A Name Shakes the Region — The Scheme Turns

Chapter 641: A Name Shakes the Region — The Scheme Turns

Han Li had not noticed Du Dong’s small movement at first, but as a precaution upon entering this place, he had been monitoring the man’s every action with his divine sense.

Now, Du Dong sat cross-legged on the ground, head bowed, but his lips were moving faintly, forming silent words. He was transmitting a private message to someone.

There was an accomplice of Du Dong’s in this very room.

Fearing that he might alert the other party, Han Li did not forcefully listen in on their transmission, and he naturally did not learn who the other person was. However, any cultivator who could evade his divine sense after a single sweep could only be one of the four Core Formation cultivators present in this chamber.

Han Li’s mind raced, his gaze flicking across these individuals. For the moment, he could not determine which of them was the more suspicious.

Just then, Silvermoon’s voice transmission rang in Han Li’s mind.

“Brother Han, the root of the Spirit Eye Tree is also protected by a light barrier inside the chamber. I have a way to forcibly enter the barrier. But I cannot guarantee that I will not alert the Core Formation cultivator inside. Should I forcibly break through?” Silvermoon said softly.

“Don’t act rashly. A forceful snatch can only be used as a last resort, when no other opportunity presents itself. I estimate that chaos will soon erupt here. It will not be too late to act then. Silvermoon, return first,” Han Li replied without hesitation, rejecting her suggestion and calling her back.

Upon hearing Han Li’s words, Silvermoon showed no sign of disobedience. The tiny silver wolf silently slipped back into Han Li’s body.

Han Li then closed his eyes. Aside from secretly paying attention to Du Dong’s movements, he made no further moves.

After an unknown amount of time, Du Dong finally stopped mouthing words. He raised his head and swept his gaze across the room, a sinister light flickering in his eyes.

Han Li’s heart tightened. He was just considering whether the other party was about to act when Du Dong lowered his head again. Nothing happened.

Han Li was slightly taken aback, a hint of confusion rising within him.

At that moment, a deafening, world-shaking boom suddenly rang out. The entire cave began to shake violently. All the meditating cultivators snapped their eyes open in alarm, looking at each other with expressions of terror.

The gray-robed elder and the other two cultivators also revealed a trace of surprise. The yellow-robed cultivator frowned, quickly rose, and strode toward the stone door. But before he could reach it, the cave gate opened on its own. The long-faced elder walked in with a gloomy expression.

“Elder Brother Hu, what happened?” the yellow-robed cultivator asked hastily.

“We’ve been exposed! A group of masked cultivators suddenly appeared outside, attacking the formation at the valley entrance. Not only are there Core Formation cultivators, it seems even a Nascent Soul old monster is mixed in among them. It looks like either the Righteous Alliance or the Six Demonic Sects. No other force has such means. Senior Lan has already gone out to preside over the grand formation. But the enemy is numerous and powerful. You all come out with me to reinforce him. Only Elder Wei needs to remain here. As for the eye-washing procedure for these disciples, postpone it for now. Fellow Daoist Yue, take these disciples to the quiet room. During this time, if anyone dares to enter the Saint Tree cave, Elder Wei, you have my permission to kill without exception.” The long-faced elder spoke in one breath, his face filled with killing intent.

“I understand, Brother Hu. Take the others to face the enemy. I will watch this place,” came the calm voice of the disheveled elder from within the light barrier.

Hearing this, the long-faced elder’s expression relaxed slightly. He nodded, then led the gray-robed elder and the middle-aged cultivator from the Hundred Artifact Institute out in a hurry.

The yellow-robed cultivator watched them go, then turned to Han Li and the other disciples and ordered without ceremony:

“You all heard that. The eye-washing matter is postponed for now. Follow me to the quiet room to take shelter.” He then strode away without looking back.

The young cultivators dared not delay and quickly followed.

Han Li saw that Du Dong was obediently following the group of disciples out of the stone forest and out of the cave, making no unusual moves. He could not help but sneer inwardly. He also followed the group without showing any change in expression.

Since even Du Dong, a man with ill intentions, could remain so calm, why should he be anxious?

But could the events outside truly be related to Du Dong?

The timing was far too perfect. Could Du Dong be connected to someone outside?

A faint doubt lingered in Han Li’s mind.

A moment later, the ten disciples, after being led through a series of twists and turns by the yellow-robed cultivator, were brought into a larger stone room. He gave a few brief instructions, then left in a hurry.

He was clearly going to join the battle.

By now, the sounds of explosions from afar had grown louder, and the ground shook more violently, as if a fierce battle was raging outside.

Though somewhat uneasy, the young disciples naturally split into groups according to their sects and began to murmur among themselves once the yellow-robed cultivator had left.

Han Li, Du Dong, the coldly beautiful woman, and Sun Huo naturally stood together.

