A strand of divine sense separated from Li Ye and merged directly into the Tracking Moth Gu, allowing him to perceive everything through the Gu's senses as if it were his own.
After the carnage wrought by the two third-rank fire beasts, the disciples of the three sects had suffered heavy losses most of them fleeing in panic, barely able to look out for themselves.
According to the fragments of memory recalled by Fan Yuanzhou, he had seen Cai Shiwei fleeing alone, without any companions at his side.
What happened afterward whether Cai Shiwei had been caught and killed by the fire beasts was unclear to Fan Yuanzhou.
But if he had survived, there was a good chance that, given how little time had passed since the massacre, Cai Shiwei hadn't yet regrouped with any fellow sect members.
After several days of exploration underground, his spiritual power and divine sense were bound to be far from full. On top of that, he had just escaped an assault by a third-rank fire beast…
And considering the bloodthirsty demonic cultivation method he practiced one that was severely countered by intense fire energy any trace of fire poison in his system would further weaken his abilities.
If Cai Shiwei was truly alone at this moment, then this… was a golden opportunity to take him out!
And conveniently, back when Cai Shiwei had taken the initiative to offer spirit materials in exchange for a ticket, the storage pouch he handed over had retained his aura perfect for the Tracking Moth Gu to lock onto.
"If cunning is just a means and not the end, then failing to seize such a perfect opportunity... who knows when I'd get another shot at killing that bastard."
A cold gleam flashed in Li Ye's eyes as the mechanical wings behind him suddenly flared open, propelling him forward at a dramatic speed.
This was one of the mechanism-based magical tool blueprints he had acquired from the Heavenly Crafts Hall, and due to its practicality, he had refined it early on specifically enhanced through the Heavenly Crafts Scripture.
For an individual cultivator, it offered flight speed on par with most flying-type spiritual tools, if not better. It consumed even less spiritual power and, when used deliberately, could fly with minimal disturbance.
After years of keeping it close at hand, it was finally time to put it to good use.
Soaring at top speed, it wasn't long before Li Ye spotted a blood-red figure up ahead, relentlessly pursuing a cultivator shrouded in ominous demonic energy.
.......
"Cai Shiwei! You keep chasing me like this do you think I'm afraid of you?"
"If it weren't for your status as a disciple of a major sect, I would've killed you long ago and used your corpse to forge a magic weapon!"
"If you keep pushing your luck, I will fight back!"
The burly man cloaked in a haze of inky black spiritual light shouted furiously as Cai Shiwei closed in on him. He could feel the blood in his body becoming harder to control, which only fueled his anger.
But even as he spoke, he didn't slow down in the slightest he had no intention of actually stopping to fight. His words rang hollow and blustered, with little threat behind them.
Cai Shiwei's eyes glinted with a bloody red hue. He licked his lips and sneered,
"If you had the guts, you'd stop running and fight me right now. I'm already injured what, are you still afraid to face me?"
As he spoke, the bloody aura around him thickened, and his flight speed surged. He was rapidly closing the gap between them.
During the earlier chaos in the lava palace, he'd suffered greatly. Even though he'd immediately fled when the third-rank fire beast attacked, the violet-red flames still managed to graze him.
Fire poison had invaded his body, significantly weakening his blood-path demonic arts. He was enduring constant pain, as though his meridians were being scorched from within. Every time he circulated spiritual power, it felt like torture.
He was in urgent need of fresh blood to heal and restore himself.
Back near Tengyun Market, he'd been too afraid to linger, worried the fire beasts might still be in pursuit. He fled as far as he could, only daring to rest once he was far enough away to be safe.
But by then, there were no other cultivators or spirit beasts around for him to draw blood from and heal himself.
Though the fire beasts had returned to their lairs, he didn't dare go back. In his weakened state, if others saw him as easy prey, he might be ganged up on and killed.
In this desperate state, missing the opportunity to capture the demonic cultivator ahead of him could mean losing his only viable prey.
But just then, a strange feeling prickled at the edge of his senses something was off.
As someone who practiced blood-path demonic techniques, such premonitions were often granted by the cultivation method itself. He couldn't afford to ignore it.
Cai Shiwei was just about to abandon his pursuit when the environment around him suddenly changed.
What had been ordinary terrain was now veiled in pale green mist. Enormous trees burst forth from the ground, twisting and rising, sealing off the area and trapping both Cai Shiwei and the demonic cultivator within.
Rustle… rustle…
Giant trees and vines surged forth, encircling the burly man and cutting off any escape route.
Cai Shiwei's expression darkened slightly at the sight and he sneered coldly,
"Junior Brother Li… I'm impressed. You came all this way just for me?"
