Chapter 35: Demonic Cultivator Conspiracy

Han Ming stepped into the secret chamber, her mind on high alert.

Within the chamber, only two figures awaited her.

"Welcome, welcome." Seated upon the main chair, Sun Lingtong clapped her hands, her tone brimming with enthusiasm.

The main seat was centrally located, flanked by rows of three seats on either side.

To Sun Lingtong's left, in the middle seat of the row, sat an elder. His face was weathered, his expression gloomy. Upon Han Ming's arrival, he cast a scrutinizing gaze upon her.

Han Ming's eyes flickered subtly as she returned the old man's gaze, finding his features vaguely familiar.

After a moment of contemplation, she recalled within her heart: "He's the craftsman from the black market, the one who peddled the Ruyi Binding Cord."

"Please, sit, sit." Sun Lingtong gestured invitingly.

Han Ming took a seat in the right row, choosing the position farthest from the others, and closest to the secret chamber's exit.

"Sun Lingtong, you offered a generous sum to invite me here. What is it you desire of me? Speak plainly." No sooner had Han Ming settled than she posed her question.

Han Ming was a Foundation Establishment stage demonic cultivator, her face alluring yet bearing a tinge of ashen gray. Combined with the chilling aura she constantly exuded, she possessed an eerie and frigid beauty.

Sun Lingtong clapped, praising, "Direct! Excellent, I shall be blunt."

"I intend to deal with Sun Lie, and after much consideration, Han Ming, you are the most suitable partner."

Han Ming let out an "Oh?" and raised a brow. "You seek the Phoenix Soul Blood Fragrance Pill as well?"

A year prior, Sun Lie had refined eighteen Phoenix Soul Blood Fragrance Pills. After delivering them to the Zhou family, he intended to distribute the remainder on the spot.

Sun Lie was known for his generosity and unconstrained nature. Furthermore, he was inebriated at the time, declaring that interested cultivators should compete on the spot, with the victor taking all.

Han Ming happened to be present.

She was an outer disciple of the Soul Devouring Sect, practicing the Nine Revolutions Soul Devouring Art. The Phoenix Soul Blood Fragrance Pill was exceptionally well-suited to her, and of immense value.

She immediately joined the competition, but with so many opponents and the competition so fierce, she was forced to unleash her demonic arts, directly killing one Foundation Establishment cultivator and severely injuring three others.

She thus revealed her demonic cultivator identity.

Naturally, Sun Lie would not publicly present a Phoenix Soul Blood Fragrance Pill to a demonic cultivator.

Han Ming was forced to flee.

Ning Zhuo spoke, his voice raspy and his tone deliberate, "Who does not desire the Phoenix Soul Blood Fragrance Pill?"

Sun Lingtong nodded. "In truth, we desire more."

"Sun Lie is a master alchemist who has resided in Fire Persimmon Immortal City for over a year. The number of those seeking his pills is endless."

"His success rate in alchemy is exceedingly high. With each commission fulfilled, he invariably has several pills left over."

"I have discovered that his pill storage room's shelves are lined with hundreds of bottles of pills!"

Han Ming nodded slightly, her heart stirred.

Her identity had been exposed a year prior. Even now, she had not left Fire Persimmon Immortal City, unwilling to give up her designs on the Phoenix Soul Blood Fragrance Pill.

Over the past year, she had gathered considerable intelligence and probed Sun Lie several times, but all attempts had ended in failure.

Han Ming stated, "Sun Lie is at the peak of Foundation Establishment, with considerable combat prowess."

"Furthermore, he is a master alchemist, enjoying the hospitality of the City Lord's Mansion, and residing in the Violet Yang Abode."

"The Violet Yang Abode is property of the City Lord's Mansion, and the protective array within the compound is interlinked with the Immortal City's grand formation."

"Therefore, the Violet Yang Furnace within the Abode can utilize the boundless subterranean fires of Fire Persimmon Mountain through the grand formation for alchemy."

"Leaving aside the guards within the Violet Yang Abode, even the protective array itself is not something we can quickly breach."

"Once a stalemate ensues, we will face the City Guard forces arriving from all directions."

Sun Lingtong chuckled. "Han Ming, have you forgotten my origins? Behold this!"

