Longevity by Grinding Skills

Chapter 459: Chapter 459: The Black Hand

A vein bulged on Chenmu Arhat’s forehead as he slammed his Vajra Pestle heavily into the ground. "This Demon is such a coward!"

Dragon-Subduing Arhat’s brow twitched at the words, but he said nothing more.

If the Primordial Demon Sect was truly filled with cowards as Chenmu Arhat claimed, how could they have managed to turn the entire Northern Continent into an impenetrable fortress?

Over the years, the Primordial Demon Sect had advanced methodically, not only seizing firm control of the Northern Continent but also forging it into an iron bastion. During the last great calamity, even the combined forces of the Wansheng Sword Sect and the Puchen Pure Land had failed to make a dent.

Chenmu Arhat’s outburst, on the contrary, only proved that the disciples of the Primordial Demon Sect were anything but afraid of battle.

And Xu Yunfan was an anomaly even among the Primordial Demon Sect.

According to the intelligence gathered recently, not only was he meticulous and cunning, but he also possessed the rare quality of knowing how to bide his time and conceal his strength.

He had been able to lie low on Hundred Desires Peak for years, waiting for the right moment, yet he could also read the situation and reveal his edge at the critical juncture.

He had been sent to guard Cold Crow Pass precisely because of his extraordinary patience and composure.

Furthermore, Dragon-Subduing Arhat was extremely wary of Xu Yunfan’s Array Dao Mastery, which had allowed him to modify the Profound Nether Seven Evils Formation in an instant. The man had not only mastered the True Martial Demon Suppressing Scripture but was also highly accomplished in the Array Dao.

This naturally made him a very difficult opponent to handle.

Cihang Arhat’s white brows knitted together. "It seems the Primordial Demon Sect sent him to guard Cold Crow Pass precisely for his crafty nature."

Dragon-Subduing Arhat sat cross-legged, regulating his breathing. The dragon tattoo on his neck pulsed with a faint light. "His Array Dao Mastery is far beyond our expectations. To think he could alter the Profound Nether Seven Evils Formation in a single moment."

A flicker of apprehension crossed his eyes. "What’s more troublesome is that True Martial Sword..."

"Senior Brother, do not worry."

Chenmu Arhat suddenly let out a savage grin. "Since he was sent to the border, he’ll have to leave the pass eventually. When that time comes, the three of us Arhats will act together..."

Cihang Arhat sighed and pressed his palms together. "Amitabha Buddha. To think the Demon Dao’s Destiny has been bolstered by such a monster. I fear the day of world peace has been pushed back yet again."

The figures of the three men gradually faded into the mountain mist. Only Dragon-Subduing Arhat’s final whisper drifted on the wind: "Since the True Martial Sword has appeared... this war of Daos must be fought, one way or another..."

-----------------

"Daoist Master, are you truly not going to take a look?"

Hearing Zhou Lu’s respectful question, Xu Yunfan answered coolly without even raising his eyelids, "You can go by yourselves."

Seeing Xu Yunfan’s indifferent expression, Zhou Lu grew anxious but didn’t dare show it. He could only force a smile and say, "Daoist Master, although the Celestial Pill Elder’s Medicine Garden has been abandoned for many years, it was still left behind by a Foundation Establishment Daoist Master. Who knows, it might still contain rare Spiritual Medicines or even an Alchemy Dao legacy. If you would be willing to make the trip personally, the rest of us might be able to benefit as well..."

Xu Yunfan lifted his eyelids slightly, his gaze sweeping over him with a half-smile. "Oh? You’re quite well-informed," he said faintly.

He wasn’t surprised. Zhou Lu had been at Cold Crow Pass for decades; he and his men must have scouted the surrounding terrain completely.

As for this so-called Celestial Pill Elder.

To be honest, given the temperament of the Foundation Establishment Daoist Masters from the Primordial Sect, even though there were many other subordinate sects on the Northern Continent, a Daoist Master Cave Mansion like this would have definitely attracted some Foundation Establishment True Cultivators looking to scavenge.

It would never be his turn.

A chill went down Zhou Lu’s spine. He quickly bowed his head and said, "I dare not hide it from you, Daoist Master. I heard about this a few days ago from a few Loose Cultivators. They detected fluctuations from a restrictive spell around the outer edge of the Medicine Garden but didn’t dare go deeper. We thought it over, and without a Foundation Establishment Daoist Master to oversee things, rushing in would likely be a death sentence..."

Xu Yunfan’s fingertips tapped lightly on the desk as he sneered inwardly.

