Chapter 217: Don't Panic, Lass.

Chen Wuyin stared at the cauldron in his hand, deep in thought.

Hmm... What went wrong?

The Soul Destroyer Sect practiced a unique cultivation method that involved the use of human lives as resources. As one progressed further in their cultivation, the demand for human lives naturally increased.

To break through to the sixth realm, countless lives must be sacrificed. Their blood and flesh must be placed into the Immortal's Cauldron of Inferno for the refinement of the Great Pill of Souls.

However, ever since the Immortal's Cauldron of Inferno disappeared with the Elder Reaper, the Soul Destroyer Sect hasn't had a single sixth-realm cultivator for many years.

But he has found the Immortal's Cauldron of Inferno today.

The size, inscriptions, and material were all identical to the treasure recorded in the sect's compendium. The only difference was that in the compendium, the Immortal's Cauldron of Inferno was depicted as complete.

But here, the cauldron in his hand showed only half of it.

Could the other half be hidden somewhere?

Chen Wuyin thought to himself.

This gap doesn't seem like it can be pieced together... It's more like something gnawed on it.

After a long silence, he finally uttered a word: "Search!"

"Sect Leader, what do we search for?" The two disciples behind him were momentarily confused.

"Of course, we search for the other half of the Immortal's Cauldron of Inferno! How can we refine the pill with only half?" Chen Wuyin exclaimed angrily.

"Yes!" The two disciples immediately began searching vigorously.

However, the phalange on the corpse had already been taken by Chu Liang, so even if they searched thoroughly, they would find nothing.

Even within the secret room, Chu Liang could hear the commotion outside. He was really hoping that they would soon feel discouraged and leave, preferably leaving without taking the remaining half of the Immortal's Cauldron of Inferno...

If the little silkworm can't finish eating, he could even pack up the leftovers.

Unfortunately, Chen Wuyin seemed to have no intention of giving up.

Not only that, but he also noticed the wall!

The residence had remained hidden underwater for many years, resulting in layers of mud covering the surrounding walls. However, only one particular wall had large patches of mud fall off due to the opening of the secret room door just now.

"Why is this wall so clean?" Chen Wuyin's eyes showed suspicion. He paused before adding, "Break it open and take a look!"

In the secret room, Chu Liang felt his heart in his throat as he listened to the conversation unfolding outside.

If he were to directly confront them, he wasn't sure if he could escape. Chen Wuyin had once encountered the Crimson Executioner, and facing him head-on would only make things more difficult. Aside from the Crimson Executioner, Chu Liang only had Old Fei to rely on.

Last time in the Immortals' Marsh, he had called out Old Fei and asked him to engage at his full strength. When Chu Liang summoned him back into the vase, he had to spend several hundred sword coins to buy spirit plants for replenishing the qi of death and to help Old Fei recuperate to his normal state.

Every time Old Fei engaged in a fight, it was like burning money.

However, if it was a critical moment, Chu Liang naturally wouldn't hesitate to call him out.

Just as he held his breath nervously, another commotion erupted from outside.

Successive triggers of the enchanted formation at the entrance of the residence echoed, accompanied by laughter reminiscent of silver bells.

The two Soul Destroyer Sect disciples, who were about to break the wall, were drawn to the laughter behind them and turned to look.

Whoosh—

A gust of fragrant wind swept through the residence.

When they looked up again, they saw a young woman in a red dress with a tightly cinched waist appear in the chamber. She had black hair that flowed like a waterfall and skin as white as snow. With the bright red dress contrasting her skin, she exuded an irresistible charm.

She hovered in mid-air, seemingly finding the mud beneath her feet too dirty.

"Sect Leader Chen, quite a skill you have. Within only a few days, you managed to find the burial ground of the Elder Reaper. I am surprised," the lady in the red dress said with a charming smile.

"And who are you?" Chen Wuyin replied in a grim tone.

The arrival of this woman was strange, and the reason he didn't immediately take action was because her aura was faintly superior to his own.

"I am Yi Qiushui from the Dark King Sect."

The lady in the red dress didn't hide a single thing. With a smile on her face, she boldly announced her identity and her sect.

"Enchantress Yi? One of the Four Enchantresses from the Scarlet-Robe Hall?" Chen Wuyin immediately recalled.

Within the Dark King Sect, there existed the Left and Right Guardians, alongside the infamous Four Halls of Darkness. Among these, the Scarlet-Robe Hall was governed by four disciples, collectively known as the Four Enchantresses. Among them, Yi Qiushui held the lowest rank.

Chen Wuyin, despite leading a diabolical sect, had never crossed paths with Yi Qiushui before.

In the secret room, Chu Liang couldn't shake the feeling that this female cultivator from the Dark King Sect wasn't entirely diabolical. Typically, those deeply entrenched in such sects would have their qi suffused with blood. Yet the Crimson Executioner showed no reaction toward the lady who had just arrived.

It was only feeling agitated toward the corpse buried in this residence and Chen Wuyin.

"It is I," The lady named Yi Qiushui stared at Chen Wuyin as she replied. "There is something that the Elder Reaper has that my teacher wants. And so, I have been commanded to follow you. I hope you don't find offense in that."

