The Spider Demon Elder lazily sprawled across a bone chair, one foot propped up on the armrest. When he spotted the scrawny old man, Wu Chongyang, storming in fuming with rage, he found the sight hard on the eyes. This made him think the little Dan Master was that much more appealing by comparison.
As soon as the Wu Dan Master entered, he demanded, "Old Demon, why did you put out those words? And I've heard you went to meet those people surnamed Tang? What exactly are you planning? Don't forget what we agreed on initially. I only want that brat surnamed Gu, you can compromise on everything else!"
There was a rustling sound from the corner of the great hall. The spider demons who constantly accompanied the Old Demon crawled out, all eight eyes fixed on the Wu Dan Master, sending a chill down his spine.
The Spider Demon Elder stroked the outstretched claw of a spider demon, completely unperturbed by the Wu old man's fury: "It's because you're too useless. How much time have I given you already? What have you produced so far? You made a poison that got easily resolved by a 7th grade Dan Master. That's why, old demon me wants to find a new partner. What can you do to me?"
The Wu Dan Master was enraged to the extreme: "Are you trying to cut ties? Or do you want mutual destruction? If I, Wu, don't get any benefits, do you think those people outside are sincerely cooperating with you?"
The Spider Demon Elder shifted from a reclining to a sitting position, contempt in his eyes: "Then what about you? With what goal in mind did you righteous path people approach old demon me to discuss cooperation? What about the Huo father and son pair? Heh, do you think I care what any of you think? Only you righteous path people see reputation as more important than anything. I, old demon, kill without blinking, drink blood and eat human flesh, striking fear and dread. What reputation do I still need?"
"You..." The Wu Dan Master did not expect the Spider Demon Elder to flip his attitude so readily. Furthermore, there seemed to be nothing to hold over him. When someone doesn't care about reputation at all, what else can restrain them?
The Wu Dan Master took a deep breath. He would have to plan this long-term: "Alright, I was wrong to underestimate your magnanimity. Let's do this - no matter what conditions you propose, I only want that brat surnamed Gu. "
"Hahaha..." The Spider Demon Elder laughed loudly. The pale face even took on a hint of color from the laughter, though it looked eerier. "Too bad, old demon me has taken a liking to that little Dan Master now. I feel like that little thing is much cuter than you old fogey. Hand him to you? I'll consider it after I'm done playing with him."
"You... Old Demon, think it over first before deciding. Wu will take his leave for now." Suppressing the anger in his stomach, the Wu Dan Master wanted to retreat first to find another method. He refused to believe he couldn't locate that brat. Having said that, he turned to walk out.
"Heh," a low chuckle sounded from behind. "Did I say you could leave?"
"You dare!"
Suddenly, the doors of the great hall shut close. A huge net carrying the stench of blood descended from above to trap the Wu Dan Master. Looking back, he saw the Spider Demon Elder swinging that massive ghost head blade chopping towards him.
"No, you can't..."
The Spider Demon Elder's underlings saw the Wu Dan Master enter the great hall, but he never emerged again. These demonic cultivators revered the Spider Demon Elder even more, not harboring the slightest hint of dissent. When the Spider Demon Elder appeared with the spider demon in tow, they noticed the spider demon's back had become even more translucent and flawless. Moreover, the spider demon seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood, like it just enjoyed a scrumptious meal.
Many subconsciously glanced at the spider demon's belly and hurriedly retreated far away. Most who had previously offended the Patriarch had ended up in the spider demon's stomach.
Chang Xian Sect.
A cultivator staggered in to report in panic, "Sect leader, bad news! The Wu Dan Master, he..."
Sect Leader Huo was vexed by how the external situation was growing increasingly disadvantageous for Chang Xian Sect. Furthermore, that surnamed Lou fellow actually faked his death and escaped. When Sect Leader Huo learned that surnamed Lou was alive and kicking, he wanted to threaten him using the Lou family members, only to discover those people had vanished without a trace, destination unknown.
This oversight could not be blamed on him though. After eliminating that eyesore, Sect Leader Huo stopped paying the Lou family any heed. Without Elder Lou, a Yuan Ying stage cultivator protecting them, and the promising young junior Lou Huaijing gone, Sect Leader Huo knew clearly the fate of the Lou family members - sooner or later, they would be swallowed alive by the other Chang Xian Sect disciples eyeing them greedily. Thus, he did not interfere or get involved, simply allowing the Lou family to disappear within Chang Xian Sect. In the future, no one could pin the blame on him either.
