Cave Killing Scheme

Lin Hao's actions were faster than Nightmare anticipated.

Just the morning after the Outer Sect Grand Competition concluded, guided by a vague premonition and ambiguous records in the Sect's ancient texts, he ventured alone deep into the back mountain to search for the abandoned Ancient Cultivator's Cave Dwelling.

At this moment, Nightmare was at a critical juncture, striving to break through to the Late Golden Core Stage.

Within the Yin-Sha land, dense, greyish-black Earth-Sha Qi seemed to be drawn to him, forming a small vortex that continuously surged into Nightmare's body. The dark golden glow around him became more pronounced, and the muscles beneath his skin subtly rippled, emitting a low hum like muffled thunder.

The Starfall Demonic Art was operating at full power, refining the surging Yin-Sha Qi, transforming it into pure Demonic Essence, and relentlessly assailing the barrier between the Middle Golden Core and Late Golden Core Stage.

The Treasure-Seeking Spirit Weasel paced restlessly nearby. It could sense its master was at a crucial point and also vaguely sensed another unsettling aura (Lin Hao's) moving in the back mountain.

Finally, accompanied by a subtle yet clear 'crack' sound within his body, that sturdy barrier was violently shattered by the surging Demonic Essence!

An even more powerful force instantly surged through his limbs and bones!

Nightmare abruptly opened his eyes, a dark golden gleam flashing and disappearing, his aura suddenly climbed a notch, then was quickly suppressed by the Breath Concealment Art, returning to a deep and obscure state.

Late Golden Core Stage, achieved!

He slowly exhaled a turbid breath, feeling the surging power within him, far exceeding what he had before, and a slight smile played on the corners of his lips.

Just then, through the 'Demonic Seed' he had left in Deacon Zhao Qian's mind, he sensed a strong emotional fluctuation filled with greed and urgency—Deacon Zhao Qian had also set off, heading towards the back mountain. Clearly, the Demonic Seed had amplified his desire for 'Lin Hao's secret technique,' compelling him to seek an Opportunity.

"So everyone's here... Perfect." Nightmare rose, his gaze profound as he looked in the direction of the Ancient Cultivator's Cave Dwelling.

His figure moved, once again merging into the shadows, stealthily heading towards his destination. His speed was more than double what it had been before!

...Deep in the back mountain, in front of a hidden mountain wall covered in vines.

Lin Hao's face showed unconcealed excitement. He had spent most of the day, finally finding this place based on that vague sense and comparison of the terrain!

"This is it! The resting place of Immortal Master Flowing Cloud recorded in the ancient texts!" He excitedly pushed aside the thick vines, revealing a narrow cave entrance just wide enough for one person, with residual, almost depleted Restrictions at the entrance.

He cautiously extended his Divine Sense into the cave, and after confirming there were no obvious dangers, he took a deep breath and squeezed in sideways.

The Immortal Cave was not large and appeared quite simple. Stone bed, stone table, stone chair, all covered in dust. Most striking was a skeleton sitting cross-legged in the center of the Immortal Cave, its bones crystal clear, faintly shimmering with light, indicating its owner's extraordinary cultivation in life. This should be Immortal Master Flowing Cloud.

In front of the skeleton lay an ancient jade box and a green Flying Sword plunged into the ground. Although its spiritual light was dim, one could still feel its extraordinary material.

"There really is an Opportunity!" Lin Hao's heart raced, and he eagerly stepped forward.

He first respectfully bowed to the skeleton: "Junior Lin Hao, I have inadvertently entered Senior's Immortal Cave. If I have disturbed you, please forgive me. Junior will surely make good use of Senior's relics and carry forward your Legacy!" After speaking, he reached out for the jade box.

Just as his fingers were about to touch the jade box—

An unexpected change occurred!

The ground beneath his feet, without warning, lit up with several eerie black patterns! A pre-arranged **Demon Killing Formation** instantly activated!

Buzz!

Dark demonic light shot into the sky, transforming into several chains of light shimmering with evil runes, coiling around him like venomous snakes! At the same time, waves of soul-eating demonic sounds directly poured into his Sea of Consciousness, impacting his Divine Soul!

"A trap?!" Lin Hao's face turned pale with fright, his spiritual power erupting as he tried to retreat, but it was already too late!

The demonic chains were extremely fast, instantly coiling around his limbs and waist. A terrifying binding force came, and a cold Demonic Qi tried to invade his Meridians!

"Break for me!" Lin Hao, furious and alarmed, roared, his spiritual power bursting forth without reservation. The long sword in his hand emitted a dazzling green light, fiercely slashing at the demonic chains on his body!

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Sparks flew! The demonic chains were extremely tough and could not be cut off immediately, only their light dimmed slightly!

And just as he was fully resisting the Demonic Formation, a ghostly figure, as if seeping out of the shadows, silently appeared behind the skeleton.

It was Nightmare!

He didn't touch the jade box or the Flying Sword at all; his target, from the beginning, was not these obvious items!

He moved like lightning, his fingers rapidly pressing several hidden indentations beneath the stone platform where Immortal Master Flowing Cloud's skeleton sat, in a specific sequence!

Click!

With a soft click of a mechanism, a hidden compartment actually popped open on the side of the stone platform! Inside the compartment, quietly lay a **token** that was neither metal nor jade, entirely black, with cloud patterns flowing across its surface!

