When Lin Yun and Zhou Damao rushed to the scene, they arrived just in time to see the disciple's heart being pierced by a sword.
In that instant, the last shred of fantasy in everyone's hearts vanished like smoke into thin air. No matter how easily they had been handling things before, the scene laid out before them was enough to make them understand.
What Lin Yun had said earlier was no joke.
It was all real.
Something had gone wrong in the Spirit Realm, and now, even if they wanted to leave, it would likely be impossible.
Lin Yun had thought that Zhou Damao might lose control and charge forward. But in reality, even after witnessing this brutal act, Zhou Damao's composure was still astonishingly calm.
"If we rush out now, we won't be able to save them. On the contrary, we'll just get ourselves into trouble as well." Zhou Damao knew that the few disciples behind him wanted to help, but in a situation like this, they had to remain calm. Their opponents' abilities were clearly far more difficult to deal with than they had imagined.
"Senior Brother Zhou, what should we do now?"
"These guys look really strong. Just the few of us… it doesn't seem like enough."
The disciples looked to Zhou Damao. They had trusted him before, and now that something so serious had occurred, their trust in him was even greater.
Zhou Damao glanced at Lin Yun beside him. "Junior Brother Lin, you already know something about these people. Do you have any good ideas right now? After all, they are our fellow disciples. Even if there have been some misunderstandings, we can't just watch them die and do nothing."
Seeing Zhou Damao's earnest plea, Lin Yun gave an embarrassed smile. "Senior Brother Zhou, you've truly misunderstood me. I've also been racking my brain trying to figure out what to do. Based on my understanding of these people, I can now be certain that they are from the Crimson Ghost Sect."
Thinking back, there were tracks to follow. The Crimson Ghost Sect had wanted to steal the Chen family's Yuqili. At the same time, they had wanted to snatch Xiao Bai. These all seemed to be crucial pieces of evidence. Now, this group had traveled a great distance to come to the Spirit Realm. Lin Yun would never believe that these events were unconnected.
"We still don't know what the Crimson Ghost Sect's goal is. Until we figure out their objective, even if we try to help, I'm afraid it will have little effect."
Although Lin Yun found Fei Yuming to be an odd and irritating person, he wasn't so cold as to watch him die without lifting a finger. He looked at the group in the distance. After confirming there was no immediate danger, he cautiously drew a little closer.
Finally, he triggered the panel.
[Name]: Qi Desheng
[Realm]: Spirit Cauldron - Stage 6
[Destiny Template]: Nine Yin Baleful Aura (Purple)
[Attributes]: Supreme Yin, Supreme Evil (Blue), Righteousness Cannot Suppress Evil (Green), Naturally Suspicious (White)
[Nine Yin Baleful Aura]: You were born accompanied by baleful energy. Your efficiency in practicing evil cultivation methods is increased, and the power of such methods is greatly enhanced! [Supreme Yin, Supreme Evil]: Your mother was killed by your supreme yin and evil nature at the moment of your birth. You are naturally sensitive to baleful and evil energies.
[Righteousness Cannot Suppress Evil]: A natural-born villain, you have a great advantage when fighting against people filled with righteous energy!
[Naturally Suspicious]: Due to your childhood experiences, you do not trust many people around you.
[Fate]: Suffers a cultivation deviation while practicing demonic arts, ultimately becoming nourishment for another's cultivation.
[Recent Turning Point]: Captures disciples of the Beast Taming Sect in the Spirit Realm. On the way back, encounters a broken tombstone and finds the entrance to an ancient secret realm beneath it, but gives up on it because it is too dangerous.
Lin Yun frowned. This man's strength wasn't overwhelmingly powerful. If he got the chance, Lin Yun was confident he could defeat him. However, Lin Yun was also very clear about his own limitations. Just because he had defeated Xiao Pingtian didn't mean he could casually challenge any Spirit Cauldron Realm expert.
The disciples of the Crimson Ghost Sect were different from Xiao Pingtian. These people committed all sorts of evil on a daily basis, and even their internal affairs were rife with conflict. For Qi Desheng to have climbed to his current position, he must have trodden upon countless skeletons. A person like that couldn't be defeated with mere words.
"There's an ancient secret realm up ahead. I discovered it when I first came this way," Lin Yun whispered. "There's a very powerful existence inside. It's very dangerous. If we can lure this guy in there, we might have a chance."
But Zhou Damao shook his head. "Wouldn't that be a bit too risky? Besides, this guy looks very cautious. How could we possibly convince him to trust us?" He sounded helpless as he said this. If he had a choice, he would of course trust Lin Yun's plan, but Qi Desheng would indeed not be easy to fool.
Lin Yun was also pondering this. Given that this guy is naturally suspicious, how can we make him believe us?
Just then, Lin Yun saw Fei Yuming approaching Qi Desheng.
"Um… can… can we talk alone for a moment?"
Qi Desheng glanced at Fei Yuming. His goal here was simple: to take these few people and leave. Anything else was irrelevant. He didn't even care much if a few of the Beast Taming Sect disciples were missing.
"I have no time to waste on you. The sooner I deliver you all, the sooner I can get to my own business." This was the Spirit Realm, after all. How could he miss such a great opportunity?
"I wonder if you've heard anything about a person named Lin Yun?" Fei Yuming began. "That guy became quite famous in the cultivation world a while back."
As expected, upon hearing the name "Lin Yun," Qi Desheng, who had been completely indifferent, finally showed a reaction.
Lin Yun? That was the kid who had nearly angered his own Sect Master to death. If he could capture him… Qi Desheng could almost see a brilliant future unfolding before him.
The other captive disciples, however, were stunned.
"Senior Brother Fei, what are you doing?" Cen Xiu'er also wanted to be rescued, but she had never considered selling out a fellow sect member to do it. She didn't like Zhou Damao's personality, but that didn't mean she was a traitor.
Seeing the shocked looks everyone was giving him, Fei Yuming just sneered. "Hmph, is there a problem? That Lin Yun is a traitor himself. I'm not betraying Zhou Damao!"