128: Chapter 128 Gathering Demonic Cultivators, Disgusting the Fenghe Sect!

...

Several days later, in the southern part of the Wei State.

A dangerous place known as the "Withered Bone Forest."

This place was shrouded in miasma year-round, teeming with poisonous insects and Yao Beasts, and ordinary Cultivators rarely set foot here.

Sun Mao, clad in a black robe and wearing a bamboo hat to conceal his appearance and aura, followed the guidance in the Jade Slip to a hidden cave.

A simple warning Formation was set up at the cave entrance.

Sun Mao did not break the Formation; instead, he tapped the stone wall at the entrance three times in a specific rhythm, paused for two breaths, and tapped four more times.

A moment later, a gap opened in the Formation.

A gaunt old man with a sinister expression stepped out. The old man only had a cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage and stared warily at Sun Mao.

"Withered bones bear flowers, the sea of blood is boundless," the old man rasped, reciting a secret code.

Sun Mao lowered his voice, sounding like two pieces of raw iron rubbing together: "The Netherworld leads the way, ten thousand souls return to the Sect."

The old man's eyes narrowed, his attitude immediately becoming more respectful as he stepped aside to clear the path:

"Respected Envoy, please come inside!"

The interior of the cave was quite spacious, having been carved into a wide secret chamber. Inside, there were two more Cultivators at the ninth level of Qi Refining who both showed respectful expressions upon seeing Sun Mao enter.

Sun Mao didn't waste words and directly tossed a Storage Pouch onto the stone table.

The mouth of the Storage Pouch fell open, and a large quantity of Spirit Stones immediately spilled out, along with several bottles of Medicinal Pills that emitted a dense Spiritual Qi.

The eyes of the old man and the two minor Qi Refining Cultivators widened at the sight.

After the Blood Fiend Sect was destroyed, these Undercover Agents had become like rootless duckweed, barely managing to maintain their Cultivation by committing robbery and murder. They had never seen such abundant resources.

"This is a deposit."

Sun Mao's voice was cold, carrying the Spiritual Pressure of a superior:

"From today onward, you work for me!"

The old man swallowed hard, suppressing the greed in his heart. "May I ask, Respected Envoy, which Golden Core Old Ancestor do you serve?"

"And what do you need us to do?"

"Don't ask what you shouldn't ask."

Sun Mao's tone turned cold, and a wave of Foundation Establishment Spiritual Pressure erupted from him, causing the blood and Qi of the three men to churn.

"All you need to know is that if you follow orders, you will receive Spirit Stones and resources."

"Don't get any funny ideas. Aside from me, where else in the cultivation worlds of the Wei State and Jin State is there a place for you?"

"The Wei State cannot tolerate you, and the various Demonic Cultivators of the Jin State will certainly not tolerate remnants of the Blood Fiend Sect. So, before you act, weigh your options carefully."

Sun Mao finished with a cold sneer, not using physical force.

Yet the sense of oppression he brought far exceeded that of mere force!

The old man nodded repeatedly, not daring to offend. Regardless of who the other party was, there was bound to be a Golden Core Old Ancestor backing them.

It didn't matter who they followed, as long as they could stay alive.

"We will certainly do as the Respected Envoy commands."

"I'll give you one month to gather all the Undercover Agents scattered across various places, disperse into small groups, and infiltrate Fenghe County."

"Targets: the markets, herb gardens, and lone Disciples under the jurisdiction of the Fenghe Sect."

"Kill if you can, rob if you can. You may keep seventy percent of what you steal, and just hand over thirty percent..."

The old man sucked in a breath of cold air.

Go to Fenghe County to cause trouble? That was the territory of a Golden Core Sect!

But looking at the Spirit Stones on the table, he remembered that men die for wealth just as birds die for food. This clearly involved a struggle at the Golden Core level.

"Rest assured, Respected Envoy. We are most adept at this kind of no-cost business."

The old man nodded in agreement. This task wasn't that difficult; as long as they weren't attacking the mountain and were only raiding the territory, it was practically second nature to them.

"Additionally, leave a portion of your manpower to scour the black markets and auctions everywhere for live Yao Beasts, especially focusing on three types: bears, rats, and dogs."

"The rarer the Bloodline, the better. Price is not an issue."