This was Immortal Master Flowing Cloud's true core Legacy token—the **flowing cloud secret edict**! With this token, one could find Immortal Master Flowing Cloud's real treasure trove and obtain his core Legacy, the Flowing Cloud Illusory Annihilation Art! In his previous life, Lin Hao only accidentally discovered this secret much later.

Nightmare snatched the token, not even glancing at Lin Hao struggling in the Demonic Formation, and with a flicker of his figure, he intended to merge back into the shadows and leave.

"It's you?! Nightmare!"

Although Nightmare moved extremely fast, and the Breath Concealment Art was operating at its peak, a slight leakage of his aura was unavoidable the moment he moved to take the token. Lin Hao, in his state of extreme tension and anger, somehow recognized the identity of the blurry dark figure at a glance, relying on a mysterious intuition!

That Demonic Path Disciple who was once somewhat famous in the Starfall Pavilion's Inner Sect, but later faded into obscurity! That guy who was rumored to be eccentric and reclusive!

It was him who had been plotting against him in the dark all this time?!

"Nightmare! I have no grievances with you, why do you repeatedly harm me!" Lin Hao's eyes were bloodshot, as he furiously attacked the demonic chains, roaring his question. He finally saw the true face of the mastermind!

Nightmare's departing footsteps paused slightly. He turned half his face, and a cold arc seemed to curve on the corner of his mouth beneath the shadows, his voice hoarse and indifferent:

"No grievances?"

"Your very existence is the greatest original sin."

Before his words finished, his figure had completely vanished, leaving only those chilling words echoing in the Immortal Cave.

"Ah!! Nightmare! I will kill you!!" Lin Hao was so enraged he almost spat blood, his furious roar reverberating within the Immortal Cave. Extreme anger actually made his potential burst forth, the sword light in his hand flared brightly, and with several 'cracks,' he finally severed all the demonic chains on his body!

The first thing he did after escaping was to rush towards the stone platform, only to find that although the jade box and Flying Sword were there, the most important hidden compartment had been opened, and it was empty!

He was half a step too late! The most important item had been taken by Nightmare!

"Night! Mare!" Lin Hao gritted his teeth, each word filled with deep-seated hatred. He snatched up the jade box and Flying Sword. His Divine Sense swept over them; the jade box contained only a few ordinary Medicinal Pills, and the Flying Sword was of mediocre quality. Compared to the unknown token he had lost, these items were simply not worth mentioning!

Just then, the light at the cave entrance dimmed, and another figure rushed in.

It was Deacon Zhao Qian, driven by the Demonic Seed!

As soon as Deacon Zhao Qian entered the Immortal Cave, he saw a mess, the Demonic Qi not yet fully dissipated, and Lin Hao, with a ferocious expression, holding a long sword, having just broken through the Demonic Formation. His gaze swept over, and he immediately saw the green Flying Sword and jade box that Lin Hao had just picked up!

"There really is an Opportunity!" Deacon Zhao Qian's eyes shone with intense greed, the influence of the Demonic Seed making him instantly imagine everything. "Lin Hao! You are indeed secretly obtaining a secret treasure here! Hand over the secret technique, and I will spare your life!"

Lin Hao was already in a fit of rage. Seeing Deacon Zhao Qian's appearance, he laughed in extreme anger: "Deacon Zhao? You want to steal my things too? Get lost!"

"Insolent brat! It seems this Deacon will have to take it himself!" Deacon Zhao Qian sneered, his Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivation bursting forth, directly lunging at Lin Hao with a palm strike! He was convinced that Lin Hao had exhausted a great deal of energy breaking the formation earlier, and now was a good Opportunity to take him down!

Lin Hao already had a belly full of anger with nowhere to vent. Seeing Deacon Zhao Qian actually make the first move, old and new grudges surged in his heart, and he shouted fiercely: "Courting death!" He swung his sword to meet the attack!

Immediately, within this narrow Ancient Cultivator's Cave Dwelling, the two began to fight fiercely!

Stone chips flew, and Spiritual Qi and Demonic Qi (Deacon Zhao Qian's Cultivation Technique also had some evil Qi) collided violently!

Meanwhile, the true beneficiary, Nightmare, had long since fled several miles away, toying with the cold, black cloud token in his hand.

【Ding! Successfully seized the son of destiny Lin Hao's major Opportunity, 'flowing cloud secret edict', significantly altering his fate line. Obtained Luck -300, villain points +1000!】

【Ding! Successfully framed, triggering a conflict between the son of destiny Lin Hao and Outer Sect Deacon Zhao Qian. Obtained Luck -50, villain points +200!】

Listening to the System's prompts and feeling the fighting fluctuations coming from the Immortal Cave behind him, Nightmare's face revealed a cold smile of complete control.

"Fight, struggle."

"This is just the beginning."

His figure vanished into the depths of the dense forest, like a true phantom, preparing for his next hunt.

And the battle within the Ancient Cultivator's Cave Dwelling intensified. Although Lin Hao's strength was inferior to Deacon Zhao Qian's, as a son of destiny, he possessed many trump cards and for a time was locked in an evenly matched struggle with Deacon Zhao Qian.

However, neither of them realized that they had both become pawns in the hands of the mastermind.

A larger Demonic Seed had already been sown, waiting for the storm to arrive to grow wildly.