90: Insect Gu Ascends to the Ranks

As the red mist permeated the battlefield, Cultivators from both the Righteous Path and Demonic Path Sects immediately felt their spiritual power stagnate, and those with weak wills began to experience hallucinations.

“Fellow Daoist Gu, this red mist was formed by Gu Worms, right?”

Jiang Lie split off a portion of his spiritual power to resist the invasion of the red mist, while speaking to Gu Fentian:

“You came from the Tianji Sect to Chen State purely for benefits. Whatever the Profound Sword Sect can offer you, my Corpse Fiend Sect will give you double!”

Li Xuangu hurriedly shouted: “Fellow Daoist Gu, don't listen to this old Devil Head spreading malicious rumors. Please help me quickly slay this fiend!”

Gu Fentian said harshly: “The Three Righteous Sects promised that as long as I help them eradicate the Three Demonic Sects, they will allow the Tianji Sect to establish altars and preach within Chen State's borders.

How can you offer double that kind of bargaining chip?”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Lie suddenly realized, and burst into maniacal laughter: “Li Xuangu, Ouyang Qing, Xu Tianyi, you claim to be Righteous Path Sects, yet the wickedness of this Tianji Sect surpasses the Three Demonic Sects by a hundredfold! You wish for Chen State's destruction!”

Li Xuangu's face flushed red: “We'll worry about future matters later. Today, the Three Demonic Sects must be destroyed here!”

He only knew that the Tianji Sect's Gu Worms could parasitize the human body and cause hallucinations, but he hadn't known these Gu Worms were so bloodthirsty and tyrannical. He already regretted cooperating with Gu Fentian.

But since things had reached this point, breaking the contract now would inevitably infuriate Gu Fentian, leading him to ally with the Demonic Sects to overthrow Chen State.

The only immediate solution was to stop thinking about the consequences and first eliminate the Three Demonic Sects.

“Jiang Lie, you talk too much nonsense!”

Gu Fentian's Aura suddenly soared, and the Magic Array beneath him also turned crimson, sucking in massive amounts of red mist.

“Gu Worm Ascension!”

Following Gu Fentian's roar, the Cultivators of the North Mountain Gate Ascension Society froze in place, their eyes unfocused, and their offensive aimed at the Demonic Sects came to an abrupt halt.

Blood Jade Worms gnawed at their flesh and blood, the crisp sound of shattering bones mixing with the muffled tearing of muscle.

In just a few breaths, hundreds of bodies were completely devoured, leaving only stark white skeletons.

Subsequently, the Blood Jade Worms transformed into red mist, converging into a crimson vortex beside Gu Fentian.

Gu Fentian's Qi Sea had already turned into a heaven-swallowing, earth-devouring black hole, engulfing every wisp of bloody mist. At the same time, his cultivation level climbed steadily, emitting world-destroying power.

“Core Formation Middle Stage... he actually stepped into the Core Formation Middle Stage!”

The Cultivators present stopped moving, their eyes fixed on Gu Fentian, filled with shock.

For tens of thousands of years, all the Sects in Chen State, except for the Corpse Fiend Sect Old Ancestor, had reached a maximum cultivation of Core Formation Early Stage, as if bound by a curse.

Now, this curse was being personally torn apart by Gu Fentian.

Gu Fentian lowered his gaze and swept over the Cultivators present, saying: “Chen State lacks cultivation resources, making it difficult to find Core Formation spiritual items. Even if one is lucky enough to achieve Core Formation, they will at most achieve a Ninth Grade Golden Core, halting their progress at the Core Formation Early Stage for life.

But the Blood Jade Worms can ignore Aptitude and raise a Cultivator's cultivation level.”

He paused, then continued: “Fellow Daoists, after today, I will tell you the Mind-Cultivation Technique for controlling the Blood Jade Worms.

As long as everyone keeps their promise, then advancing to Core Formation Middle Stage, Late Stage, or even the Nascent Soul realm, and that unreachable Great Dao, will all be within your grasp!”

Seeing that everyone was intimidated by him, he glanced at Li Xuangu and the others: “Fellow Daoist Li, I said before that I could achieve a Breakthrough past the Core Formation Early Stage. Do you believe me now?”

Li Xuangu and the others had burning gazes.

Their cooperation with the Tianji Sect to eliminate the Demonic Sects was one aspect, but more importantly, Gu Fentian had promised to help them achieve a cultivation Breakthrough.

Having lived for several hundred years with their lifespans nearing exhaustion, how could they not be tempted by the opportunity to achieve a Breakthrough in cultivation and extend their lives!

