81: Chapter 81 The Traitor Emerges

The next day.

Taixuan Holy Land, Law Enforcement Hall.

Bai Yunzhou stood in the center of the grand hall, facing thirty-six newly rescued Cultivators before him.

They had consumed Medicinal Pills, and their auras had stabilized quite a bit, but the lingering fear of surviving a disaster remained on every face.

On both sides of the hall stood twelve Law Enforcement Disciples, each with a fierce aura and a cultivation base above Core Formation.

Seated upright upon the high platform directly ahead were three figures.

In the center was an old man in white robes with a rigid expression and an abyss-like aura—the chief Elder of the Law Enforcement Hall, True Monarch Tianxing.

With an Early Stage Soul Transformation cultivation base, he had overseen the Holy Land's punishments for three hundred years, boasting a formidable reputation.

On the left was a red-faced old man with hair and beard like halberds and eyes like lightning, none other than the scripture-exounding Elder, Xuanmingzi.

On the right was a middle-aged beautiful woman with a gentle temperament yet sharp eyes, one of the Outer Sect executive Elders, Immortal Master Yuheng.

"Bai Yunzhou," True Monarch Tianxing spoke, his voice sounding like clashing metal and stone, "You submitted an image-recording stone yesterday, accusing Wanmo Cave of being a Blood God Cult stronghold and rescuing thirty-six trapped Cultivators. Is this matter true?"

"It is true." Bai Yunzhou bowed and saluted, producing an image-recording stone. "This is the record from yesterday; please inspect it, Senior."

The image-recording stone flew toward the high platform.

True Monarch Tianxing took it, sweeping it with his Divine Sense.

The images within the stone were instantly projected into the air:

A blood pool churned, Cultivators were chained to stone pillars while their vital blood was extracted; Xueshuo laughed hideously and wildly, summoning the Blood God Guards; Bai Yunzhou destroyed five Nascent Souls with a single sword strike, rescuing everyone...

The images were clear and irrefutable.

A sound of sharp intakes of breath echoed through the grand hall.

The thirty-six trapped Cultivators fell to their knees one after another, weeping uncontrollably, "Seniors, please discern the truth! We were imprisoned for three months, enduring a fate worse than death! If not for Senior Bai saving us, we would have long since turned into pools of blood!"

True Monarch Tianxing's expression turned as gloomy as iron.

He looked at Xuanmingzi. "Elder Xuanmingzi, previously you suppressed the investigation into the disappearance of the Outer Sect Disciples on the grounds of 'insufficient evidence.' How do you explain this matter?"

Xuanmingzi slowly stood up with a calm expression, "Replying to True Monarch, the disappearance of the Disciples did indeed occur, but the previous clues pointed vaguely, and this old man feared alerting the enemy, thus temporarily delaying the investigation. Now that the evidence is conclusive, this old man is willing to accept the crime of negligence."

His words were airtight, and he adopted a very low posture.

However, Bai Yunzhou's Chaos Perception captured a trace of anomaly.

At the moment Xuanmingzi stood up, an extremely obscure fluctuation of blood fiend power stirred within his body. Although it flashed and vanished in an instant, it could not hide from the perception of the Chaos Green Lotus Body.

This Xuanmingzi... has a problem.

"The crime of negligence is temporarily recorded," True Monarch Tianxing said coldly. "The most urgent task is to wipe out the remnants of the Blood God Cult. Bai Yunzhou, since you have already probed the reality of Wanmo Cave, are you willing to lead a team and uproot the remaining strongholds?"

"This Disciple is willing to go." Bai Yunzhou did not hesitate.

"Good." True Monarch Tianxing nodded. "This seat will send three Law Enforcement Disciples to accompany you, and additionally bestow upon you a Tianxing Token, which can mobilize all external resources of the Holy Land."

A pitch-black token flew toward Bai Yunzhou.

The token felt heavy in his hand; the characters "Tianxing" were engraved on the front, and the pattern of the Taixuan Holy Land's mountain gate was on the back.

"Thank you, True Monarch."

Bai Yunzhou put away the token and was about to take his leave—

"Hold on."

Xuanmingzi suddenly spoke.

He walked down the high platform, came before Bai Yunzhou, and wore a gentle smile on his face, "Nephew Bai is young and promising; this old man admires him. However, this mission is perilous, and this old man has a defensive Magic Treasure that can be gifted to my nephew for self-preservation."

As he spoke, he took a jade pendant from his bosom.

The jade pendant was entirely blood-red, carved into the shape of a skull, with two rice-grain-sized black gems inlaid in the eye sockets, emitting a chilly aura.

