonic Sect elite hidden agents with cold auras lying in wait, and his heart was filled with self-satisfaction.

He licked his lips, as if he could already see the scene of himself achieving great merit and receiving the Sect Master's commendation.

"Yao Delong, oh Yao Delong, if you take another path

and run into Elder Liu Sha's ambush, consider it your bad luck; I can rush over and get a share of the spoils. But if you dare to take this Ten Thousand Miasma Valley..."

A murderous light was fully revealed in Xue Jiu's eyes as he grinned savagely,

"then you are walking straight into the net, and it is only right that I, Xue Jiu, achieve this unprecedented feat! Hehehe..."

Back to the present. Deep within Ten Thousand Miasma Valley, at the hidden core of the demonic array.

"Junior Martial Uncle, it's been several days, and that kid hasn't appeared yet. Could he... really have taken another path?"

Xue Jiu rubbed his hands somewhat anxiously, watching the sun gradually sink in the west.

After waiting bitterly here for several days, Yao Delong's figure had yet to be seen.

Xue Li sat cross-legged on a black stone, resting with his eyes closed. Hearing this, he didn't even lift an eyelid, his voice raspy like sandpaper rubbing together:

"What's the rush? When the prey hasn't arrived, the hunter must naturally be patient. If he really doesn't come, we'll just go and snatch Liu Sha's merit instead."

Hearing this, Xue Jiu could only suppress the anxiety in his heart and continue to lie in wait.

And at this moment, Yao Delong's group of four had already flown to the edge of Ten Thousand Miasma Valley.

The thick grey-green miasma rolled below like a living thing, emitting a nauseatingly cloying sweet scent, and visibility was severely obstructed.

"Follow me closely, lower your altitude, fly along the mountain walls, and avoid the areas where the miasma is thickest."

Liu Tiezhu was experienced and immediately adjusted the flight path, taking the lead and lowering his altitude.

Almost hugging the steep mountain wall, he charged into the churning poisonous miasma.

Yao Delong, Lin Qingxue, and Xin Yuelan followed closely behind. Once they entered the range of the miasma,

they immediately felt their Divine Sense being suppressed, and their vision became even blurrier, only able to see clearly for a few dozen feet ahead.

The surroundings were dead silent, with only the faint whimpering sound of the miasma flowing, adding a few more layers of gloom.

Yao Delong was on full alert, extending his Divine Sense as much as possible, wary of any slight disturbance.

Lin Qingxue's ice-blue Flying Sword emitted a faint cold Qi, dispersing the poisonous miasma that tried to approach.

Xin Yuelan, on the other hand, appeared unusually silent, her red eyes beneath the mask leisurely scanning the surroundings.

Liu Tiezhu flew at the very front, his powerful Nascent Soul Stage Divine Sense scanning ahead like a searchlight.

Suddenly, his expression changed, and he abruptly stopped his Flying Sword, shouting sharply: "Careful! There's an ambush!"