Translator: CinderTL
Cui Xinyi glanced sideways at Song Wen, whose smile remained unchanged.
Though the smile appeared perfectly calm, Cui Xinyi felt an inexplicable discomfort, causing her brow to furrow involuntarily.
Noticing his granddaughter's unease, Cui Gu asked with concern, "Xinyi, what's wrong?"
Cui Xinyi withdrew her gaze from Song Wen and shook her head. "Nothing."
Assuming she was unsettled by the battle between the two Nascent Soul cultivators and the Demon Corpse, Cui Gu didn't press further.
He turned to Song Wen and said, "Fellow Daoist Gou Jun, there's no need to worry. Our Ancestor has made thorough preparations to deal with this Octopus Demon Corpse. Everything is under control."
Song Wen replied with a radiant smile, "With Senior Cui and the Demon Sovereign working together, subduing a mere Demon Corpse will be effortless. My earlier doubts were unfounded."
As if to confirm Cui Gu's words, the battle in the valley took a new turn.
To restrain the Octopus Demon and lure out its remaining tentacles, Cui Xuanjing continuously hurled fresh blood and flesh, including large quantities of Second and Third-Tier demon beast meat—the Demon Corpse's favorite blood food.
These offerings not only attracted the Octopus Demon but also drew in a swarm of other Demon Corpses.
Cui Xuanjing and Ye Hua ceased clearing away the Demon Corpses, allowing them to scavenge the blood food.
The Octopus Demon, however, refused to let such a delicacy fall into the mouths of other Demon Corpses. Its three remaining tentacles finally emerged, but instead of attacking Cui Xuanjing and Ye Hua, they swept toward the other Demon Corpses.
"Ye Hua, now!" Cui Xuanjing roared.
Ye Hua needed no prompting. An Array Disk had already materialized before him. His hands moved swiftly, forming seals as the disk pulsed with waves of dark light.
"Activate!" Ye Hua hissed.
The dark light from the Array Disk surged violently, transforming into a towering pillar of black energy that shot skyward. Within the pillar, countless intricate runes flickered like stars.
The nine Formation Flags concealed within the valley seemed to awaken, rapidly expanding to colossal proportions. The pitch-black flags danced in the seawater, unleashing torrents of Corpse Qi.
The Corpse Qi converged at the heart of the Formation, coalescing into a massive, rotating black rune. As the rune spun relentlessly, it drew upon the surrounding Corpse Qi, forging eight obsidian chains that snaked toward the Octopus Demon's eight tentacles, ready to bind it.
Sensing the imminent danger, the Octopus Demon swiftly retracted its tentacles, desperately trying to evade the chains.
With lightning speed, eight jet-black chains shot out and instantly ensnared the Octopus Demon's tentacles.
Hiss!
A bizarre hissing sound echoed from the depths of the valley.
The Octopus Demon's eight tentacles writhed violently, churning the seawater into a turbulent maelstrom.
Ye Hua's hands moved ceaselessly, forming magic seals, one after another, which he channeled into the Array Disk.
With each seal, the black rune on the disk spun faster, tightening the chains and gradually dragging the tentacles beneath it.
The rune loomed like a towering mountain, its immense weight crushing the tentacles and rendering them immobile despite their frantic struggles.
"Fellow Daoist Ye Hua, your Earthly Fiend Demon-Locking Formation is truly extraordinary!" Cui Xuanjing exclaimed, his face beaming with delight. "It subdued this Demon Corpse with such ease!"
"I merely capitalized on the terrain's advantages," Ye Hua replied. "Without the Corpse Qi from this valley, the formation would never have achieved such power."
"If not for the Corpse Qi, the Octopus Demon wouldn't have been so tenacious either," Cui Xuanjing countered before adding, "Fellow Daoist Ye Hua, I must trouble you to finish trapping this Demon. Don't let it escape, and above all, do not sever its tentacles. If a tentacle is cut, the Demon will regain its freedom and wreak havoc once more."
"Rest assured, Fellow Daoist," Ye Hua said. "With me here, this demon has no chance of escaping. You should enter the valley as soon as possible, and don't forget your promise of the Corpse Fiend Essence."
"Naturally," Cui Xuanjing replied with a broad smile.