"The Scarlet-Robe Hall is interested in the Immortal's Cauldron of Inferno?" Chen Wuyin shrugged and raised his hands as he continued, "Well, I dare not refuse... However, I can only offer you half of it, as I don't know where the other half went..."

"

Heh.

Why would my teacher want the cauldron that is used to cook human flesh?" Yi Qiushui shook her head as she replied.

"The Elder Reaper is an ancestor within our sect. How can I not know of any other valuable items he possessed?" Chen Wuyin asked, feeling puzzled.

"It's nothing particularly valuable. It just has some connection with the Dark King Sect. Since you have found the Immortal's Cauldron of Inferno, why don't you simply leave and allow me some time to search this place?" Yi Qiushui asked.

"Sure," Chen Wuyin readily agreed. "Whatever the Scarlet-Robe Hall wants, you may take it. We only hope that in the future, as fellow diabolical cultivators, you will support our Soul Destroyer Sect."

"No problem!" Yi Qiushui readily agreed.

"Let's go." Chen Wuyin, accompanied by his two subordinates, strode toward the entrance of the residence.

Yi Qiushui stood aside, bidding them farewell.

With a swift hand gesture and a sudden movement, Chen Wuyin unleashed an attack resembling a black dragon from his sleeve. The attack, its aura tinged with blood, viciously lunged towards Yi Qiushui!

The opponent Chen Wuyin faced was neither dumb nor naive. Even before he made a move, Yi Qiushui had already launched herself towards him, leaving behind a red afterimage.

Bang! Bang!

The two completed their first exchange of attacks!

𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Yi Qiushui had come here in search of the valuable item. Ever since Chen Wuyin entered Misty Waters City, she had kept her eyes on him. Driven by her eagerness for success, she had no intention of letting him leave easily.

She had followed closely so that Chen Wuyin wouldn't leave her sight. It wasn't a matter of testing him. If he claimed there were no valuable items, could that really be true? Regardless of its truth, Yi Qiushui had to kill him before verifying it.

Since the beginning, her intentions had been clear. She would kill him and steal the treasures. Both had to be done.

And Chen Wuyin's urge to kill was even stronger.

If Yi Qiushui had never mentioned another valuable item, he would have simply searched the place and left with half of the Immortal's Cauldron of Inferno. But upon learning of other valuable items, it became impossible for him to simply give up and leave.

The treasure coveted by the Scarlet-Robe Hall must not be some ordinary item. It might be even more valuable than the Immortal's Cauldron of Inferno! If he could kill Yi Qiushui, Chen Wuyin would be willing to dig up the entire place if necessary to find the item!

The two individuals from the diabolical sects harbored sinister intentions. As if engaging in a prearranged duel, they both launched their attacks at the first opportunity!

Both attempted to ambush each other, effectively nullifying their efforts.

It was an open and straightforward collision!

Although the residence was spacious, it was still too narrow for the fight between these two individuals!

A resounding bang and clash echoed through the room as shards of red light scattered everywhere, and cracks appeared on the walls of the residence.

Instead of helping their sect leader, the two disciples of the Soul Destroyer Sect tried to leave. However, when Yi Qiushui clenched her fist in mid-air, the two disciples suddenly froze in place.

Then came two muffled sounds.

Crunch, crunch.

Blood fog exploded from their bodies, causing them to wither and dry up, resembling dried grass as the blood drained from their bodies. From the blood fog emerged a ghostly claw that lunged toward Chen Wuyin.

Chen Wuyin clenched his fist and summoned his white bone spear. Gripping it firmly, he pressed it against the center of the ghost claw palm. The moment their weapons made contact, a glaring green ghostly flame erupted!

Boom!

It was another explosion!

The walls around them, including the wall to the secret room, collapsed.

The Elder Reaper had likely escaped in a hurry and hadn't constructed this underwater residence sturdy enough. Even this secret room, though somewhat concealed, couldn't withstand such a powerful impact and collapsed in an instant.

Amidst the flickering sparks of the collapsing walls, a sword qi reminiscent of a dragon whistled past Yi Qiushui, heading straight for Chen Wuyin! It caught him off guard!

This sword again!

Chen Wuyin thought to himself.

Chen Wuyin, having narrowly escaped the previous sword attack, felt a surge of fear as he faced it again. Before he could even process his thoughts, he instinctively attempted to use the immortal art, Sacrificial Substitute!

But just as he was about to act, he suddenly felt his blood flow stagnate throughout his body, as if something were obstructing the circulation of his qi and blood.

It was the Blood-Controlling Technique from the Scarlet-Robe Hall!

Chen Wuyin immediately realized the reason. Yi Qiushui had cast this technique on him to disrupt his normal state. With his cultivation level, this type of technique would only make him feel uncomfortable and hinder the smooth activation of his divine skills.

However, at this critical moment of life or death, even a slight delay in the circulation of qi could determine his fate.

Boom!

This terrifying sword qi engulfed Chen Wuyin directly, mercilessly crushing his entire form into dust, leaving nothing behind for a long time.

This sword also startled Yi Qiushui, sending shivers down her spine.

With a face full of shock and doubt, she turned back and saw a mysterious figure in a black robe retracting the sword light. The figure slowly emerged from behind the crumbling wall, speaking with a hoarse and elderly voice.

"Don't panic, lass. I won't kill you."