"This is the Xueshuo Jade Pendant, obtained by this old man in his early years after slaying a demonic Cultivator. Wearing this jade can withstand a full-strength blow from an Early Stage Nascent Soul Cultivator, and it also has a restraining effect on blood fiend power."

Xuanmingzi handed over the jade pendant, a trace of imperceptible oddness flashing through his eyes.

Bai Yunzhou looked at that jade pendant, and his Chaos Perception screamed warnings frantically.

Inside the jade pendant, he "saw" an extremely obscure rune—that was not a defensive rune, but a tracking rune, and it was of the same Origin as the Blood God Cult's curse Seal!

This old bastard wants to leave a mark on him!

"Many thanks for Elder's kind intentions." Bai Yunzhou took the jade pendant without changing his expression, "This Disciple will definitely keep it carefully."

He stored the jade pendant into his storage ring, but secretly urged the Green Lotus Sword Intent, laying a layer of Seal on the surface of the jade pendant to isolate the connection between that tracking rune and the outside world.

A trace of doubt flashed in Xuanmingzi's eyes, but he quickly concealed it.

"Nephew is too polite. May your trip go smoothly and you return in triumph."

"I accept the Elder's auspicious words."

Bai Yunzhou bowed and took his leave.

When walking out of the Law Enforcement Hall, his back was already soaked in cold sweat.

Soul Transformation face to face, Nascent Souls surrounding him.

If he had revealed even a trace of a flaw just now, he likely wouldn't have been able to walk out of this grand hall.

"Senior Brother Bai!"

Song Xinghe, Deng Mufeng, and Zhou Zhiting rushed up to greet him.

"How was it?" Song Xinghe asked.

"The mission has been accepted, and we set out in three days." Bai Yunzhou lowered his voice, "Let's return to the Immortal Cave first; we have important matters to discuss."

The four of them hurried back to Liuyun Peak.

Inside the Immortal Cave, the Restrictions were fully activated.

Bai Yunzhou took out the Xueshuo Jade Pendant and placed it on the stone table.

"This is the defensive Magic Treasure given to me by Xuanmingzi." He sneered, "It hides a tracking rune inside, of the same Origin as the Blood God Cult."

"What?!" Song Xinghe's expression changed drastically, "Elder Xuanmingzi, he..."

"Nine times out of ten, he is a traitor." Bai Yunzhou affirmed, "I sensed the blood fiend fluctuations within his body at the Law Enforcement Hall. Although hidden extremely deeply, they could not escape my perception."

Deng Mufeng picked up the jade pendant, and after careful inspection, he gasped sharply, "It is indeed the Blood God Cult's Blood Soul Curse Seal. Once worn, one's whereabouts will be completely exposed, and one's Divine Soul will be slowly eroded by the curse Seal, turning into a Blood God Puppet after three months."

"How vicious!" Zhou Zhiting gnashed her teeth.

Bai Yunzhou sealed the jade pendant well and stored it in a specially made jade box.

"We cannot alert the enemy about this matter for now. Xuanmingzi is in the Late Stage Nascent Soul, having operated in the Holy Land for a hundred years with a profound Foundation. Without conclusive evidence, he cannot be touched."

"Then what should we do?" Song Xinghe asked.

"Play along with his scheme." A cold glint flashed in Bai Yunzhou's eyes, "Doesn't he want to track me? I will show him what he wants to see."

He took out the map of the Blood God Cult strongholds and pointed to one of the locations.

"Black Wind Mountain Range, the Blood God Cult's second stronghold. According to the plan, we will set out in three days to annihilate it. But in reality—"

His finger moved to another location.

"—We are going here."

"Nether Swamp?" Deng Mufeng was stunned, "That place is a full thousand miles away from the Black Wind Mountain Range, and it's a notoriously dangerous place..."

"Precisely because of this, the Blood God Cult will lower their guard." Bai Yunzhou said, "Since Xuanmingzi has colluded with the Blood God Cult, he will inevitably leak our whereabouts. If we truly go to the Black Wind Mountain Range, an inescapable net awaits us."

"And the Nether Swamp, although a dangerous place, has a relatively weak defensive force from the Blood God Cult. More importantly—"

He paused and said in a deep voice, "That is the location of the third array eye of the Blood Sacrifice Plan. If it can be destroyed in advance, the Blood God Cult's layout will be completely disrupted."

Song Xinghe and the other three exchanged glances, each seeing determination in the other's eyes.

"Let's do it!"

"However," Deng Mufeng hesitated, "What about the three Disciples sent by the Law Enforcement Hall? If they accompany us, our plan will be exposed."

