Chapter 103: Sure Enough, There Are Many Smart People

Chapter 103: Chapter 103: Sure Enough, There Are Many Smart People

At the foot of the cliff, an arrow of Spiritual Power slammed into the rock wall, leaving behind a bowl-sized mark as dust trickled down.

[Spirit Arrow Technique Proficiency +20]

Liu Chen narrowed his eyes, studying the Proficiency he had gained. ’To get so much Proficiency from using the Spirit Arrow Technique for the first time is a pleasant surprise. This makes my plan even more foolproof.’

Another four arrows struck the rock wall, each with the same destructive power.

[Spirit Arrow Technique Proficiency +80]

[Spirit Arrow Technique: Beginner, 0/500]

As the Proficiency notification appeared, the Spirit Bow in Liu Chen’s hands vanished, and a feeling of comprehensive understanding flooded his mind. Liu Chen had never learned archery, but this Magic wasn’t too difficult since it relied on Spiritual Sense for aiming.

It was a Basic Magic Technique; at the Meridian Passage Realm, one mainly dealt damage by infusing it with more Spiritual Power.

"The plan is feasible."

Liu Chen narrowed his eyes. For the half-hour until the Array was fully formed, Liu Chen silently practiced the Spirit Arrow Technique.

Time spent cultivating always flew by. Just as Liu Chen was about to draw his bow again, the pillar of light behind him erupted with a dazzling glow. Inside it, the insignia of Purple Cloud Valley was exceptionally clear.

The Token returned to Liu Chen’s hand. Without hesitation, he stepped onto his Snowflake Sword and flew away from the cliff.

After concealing his presence, Liu Chen observed from nearby for a while. After the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn, a purple pillar of light shot into the sky, connecting directly with the Array above Fire Dragon Valley. Inside the pillar, a purple cloud announced that this spot now belonged to Purple Cloud Valley.

Having figured out the pattern, Liu Chen slowly walked away. It was time to deal with the Third Prince of the Black Feather Dynasty.

[Spirit Arrow Technique: Minor Success, 400/1000]

’This is the source of my confidence. Ideally, Nangong Ye will be the one to kill the so-called Third Prince. But I don’t want to expose my identity, so the Spirit Arrow Technique might come in handy.’

’If that doesn’t work, then I’ll just stick to the original plan and throw him into the lava.’

As Liu Chen headed toward the cave, he saw the Third Prince of the Black Feather Dynasty, who had changed his clothes. The Prince was near the mouth of the volcano, bare-handedly throwing a disciple from Thunder Mountain into the crater.

A piercing scream was swallowed by the lava before it could even ring out. Liu Chen perceived this scene with his Spiritual Sense, but he was careful not to step within the coverage of the so-called Third Prince’s Spiritual Sense.

"It seems that person has already left, or perhaps the people from Purple Cloud Valley made a deal with him."

Yu Haenze stared at the pillar of light from Purple Cloud Valley, finding it incredibly jarring. That place should have been the perfect spot for him to ambush the Cultivators from the Great Xia Dynasty. But because of two unreliable fools who never listened to orders, the plan had failed, and he had even provoked a terrifying enemy.

Yu Haenze believed he didn’t have the slightest chance of killing that person. ’Even if I reach the Meridian Passage Realm, I’ll still be no match for him.’

’The only reason I’m still alive is because of the Black Feather Dynasty. I can guess that even if my opponent has a powerful background, he’s not from one of the Three Immortal Sects. I’m not afraid of killing Nangong Ye, and he’s not afraid of killing me. But if someone from a power outside the Three Immortal Sects kills me, they’d better be ready for retaliation!’

’These are the rules of the trial. For the Three Immortal Sects, it is a genuine trial. Their higher-ups can’t possibly be unaware that the Black Feather Dynasty will take action; that’s the whole point of this.’

’Perhaps a few brain-dead Loose Cultivators might target disciples from the Three Immortal Sects, but they are certainly in the minority. As for the disciples from various clans... to be blunt, they’re all just prey.’

