The moment she realized that the Xiao Sect, a branch of one of the Four Great Sects, had actually allied themselves with the Evil God Cult, Liu Bingchan almost coughed up blood from sheer rage.
How could he dare do this?
Even if he disregarded the fundamental principles of the Heavenly Dao, shouldn’t he at least be wary of his own sect? No matter what, the Xiao Sect main sect was still one of Saint Hua Dynasty’s Four Great Sects—how could they so blatantly collaborate with the Evil God Cult?
If this was discovered, wasn’t he afraid the entire branch sect would be purged?
This was no trivial matter!
“Heaven’s wrath? Lightning striking me down? We cultivators are defying the heavens by nature—what’s there to fear?”
Li Shihua paid no attention to Liu Bingchan’s furious, twisted expression and continued, “Fairy Bingchan, you can barely protect yourself, yet you still waste breath on such nonsense. Pathetic.”
“Hmph, if not for my injuries, I would have taken your head within a hundred moves!”
Liu Bingchan snorted coldly. “Besides, the Black Tortoise Guardian Star Array is a third-grade grand array. Even a Jindan Realm cultivator wouldn’t necessarily be able to break it—do you really think any of you can harm us? All we need to do is wait for the sect to notice something’s wrong and send reinforcements. None of you will escape!”
Li Shihua just gave a faint smile, reaching out to touch the Black Tortoise Guardian Star Array, and sneered, “A prodigy like Fairy Bingchan, of course the Four Sages Academy would take you seriously—but they’ll only send help after they notice something’s wrong. Do you really think you can wait that long?”
“What do you mean?” Liu Bingchan stared at Li Shihua’s movements, suddenly gripped by a powerful sense of unease.
“Has Third Elder never wondered why you didn’t start the array yourselves, yet it activated first?”
Before Liu Bingchan could respond, Li Shihua channeled spiritual power into his hand. A crimson pattern surfaced on the Black Tortoise Guardian Star Array, and the verdant light was instantly shrouded by a layer of red.
“The reason is simple. You no longer control this formation! It’s long since become Xiao Sect’s trophy—and your burial ground!”
“What!”
Liu Bingchan’s feigned composure instantly crumbled into panic. This move was one she had never anticipated.
She never imagined the Evil God Cult had an array master of such caliber!
Li Shihua looked at Liu Bingchan’s ashen face with great satisfaction. “Fairy Bingchan, aside from Xiao Yuanqing, you’ve been the greatest prodigy in Ling Tian City these past dozen years. It’s a pity for you to die like this—so I’ll offer you a way out.”
“As long as you let me plant a Slave Mark on you, and become my Dao companion, I might just spare your life.”
The Slave Mark—an insidious spiritual brand that could be planted on the very soul. Once marked, one would spend their whole life at their master’s beck and call, even their mind slowly warped until they became a truly loyal servant.
But planting a Slave Mark required the target’s full, conscious cooperation—any trace of resistance and the ritual would fail.
Moreover, this mark was so heinous it had long been banned by the Saint Hua Dynasty. Not even the lowest slave was allowed to be branded—if discovered, it would mean Nine Clans Extermination.
“You… despicable!”
Liu Bingchan’s teeth ground with fury—how could she not see the intent in Li Shihua’s eyes!
Li Shihua, however, was utterly unconcerned. “Fairy Bingchan, I’m only being considerate. This array’s already been transformed into a Blood Refinement Array. Soon, you’ll all be refined into Blood Pills. I only make this offer out of respect for your cultivation.”
“You’re even refining Blood Pills!”
Now Liu Bingchan was even angrier. If it were merely dealing with the Four Sages Academy, that could be seen as the normal machinations between sects—but refining Blood Pills was outright demonic behavior!
At the same time, Liu Bingchan felt her spiritual energy growing thin, some of it uncontrollably leaking from her body.
Even she, at late Foundation Establishment, could barely resist the power of this array—what about the disciples of lower cultivation?
She glanced around and saw many Qi Refining Disciples growing frantic, especially the wounded ones who hadn’t recovered—they simply collapsed where they stood, faces pale, breath ragged.
“Fang Yu, Fang Tian! Gather everyone and keep them calm! Have them use spirit stones to cultivate—try not to lose any more spiritual power! Steady yourselves, or you’ll only die faster!”
Liu Bingchan immediately identified the array’s effects and had her disciples respond at once. Fang Yu and Fang Tian followed her orders without delay.
With the situation somewhat under control, Liu Bingchan glared hatefully at Li Shihua. “Li Shihua! Do you even realize what you’ve done? How are you any different from these demonic cultivators?”
Li Shihua only chuckled indifferently. “I’ve already said—for the path to immortality, what’s wrong with defying the heavens? But what about you, Fairy Bingchan—have you made your decision? Time is running out.”
Liu Bingchan just grit her teeth and stared back, then glanced at her disciples and finally sighed. “Fine. But you must promise me one thing. If you can spare these children…”
“Deal. I promise.”
