Chapter 724: Infiltrating Cuiyun Sect

The Cuiyun Sect has a legacy of over three hundred years and boasts four Core Formation cultivators. The most powerful among them is Li Hongxiu, who has reached the sixth layer of Core Formation.

The Cuiyun Sect is an affiliated force of the Whale Gate Sect. When the Whale Gate Sect mobilized against the Zhang family, they deployed a significant number of cultivators from the Cuiyun Sect, all of whom perished on Azure Carp Island.

After the death of the leading Core Formation cultivator, his life-bound soul lamp in the Cuiyun Sect immediately extinguished. Li Hongxiu promptly heightened security, deploying more patrolling cultivators and sending out scouts to gather information.

The Zhang family's affiliated forces launched a full-scale counterattack against the Whale Gate Sect's affiliated forces. Such a coordinated assault couldn't possibly happen without a commander, indicating that the Whale Gate Sect and the Hailan Sect had clearly fallen into a trap.

Cuiyun Island possesses a third-tier high-grade spirit vein, and fortunately, three of the Core Formation cultivators were present on the island, which was a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.

On Red Leaf Peak, Li Hongxiu was discussing battle strategies with two other Core Formation cultivators.

"Recently," Li Hongxiu began, "the Zhang family's affiliated forces have launched a massive counterattack. Several of the Whale Gate Sect's affiliated forces have been attacked, and it's only a matter of time before our Cuiyun Sect faces an assault. We must..."

Before Li Hongxiu could finish her sentence, a sharp, urgent whistling sound rang out.

She frowned slightly, took out a communication disk, and cast a spell into it. Soon, a clear, bell-like female voice suddenly spoke: "Master, a group of cultivators from the Whale Gate Sect has arrived, led by two Core Formation cultivators. Should we let them in?"

Fortresses are often dismantled from within. With the sect's protective formation, even six Core Formation cultivators might not be able to breach the Cuiyun Sect. However, if someone colludes with outsiders for an inside-outside attack, success is not guaranteed.

When immortal cultivation sects recruit disciples, they mostly use lie-detection artifacts or talismans to test new entrants for hidden spies sent by hostile forces. This method isn't 100% effective, as hostile forces often select suitable targets from among disciples who have been in the sect for many years, coercing or enticing them into becoming spies.

Immortal cultivation sects are almost defenseless against this. They can't constantly test their disciples, as that would easily alienate them and might not even be effective.

For this reason, Li Hongxiu had repeatedly issued strict orders that any cultivator entering Cuiyun Island, even disciples of the Cuiyun Sect, must undergo thorough scrutiny.

"Why would cultivators from the Whale Gate Sect suddenly show up?" Li Hongxiu mused. "Are they here to deploy personnel? The timing doesn't make sense! Who brought them here?"

It hadn't been long since the Cuiyun Sect's Core Formation cultivator had perished. Based on the timeline, it was unlikely the Whale Gate Sect could have sent people so quickly. Could there be other ongoing conflicts?

"It's Senior Martial Brother Chen," the voice replied, "He said he knows one of the Core Formation cultivators and guaranteed there's no problem."

A blue-robed man in his early thirties sighed and said, "Senior Martial Sister Li, I'm afraid your disciple has been bribed. Junior Martial Nephew Chen has visited the Whale Gate Sect several times, but he voluntarily requested to patrol the mountain gate, and now he's vouching for others. This is not like him. Normally, it might be fine, but given the current situation, there's definitely a problem."

Li Hongxiu naturally realized this as well; her disciple having been bribed was genuinely beyond her expectations.

"Let those two Core Formation cultivators in," Li Hongxiu commanded. "Everyone else stays outside. Invite them to Cuiyun Palace. Guests are to be treated well; since they've traveled all this way, we must receive them properly."

Li Hongxiu's eyes were filled with a cold glint. Cuiyun Palace was her residence, heavily fortified with restrictions. With three Core Formation cultivators controlling the formation, even if they couldn't kill the opponents, severely injuring them would be no problem.

"Yes, Master," came the reply.

Wang Changsheng and Zhang Guangyang followed a group of Cuiyun Sect cultivators, flying towards a certain location.

Wang Changsheng hadn't expected that the Zhang family also had a spy within the Cuiyun Sect. However, he still felt something was amiss. At first, the Cuiyun Sect disciples wouldn't let them in, appearing to be on high alert. But after consulting with their elders, they immediately granted entry.

Li Hongxiu had sent her disciples to guard the mountain gate, and the Cuiyun Sect had already heightened its vigilance. They were just let in after hearing they were Core Formation cultivators from the Whale Gate Sect, and with Li Hongxiu's disciple vouching for them? They should have at least asked a few questions!

"Fellow Daoist Zhang, be careful of an ambush," Wang Changsheng secretly warned. "This time, it might not be so smooth."

"There shouldn't be a big problem," Zhang Guangyang replied via spiritual transmission. "Chen Feng was very difficult for us to bribe, and he's under a forbidden spell of our Zhang family. With just a thought from me, he would die, so he shouldn't dare betray us. However, what you said makes sense; it's still better to be cautious."

Not long after, they appeared in a huge bluestone plaza. Not far ahead was a magnificent palace with the three large characters "Cuiyun Palace" inscribed on its plaque.

There wasn't a single guard near Cuiyun Palace.

"Where do your sect elders usually receive guests?" Wang Changsheng secretly asked Chen Feng.

Zhang Guangyang also realized something was amiss. Generally, guests are received in places like the assembly hall, where restrictions typically aren't set up, but there would be guards. Here, there were no guards, and it seemed like a Core Formation cultivator's residence, which typically implies powerful restrictions.

"Usually, it's in the assembly hall," Chen Feng began, "unless it's my master's close friend, then they would..."

Before Chen Feng could finish his sentence, he realized something was wrong and broke out in a cold sweat.

The floor beneath their feet suddenly lit up with countless blue runes, seemingly activating some kind of restriction.

Wang Changsheng acted first, a large mass of black flames, the Profound Nether Black Lotus Flame, appearing on his right fist. A black light flashed, and a black fist-shadow several zhang large flew out, smashing violently onto the floor.

Boom!

With a deafening crash, dozens of floor tiles were shattered. A large patch of black flames quickly spread, and under their scorching, blue runes appeared on the floor, one after another, twisting, deforming, and then vanishing.

According to intelligence, the Cuiyun Sect had three Core Formation cultivators. Even if this information was inaccurate, they would have at most five. Given that one Core Formation cultivator would surely have been sent with the Whale Gate Sect to the Zhang family, this would leave four. Wang Changsheng's side had five Core Formation cultivators, meaning that in a direct confrontation, even if they couldn't defeat their opponents, Wang Changsheng and Zhang Guangyang could retreat safely, provided they weren't trapped by a formation.

Zhang Guangyang's reaction was also swift. He summoned a palm-sized red gourd and cast a spell into it. The red gourd rapidly expanded, and amidst a whistling sound, countless crimson flames flew out, rapidly spreading. The Cuiyun Sect disciples leading them, upon touching the crimson flames, were instantly incinerated into ash, yet the traitor Chen Feng remained unharmed.

Wang Changsheng summoned the Mountain-Ocean Pearl and cast a spell into it. Countless blue lights appeared around him, quickly transforming into a rushing river that enveloped him in protection.

Zhang Guangyang took out a silver jade plate. With a few gestures, he cast several spells into it, causing countless silver runes to fly from the plate, transforming into a massive silver sword that soared towards the sky.

Boom!

A colossal roar rang out as the massive silver sword blossomed in the sky like a fireworks display, incredibly brilliant.