txolops Chapter 262 Mutual Schemes
Chapter 262 Mutual Schemes
With a tap of the finger, one is instantly transported to the fascinating world of Chapter 262, where people scheme against each other.
Luo Ming's heart stirred slightly, but his face quickly revealed an undisguised sarcasm and suspicion. He sneered, "Fellow Daoist Xiao, are you joking? You and I are merely at the Core Formation stage. Even if you have some understanding of that old ghost's techniques, do you really think you can fight a Nascent Soul stage cultivator head-on? Wouldn't that be courting death?"
"Hehe, I understand Fellow Daoist Luo's concerns." Xuan Gu was not offended by Luo Ming's doubts, but instead revealed a confident expression, as if everything was under control. "How could I, Fellow Daoist, allow you to do something so futile? This operation is not just between the two of us. There are two other comrades, both of whom have an irreconcilable hatred for that Extreme Yin Old Ghost. They will act together, and Fellow Daoist Luo even knows one of them. If that person hadn't told me that you two are close friends, I wouldn't have told you all this without reservation. Fellow Daoist Luo should be able to see my sincerity."
"My best friend? Fellow Daoist Xiao actually knows Junior Brother Han?" Luo Ming asked in surprise, feigning ignorance.
"Haha, your junior brother Han and I became friends after a fight, and now we've agreed to work together to deal with that guy Ji Yin. If you don't believe me, you can ask him when you meet fellow Daoist Han. I, Xiao, never lie to my allies."
He paused slightly, his gaze fixed intently on Luo Ming. Lowering his voice, he spoke with a seductive tone: "More importantly, I know the fundamental techniques and several key weaknesses of the *Xuan Yin Jing* cultivated by Ji Yin like the back of my hand! At that time, I have a secret technique that can catch him off guard, triggering a flaw in his technique and significantly weakening his strength in a short period of time… Hmph, by then, he'll be lucky to be able to unleash even a fraction of his supernatural powers! With the strength of the four of us, setting up a trap to besiege a Nascent Soul cultivator whose strength has been greatly diminished, don't we have a good chance of winning? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to eliminate this major threat to you, fellow Daoist!"
His words were confident and the prospects he described seemed quite tempting, especially his words about "flaws in the cultivation technique" and "great loss of strength." These might be hard to believe for other Nascent Soul cultivators, but coming from the mouth of this former master of the Extreme Yin Ancestor, they suddenly seemed more credible.
However, although Luo Ming's face subtly revealed a hint of "temptation" and "struggle," he ultimately shook his head slowly, his tone revealing obvious hesitation and caution: "Fellow Daoist Xiao's plan is excellent, but that Extreme Yin Ancestor is ultimately a Nascent Soul cultivator. Even with only half his strength remaining, he is by no means an ordinary person. The risks involved are too great. I am all alone and have many unfulfilled wishes. I am truly unwilling to take such a perilous risk. Fellow Daoist, you should seek a more capable alternative."
Upon seeing this, Xuan Gu's eyes flashed with a sharp light. He realized that although Luo Ming was still refusing, his attitude was not as resolute as before, and that momentary "heartbeat" was not fake.
His mind raced, and his smile widened, as if he had casually tossed out an even more significant bargaining chip:
"Fellow Daoist Luo's concerns are simply that even if Ji Yin is injured, our chances of victory are still slim, and our own safety is in jeopardy. What if... our strength could be raised to a higher level in a short period of time?"
His gaze swept over the imposing Thousand Demon Banner once more, his tone filled with temptation: "Fellow Daoist, while this Soul Banner is powerful, in my observation, although it contains many main souls, it lacks a truly powerful demon soul capable of commanding them all! If you could subdue a true 'Ghost King' and make it the banner's main spirit, thus fully perfecting this banner... then its power would undergo a qualitative change, enough to pose a substantial threat to Nascent Soul cultivators! Wouldn't your own safety be greatly enhanced? And wouldn't your chances of dealing with that weakened Extreme Yin increase by more than several times?"
