Chapter 259: Ten Thousand Miles of Pursuit and Mutual Deception

Northern outskirts of the Heavenly Demon Bone Forest.

After flying around the area for several days, Wang finally approached Youzhou, the territory of the Yellow Springs Monastery.

However, due to the power of cultivators, border blockades were not as impenetrable as one might imagine. Along such a vast border, unless it was completely manned, cultivators with their myriad methods could easily bypass border guards. Even the most powerful dominant forces couldn't cover an entire province with defensive formations. Thus, even a Foundation Establishment cultivator, as long as they flew high enough, could easily smuggle themselves across the border.

The truly difficult border was the North-South Severed Mountain Range. That area was unique, home to countless powerful demonic beasts, and deep within, there were well-established demon tribes, no less powerful than any human dominant force. The numerous wars between Taihu and Scarlet Kite also centered around the weaker points in the middle section of the North-South Severed Mountain Range. Inside, there were countless restrictions, formations, and traps. So many pitfalls were left by predecessors that even the righteous and demonic factions themselves couldn't fully map them out. And with each major war, new combatants would add more traps, making those areas increasingly perilous.

In summary, borders between different factions were easy to cross, but those between the righteous and demonic paths were extremely difficult to infiltrate. Wang Yu had attempted it once, thanks to a relatively new safe route discovered by predecessors during the righteous-demonic war three hundred years ago. Since there hadn't been multiple righteous-demonic wars since then, the traps hadn't been updated. Even so, he still encountered many decoy traps.

Returning to the main topic, Wang Yu felt that his "accidental" appearance in Youzhou was a way to delay Jin Miaoshan's suspicion.

Several days passed. Thanks to his body's self-healing capabilities and the restorative effects of the premium spirit elixirs he always kept stocked, he had already recovered to his peak condition. This was perhaps the importance of having a strong physique: it not only helped him reduce the difficulty of breaking through fundamental realms but also granted him greater strength and survivability. Thinking of this, Wang Yu couldn't help but recall Long Yiran. Her methods were not weak; she had survived a slap from the Blood Demon Ginseng, but unfortunately, her injuries were too severe. She ultimately succumbed to the deadly venom of the Poison Beast army, narrowly missing survival. The importance of survivability had risen several notches in his mind.

"Hm? Here again?"

At this moment, this was not the first time he had encountered the true body of the Old Demon of Five Poisons. In the past few days, due to the difference in their cultivation realms, Wang Yu's escape speed could easily outmatch others at the same realm. However, to the Old Demon, Wang Yu's speed was akin to a turtle crawling. Therefore, after the Old Demon of Five Poisons' clone was defeated, he was caught up to within a day. After a brief skirmish, Wang Yu realized it was just another clone. He forcefully suppressed the urge to use the Yin Corpse and Lightning Corpse, knowing that these trump cards had to be saved for a critical moment. After dispatching this slightly stronger Five Poisons clone with the Yellow Springs Great Hand Seal, most of his injuries had recovered.

Then, as if in a cycle, the Old Demon of Five Poisons' clones attacked repeatedly, all of them defeated by Wang Yu. This showed that it was not a true external incarnation technique but instead, a type of clone spell with a limited duration. The true body of the Old Demon of Five Poisons lingered behind, continuously sending out clones to wear down Wang Yu's energy. Wang Yu understood the Old Demon's intention: he literally hadn't had a second's rest. This was because, "A cornered beast still fights!" The Old Demon feared Wang Yu might have some trump card for a desperate counterattack.

He was being extremely cautious. In the Old Demon of Five Poisons' simple logic, if Wang Yu had no time to rest, he had no time to heal. By conventional reasoning, Wang Yu's injuries would steadily worsen until they became irreversible, at which point the Old Demon's true body would collect the spoils of victory. This strategy was not particularly clever; in fact, it was quite straightforward. After all, Wang Yu wore the Earth Net Demon Mask throughout, and his true cultivation realm had never been exposed. However, based on the strength of his spiritual sense and the power of his spells, it could be deduced that he had reached the Third Rank. Thus, the Old Demon of Five Poisons' caution was indeed necessary.

Unfortunately, this prolonged war of attrition played right into Wang Yu's hands. He knew well that even with the help of two early Third Rank zombies, it would be difficult to kill an experienced veteran like the Old Demon of Five Poisons, who possessed considerable combat power. He had to find a way to thoroughly intimidate him in one swift move. Only then could he escape safely. The Impeccable Jade Toad's cocoon transformation would last at least another half month, and only after it awakened could it erase the Poison Skeleton Tracking Mark. This was his chance.

A moment later, a black-green cloud of smoke, cackling hideously, rolled in, its piercing, unpleasant voice attempting to pressure Wang Yu further. However, when he saw Wang Yu panting, covered in ghastly green wounds, and leaning on a staff, a mocking smirk appeared on his lips.

"Boy... have you finally decided to give up? Hand over your treasures, and I'll grant you a swift end."

"Heh— Five Poisons, you old dog, you've chased me for so long, yet you're too cowardly to use anything but clone spells. Don't you fear the Yellow Springs Monastery's retribution for such actions?"

The Five Poisons clone hesitated, then shook his head after a moment's thought. "I don't believe you're a member of the Yellow Springs Monastery."

Wang Yu reached up and wiped away the "poison blood" from the corner of his mouth, stating seriously: "I am a subordinate of the Ksitigarbha Demon Lord. Have your true body come here and sign the Yellow Springs Contract with me. I can give you the treasure in exchange for my life."

