Who Let Him Cultivate?!

Seeing more and more people gathering on the Great Stone Bridge, Lu Yang suggested leaving the area and moving to somewhere less crowded.

The group arrived at a tranquil forest. Lu Yang produced the map of Yanjiang County, indicating the nodes of the Reverse Life Array they had predicted before, “The node positions of the Reverse Life Array should remain the same as before. But, before that, I want to confirm one thing. Lan Ting, your mention of ‘sacrificing with blood¹ – does that mean killing people at the node, or using a cultivator’s essence blood as a sacrifice to activate the Array?”

Lan Ting didn’t understand Lu Yang’s meaning, “Both methods can be used, but usually, the former is preferred. Killing commoners is easier, using too much essence blood can impact cultivation level and be harmful to future cultivation.”

Lu Yang seemed to understand something, “In that case, those who arrange the Array Method should opt for the second method.”

The others were puzzled. The one who would set up the Array Method was definitely a demon cultivator and for them, killing is certainly more convenient than using essence blood.

“Who do you think has such audacity to hide the Reverse Life Array in a small banner and set it up overnight, cloaking their actions under the cover of night so even if anyone was suspicious, they wouldn’t be discovered?”

Meng Jingzhou responded quickly, “Someone from the government, and in a position of power!”

Lu Yang nodded, “Exactly, to be more precise, the County Magistrate!”

“What!”

The words shocked Man Gu and Lan Ting, leaving them pale. Only Meng Jingzhou seemed to have anticipated it and was less affected.

He had mentioned earlier that it was not unusual for the government and the demonic sect to collude.

“Last night I overheard some people from the government office. Apparently, County Lord Li personally supervised the placement of the small banners and insisted that their positioning can’t be flawed.”

“Is such a matter worth the personal involvement of the County Magistrate? It is really far-fetched to justify this activity as ‘being dedicated to civic affairs’.”

“This only provides evidence that County Lord Li has installed the Reverse Life Array that covers the entire county using those small banners!”

Finally grasping the situation, Man Gu lamented at how dark the world had become, “This means that the undercover agent embedded by the branch rudder in Yanjiang County was County Lord Li himself. Considering his cultivation and status, it should be more precise to say that they have a collaboration?”

Lu Yang shook his head, “Not undercover, not a partner either. I suspect that Rudder Master Chu and County Lord Li are the same person!”

“I have no concrete evidence, only two suspicions.”

“Firstly, Rudder Master Chu always meets us at night. I have asked other Managers about it and they claimed that the other branches don’t operate this way.”

“Secondly, both Rudder Master Chu and County Lord Li are due for a promotion and the timings are almost identical.”

Man Gu gasped in shock. The world was grimmer than he thought if Rudder Master Chu and County Lord Li were the same person. Were they playing both sides of the Righteous Path and the Demon Path?

“Of course, they might be two different people. These are just my suspicions. But regardless of the situation, the method to activate the Reverse Life Array wouldn’t be killing commoners!”

Man Gu still didn’t get it, so Meng Jingzhou explained, “County Lord Li is up for a promotion. If a serious homicide happened during the Spring Festival, he could kiss his promotion goodbye. Even if he has connections up high, they can’t blatantly support his promotion.”

“Besides, with his status as the County Magistrate, it is no hard task to get essence blood from cultivators. He just needs to find a few cultivators in prison.”

Lan Ting still caught in doubts, “The Reverse Life Array set up by County Lord Li and Yizhanghong, is it a coincidence or a connection?”

“I deem, it’s highly related.” After getting through the identity of Rudder Master Chu and County Lord Li, Lu Yang had a different perspective on many matters.

“Let’s not speak of the political merits County Lord Li reaped from the capture of the three Demon Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage. Without the existence of the branch rudder, a small county only has so many Demon Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage. This is pretty much like eradicating the heads of the demonic cultivators in a county.”

“After the Reverse Life Array is activated, it may not seem detectable, but over time, it will inevitably be noticed.”

“If it weren’t for Yizhanghong, the government would vigorously trace the culprit. By then, both Yanjiang Rudder and County Lord Li risk exposure.”

“County Lord Li made a smart move of arranging Yizhanghong.”

“With Yizhanghong setting up the Reverse Life Array ahead of time, even if County Lord Li starts the Reverse Life Array and reduces the lifespan of the common people, the government would only have their eyes on Yizhanghong.”

Man Gu was shocked, “But Yizhanghong did not successfully set it up.”

Lu Yang scoffed, “Failure is just a claim by Yizhanghong. It’s highly possible that the array was activated but because of his misoperation, it only reduced lifespan while failing to augment his own cultivation. After all, it is an unfamiliar Array Method – anything could happen.”

Man Gu still could not understand, “But his two companions could confirm its failure.”

“Companions? Where does a Demon Cultivator get companions? They all use each other. It is in logic for Yizhanghong to hide the truth from the two of them.”

“With a ready-made suspect right in front, who wouldn’t suspect Yizhanghong?”

“And, with all his crimes, he is certain to receive the death sentence. Perhaps, by the time the government discovers the activation of the Reverse Life Array, Yizhanghong would have been executed.”

“With Yizhanghong as a scapegoat, who would suspect County Lord Li?”

Meng Jingzhou and Lan Ting frequently nodded, agreeing with Lu Yang’s points.

Lu Yang asked again, “Also, are there seven nodes that need the blood sacrifice?”

Lan Ting looked at Lu Yang in surprise and nodded, not understanding how Lu Yang knew about it. Didn’t he say he didn’t know Array Methods?

“Yesterday, when I left, I ran into seven Managers. Rudder Master Chu had summoned them for some task. I guess they were assigned to hold the essence blood and wait for the right time at the array nodes.”

“In that case, explain more about the Reverse Life Array.”

Lan Ting did not refuse, circling seven locations on the map of Yanjiang County, “These seven locations are key nodes for activation and they are located near the scenic spots of Yanjiang County. The Array Eye is on… the waist of Song Mountain!”

Of course, a secluded place would be chosen to break through using the Reverse Life Array.

“We should first remove some of the Reverse Life Talismans to hinder the activation of the Array Method. However, this is most likely to attract the attention of Rudder Master Chu. Instead of waiting for him to knock on our door, it’s better for us to ambush him first.” Lu Yang suggested.

The reason why Lu Yang did not mention their combat methods in the Recording Orb was exactly because he anticipated a possible battle with Rudder Master Chu.

All three of them felt uneasy. It would be a life-and-death struggle, and Rudder Master Chu was a formidable opponent being in the late stage of Golden Core.

“Can we report this? Tell Fang Qingyun about it.” Man Gu suggested.

Lu Yang shook his head, “Once Fang Qingyun finds out about the array on the small banners, he will definitely suspect County Lord Li. If County Lord Li is caught, our identities as demonic sect disciples will also be exposed.”

Lan Ting hesitated, “Just the four of us against a Golden Core late-stage practitioner, it might be hard to defeat the opponent.”

However, Lu Yang was confident, “Fear not. Let’s prepare thoroughly. If really rendered helpless, I still have a backup plan.”

“What is it?”

“Eldest Sister’s Form Boxing!”

Upon hearing this, the complexion of Meng Jingzhou and Man Gu changed dramatically. Lan Ting noticed their reactions but didn’t understand, “What is Eldest Sister’s Form Boxing?”

“It’s the ultimate move of Lu’s Form Boxing!” Lu Yang said confidently.

Lan Ting, half understanding, nodded.