Chapter 587: The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole Behind |
"What's your plan for the operation later?"
Ning Qi looked at the middle-aged man and asked curiously.
"Hmph, it'll be dark soon. Our demonic energy will blend with the night; they won't be able to detect it."
"Once we get right in front of them, the slaughter will begin."
The middle-aged man sneered, his eyes filled with murderous intent.
His entire body was already emanating a faint killing aura.
Lin Fan, watching him from the side, couldn't help but reveal a slight smile.
"Master, what should we do? We can't just follow them to kill people, right?"
Pill Spirit, hiding inside Ning Qi, couldn't resist asking.
Ning Qi communicated with him using divine sense.
"Ah, but won't they misunderstand us then?"
Upon hearing this, Pill Spirit quickly said.
"No. Dealing with this many people alone isn't a problem for me."
"But with so many, I can't possibly keep them all from escaping."
"Only by going down and taking advantage of the chaos of battle will I have a chance."
Ning Qi responded.
"Oh, I see now."
Only then did Pill Spirit understand his intention.
"The time is about right."
At this moment, the middle-aged man glanced at the sky and spoke to the group.
"Shall we charge down and kill them?"
"Sir, we are ready."
...
The people behind him immediately began asking one after another.
Each of them wore an eager, ready-for-action expression.
"Mmm, prepare to move."
The middle-aged man nodded, then abruptly stood up.
Afterwards, he began feeling his way down the mountain.
During this process, the people behind him also rose one after another, following him down.
Ning Qi looked at the departing group, then also began walking down.
Their party quickly arrived near the Mountain Gate.
By now, the sky had completely darkened.
After they all concealed their demonic energy, the disciples at the Mountain Gate couldn't make out who they were at all.
"Halt!"
As they approached the Mountain Gate, a disciple came forward to stop them from advancing further.
"We are from the Myriad Swords Sect, here to discuss some matters with you!"
The middle-aged man further suppressed his demonic energy, then said with a smile.
"Fang Sword Sect? Weren't you all annihilated by the demonic race enemies?"
"Why are there still so many of you?"
That disciple clearly knew some things. Hearing this, he immediately became wary.
"Correct. We've come from the headquarters, hoping to learn about our situation from you."
The middle-aged man nodded, a sincere look even flashing in his eyes.
"Have your people stand back. You alone may approach."
This disciple was evidently very cautious, showing no intention of letting them all come up.
Instead, he directly told the middle-aged man to stop.
"Oh? Why?"
The middle-aged man looked at him and said coldly, "Do you doubt our identity?"
A ruthless glint instantly appeared in his eyes.
"Hmph, cut the nonsense, get lost!"
The disciple was also provoked, saying angrily.
"Pfft!"
The next moment, the middle-aged man was only a few meters away from him.
With just a lift of his hand and a single palm strike, he directly pierced through the disciple's chest.
The disciple didn't even have time to react before looking down to see his chest had been pierced.
His eyes were filled with utter disbelief.
Clearly, he never imagined he would be killed right at the entrance of his own sect's Mountain Gate.
His body ultimately couldn't hold on and collapsed to the ground.
"Kill!"
As he fell, the middle-aged man waved his hand.
"Kill!"
The crowd behind him roared and charged forward.
Everyone wore a bloodthirsty expression, the cold blades in their hands emitting chilling gleams that made one's hair stand on end.
"Enemy attack!"
"Quick, send for help!"
...
The disciples at the Mountain Gate immediately reacted.
They hurriedly called for help towards the mountain.
"Whoosh!"
"Swish!"
...
Instantly, several people began releasing signal flares.
Streaks of crimson light shot skyward, straight towards the starry sky.
Immediately afterwards, dozens of figures flew down from the mountain.
Each held weapons, glaring furiously at the crowd below.
"Master, what should we do?"
Pill Spirit hurriedly asked.
"Good, we'll act."
Ning Qi showed no intention of holding back, then added, "But we need to wait a bit longer."
"Alright!"
Knowing Ning Qi had a plan, Pill Spirit felt relieved.
He patiently waited for Ning Qi to choose the right moment to act.
"Ah!"
"Bang!"
...
While he observed the battle situation, people had already begun fighting.
When the two sides met, it was like enemies seeing each other, their eyes turning red with hatred.
Without mercy, they began to entangle and fight each other.
