Chapter 105: Opening

The pursuit headed directly towards Spider Mountain.

This made Wang Yu suspicious. Could a disciple of the Rebellious Spirit Blood Sect have obtained this opportunity? Or was it the leader of Five Yin Peak in disguise? Both possibilities seemed plausible.

Coincidentally, this pursuit had stopped in the same canyon where Wang Yu had ambushed and killed fellow disciples a few days prior. Scattered ice shards and bloodstains still littered the ground. They silently testified to the tragic deaths that had occurred there.

"Stop."

"You have nowhere left to run."

Two Foundation Establishment cultivators pursued a third, whose cultivation level was unknown, trapping him in the middle of the canyon, one from the front and one from the back. The trapped individual, having no other choice, removed the magical artifact concealing his appearance and aura. His aura, clearly that of a fourth-layer Foundation Establishment cultivator, was revealed. He sternly declared:

"Fellow cultivators, I am an elder of the Rebellious Spirit Blood Sect. This place is not far from Spider Mountain, which is under my sect's jurisdiction. Do you truly wish to fight me to the death?"

The two pursuing Foundation Establishment cultivators were momentarily stunned. Offending the Rebellious Spirit Blood Sect was something they naturally dared not do. However, they were now in a difficult position and unwilling to give up the opportunity of the Flood Dragon Inner Core.

"Heh, that third-tier inner core, sealed within the Spirit-Suppressing Stone Skin, was originally a treasure we brothers had set our eyes on. You swooped in and snatched it. You think you can just back out now? On what grounds!"

Wang Yu, who had just arrived at the edge of the canyon, immediately heard this statement and felt a sudden surge of excitement.

A third-tier Flood Dragon Inner Core?!!!

He gasped. This item, if even Core Formation cultivators knew about it, they would exert all their strength to seize it. Such treasures are truly tempting.

The Five Yin Peak Foundation Establishment cultivator, who quickly assessed the situation, had a terribly grim expression. This was his opportunity, and he absolutely would not give it up. A mere two early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators were not enough to make him yield.

"Heh, you're just twisting words. I originally thought your cultivation was hard-earned, but since you no longer wish to live, I'll send you on your way."

With that, he waved his right hand, and the person-high, second-tier low-grade magical artifact, the Thousand Ghost Banner, suddenly swayed. Eerie mist boiled forth, obscuring the blazing sun in the sky and seemingly transforming the entire canyon into a ghostly realm.

The other two brothers also employed their methods. While protecting themselves with True Qi, they each conjured a second-tier magical spear and swung them forward. Hundreds of spear-shaped attacks, formed from True Essence and about ten feet long, densely shot forward.

The battle had erupted!

Wang, observing from the shadows, activated his Night Concealment Spell to its maximum. Even his breathing rate was lowered to the minimum. Although this spell was only a high-grade technique, at its perfected stage, it could conceal oneself even from the divine sense of a Foundation Establishment cultivator. As long as he made no sound, he didn't need to worry about being discovered.

In mid-air, hundreds of True Essence spears pierced through the eerie ghostly realm. A few rays of sunlight shone through the openings, making the Five Yin Peak Foundation Establishment cultivator's face grim.

"Great Five Ghosts Evil Art: Sound of Lingering Resentment!"

One by one, dark ghost skulls quickly gathered, forming five bone towers. As their mandibles clicked open and closed, invisible sound waves, like suonas pressed to the ear, emanated. The sharp, mournful wails seemed to bore into people's minds, causing their Mudball Palaces to vibrate incessantly and their vision to darken. It was actually a sound wave spell targeting the divine sense. Even Wang Yu had never witnessed such a spell, nor was he aware of the Five Yin Peak's second-tier spell inheritance.

The two brothers, who bore the brunt of the attack, were hit hard, clutching their heads and wailing. Seizing this opportunity, the besieged Foundation Establishment cultivator revealed a triumphant smile. With a shake of the Thousand Ghost Banner, its fabric swiftly wrapped around the pole, transforming it into a large spear. Trailing black smoke, it shot towards one of the brothers. The cold glint on its tip suggested that a mere flesh wound would not be the only consequence of being impaled.

