25: Xiaorou, Luoyun Sect

["Who dares attack my True Flame Sect? When the Sect Master returns, he will definitely not let you off!"]

[A loud shout rings in your ears.]

[But you pay it no mind.]

[The wild barking of such ants is truly laughable.]

[You and the Purple Flame Lion weave through the True Flame Sect, taking life after life with your own hands.]

[You do not spare anyone.]

[Not even the newly initiated Disciples.]

[Screams and wails echo in your ears.]

[You feel your thoughts become completely unhindered.]

[The circulation of Spiritual Qi through the Meridians all over your body becomes much smoother.]

[You do not linger, continuing forward.]

[You know full well the importance of cutting weeds by their roots, so this time, you do not plan on letting anyone from the True Flame Sect escape.]

["Junior, what audacity!"]

[Looking toward the voice, you see an old man with disheveled hair rushing to attack you.]

[Though his Lifespan is nearly exhausted, his cultivation has shockingly reached the Golden Core Realm.]

[You do not dare to underestimate him.]

[With the Wild God Body Refining Art operating at full power, you engage in a fierce battle with the old man.]

["Boom! Boom! Boom!"]

[After exchanging a few blows, you discover that his cultivation is only at the first layer of the Golden Core Realm, and his physical body is already withered. He is no match for you at all.]

[You grow more confident, suppressing the old man and forcing him back step by step.]

[A moment later, you seize an opportunity and shatter the old man's skull with a single palm strike.]

[You intend to continue the slaughter, but just then, a voice stops you.]

["Se... Senior Su!"]

[It is a familiar voice. Although many years have passed, you can still recognize its owner.]

["Xiao Rou? Why are you here?"]

[You look at the woman before you. She is indeed the town mayor's granddaughter.]

[As a child, she had sought to become your Disciple, but was rejected due to her Pseudo Spiritual Root.]

[Now, she has grown into a graceful young woman, and her cultivation has shockingly reached the second layer of Foundation Establishment.]

[She explains to you that Nameless Town was not destroyed by the True Flame Sect, and that you have misunderstood them.]

[You are somewhat puzzled because before this, not only did you examine the suicide notes in the townspeople's homes, but you also saw three bloody characters in one household—True Flame Sect.]

[Of course, you cannot rule out the possibility of a frame-up.]

[But who would slaughter a Mortal town just to frame someone else?]

[You plan to listen to more of Xiao Rou's explanation, but just as you let your guard down slightly, a poisoned blade slashes across your chest!]

["Clang!"]

[As the metallic clashing sound rings out, the confusion in your eyes instantly turns to cold indifference.]

[You choke Xiao Rou by the neck and demand to know why she tried to harm you.]

[Her expression turns hideous.]

["Why harm you? Hehehe... I only have a Pseudo Spiritual Root. If I had stayed in that town, I would never have been able to Cultivate to Foundation Establishment in my entire life."]

["But by telling the True Flame Sect about you, they could help me Cultivate. Look... I've already reached the second layer of Foundation Establishment! I have a Lifespan of two hundred years and have become a true Immortal!"]

["You... deserve to die! If you hadn't run away at the last moment, I would have at least reached the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment by now!"]

[You look at the frenzied Xiao Rou, speechless for a long time.]

[She used to be innocent and romantic. If her Spiritual Root Aptitude had been decent, you would have been more than willing to help her Cultivate.]

[Unfortunately, fate plays tricks on people. With only a Pseudo Spiritual Root, it would be impossible for her to reach Foundation Establishment by cultivating normal techniques.]

[Moreover, the Great Wilderness Beast God Scripture you possess cannot be leaked, which was why you ultimately refused her request to become your Disciple.]

[You slap Xiao Rou to death.]

[At the final moment before her death, a smile of relief actually appears on the corner of her lips.]

[You witness all of this.]

[Then, expressionless, you continue the slaughter.]

[By this point, you are a dual Cultivator of both magic and body, and it is already difficult to find an opponent in the Purple Mansion Realm.]

[In just fifteen minutes, you have wiped out everyone in the True Flame Sect.]

[You find some cultivation resources in the True Flame Sect's treasury.]

[Your Crisis Awareness triggers, and you swiftly flee the area.]

[Not long after you leave, several figures land at the True Flame Sect. The leader, his eyes nearly splitting with rage, roars, "Who? Who dared to strike at the True Flame Sect while we were away?!"]

[However, in the end, there is no one to give him an answer.]

[After leaving the True Flame Sect, you do not return to Nameless Town.]

[You realize that this is not a safe place to stay for long.]

[If you continue to Cultivate in Nameless Town, the powerful experts of the True Flame Sect will find you sooner or later.]

[Concealing your aura, you make your way into the territory under the jurisdiction of the Falling Cloud Sect.]

[Since this area is protected by the Falling Cloud Sect, it is relatively much safer.]

[You find a remote small city and continue your cultivation.]

[In the one hundred and seventh year, you consume most of the resources obtained from the True Flame Sect, breaking through to the ninth layer of the Purple Mansion Realm in one go.]

[But at the same time, you know that the road ahead will be incredibly difficult.]

[Condensing a Golden Core is no joke. Without the aid of a Golden Core Condensation Pill, failing to condense the Golden Core means certain death.]

[You begin to take an alternative path, planning to help the Purple Flame Lion break through first.]

[It has been by your side since it was young. Even without the contract of the Great Wilderness Beast God Scripture, it is absolutely loyal to you.]

[You begin to roam within the Falling Cloud Sect's sphere of influence, searching for Spirit Medicines that could help the Purple Flame Lion.]

[However, after years of continuous warfare throughout the Cultivation World, there are no Spirit Medicines for sale even within the relatively peaceful territory of the Falling Cloud Sect.]

[Left with no choice, you resort to the same business you once conducted in the Great Wu Dynasty.]

[You find a slave market and display a portion of your wealth.]

[Soon, an owner harboring ill intentions approaches you.]

[He introduces you to the slaves under his command, quite a few of whom are Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment or even the Purple Mansion Realm.]

[Using all your remaining resources, you trade for a slave at the first layer of the Purple Mansion Realm.]

[This person was once a Cultivator of the Great Li Dynasty and an Elder of a small Sect. After the Great Wu Dynasty was destroyed by the Dynasty Alliance, he was brought to this slave market.]

[Based on this person's origins, you realize that this owner must have a powerful background, incomparable to local thugs like the Fat Second Master.]

[But since the arrow is on the string and must be shot, you have no choice but to proceed according to your original plan.]

[Not long after you leave, a group of people follows you.]

[Among them are three Purple Mansion Cultivators and five Foundation Establishment Cultivators, each with a robust aura, clearly battle-hardened veterans.]

["Fellow Daoist, please wait!"]

[One of the Purple Mansion Cultivators speaks up.]

[Without pausing for a moment, you grab the slave you just purchased and sprint rapidly toward the outskirts of the city.]