Chapter 170: Sacred Weapon Path Gets Involved
Su Yan’s expression grew a bit more serious.
Sacred Weapon Path, though the name sounds nice, True Intent takes various weapons as True Intent, but it is based on souls.
And among these souls, the most compatible are none other than martial artists and high-order beast souls.
“Sacred Weapon Path has gotten involved too.”
The Six-Winged Blood Centipede opened its huge maw and swallowed the three corpses whole, then the Shadow Horn Spider carried Su Yan and hurried toward other directions.
In the wilderness, feral beasts ran rampant, outer disciples and inner disciples hunted in groups, strangling these feral beasts one by one.
Although Mountain Guard disciples participated in the battle, they only targeted two places for attack.
Key strongholds for infiltration and hunt of groups of powerful feral beasts.
Just one afternoon, each squad had considerable gains, using military formation arrays to suppress and kill two second-order late-stage feral beasts.
Feral beasts of this strength were no less than martial artists at True Intent Realm third realm great accomplishment or even fourth realm.
A squad had only one True Intent Realm third realm condensing momentum stage martial artist, yet they attacked from below with hardly any casualties, showing the power of this military formation array.
“Run!”
At the shady side of East Bai Shan, a team of martial artists rode ox beasts, fleeing for their lives.
There were a full twelve of them, all burly men with their faces covered.
“Swish”
They fled desperately, but before they could go far, a red figure shot out from the forest, knocking over their entire team.
Poisonous mist enveloped them, instantly swallowing three or four people.
The ox beast was startled, throwing off the martial artist and fleeing desperately.
“Come any closer and I’ll kill them!”
The leading burly man’s mask fell off, revealing a dark scarred face.
He gripped a woman’s neck, with a short knife already pressed against the back of her neck.
Su Yan stepped forward, his figure emerging from the forest.
“Kill her then.”
He merely raised his eyes slightly: “I’d like to see what fate awaits you after you kill her.”
The scarred man’s brows furrowed tightly, his eyes full of fear.
He was clearly a True Intent Realm second realm as desired martial artist, yet in front of this young man Su Yan, he felt immense pressure.
It took twenty-seven brothers to capture a few Beast King Sect disciples, and this man suddenly burst out.
A Six-Winged Blood Centipede charged and killed half of them, and the man with a spear pierced the heads of many brothers.
“I only seek a way to live!”
The scarred man still wanted to beg, but the next moment, he directly pushed the female disciple in his hand toward the Six-Winged Blood Centipede’s huge maw, seized a nearby ox beast, and tried to flee…
Hiss hiss
Countless shadows assaulted, directly binding the scarred man’s arms.
The scarred man’s face changed drastically as the Shadow Horn Spider descended, its figure like a ghostly shadow.
The remaining few had no time to react before being pierced by shadow silk, hanging in midair like marionettes.
The two held hostage fell to the ground.
Su Yan’s gaze swept over, shaking his head slightly: “Don’t be greedy for merit and rush ahead, return to camp yourselves.”
“Thank you, senior brother.”
The two, having survived the ordeal, felt lingering fear and nodded hurriedly.
Their group of outer disciples had been smoothly killing feral beasts when they were suddenly ambushed, losing many companions.
Su Yan sent the two away, and the suspended bandit cultivators were already sliced into flesh by shadow silk, their faces twisted in pain.
“How many origin stones per head did Sacred Weapon Path offer you to make you so desperate?”
Su Yan raised his eyes slightly, and the scarred man’s face changed abruptly.
“Outer disciples one thousand first-order origin stones, inner disciples three hundred second-order origin stones.”
Su Yan raised his eyes slightly; second-order origin stones were involved, and the price wasn’t low.
Men die for wealth, birds for food.
Not to mention, these bandit cultivators were originally planning to make a big score after the feral beast attack on Bai Shan Town.
Plunder everything in Bai Shan Town, and after the martial artists of major families suffered, they would be targets too.
Hunting Beast King Sect disciples and the Ma, Lin, Zhou San families was just incidental.
The scarred man thought he had been cautious enough, targeting mostly outer disciples.
But he never expected to capsize in the gutter.
“How did you receive the news, and how do you exchange for rewards?”
Su Yan’s gaze sharpened slightly, and the scarred man’s eyes dimmed as he immediately said: “The news came from the black market, but the area around Bai Shan Town has fallen, and Old Temple Entrance is destroyed. Only when they release a new signal do we know where to exchange.”
Old Temple Entrance?
Su Yan raised his eyes slightly and sneered: “You’ve done quite a few things, haven’t you.”