At this critical moment, a flash of spiritual light suddenly emerged from the pouch-like objects at the brothers' waists. Two spiritual beasts, resembling leopards with single horns on their heads and fiery red fur, leaped out.

"Spirit beasts protecting their masters... and early-stage second-tier spirit beasts at that! You are cultivators of the Beast Taming Path?!" Just as Gu Dao cultivators have their life-bound Gu worms and Ghost Summoning cultivators have their life-bound spirit ghosts, cultivators of the Beast Taming Path naturally have life-bound spirit beasts tied to their very existence.

The Five Yin Peak Foundation Establishment cultivator's expression was terribly grim. He had over 70% confidence against two early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, but if two Foundation Establishment level demonic beasts were added to the mix, the outcome was uncertain. The element of surprise in their initial encounter had nearly killed the two brothers in the ambush, demonstrating how crucial intelligence is in battles between cultivators of the same realm.

Now that they had endured the effects of the Sound of Lingering Resentment, the situation quickly reversed.

"Brother, use the Soul-Suppressing Bell for defense. I'll lead the attack."

"Alright."

Seeing the two brothers and the two Unicorn Flame Leopards charge forward, the five bone towers quickly dispersed. Skeleton heads then gathered behind him to form a giant skull. It opened its mouth and spewed out numerous nail-like bone spikes, attempting to hinder the enemy's advance. He suddenly shouted.

"There's only one Flood Dragon Inner Core, but there are two of you brothers. Tell me, if you really get it, will it go to the younger brother or the older brother? Hahahaha~"

The older brother, in mid-charge, had a sudden change in expression. "It's a divisive trick, don't fall for it."

"I know! How we divide it once we get it is our brothers' business. What's it to you, old man!"

"Unicorn Flame Leopard!"

With a command, fiery red flames suddenly erupted from the two Foundation Establishment spirit beasts. Their speed doubled as they transformed into streaks of fiery light, swiftly passing through the rain of bone spikes. They arrived behind the Five Yin Peak Foundation Establishment cultivator and instantly unleashed two surging streams of flame from their mouths, the high temperature distorting the air.

Clang! Clang! Clang!—

The flames struck a bronze mirror, which was also his second-tier low-grade magical artifact. As a Foundation Establishment elder of the Rebellious Spirit Blood Sect, his resources were significantly more abundant than those of an ordinary rogue cultivator. The flames were absorbed by the bronze mirror, and the mirror's surface instantly inverted, shooting out a solidified pillar of fire that directly slammed the older brother, who was attacking from the front, into the ground. This "Star Shift" technique was truly astonishing.

"Damn it."

Realizing it was difficult to get close, the younger brother changed his hand seals and growled, "Demonic Spirit Berserker Art!" His Unicorn Flame Leopard's aura suddenly surged. The flames beneath its four paws shot up to three feet high, and its body size increased threefold. It ferociously clawed at the Five Yin Peak Foundation Establishment cultivator. Its flaming claw blades directly knocked the bronze mirror away, then it tore through the gathered ghost skulls like a hot knife through butter, throwing the whole area into disarray. The cultivator raised his banner and clashed with the leopard's claws, engaging in close combat with the berserk spirit beast without falling into a disadvantage. This showed that his weapon skills had been meticulously honed.

In the blink of an eye, several more rounds passed. At this point, the younger brother of the ambushing duo again formed hand seals. Five or six talismans flew out from his storage pouch, positioning themselves in five directions. Five bolts of deep blue lightning shot out from the talismans. They directly shattered the Five Yin Peak cultivator's protective True Qi. Meanwhile, the older brother, who had been slammed into the ground, scrambled up, dusty and disheveled, and immediately unleashed his Demonic Spirit Berserker Art without a word. With both Unicorn Flame Leopards attacking simultaneously, the Five Yin Peak Foundation Establishment cultivator sustained injuries. His originally new robes were now torn into strips like ragged cloth. He constantly had to resist the scorching flames, which made him appear even more disheveled.

"Damn it!"