Jiang Lie and the others were also envious of the secret technique that allowed one to reach Core Formation Middle Stage, but they knew survival came first, so they immediately gritted their teeth and shouted:

“Fellow Daoist Ye, Fellow Daoist Ji! Gu Fentian has just achieved a Breakthrough, his cultivation must be unstable. Let's attack together!”

As the words fell, all three burned their spiritual power, unleashed their respective Sect's secret techniques, and attacked Gu Fentian with full force.

Solid poisonous fiendish energy, wailing resentful spirits, sky-filling Puppet techniques, and Devil Heads and demonic creatures surged toward Gu Fentian like a fierce tide.

“Just you?”

Gu Fentian sneered, and a ball of red mist, condensed to the extreme, immediately gathered in his palm.

With a casual wave, the red mist spread out overwhelmingly, enveloping the three individuals' various techniques.

The seemingly world-destroying offensive was easily neutralized by this single strike.

Gu Fentian swept a cold glance over the three of them: “Frogs in a well, how dare you act presumptuously before me? The power of the Core Formation Middle Stage is not something you can withstand!”

With his secret technique broken, Jiang Lie was severely injured. He roared: “All Cultivators of the Corpse Fiend Sect listen up! Our opponent is now Core Formation Middle Stage. If we don't burn all our vital blood potential to slay this person, we will all die here!”

As his voice fell, all Corpse Fiend Sect Cultivators above Foundation Establishment consumed Spirit and Blood Burning Medicinal Pills.

Ye Jin also became fierce: “All Cultivators of the Puppet Sect, there is no retreat in the current situation. If we live, we must live gloriously; if we die, we must die heroically!”

After speaking, the Cultivators of the Puppet Sect also used secret techniques, completely disregarding their physical condition, and pushed their Puppets to the extreme.

Ji Cangxie also said: “To all members of the Heavenly Demon Sect, if we can overcome this deadly tribulation, I will pass down our Sect's protective secret technique to those who live; for those who die, I guarantee your souls will enter Reincarnation!”

As he spoke, the Heavenly Demon Sect Cultivators swallowed all the Devil Heads and resentful spirits they had raised, causing their combat power to skyrocket.

“Cultivators of the Three Sects, charge!”

Following the simultaneous roars of Jiang Lie, Ye Jin, and Ji Cangxie, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Three Demonic Sects rushed toward the Tianji Sect's formation like madmen.

Meanwhile, Jiang Lie and the others also let their Aura climb, channeling all their spiritual power—

And fled in three different directions!

The Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Three Demonic Sects stopped in their tracks, staring at each other in disbelief.

The Sect Heads who had incited them to burn their cultivation and charge forward... ran away?

Xu Tianyi frowned and said: “Those three old Devil Heads spoke as if they would rather die than surrender and would live or die alongside their Disciples, but they merely wanted to use these people's lives to stall until the array broke so they could make their own escape.”

Ouyang Qing sneered: “To deceive even their own Sect Disciples, the Three Demonic Sects truly have run out of Luck!”

Li Xuangu shouted in a deep voice: “Demonic Sect Cultivators! The general trend is against you. Surrender and live, resist and die!”

As his voice fell, the remaining Demonic Cultivators in the sky and the remnants stubbornly resisting on the ground all turned ashen.

Moments later, the Demonic Sect Cultivators either bowed their heads or slumped weakly to the ground, all laying down their arms and surrendering.

The pattern of conflict between the Righteous Path and the Demonic Path in Chen State, which had lasted for tens of thousands of years, finally drew to a close.

Gu Fentian, however, sneered, and countless Blood Jade Gu Worms surged out from his body. He suddenly roared: “Blood Gu Devours Heaven!”

The tide of worms instantly enveloped the Demonic Sect Foundation Establishment Cultivators. After just ten breaths, these people were completely devoured, leaving behind incomplete skeletal remains.

“Fellow Daoist Gu!” Li Xuangu retreated several steps, his face full of shock and suspicion.

Ouyang Qing and Xu Tianyi also frowned deeply, quietly placing their hands on their Storage Pouches.

“Three Fellow Daoists, we agreed before that we must eliminate evil thoroughly!” Gu Fentian licked the corner of his lips. “Demonic Cultivators above Foundation Establishment must be rooted out completely;

those below Foundation Establishment will have a Servant Mark placed on them to eliminate the possibility of them doing evil.”

He paused, then his gaze pressed upon the three Righteous Path Sect Heads: “The three of you, why haven't you gone to execute Jiang Lie and the other two?”