85: mutation

On the viewing platform.

Jiang Lie laughed wildly: "Fellow Daoist Ye, both are at the Ninth Level of Qi Refining, yet your Sect Disciple's defense was actually torn apart by my Sect's Disciple!

If this continues, the title of the second-largest demonic Sect in the State of Chen won't be held for much longer!"

"An accident, purely an accident. This Disciple happened to have changed to a new shell, so his defense was insufficient."

Ye Jin gave an embarrassed smile and glared at Wang Ming: "Get off the martial arts stage already!"

Jiang Lie glanced at Fang Huai with a deep look, then called over a Foundation Establishment Cultivator beside him and whispered a few words.

In less than fifteen minutes, the Identity Token grew warm. After sensing the information within, Fang Huai became even more confused.

[The Corpse Fiend Sect, Puppet Sect, and Heavenly Demon Sect have shared a millennium of friendship; harmony is to be valued. Do not take each other's lives on the martial arts stage.]

Fang Huai looked at the other Disciples from his Sect participating in the True Dragon Assembly; they all wore expressions of confusion.

But observing the ordinary Disciples of the Corpse Fiend Sect, they didn't seem to have received this message.

What does this mean?

Isn't it normal to accidentally kill someone on the martial arts stage?

Although they were all part of the Demonic Path, the three Sects also had their conflicts. Since when did they become this friendly?

————

On the third day, the number of Disciples spectating around the martial arts field reached its peak.

Today, the top hundred of the True Dragon Assembly would be decided, and every Disciple who entered the top hundred would add points to their ranking.

All Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the sixteen peaks of the Corpse Fiend Sect were present to cheer for their respective peak's Disciples.

Surging Evil Qi permeated the air, overwhelming the Aura of the righteous Cultivators.

Amidst the shouts of the various Sects' Disciples, Fang Huai clearly noticed something was wrong.

The Sect Heads of the three major demonic Sects were sitting very close together. Their eyes seemed calm, but there was always a strange light flickering in them.

Fang Huai's opponent was a Disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect.

Although the opponent was at the Qi Refining Perfection stage and his Spells were extremely powerful, his casting speed was slow and his physical agility was poor; he was being suppressed by Fang Huai the entire time.

Even though the opponent's Profound Ice Shield covered his entire body and had extremely strong defense, it was only a matter of time before Fang Huai wore it down.

But at this moment, cold sweat dripped down Fang Huai's face, and his mind was not on the match at all.

He discovered that the label [The calamity of death has arrived] had appeared on the Azure Cloud Sect Disciple.

How familiar this label was!

Back when the Old Beggar had this label, he had tried everything to save him, but fate could not be defied, and the Old Beggar ultimately died a tragic death.

With Fang Huai's control over his Spells, if he didn't want to kill the opposing Cultivator, then the opposing Cultivator definitely wouldn't die.

But the fact that this Cultivator had [The calamity of death has arrived] meant that the cause of death was not Fang Huai!

Could it be?

Scanning the righteous Disciples below the stage, five out of every ten people had this label spontaneously emerge.

Looking back at the Disciples of his own Sect, he was even more horrified.

Eight or nine out of ten had [The calamity of death has arrived]!

Not good!

He had long calculated that the various Sects would make a move at the True Dragon Assembly, but he hadn't expected it to be such a massive one.

Based on the ratio of labels, the Corpse Fiend Sect was doomed to lose, and it would be to the extent of being slaughtered to the last man!

He couldn't stay here any longer. Forget the top ten, forget Jiang Miao's request, and forget the Ascension Society's mission—saving his own life came first.

Thinking of this, he deliberately left an opening, was hit by several Frost Arrows, and surrendered as he fell.

The Azure Cloud Sect Disciples erupted in cheers, while the Corpse Fiend Sect Disciples sighed with regret.

In their eyes, as long as Fang Huai didn't make a mistake, defeating the opponent was only a matter of time.

"Senior Brother Fang, are you alright?"

Seeing Fang Huai spitting blood and staggering off the arena, Liu Xiange hurried over to support him.

Fang Huai shook his head, grabbed Liu Xiange's palm, then pushed her away and left the martial arts field directly.

Liu Xiange froze for a moment, then took a step and also left the martial arts field.

Just now, Fang Huai had written the word 'flee' on her hand.

————

The matches in the martial arts field were in full swing, with the various Sects in high spirits, and the cheering voices rising in waves.

As the host, the Corpse Fiend Sect naturally had the loudest shouts and the strongest Aura.

Just as everyone was at their most fervent, their Identity Tokens simultaneously transmitted a burning sensation:

[Kill every Cultivator except those from the three major demonic Sects of the State of Chen!]

