253: Chapter 253 There's a traitor! There's definitely a traitor!

Rank Six Xuan Kingdom, Xuantian Sect.

Inside and outside the Xuantian Sect, an Aura of decay permeated the air. The light from the mountain-protecting formation was dim, and the Spiritual Qi was so thin it was unsettling. Even the two characters "Xuantian" on the mountain gate archway appeared dusty, as if covered by an invisible layer of grime.

Before the mountain gate, the atmosphere was tense, with swords drawn and bows bent.

On one side stood the Xuantian Sect Master and several core Elders, their faces grim and their gazes flickering with uncertainty. On the other side, a petite and exquisite woman led the way, heading dozens of Disciples. These Disciples had imposing Auras, all of them unexpectedly at the Nascent Soul (Soul Transformation) Stage, their killing intent condensing like frost.

The leading woman from the Moonshadow Sect wore a primrose-colored gradient cloud-gauze dress. The hem fluttered lightly in the chilling wind, revealing a pair of jade feet encased in white socks. At her ankles, a string of tiny golden bells vibrated slightly with her cold Aura, emitting crisp tinkling sounds.

Perhaps even Ling Hao hadn't noticed that among the Elders and Disciples of the Golden Lotus Workshop, three factions—barefoot, sock-wearing, and shoe-wearing—had quietly emerged by convention. This woman before them clearly belonged to the faction that wore silk socks, considering them especially elegant.

Yun Yanran's pretty face was filled with killing intent. Her usually charming and lovely countenance was now as cold as frost, and her clear eyes were as sharp as knives, staring directly at the people from the Xuantian Sect.

Who could have imagined that the Foundation Establishment Stage girl who once blushed furiously while gathering the courage to invite the Sect Master to guide her in the 'Lingbo Jade Foot Art' at the Golden Lotus Workshop had now grown into a Soul Transformation (Body Integration) Elder capable of standing on her own?

The image of her blushing so hard her earlobes seemed to bleed when the Sect Master leaned down to pin a flower on her during the Hundred Flowers Covenant Ceremony felt like it was only yesterday. Yet now, she could represent the Sect to execute such a thunderous and murderous order.

"Xuantian Sect Master,"

Yun Yanran's voice was cold as it spread throughout the mountain gate.

"Your Xuantian Sect has secretly colluded with the Niding Alliance, bringing disaster to this region, catalyzing the Erosion Tide, and harming living beings. Under the Moonshadow Sect, such scum cannot be tolerated! What do you have to say for yourself?"

The Xuantian Sect Master was an old man with white hair and beard. At this moment, his face was pale as he forced himself to remain calm, saying:

"Elder Yun, please be discerning! This is slander, pure slander! My Xuantian Sect is loyal to the Moonshadow Sect and has no ulterior motives! Someone must be framing us. Please investigate thoroughly, Elder!"

The several Elders behind him also chimed in, their words earnest and their voices tearful.

A cold arc curled at the corner of Yun Yanran's mouth:

"Stubborn and foolish." She wasted no more words and pointed a slender jade finger through the air!

*Swoosh—!*

A condensed Sharp Gold Sword Qi shot out through the air, fast as lightning, instantly piercing the Xuantian Sect Master's left shoulder! It was so fast that even the Body Integration Elder beside him didn't have time to react!

"Ah—!"

The Xuantian Sect Master screamed as blood splattered from his shoulder. However, no bright red blood flowed from the wound; instead, wisps of crimson mist drifted out.

"erosion qi!"

Among the watching Xuantian Sect Disciples and the Loose Cultivators who had hurried over from afar upon hearing the news, terrified shouts suddenly erupted.

Yun Yanran's gaze swept over the Xuantian Sect Elders, whose expressions had changed drastically.

"Now, what else do you have to say?"

Seeing that the matter was completely exposed, a hint of madness flashed in the Xuantian Sect Master's eyes, and he roared:

"Fight them to the death!" He and another Body Integration Elder beside him, along with five Soul Transformation Elders, all attacked at once!

The brilliance of Magic Treasures and the spiritual light of Talismans instantly exploded, lunging straight at Yun Yanran!