"The Ghost King?" Luo Ming's pupils contracted sharply, this time his shock and longing were almost effortless to conceal. His breathing quickened slightly as he stared intently at Xuan Gu, urgently asking, "Fellow Daoist Xiao, do you know where the Ghost King is?"
Luo Ming felt a surge of excitement. He had been searching for the Ghost King's whereabouts for the past two days. What others avoided like the plague had become a hot commodity for Luo Ming. However, this Ghostly Land was quite large, and the number of Ghost Kings was extremely rare. It wasn't something he could just encounter whenever he wanted.
"It seems that for the sake of this Ghost King, I still need to cooperate with this old guy for the time being. It will also be a good opportunity to gain his trust. If Xuan Gu really wants to deal with that Extreme Yin Ancestor, and the situation is not that dangerous, I might as well lend a hand. Of course, I can't completely trust this person." Luo Ming secretly pondered.
Just as Xuan Gu threw out the "Ghost King" bait, a hurried and dissatisfied voice transmission suddenly rang out from the depths of his sea of consciousness:
"Brother Xiao! How could you reveal the matter of the Ghost King to this person? His demon banner is already malevolent, and it has a subtle restraining effect on our souls. If he were to obtain that Netherworld Ghost King and refine it into the banner, its power would increase dramatically. How could we possibly control him then? Wouldn't that be like shooting ourselves in the foot?!"
Xuan Gu remained calm, responding indifferently in his mind: "Brother, please be patient. This boy is meticulous and won't act without a clear benefit. He will never easily take the risk of cooperating with us to deal with Ji Yin without a substantial reward."
He paused slightly, his tone turning cold, revealing a chilling aura: "Moreover, that 'Netherworld Ghost King' has occupied the core Yin vein of the Ghostly Resentment Land for many years, and its strength has reached the human Pseudo-Nascent Soul realm. The power it can unleash in that Yin vein is such that even a Nascent Soul cultivator would have to expend considerable effort to kill it. Even if this boy possesses that demon banner, subduing the Ghost King will undoubtedly be a fierce battle, and he might even suffer severe injuries, or even..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was self-evident. Upon hearing this, the primordial spirit immediately understood, a sense of realization and admiration washing over it: "So that's how it is! Brother Xiao intends to use that Ghost King to weaken his strength first, or perhaps... hehe, then we can reap the benefits, not only eliminating one competitor but also gaining a powerful soul-path treasure for free! Brilliant!"
"That makes sense. An unclaimed treasure is always better than an unpredictable ally. We'll have a better chance of dealing with the Extreme Yin with the Demon Banner then." Xuan Gu calmly affirmed in his sea of consciousness.
Outside, Xuan Gu was secretly pleased to see Luo Ming "take the bait," but he remained outwardly calm and deliberately acted nonchalant, saying leisurely, "I naturally know where the Ghost King is. He resides in the most central Yin area of this Ghostly Resentment Land, possesses considerable supernatural powers, and commands countless high-level ghosts. Ordinary cultivators who approach him will surely die."
He changed the subject abruptly, saying seriously, "However, since I have shared such secrets with you, and helped you to seize the Ghost King, I naturally hope that you will reciprocate. After you successfully subdue the Ghost King and refine the precious banner, you will need to join us in eliminating the traitor Ji Yin! What do you think? This is a win-win situation for both of us."
Luo Ming's expression shifted, revealing a fierce inner struggle. At times, he gazed into the depths of the canyon, as if weighing the allure of the Ghost King; at other times, his brow furrowed, seemingly worried about the risks of dealing with Extreme Yin. After a long while, he seemed to finally make up his mind, letting out a heavy breath, looking at Xuan Gu, and saying in a deep voice:
"What Fellow Daoist Xiao said is indeed tempting. As for the Extreme Yin Ancestor... since this fiend already considers me someone he must eliminate, rather than passively waiting for him to ambush us, it's better to strike first!"
A resolute and sharp glint flashed in his eyes as he nodded slightly to Xuan Gu: "Very well! As long as Fellow Daoist Xiao can help me find and subdue that Ghost King and refine this banner, I, Luo, am willing to join forces with all of you fellow Daoists to vanquish the Extreme Yin!"
