Chapter 899: Stone Platform

That incident was solely spearheaded by Martial Uncle Wu. He himself, due to his forcible cultivation of this technique, was corrupted by malevolent qi, his temperament changing drastically. He nearly caused a major catastrophe, almost ruining the sect's foundation. The turmoil of that day continues to plague us even now. My godfather showed the utmost benevolence by not holding him accountable and allowing Martial Uncle Wu to take you away.

Head Elder Lu did not agree with the burly man's words.

The burly man abruptly waved his hand, interrupting Head Elder Lu, and scoffed, "Master has long passed away, so of course, you can say whatever you want! I, Gao, am not here to debate right and wrong with you. After leaving the Landou Sect, several senior brothers endured all sorts of torment. According to Master's last words, we finally devised a method that might alleviate our suffering, but it requires that stone platform. Junior Brother Lu, in consideration of our past camaraderie as fellow disciples, hand this item over to me, and past grievances will be wiped clean!"

Head Elder Lu felt surprised and flatly refused. "This item is of great importance and cannot be moved out of Dongming Island. As for resolving the inherent flaws of the 'Thunder Controlling Art,' that is even more nonsense. This item was simply discovered alongside the 'Thunder Controlling Art' and only possesses some auxiliary functions. Martial Uncle Wu and Master have already studied it countless times. Senior Brother Gao, do you think I don't understand this secret art?"

The burly man snorted, "If you don't believe me, why not let me try it in the Thunder Cavern? Wouldn't that make it clear?"

Head Elder Lu's brow furrowed slightly, and doubt arose in his heart. Looking at the man's expression, could he truly have comprehended something? However, back then, two Nascent Soul Grandmasters had jointly studied it for years, yet gained nothing in the end.

At this moment, Old Daoist Huayang, whose gaze had been fixed on the three of them, a hint of suspicion flashed in his eyes, but he was somewhat uncertain. After thinking for a moment, he sent a voice transmission to Head Elder Lu.

"Junior Brother Lu, if that's the case, let them hand over the method first. It won't be too late to discuss after verifying its authenticity."

Head Elder Lu nodded slightly and said, "If the hidden dangers of the 'Thunder Controlling Art' can be resolved, it would be good for all of us. Senior Brother Gao, please let me examine the method first. As long as it's effective, I, Lu, am not an unreasonable person."

Hearing this, the young man surnamed Fang, standing at the back, raised his head, his eyes flickering.

The burly man pretended to ponder, then took out a jade slip and extended his hand to hand it to Head Elder Lu, saying, "Then please, Junior Brother Lu, take a look!"

As he said this, a flash of bloody light suddenly gleamed in the burly man's pupils.

Old Daoist Huayang's expression changed drastically, and he roared angrily, "He's not Junior Brother Gao! Beware of a trick!"

At the same time, his whisk shot out rapidly, transforming into countless fine threads filling the air, and directly charging towards the burly man.

But his actions were still a step too late. The burly man's lips curled into a strange smile, his expression suddenly froze, and a grotesque sound emitted from his throat, not sounding human.

'Bang!'

The burly man's body suddenly exploded.

A cloud of blood mist burst forth with a roar, filling the entire bamboo pavilion. The burly man's body was utterly destroyed. This blood mist, gathered from his entire essence blood, coalesced as if alive. Expanding and contracting, it surged out a slender blood python, opening its gaping, blood-red mouth amidst chilling screeches, and fiercely bit towards Head Elder Lu, who was closest.

Head Elder Lu was, after all, a late-stage peak expert, and Old Daoist Huayang's warning was timely. Although the sudden change was right in front of him, he still remained calm in the face of danger.

He waved his palm; True Essence surged like a tide, forming a defensive light barrier. But with a surge from the blood mist, the light barrier directly disintegrated, and the blood python was already upon him.

Head Elder Lu's expression changed slightly. Blue light flickered at his dantian, then a dragon's eye-sized orb shot out rapidly, which was his life-bound magical artifact.

