122: Chapter 122 The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.

Following the direction pointed by the arrowhead, the three of Zhao Ruoan galloped all the way toward the depths of the Black Wind Mountain Range.

The surrounding environment became increasingly perilous, with towering peaks, ancient trees reaching into the clouds, and leaves blocking out the sun.

The Demonic Qi and evil aura in the air grew increasingly dense, and heart-palpitating beast roars could be heard coming from the depths of the mountain forest from time to time.

Along the way, they encountered several more batches of blind bandits and Yao Beasts.

But this time, Zhao Ruoan did not let Qiuyin and Xiamo practice their skills.

Anyone or any beast that dared to block the road was blasted into ashes by a casual point from him, which turned into a stream of Qi.

Right now, he was not in the mood to waste time with these small fry.

After flying for about two hours, the sky had completely darkened.

The night in the Black Wind Mountain Range was pitch black, with only gusts of gloomy wind echoing through the valleys like ghosts crying and wolves howling.

Zhao Ruoan stopped at the top of a peak and took out the map Pan Hong had given him.

"According to the map and the instructions of that arrowhead, we are now very close to the possible activity area of the Blood Fiend Sect." He compared it against the map and said in a deep voice.

"Young Master, what should we do next? Are we just going to go straight to their doorstep like this?" Qiuyin asked.

"No." Zhao Ruoan shook his head. "We know nothing about the enemy's situation, and acting rashly would be too reckless."

"From now on, we will hide our traces and carefully sneak past. My Divine Sense will cover the area ahead, and we'll investigate the situation clearly first."

As he spoke, he circulated the Art of Concealing Breath again, perfectly concealing the Qi of the three of them.

Then, he slowed down, shuttle-moving like a ghost silently through the mountain forest under the night.

Qiuyin and Xiamo also closely followed behind him, even lightening their breathing significantly.

Sneaking forward for dozens of miles more, Zhao Ruoan's Divine Sense finally captured a trace of abnormal fluctuation.

In an extremely concealed ring-shaped valley, he "saw" a temporarily built camp.

In the camp, several bonfires were lit, and dozens of Cultivators wearing blood-red robes were sitting around the bonfires, drinking wine and eating meat while laughing loudly.

In the center of the camp, there were also several cages enclosed by fences, inside which some numb and shivering Mortals were locked, including men, women, the elderly, and children.

Outside a large tent in the deepest part of the camp, two blood-robed Cultivators with exceptionally powerful Qi stood guard at the entrance like statues.

The cultivation of those two had unexpectedly reached the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage!

"Found you."

A cold light flashed in Zhao Ruoan's eyes.

He did not act rashly, but instead brought the two maidservants and quietly sneaked into a dense forest above the valley, observing the camp below from a commanding height.

He condensed his Divine Sense into a beam, cautiously extending it downward to eavesdrop on the conversation of those Blood Fiend Sect Disciples.

"Hahaha! Come! Senior Brother Wang, let's have another bowl! The quality of this batch of 'blood food' captured this time is really good, and quite a few of them are Martial Artists with extremely vigorous Qi and blood!" A Disciple with a scar on his face raised his wine bowl and laughed.

"Indeed! Look at who is leading the team!" The one called Senior Brother Wang was a thin and emaciated young man. He said smugly, "Once the grand matter on the side of the Young Sect Master is accomplished, when we go back this time, everyone will have great contributions!"

"Speaking of which, how is the preparation on the Young Sect Master's side going? Can the Restriction outside the Tianlei Cave Mansion really be broken open with the Blood-Dissolving Spirit-Melting Formation?"

"Heh, what do you know!" Senior Brother Wang lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "I heard that the Immortal Cave of Master Tianlei has been shrouded by the Nine Heavens divine lightning for thousands of years. How terrifying is that power! Relying solely on our peripheral blood sacrifice Formation, at most it can only weaken its power by one or two tenths."

"Ah? Then what should we do?"