This Old Temple Entrance was likely a hub for shadowy forces, fish and dragons mixed, similar to the Greenwood Gathering in Yun Cang Town.
But undoubtedly more secretive, and there must be someone operating behind it.
Only with long-term connections, links, even assassination and ambush tasks, would these desperados trust this so-called dark flower so much.
“Is Sacred Weapon Path behind Old Temple Entrance?”
“Someone has seen the Old Temple Entrance messenger act, wielding a soul-reaping staff swirling with chilling winds, only Sacred Weapon Path refines such True Intent.”
“I… I’m willing to be your dark line. As soon as they appear, I’ll report to you.”
The scarred man immediately thought of his chance to survive; undoubtedly, Su Yan wanted to investigate Old Temple Entrance.
However, Su Yan just shook his head slightly: “They won’t appear, at least not now.”
He pointed his Scorpion Profound Spear, piercing the scarred man’s brow, and in an instant killed the others.
The sky was gradually darkening, so Su Yan found the direction and headed straight for the camp.
Outside the camp, defenses were set up four to five hundred meters away, with several iron-armored giant beasts over a zhang tall lying as a defensive line.
Their iron armor specially forged and reinforced by spirit sealers, these were defensive giant beasts to begin with.
Mountain Guard disciples formed defensive lines, while several teams of inner disciples built patrol defenses, making security especially tight.
Clearing feral beasts wasn’t just about killing; they also had to guard against another beast tide that could wipe out the entire army.
Upon returning to camp, someone had already arranged a tent for Su Yan.
Given his status as Dragon Qiushui Disciple, such treatment was not unusual.
But before he could return to his tent, he was summoned by Hao Yi.
Su Yan happened to want to tell Hao Yi about today’s events, so he headed to the main tent.
Entering the tent, Hao Yi and the family heads of Ma, Lin, and Zhou San families were all there.
“Junior brother, sit.”
Hao Yi’s attitude was humble, not just because of Su Yan’s status, but also from hearing more rumors about this junior brother that day.
At only seventeen or eighteen, his cultivation had reached True Intent Realm second realm as desired.
Moreover, in one day, he had killed no less than two or three hundred feral beasts, clearing a small area himself and saving many disciples.
With such strength, he might become another Dan Qiao True Person in the future.
Compared to himself, who might be stuck in True Intent Realm for most of his life.
“Senior brother, there’s something I need to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“A large group of bandit cultivators gathered around Bai Shan Town, all receiving dark flower orders to kill Beast King Sect disciples and family disciples from towns outside the barrier. Senior brother should have received the news today too?”
Hao Yi nodded gravely: “Sacred Weapon Path’s tricks; I’m afraid they’re involved in this Bai Shan Town incident. Their eerie True Intents are refined with souls and blood sacrifice—this level of killing is just what they want.”
Su Yan looked at the three family heads, his gaze falling on Ma Tianhong.
“Ma Family Head.”
“Young Master, what is it?”
Su Yan asked: “You’ve lived here long; you should know what Old Temple Entrance is.”
Ma Tianhong’s face turned serious as he said gravely: “I know.”
He explained: “Around Cold Shadow Peak outside the barrier, Old Temple Entrance is the most mysterious. Fencing stolen goods, assassination, human trafficking, feral beast trading—they do it all, gathering a group of desperados specifically against our four towns. If the overt bandit groups like Four Tiger Bandits and Cold River Wolves are the vicious tigers biting in the open, then the Old Temple Entrance crowd are the evil ghosts lurking in the shadows. Rumor has it their leader uses Sacred Weapon Path methods.”
Someone was taking advantage of the chaos, using these bandit cultivators as knives.
This Old Temple Entrance was likely the chief culprit.
“Old Temple Entrance…”
His gaze shifted slightly as he raised his brow: “I’ve heard of it too; these people don’t seem easy to find.”
Lin Zifang said: “It’s called Old Temple, but they started at an old temple and later became as elusive as a ghost temple. Every time before appearing, they have ‘little birds’ spread rumors in town, half-true half-false; only experts can follow the clues to find them.”
“So the clues are cut off.”
In the current situation, with Bai Shan Town destroyed, those dark lines had long hidden somewhere—perhaps in the other three towns or among refugees—but not easy to root out.
“Not necessarily; they’re waiting for us at Bai Shan Town.”
Hao Yi’s voice fell, tone solemn as he snorted coldly: “Today while clearing peripheral feral beasts, Mountain Guard and disciples discovered feral beast movements gathering toward Bai Shan Town; someone is assembling them.”