Li Shihua agreed without hesitation. “I’ll let the disciples you choose live—but you must first bind your hands and seal your cultivation.”
“Fine!”
With resolve, Liu Bingchan pulled out a talisman. All the Four Sages Academy’s top outer disciples had come here for news of the Seven Leaf Sun Ganoderma. She could not let the sect’s line of geniuses be broken!
“Third Elder, you don’t have to do this.”
As they spoke, Jiang Li put away his senior brother’s formation manual and walked over, interrupting the negotiation.
Jiang Li said, “Even if you do as he says, he can’t keep his word.”
“What?” Liu Bingchan looked at Li Shihua, a little angry.
Li Shihua was even angrier. “Where’d this brat come from? Do you think you can interrupt your elders? My word is law—how dare a junior question me!”
But Jiang Li only smiled at the Third Elder. “I’ll prove it to you.”
Under Liu Bingchan’s doubtful gaze, Jiang Li hugged the formation manual and walked up to Li Shihua, crooking his finger at him.
“Come over here!”
“You brat!”
Li Shihua was furious at Jiang Li’s insolence and swung his sword at him, but the strike was deflected by the crimson-patterned Black Tortoise Guardian Star Array.
“Damn it!”
Li Shihua, seeing his attack fail, cursed at the nearby demonic cultivator, “What kind of useless array is this, even my own attacks are blocked!”
Of course, the demonic cultivator had no clue, just shook his head. Li Shihua could only clench his teeth and throw his sword aside.
“Heh, see?”
Jiang Li grinned at Liu Bingchan. “The formation manual says that while we’ve lost control of the array, they can’t control it either! We just need to wait for Senior Brother and the others to get help—it won’t be long!”
Seeing Li Shihua’s frustration, Liu Bingchan finally relaxed. She was also confused—could something so unlike a real formation manual actually work?
A glimmer of hope rose in Liu Bingchan’s heart.
As long as the array wasn’t entirely under their control, there was still a chance—the disciples might survive!
“Mm.”
Liu Bingchan nodded to Jiang Li and addressed the struggling disciples: “Hold on a little longer! Dongfang Xiaotian and Tushan Bingxian have already gone to get help—they’ll be back soon, so don’t give up!”
The disciples, having seen Liu Bingchan nearly give in moments before, were suddenly filled with hope.
Though Dongfang Xiaotian had lost his cultivation, Second Senior Sister was different!
Her reputation had already spread throughout the sect these past few months—even the inner disciples knew of her prowess. With her seeking help, how could they not feel reassured?
They all took out their treasured spirit stones and started cultivating, hoping to stave off death.
“Hmph! Still hoping for reinforcements?”
Li Shihua sneered, “Do you really think we Xiao Sect act carelessly? There are already hundreds of Qi Refining Disciples stationed outside the ruins—”
“Qi Refining Disciples? Hmph!”
Jiang Li stepped forward again. “My Senior Brother could take on a thousand of them alone!”
“You brat…”
Li Shihua’s face twitched, but he remained cautious. “Yuhua, take two Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivators and intercept them on their route!”
“Foundation Establishment Early Stage?”
Jiang Li straightened his back. “Just Foundation Establishment Early Stage? My Senior Brother could handle a hundred of them!”
“Enough!”
Li Shihua grew even more annoyed at being interrupted again. “You think your Senior Brother is so amazing? Fourth Younger Brother! Take two Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivators and use Earth Walking Talismans to block their path!”
With that, Li Shihua gave Jiang Li a cold smile. “Let’s see how you manage to send word now!”
“Yes, Third Brother.”
A burly man behind Li Shihua stepped forward and nodded.
As Li Shihua was about to turn away, that brat shouted again, “Just one elder? My Senior Brother could—”
“Shut up, you little brat!”
Li Shihua was completely furious now. He glared at the already-pale Liu Bingchan, then said, “You brat, why don’t you ask your elder yourself—see what kind of trouble you’ve brought upon your Senior Brother with your big mouth!”
“Third Elder, is that big guy strong?” Jiang Li whispered.
Liu Bingchan nodded. “Yes, among the elders of the two sects, he’s one of the top—only beneath me.”
“Oh, then it’s fine.”
Jiang Li figured that was the toughest one, so he ignored it and went back to poring over the formation manual his Senior Brother gave him.
“W-wait!”
Just then, a slightly chubby man with a swollen left cheek emerged from the mist. It took Liu Bingchan a while to recognize him as Li Yuze, the Xiao Sect Grand Elder’s son.
Li Yuze licked his lips and respectfully said, “Third Uncle, can I come too? Tushan Bingxian… she’s a Tushan Fox Demon! I’ve never been with a Tushan Fox Demon—I really want to try!”
“All you think about is women!”
Li Shihua scolded him in frustration. “Fourth Younger Brother, take him too. Make sure to bring him back to the sect when you’re done—don’t make extra trouble.”
“Yes!”
With that, Li Shiwu took the two black-robed demonic cultivators and Li Yuze, disappearing into the miasma.