"The key still lies with the Young Sect Master!" Worship appeared in Senior Brother Wang's eyes. "The Young Sect Master is born with a Demonic Physique and has Cultivated the Blood Scripture to an unfathomable Realm! It is said that he recently obtained an ancient demonic treasure, which can temporarily induce the subterranean Evil Qi, working in harmony inside and out with our blood sacrifice Formation to break through the weak point of that thunder domain in one fell swoop!"

"I see! The Young Sect Master truly possesses peerless Divine Might!"

"That is naturally the case! Once the Young Sect Master takes the Legacy of Master Tianlei and his strength steps up to a higher level, by then, our Blood Fiend Sect suppressing those hypocrites of the Qingxuan Sect to dominate the entire Cang Prefecture will be just around the corner!"

"Speaking of the Qingxuan Sect, those few spies captured a few days ago were really stubborn. No matter how we interrogated them, they wouldn't talk. In the end, we could only use them as nourishment for the Formation, what a waste."

"Hmph, they were just a few puny Inner Sect Disciples, not even enough to fill the gaps between the Young Sect Master's teeth! Once our grand matter is accomplished, the next target will be to destroy the Qingxuan Sect!"

Listening to these people's conversation, Zhao Ruoan linked all the information together in his mind.

Blood Fiend Sect Young Sect Master, Li Jiuyou.

Ancient ruins, Master Tianlei's Immortal Cave.

Blood sacrifice grand Formation, ancient demonic treasure.

As expected, everything was about the same as what Sect Master Master Xuanyang had deduced.

The Blood Fiend Sect's target was the Tianlei Cave Mansion!

Moreover, they also captured Mortals as "blood food" to set up the vicious blood sacrifice Formation.

Those few Qingxuan Sect Disciples who lost contact earlier could also be confirmed to have all been murdered.

Zhao Ruoan's gaze grew increasingly cold.

"Young Master, these people are too detestable! They actually capture Mortals for blood sacrifice!" Xiamo said in a low voice, angered, "Let's go down right now, kill them all, and save those innocent people!"

"Don't be impulsive." Zhao Ruoan held her down.

"Rushing down now can certainly kill these small fry, but it will also alert the enemy and make their Young Sect Master Li Jiuyou vigilant."

"My mission is not just as simple as killing a few flunkies."

His gaze cast toward the deeper parts of the valley.

"This camp is just a stronghold they set up on the periphery, used to activate that so-called 'Blood-Dissolving Spirit-Melting Formation'. The true main force, including that Li Jiuyou, must be in a place closer to the Tianlei Cave Mansion."

"What I want to do is not fight them to the death right now."

The corners of Zhao Ruoan's mouth curled into an ice-cold arc.

"Aren't they waiting for the right time to use the blood sacrifice grand Formation and demonic treasure, working in harmony inside and out, to break open the thunder domain Restriction?"

"Then I will let them prepare first."

"When they rack their brains and have everything ready, right at the last moment when they think they are about to succeed..."

"I will strike again and destroy all their hopes, along with their lives."

"The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. This is what I like to do."

Hearing Zhao Ruoan's words, both Qiuyin and Xiamo felt a chill rise up their backs.

"Young Master... is so scheming!"

However, thinking of what those people from the Blood Fiend Sect had done, they felt that they should be dealt with in this exact way!

"Then what are we doing now?" Qiuyin asked.

"Wait." Zhao Ruoan spat out a single word. "Wait for them to start the blood sacrifice, wait for Li Jiuyou to make a move. I want to see with my own eyes how they actually plan to break open that thunder domain."

"At the same time, we must also prepare well."

From the sumeru ring, he took out that Sect supreme treasure—the Realm-Breaking Divine Shuttle.

The silver-white divine shuttle exuded faint spatial fluctuations in his palm.

Zhao Ruoan's gaze pierced through the heavy night curtain, as if he had already seen that ancient Immortal Cave shrouded by violent thunder.

A good show was about to be staged.