Chapter 163: The Stranded Mastermind in Distress

Having learned numerous details about the fiends' plans from the dog-headed fiend, Qing Xi was struck with a pale expression of shock and quickly dragged his captive back to the Spirit Medicine Sect.

"Hark, how did you... A fiend!"

The Ninth Elder was keeping watch before the mountain gate when he caught sight of Qing Xi. Halfway through his greeting, his gaze fell upon the dog-headed fiend being dragged along the ground, and his eyes widened in absolute astonishment.

That was a fiend comparable to the peak of the Spirit Gang realm!

Could the strength of Qing Xi, a youth of the younger generation, truly be this formidable?

Although he knew Qing Xi was currently ranked first on the Rising Star Roll and possessed immense combat prowess, fighting a Spirit Gang fiend head-on was a different matter entirely. Even if one could gain the upper hand initially, the inevitable depletion of inner Qi within one's body would almost certainly lead to defeat in the end.

It was much like when Zhou Shitong had fought the frost fiend; he was able to suppress his opponent at first, only to be defeated later.

Such was the advantage of a higher cultivation realm.

Coupled with the fact that the Ninth Elder was an alchemist, he viewed the concept of defeating an opponent across greater realms as a near-impossible feat.

At the very least, he knew he could never accomplish such a thing himself.

"Ah, Ninth Elder. Is the Elder Sect Master Xia currently within the sect?"

Qing Xi wore a solemn expression.

Ever since he learned of the fiends' plots from the captive's own mouth, he had been burning with the desire to immediately contact the upper echelons of the human race within the Yunchuan Prefecture.

"He is inside the main hall. What is the matter..."

The Ninth Elder opened the mountain gate, but before he could finish his sentence, Qing Xi was already dragging the dog-headed fiend toward the grand hall.

"I have uncovered a vital secret and must report it at once!"

Under Xia Yan’s astonished gaze, Qing Xi tossed the dog-headed fiend onto the floor, its entire body bound tightly like a rice dumpling with spiritual silk.

At this, the dog-headed fiend felt utterly wretched inside.

All of his limbs had already been shattered—what was the point of tying him up like this?

It made no sense whatsoever!

Yet, reduced as he was to a fish upon a chopping board, he dared not utter a single word, terrified that Qing Xi would subject him to another ruthless beating.

Just at that moment, a dazzling silver sword light manifested within the main hall, revealing the figure of Ye Wuyou.

Wearing a gloomy expression, he paused in bewilderment upon taking in the scene inside the hall.

Sensing the vast, surging blood Qi emanating from Qing Xi, Ye Wuyou nodded in praise and said, "I never imagined that merely two days apart, your body-tempering realm would have already stepped into the Earth Grade. Truly, you are the invincible prodigy who ranks first on the Rising Star Roll."

Then, catching sight of the bound dog-headed fiend tossed upon the floor, he asked in surprise, "How did you manage to capture this creature?"

The dog-headed fiend met Ye Wuyou’s gaze, terror flashing deep within his eyes.

Qing Xi and Xia Yan exchanged a glance, each seeing the mutual perplexity in the other's eyes.

Judging by this reaction, it appeared there was some unknown secret between the dog-headed fiend and Ye Wuyou.

"I spotted him scouting outside the Spirit Medicine Sect, so I hauled him inside," Qing Xi stated the truth.

"So that's how it was. I must thank you for capturing this dog-headed strategist." Ye Wuyou extended his hand, and a precious seal radiating an overwhelming aura materialized in his palm.

This very artifact was the Heavenly Grade treasure seal previously wielded by the horned fiend commander and the mantis-headed fiend commander.

During the great battle that day, the Heavenly Grade seal had been sent flying by a single punch from the Fire Spirit Rabbit, but when the battlefield was cleared afterward, the seal had vanished without a trace.

Two days prior, after departing the Spirit Medicine Sect, Ye Wuyou had been patrolling the Southern Territory when he was suddenly ambushed by this very dog-headed fiend.

The treasure the fiend had utilized was none other than this Heavenly Grade seal.

Caught completely off guard, Ye Wuyou had been heavily wounded, though he subsequently managed to suppress the seal using his formidable and piercing sword Qi.

Yet, by the time he recovered from his injuries, the dog-headed fiend had long since vanished without a trace.

He never expected to encounter the creature here.

Once the sequence of events was laid bare, Qing Xi and Xia Yan exchanged glances once more.

They had to admit that they deeply admired the dog-headed fiend's audacity—first making off with a Heavenly Grade treasure seal during the chaos of battle, and then actually daring to ambush the Unblemished Sword King, who stood at the half-step Heaven Profound realm.