"Excellent!" Xuan Gu clapped his hands and laughed, the calculating glint in his eyes concealed by satisfaction. "Fellow Daoist Luo is indeed a man of great decision-making! In that case, we are allies. Without further ado, let's..."
Both men harbored their own thoughts, but neither revealed them on their faces. Having formed a temporary "alliance," dealing with the dozen or so demons blocking their path became their primary objective.
Xuan Gu no longer held back, and dark light flashed frequently from his sleeves. The eerie black chains and sharp black knives intertwined into a net, targeting the Yaksha's joints and the vital throat that spewed ghost fire. His use of Yin energy was exquisite and vicious, and he could interrupt the Yaksha's attacks at crucial moments, and even trigger the Yaksha's own Yin energy backlash, making its movements sluggish.
Seeing this, Luo Ming no longer held back. He activated the Thousand Demon Banner, and the dozen or so Core Formation main souls within it, receiving the command, became even more ferocious. Protected by the Yin Demon Armor, they were no longer timid and began to systematically besiege and divide the Yaksha. At the same time, with a slight thought, the Fat Sun Bird that had been circling beside him let out a clear, long cry, flapped its wings, and transformed into a streak of crimson-gold light, fiercely charging into the battle!
It doesn't engage in close combat with the Yaksha, but instead skillfully weaves among the demon souls, seizing the opportune moment to unleash a burst of pure, refined crimson fire. The flame isn't vast, but it's incredibly condensed, like a tangible stream of fire, and its restraint on evil spirits is terrifyingly potent.
A yaksha swung its bone fork at a demon, but was grazed on the arm by a small ball of crimson fire that came from the side. Instantly, its arm, covered in green fur and as hard as iron, melted and burned like wax, emitting a large plume of foul-smelling black smoke! The yaksha let out a painful howl, its attack was thrown into disarray, and it was instantly pounced upon and torn apart by several demons around it.
The appearance of the Fat Sun Bird was like a small sun thrown into a cold battlefield. The pure yang energy it emitted not only directly killed the Yakshas, but also greatly reduced the concentration of yin energy in the surrounding environment, making the Yakshas feel like they were trapped in a quagmire, and their strength was suppressed by three-tenths for no reason.
Xuan Gu watched coldly from the sidelines, his apprehension deepening. Especially the terrifyingly refined true fire that the Zhiyang Bird could control at will; even from a distance, he could feel a faint sense of rejection and discomfort from his own Yin-attribute cultivation technique, as if he had encountered a natural enemy.
Xuan Gu remained calm, responding indifferently in his mind: "Brother, please be patient. This boy is meticulous and won't act without a clear benefit. He will never take the risk of cooperating with us to deal with Ji Yin without a substantial reward. That Ghost King is the best bait."
He paused slightly, his tone turning cold, revealing a chilling aura: "Moreover, that 'Netherworld Ghost King' has occupied the core Yin vein of the Ghostly Resentment Land for many years, and its strength has reached the human Pseudo-Nascent Soul realm. The power it can unleash in that Yin vein is such that even a Nascent Soul cultivator would have to expend considerable effort to kill it. Even if this boy possesses that demon banner, subduing the Ghost King will undoubtedly be a fierce battle, and he might even suffer severe injuries, or even..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was self-evident. Upon hearing this, the primordial spirit immediately understood, a sense of realization and admiration washing over it: "So that's how it is! Brother Xiao intends to use that Ghost King to weaken his strength first, or perhaps... hehe, then we can reap the benefits, not only eliminating one competitor but also gaining a powerful soul-path treasure for free! Brilliant!"
"That makes sense. An unclaimed treasure is always better than an unpredictable ally. We'll have a better chance of dealing with the Extreme Yin with the Demon Banner then." Xuan Gu calmly affirmed in his sea of consciousness.
Outside, Xuan Gu was secretly pleased to see Luo Ming "take the bait," but he remained outwardly calm and deliberately acted nonchalant, saying leisurely, "I naturally know where the Ghost King is. He resides in the most central Yin area of this Ghostly Resentment Land, possesses considerable supernatural powers, and commands countless high-level ghosts. Ordinary cultivators who approach him will surely die."
