Chapter 350: Sudden Death

Chapter 350: Sudden Death

The moment she swallowed the green seed—

no divine technique, no spiritual treasure manifestation—

just a wave of excruciating pain, agony straight from the depths of her soul.

It felt like claws were tearing her soul apart inch by inch. The green seed’s sprouting roots were devouring her life, consuming her strength.

“Immortal... cough cough... you…”

Immortal Bamboo didn’t even have time to call for help. Blood gushed from her mouth.

The other six Void Fusion cultivators didn’t notice a thing.

When she swallowed the green seed, they followed suit without hesitation.

After all, it was a do-or-die moment.

Whatever trump card the master of their Holy Land had given them—they’d use it now or never.

But they didn’t know—

Using it was the same as walking straight into death.

“Hmm?”

Chen Huaian frowned as he looked at the lush bamboo grove.

His sword strike had certainly been powerful.

Even with the combined strength of seven small worlds from the Jade Pool elders, they couldn’t stop it.

Their cultivation alone wasn’t enough to contend with an Eighth Realm Void Fusion cultivator—

especially one who was a sword cultivator tailored specifically for battle.

Still, they should’ve been able to hold out for a while.

Yet in less than three breaths, the defensive barrier they created with their world power and high-grade treasures had completely collapsed.

It was as if they had suddenly given up resisting.

“What the h*ll? They just gave up?

Don’t they have even a sliver of a will to live?

Is that the Jade Pool Holy Land’s idea of resolve and backbone?”

Chen Huaian narrowed his eyes.

Something was off.

Maybe these Void Fusion cultivators were holding back some massive secret move.

He stayed alert, eyes fixed on the bamboo grove—if the enemy didn’t move, neither would he.

Until—

【You have slain Void Fusion cultivator of Jade Pool Holy Land, Immortal Bamboo.

Reward: 1200 Righteous Cultivator Fragments.

No other loot obtained due to special circumstances.】

【You have slain Void Fusion cultivator of Jade Pool Holy Land, Immortal Jade Pot.

Reward: 800 Righteous Cultivator Fragments.

No other loot obtained due to special circumstances.】

…

There were seven kill reports in total.

All seven Jade Pool Void Fusion cultivators were dead.

Just like that.

Chen Huaian sheathed the moonlight-like sword.

The world, once bathed in silver glow, fell back into darkness.

Only now, in the spot where the bamboo grove once stood, lay seven corpses.

Chen Huaian walked over and took a closer look—his brow furrowed even deeper.

All seven elders of Jade Pool Holy Land had died in a horrifying state:

their skin shriveled like it was stretched tight over bare bones, their eyes bulging from their sockets, expressions twisted in fear—

as if they had suffered unimaginable agony right before death.

That definitely wasn’t the result of his sword.

If he hadn’t withdrawn his sword, they would’ve been utterly annihilated—clean, and painless.

When the kill notifications popped up, his sword light hadn’t even touched them.

They didn’t die by his blade.

Or at least, not directly from it.

“Who was it? Who helped This Venerable One?

Or… is there something else going on here?”

Chen Huaian didn’t believe anyone would go out of their way to help him at a time like this.

Especially someone he didn’t even remember.

And that someone had stayed completely hidden.

He inspected the corpses again.

Still no clue.

Aside from their gruesome deaths, there were no useful leads.

Li Ziping and the remaining elders of Zhenwu Holy Land who could still move had also gathered, staring solemnly at the seven corpses lying haphazardly on the ground.

Anyone with eyes could tell—something was wrong.

“From the looks of it, this might be a demonic technique backlash,” Li Ziping said, stroking his chin, his eyes narrowing.

“Hmph! Those freaks from Jade Pool might’ve practiced demonic arts long ago. Just look at the shady sh*t they’ve done.

Only shame is that we lost Elder Wang...” another elder said with a heavy sigh.

The death of Wang Qianlin weighed heavily on all of Zhenwu Holy Land.

But only the disciples were still mourning.

The elders had long since accepted the realities of life and death.

If Wang Qianlin hadn’t been the first to step up, one of them would’ve sacrificed themselves to block the enemy.

Chen Huaian couldn’t be bothered to wrack his super-genius brain.

When in doubt—ask customer service:

“Heaven’s Insight, deduce how those seven Jade Pool elders died for This Venerable One.”

【This is your first deduction today. This one’s free.】

Above Zhenwu Holy Land, winds howled and clouds churned.

Heaven’s Insight gathered over Chen Huaian’s location.

A faint pressure of the Heavenly Dao began to spread from him.

Sand flew, trees bent.

The surrounding elders of Zhenwu Holy Land exchanged uneasy glances, visibly shaken.

Though they were all Void Fusion cultivators, none of them could stir Heaven’s Insight like this.

Throughout history, those who could do so were always the ones who stirred the tides of fate.

Of course—

During tribulation, these cultivators were also the ones struck hardest by lightning.

To channel Heaven’s Insight was to be marked by the Heavenly Dao.

Before reaching immortality, any spell that invoked Heaven’s Insight was essentially stealing power.

And those who stole from the Heavens… always paid a price.

Some secret arts simply postponed the backlash—until it all came crashing down during Heavenly Tribulation.

So, in the elders’ eyes right now—

The Sword Pavilion Ancestor was burning through his future.

He was sacrificing himself!

Moved to tears—what a real man!

…

【Heaven’s Insight Deduction Complete.】

【The seven elders of Jade Pool Holy Land were killed by Immortal Yuyao!】

【Details obscured. Unable to deduce. Please raise your real-world cultivation to Core Formation Mid Stage before attempting another deduction.】

“What? It was Immortal Yuyao who killed them?” Chen Huaian’s eyes widened.

Never would’ve guessed…

He had suspected Reverend Karma, that old schemer,

but Immortal Yuyao? Never even crossed his mind.

But why would Immortal Yuyao slaughter seven of her own elders?

Because they failed their mission?

Chen Huaian was baffled.

Unfortunately, the deduction’s result was too vague, and further answers depended on his real-world cultivation level.

So he probably wouldn’t figure it out anytime soon.

Still, one thing was clear:

Immortal Yuyao definitely didn’t kill them to help him.

She must’ve done it for her own gain.

He’d already rescued Yue Qianchi, that perfect vessel.

Immortal Yuyao must have another plan.

This woman would stop at nothing to become immortal. She wasn’t going to give up that easily.

Now that Jade Pool’s Void Fusion cultivators were wiped out,

a weakened Zhenwu Holy Land might very well be her next target.

There were only two ways to ensure Zhenwu’s safety:

One—resurrect Zhang Yibai.

Two—bring Zhenwu Holy Land into his Small World, have them follow his lead.

The first option was out of the question.

He had no way of resurrecting a Mahayana-level powerhouse.

The second was doable—just really, really hard.

Chen Huaian looked at the old fogies gathered around the Jade Pool corpses, kicking and cursing them.

His brain was buzzing.

He had less than twenty minutes left.

If he waited until the last second to exit, he was screwed.

So really, less than ten.

How the h*ll was he supposed to convince a bunch of stubborn old goats to follow the Sword Pavilion…

in under ten minutes?

Honestly?

Harder than advanced calculus.

…

…