...Below the martial arts stage, a Profound Sword Sect Disciple was watching with excitement when he suddenly felt a chill down his spine and a sharp pain in his chest.

Looking down, he saw a pale demonic hand piercing through his chest. Looking at the owner of the demonic hand, it was actually a Corpse Fiend Sect Disciple.

"You..."

Before the Profound Sword Sect Disciple could finish his sentence, he breathed his last... A male Disciple of the Danxia Sect was chatting with a female Disciple of the Hundred Flowers Sect.

The two seemed to be talking about something interesting; the Hundred Flowers Sect Disciple's face was flushed red as she playfully scolded the other for his sweet talk.

The Danxia Sect Disciple leaned in closer, continuing to whisper something in her ear.

Suddenly, both their chests felt a chill.

They stared wide-eyed as their chests were pierced by two Corpse Fiend Sect Disciples... Chaos immediately erupted outside the North Mountain Gate.

It wasn't just the Corpse Fiend Sect Disciples starting a massacre; the Disciples of the Puppet Sect and Heavenly Demon Sect had also received the same order to indiscriminately slaughter the righteous Sects.

"Sect Head Jiang, Sect Head Ye, Sect Leader Gongsun, what is the meaning of this!" Li Xuangu roared in anger.

"The various Sects of the State of Chen have fought for many years; it's time to bring it to an end."

Jiang Lie sneered: "Now that the main forces of the sixteen Sects of the State of Chen are all gathered here, it's the perfect time to settle this once and for all!"

"Madman!" Ouyang Qing cursed angrily, "How can your three Sects possibly oppose the thirteen Sects!"

Xu Tianyi: "The demonic Sects are truly insane and self-righteous. Today, our righteous Sects will wipe you all out!"

"Ten Thousand Poison Heart-Devouring Fiend!"

Jiang Lie waved his hand, and a sky-covering poisonous fiendish energy surged toward the three men opposite him. He then soared into the air and threw out a Formation compass, which shattered instantly.

"I, Jiang Lie, am arrogant for a reason. Now that you are within my Sect's Great Protecting Formation, let's see if you have the lives to survive."

As his voice fell, the entire sky above the Corpse Fiend Sect was covered by a blood-red light screen.

The light screen was filled with scattered crimson spots of light. Upon touching a Cultivator, they would immediately drill into their body.

After absorbing the spots of light, the Disciples of the three demonic Sects felt their Auras surge. Their Seas of Consciousness were filled with violent, bloodthirsty energy, making them fearlessly want to tear apart all righteous Cultivators.

However, when the righteous Cultivators touched the light spots, they immediately became dizzy, and their spiritual power felt obstructed.

Li Xuangu was about to command the Foundation Establishment Cultivators to save the situation when he heard Jiang Lie roar:

"Fellow Daoist Li, Core Formation fights Core Formation, and Foundation Establishment fights Foundation Establishment. If you break the rules, then I will lead the high-level demonic Cultivators to slaughter the ordinary Disciples."

Li Xuangu clenched his fists; he naturally didn't want the high-level demonic Cultivators to join that part of the battle.

Righteous Sects would be cautious and considerate even when killing, but when demonic Cultivators went mad, they would engage in indiscriminate slaughter.

Li Xuangu said with a grim expression: "This Great Protecting Formation, why is it so strange!"

"Never seen a Great Protecting Formation like this, have you?"

Jiang Lie's eyes burned brightly: "Fellow Daoist Li, I remember when I met you a hundred years ago, you once mocked the Corpse Fiend Sect for having mottled Spiritual Qi that was difficult to use for cultivation.

Did you think it was because my Sect had committed too many killings, causing the poisonous fiendish energy and resentment to pollute the Spiritual Qi?

To tell you the truth, it was because of the Great Protecting Formation!

While poisonous fiendish energy and resentment certainly hinder cultivation, if used properly, they can stimulate a Cultivator's maximum potential, turning them into the strongest killing machines.

Once this Formation is activated, no one can stop it; one can only wait for the energy within the Formation to dissipate."

Li Xuangu sneered: "No wonder you set the martial arts field so close to the Sect; so you were waiting for us here.

This Formation is so strange, it's not a product of the State of Chen, is it?"

Jiang Lie laughed wildly: "Naturally. The Old Ancestor of the Corpse Fiend Sect was a Cultivator from outside the State of Chen."

Li Xuangu looked up at the sky and murmured: "Jiang Lie, I didn't expect us to have the same idea. It's just that you were one step ahead of me."

He tapped his Storage Pouch, and a Formation token flew out as well.

The token shone brightly, instantly summoning a teleportation Formation.