By this time, Song Wen and the others, seeing the Octopus Demon subdued and no longer a threat, had gathered around.
Cui Xuanjing pointed to Cui Xinyi and said, "Fellow Daoist Ye Hua, though my clanswoman's strength is lacking, she's quite resourceful. I'll leave her here to assist you."
Ye Hua glanced at Cui Xinyi's delicate features and nodded impassively.
His gaze then swept over Song Wen and Meng Lengyu before settling on Song Wen. "Gou Jun, you will accompany the Cui Clan into the valley."
Song Wen's expression stiffened slightly, but before he could respond, Cui Xuanjing interjected, "Fellow Daoist Ye Hua, wouldn't it be better not to trouble Junior Gou Jun?"
"Fellow Daoist Cui," Ye Hua countered, "the existence of the Corpse Fiend Essence in this valley rests solely on your word. No one can confirm its existence. Without someone accompanying you, I cannot rest easy. I must trouble you to watch over Gou Jun during your journey."
"It seems the Demon Sovereign doesn't trust me," Cui Xuanjing remarked. "That's fine. With Junior Gou Jun present, we'll have a witness."
Ye Hua turned to Song Wen and said, "Gou Jun, Hall Master Meng is highly skilled in Formation arts. If the Formation changes while we're inside, she can assist me here. You have nothing to fear. Once we enter the valley, just stay close to Fellow Daoist Cui, and he will ensure your safety."
Whether Ye Hua was concerned about Song Wen's diligence or genuinely worried about his well-being, he meticulously explained his reasons for sending Song Wen into the valley.
Hesitation clouded Song Wen's face. After a long pause, he reluctantly agreed. "This humble servant obeys the Demon Sovereign's command!"
Song Wen understood that Cui Xuanjing and Ye Hua distrusted each other. However, given the looming threat from the Demon Race, neither dared to sever ties. Thus, each side left a representative with the other as a check, preventing any covert maneuvers.
Cui Xinyi, with her Early Stage Golden Core cultivation, was the weakest of the ten Golden Core cultivators from the Cui Clan on this expedition. However, in Ye Hua's eyes, the difference between Early Stage and Peak Golden Core cultivation was negligible. Moreover, Cui Xinyi's youth and beauty might even allow her to employ a "honey trap" if needed. Hence, Cui Xuanjing chose to leave her by Ye Hua's side.
As for Ye Hua's decision to send Song Wen into the valley with Cui Xuanjing, it stemmed from Song Wen's consistent obedience since joining the sect. Furthermore, Song Wen had risked his life to save Ye Hua during their encounter with the Corpse Demon. This led Ye Hua to believe that the recently inducted "Gou Jun" would be far easier to manipulate than the cunning Hall Master Meng Lengyu.
"Into the valley," Cui Xuanjing commanded, bypassing the Formation and heading into the mountain pass.
The nine Cui Clan Golden Core cultivators and Song Wen hastily followed.
They soon reached the valley's edge and descended into the Corpse Qi-laden depths. Cui Xuanjing summoned his late Fourth-Tier Ghost Emperor to lead the way once more.
At his deliberate reminder, everyone suppressed their Spiritual Power and auras, proceeding with extreme caution. They encountered several Demon Corpses along the way, but Cui Xuanjing effortlessly dispatched them.
After safely traversing two to three hundred li, they approached the valley's central region. Suddenly, a small mountain loomed before them. At its base yawned a cavernous entrance, thirty meters tall, its depths shrouded in an unfathomable darkness that seemed to lead into an endless abyss.
Reaching the cave mouth, Cui Xuanjing instructed Cui Gu, "You will remain outside. Alert us immediately if anything unusual occurs."
"As you command, Ancestor," Cui Gu replied respectfully.
Cui Xuanjing nodded slightly and turned to Song Wen. "Fellow Daoist Gou Jun, the cave's interior is shrouded in mystery and likely harbors hidden dangers. Securing the Corpse Fiend Essence is the Cui Clan's affair. As you are not one of us, I hesitate to involve you in such peril. I suggest you stay here with Cui Gu. If any Demon Corpses appear that you two cannot handle, retreat without hesitation."
(End of the Chapter)
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