After realizing he had been deceived, Sect Leader Huo was furious. But the cultivator who had tampered with the Soul Tablets previously also vanished without a trace. Needless to say, he must have been relocated by that surnamed Lou fellow too. Thus, the one currently guarding the Soul Tablets was Sect Leader Huo's trusted aide. Seeing his aide in such a state now, he angrily demanded, "What is it this time? Has someone else died and their Soul Tablet shattered? Don't tell me it's the Wu Dan Master?"
The cultivator reporting to him was badly frightened and stammered, "Sect L-Leader, you already know? The Wu Dan Master's Soul Tablet suddenly shattered intact. Please take a look, Sect Leader."
To prevent the Sect Leader from distrusting him, he specially brought the shattered Soul Tablet over. Sect Leader Huo's mind buzzed, on the verge of exploding. Eyes wide with fury, it really was Wu Chongyang's Soul Tablet. "How is this possible? How could the Wu Dan Master die? Impossible!"
"Sect Leader," two Elders walked in to interrogate, "Junior Brother Lou is not dead. He said to evade Sect Leader's pursuit, he had no choice but to fake his death. Is this true, Sect Leader?"
Seeing the shattered Soul Tablet, the other Elder was surprised, "Who else has died?"
The disciple holding the Soul Tablet tremblingly replied, "It's...it's the Wu Dan Master."
"What? That Wu geezer is dead?" Both Elders frowned at the Soul Tablet before shifting their gazes to Sect Leader Huo. "Sect Leader, what exactly is going on? Please explain clearly. The Wu Dan Master had always been closely associated with you."
Despite the Wu Dan Master's resounding reputation, a sixth-grade upper-level Dan Master was still a source of pride for any sect. However, it was difficult for disciples of the same sect to meet the Wu Dan Master, not to mention requesting him to concoct pills, which required considerable compensation. More often than not, they had to seek Sect Leader Huo's aid. They had not seen the Wu Dan Master for who knows how long. To think he was dead now?
Sect Leader Huo could not ascertain how the Wu Dan Master died either. Amidst the many suspicions flashing through his mind was this - Wu Chongyang got himself killed while messing around. It was not impossible; he knew better than anyone how insane that Wu fellow was.
But he could not voice all these speculations. In the end, he could only draw one conclusion and said, "What else could have happened? He was killed by demonic cultivators, by that Spider Demon Elder. Pass down my orders. Our Chang Xian Sect will fight the demonic dao to the death, with no survivors."
The two Elders were half-convinced. Before leaving, they still asked, "Then what about Junior Brother Lou's matter?"
Sect Leader Huo could only stubbornly deny it. "Junior Brother Lou was deceived by the Spider Demon Elder."
Did the two Elders believe this? Not one bit. There were even rumors circulating outside that the Wu Dan Master was actually the Poison Dan Master. They were very suspicious, but what could they do for now? If they wanted Chang Xian Sect to avoid destruction, they could only grit their teeth and press on.
"Come out!"
A cultivator with sharp eyes emerged from behind the doors. It was Yan Yuanjing who had successfully formed his baby through the Heavenly Infant Tribulation. He stood expressionlessly before the Sect Leader. "Greetings Sect Leader. Do you have any instructions?"
Sect Leader Huo looked at Yan Yuanjing displeasedly and said, "By now, you should know that Chi Changye and Gu Yao have come to cause trouble here. If one day Chang Xian Sect faces destruction, you, Yan Yuanjing, will be the culprit! I'm giving you a chance to redeem yourself now - go find those two and bring that Gu Yao to me."
"Yes, Sect Leader. Your disciple obeys." After accepting the order, Yan Yuanjing turned and left.
"The one surnamed Wu is dead?" Tang cultivator and the others simply could not believe their ears when they heard the news.
"That's right. It was news delivered by the Spider Demon Elder, saying it's a big gift for us." Alliance Chief Meng said helplessly. They really could not comprehend that fellow's thought process and had no idea what else he would stir up next.
They did want to locate the Wu Dan Master, but had no clue where he was hiding. Moreover, even if they found him, capturing him without any losses would be difficult. Unlike outsiders who were half-skeptical of those rumors, they knew the Poison Dan Master was none other than Wu Chongyang himself, including how he had refined himself into a poisonous body. So that man was extremely tricky to handle.
But now he was proclaimed dead just like that. It made them wonder if it was fabricated, just like Old Ancestor Lou's faked death previously. Though, that Spider Demon Elder had no need to lie about this since he could have just not done anything.
"That old geezer is truly ruthless to actually kill him just like that." The Silver Race's Chief said plainly. That Wu fellow was a sixth grade upper-level Dan Master. Even they might not bear to kill someone like that. A sixth grade upper-level Dan Master could still play a considerable role. This showed why the Spider Demon Elder was so feared.