What was even more astonishing was that the ambush had succeeded, leaving the expert severely injured!

At this thought, a chill crept up the back of Qing Xi's spine.

It seemed that whenever he walked the world henceforth, he must exercise the utmost caution to avoid capsighting in a gutter.

Had he been the one ambushed by the dog-headed fiend using a Heavenly Grade seal, he likely would have perished long ago.

Only someone like Ye Wuyou, possessing half-step Heaven Profound cultivation, could have preserved his life and intercepted the Heavenly Grade treasure seal.

"You... how did you survive?"

Fear gripped the dog-headed fiend's heart.

As the strategist of the Southern Territory’s fiend army, this Heavenly Grade seal had originally been bestowed upon him by the Fiend King for self-preservation.

Later, in order to breach the Spirit Medicine Sect as swiftly as possible, he had temporarily loaned it to the horned fiend and the mantis-headed fiend. Who could have anticipated that those two proved to be utter fools who, despite fighting for so long, still ended in failure.

Having recovered the Heavenly Grade seal that day, the dog-headed fiend had fled far away.

Later, finding an opportunity, he laid a trap along Ye Wuyou's inevitable route and unleashed the absolute peak strike of the Heavenly Grade seal.

By all rights, Ye Wuyou should have been grievously wounded and utterly incapable of recovery...

"Fortunately, my sect master senior brother left me a life-saving spiritual elixir; otherwise, I truly would have perished. You dog-headed fiend really harbor ruthless calculations!"

Ye Wuyou put away the Heavenly Grade seal and stared coldly at the dog-headed fiend.

Though he had lost a precious pill, he had gained a Heavenly Grade spiritual artifact. Far from suffering a loss, he had made a massive profit.

With this artifact, his silver sword might even ascend to the rank of a Heavenly Grade spiritual artifact.

This was a blessing delivered right to his doorstep.

"To think that even I, the dog-headed strategist, would have a day where my calculations failed!"

The dog-headed fiend gritted his teeth, secretly cursing himself for being too clever for his own good and suffering the backlash of his own schemes.

After ambushing Ye Wuyou, although successful, he remained uncertain whether his target was truly dead. Driven by curiosity and greed, he had sneaked back to the vicinity of the Spirit Medicine Sect to scout the situation and attempt to reclaim the Heavenly Grade seal.

He never expected to be knocked flat with a single punch by Qing Xi, whose strength had skyrocketed following a breakthrough.

The dog-headed strategist had originally intended to rely on his silver tongue to fool Qing Xi.

Yet he never imagined that this youth was completely immune to persuasion, ignoring his words entirely and striking with ruthless severity. Even though he still possessed numerous hidden trump cards, he had been given no time to deploy a single one.

At this reflection, the dog-headed fiend was suddenly overcome by a tragical urge to shed tears.

"Cut the nonsense and spill your plans right now."

Qing Xi delivered a punch that cracked the dog-headed strategist's frame, sending waves of excruciating pain surging through his entire body.

Yet, almost immediately, a century-old spiritual medicine was shoved into the dog-headed strategist's mouth. Rich medicinal power erupted, rapidly healing his injuries and ensuring he remained safely alive.

Watching this scene, the corner of Ye Wuyou’s mouth twitched.

This brat—was he always so extravagant?

Even Xia Yan widened his eyes in disbelief, secretly wailing at the waste: *How much better it would be if you gave that to me for alchemy!*

"I'll talk, I'll talk right now!"

The dog-headed fiend felt even more wretched. He had already recounted everything he knew to Qing Xi earlier, yet this youth had kept silent, forcing him to repeat it all over again through sheer torment.

"Our plan goes like this..."

Cowing before Qing Xi’s coercion, the dog-headed fiend let out a heavy sigh and reiterated the entire scheme once more.

From the initial descent of the fiends to their subsequent division into five converging routes, the reasons behind attacking the Spirit Medicine Sect, and the ultimate objective of occupying the Glazed Mountain Range.

Even the closely guarded secret of the Ancestral Spirit Pool had to be laid bare.

Though he knew revealing this secret might spell his death, keeping it hidden would undoubtedly lead to a fate far more terrifying than mere death.

It was all because this youth possessed an endless supply of spiritual medicines, capable of subjecting him to a thousand deaths without letting him actually expire.

Driven by this dread, the dog-headed fiend could only cooperate with a hollow, lifeless expression.

Hearing the fiends' grand design, Ye Wuyou and Xia Yan wore faces of profound shock, their hands trembling to the point that the tea in their cups nearly sloshed over the rims.