Bai Yunzhou pondered for a moment, "I have a way."

Two days later, late at night.

Outside the Liuyun Peak Immortal Cave, three uninvited guests arrived.

Two men and a woman, all wearing the black martial attire of the Law Enforcement Hall, with fierce auras.

The leader was a cold-faced young man whose cultivation had reached the Late Stage Core Formation.

"Law Enforcement Hall Disciple, Xiao Han." The young man clasped his fists, "Following the order of True Monarch Tianxing, I am here to accompany Senior Brother Bai to execute the extermination mission."

The two people behind him introduced themselves respectively:

"Lin Feng, Middle Stage Core Formation, good at tracking."

"Liu Ruyue, Middle Stage Core Formation, proficient in Formations."

Bai Yunzhou sized up the three of them.

Xiao Han's aura was steady, his gaze clear, not resembling an evil or treacherous person.

Lin Feng's figure was slender, his eyes spirited, truly having the demeanor of a tracking expert.

Liu Ruyue had a delicate face and slender fingers, with spiritual light faintly flowing between them.

"Please enter, three of you." Bai Yunzhou stepped aside.

Everyone took their seats.

Bai Yunzhou went straight to the point, "We set off tomorrow at the Chen hour, and the target is the Black Wind Mountain Range. This trip is perilous; have the three of you prepared?"

Xiao Han nodded, "Medicinal Pills and Talismans are already prepared. However, Senior Brother Bai, there is something I don't understand."

"Please speak."

"The Blood God Cult's stronghold is perilous; why send only seven of us? Logically speaking, an extermination mission of this scale requires at least one Nascent Soul Elder to lead the team."

Bai Yunzhou's heart stirred.

This Xiao Han is indeed meticulous.

"This matter involves secrets." He lowered his voice, "According to reliable intelligence, there is a mole from the Blood God Cult within the Holy Land. If we make a big fuss, we might alert the enemy. Therefore, our trip is nominally an extermination, but in reality, it is bait."

"Bait?" Liu Ruyue frowned.

"Correct." Bai Yunzhou said, "What we need to do is draw out the mole, and then—"

He made a decapitation gesture.

Xiao Han and the other two's expressions changed slightly, but they quickly returned to calmness.

"I see." Xiao Han clasped his fists, "Senior Brother Bai is far-sighted and resourceful; we are willing to follow your commands."

"Good." Bai Yunzhou took out a map and spread it on the table, "This is the topographical map of the Black Wind Mountain Range. Tomorrow we will enter from here..."

He explained the plan in detail, and Xiao Han and the other two listened attentively.

However, in a corner where no one noticed, Bai Yunzhou flicked a subtle trace of Sword Qi from his fingertips, silently sinking into the bodies of Xiao Han and the other two.

This was not an attack, but a marker.

A marker condensed from the Green Lotus Sword Intent, which could sense the positions and status of the three at any time.

If there was a traitor among these three, he would be able to detect it the moment they made any suspicious moves.

...

The crowd dispersed.

Bai Yunzhou stood alone by the Immortal Cave window, gazing at the night sky.

Tomorrow would be the time for a showdown.

He took out the Xueshuo jade pendant, lifted part of the Seal, and let the tracking rune start operating again.

"Come on, let me see what kind of trap you have laid out."

He muttered to himself.

Meanwhile.

Deep within the Holy Land, in Xuanmingzi's Immortal Cave.

This preaching Elder was sitting cross-legged on a futon, with a blood-colored bronze mirror floating before him.

The mirror projected the scene of Bai Yunzhou's Immortal Cave—although blurry, it could clearly be seen that Bai Yunzhou was standing by the window, toying with the Xueshuo jade pendant in his hand.

"The fish has taken the bait." Xuanmingzi's mouth curled into a cold arc.

He took out a message jade Talisman and probed it with his Divine Sense:

"The target has worn the tracking jade pendant, setting off tomorrow at the Chen hour to head to the Black Wind Mountain Range. According to the plan, set up the 'Nine Nether Soul Refining Formation', and be sure to capture him alive. Remember, I want him alive; his Physique is specifically requested by the Master."

The jade Talisman turned into a stream of blood light, flew out of the Immortal Cave, and disappeared into the horizon.

Xuanmingzi put away the bronze mirror, a trace of greed flashing in his eyes.

"Chaos Green Lotus Body... If I can present this boy to the Master, this old man will at least obtain a 'Blood Divine Pill'. By then, breaking through to Soul Transformation will be just around the corner..."

He took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement in his heart.

"Wait a little longer... Wait one more day..."

Inside the Immortal Cave, the candlelight flickered.

