Chapter 408: The Deceptive Trap

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The night passed uneventfully.

The next day, as dawn barely broke, the cultivators appeared silently above the "evil cultivators' lair."

"Is this the place?" Fairy Ziling asked, scrutinizing the dark island below several times with a hint of doubt.

The island was truly tiny, barely a few miles in circumference. It was more akin to a massive reef than an actual island.

"That's right," Madam Fan whispered from beside her. "Not only did the Golden Cicada Bees track them here, but two elders also came to confirm it. The people going in and out are indeed those evil cultivators."

Hearing this, the purple-clad woman nodded silently, her doubts vanishing.

However, this place was clearly just a temporary hideout for them.

Not only was the island pitifully small, but a ridiculously simple illusion array was also set up above it, incapable of stopping anyone.

"Kill them all!"

With Fairy Ziling's icy command, Old Monster Chihuo's strange laugh echoed from within the dark clouds. After a few thunderous streaks of lightning and fire struck down, the array was easily swept away. Then, the cultivators wasted no time, charging directly downwards.

The commotion of the shattered array clearly alarmed those on the island.

Following several sharp whistles, nearly forty to fifty streaks of colorful light rose from the island. A large group of cultivators met them, led by three Core Formation stage cultivators. Upon seeing the cultivators from the Wonderful Sound Sect, they were momentarily stunned.

But before they could react, Madam Fan's command to "attack" had already escaped her lips. She released a silver wheel magical artifact, launching the first assault.

Seeing this, the other cultivators also unleashed their attacks without hesitation.

Immediately, streaks of colorful light crisscrossed the sky. Piercing screams erupted.

Since Han Li was interested in the Heavenly Thunder Bamboo, he naturally felt obliged to act. He and Qu Hun casually released their magical treasures, encircling five or six Foundation Establishment stage cultivators, intending to wipe them out in one fell swoop.

With Han Li and Qu Hun's Core Formation stage cultivation, dealing with a few Foundation Establishment cultivators should have been a simple matter. However, something surprising occurred.

Upon realizing that Han Li and Qu Hun were Core Formation cultivators, these four or five Foundation Establishment cultivators' expressions changed dramatically. They ripped through their clothes, their bodies swelling rapidly, transforming into the very Fiendish Demons that Han Li was all too familiar with. Han Li was so shocked his eyes almost popped out.

Although the transformed individuals gained a significant boost in speed and cultivation, Han Li was no longer the Foundation Establishment cultivator he once was. After holding out for a little longer, these few were reduced to dust by Han Li and Qu Hun's Verdant Radiance Sword and Primal Chaos Bowl.

Only then did Han Li realize that these people's transformations seemed different from the Fiendish Demons of the Black Fiend Sect. Not only could they transform successfully without chanting spells or forming cocoons, but they also didn't have the solidified Blood Coagulation Five Elements Pills within their bodies.

This left Han Li utterly perplexed, making him even more suspicious. He wondered what connection these bandits had with the Black Fiend Sect.

However, he immediately refocused his mind, concentrating on looking in other directions.

This was no time to ponder questions; otherwise, being ambushed by someone taking advantage of the situation would be an extreme injustice.

However, the scene before him only deepened the doubts in Han Li's mind.

He saw that most of the Foundation Establishment stage evil cultivators had utilized the Fiendish Demon Transformation technique. They formed small groups, fighting desperately with extreme ferocity!

The three highest-cultivation Core Formation cultivators among them had long since been dragged into the black clouds by Old Monster Chihuo's spells, trapped within and unable to escape.

From the continuous rumbling within the dark clouds, it seemed they were struggling to hold on.

As a result, most of the opponent's Foundation Establishment cultivators were quickly wiped out under the fierce assault of several Core Formation cultivators and over a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators. Yet, the remaining ones continued to fight fearlessly, completely undaunted by death.

Their ferocious appearance astonished even the ruthless cultivators of the Wonderful Sound Sect, who secretly wondered about them.

But at that moment, a furious, sharp howl erupted from below, shaking the Wonderful Sound Sect cultivators' ears with a buzzing sound and causing everyone's expression to change.

"Why are you still standing there? Quickly eliminate them! The troublesome ones are coming!" Old Monster Chihuo's clanging words came from the black clouds. Only then did the cultivators realize, hastily activating their magical treasures and artifacts and resuming their fierce assault.

However, upon hearing the howl, the cultivators on the island were greatly invigorated. Their resistance became even more tenacious, making it temporarily impossible to expand their advantage.

Meanwhile, several greyish-white streaks of light shot forth from the island, reaching the sky in an instant.

Seeing this, the cultivators halted their attacks, staring at the five newly arrived Core Formation opponents as if facing a formidable enemy.

The leading middle-aged man's face was ashen. Although his features were well-defined, his face was now filled with murderous intent.