"Nangong Ye... That man probably wants me to take you down with me. I could just run, but if I leave with my tail between my legs, I’ll lose any hope of ever taking the throne!"

Yu Haenze glanced at the fading bloodstains on the ground and headed toward the cave.

’So many clever people.’

Liu Chen tailed the Third Prince of the Black Feather Dynasty, deliberately staying within range of the prince’s Spiritual Sense. The Spiritual Sense of a Meridian Passage Realm Beginner covered twice the area of a Peak Body Tempering Realm cultivator, but Liu Chen wasn’t worried about being discovered at all.

’Or rather, judging from the Third Prince’s recent muttering, he noticed me from the very start. But he’s still choosing to go after Nangong Ye.’

’The Third Prince is clever, though. He recovered from his injuries before making a move.’

As Yu Haenze made his way to the cave, Liu Chen followed quietly. About halfway there, Liu Chen detected another Spiritual Sense at the Meridian Passage Realm. Although its range wasn’t as wide as his, it belonged to a genuine Meridian Passage Cultivator.

Liu Chen waited impassively for a moment. A Meridian Passage Cultivator dressed in an outfit nearly identical to his own appeared within his Spiritual Sense.

’A Meridian Passage Cultivator from the Black Feather Dynasty,’ Liu Chen thought. ’This means that besides the Third Prince in front of me tracking Nangong Ye, other princes from the Black Feather Dynasty have also entered the trial. And this cultivator was sent by one of them.’

’The Prince this cultivator serves isn’t targeting the Cultivation Realm of the Great Xia Dynasty. Instead, he’s set his sights on his own brother.’

’The fact that this black-robed interloper could find his way here proves that someone among the Third Prince’s own men tipped him off.’

’There really are a lot of clever people.’

After figuring everything out, Liu Chen muttered to himself. If he could think of using a borrowed knife to kill, then of course others could too once they heard about Nangong Ye. This would save him a lot of trouble.

All he had to do was make sure this interloping Meridian Passage Cultivator from the Black Feather Dynasty executed the plan perfectly.

A short while later, the cave appeared within Liu Chen’s Spiritual Sense. The two corpses were still there, and Yu Haenze stared at them in silence.

’Although those two were disobedient,’ Yu Haenze thought, ’they once risked life and limb for me. After I kill Nangong Ye, I will give them a proper burial.’

Yu Haenze quickly composed himself and stepped into the cave. A Spirit Sword appeared in his hand, and crimson Spiritual Power enveloped his body.

Inside the cave, Nangong Ye, who had mostly recovered from his injuries, snapped his eyes open. A Spirit Sword appeared in his hand as he stared warily at the sole entrance.

’If it’s not a disciple from Qingxu Hall,’ he thought, ’I’ll attack immediately. When your life is on the line, being merciful is just a slow way to die.’

Crimson and black clashed inside the cave, causing rocks to tumble from the entrance. Outside, the Meridian Passage Cultivator from the Black Feather Dynasty stood silently, studying the two corpses on the ground. They were both Guards trained by the Black Feather Dynasty—or to put it more bluntly, Death Warriors.

’Seeing the bodies of two comrades, it’s hard not to feel a sense of mourning,’ he thought. ’But alas, the mission must be completed. The Second Prince does not want the Third Prince to live, and as the Second Prince’s blade, I can only fall as commanded.’

’As for whether I’ll be dealt with later... a tool shouldn’t have such thoughts.’

The battle inside the cave gradually subsided. Nangong Ye collapsed to the ground. His injuries still unhealed, he was no match for the Third Prince of the Black Feather Dynasty. But he had one last resort. Even though his Celestial Thunder Technique wasn’t yet ready to be used, he had no other choice but to risk it all.

Rumbling Thunder began to gather inside the cave. Yu Haenze, whose Spiritual Power was also nearly depleted, summoned a Spiritual Shield. He was confident he would survive—not because he was stronger than Nangong Ye, but because Nangong Ye’s condition was far worse than his to begin with.