"Hmph, like a mantis trying to stop a chariot!"

Yun Yanran snorted coldly. Without any apparent movement, a longsword as clear as autumn water hovered before her. She formed a hand seal and gave a light shout:

"Infinite Sharpness, Break!"

The longsword buzzed, and a layer of the "Sharpness" Dao principle instantly covered the blade! The longsword transformed into a streak of light that tore through the void, meeting the oncoming crowd.

*Puchi!* x5

Those incoming Magic Treasures—whether shields, Flying Swords, or great seals—were easily pierced and torn apart the moment they touched the sword light containing the Dao principle! The spiritual light from the exploding Talismans was like bubbles, collapsing upon contact.

The sword light did not pause for a moment, tracing several trajectories in the air.

"You..."

The Xuantian Sect Master and that Body Integration Elder looked on in horror as a bloodline as thin as a hair suddenly appeared at their throats, and their Primordial Spirits dissipated. The five Soul Transformation Elders had their protective spiritual light shattered by the fierce Sword Qi, their bodies torn to pieces within the sword light.

It took less than three breaths from start to finish!

The sword light withdrew and returned to Yun Yanran's side, unstained by blood.

"Cleanse the mountain gate. From this day forth, the Xuantian Sect is struck from existence!"

"We follow the Elder's command!" The Moonshadow Sect Disciples behind her acknowledged in unison and moved quickly into action.

Xuan Kingdom, Jintian City.

News of the Xuantian Sect's destruction spread through the Xuan Kingdom's capital, Jintian City, as if it had grown wings.

In the streets and alleys, where Mortals gathered.

"Have you heard? Those bastards from the Xuantian Sect were wiped out by the lords of the Moonshadow Sect!" An old vegetable vendor slapped his thigh, his face full of relief.

"Good riddance! Good riddance indeed!"

The shopkeeper of the nearby teahouse nodded repeatedly. "In the past, when people from the Xuantian Sect entered the city, their noses were in the air. They forced sales, bought things for nothing, and would hit people at the slightest provocation! My boy's leg was injured by one of their Outer Sect Disciples last year! Now that the Moonshadow Sect has taken over, I hear the rules are very strict, and no one dares to bully us common folk anymore!"

"Yes, exactly," a woman holding a child chimed in. "I heard the Moonshadow Sect also brought a treasure that can dispel erosion qi, something called a 'world-suppressing monument.' In the future, when the children in our city get sick, they might suffer less from the erosion qi!"

Most of the common people's faces were filled with gratitude and relief. The arrogance and greed of the Xuantian Sect had long made their lives miserable. The Moonshadow Sect's thunderous methods and subsequent actions gave them hope for order and peace.

A private room in a city restaurant.

"Tsk, the Xuantian Sect has really met its end this time."

A Cultivator in fine silk sipped some spiritual wine and shook his head.

"And a good thing too!" A Cultivator with a longsword on his back snorted coldly. "Those people relied on being a major local Sect to commit no small amount of extortion and robbery! When I found a decent material in the market, I was worried they'd target me and steal it. Now that Moonshadow Sect Disciples are stationed in Xuantian City and transactions are regulated, at least I don't have to worry about safety."

"That may be so,"

Another slightly more cautious Cultivator lowered his voice. "But aren't the Moonshadow Sect's methods... a bit too harsh? To directly exterminate a Sect..."

"Harsh?" The silk-clad Cultivator scoffed. "Colluding with the Niding Alliance and catalyzing erosion qi to harm people! That's seeking their own destruction! If the Moonshadow Sect doesn't make an example of them, are they supposed to wait for the forces controlled by the Niding Alliance to throw Cangwu Province into chaos? If you ask me, they were right to kill them! Jintian City will only be more stable from now on!"

Although the Cultivators' discussions had different perspectives, most felt no sympathy for the Xuantian Sect's downfall. Instead, they affirmed the Moonshadow Sect's ability to maintain order and guarantee a safe trading environment.

After all, a stable and regulated environment was crucial for any Cultivator who wanted to Cultivate and trade in peace.