His answer was a sudden downpour of emerald-colored spiritual light from above.
The streaks of light shot down, splitting midair into multiple interweaving strands, forming the structure of a spiritual formation that rapidly surrounded Cai Shiwei, attacking from every direction.
His expression changed. With a flash of red in his hand, he summoned a gleaming blood-colored spirit sword. He hurled it forward, and it split into countless bloody sword-lights, heavy with a foul stench, to intercept the incoming green light.
At first, he was confident. He believed these light-based tricks would be easy to dispel.
But the moment his blood blades clashed with the emerald light, he realized something was wrong this light was incredibly condensed and powerful. His sword arts were completely ineffective.
Once the formation took shape, it directly entangled his prized mid-grade spirit weapon the Bloodshadow Sword binding it tight.
Even as his filthy blood tried to taint the light, hoping to disrupt the spellwork, the green light merely shimmered and dispelled the filth effortlessly.
Such methods were anything but ordinary.
Before Cai Shiwei could fully react
Whoosh!
A flash of blue-gold light streaked through the air.
It wasn't just spiritual light it was a real upper-grade flying sword!
Engraved on its blade were the words: "Qingfeng" (Azure Edge).
It flew like lightning, its sharpness unmatched slicing through the air so fast that Cai Shiwei's hairs stood on end.
In panic, he spat a mouthful of blood, which formed into a small blood shield before him.
But it wasn't enough.
The flying sword smashed through the blood shield with ease, and with momentum to spare, pierced straight through Cai Shiwei's chest.
It felt like being struck by lightning. Cai Shiwei let out a pained scream and plummeted to the ground.
Seizing the moment, the vines and branches coiled around, firmly seizing the Bloodshadow Sword.
The green spiritual light spiraled back, surrounding Cai Shiwei, while the Qingfeng Sword hovered at his throat.
The mist cleared, and Li Ye appeared not far away, wearing a faint smile.
"Senior Brother Cai. Long time no see."
"Li Ye… you've got some nerve!" Cai Shiwei growled, his face twisted with hatred.
It was only now that he realized Li Ye had already reached the mid-foundation Establishment.
The last sliver of superiority he once held was shattered by that single strike.
Li Ye ignored his fury, smiling lightly.
"Senior Brother Cai… Before I kill you, I have one question I've been meaning to ask…"
"Were you involved in the ambush by demonic cultivators that left me seriously injured and crippled my cultivation?"
"…What?" Cai Shiwei's face showed a flicker of confusion perhaps stalling for time.
But just then, a blood-red glow flickered on his body as he tried to transform into a stream of blood and escape.
Yet as soon as he triggered the secret art, he coughed up a mouthful of blood. Blood began to pour from his body, splashing across the ground and melting the nearby grass.
His entire form began to rot and collapse, even his bones turning soft and unable to support his frame. He slumped into a heap.
"You… poisoned me?!" he growled, glaring at Li Ye with venomous hatred.
The blood-corrupting poison, combined with the fire poison, had completely disrupted his technique, draining most of his spiritual power. Now he had no strength left to flee.
"So… your answer?" Li Ye asked, his expression utterly calm.
Cai Shiwei stared at him with murderous eyes, then suddenly broke into manic laughter and shouted,
"Yes! It was me!"
"Those ambushers those demon cultivators and rogue cultivators were all arranged by me and Flying Feather Sect! We did it to create opportunities… to slowly raise my standing in the sect! You were just one of many disposable pawns meant to build my reputation!"
"You were supposed to die! But somehow, you survived… ruined everything!"
"Even when I tried to recruit you later, you kept refusing again and again… If I'd had the chance, I'd have killed you myself long ago!"
"I can't believe… that after all that, someone like me would fall into your hands…"
The poison surged. More than half of Cai Shiwei's body had already melted into a puddle of blood, his life force fading rapidly.
Yet his eyes were still filled with hatred, confusion, and a deep, bitter resentment aimed squarely at Li Ye.
"…So that's how it was. Then you can die now."
Li Ye nodded and gently waved his hand.
The Qingfeng Sword came down, severing Cai Shiwei's head.
Emerald spiritual light surged again, splitting and shredding his body in an instant.
With his life extinguished and no resistance left, the combined effects of the blood-corrupting and bone-dissolving poisons quickly melted what remained of his corpse.
At last, Li Ye felt a wave of relief wash over him his body and soul seeming to lighten all at once.
He looked at the pool of blood on the ground and murmured,
"Your vengeance is fulfilled…"
"As for your father… Once I reach the Core Formation stage and return to Huan Country, the Li Clan will answer for what they've done."
"You can rest in peace now."
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