It illuminated the bizarre mural on the wall—in the painting, countless living beings struggled and wailed in a sea of blood, and in the center was a huge blood-colored vortex.

Deep within the vortex, a pair of eyes vaguely appeared.

Those eyes were coldly watching all of this.

...

Liuyun Peak.

Bai Yunzhou suddenly felt a stirring in his heart and looked up in the direction of Xuanmingzi's Immortal Cave.

Chaos Perception transmitted a faint early warning.

"Old bastard... You really are monitoring me."

He sneered and withdrew his gaze.

He turned and walked towards the cultivation room.

For tomorrow's battle, he had to adjust himself to his best state.

Sitting cross-legged, he circulated the Qinglian Sword Canon, and the green lotus phantom in his Dantian slowly rotated.

As the Cultivation Technique circulated, the Xuanhuang Origin, lightning power, and blood evil fragments within his body began to slowly fuse.

Under the reconciliation of the Chaos Green Lotus Body, the three Laws gradually formed a brand-new power—

Power of Chaos.

Although it was only a wisp, it contained astonishing might.

Bai Yunzhou tried to inject this wisp of Power of Chaos into the liefeng sword.

The sword body trembled, and the originally silver-gray blade gradually took on a chaotic hue, as if it could swallow all light.

He slashed with his sword.

There was no Sword Qi, no sword light.

Only a faint gray trace swept across the air.

Where the trace passed, space twisted slightly, leaving a shallow crack.

"A spatial crack?!" Bai Yunzhou's pupils constricted.

Although it was only the most subtle spatial fluctuation, this meant that the Power of Chaos had already touched a higher level of the Laws.

"If I can Cultivate the Power of Chaos to Major Achievement..."

A trace of anticipation flashed in his eyes.

But he quickly suppressed it.

Meals must be eaten one bite at a time, and the road must be walked one step at a time.

The most important thing right now was to survive tomorrow.

He put away the liefeng sword, took out three Sheng-Sheng Zaohua Pills, and held them under his tongue.

He checked the Talismans, Formation Plates, and Medicinal Pills in his storage ring once more.

Confirming there was no mistake, he closed his eyes and began to rest his mind.

The night grew deeper.

Outside the Immortal Cave, the footsteps of patrolling Disciples occasionally drifted over.

Everything seemed so peaceful.

But Bai Yunzhou knew that beneath this peace were surging undercurrents.

Blood God Cult, traitor, Nine Nether Soul Refining Formation...

"Come on."

He chanted silently in his heart.

"Let me see whether your trap is deep, or my sword is sharp."

Outside the window, dark clouds obscured the moon.

A storm was brewing.

...

The next day.

In front of Liuyun Peak, seven figures had finished gathering.

Bai Yunzhou, Song Xinghe, Deng Mufeng, Zhou Zhiting, Xiao Han, Lin Feng, and Liu Ruyue.

"Set off."

At Bai Yunzhou's command, the seven people rose on swords, transforming into seven streams of light as they galloped westward.

Target—Black Wind Mountain Range.

However, after flying a hundred miles, Bai Yunzhou suddenly changed direction, turning southwest.

"Senior Brother Bai, the direction is wrong," Xiao Han reminded.

"The plan has changed," Bai Yunzhou said in a deep voice. "I just received confidential information that the Blood God Cult has laid an inescapable net in the Black Wind Mountain Range. We are changing our route to the Nether Swamp to catch them off guard."

The three of Xiao Han exchanged glances and asked no further questions.

They were merely Law Enforcement Hall Disciples; obeying orders was their bounden duty.

The seven turned and accelerated their flight.

Two hours later, a gray, hazy swamp area appeared ahead.

The sky above the swamp was shrouded in year-round toxic miasma, the ground was muddy, and bubbles occasionally emerged, bursting to release a pungent, rotting stench.

This was the Nether Swamp, one of the famous perilous places in the Northern Domain.

"According to the plan, divide into two groups," Bai Yunzhou ordered. "Xiao Han, Lin Feng, Liu Ruyue, the three of you sneak in from the left flank to scout the outer defenses. The four of us enter from the right flank to strike straight at the core of the Formation."

"Understood."

The groups split up.

Bai Yunzhou led Song Xinghe and the other two, quietly landing at the edge of the swamp.

"Senior Brother, those three..." Deng Mufeng stopped mid-sentence.

"I have already left marks on them," Bai Yunzhou said calmly. "If they have any problems, I will be able to sense it immediately."

He looked deep into the swamp, fully unfolding his Chaos Perception.

Within his perception, a massive blood-colored Formation was hidden beneath the swamp. The core of the Formation was located on the isolated island in the center of the swamp.