In an instant, the smell of blood filled the air, with severed limbs and mutilated corpses flying everywhere.
Trees and mountain rocks began to be affected, ancient trees in perfect condition were chopped down.
Giant boulders were also shattered by the shockwaves.
"Master, shall we act?"
"Their people clearly aren't strong enough."
Watching the ongoing battle, Pill Spirit couldn't help but ask.
"Mmm, the timing is about right too."
Ning Qi nodded, shifting his gaze forward.
By now, all the black-clad individuals here had charged down and were engaged in a chaotic melee with the disciples.
Both sides were blinded by bloodlust, completely unaware of his presence.
"Scatter."
At this moment, Ning Qi suddenly struck, directly beheading several black-clad individuals in front of him with a single sword stroke.
They didn't even have time to react before their heads were separated from their bodies.
"Pfft."
"Ah!"
Ning Qi attacked from behind, killing these people who had no means to resist.
Many didn't even know what was happening before becoming souls under his sword.
"You...."
"You're a traitor!"
After Ning Qi killed one person, he was finally discovered.
"I was never one of your people to begin with. How can you call me a traitor?"
Ning Qi asked with a cold laugh.
His hands weren't idle either, beheading the speaker with a single sword stroke.
"Kill!"
"This bastard is a fraud!"
"Kill him!"
The commotion he caused immediately attracted the attention of many.
They came flying over one after another, ready to fight Ning Qi to the death.
Unfortunately, they were no match for Ning Qi at all.
In the blink of an eye, over a dozen people had been slain by Ning Qi.
The ground was littered with mutilated corpses and severed limbs.
"Bastard, you deceived us!"
By this point, the middle-aged man finally realized something was wrong.
"Oh? Isn't it a bit late to realize that now?"
Ning Qi said with a cold laugh, "You beasts of the demonic race deserve to be killed by everyone."
"Kill!"
The middle-aged man forced back those surrounding him with a sword swing.
Then he abruptly moved, charging towards Ning Qi.
At this moment, he was determined to kill Ning Qi.
As for the people behind him, they were simply not in his eyes.
"Hoo."
Ning Qi took a deep breath and abruptly circulated his Immortal Power.
The surge of pure Immortal Power made everyone present turn their heads in astonishment.
"This is... an Immortal!"
"We're saved!"
"An Immortal is helping us deal with the demonic race people."
...
The disciples below exclaimed in surprise one after another, each face wearing an expression of having survived a catastrophe.
From the recent battle, they already knew the gap between themselves and the demonic race crowd.
Winning against them was simply impossible.
Just when they were about to be slaughtered, Ning Qi acted.
He ambushed from behind, killed many black-clad individuals, and then pinned down their leader.
This gave everyone something to cling to, like a lifesaving straw.
"Kill."
Seeing Ning Qi erupt with Immortal Power, the middle-aged man instantly felt deceived.
In his shame-turned-rage, he attacked with full force.
His entire being charged over like a ferocious beast.
"Pfft!"
However, just when everyone thought they were about to witness an intense battle, something unexpected happened.
Ning Qi, without the slightest effort, directly beheaded the middle-aged man with a single sword stroke.
His head separated from his body, the corpse plummeting downward.
It finally hit the ground, stirring up a cloud of dust.
From beginning to end, he never got to know what level of strength Ning Qi possessed.
He didn't even know who Ning Qi really was.
"Thank you, Immortal."
"We respectfully welcome the Immortal."
...
Witnessing this, everyone paid their respects to Ning Qi one after another.
Each pair of eyes held reverence and awe.
"Where is your Branch Master?"
Ning Qi looked at the disciples below and asked solemnly.
So many demonic race individuals had come here, yet he hadn't seen their Branch Master.
If he hadn't intervened, they would have been completely wiped out.
"Immortal, our Branch Master was ambushed by the demonic race crowd and is still recuperating on the mountain..."
"Immortal, we beg you, please save our Branch Master!"
...
Hearing his question, the disciples below immediately began to respond.
Each face wore a hopeful expression, wishing Ning Qi could help save their Branch Master.
"Oh? So it seems these demonic race individuals had already targeted you earlier."
"Knowing your Branch Master was injured, they came to ambush you."
Hearing their words, Ning Qi thought of something.
"Yes, our Branch Master was injured while assisting the Myriad Swords Sect's branch."
"The Myriad Swords Sect's branch has already been annihilated. We've been strictly defending these past few days."
