Translator: Cinder Translations
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For reasons unknown, Zhang Xiaofan seemed unable to accept that Ji Yin, who had entered the Corpse Demon Sect at the same time as him and had now become a Nascent Soul cultivator, had progressed so far.
After some deep thought, he came up with a possibility and pointed at Song Wen, saying:
"I understand now. You're not Ji Yin. Ji Yin was killed by you, and after searching his soul, you learned about me and Chen Yi. You know that I'm in charge of the White Bone Cave, so you deliberately approached me, intending to use me to get the Dead Man's Vine."
Song Wen coldly stared at Zhang Xiaofan, not bothering to defend his identity. Instead, with a hint of mockery in his voice, he spoke:
"Zhang Xiaofan, you're quite clever. First, you used me to help you kill Lu Cang and his daughter, then later tried to use the power of the Corpse Demon Sect to get rid of me. I must admit, I underestimated you."
At this point, Song Wen's voice suddenly turned cold and piercing.
"I'll ask you one more time: do you have the two hundred Dead Man's Vines I want or not?"
Zhang Xiaofan didn't answer. Instead, Miao Tong, who had been kneeling, suddenly became agitated. He pointed at Zhang Xiaofan and scolded:
"Fancheng, so this was all part of your scheme. You've betrayed your teacher, murdered your master, and harmed your own companions, while framing this senior, causing a misunderstanding between us and him. You're beyond redemption and deserve the harshest punishment. Your soul should be extracted and your spirit refined, suffering the pain of eternal flames that scorch your soul."
Afterward, he turned to Song Wen and cupped his hands, saying:
"Senior, this is all just a misunderstanding. Please, senior, have mercy and give us three a chance to live."
Song Wen responded, "What kind of chance to live are you asking for?"
Miao Tong said, "Senior, although Zhang Xiaofan is in charge of the White Bone Cave, he wouldn't dare touch any of the Dead Man's Vines there. As for me, I am the current actual leader of the Corpse Demon Sect, and I can definitely get you two hundred Dead Man's Vines."
Song Wen became a bit more interested, and his tone softened as he asked:
"May I know your name?"
"I am Miao Tong, the Master of the Law Enforcement Hall of the Corpse Demon Sect," Miao Tong replied.
Song Wen examined Miao Tong, his thoughts turning inward.
Gou Jun, the most powerful cultivator of the Corpse Demon Sect and the only Nascent Soul cultivator, did not personally handle the sect's affairs.
The Corpse Demon Sect had no sect leader. The sect's day-to-day matters were usually managed by the Golden Core cultivators.
Before Gongsun Cailu went into seclusion to attempt a breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage, she and Miao Tong were the two most powerful figures in the Corpse Demon Sect.
After Gongsun Cailu entered seclusion, most of the sect's power had effectively fallen to Miao Tong.
Therefore, Miao Tong's words weren't without merit.
However, in Song Wen's eyes, there were large gaps in Miao Tong's story.
Suddenly, a narrow jade box appeared in Song Wen's hand. He opened the box, revealing a Dead Man's Vine inside.
He asked Miao Tong:
"You say Zhang Xiaofan wouldn't dare to touch any Dead Man's Vines, so how do you explain this one?"
Miao Tong glanced at the Dead Man's Vine and asked:
"Did Zhang Xiaofan give this Dead Man's Vine to you, senior?"
Song Wen replied, "Indeed."
Miao Tong said, "Then this Dead Man's Vine must be problematic."
"What's wrong with it?" Song Wen asked.
"Dead Man's Vines are most susceptible to a disease called the 'Phosphorus Bone Moth,' and this vine is likely infected with it," Miao Tong explained.
Song Wen, puzzled, asked, "Why can't I detect anything wrong with it?"
Miao Tong replied, "Before the Phosphorus Bone Moth transforms into an adult, spiritual sense can't detect the presence of its eggs. Senior, if you tear open the vine's stalk, you'll certainly find the eggs hidden inside."
Song Wen pondered for a moment and said:
"If there are indeed eggs inside the vine stalk, I'll give you a chance to live. If not, you die!"
With that, Song Wen snapped his fingers, unleashing a burst of spiritual energy.
A surge of spiritual energy struck the Dead Man's Vine, instantly tearing apart the vine stalk, revealing the intertwined fibers inside.
Within these fibers, there were indeed small white insect eggs, as fine as hair.
Song Wen's expression turned cold, and a powerful, storm-like pressure suddenly surged toward Zhang Xiaofan.
Zhang Xiaofan knew that Song Wen wouldn't spare him, and the moment he was captured, he had already prepared himself for death.
Faced with the sudden pressure from Song Wen, Zhang Xiaofan remained calm, but he had underestimated Song Wen's cruel methods.
A blood-red tentacle shot out suddenly, striking Zhang Xiaofan's mouth.
Zhang Xiaofan immediately spat out blood and fell backward, his teeth also spilling out.
Then, the sharp tip of the tentacle, now transformed into a fine needle, violently pierced Zhang Xiaofan's left eye.
The tentacle twisted, pulling his eyeball out.
Zhang Xiaofan fell to the ground, screaming in agony.
However, Song Wen had no intention of stopping there.
The tentacle wrapped around his right arm, and with a powerful jerk, Zhang Xiaofan's right arm was torn off, blood splattering everywhere.
"Ji Yin, we were once acquainted, please grant me a swift death," Zhang Xiaofan pleaded.
"Want to die? It's not that easy. The pain that Chen Yi endured before her death, you will experience it a thousand times over," Song Wen replied.
With that, a dark, malevolent aura erupted from his body, flooding into Zhang Xiaofan's nose and mouth.
Zhang Xiaofan's face contorted in pain as his body trembled uncontrollably, letting out indistinct low growls.
The malevolent energy squeezed his internal organs, putting him in a state of near-death but unable to die, tormenting him endlessly.
"Ji Yin, please... kill me..." Zhang Xiaofan begged.
"Back then, Chen Yi begged the same way," Song Wen shook his head and said indifferently.
He no longer paid attention to Zhang Xiaofan and turned his focus to Miao Tong.
"Can you really bring me two hundred-year-old Dead Man's Vines, ones that are transplantable?"
Initially, after witnessing Zhang Xiaofan's miserable condition, Miao Tong and the others couldn't help but feel a sense of impending doom, fearing they would be next.
However, after hearing Song Wen's words, Miao Tong's expression brightened, as though he had grasped a lifeline, and he replied confidently:
"Senior, I will definitely be able to do it."
Song Wen turned his gaze toward Hao Man, asking:
"Do you think he can do it?"
Hao Man hesitated, unsure of how to answer.
She glanced at Song Wen, then turned to look at Miao Tong, whose eyes were filled with hope. She nodded and replied:
"Senior, given Miao Tong's position within the sect, it is indeed possible for him to accomplish this."
Song Wen said, "Think carefully before answering me. If he truly brings back the Dead Man's Vines, I will spare you two. If he fails, you will die a worse death than Zhang Xiaofan."
Hao Man's pupils contracted slightly, and after a brief hesitation, she said:
"Miao Tong can accomplish this task. However, once he returns to the sect, he may not come back. Instead, he will likely go to Gou Jun, the ancestor, and report this matter."
Song Wen looked at Miao Tong, a cold smile forming at the corner of his mouth.
"Your sect member says that you will not keep your word and bring me the Dead Man's Vines, but will instead go to Gou Jun to deal with me. Is this really your plan?"
(End of the Chapter)
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