"Wait a minute, something's wrong with Return Profound Market City!" Zhu Ji wore a grave expression; black, ink-like smudges appeared on the Magical Artifact he was using for investigation.
As Inner Sect Disciples of the Photo God Sect, their treatment was naturally superior to that of Outer Disciples.
Moreover, they were at the Immortal Monarch Realm. Return Profound Market City was merely a force consisting of cultivators at the Demi Immortal Realm and Immortal Realm. How could they be his opponents?
And yet, he had just discovered a problem.
"This is... Immortal Poison. It's even capable of affecting those at the Immortal Monarch Realm." Guo Ming's eyes flickered with greed. This kind of poisonous substance was not something they could usually obtain. He had originally thought they were just on a simple errand, but it seemed there was an unexpected reward.
He quickly concealed the greed in his eyes. Zhu Ji was still present, after all. If Zhu Ji could be eliminated, the Immortal Poison would belong solely to him.
The two of them were indeed martial brothers from the same Righteous Sect, which forbade disciples from harming one another. However, that rule only applied within the Photo God Sect's domain, not here.
Besides, with Return Profound Market City as an excuse, no one would investigate his death.
As for whether it was worth doing all this for a poisonous substance... it was definitely worth it. Who actually thinks they have much of a bond as martial brothers? Not only was there little affection between them, but they were also competitors.
"It seems the other party came prepared. We've already announced our presence, yet they still dare to oppose our Photo God Sect." Zhu Ji, oblivious to Guo Ming's ulterior motives, scoffed.
However, he was a bit puzzled. Confronting them directly isn't necessarily the best course of action. After all, they already sent gifts to express their goodwill; by now, they should have all left.
He felt somewhat uneasy; something was definitely off about this situation.
Usually, people pay to avoid disaster. If they had left early, we wouldn't have cared too much and would have simply razed the market to the ground.
But now, despite having offered their wealth, Return Profound Market City chose to confront us. What is their purpose? Could they be trying to deceive us?
Even if that was the case, what could they do? Even if they managed to plot against and kill us, the aftermath would only invite furious retaliation from the Photo God Sect.
Furthermore, the wealth the market presented to us was considerable, estimated to be at least ninety percent of their assets. Otherwise, why would we spare the leading clans responsible for the market?
It's hardly conceivable they'd offer ninety percent of their assets just to kill us. If that were true, I'd have to say they succeeded in their deception.
The ones they've offended aren't us two, but a True Disciple.
Therefore, I believe there must be something more to this matter.
"It's eerily quiet inside. Let's stay on guard," Zhu Ji warned.
With his mind consumed by the Immortal Poison, Guo Ming paid little attention to Zhu Ji's warning.
Apart from this Immortal Poison, what noteworthy individual could possibly be in a market like this? If any Loose Cultivator truly possessed such capabilities, they would have established their own Sect long ago. Why would they bother setting up a market for such petty profits?
The two entered the market, protecting themselves with Magical Artifacts. However, they saw large amounts of black smudges appearing on their defensive barriers. They could resist it for now, but it would only last for an hour at most. After that, they would need to use Mana to remove the smudges, or the Magical Artifacts would be damaged.
The Magical Artifact they had used for the initial investigation was of a different type and thus had a different tolerance level.
The entire market was filled with a pitch-black liquid and scattered bits of black flesh. At first glance, it seemed to have been there for a while. Yet, both Zhu Ji and Guo Ming knew this couldn't be possible, as Return Profound Market City had given them a "disaster-averting" payment just a month ago.
To the two Immortal Monarch Realm cultivators, a month felt like an instant.
"Who is it? Come out!" Guo Ming suddenly cried out, feeling as if someone was watching him with malicious intent.
"There's no one." Zhu Ji, having scanned the surroundings with his Magical Artifact, replied. "There's nothing in the vicinity."
"It must be my imagination. This place is really strange... like a city ravaged by the Demon Path." Looking somewhat embarrassed, Guo Ming tried to save face by blaming the Demon Path.
This startled Zhu Ji. His expression changed slightly as he said, "That's possible. After all, who besides those from the Demon Path could concoct such an Immortal Poison?"
