Spirit Ruins Realm

In the shadows of the Black Wind Mountains, a figure in red flashed by like a ghost.

Jiang Li wiped the bloodstains off the rusty iron sword. The blood droplets dripping from the sword tip spread on the ground and were quickly swept away by the mountain wind.

She looked up at a mountain peak shrouded in black mist in the distance—the location of the Void Fiend Sect's mountain gate—and a cold glint flashed in her eyes.

During her time in the Spirit Ruins Realm, she hunted down disciples of the Ruins Fiend Sect almost every day.

From the initial outer disciples of the Tribulation Transcending Realm, to the later inner disciples of the early Dao Proving Realm, and now, even the core disciples of the mid-Dao Proving Realm have become the dead under her sword.

Nourished by the rich spiritual energy and driven by her obsession with revenge, her cultivation level soared like a rocket, and she now stood firmly at the peak of the Dao Inquiry stage, just one step away from the Dao Proof stage.

“The Void Fiend Sect…” Jiang Li murmured softly, her fingertips tracing the cold blade of the sword. “What you owe the Cangxuan Realm, I will take back little by little.”

She never directly confronted the main force of the Xu Sha Sect, always choosing to target lone disciples. After succeeding, she would immediately flee, like the most cunning hunter.

Some people called her despicable, saying she didn't dare to confront them head-on, but Jiang Li scoffed – if you can't beat them, run away; if you can outrun them, kill them. Only a fool wouldn't take advantage of a good deal.

Just as she thought: Since you have the numbers and the power, you have no chance of winning in a head-on fight. So I can only steal and ambush, otherwise am I just waiting to be slaughtered by you?

In recent days, nearly a hundred disciples of the Xu Sha Sect have died by her sword.

The main hall of the Xu Sha Sect.

The atmosphere was so heavy it was almost palpable; the ashes of the burnt sandalwood fell onto the cold ground, and no one dared to move.

"Disgrace! Utter disgrace!"

The Grand Elder, seated at the head of the table, slammed his hand on the table, instantly shattering the hard rosewood table into dust. His hair and beard stood on end, his eyes were bloodshot, and his voice boomed like thunder:

"Our Void Fiend Sect has been established for a thousand years. Who in the Spirit Void Realm dares to disrespect us? Now, we have been used as a training target by a cowardly little thief, who killed nearly a hundred of our disciples, including three of our core disciples! If word gets out, our Void Fiend Sect will be utterly disgraced!"

The elders below were terrified and kept their heads down, not daring to utter a word.

These days, the sect is in a state of panic. Disciples dare not go out alone and even have to form teams to buy supplies. The once domineering Xu Sha Sect has been forced to shrink back into its mountain gate by an unknown thief. No one can swallow this insult.

Investigate! Investigate thoroughly!

The Grand Elder roared, "Even if we have to dig three feet into the ground, we must find that little thief! Also, pass down the order: unless absolutely necessary, no disciple is to step outside the mountain gate. Anyone who disobeys will have their cultivation crippled!"

Just then, a steady footstep sound came from outside the hall.

Everyone looked up and saw a middle-aged man dressed in black robes with a calm and composed face walk in. His aura was restrained, yet he carried a chilling pressure—he was none other than the sect master of the Void Fiend Sect, a peak expert who had been in seclusion for many years.

"Sect Master!" Everyone bowed in unison.

The sect leader walked to the head seat and sat down, his gaze sweeping across the hall. His voice was calm but carried an undeniable authority: "I just came out of seclusion and heard about these unpleasant things."

He tapped the armrest lightly with his fingertips. Though he was not angry, his words were more chilling than the Grand Elder's roar: "A petty thief has caused chaos in my Xu Sha Sect. He should indeed be dealt with."

The Grand Elder hurriedly said, "Sect Master, that little thief is elusive and his strength should be around the Dao Proving Realm. He is especially skilled in concealment and ambush, and the disciples have suffered heavy losses..."

"The Dao Proving Realm?" The sect leader's lips curled into a cold smile. "If he were truly a Dao Proving Realm expert who had nothing to fear, why would he be hiding like this? In my opinion, he's just a nobody who broke through by sheer luck and is eager for revenge. Otherwise, why would he only dare to attack my disciples and not dare to break into my sect?"

His analysis coincided with that of the Grand Elder—true powerhouses disdain resorting to such sneak attacks.

"The sect leader is wise!" the Grand Elder quickly echoed.

The sect leader waved his hand and said in a deep voice, "Second Elder, Third Elder, Fourth Elder, Fifth Elder."

The four powerful elders immediately stepped forward: "Present!"

These four individuals are all at the late stage of the Dao Proving Realm and are the backbone of the Xu Sha Sect, possessing unfathomable strength.

“You four,” the sect leader said, a sharp glint in his eyes, “take some bait out with you—choose a few of the most outgoing and talented disciples, have them pretend to be alone, and lure that little thief into making a move.”

"The four of you follow secretly, and remember not to reveal your presence."

"If that thief shows up and you find him weak, you should capture him and force him to reveal his background and what forces are behind him."

"If he truly has powerful backers," the sect leader's voice was as cold as ice, "then we will destroy his entire force. The dignity of the Void Fiend Sect cannot be challenged!"

"If the four of you can't take him down either..."

The sect leader paused, a hint of seriousness flashing in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by arrogance. "Then come back immediately and report back. I will take action personally. However, I think that possibility is unlikely."

In his view, a petty thief who could only rely on sneak attacks was at most at the mid-stage of the Dao Proving Realm, and the four late-stage Dao Proving Realm elders would be more than capable of handling him.

"Yes!" the four elders replied in unison, a hint of killing intent flashing in their eyes—anyone who dares to provoke the Void Fiend Sect must die.

The sect leader waved his hand: "Go. Resolve this as soon as possible, lest it tarnish the reputation of my Xu Sha Sect."

The four elders turned and left. The atmosphere in the hall remained heavy, but there was a hint of anticipation—everyone was waiting for the thief to be caught so they could avenge their previous humiliation.

None of them knew that the "little thief" they regarded as a "clown" was standing on the highest peak of the Black Wind Mountains, gazing in the direction of the Void Fiend Sect, his rusty iron sword gleaming coldly in the setting sun.

Jiang Li gently stroked the sword hilt, a bloodthirsty smile curling at the corner of her lips.

Jiang Li encountered their Third Elder outside, but instead of attacking him, she placed a listening talisman given to her by her master on him.

"The talismans Master gave us are really useful; they probably won't even realize it until they die."

"Trying to lure me out?"

“Perfect timing, I also felt that killing them one by one was too slow.”

She could sense that four powerful auras were moving from the direction of the Void Fiend Sect's mountain gate, and their target seemed to be... the other side of the Black Wind Mountain Range.

"Late stage of Dao attainment?" Jiang Li's eyes showed no fear, but were filled with fighting spirit. "They are more resilient than those disciples."

She swayed and disappeared into the shadows once more, like a lone wolf chasing its prey, rushing toward the four auras.

A game of hunting and counter-hunting is about to begin in the Blackwind Mountains.

The four elders of the Void Fiend Sect were unaware of the formidable being they had drawn out.