The Demonic Cultivator In Zombie World

Chapter 216: Another Betrayal

Chu Xuan stood among the crowd in Heavenly Sword City, his eyebrows raising as he read the posted notice. The bounty for Zhang Xingshan was higher than the reward of Huikong. What secrets did Zhang Xingshan harbor, or rather, what was the true nature of that seed?

Silently, Chu Xuan retreated from the crowd, lost in thought. The appearance of Reincarnation Divine Church cultivators in Heavenly Sword City indicated they were seeking Shangguan Hao.

This implied that Shangguan Hao might know what the seed was. To the current Chu Xuan, Shangguan Hao, merely at the early stage of Nascent Soul, was not a formidable opponent. Yun Zhongyu had posed little challenge, and thus Shangguan Hao would be even easier to handle.

However, Chu Xuan had already discerned Shangguan Hao's habits. The man kept to his abode, rarely venturing out, with his subordinates handling nearly all affairs. How could Chu Xuan gain control over him?

If he were to storm the residence, he doubted he could break through the dwelling's protective formations quickly. If Shangguan Hao had time to react, the situation would deteriorate. Chu Xuan could imagine his whereabouts becoming known soon after, leading to a perilous state of being hunted.

The worst outcome would be the necessity to reveal the Blood Mirror, using it to escape right under the watchful eyes of many. That would be troublesome. He might never be able to return to the extraterritorial battlefield, as there could always be someone waiting on the other side of the Blood Mirror, ready to catch him as he emerged.

"Rash actions are unwise," Chu Xuan concluded. "I should lie low in Heavenly Sword City. Surely, Shangguan Hao cannot stay secluded in his dwelling forever."

Chu Xuan calmed his mind and made a plan. He spent some effort to bribe a low-level Golden Core cultivator residing above Shangguan Hao's mansion, claiming he wished to meet Shangguan Hao and inquiring about the times he might emerge from seclusion.

The other party, suspecting nothing amiss, agreed immediately. After all, Shangguan Hao was the lord of Heavenly Sword City, a prestigious Nascent Soul cultivator. Many sought an audience with him, and Chu Xuan's actions did not draw any particular attention—mostly thanks to the substantial sincerity he had shown with his bribe.

In the blink of an eye, half a year had passed on the extraterritorial battlefield, while five years had elapsed on Blue Star. Chu Xuan spent most of his time on Blue Star practicing the "Thousand Refinement Dragon Elephant Technique," but he never allowed himself to become too immersed in it.

Periodically, he would return to Heavenly Sword City to check on Shangguan Hao's movements. Despite his intermittent training schedule, supported by the substantial flesh of the Nether Crocodiles, Chu Xuan had elevated his physical cultivation to the thirty-first level. This realm was now comparable to the combat power of a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator.

Furthermore, when Chu Xuan had time to spare, he would stroll around Heavenly Sword City, purchasing anything he needed on a whim. He took an interest in several poison scriptures and bought them all in one go.

Additionally, he acquired a breath-concealment technique from the auction house. Previously, he had cultivated the "Turtle Breath Technique," a Foundation Establishment Stage method that allowed him to freely alter the strength of his aura.

However, this technique was less effective now that he was beyond the Foundation Establishment Stage. He had since upgraded to the "Abyssal Return Method," a top-tier Golden Core breath-concealment technique with only three levels. If cultivated to the highest level, one could even learn a secret art of feigning death, embodying the essence of the Path of Survival.

Although cultivating the "Abyssal Return Method" did not significantly increase his overall power, it substantially enhanced his survivability.

During his wanders, Chu Xuan also encountered several old acquaintances. For instance, there was the middle-aged cultivator Duan Que, who had changed his appearance and even his name to "Ning Que."

His once bald head was now covered with thick black hair, making one suspect he had experience in fleeing. Others, like Wan Wuying, Zhao Wuya, and Huang Yuanwu, were conducting their cautious small businesses in Heavenly Sword City, which mostly involved occasional assassinations and treasure robberies.

Yet, they were clearly still troubled by the scarcity of Nascent Soul spiritual items. Like them, many other robbers did not receive much attention from Shangguan Hao, who seldom expended effort to manage the robbers around Heavenly Sword City.

Moreover, the trio knew well whom they could provoke and whom they could not, and thus they never attracted any formidable enemies. Life was relatively comfortable for them.

Chu Xuan recognized them, but they could not recognize him. His skill in disguise was not quite at the pinnacle, but it was certainly masterful. Even some Nascent Soul cultivators might not see through his disguise. Chu Xuan had no desire to reveal his identity to them, as that could potentially invite unnecessary trouble.

As Chu Xuan patiently waited, an opportunity finally presented itself. Shangguan Hao emerged from seclusion! Surprisingly, though he nominally entered the Shangguan family estate, he actually changed his appearance and secretly slipped out the back door, leaving the city!

"Interesting indeed, who could he be meeting so secretly?" Chu Xuan raised an eyebrow in curiosity. He remembered that Shangguan Hao once had an affair with his female disciple, and he was known for being under his wife's strict control. It was very likely that this outing was for a clandestine rendezvous with a woman. With a smack of his lips, Chu Xuan too left the city.

However, no sooner had he mingled with the crowd and passed through the gates than he noticed two figures also discreetly leaving Heavenly Sword City within the throng. He recognized their faces instantly; they were the two Reincarnation Divine Sect cultivators who had visited Heavenly Sword City that day. One was at the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul, and the other at the early stage. It appeared they were following Shangguan Hao as well.

Chu Xuan's interest grew stronger.

Could it be... that catching a cheater now required the involvement of the upper sect? Since when had the Reincarnation Divine Sect been so strict about the personal conduct of its disciples?

Something didn't add up.

Silently, Chu Xuan followed them.

...

Six hundred li south of Heavenly Sword City, there lay a region riddled with numerous caverns known as Thousand Caverns. The dark grottos within could suddenly erupt with thousands of nether crocodiles. It was common for cultivators from Heavenly Sword City to come here to clear out ancient beast remains.

From a distance, Chu Xuan saw Shangguan Hao enter one of the caverns of Thousand Caverns. The two from the Reincarnation Divine Sect followed him inside. Chu Xuan was puzzled but then, the cavern erupted with earth-shattering explosions.

Boom!

Four figures suddenly flew out, engaging in pairs.

"Shangguan Hao, you dare to leak the sacred secrets of our sect to the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect; you deserve death!" roared the younger Nascent Soul cultivator of the Reincarnation Divine Sect.

Shangguan Hao said nothing and fought while retreating, clearly outmatched by the younger Nascent Soul cultivator. The other combat scene was not so one-sided; it saw the Reincarnation Divine Sect's Nascent Soul cultivator being overpowered by a figure in black.

Hidden in the shadows, Chu Xuan realized his mistake. It turned out Shangguan Hao was meeting with someone from the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect, betraying the secrets of the Reincarnation Divine Sect.

How misleading.

Yet as he pondered, Chu Xuan recalled information about the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect. This sect was a formidable sixth-tier cultivation sect, on par with the Reincarnation Divine Sect. The two had been at odds for thousands of years, a rivalry marked by intense animosity.

Two thousand years ago, the Reincarnation Divine Sect had even seized two resource-rich cultivation stars from the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect. But now, the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect was rising, ready to turn the tables.

Shangguan Hao's actions were nothing short of treachery against the Reincarnation Divine Sect. What awaited him was a fearsome crackdown. What benefits had the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect offered to tempt Shangguan Hao into such betrayal?