“I never expected that Uncle-Master Bai of the Ancient Sword Sect was a spy for the Righteous Alliance. I used to think he was a Core Formation cultivator who came from a rogue cultivator background. I respected him greatly!” Sun Huo seemed to have been holding this in for a long time and let out a sigh as he spoke.

“Junior Brother Sun, do you truly believe that rogue cultivators can form cores so easily? Without the backing of a large clan, how many have the fortune to reach the Core Formation stage? You, on the other hand, are a genuine rogue cultivator by origin. I’ve heard that quite a few families are interested in having you join them as a son-in-law. It might be wise to pick one and enter their fold. It would naturally provide many benefits for your future cultivation,” the coldly beautiful woman said, glancing coldly at the youth with an utterly emotionless tone.

“Heh! I, Sun, do not believe that one must rely on a clan to form a core. I may be untalented, but I disdain the idea of joining some family.” The youth with the resolute face let out a cold laugh, his pride surging.

He then subconsciously glanced at the coldly beautiful woman’s face, a hint of eagerness in his eyes. But the woman seemed completely oblivious to it and did not respond.

“However, this Uncle-Master Bai is, in a way, a pitiable man,” Du Dong suddenly interjected from the side.

“Pitiable? Junior Disciple Du, what do you mean by that?” Sun Huo was taken aback, a trace of doubt appearing on his face.

The coldly beautiful woman’s bright eyes flickered with azure light, and she looked at the burly man before her with a similarly surprised expression.

Hearing this, Du Dong smiled. He completely ignored his usual simple and honest demeanor and paid no attention to the two of them. Instead, he turned his gaze and suddenly asked Han Li with a sinister tone:

“Junior Brother Han, do you think what I said makes sense?”

“I wouldn’t know. I don’t know much about this Uncle-Master Bai, so how could I make a judgment?” Han Li replied calmly, showing no sign of panic when the conversation was suddenly directed at him.

“Is that so? But I feel…”

“Junior Disciple Du, you are out of line! Didn’t you hear me asking you a question?”

Just as Du Dong was about to say more, Sun Huo, seeing that this junior disciple was ignoring his question, could not help but reprimand him with some irritation.

“Talk so loud for nothing? It’s not like I don’t have ears. I heard your question, of course. But I have no interest whatsoever in answering such nonsense.” Du Dong glanced sideways at the youth, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. Suddenly, his face twisted with a ferocious expression.

“What, you…”

“Who exactly are you?” The coldly beautiful woman finally sensed something was wrong. Her jade-like face sank, and she quietly pressed her hand against her storage pouch, asking coldly.

The disciples from the other two sects had also noticed the anomaly among this group. They all looked over in surprise.

“Heh! A direct-line disciple of the Thousand Illusion Sect of the Demonic Path. Are you two junior disciples satisfied with that answer?” A man’s voice suddenly came coldly from outside the room.

Then, with a loud “bang,” the door to the quiet room shattered into several pieces, sending fragments of stone flying in all directions.

The disciples inside were all greatly alarmed. They hurriedly pulled out their magic tools and assumed a defensive stance.

A familiar male figure appeared at the broken doorway.

“Uncle-Master Bai!” A disciple of the Ancient Sword Sect, upon seeing this person, couldn’t help but blurt out. Then his face changed drastically, filled with utter disbelief.

The other disciples, seeing the sudden appearance of the blue-robed Confucian scholar, were equally stunned and at a loss.

These people had personally witnessed him being captured and imprisoned earlier. How could he be here now?

And judging by his spirited appearance, there was no sign that his magic power had been sealed at all.

“What took you so long? If you hadn’t shown up, we would have acted first,” Du Dong said, showing no surprise at the appearance of the Bai-named cultivator. Instead, he questioned him coldly.

“Hmph! You have no idea how formidable that old monster’s sword threads are. Even though I was prepared, I was still bound at the time. If you hadn’t repeatedly guaranteed that he wouldn’t dare kill me out of fear of reprisal, do you think I would have cooperated with you?” The Bai-named cultivator replied without courtesy.

“Heh! We didn’t expect that old monster to come personally either. But everything has gone more or less as planned. Uncle-Master Fen and Senior Qin of your sect should be able to buy us enough time.”

Hearing their exchange, the other young disciples, though unaware of the full details, knew that something terrible was happening.

One disciple of the Ancient Sword Sect was quick-witted. He immediately turned into a streak of red light and flew toward the stone door, intending to escape.

But as soon as he flew past the Bai-named cultivator, a murderous aura rose on the Confucian scholar’s face. A blinding white light flashed, gone in an instant.

A scream rang out. The disciple and his magic tool were instantly cut in two. The dead body fell to the ground with a “thud.”

(Finally finished writing. Just this one chapter tonight!)

(End of chapter)