CHAPTER 340: CHAPTER 86: A BEAST LURKS, FOUR-LEGGED

Liu Lintu watched as the man disappeared into the thick mist, and Sect Leader Gao transmitted his thoughts, asking about the situation with the Toad Poison Beast.

"Sect Leader Gao... The Poison Beast doesn’t seem abnormal?"

Gao Cai could sense Liu Lintu’s unease in his tone, but his overly excited mental realm caused him to subconsciously dismiss it.

He began assigning the Qi Cultivators to repair the Array around the Poison Beast.

Gao Cai stood at a vantage point, pacing in place like a madman, bizarre murmurs escaping from his lips every so often.

As the Array neared completion, rain droplets began to fall.

The temperature plummeted sharply, as the clouds shrouded the sunset overhead, plunging the world into darkness, with fallen leaves tumbling ceaselessly in the wind.

Although the Breath Sealing Sect specialized primarily in Qi Cultivation, it excelled in Array Tao as well.

Liu Lintu let out a sigh of relief.

From his perspective, unless one had precise knowledge of the Array’s details, it would be impossible to discern the faint traces left during its creation.

"Qinghong Workshop has been enveloped by poisonous smoke; even a Nascent Soul cultivator cannot see the outside world."

"The plan is coming together."

The shadow in Liu Lintu’s heart was swept away.

The Array, called Wind Surge, was a Breath Sealing Sect original creation, designed to control wind currents.

In a certain sense, the Wind Surge Array could already affect parts of the Heavenly Phenomenon, and this Array was considered one of the sect’s secret techniques.

Liu Lintu followed the prearranged plan, continuously monitoring the Array’s surroundings and relaying wind directions to Gao Cai for small adjustments.

Once the Wind Surge Array fully took shape, the Qi Cultivators immediately retreated a hundred meters away.

During this time, the Toad Poison Beast showed no reaction, perhaps not perceiving the Array as a threat.

Instead, from the Blessed Land Cave Heaven, gigantic spiders emerged one after another, screeching as they attempted to attack the Qi Cultivators but dared not approach the poisonous smoke.

The gigantic spiders bore human faces, grotesque entities born from the Blessed Land Cave Heaven.

The region contained rich Spiritual Energy, and contact with it often led to mutation in beasts, though such entities could not leave the confines of the mountains.

"It’s almost within reach, almost..."

Gao Cai now awaited the dispersal of the poisonous smoke, after which Qinghong Workshop would undoubtedly deactivate their Mountain Protection Array, leaving everyone exposed.

He planned to eliminate any obstacles in his path and consequently claim Qinghong Workshop for himself.

The Independent Practitioner Force posed no issue; a few Jade Scrolls containing cultivation techniques sufficient to reach the Core Formation Stage would be enough.

For a Loose Cultivator, such treasures were immensely valuable.

Gao Cai’s greed was unmistakable.

Yet he kept transmitting his thoughts to Liu Lintu, repeatedly asking whether the Wind Surge Array remained stable.

Liu Lintu dared not disclose the strange man at the top of Poison Cultivation, reporting only favorable news, gaining Gao Cai’s praise in return.

"Liu Lintu, once this is over, I will recommend you as an Elder of Breath Sealing Sect."

Gao Cai tilted his head slightly, a hint of doubt flashing across his face.

He wasn’t sure why Liu Lintu’s responses were becoming increasingly terse.

Seeing this, Gao Cai refrained from further questioning and shifted his attention back to the Toad Poison Beast. Soon enough, the poisonous smoke would completely dissipate.

What he didn’t realize was that Liu Lintu was no longer in control of himself.

Amid the clouds.

Liu Lintu, drenched in sweat, was engulfed by terror as dizziness overwhelmed his mind and numbness crept into his limbs.

Before him stood an existence akin to a nightmare.

Li Mo, cloaked in layers of new and old skin, lazily reclined atop the bloody mist clouds, while the Mountain Demon perched on his shoulder, curiously observing Liu Lintu.

"You... You..."

Liu Lintu tried several times to speak but couldn’t utter a complete sentence. Poisonous Clothes Qinghong Workshop was far more complicated than Gao Cai had described.