"Since the Wu Dan Master has been dealt with, we can wrap things up faster now, right?" Tang cultivator suggested.
The few exchanged glances and nodded in agreement. The remaining mess would have to be shouldered by Sect Leader Huo now. Furthermore, they were not wrongly accusing this Sect Leader at all. He had turned a blind eye previously, but now they too were tasting the bitter fruits. The things Sect Leader Huo and the Wu Dan Master did in private were already beyond their tolerance.
After the three big shots returned from the Ghost Fog Sea, orders were issued out one by one from them.
News of the Wu Dan Master's death did not spread. The verbal sparring between the Spider Demon Elder and Gu Yao's uncle had yet to settle down, with everyone still locked in heated discussion. Then, at this moment, pieces of news circulated out, stunning cultivators across the Qian Hao Continent once more.
It was a joint announcement by Tang cultivator, Alliance Chief Meng, and the Silver Race's Chief. The rumored Poison Dan Master did exist, and he was none other than Wu Dan Master Wu Chongyang himself. After hitting a bottleneck in his dan studies, he started researching poison dans in an attempt to make a breakthrough. However, in the process of studying poison dans, his mental state was affected and he fell to the demonic path, committing all kinds of sins that went against the Heavenly Dao.
The reason why cultivators on the continent failed to notice was because someone had been covering up for Wu Chongyang - Sect Leader Huo of Chang Xian Sect. Thus, Sect Leader Huo and Wu Dan Master must pay the price for the calamity that had befallen Qian Hao Continent.
Many refused to believe this. However, all kinds of accounts surfaced for a time, further proving those words true. Wu Chongyang and Sect Leader Huo, even Chang Xian Sect, became targets of public criticism.
Even demonic cultivators spoke up, proclaiming their own innocence. They said they were scapegoats pushed out by that treacherous Huo fellow. Those demons and demonic cultivators had nothing to do with anything. It was all the work of that wretched Wu geezer, done to bring chaos to the continent for the sake of domination. They dared demonic cultivators to be so evil? Hah! That Huo and Wu were the truly unforgivable arch-demons. Even they demonic cultivators admitted they paled greatly in comparison.
When righteous cultivators heard these words, they only wanted to retort with "Hah!" They did not believe this, not one bit!
Was there really demonic cultivators loudly proclaiming their own innocence while calling the righteous path demons in this world? This was simply preposterous!
If those demon heads were really innocent, they ought to gouge their own eyes out.
Tang cultivator and Alliance Chief Meng's eyelids kept twitching when they heard those outside rumors for some reason, constantly feeling that the Spider Demon Elder was up to no good again.
With such a huge commotion outside, even Gu Yao and Chi Changye could not continue staying in secluded cultivation. They came out from where they had been in closed-door training.
Yin Hua was not very satisfied. He looked at Chi Changye critically and said, "I thought that with this closed-door session, you would have broken through to the Yuanying stage. Hasn't that Yan fellow from Chang Xian Sect advanced to Yuanying? In your ten-year agreement duel, can you beat him?"
Chi Changye could only stick out his chest and say, "Uncle, I will do my best."
Yin Hua pulled his nephew over. "Look at little Yao. He's much younger than you, yet he's already at the late Golden Core stage now, not far from breaking through to Yuanying. If you don't hurry up, sooner or later you'll be left behind by little Yao."
Gu Yao wanted to retort his uncle badly. With Chi Changye's talents, how could he possibly surpass him? Even now, he was only able to raise his cultivation to this level relying on pills and his own dan arts. Otherwise with his original talents, being able to build a foundation would have been considered fortunate.
Although he had supreme grade pills, Chi Changye did not actually consume that many pills. To have such cultivation speed outside would earn praise from everyone. Only his uncle was being critical. Gu Yao could only send an apologetic look to Chi Changye, once again feeling like he was caught between them. Wanting to please both sides was difficult indeed. Now if he spoke up for Chi Changye, his uncle would definitely put on a "when a son grows up, he leaves his parents" grieved expression.
"Uncle, I'm not that fast."
But Yin Hua paid him no mind. He waved a hand dismissively. "Forget it. I know there's no point in having you continue closed-door training. Come out with me to take a look what that old poison spider wants to stir up this time."
"Old poison spider?" Gu Yao repeated curiously.
"Isn't that just that wretched old geezer Spider Demon Elder!" Yin Hua said casually. Although the Spider Demon Elder had clarified some of the rumors for his nephew, revealing the Poison Dan Master's true identity to be that Wu fellow, this did not mean Yin Hua's anger had dissipated. He had not forgotten how that old poison spider actually coveted his nephew!