"Let's go."

The four restrained their auras and sneaked into the swamp.

Beneath the muddy ground were hidden countless poisonous insects and Yao Beasts, but under the deterrence of the Green Lotus Sword Intent, they all avoided them.

The journey was without danger.

Half an hour later, the four arrived at the outer perimeter of the isolated island.

Nine blood-colored stone pillars stood on the island, and the tops of the pillars burned with eerie green flames. In the center of the flames floated a blood-colored crystal the size of a human head—which was precisely the core of the Formation.

Around the stone pillars stood eight blood-robed Cultivators.

The leader was a one-eyed old man whose aura reached the Middle Stage Nascent Soul.

"Blood God Cult deacon Elder, Xuetong," Ling Shuang's voice rang in Bai Yunzhou's ear—she had quietly followed and hidden in the shadows.

"Middle Stage Nascent Soul..." Bai Yunzhou frowned.

Against an opponent of this level, relying solely on their few people would make it difficult to achieve a quick victory.

Once delayed, the surrounding Blood God Cult reinforcements would arrive.

"Senior Brother, what should we do?" Song Xinghe asked in a low voice.

Bai Yunzhou pondered for a moment, a trace of decisiveness flashing in his eyes.

"I will go lure Xuetong away, and you take the opportunity to destroy the Formation core. Remember, you only have three breaths of time."

"That's too dangerous!" Zhou Zhiting urged anxiously.

"There's no time to hesitate." Bai Yunzhou looked into the distance. "Over on Xiao Han and the others' side, they've already been exposed."

In his perception, two of the three Sword Intent marks had stopped moving.

Only one was still moving rapidly—rushing toward this side.

The one coming was probably not a friend.

"Move!"

Bai Yunzhou leaped out, the liefeng sword pointing straight at Xuetong.

"Old bastard, prepare to die!"

Xuetong's single eye widened. Recognizing who had come, he grinned hideously: "Bai Yunzhou? You really came! The Master's calculations are infallible, and today is your day of death!"

He opened his mouth and spat out a beam of blood light, transforming into a huge blood hand that grabbed toward Bai Yunzhou.

Bai Yunzhou did not dodge or evade, slashing out with a sword.

Qinglian Thunder Sword—Thunder Lotus Blooms!

Nine green lotuses wrapped in lightning flew out, colliding with the blood hand.

Boom!!!

The explosive shockwave blew the mud and water of the surrounding swamp ten zhang high.

Taking this opportunity, Song Xinghe and the other two rushed toward the Formation core.

"Stop them!" Xuetong shouted fiercely.

Seven blood-robed Cultivators pounced toward Song Xinghe and the other two.

But right at this moment—

"Hum!"

An ice-blue sword light descended from the sky, freezing all seven of them.

Ling Shuang appeared, the hanshuang sword unsheathed.

"Your opponent is me."

Xuetong's expression changed: "Ice Soul Sword Valley? You've meddled in this too?"

"Cut the crap." Ling Shuang slashed out with a sword, freezing a thousand miles.

Xuetong had to deal with it with all his might.

Bai Yunzhou took the opportunity to rush toward the core of the Formation.

As long as this blood-colored crystal was destroyed, the Formation core of the Nether Swamp would be considered broken.

However, just as he was three zhang away from the crystal—

"Bai Yunzhou, I've been waiting for you for a long time."

A chilling voice came from behind.

Bai Yunzhou suddenly turned around.

He saw Xiao Han standing there with a bizarre smile on his face. In his hand, he held a blood-colored token.

On the token was carved a ferocious ghost head.

Blood God Token.

"You..." Bai Yunzhou's pupils constricted.

"Didn't expect it, did you?" Xiao Han smiled even more brilliantly. "The youngest elite Disciple of the Law Enforcement Hall would be a member of the Blood God Cult."

He raised the token and chanted incantations.

The blood-colored crystal suddenly burst with blinding red light, transforming into a huge blood-colored cage that trapped Bai Yunzhou within.

Inside the cage, countless blood-colored chains extended from the void, wrapping toward Bai Yunzhou.

"Nine Nether Soul Refining Formation... This is the real trap."

Xiao Han walked to the front of the cage and looked at Bai Yunzhou across the blood-colored light barrier.

"The Master said he wants him alive. So, obediently surrender."

Bai Yunzhou looked at Xiao Han and suddenly smiled.

"What are you laughing at?" Xiao Han frowned.

"I'm laughing at you for being too naive."

Bai Yunzhou raised his hand, and a pitch-black sword Talisman appeared in his palm.

nirvana sword talisman.

The second one.