"The sixth cavern to the southeast—the one flashing with crimson light."

Zheng Yi’s voice transmission once again echoed in Qi Yun’s ears, pointing him in the right direction.

And this cavern he spoke of was the very trap laid for the Flower Moon Hall Master, Song Kun.

Most of the many caverns on Piaohai Mountain were empty, but they had also become a playground for the numerous Cultivators of the Demon Sect.

It wasn’t uncommon for some to set up traps and ambushes in the empty caverns to harm those who came after them.

The spot Zheng Yi indicated was the most dangerous of them all!

The entire framework of the plan against Flower Moon Hall Master Song Kun gradually took shape in Qi Yun’s mind.

’Jia Li Hall Master wants to drag Song Kun down with him, to make him violate the sect’s rules. The core of the plot is to make this Foundation Establishment Master personally act against me.’

’According to the original plan, Zhou Hao was sent on orders, so Song Kun naturally wouldn’t intervene.’

’But if Zhou Hao fails the mission and can’t capture me...’

’...then having missed this chance, I’ll be like a startled bird and will definitely never leave the Seventh Outer Mansion again.’

’Under those circumstances, Song Kun will have no choice but to act personally.’

’This is Jia Li Hall Master’s entire scheme against Song Kun!’

And the key to this plan, the way to prevent Zhou Hao from capturing him, was the very cavern Zheng Yi had pointed out.

Without the slightest hesitation, the gust of wind that was Qi Yun veered sharply through the forest, heading precisely toward the southeast.

The four small ghosts in hot pursuit shrieked and changed direction as well.

Having learned his lesson from Qi Yun’s swift and decisive obliteration of a ghost earlier, Zhou Hao didn’t dare have the small ghosts try to intercept him directly again.

He was afraid another one of his painstakingly raised ghosts would bite the dust.

A moment later, he arrived at the cavern Zheng Yi had mentioned. Qi Yun stood at the entrance and peered inside.

The swirling crimson glow faintly emanated a trace of Treasure Light.

Deep within the bottomless cavern, the faint phantom of a Jade Pot seemed to flicker in and out of existence.

Even just standing at the entrance, he could sense the extraordinary nature of this Jade Pot.

Behind him, Zhou Hao, seated in his Ghost Palanquin, had already caught up.

After a slight hesitation, Qi Yun shot a subtle glance toward Zheng Yi’s location before resolutely stepping into the cavern.

"Hm?"

Seeing Qi Yun dive into the cavern, Zhou Hao’s brows furrowed as he stepped out of his Ghost Palanquin.

’Fleeing without looking where he’s going?’

He stood with his hands behind his back, staring at the cavern entrance. After a brief moment of hesitation, Zhou Hao went in anyway.

No matter what, the mission his master had given him had to be completed.

Otherwise, even as a Direct Disciple, he would face the harshest punishment!

The moment he entered the cave, Qi Yun cleared his mind of all distractions. His figure moved like a butterfly flitting through flowers, precisely following the Stepping on the Star Array positions Zheng Yi had taught him beforehand. With each step landing on a "life gate," he sped toward the middle of the cavern!

Zhou Hao entered right behind him. Seeing Qi Yun not far ahead, his eyes flashed with intense cold, and the anger from the earlier taunts and mockery surged once more.

"When I catch you, I’ll be sure to torture you thoroughly before delivering you to Master. That should quench some of this hatred in my heart."

Hearing Zhou Hao’s voice, Qi Yun, who was about to move forward, turned around again. He slowly raised his right hand toward the Inner Mansion Disciple and beckoned with his index finger.

"Come and get me!"

"Hmph!"

A vein throbbed on his forehead. Since becoming Song Kun’s disciple, when had Zhou Hao ever suffered such humiliation?

But just as he lifted his foot, preparing to step deeper into the cavern...

The fury on his face slowly vanished. His raised foot froze in mid-air, then was gently lowered. He stared at Qi Yun with his long, cold eyes and chuckled lightly.

"Such a clumsy attempt at goading me. Do you really think I’d fall for it?"