With that, Sun Lingtong produced a talisman.

Han Ming's eyes landed upon it, and a glint of delight flashed within them. "A formation-breaking talisman? Excellent!"

"I accept this matter."

"But first, let it be known that I require at least three Phoenix Soul Blood Fragrance Pills!"

Sun Lingtong smiled without a word.

Ning Zhuo snorted coldly. "You are dreaming! Be content with just one."

"If the individuals originally agreed upon had not failed to appear, why would we have added you, an outsider, as a temporary measure?"

Han Ming's face darkened, her killing intent surging. She stared at Ning Zhuo, her eyes narrowed. "The last Foundation Establishment cultivator who treated me in such a manner perished a year ago. Additionally, there were three others who were severely injured."

Ning Zhuo chuckled coldly. "Do you think this old one is comparable to those wastes?"

As he spoke, his hair solidified, forming thick, long black whips, like cobras raising their heads. From beneath his cloak, mechanical birds poked out their heads, a dozen pairs of electrically charged bird eyes staring at Han Ming, appraising her from head to toe.

Han Ming's heart tightened.

Fire Persimmon Immortal City was covered by a grand formation, and cultivators like her, whose primary combat method relied on spells, were at a considerable disadvantage.

Considering the suppression of the grand formation, body cultivators, corpse cultivators, beast tamers, and mechanical cultivators had the advantage.

Han Ming could not discern Ning Zhuo's true capabilities, but she knew this: This man earned a great deal of wealth selling the Ruyi Binding Cord. To accumulate such riches and survive until now, he was undoubtedly no simple character.

Sun Lingtong clapped her hands, breaking the tense atmosphere. "Alright, alright."

"We are here to cooperate, not to engage in a life-and-death struggle."

"Han Ming, you hail from a great demonic sect and possess formidable strength. But I assure you, the Drooping Hair Guest is by no means weaker than you."

Han Ming snorted coldly, suppressing her killing intent.

Ning Zhuo also dispersed the black whips, and his cloak settled, concealing the restless Thunder Silence Bird flock.

Sun Lingtong seized the opportunity, stating, "This time, there will only be the three of us assaulting the Violet Yang Abode. We are all guaranteed at least one Phoenix Soul Blood Fragrance Pill."

"The actual situation is difficult to predict. Regardless of the number, they will be divided according to our specific contributions during the operation."

"What do you two think?"

Silence fell within the secret chamber.

Ning Zhuo remained silent.

Han Ming was deep in thought.

She did not trust Ning Zhuo, but she did trust Sun Lingtong. Sun Lingtong hailed from the Non-Emptiness Sect, which, like the Soul Devouring Sect, was a great sect. Both sides had equal status.

Furthermore, Sun Lingtong had managed the Fire Persimmon Immortal City black market for so many years, and her reputation was exceedingly high.

"He is the local overlord here. Since he desires to assault the Violet Yang Abode, he must have confidence in success."

"If I miss this opportunity, how long will I have to wait, relying solely on my own strength?"

Thinking this, Han Ming nodded slightly, her tone frigid. "I agree."

Sun Lingtong turned to Ning Zhuo.

Only then did Ning Zhuo nod. "Very well, let us sign a contract."

Violet Yang Abode.

The Alchemy Chamber.

Sun Lie and Meng Chong stood before the Violet Yang Furnace.

The alchemy furnace stood over two men tall, occupying almost half the space of the alchemy chamber. The crimson bronze body emanated a roaring heat.

Meng Chong gazed at the Violet Yang Furnace, still reeling from what he had just heard. "Senior Sun, do you intend to place me inside the furnace, roasting me as an ingredient?"

Sun Lie picked up his gourd, took a swig of strong liquor, and his cheeks flushed slightly. "Hahaha, that is precisely the intention!"

Meng Chong frowned, puzzled. "Using a human to concoct pills, is that not the alchemy method of demonic cultivators?"

Sun Lie rolled his eyes. "What demonic cultivator method?"

"In the hundred arts of cultivation, practicality is paramount. Whichever method is effective, one should use. The righteous and demonic paths are both cultivation and the pursuit of truth. What essential difference exists between them?"