’The Celestial Pill Elder’s Medicine Garden? Heh, what a coincidence.’

Having studied the Array Dao and the Artifact Refining Dao for many years, he naturally understood the value of an Alchemy Dao legacy.

’With the help of the Attribute Panel, I might even be able to quickly master the path of the Alchemy Dao.’

’But Dragon-Subduing Arhat is lying in wait right outside Cold Crow Pass. If I leave the pass rashly, I’ll certainly be ambushed.’

’This old fellow, Zhou Lu, has always been cautious. Why would he suddenly bring this up?’

Xu Yunfan’s gaze turned cold as a guess formed in his mind.

’I’m afraid someone is secretly manipulating karma to influence his mind, trying to lure me out of the pass.’

He didn’t say it out loud, but given Zhou Lu’s cultivation and status, it was impossible for him to have proactively suggested exploring the remains of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

Unless...

There was another Foundation Establishment Daoist Master pulling the strings from behind. It was even possible that someone from within the Primordial Demon Sect wanted to borrow a knife to kill a man.

’Borrowing a knife to kill a man? Or is this just a probe?’

His gaze grew colder.

The Primordial Demon Sect was not a monolith. The upper echelons of the sect were rife with factions, and since the appearance of his True Martial Sword, he had become a target for them all.

Dragon-Subduing Arhat was now suddenly blocking their gate. The timing was too coincidental; someone must have leaked his location.

’It seems it’s not just the Buddhist Sect that has its eyes on me...’

Ever since he revealed his Dao Foundation, quite a few people within the sect had coveted his Divine Martial Dao Foundation.

The True Monarchs, of course, wouldn’t be interested, but those Foundation Establishment Daoist Masters with no future prospects had certainly started scheming. After all, this was the one and only Golden Nature in the Divine Martial Realm.

Naturally, plenty of people would be drawn by the scent.

Although they feared the Primordial Demon Sect’s rules and didn’t dare to rob him outright, they would still plot in the shadows to lure him out of the pass and use the Buddhist Sect to eliminate him.

Such a scheme was right in line with the style of those animals in the Primordial Demon Sect.

This was all standard procedure.

’Trying to make me the scapegoat?’

On any other day, a mere Foundation Establishment Medicine Garden might be worth exploring. But with Dragon-Subduing Arhat having shown himself and lying in wait, leaving the pass rashly would be like walking straight into a trap.

Seeing Xu Yunfan remain silent, Zhou Lu probed, "If the Daoist Master is unwilling to go personally, perhaps you could bestow a few protective Talismans upon us? We can explore on our own, and seventy percent of whatever we find will be yours..."

Xu Yunfan scoffed. "You really know how to calculate your own interests."

Zhou Lu gave an embarrassed laugh and didn’t dare to reply.

Xu Yunfan’s finger stopped tapping, his tone indifferent. "Do not mention this matter again. The situation outside Cold Crow Pass is unclear, and I will not leave the pass lightly. As for that Celestial Pill Medicine Garden..."

His gaze was profound. "If there is truly an opportunity, it won’t be too late to explore it after the situation has stabilized."

Zhou Lu was disappointed but didn’t dare say more. He could only reply respectfully, "Yes. The Daoist Master is wise."

After Zhou Lu withdrew, the coldness in Xu Yunfan’s eyes intensified.

He did not act to clear Zhou Lu’s Spirit Platform, merely watching impassively as the man’s back receded from view.

’Someone’s getting antsy, just as I thought...’

He sneered inwardly.

’Trying to lure me out of the pass? Heh, let’s just see who’s pulling the strings of karma from behind the scenes.’

Just as Zhou Lu stepped out of Xu Yunfan’s cave mansion, his Spirit Platform suddenly felt dazed, and he involuntarily stumbled.

He subconsciously steadied himself against the stone wall, a fine sweat beading on his forehead. The memory of his nearly reckless words and actions moments ago suddenly surfaced in his mind.

’How could I have been so rash?’

His heart pounded as he belatedly realized something was wrong.

As an old cultivator who had struggled and survived in Cold Crow Pass for decades, he had always been an expert at reading situations.

The Celestial Pill Medicine Garden was tempting, but with his cautious nature, current status, and cultivation, he should have sent people to investigate first and then planned his next move slowly.

Yet just now, as if possessed, he had directly encouraged a Foundation Establishment Daoist Master to walk into danger, and even proposed an outrageous condition like a "seventy percent share of the profits"...

’Something’s not right!’

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