Once the instructions were finished, Sun Mao did not linger and turned to leave.

He knew that these desperadoes didn't need loyalty; they only needed the drive of profit and a certain degree of intimidation.

With a steady stream of Spirit Stones thrown at them, they would become a pack of the most ferocious hungry wolves—the perfect blades!

Useful, and they wouldn't get his hands dirty.

...

Fenghe County, Changfeng Market.

This was one of the largest markets under the jurisdiction of the Fenghe Sect, where a large number of Loose Cultivators and small-to-medium-sized Families traded year-round.

As night fell, the lights in the market gradually flickered on.

An Inner Sect Disciple of the Fenghe Sect, with a Qi Refining level eight cultivation, had just come out of a restaurant in the market. Slightly tipsy, he staggered toward his residence.

He passed through a secluded alley.

In the darkness, three shadows suddenly lunged out. There was no flash of Spells, only daggers and shortswords coated in lethal poison.

Puchi!

The sound of blades entering flesh was particularly piercing in the silent alley.

The Disciple didn't even have time to scream before his throat was slit, and his body was quickly dragged into the shadows.

His Storage Pouch was snatched, his Dharma robes were stripped bare, and not even a pair of boots was left behind.

Similar scenes were playing out in various corners of Fenghe County.

A group of experienced and ruthless Demonic Path Bandit Cultivators blended into the clear waters of Fenghe County like drops of ink.

They didn't fight hard battles; they only picked on easy targets.

Today they burned a remote Herb Garden; tomorrow they robbed a convoy transporting Ore.

In just half a month, Fenghe County was in a state of panic.

Loose Cultivators didn't dare to go out, and affiliated Families one after another sought help from the Fenghe Sect.

Fenghe Sect, Main Peak Hall.

Yan Qiu's face was ashen as he sat in the main seat.

He had once been a high-spirited Golden Core Master, but ever since he was heavily injured by Shi Jian, his Origin had been damaged. Not only had his cultivation failed to progress, but it even showed signs of regressing.

He looked ten years older, exuding an air of weakness that could not be hidden.

"Have you investigated it clearly?"

"Who exactly did this, and why haven't you been able to capture even one person!"

Yan Qiu roared, slamming a Jade Slip violently onto the ground.

Below, several Foundation Establishment Elders were trembling in fear.

"Reporting to the Old Ancestor, those people are highly experienced and extremely cunning. If a strike doesn't land, they immediately flee and never linger to fight."

"Looking at the Spells and weapons they use, they seem to be... Demonic Cultivators."

One Elder answered while bracing himself, his forehead already covered in cold sweat.

"Demonic Cultivators?" Yan Qiu's brows furrowed deeply.

Although Demonic Cultivators from the Jin State occasionally ran wild in the Wei State, there had never been such a large-scale infiltration, especially under the jurisdiction of a great Sect like the Fenghe Sect, which boasted two Golden Core Masters...

Could it be that the war on the front lines was becoming dire, and the Jin State had taken the opportunity to send people to cause trouble in the rear?

"Increase the manpower. Send out all the Law Enforcement Teams in the Sect, place the markets under martial law, and station heavy troops at all major resource points."

"Capture them alive if possible; I want to know who is the mastermind behind them!"

However, Yan Qiu's counter-strategy had already been accounted for in Sun Mao's calculations.

As soon as the Fenghe Sect's Law Enforcement Teams moved out, those Undercover Agents immediately ceased their activities, dispersed into small groups, and hid in Mortal cities or deep mountain forests.

Once the Law Enforcement Teams withdrew, they swarmed back like flies.

When the enemy advances, we retreat; when the enemy camps, we harass.

When the enemy tires, we attack; when the enemy retreats, we pursue!

This set of tactics left the Fenghe Sect exhausted. Although it didn't cause massive losses, it was enough to keep them running ragged.

It was pure provocation, pure mockery—running away when they couldn't win, all just to spite you and make your life miserable!

...

[Sharing my hardships, I thank my many Fellow Daoist Patrons for reading this far. Canghai is eternally grateful and kowtows to you all here!

Canghai has parents above and no girlfriend below; Canghai just wants to eat a full meal.

I hope you Patrons can follow and give a five-star review. If a few of you could show some love, Canghai would be satisfied. Thank you all for your support along the way!]