219: Chapter 219 Collusion?

A Hard-Won Victory

With Zhuang Song hitting the ground, Lin Ming claimed another hard-won victory.

Another grueling battle.

It further solidified Lin Ming's strength in everyone's hearts.

Yu Yaoqin, however, suffered a defeat. This time, she faced a Disciple from a prominent family at the Lingtai Ninth Heaven and was ultimately bested by her opponent.

Perhaps due to Yu Yaoqin's status, the opponent showed some restraint.

...

"Elder, we can strike at any time."

Outside the Martial Arts Arena, beneath a tree, a middle-aged man spoke to an old man.

Everything is ready.

"Wait, the time has not yet come."

The old man looked at the Martial Arts Arena and said coldly.

"Now is not the optimal moment to act."

"Yes."

The middle-aged man nodded.

"Tell them to be ready at all times. If any mistake occurs, the entire deal is off."

The old man continued.

"Yes."

"Elder, what about the measures those Disciples from the Four Great Sects might have on them?"

The middle-aged man asked after a moment's hesitation.

Lin Ming of Yuanxu Mountain, Nie Wen of the Shangji Sect, Fu Xici of the Yongzhen Sect, and Song Shu of the Canghai Sword Pavilion—as the Prodigy Disciples of these four Sects, they must have some life-saving measures.

Especially Lin Ming; I fear he might carry some technique from the Nirvana Ancestor, which could very likely interfere with our plans.

"That is not for you to worry about."

The old man said expressionlessly.

Naturally, he had already considered these things and had long since prepared countermeasures.

"Yes."

The middle-aged man quickly responded.

He also knew that the Sect should have ways to deal with these people.

That was good.

...

"Junior Sister, victory and defeat are common in battle. There's no need to be discouraged."

At the dining table, Lin Ming spoke earnestly to Yu Yaoqin.

"Stinky Senior Brother, which eye of yours sees me as discouraged?"

Yu Yaoqin looked at Lin Ming with a strange expression.

"I'm only at the Spirit Platform Middle Stage, while they are at the Lingtai Ninth Heaven. It's not strange to lose."

Yu Yaoqin said.

"I'm not a freak like you, Senior Brother."

Yu Yaoqin continued.

Yet, her words still betrayed a hint of disappointment.

Compared to Lin Ming, she was still too weak.

After all, her Senior Brother could defeat cultivators at the Lingtai Ninth Heaven.

She had to cultivate harder.

Yu Yaoqin became increasingly determined in this thought.

Otherwise, the gap between her and Lin Ming would likely grow wider, and she didn't want to be left behind by her Stinky Senior Brother.

"I wonder how Junior Sister is doing now?"

At this moment, Yu Yaoqin also began to worry about Su Lianxue's safety. It had been nearly two days since Su Lianxue left Yanyun Mountain.

She wondered how she was faring.

"Don't worry, Junior Sister Lianxue will surely return safely."

Lin Ming smiled.

To be safe, he had left a measure on Su Lianxue. Should she encounter a life-or-death crisis, it would be triggered.

"Mhm."

Yu Yaoqin nodded.

"Senior Brothers, what do you think of the matches over the past few days?"

Lin Ming then turned to Xu Chuan and Gong Hui and asked.

"Aside from the four of you, the others are not to be underestimated either."

Gong Hui said in a heavy voice.

By the fourth round, only forty-three people remained out of the original two hundred and forty-three. Among them were Sect Disciples, Loose Cultivators, and Disciples from prominent families.

Furthermore, with the exception of Lin Ming, all of these individuals were at the Lingtai Eighth Layer or Ninth Heaven, and their combat strength was not to be overlooked.

"Junior Brother Gong is right. Every subsequent opponent will not be simple."

Xu Chuan nodded.

Anyone who could make it this far was no simpleton, so one had to be extra cautious when facing them.

The main point was that in these battles, there were no restrictions on methods, and life and death could be decided.

Those last words were the most crucial.

"No restrictions on methods" meant anything goes. For instance, among the forty-three people, there was one who used poison. In the first three rounds of competition, her three opponents were all poisoned to death without exception, none of them even having the chance to surrender.

Xu Chuan couldn't even tell what kind of poison the opponent was using.

Other underhanded tricks were also appearing in endless succession.

Therefore, he felt it was necessary to warn Lin Ming.

"I understand."

Lin Ming nodded slightly.

After a simple meal, Lin Ming and the others returned to the inn.

However, when they arrived at the inn, they were stopped by members of the Fang Family who had been waiting for them.

"The True Monarch invites you all to be his guests."

The Fang Family member first identified himself and then explained his purpose.

"What does the True Monarch want with us?"

Xu Chuan asked.

This time, he wasn't just inviting Lin Ming alone but all of them, which was rather intriguing.

"The True Monarch did not say."

The man shook his head.

"Since the True Monarch has invited us, let's go."

Lin Ming said with a smile.

He had accepted benefits from them, after all, so he had to give them some Face.

"Mhm."

Xu Chuan nodded.

He also felt that the True Monarch of the Fang Family likely had something in mind by inviting them, so he agreed.

The four of them made their way to the Fang Family residence and arrived at the small courtyard where True Monarch Fang Xuan was.

Inside the courtyard, besides True Monarch Fang Xuan, the head of the Fang Family, Fang Xun, was also present.

"Greetings, True Monarch."

The four of them greeted the True Monarch.

"There is no need for such formalities."

True Monarch Fang Xuan said with a kind expression.

"May I ask why the True Monarch has invited us here?"

Xu Chuan asked directly.

He didn't believe that True Monarch Fang Xuan was simply inviting them as guests; there was likely something else.

"You tell them,"

True Monarch Fang Xuan said, looking at Fang Xun.

"We suspect that the Ma Family is collaborating with demonic Sects and plans to take action soon."

Fang Xun said with a serious expression.

At the mention of the Demonic Path, the expressions of everyone present gradually became solemn.

It wasn't just within the sphere of influence of Yuanxu Mountain; the activities of demonic forces were becoming increasingly frequent elsewhere as well, particularly in areas outside the control of top-tier powers.

The Ma Family that Fang Xun mentioned was another one of the four prominent families.

"Is there any evidence?"

Xu Chuan asked in a heavy voice.

There had to be evidence for such a thing; otherwise, it would be slander.

"True Monarch."

Fang Xun then looked toward True Monarch Fang Xuan.

With a wave of True Monarch Fang Xuan's hand, a corpse appeared before him.

The corpse was already mummified, and it emitted a cold, sinister, and wicked aura.

"Is this the Residual Yin Hand of the Yougu Sect?!"

Xu Chuan's gaze fixed on the corpse, and he spoke with a slightly uncertain tone.

The Yougu Sect was one of the demonic Sects. Although it couldn't compare to top-tier demonic powers like the Soul Refining Sect or the Blood Fiend Sect, its strength was not weak.

The traces remaining on this corpse were left by the techniques of the Yougu Sect.

As for why Xu Chuan knew this, it was because during a mission several years ago, he had accidentally encountered a Disciple of the Yougu Sect and killed him.

He only found out afterward that the person was a Disciple of the Yougu Sect.