Chapter 353: Collusion and Conspiracy
Upon hearing Yunshan's proposal, Old Ke's face twitched slightly, but he obediently turned around and exited the cave. Though Yunshan had lured him into practicing the soul-devouring body-seizing technique, his own desire for power was the root cause. Being able to remain alive while serving under Lion Tian was already a stroke of immense fortune.
With his right hand against the cave wall for guidance, Old Ke exited the cavern, brushing his eyelid with his left hand. His blindness wasn't congenital; Lion Tian had personally blinded him. Despite his dedicated service, he couldn't escape Lion Tian's volatile temper which led to his loss of sight.
Because of Old Ke's exceptional skills, Lion Tian didn't discard him even after blinding him. However, this harsh treatment only intensified Old Ke's desire for power, hoping to break free from Lion Tian's control. So, when Yunshan introduced the soul-devouring technique, Old Ke was already tempted.
Inside the secret passage, Yunshan's gaze lingered on Old Ke's retreating figure, his eyes filled with an unshakable ferocity, making Old Ke feel as if needles were pricking his back. But Yunshan paid no heed to Old Ke's discomfort, continuing his observation.
After the destruction of the Yunlan Sect, Yunshan stumbled upon a beast graveyard while dispersing the soul-devouring technique. There, he found a peculiar tribe of magical beast corpses that hadn't decayed and retained abundant vitality, including an eighth-tier magical beast—equivalent to a Dou Zun.
After consuming this tribe with the soul-devouring technique, Yunshan's strength naturally progressed to the Dou Zun level. The thrill of this power led him to crave higher-tier beasts. However, devouring these creatures wasn't without side effects; the persistent ferocity in his eyes was one such consequence.
While suppressing the brutal impulses in his mind, Yunshan pondered how to persuade Lion Tian. Inside the grand hall of Lion Ming Sect, Lion Tian sat on a golden throne, his expression grim.
Lion Tian trusted Old Ke's capabilities but was somewhat disappointed by the current situation. "I hope Old Ke brings good news, or else he won't have another pair of eyes for me to blind," he murmured. With the resources of Lion Ming Sect, finding capable servants was easy.
The reason Lion Tian kept Old Ke, despite blinding him, was to see if Old Ke would harbor any resentment. The thought of Old Ke loyally serving the man who blinded him gave Lion Tian a perverse sense of pleasure. Sometimes, Lion Tian wondered if Old Ke harbored thoughts of revenge.
Just as Lion Tian was losing patience, Old Ke led Yunshan into the grand hall, chilling Lion Tian's gaze. But sensing Yunshan's aura, Lion Tian's surprise was evident. "The master you wanted to meet is here," Old Ke announced, kneeling down respectfully.
Lion Tian was perplexed by the situation but remained composed due to his confidence in his own strength. "Is he a practitioner of the soul-devouring technique?" he demanded. "Let me explain myself," laughed Yunshan, removing his cloak and allowing his bloody aura to fill the hall, causing Lion Tian to narrow his eyes. "You are... Yunshan? You dare appear before me?"
Despite Yunshan's impressive display, Lion Tian could tell that Yunshan was only a one-star Dou Zun—a minor threat. "I'm not here seeking death, Sect Master Lion. With Xiao Ze's Sky Alliance dismantling the Yunlan Sect and aiming to control the entire Northwest, are you still at ease here?" Yunshan spoke confidently.
Lion Tian frowned. "What does it matter? Xiao Ze has reached the level of a Seven Star Dou Zun, a top-tier presence in the Northwest. Even I cannot match him." "Sect Master Lion, I bring you a solution to your predicament," Yunshan continued, producing a blood-colored scroll. "This is the soul-devouring body-seizing technique Xiao Ze is desperate to destroy."
"With this technique, you could quickly advance to the level of a Seven or even Eight Star Dou Zun!" Yunshan insisted. Lion Tian hesitated but ultimately grasped the scroll from the air, cautiously inspecting it before slowly unrolling it to read.
Yunshan, hands behind his back, smiled confidently, convinced of his success. Once Lion Tian experienced the addictive power of the technique—unhindered progression through constant devouring—he'd never give it up. "Is there really such a miraculous technique in this world?" Lion Tian marveled after reading, dismissing Xiao Ze's warnings as scaremongering. "It seems you are pleased, Sect Master Lion?"
"Of course! With this technique, not just a stumbling block like Xiao Ze, given time, I could surpass Dou Zun to reach the saint level!" Lion Tian laughed, ambition unveiled in his eyes. "From today onwards, Lion Ming Sect will adopt the soul-devouring body-seizing technique. I want to see our sect flourish, and even if it's the Sky Alliance, we will crush it utterly!"
With the sect's support, the menacing practice of the soul-devouring technique would mark a new, ambitious era for Lion Ming Sect under Lion Tian's rule.
(End of chapter)
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