In an inconspicuous corner of the restaurant, an ordinary-looking Cultivator swept his sinister gaze over the chattering crowd and quietly stood up to leave.

He took many twists and turns, arriving at a remote, abandoned residence in the city. After confirming he wasn't being followed, he quickly activated a miniature teleportation Formation Plate and sent out a Jade Slip.

...

Cangwu Kingdom, a secret location.

"There's a traitor, definitely a traitor!"

Angry roars echoed through the dim hall, making the candlelight flicker. Zhu Wutong's face was livid as he smashed the black jade desk before him with a single palm strike! In just one Kun-month, the infiltration network the Niding Alliance had cultivated in Cangwu Province had suffered a devastating blow!

His crimson gaze fell upon the two people seated below him as Zhu Wutong said hatefully,

"Speak! Exactly how much have we lost?!"

The Fenglei Sect Master and the Danding Sect Master stood below with their heads bowed, not daring to breathe as cold sweat broke out on their foreheads. The Fenglei Sect Master braced himself to report:

"Please calm your anger, Hall Master... According... according to reports from all sides, the forces uprooted by the Moonshadow Sect this month... include five Rank Six Sects, thirty-seven Rank Five forces... and those of Rank Four and below... the losses are even more incalculable..."

"Calm my anger? How can I be calm!"

Zhu Wutong stood up abruptly, his eyes burning with a devouring rage.

He only wanted to cause some trouble for Ling Hao's Moonshadow Sect and give them a hard time, making them restless! And the result?!

He had gone for wool and come home shorn! Not only did he fail to annoy Ling Hao, but the spies the Niding Alliance had painstakingly planted and controlled for so long were all precisely uprooted by them, one by one!

Years of hard work were destroyed in an instant!

He suddenly approached the two of them, his gaze sinister:

"Speak! Was it you who leaked the news? Or were you careless in your actions and left a fatal flaw?! Otherwise, how could the Moonshadow Sect have targeted every objective so precisely?!"

"Hall Master, please be discerning! This subordinate would never dare leak secrets!"

The Fenglei Sect Master was so terrified that he fell to his knees with a thud, his voice trembling.

"This subordinate has always been careful in his duties, there were no oversights, Hall Master!"

The Danding Sect Master also hurriedly knelt to defend himself.

Zhu Wutong stared at them intently, his chest heaving violently. He knew, of course, that the traitor might not be these two, but with such heavy losses, someone had to pay the price! He needed an outlet for his anger, and more importantly, he needed to intimidate them!

"Hmph!"

Zhu Wutong snorted coldly, his gaze sweeping over the two kneeling men before finally landing on a Void Tempering Early Stage Grand Elder who was also kneeling behind the Fenglei Sect Master.

"Ineffective in your duties, what use is there in keeping you!"

Before Zhu Wutong's words even finished, a strange crimson light shot out from his sleeve like lightning!

"No—!"

That Grand Elder let out a short cry of alarm, his body suddenly stiffening. Then, under the terrified gazes of the Fenglei Sect Master and the Danding Sect Master, all his moisture and life force were drained away, turning him into a shriveled, withered corpse as his Divine Soul was annihilated.

*Thud!*

The mummified corpse fell to the ground, kicking up a fine dust.

The Fenglei Sect Master and the Danding Sect Master trembled all over, their faces bloodless as they lay prostrate on the ground, not even daring to lift their heads. The air was thick with the heavy scent of death.

Zhu Wutong slowly withdrew his hand, his killing intent palpable:

"Let this be a warning! All of you, stay sharp! If there are any more blunders, your end will be just like this wretch!"

"Yes... yes! This subordinate obeys!" The two voices shook uncontrollably.

Zhu Wutong took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his surging anger and killing intent, his eyes becoming deep:

"Moonshadow Sect... Ling Hao... I will remember this debt! But for now..."

He said in a grim tone, "For the time being, do not provoke the Moonshadow Sect again! Concentrate all your strength to ensure the cultivation of the 'Erosion Source Blood Tree' is flawless! Also, the arrangements for that 'wu tripod' in the Yunmeng Great Marsh must be accelerated!"

"Yes, Hall Master!"