Watching Jiang Li walk away, Li Shihua’s expression finally eased a bit. “Third Elder, let’s make a deal—if you can bring me that disciple’s head, the previous contract still stands.”
“Hmph, you really think I’d believe you?”
Liu Bingchan was secretly praying for Tushan Bingxian and the others’ safety while glaring at Li Shihua. “Talk to me again when you actually control the array.”
“The Evil God Cult had an array master merge this Blood Refinement Array into your Black Tortoise Guardian Star Array. The good news for me is, I can turn you all into Blood Pills effortlessly—the bad news is, just like the Blood Refinement Array, there are only two functions: activate and deactivate.”
Li Shihua’s lips curled upward, his voice a little louder. “I can’t control the array at will, but to show my sincerity, I’ll tell you some inside information. I got a formation switch from the Evil God Cult—it’s single-use, but after all the weaklings die, I can shut down the array.”
“Fairy Bingchan, you and your most outstanding disciples are sure to be the last survivors. So it’s not just you—anyone who survives till the end can make a deal. Xiao Sect needs such talent as living assets—it’s a good trade, don’t you think?”
Liu Bingchan’s face went pale—she realized some disciples were already growing restless.
After all, killing one could save many. It really was a tempting offer.
But Jiang Li ignored all this and kept reading his formation manual.
Suddenly, a sword qi slashed at Li Shihua—not very powerful, just Foundation Establishment level, but enough to draw everyone’s attention.
Chun’er said coldly, “Hmph! I’d like to see who has the guts—I’m not from your Four Sages Academy, so I won’t care if you bunch of dead fish and rotten shrimp die!”
With that, anyone who was thinking of sacrificing others instantly shrank back.
Liu Bingchan also breathed a sigh of relief. Truthfully, if someone had taken action first and used high-sounding excuses to pressure her, she wasn’t sure she could have held out… Luckily.
Li Shihua looked sharply at Chun’er. “Girl, you’re a rare genius—why waste yourself for a brat?”
“Hmph, country bumpkin.”
Chun’er crossed her arms. “You don’t even know what true genius is! If it’s for my Young Miss, what’s wrong with dying?”
Li Shihua turned to Liu Bingchan. “Fairy Bingchan, are you really going to throw away your path for some little brat?”
Liu Bingchan, seeing Li Shihua’s near-apoplectic expression, felt a secret satisfaction.
Li Shihua, seeing his attempts to sow discord fail, only snorted. “When my Fourth Younger Brother brings back the heads of your informants, let’s see if you can stay so calm!”
He didn’t think much more—after all, the situation was in his favor. No need to be angry over one brat.
…Then let’s wait.
Liu Bingchan stopped worrying as well—things had long since spun beyond her control. She could only leave it to fate.
Li Shihua smiled too, sitting down. “I’d like to see for myself what expression the famed mentor will wear when she sees her disciples turned into Blood Pills!”
“Third Elder, could you move aside?”
Just as Liu Bingchan was about to resume meditating to heal, Jiang Li circled over, formation manual in hand.
Seeing that brat back again, even Li Shihua, who’d planned to meditate, opened his eyes.
“You want to sit?”
Liu Bingchan scooted aside, making space on the stone.
But Jiang Li hesitated. “Third Elder, please move a bit further—off this stone.”
Liu Bingchan didn’t understand, but complied. “What are you—”
Before she finished, Jiang Li drew his sword and began hacking at the stone, splitting it into neat blocks, then tossed them aside and started digging.
“Found it!”
Soon, Jiang Li dug a red array flag out of the hole!
Liu Bingchan was delighted—she hadn’t expected it to work.
Li Shihua only sneered, “Just luck. This array has hundreds of nodes, some hidden deep, some even outside the formation. Without destroying the core, pulling out one flag is useless.”
“Breaking the array isn’t as simple as Dongfang Xiaotian plucking out a flag. If it was, Liu Bingchan would have already dug three feet down everywhere.”
“This isn’t breaking the array.”
Jiang Li put the array flag in his spatial ring, then placed a writing brush in the pit, his face open and innocent like a child.
“The manual says, if that idiot sticks so close to your pill transfer node, and you swap this spot’s flag for another array core, everyone can gang up on you!”
Even before his words finished, the formation suddenly expanded by a full zhang, enveloping Li Shihua.
Li Shihua’s face turned deathly pale—he understood what Jiang Li meant! He himself was now inside the array!
“You little beast! I’ll skin you alive!”
But before he could lunge at Jiang Li, a cold flash of sword qi shot at him!
Li Shihua was forced back to the edge of the array, looking over to see Liu Bingchan brandishing a blue longsword, joined by several half-step Foundation Establishment disciples and the early Foundation Establishment Chun’er!
Even if their cultivation was a bit lower, with Liu Bingchan holding the front, they could still threaten someone a full realm higher!
Liu Bingchan smiled brilliantly. “Elder Li, looks like retribution has come for you, don’t you think?”
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