With a thought, he activated the artifact, and vast water elemental power, like giant waves, fiercely slammed towards the blood python. At the same time, Old Daoist Huayang's whisk also arrived, its white threads like silver needles, piercing through the blood python. The danger seemed to have been averted.

However, the others did not possess Head Elder Lu's strength. At the same time the burly man's body was detonated by the Blood Corpse Worm, the cultivator surnamed Hong also exploded into pieces, his entire essence blood devoured by the Blood Corpse Worm, transforming into another blood python.

The Blood Corpse Worm was originally a third-transformation spirit insect. For a period after devouring the entire essence blood of a Core Formation cultivator, its power would skyrocket to the limit the Blood Corpse Worm could control, until the essence blood power was completely exhausted. It was extremely terrifying. Otherwise, the young man surnamed Fang wouldn't have dared to venture alone with two corpse puppets into such a dangerous place, facing so many powerful enemies.

Under the deliberate guidance of the young man surnamed Fang, the cultivator surnamed Hong's position was very close to two early-stage Core Formation cultivators from the Landou Sect. Those two could never have imagined that their former fellow senior brother would ruthlessly attack them, leaving them almost defenseless. The corpse puppets exploded. Before the two could react, they were enveloped by the blood mist. Two screams rang out consecutively from within the blood mist, followed by a figure stumbling out, looking extremely disheveled. The skin on his face had been corroded by the blood mist, rendering him unrecognizable. Fortunately, this person was a Core Formation cultivator, who quickly activated his spiritual power and protective artifact, finally escaping this calamity. Unexpectedly, the other voice quickly disappeared. Subsequently, another loud bang came from within the blood mist; the blood mist grew denser, giving birth to an even larger blood python, extremely hideous, and pounced on the person who had escaped. The person, filled with horror, turned to flee. Out of the corner of his eye, he glimpsed a blood sword piercing through his back at an astonishing speed. The person died on the spot, his body enveloped by the blood mist, and his essence blood completely devoured by the Blood Corpse Worm.

Looking at the other side, the young man surnamed Fang and that blood python were working together. He had already revealed his true cultivation; though not as strong as Head Elder Lu, he was not far behind. This person wore a strange insect armor, and together with the blood python, forced Head Elder Lu to retreat repeatedly and, taking on three opponents, he blocked Old Daoist Huayang and another cultivator. This resulted in the three of them only being able to watch helplessly as two junior brothers died tragically at the hands of the Blood Corpse Worms.

Of course, this was because the young man surnamed Fang had prepared long in advance, while Head Elder Lu and the others had to respond hastily. This suppression was certainly not sustainable for long; however, the Blood Corpse Worms, having already devoured the essence blood of three Core Formation cultivators, their power surged again and they moved to reinforce.

While relentlessly attacking the Landou Sect cultivators, the young man surnamed Fang silently chanted a certain incantation. The blood mist in the bamboo pavilion solidified, refusing to disperse, and the blood pythons also merged into the blood mist, like an exceptionally strong barrier, trapping Head Elder Lu and the others inside. The young man surnamed Fang had plotted for a long time; his attack was swift and powerful like thunder.

Other cultivators on the bamboo platform outside had been discussing the Landou Sect for a while, to no clear conclusion. Some cultivators left first to check on their disciples, but most remained. When they heard the commotion, the crowd hadn't yet figured out what was happening, only to see the bamboo pavilion had already transformed into a sea of blood, and the pungent smell of blood was nauseating. Immediately after, a loud shout, whose origin was unknown, came out: "Lu, you dare defy even the Grandmaster's orders? Are you trying to betray the sect!"

This accusation made everyone who was about to rush into the bamboo pavilion to rescue people stop in their tracks, filled with shock and uncertainty. The Landou Sect had only two Grandmasters. Sect Leader Lu was trapped in the Demonic Sea and could not return. The one remaining at the mountain gate was Grandmaster Wu. Could it be that their previous suspicions had come true?