"HISS... How dare someone from the Demon Path invade the territory of our Righteous Sects? Aren't they afraid of dying a horrible death?" Guo Ming felt he had jinxed himself. If it really is the Demon Path, then we're in big trouble.
Although the Righteous Sects in this area competed with each other, they also formed a united front, turning the surroundings into Righteous Sect territory and preventing most Demon Path Sects from infiltrating deeply.
Immortal Poison created by Loose Cultivators? It's not that we look down on them, but even if Loose Cultivators wanted to create it, they simply wouldn't have the means.
How could a Loose Cultivator with such skills possibly be in this insignificant Return Profound Market City? Besides, even if one were here, they wouldn't use such a thing in this tiny market town.
So, it must have been someone from the Demon Path.
This made Guo Ming start to plan. How can I snatch this Immortal Poison from them and offer it to the Sect as a contribution?
I have no choice. I initially planned to keep it all for myself, but now that a Demon Path Sect is involved, I must report it. Once I report it, I inevitably won't be able to keep the Immortal Poison.
As for hiding this matter, I did consider it. But if my deceit were revealed, I too would be punished. The Immortal Poison would be lost, and I'd suffer a total loss.
Unless I could slay the Demon Path practitioner and uproot their entire scheme... but that's simply impossible.
The best solution is for Zhu Ji to die, leaving me to take all the credit.
Zhu Ji had the same thought at this moment. However, being much more cautious, he wouldn't make a direct move. Instead, I'll break Guo Ming's Magical Artifact protection and let him die from the Immortal Poison.
Just as the two were stealthily plotting, they both suddenly felt a chill in their hearts, as if targeted by something.
Before they could speak, a torrent of black, scummy water poured down from the sky.
"Retreat!"
When their lives were on the line, all schemes and plans became useless; surviving was key.
Relying on their Magical Artifacts and Spells, both men broke free from the deluge of black water. Looking back, they saw a gigantic monster, seemingly formed by a Demon Path corpse-refining technique. It had assimilated a massive number of Cultivators and Magical Beasts.
The creature was colossal, with an unknown portion of its enormous body buried underground.
"Immortal Realm Peak Complete!" Zhu Ji's expression was grim.
"Let's go! Quickly, back to the Sect to report!" Guo Ming's face was also pale with unease. The monster, resembling a huge worm, was chasing them.
But it was no ordinary worm. Its surface was covered with a large number of nauseating cysts, fleshy tumors, feelers, and other grotesque appendages.
They also realized one thing: the source of the Immortal Poison was this creature.
"To refine such a catastrophic being, one must be a Demon Path expert at the Immortal King Realm! Fortunately, they're not here, or we'd be dead meat," Guo Ming guessed while fleeing.
Before Zhu Ji could respond, countless pitch-black tendrils erupted from the ground, instantly coiling around Guo Ming's waist.
A Jumbo Strength manifested, and Guo Ming was instantly dragged down.
The ground split open, revealing a gigantic maw teeming with sharp teeth, which Zhu Ji saw clearly.
"Save me!!!" Guo Ming screamed in terror as he was dragged down.
Zhu Ji, however, didn't even glance back, fleeing desperately.
Immortal King Realm? How is that possible? It has to be someone from the Demon Path at the Immortal Emperor Realm, at least, to create this kind of monster! Fear now consumed Zhu Ji's mind.
He heard the ground crack shut and the sound of teeth tearing and grinding flesh. Guo Ming's struggles and screams abruptly ceased. Clearly, he was dead.
WHOOSH!
A large deluge of filthy water suddenly struck him, instantly shattering the protection of his Magical Artifact.
"Not good!!!" Fear was etched on his face. However, he didn't stop; instead, he used the force of the attack to increase his speed by a third.
He felt the horrifying sensation of the filthy water invading his body and the agony from the injuries sustained in the attack.
I can't stop! I absolutely can't stop! he roared inwardly, until the monstrous creature gradually disappeared behind him.
Zhu Ji knew he had to return to the Sect; otherwise, he would surely die here.
Once I report this, not only will my past offenses be forgiven, but I'll also receive a substantial amount of contribution points as a reward.