Everyone’s expressions turned serious; Ma Tianhong said: “Is it true?”
“Why would I deceive you?”
Everyone’s faces looked grim; the danger of clustered feral beasts versus scattered ones was vastly different.
“Three family heads, I summoned you to tell you that at Bai Shan Town, you must act; no hiding, or don’t blame the sect’s strict rules.”
Towns outside the barrier were nominally operated by them, but actually still affiliated forces of Beast King Sect.
In necessary times, they had to participate in battle.
Though Hao Yi wasn’t a Dan Qiao True Person, he could represent the sect to convey the seriousness to the three.
“Understood, we will follow Commander Hao’s orders.”
Hao Yi discussed arrangements with them, allocating plans for clearing feral beasts the next day, and they left one by one as night fell.
Su Yan returned outside his tent and immediately stopped upon approaching.
His figure flashed inside, Scorpion Profound Spear suddenly pointing at the source of breathing.
“Young Master, forgive me; this humble woman was sent here on orders.”
Under the spear tip was a fair-skinned, voluptuous young woman around twenty, like a blooming peony, full and alluring.
She crouched low, deliberately revealing a glimpse of white, like a submissive little beast.
“Who sent you?”
Su Yan’s gaze flickered as he scanned the woman before him.
Her strength wasn’t strong, but she had skill, around half-step True Intent.
“This humble woman Ma Qingxuan has seen Young Master.”
She rose gracefully, holding a cloud-patterned brocade box, hands slightly raised right in front of her.
Su Yan’s spear was sharp, but Ma Qingxuan’s smile didn’t fade at all.
“On Family Head’s orders, specially delivering a gift to Young Master. Congratulations to Dragon True Person on taking charge of Cold Shadow Peak.”
Ma Qingxuan opened the box; on the red velvet lining were two items side by side.
“The situation here is special; Family Head hastily prepared only three gifts. Please forgive us, Young Master.”
Su Yan merely narrowed his eyes slightly, thinking: “Ma Tianhong reacted quickly; this must be the three families’ intention.”
Seeing Su Yan silent, Ma Qingxuan’s crisp voice introduced softly: “The first gift is the centipede pearl from a second-order late-stage feral beast, Cold Armored Centipede. Though not from a third-order calamity beast, it should help Young Master’s contracted beast a little.”
In the box, the right item was a fist-sized bead like white jade, emanating a faint coolness.
Demonic essence lingered densely; indeed a treasure, especially for special contracted beasts.
“Interesting.”
Su Yan nodded slightly; Ma Qingxuan’s eyes lit up as she continued: “The second gift is this storage ring. Inside are some origin stones: ten thousand first-order origin stones and one thousand second-order origin stones. Please accept, Young Master.”
The centipede pearl was a tailored gift, but origin stones were a universal one.
Ten thousand first-order origin stones and one thousand second-order ones would suffice for a typical True Intent Realm disciple’s cultivation for one or two years.
And that without being stingy.
‘Towns outside the barrier are still wealthy, with no one to control them…’
Give to take; sending such big gifts meant the three families indeed wanted his help.
Not just simple goodwill; of course, this was just the beginning.
“And the third gift?”
Su Yan raised his eyes; Ma Qingxuan slowly set down the box, smiling radiantly with added charm.
She curtsied slightly, her sash slipping to reveal snow-like fragrant shoulders and deeper creamy skin.
“Cold Shadow Peak is remote and harsh; fearing Young Master inconvenienced in daily life, Qingxuan wishes to serve at Young Master’s side.”
The blatant hint made Su Yan laugh.
He withdrew his Scorpion Profound Spear, pressure easing slightly as he said flatly: “I’ll take the items; as for you, go back yourself.”
Ma Qingxuan was slightly stunned, pulled up her sash, and said softly with a nod: “This humble woman understands; please forgive today’s intrusion, Young Master.”
She left the box and quietly exited the tent, as if Su Yan had said nothing.
“Gift-giving is somewhat professional; came so quickly.”
He took the storage ring and centipede pearl, checked them, found no other tricks, and stored them directly in the Insect Realm Space.
He didn’t accept the person—not because Su Yan never indulged in women.
Just that freeloading comes at a cost.
People are more troublesome than things; better not to get involved for now.
“Ma Family sending gifts is likely the three families’ idea. Looks like after retaking Bai Shan Town, there’s a big show to watch, maybe more gifts.”
Su Yan grinned; this gift-giving felt like probing, but conversely, wasn’t he probing too?
“By the way, Law Enforcement Hall probably doesn’t investigate sect corruption, right?”
