Chapter 637: Chapter 637

Cui Xuanzi turned to glance into the main hall. Seeing Qin Sang seated with an air of detachment, as though the matter had nothing to do with him, his expression shifted several times but in the end he said nothing. With a grim look, he turned his gaze back toward the mountain gate.

As soon as the sect-protecting array appeared, the approaching evasion lights also withdrew their aggressive momentum and one after another descended upon a towering peak outside Five-Insect Sect, revealing a group of men and women.

Some of them, like Cui Xuanzi, wore no decorative ornaments.

But most were similar to the priests of Winged Serpent Village, bearing divine patterns tattooed across their faces and bodies, and adorned with all kinds of beast bones and fangs as accessories.

With each new figure that appeared, Cui Xuanzi’s expression darkened further.

In the end, all the evasion lights landed, and the group stood across from Five-Insect Sect, separated by the activated array.

The visitors had split into two clearly defined factions, standing behind a gaunt old man and a seductive woman respectively. Though divided in appearance, their intentions were aligned. They had come for Five-Insect Sect.

Both the old man and the alluring woman were at the late stage of the Foundation Building Realm. Judging by their auras, they were not far from reaching the Fake Core Realm. On their own, they posed less of a threat than Cui Xuanzi, who had already reached the Fake Core Realm. But if the two joined forces against him, he would be hard-pressed to hold his ground and would likely be forced to retreat.

A flustered figure flew up to the sect leader’s hall. It was Junior Brother Tong.

He peeked into the hall, then glanced at Cui Xuanzi for approval. When he saw Cui Xuanzi slightly shake his head, his expression dimmed, and he quickly said, "Senior Brother Sect Leader, Old Thunder Ghost from Thunderclap Village and the old hag from Hundred Flower Palace have both arrived. There are several sneaky strangers behind them whom I’ve never seen before. They must have brought in outside reinforcements. Looks like they’ve made up their minds to tear up the agreement left by Senior Uncle and seize Black Wind Valley..."

"I already saw them."

Cui Xuanzi let out a cold snort. "But Junior Brother Tong, did you really think that was all of them?"

Tong was startled. Cui Xuanzi then raised his wooden staff and pointed toward the south of Five-Insect Sect.

Not far to the south flowed a wide river like a jade belt. This was Qingyi River. The morning sun had just risen, and mist still lingered over the river, casting a hazy veil.

Junior Brother Tong narrowed his eyes and looked carefully. Amid the fog along the riverbank, vague figures loomed in the mist. If one did not look closely, it would be difficult to notice them.

Downstream from Qingyi River lay the various villages of Bear Mountain.

Realizing this, Tong instantly understood who was hiding there.

"Those ungrateful wolves!"

Junior Tong gritted his teeth. "It’s thanks to our Five-Insect Sect that Bear Mountain remained peaceful. We even shared the spirit stones from Black Wind Valley with them, and this is how they repay us? Have they fed all our kindness to the dogs? If our sect is destroyed, don’t they fear they’ll invite a greater enemy right into their home?"

Cui Xuanzi sighed. "The greed of men is endless. They were only given a share of the spirit stones, while the Poison Spring was distributed to us alone, enforced by Senior Uncle despite the opposition. Back then, his authority still carried weight. Even if they were discontent, they dared not act. But these past years, with no word from Senior Uncle and no strong successor to uphold our sect, our influence has steadily declined. Their hearts have long grown restless. They’ve already begun colluding with outsiders. Still, they wouldn’t dare make a full break. They’re just hoping to stir the waters and pressure us into yielding. So don’t bother sending any messages. We must weather this calamity ourselves."

As the two spoke, more shouting erupted outside the mountain gate.

"Old man Cui Xuan, hiding in your turtle shell and afraid to show your face. What’s the matter? Is everyone in Five-Insect Sect just a bunch of green-shelled turtles?"

Old Thunder Ghost amplified his voice with a spell, and his mocking laughter echoed through the mountains.

The disciples of Five-Insect Sect heard it clearly. They ground their teeth in fury, wishing they could rush out and tear his mouth apart.

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The seductive woman let out a flirtatious laugh, swaying like a blooming flower, radiant and enchanting. But her words were vicious. "Disciples of Five-Insect Sect, all green-shelled turtles, how pitiful. Why not join our Hundred Flower Palace instead? Every one of our disciples is a faithful and virtuous lady..."

Her voice carried a bewitching tone. Some disciples who lacked mental discipline even blushed and revealed disgraceful reactions.

Cui Xuanzi shouted, snapping them out of it. With a tap of his foot, he flew to the edge of the sect-protecting array and said in a deep voice, "The two of you uniting your forces to suddenly assault our sect and spouting such insults. What exactly are you trying to do?"

Old Thunder Ghost sneered. "Old man, you know perfectly well why we’re here. Your Five-Insect Sect has held Black Wind Valley long enough."

Cui Xuanzi roared, "You personally agreed back then that Black Wind Valley would belong to us for a hundred years. Eight years still remain. Now you dare break that agreement by force?"

The seductive woman gasped. "Daoist Cui, how can you say that? Back then, your sect only forced our two regions to give up the treasure-laden Black Wind Valley by relying on your Golden Core cultivator’s pressure. I was with my master at the time and saw firsthand how mighty a Core Formation expert could be. It was so awe-inspiring that I was green with envy."

Her words were laced with false modesty, yet every movement she made was drenched in charm, even drawing glances from her own companions.

Old Thunder Ghost added, "Yes, your sect produced a Golden Core cultivator. We were outmatched and had no room to argue. But times have changed. The century has passed, and things that should not have been taken must now be returned."

Seeing their shameless stance, Cui Xuanzi knew there would be no peaceful resolution today. "And you’re not afraid that my senior uncle will return to the sect and destroy all of you?"

His eyes gleamed with fury as he scanned every face among them, voice laced with venom. "Go ahead and try. If you destroy our Five-Insect Sect today, make sure none escapes alive. Otherwise, I will remember every last one of your faces, and when my senior uncle returns, he will avenge us."

Under Cui Xuanzi’s sharp gaze, many of their expressions began to falter, especially those who had only been invited as reinforcements.

They still feared his senior uncle.

Cui Xuanzi quietly let out a breath of relief. His tone softened as he said, "If you leave now, we’ll treat today’s incident as if it never happened. There is still an honored guest within our sect, so it would be inconvenient to see you out."

Old Thunder Ghost sneered coldly, clearly resolute and utterly unafraid.

"Your so-called honored guest, is it that nameless Golden Core cultivator? Old man, you’ve pulled this trick too many times already. Stop using it again and again.

"We of Thunderclap Village and Hundred Flower Palace came here for Black Wind Valley. We had no intention of turning this into open conflict. But if you insist on being stubborn, then we’ll be left with no choice but to do something we would rather not."

"As for avenging you, that will depend on whether your senior uncle is even alive. Who knows, maybe he’s already rotted into a pile of bones somewhere on a remote island."

"Otherwise, why hasn’t he returned even once after all these years?"

As he spoke, Old Thunder Ghost turned to look at the others, his tone laced with strong persuasion. "Five-Insect Sect has occupied Black Wind Valley for a full century. No doubt they’ve amassed a large stockpile of spirit stones. Thunderclap Village and Hundred Flower Palace want none of it. Instead, we’re offering all of it to you fellow cultivators as payment for lending a hand."

"And even if that Golden Core cultivator from Five-Insect Sect is still alive, you’re all drifters by nature. Would it really be so hard to find a place to lie low?"