What kind of supreme being had Breath Sealing Sect unintentionally provoked?

Boom—boom—boom...

Liu Lintu didn’t need to look to know that Qinghong Workshop’s Mountain Protection Array was already vanishing.

Li Mo remained indifferent, repairing his injuries with Innate Essence right before Liu Lintu’s eyes.

Liu Lintu wanted to flee, but the strange monkey kept staring directly at him.

Although the Mountain Demon didn’t radiate the aura of Core Formation Stage, its murderous intent felt tangible. Liu Lintu couldn’t even muster the thought to summon his Spiritual Power.

"Whoa—whoa."

The Mountain Demon scratched its belly, ready to use its ribs as a weapon to kill if Liu Lintu made any sudden movements.

Just then.

The Toad Poison Beast entered its dormancy phase, and Poisonous Clothes Qinghong Workshop was fully exposed as the mountain winds howled and light rain began to fall.

Qinghong Workshop seemed unaware of the Array set by Breath Sealing Sect.

As usual, they sent groups of cultivators to investigate the reality of the Blessed Land Cave Heaven, but none of them appeared to be Nascent Soul cultivators.

Gao Cai’s grin widened.

Originally, the poisonous smoke had thinned considerably, but now, under the Array’s effects, it began to regather.

Qinghong Workshop’s Mountain Protection Array would require at least two or three days to reactivate.

"Heh—heh—heh—heh."

Gao Cai’s expression became twisted, his gaze maniacal as he fixated on the figures darting about Qinghong Workshop. Those cultivators obviously attempted to disrupt the Wind Surge Array.

But it was futile.

In just a few breaths, they were entirely enveloped by the poisonous smoke.

If all went as planned, within half a day, most of Poisonous Clothes Qinghong Workshop’s cultivators would be dead, and the survivors would no longer pose a threat to Breath Sealing Sect.

Gao Cai patiently bided his time, acting as though Qinghong Workshop was already in his grasp.

Liu Lintu, observing Li Mo’s detached demeanor, suddenly realized something and asked with tightly suppressed fear: "Senior, are you using Gang Wind to temper your physical body right now?"

He suspected Li Mo might merely be passing through Qinghong Workshop; otherwise, he wouldn’t remain indifferent.

Li Mo did not reply but instead asked curiously, "The Array you’ve set up is somewhat interesting. What’s it called?"

Liu Lintu, believing his assumption to be correct, couldn’t help but rejoice.

"Senior, it’s called the Wind Surge Array, a top-grade Array specifically designed to manipulate wind. Setting it up is exceptionally intricate..."

"Is that so?"

Li Mo casually pointed, causing the Array on the ground to ripple. A current of wind redirected to the spot he indicated.

Gao Cai was filled with suspicion, but he didn’t dwell on it too much.

"Senior, you..."

Liu Lintu was utterly terrified, unable to believe that someone in this world could instantly see through the Wind Surge Array’s flaws.

Could it be... a Land Immortal?

He was so shocked that his mental realm nearly collapsed, and the bulge on his back began oozing pus—a sign of Spiritual Power backlash leading to Deviation.

In the Cultivation World, where no one had achieved ascension for thousands of years, a Land Immortal was akin to a true Immortal.

"Does Breath Sealing Sect know what kind of faction currently controls Poisonous Clothes Qinghong Workshop?"

"Senior, are you intending to use Qinghong Workshop’s cultivators for treasure refinement?"

Liu Lintu hesitantly ventured, only to hear Li Mo respond to himself: "You’ve likely heard of Four Seas Commerce. My Dao title is Qing Shan."

"Qing Shan..."

Liu Lintu repeated the name a few times, his pupils dilating in realization.

Four Seas Commerce, a rapidly rising faction, had countless rumors linking it to a Qing Shan Elder—a renowned powerhouse in the Nascent Soul Stage with unparalleled strength.

Li Mo patted the Mountain Demon’s head, a smile that didn’t reach his eyes playing on his lips. "That should be enough."

The Mountain Demon grabbed the Jade Gourd hanging from Li Mo’s waist and leaped from the clouds, its body expanding to over twenty meters in mere moments.