He hadn’t even finished speaking when he saw Qi Yun’s expression suddenly turn bizarre. Qi Yun’s gaze went past him, staring intently at whatever was behind him!

Seeing the look on Qi Yun’s face, Zhou Hao was startled for a moment, then a deep sense of unease surged in his heart.

The next second.

A strange voice sounded in his ear.

"As expected of the Flower Moon Hall Master’s prized disciple. A pity that once you’re here, whether you enter or not is no longer up to you."

The voice had barely faded when a tremendous force slammed into Zhou Hao’s back just as he tried to turn.

With a clear footprint on his back, Zhou Hao lost control and lunged forward, his entire body stepping completely and irrevocably into the cavern’s depths!

BOOM—!!!

It was as if some kind of switch had been instantly triggered.

The crimson Treasure Light that had been swirling gently inside the cave changed dramatically.

A piercing, bloody light shot toward the ceiling, turning the entire cavern into what looked like a Forest of Blood Hell.

At the same time, a strange and grand chanting sound arose from nowhere, pouring into their ears like a Demonic Sound:

"Blood to white cream to form an immortal fetus, septic blood to mud to plant the lotus platform."

"You’re a lucky one, fellow Daoist. Of all the places you could have chosen, you picked my Blood Purifying Lotus Platform."

"Since that’s the case, you’d best enjoy it! HAHAHAHA!"

The triumphant laughter of a successful schemer reached Zhou Hao’s ears, and his already grim face darkened so much he looked ready to grit his teeth to dust.

However, he had no time to worry about that now.

Nine mottled, bluish-red lotus branches burst from the ground. Their stalks twisted like giant snakes, their surfaces covered in vein-like Dao Patterns, and in the blink of an eye, they wrapped around his ankles.

Zhou Hao surged with True Qi, trying to break free, but a piercing pain shot through his ankles.

He looked down to see that thorns on the lotus branches had already pierced his veins. Dark red blood flowed upward along the Dao Patterns on the stalks.

At this moment, the phantom of a Daoist in a green robe appeared in the depths of the cavern, holding a lotus platform petal that was gradually turning vermilion.

As his blood was continuously put through Refinement, the Daoist’s face grew more solemn and majestic. Meanwhile, grayish-white, rigid, stone-like patterns began to spread from Zhou Hao’s feet, as if to turn him into a living statue—a nutrient source for the lotus platform’s growth!

Pushing his True Qi to its limits to resist the corrosion of the Blood Purifying Lotus Platform, Zhou Hao stared daggers at Qi Yun across from him, his thoughts turning to the person who had just kicked him in.

He instantly understood!

"You little bastard! You set me up!"

Facing Zhou Hao’s curses, Qi Yun simply folded his sleeves calmly, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Senior Brother, you must be joking. Weren’t you the one trying to set me up first?"

"You..." Zhou Hao was rendered speechless. His face shifted between green and red, unable to find a single word in rebuttal.

"Since there’s nothing more to say, then I, your Junior Brother, will see you on your way." With a slight bow, Qi Yun formed a Sword Formula, chanted a Spell, and a wisp of sharp, domineering Sword Qi coiled around his fingertips, ready to strike.

Corroded by the Blood Purifying Lotus Platform, Zhou Hao was not only immobilized, but his entire True Qi Cultivation was focused on resisting the encroaching lotus branches at his feet.

Seeing Qi Yun’s sword about to strike and feeling the threat of death, Zhou Hao grit his teeth, and a jadeite ring on his left ring finger instantly shattered.

CRACK!

The crisp sound of the jade ring shattering was exceptionally jarring in the deathly quiet of the cavern!

BOOM—

Within the narrow cavern, a vast, majestic, and illusory Celestial Vault suddenly unfurled above.

In the center of the Celestial Vault, a pair of ancient eyes, filled with endless majesty and destructive power, slowly opened!

Wherever their gaze fell, all things froze, and the very air seemed to turn into heavy blocks of lead!

The next instant.

A deafening, heavenly voice suddenly exploded forth. Zhou Hao cried out in agony, blood pouring from his seven orifices as he collapsed to his knees.

"Useless!"

...