Furthermore, judging by the spiritual energy fluctuations from his body, his cultivation far surpassed the other four, seemingly at the late Core Formation stage. The other four were merely ordinary early Core Formation cultivators, but their eyes also blazed with fury as they glared at the cultivators of the Wonderful Sound Sect.

"Who are you people, daring to slaughter our Hidden Fiend Gate's disciples? I demand you pay for this blood debt with your own blood!" the middle-aged man roared, his expression extremely severe after briefly glancing at the few remaining individuals on the field.

Hearing this, everyone else was stunned!

How could this bandit show no awareness of being found out, and instead speak with such self-righteousness?

Some of the more astute individuals among them couldn't help but hesitate, looking towards Fairy Ziling and Madam Fan, who led this expedition.

A hint of doubt also surfaced in Fairy Ziling's clear, beautiful eyes. Just as she was about to speak, someone shouted and charged forward.

"Enough nonsense! You all deserve to die!"

It was Elder Zhao, who had been closely following Madam Fan, who suddenly flew out of the crowd. With a wave of his hand, he unleashed a ten-foot-long streak of fire that shot directly towards the opposing group.

The middle-aged cultivator's face twisted in fury upon seeing this. With a whoosh, ten-odd feet of greyish-white demonic energy erupted from his body. This greyish-white energy rapidly churned, instantly transforming into a massive, ghostly white skeletal face.

As soon as the ghostly face appeared, it immediately opened its huge mouth and charged forward ferociously.

The streak of fire released by Elder Zhao plunged directly into the ghostly face's massive maw, disappearing in a flash.

Immediately after, the ghostly face continued its advance without hesitation, charging directly towards Elder Zhao himself.

Elder Zhao immediately showed a look of panic.

He flew back into the crowd even faster than he had left, his figure flickering several times, shouting loudly as he did so:

"Everyone, attack together! This guy is a late Core Formation cultivator; none of us can defeat him alone!"

Hearing these overtly instigating words, two Core Formation cultivators and some Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Wonderful Sound Sect immediately unleashed their magical artifacts and treasures to attack the ghostly head.

However, more people watched on with suspicious expressions, observing coldly.

The scene had become somewhat chaotic.

Seeing this, Han Li's face twitched slightly. Without moving his limbs, he and Qu Hun slowly slid backward.

Something was amiss.

Although he didn't know what would happen, Han Li had already decided to withdraw immediately if danger arose.

"Hold your hands! Something is fishy here!" The purple-clad woman also sensed that something was wrong and coldly rebuked the cultivators from the Wonderful Sound Sect.

However, the attacking cultivators from the Wonderful Sound Sect remained completely unfazed, stubbornly continuing their fierce assault on the ghostly head, as if oblivious to everything.

Seeing this, Han Li and the others who hadn't moved had a slight change in expression, their hearts sinking.

The middle-aged cultivator opposite them was not foolish either; he also perceived the strangeness of the situation.

After a brief stun, he resolutely beckoned to the ghostly head. The ghostly head let out a strange shriek, opened its mouth, and sprayed out countless greyish-white orbs of light, instantly knocking all the magical artifacts and treasures askew. Seizing the opportunity, it flew back in front of the cultivator.

The attacking cultivators were startled, and for a moment, no one dared to charge out of the crowd alone to attack the opponent.

"Who can tell me what exactly is going on?" Seizing this opportunity, Fairy Ziling finally flew out of the crowd, standing between the two sides and asking coldly.

"What's going on? You've killed so many of our Hidden Fiend Gate members for no reason, and you dare ask me?" the middle-aged man said coldly, his eyes having inexplicably turned a strange jade green.

"You robbed our Wonderful Sound Sect's goods and killed our Sect Master, didn't you?" the purple-clad woman asked slowly, her eyes fixed on his, devoid of emotion.

"Nonsense!" the middle-aged man retorted angrily. "Although our Hidden Fiend Gate rarely interacts with external cultivators, how could we do something so despicable?"

Hearing this, the purple-clad woman fell silent, but an icy glint appeared in her beautiful eyes.

The others, hearing these words, also realized something and their expressions varied.

"It seems we've both fallen into someone's trap!" Madam Fan suddenly emerged from among the cultivators and said slowly.

"Hmph, *you* fell into a trap, not us!" the middle-aged man said grimly, his face as dark as stagnant water.

All the disciples he had painstakingly cultivated for so many years were almost wiped out in a single day here. How could he not utterly despise the people before him?

If it weren't for the fact that the opposing side had too many Core Formation cultivators and he wasn't confident in dealing with the strange cultivator in the black clouds, he would have risked severe injury to himself to heavily wound these people here, even if he knew they were caught in someone else's trap.

The purple-clad woman's eyes remained extremely cold after hearing this, while Madam Fan could only offer a bitter smile.

"Elder Zhao, Elder Fu, shouldn't the two of you give us an explanation?" Fairy Ziling slowly turned her head, gazing calmly at the two individuals in the crowd.