Liu Lintu didn’t hesitate—his back’s bulge expanded to its limit.

Streams of airflow burst forth.

He was still baffled. If the man before him was Elder Qing Shan, why would he stand idle and allow Four Seas Commerce to fall?

But Liu Lintu knew one thing—staying here inevitably meant death.

"Interesting, Breath Sealing Sect’s Qi Cultivation inheritance is quite innovative. The Middle Dantian growing on the back makes spellcasting remarkably convenient."

Liu Lintu glanced back.

Li Mo cradled a mountain peak in his palm, from which a terrifying suction force erupted.

Just before Liu Lintu could be consumed by the Corpse Mountain, his face turned hopelessly toward the ground.

The Mountain Demon wielded the Jade Gourd in one hand and the White Bone Stick in the other, stirring the toxic smoke in the skies while joyfully inhaling it.

If any excess poisonous smoke remained, it would be stored in the Jade Gourd.

"Monkey bastard!!!"

Gao Cai screamed hysterically, charging toward the Mountain Demon in a frenzy, followed closely by the Qi Cultivators converging on Poisonous Clothes Qinghong Workshop.

Liu Lintu suddenly found the situation somewhat laughable.

"Spit."

He spat in Gao Cai’s direction before plunging into the boundless darkness, becoming an anonymous inhabitant of the small world.

With the poisonous smoke cleared, hundreds of beast cultivators with monkey-like heads surged forward.

Upon losing contact with Liu Lintu, Gao Cai immediately understood—they had fallen into Poisonous Clothes Qinghong Workshop’s counter-trap.

Beast Cultivators of Four Seas Commerce joined the fray.

Their organs transformed into Lifebound Spirit Beasts, augmented by Taoist Body enhancements, displaying prowess far exceeding that of Qi Cultivators of the same realm.

"Ha!!!"

The Mountain Demon struck Gao Cai with a single swing of its stick, causing his lower body to mutate into countless tentacles.

With tentacles gripping branches for mobility, the Mountain Demon weaved through the forest with ease, gradually driving Gao Cai into retreat.

Gao Cai scanned his surroundings, spotting a man in mid-air observing the battlefield.

"I must eliminate the demon monkey quickly... or I’ll die here today."

Gao Cai’s limbs erupted with dense pores, unleashing wind blades at the Mountain Demon, who dodged in apparent distress.

"Something’s wrong."

Strange birds descended from afar, their bellies carrying infants.

The infants absorbed the birds’ life essence, transforming into Weak Crown Stage Beast Cultivators, with the birds becoming tattoos on their chests, evidently members of Heart Beast Sect.

Enormous, boneless pythons emerged from the earth, and within a few breaths, they reformed into humanoid shapes.

Flesh-eating beasts lagged behind.

Their grotesque appearances...

Bears extended human heads from their mouths; moose bore antlers shaped like ribs, organs replaced by beast essence; dozens of rats fused together...

"What kind of demons and monsters are these!!!"

Gao Cai, slipping into madness, tore the bloody scalp from his head.

On top of Qinghong Workshop’s city walls, tens of thousands of cultivators spectated Heart Beast Sect’s grotesque performance and began speculating amongst themselves. Their countless techniques, each strange and unique, showcased an unimaginable level of Taoist inheritance.

The combat was one-sided; Qi Cultivators were defenseless against the battle-hardened Beast Cultivators.

Li Mo stood, observing silently.

Allowing Gao Fei’s Array planning was Tian Changwen’s suggestion; the latter intended for Breath Sealing Sect to act as a stepping stone for Heart Beast Sect’s rise to power.

The results demonstrated that Heart Beast Sect’s debut strike carried immense deterrence potential.

At the very least, they could exert greater control over Loose Cultivators...

Li Mo’s expression grew severe as he unleashed his Divine Sense to its limit.

"Half an incense stick’s time. That’s all I’m giving you."

"A poisonous beast is moving toward our position."

The Poison Beast resembled a lizard, its size exceeding that of the Toad Poison Beast by more than double. Its back bore no traces of any town—only countless grave mounds scattered across the mountains.

"Not Poison Cultivators—Corpse Cultivators?"