...
After hearing Ning Qi's words, they all began to respond.
After listening to their explanation, Ning Qi finally understood what was going on.
"Alright, lead the way. Let me see his condition."
Ning Qi nodded, then landed on the stone steps, letting them guide him.
"Immortal, please."
Several disciples proactively came forward, inviting him to follow them.
He soon followed a few people up the mountain.
Upon reaching a bamboo hut in the back mountain, he saw their Branch Master in a Chamber.
At this moment, his complexion was dark, and his entire body was emitting wisps of black energy.
This was clearly a reaction to being eroded by demonic energy.
"He's been infected with demonic energy."
Pill Spirit also landed on Ning Qi's shoulder, wearing a grave expression.
"Mmm, correct."
Ning Qi nodded, then shifted his gaze to this Branch Master and said to the crowd, "He can still be saved. You all step back."
"Yes!"
Several disciples, hearing this, quickly agreed and then hurriedly retreated.
Each face was full of worry, but after all, Ning Qi was an Immortal, so they didn't dare to disobey his wishes.
"Master, how do you plan to save him?"
Pill Spirit became curious.
"What's so difficult about this?"
Ning Qi smiled, saying with full confidence, "I have demonic power. I'll just help him absorb it away."
"Right! How could I forget about that?"
Pill Spirit clapped his hands, couldn't help but smile and say, "Master, then he has truly met a noble person."
"Alright, help me keep an eye on the people here."
"I'll help him."
Ning Qi pointed at the doorway, then told him to watch it.
"Alright."
Pill Spirit quickly agreed, then headed for the doorway.
Ning Qi, meanwhile, focused his attention on the Branch Master before him.
He extended both hands and circulated a wisp of demonic energy.
Streams of drifting demonic energy immediately began to circulate around his body.
Under his control, they abruptly surged towards the Branch Master lying on the bed below.
"Sizzle! Sizzle!"
Upon contacting his body, sharp, sizzling sounds erupted.
But Ning Qi didn't stop. Instead, he manipulated his demonic energy, directly channeling it into the Branch Master's body.
Once inside, his demonic energy began abruptly devouring the demonic energy within the Branch Master's body.
"Hoo!"
After half an hour of refining and devouring, Ning Qi let out a long sigh of relief.
"Master, how is it?"
Pill Spirit hurriedly came over and asked.
His eyes were full of concern.
"It's fine now."
Ning Qi looked at the Branch Master on the bed, then called out towards the door, "Come in, all of you. Your Branch Master is fine now."
"Yes, Immortal!"
"Immortal, our Branch Master, he..."
Several disciples came forward one after another, looking at him with worried expressions.
"He's fine, but he needs to recuperate overnight."
"Help him by channeling spiritual energy using spirit stones. He'll wake up in about an hour."
Ning Qi looked at the few people and seriously instructed them.
"Yes."
"Go, get the supreme spirit stones."
Several disciples hurriedly began making arrangements.
"No need. Use my spirit marrow instead."
As he spoke, Ning Qi tossed one of his storage bags to them, "Use this. It should last over an hour, enough for him to wake up."
"Alright, thank you, Immortal."
Several disciples caught his storage bag and said.
"I'll wait for him outside. When he wakes up, have him come find me."
Ning Qi nodded, then directly left the bamboo hut.
After leaving, he came to a cliffside with a cave dwelling.
Standing here, looking into the distance, all he could see were continuous mountain ranges.
Within these mountains, faint surges of spiritual energy could be sensed.
"Master, this is also a good place."
Pill Spirit, standing on his shoulder, couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
"Yes. If our True Martial Spirit Realm had spiritual energy like this, our overall strength could improve too."
Ning Qi sighed, then shifted his gaze to a certain direction.
"Master, what do you think is the goal of these demonic race people?"
Pill Spirit also thought of something and couldn't resist asking.
"That has nothing to do with us."
"What I need to ensure is that they don't affect my journey to the Realm Sea Battlefield."
"There are dozens of regions like this, and countless Lower Realms below. Every day, some are invaded by the demonic race."
"But new Lower Realms are also born."
Ning Qi looked into the distance, then continued, "We just need to manage our own affairs well. We don't need to meddle in others' business."
"Master, do you think, since none of these demonic race people returned, will their people come again?"
Pill Spirit suddenly thought of something and quickly asked.