He changed the subject abruptly, saying seriously, "However, since I have shared such secrets with you, and helped you to seize the Ghost King, I naturally hope that you will reciprocate. After you successfully subdue the Ghost King and refine the precious banner, you will need to join us in eliminating the traitor Ji Yin! What do you think? This is a win-win situation for both of us."
Luo Ming's expression shifted, revealing a fierce inner struggle. At times, he gazed into the depths of the canyon, as if weighing the allure of the Ghost King; at other times, his brow furrowed, seemingly worried about the risks of dealing with Extreme Yin. After a long while, he seemed to finally make up his mind, letting out a heavy breath, looking at Xuan Gu, and saying in a deep voice:
"What Fellow Daoist Xiao said is indeed tempting. As for the Extreme Yin Ancestor... since this fiend already considers me someone he must eliminate, rather than passively waiting for him to ambush us, it's better to strike first!"
A resolute and sharp glint flashed in his eyes as he nodded slightly to Xuan Gu: "Very well! As long as Fellow Daoist Xiao can help me find and subdue that Ghost King and refine this banner, I, Luo, am willing to join forces with all of you fellow Daoists to vanquish the Extreme Yin!"
"Excellent!" Xuan Gu clapped his hands and laughed, the calculating glint in his eyes concealed by satisfaction. "Fellow Daoist Luo is indeed a man of great decision-making! In that case, we are allies. Without further ado, let's..."
Both men harbored their own thoughts, but neither revealed them on their faces. Having formed a temporary "alliance," dealing with the dozen or so demons blocking their path became their primary objective.
Xuan Gu no longer held back, and dark light flashed frequently from his sleeves. The eerie black chains and sharp black knives intertwined into a net, targeting the Yaksha's joints and the vital throat that spewed ghost fire. His use of Yin energy was exquisite and vicious, and he could interrupt the Yaksha's attacks at crucial moments, and even trigger the Yaksha's own Yin energy backlash, making its movements sluggish.
Seeing this, Luo Ming no longer held back. He activated the Thousand Demon Banner, and the dozen or so Core Formation main souls within it, receiving the command, became even more ferocious. Protected by the Yin Demon Armor, they were no longer timid and began to systematically besiege and divide the Yaksha. At the same time, with a slight thought, the Fat Sun Bird that had been circling beside him let out a clear, long cry, flapped its wings, and transformed into a streak of crimson-gold light, fiercely charging into the battle!
It doesn't engage in close combat with the Yaksha, but instead skillfully weaves among the demon souls, seizing the opportune moment to unleash a burst of pure, refined crimson fire. The flame isn't vast, but it's incredibly condensed, like a tangible stream of fire, and its restraint on evil spirits is terrifyingly potent.
A yaksha swung its bone fork at a demon, but was grazed on the arm by a small ball of crimson fire that came from the side. Instantly, its arm, covered in green fur and as hard as iron, melted and burned like wax, emitting a large plume of foul-smelling black smoke! The yaksha let out a painful howl, its attack was thrown into disarray, and it was instantly pounced upon and torn apart by several demons around it.
The appearance of the Fat Sun Bird was like a small sun thrown into a cold battlefield. The pure yang energy it emitted not only directly killed the Yakshas, but also greatly reduced the concentration of yin energy in the surrounding environment, making the Yakshas feel like they were trapped in a quagmire, and their strength was suppressed by three-tenths for no reason.
Xuan Gu watched coldly from the sidelines, his apprehension deepening. Especially the terrifyingly refined true fire that the Zhiyang Bird could control at will; even from a distance, he could feel a faint sense of rejection and discomfort from his own Yin-attribute cultivation technique, as if he had encountered a natural enemy.
"A supreme yang spirit bird... and a descendant of the Zhiyang bird with such pure bloodline..." He frowned inwardly, recalling the young man surnamed Han he had encountered elsewhere, wielding what appeared to be a Golden Thunder Bamboo flying sword. "What's wrong with this world? Things that specifically counter the Yin spirits and ghostly paths, as well as our cultivation techniques, are popping up one after another..."