Then, Wang Yu genuinely pulled out a Yellow Springs Contract from his storage ring, a sight that caused the Old Demon of Five Poisons to waver slightly. This was because the Yellow Springs Contract was exclusive to the Yellow Springs Monastery and was their most trusted form of agreement.

"Bring out the treasure. Once I've seen it, I will make my decision."

Upon hearing this, Wang Yu fell silent, appearing to struggle for a long time before finally pulling out an ancient jade slip. To be fair, he hadn't truly acquired any treasures; anything he found had already been assimilated, and inherited knowledge lacked any physical carrier. What he produced was the inheritance jade slip of the Taiyin Nether Eyes. It still contained two unresolved seals; the third layer could only be unlocked with sufficient magic power and perfected Second Rank eye power. Among all his possessions, only this could truly be considered a treasure.

As expected, the Old Demon immediately questioned him. "What's the meaning of bringing out a mere jade slip? Do you think I'd need something like this?!"

Wang Yu seemed to be amused by his anger. "You old hag, what did you think that place was? It was the ruins of an ancient sect, accidentally sealed within a spatial rift, forming a secret realm. This is a Nascent Soul inheritance. It's my only gain, believe it or not."

How could the Old Demon of Five Poisons accept this? He suddenly roared: "I don't believe you! Spirit medicines, magic treasures... you mean you didn't get a single one?"

"I told you, no! Are you blind? Couldn't you see those four Blood Demon Medicine Kings? Go and snatch things from their medicine garden if you dare, you idiot!"

After Wang Yu's furious outburst, the Old Demon of Five Poisons came to his senses. He was silent for a moment, then said: "Toss over the jade slip. Once I've verified it, I'll have my true body come to sign the contract."

"Do you take me for a fool? Come sign the contract now, immediately, or else... if I die, I die, but you'll face the Ksitigarbha Demon Lord's vengeance."

The Old Demon of Five Poisons tried to argue further. "You can defeat my clones, yet you're still afraid to let me examine it? Show some sincerity, boy."

Silence. Wang Yu closed his eyes, showing no intention of responding.

"You don't dare let me inspect it? Is there something suspicious going on?"

"Hey."

"Speak up."

"I'll give your true body one incense stick of time. If you don't come, I'll destroy this inheritance jade slip, and you can do whatever you like."

After saying this, Wang Yu fell silent once more. During this time, the Old Demon of Five Poisons tried to speak many more words, but upon realizing Wang Yu was unyielding, he also fell silent, seemingly compromising. As time passed, one incense stick of time elapsed.

Just as Wang Yu was about to say something, a wisp of green smoke rose from the ground, transforming into a second Old Demon of Five Poisons. "Boy, this is my true body. Bring out the Yellow Springs Contract."

Wang Yu's brows furrowed. Was it really that easy to trick him out? Yet, the aura, significantly stronger than that of a clone, didn't seem fake. Regardless, he decided to test him.

Boom—

In an instant, the half-dented Starfall Cold Furnace leaped out from the ground, immediately engulfing Wang Yu. Simultaneously, a pitch-black pellet shot out from his hand. This was the Thunder Tribulation Pellet, a prized possession of Master Tianshui, capable of killing multiple Golden Core peak-stage death warriors in one go, a hundred at a time! One pellet was a small amount and wouldn't be enough to kill the Old Demon of Five Poisons, but it wasn't something easily resisted. Based on previous experience, none of his clones had reached Golden Core strength.

Crackle, crackle~

As the Thunder Tribulation Pellet shattered, terrifying bolts of lightning exploded in all directions, instantly covering a thousand-meter radius. The lightning was so dense that not even a fly was spared. The Old Demon of Five Poisons' first clone had no time to react and simply dissipated. The one claiming to be his true body also exhaled black-green poisonous smoke, actively resisting a large portion of the Thunder Tribulation Pellet's power. However, he was still severely struck, with numerous lightning scars appearing on his body.

"It's real!"

Wang Yu, who had been observing closely, immediately took out the Heavenly Thunder Talisman Treasure and activated it without hesitation. Dark clouds gathered in the sky, taking no more than a second. The Old Demon of Five Poisons, busy resisting the Thunder Tribulation Pellet, was then struck by a column of lightning descending from the sky. His body instantly turned charcoal-like, and he stared incredulously at the alchemical furnace. He collapsed to the ground with a thud.

From within the alchemical furnace, Wang Yu emerged. From a distance, he hurled a cluster of Ice Dragon Elixir Flames at the Five Poisons' corpse, but there was no reaction. Dead? He found it hard to believe and immediately heightened his vigilance, scanning the surroundings.

"Heh heh, well done, boy. To think you still had a Talisman Treasure like that! However, this aura doesn't feel like a demonic cultivator's lightning magic; it's more akin to the methods used by those from Taihu."

He had wasted two attacks in succession. It was a huge loss just to draw out this fellow's true body, but given his opponent's nature, Wang Yu had no other choice. Now that the true body was revealed, he still feigned weakness. He looked on with a feigned "disbelief." As expected, the Old Demon of Five Poisons reappeared triumphantly. After displaying his cunning, he feigned regret and said: "This Illusory Spider was not easy for me to capture. You'd better have treasures far exceeding its value on you, otherwise... you'll know what true pain is~"

"—I don't know!"

With a crackle, Wang Yu unreservedly activated the Wind-Lightning Spirit Mark. This Third Rank burst secret technique, whose lightning marks he had forcefully perfected through a shortcut, combined with his physical body, allowed him to burst forth at a speed the Old Demon of Five Poisons couldn't even perceive.

(End of chapter)