After leaving the Kao Shan Sect, Mo Ying sped towards Yunlan Mountain.
Speaking of Mo Ying, no one had heard of him by name, and he was unknown in Cangwu City. However, the title ’Hunter in the Night’ was enough to make many tremble with fear.
A hunter traveling through the darkness, anyone he targeted would disappear into the night, which is why his position in Kao Shan Sect’s Law Enforcement Hall was second only to Hua Liao.
Hua Liao, at the Body Refining Thirteenth Layer, deserved the position, but for a cultivator at the Body Refining Eleventh Layer to hold the second place, spoke volumes.
In fact, his position was closely related to an event from a year ago. A year ago today, he was at the Body Refining Tenth Layer. Those above him at the Body Refining Eleventh and Twelfth Layers were numerous.
Each one emitted a light more dazzling than his, like a kitten crouched in the corner, and no one had ever noticed him.
At that time, the Immortal Sect had just begun to experience turmoil, and people’s morale started to wane. Kao Shan Sect seized the opportunity to rise.
Rising naturally required wealth and resources. If there wasn’t enough, they could only take from the shops in Cangwu City. In two months, Kao Shan Sect successively took over seven or eight shops under the Immortal Sect, bringing them into their fold.
However, one family steadfastly held onto their beliefs. The clan leader, at the Body Refining Twelfth Layer, had polished the Horizontal Golden Bell Training to a near-perfect level, and was invincible among the Twelfth Layer realm, defeating all the Body Refining Twelfth Layer cultivators of the Kao Shan Sect.
Although the Immortal Sect had just faced turmoil, neglecting affairs in Cangwu City, Kao Shan Sect dared not deploy a cultivator at the Body Refining Thirteenth Layer, fearing a sudden retaliation from the Immortal Sect, so they left this thorn alone.
But the thorn will always prick!
Just when the entire Kao Shan Sect was at a loss, Mo Ying stood out from the temporarily organized hunting squad.
He left Kao Shan Sect at midnight and returned by dawn.
Upon his return, he was holding a bloody head, which was that of the Horizontal Golden Bell master.
After one battle, Mo Ying became the head of the hunting squad and started the mission to cleanse the shops under the Immortal Sect. Within half a year, he destabilized the Immortal Sect’s foundational layer.
He caused the Immortal Sect to enter decline prematurely!
Back then, Mo Ying could kill someone at the Body Refining Twelfth Layer without injury, showcasing his prowess. Now, Mo Ying was at the Body Refining Eleventh Layer, with improved strength, and could certainly contend with a Thirteenth Layer cultivator.
This journey to the Immortal Sect was, in his view, just a round trip.
As he stood at the foot of Yunlan Mountain, Mo Ying looked at the peak with a slight sneer, then leapt onto the Sword Stele, preparing to infiltrate the Immortal Sect through the forest.
However, as soon as he took a step, a chilling aura engulfed him in an instant.
Mo Ying quickly retreated, back to ten meters from the Sword Stele, with his entire body on edge like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, his hairs standing on end. His eyes, like a hawk’s, scrutinized the front, vigilant against any rustle in the grass or leaves.
He had the feeling, as if something had just embraced him, causing a chill to run down his spine.
His years of assassination instincts told him that there was danger lurking in the forest.
The wind rustling the treetops, snapping branches, and the murmurs from the forest all put Mo Ying on high alert, hand on his belt, ready to draw a dagger.
Ten minutes passed, and gradually, the surrounding silence made him doubt if his intuition was playing tricks.
So, he took another step, intending to ascend the mountain!
Similarly, just as his foot crossed the Sword Stele, that hair-raising aura reappeared.
Mo Ying flicked his hand, sending three daggers shooting into the forest.
Yet, like stones sinking into the sea, the daggers entered the forest without a response.
The forest did not awaken from his disturbance, and the birds and beasts did not panic and flee from his actions.
"Who is it, come out!"
After his shout, a cold and arrogant laugh echoed around him, startling Mo Ying with a sudden sense of danger, causing him to flee from the forest and retreat from Yunlan Mountain, ready to counter-attack or retreat.
However, his heart seemed more inclined towards retreat!
For the first time, he felt he had become the prey, with a hunter capable of killing him lurking in the forest, like a venomous snake in the darkness, poised to deliver a deadly strike.
This time he was certain there was something in the woods, not a trick of the mind.
But what was in the forest?
Something that could instill in him the fear of death through perception, chilling him more than his dagger.
Mo Ying shouted once more into the forest, "Come out for me!"
At this moment, the candlelight from nearby houses began to flicker.
Five or six shadows appeared against the paper windows, then vanished, as the doors of houses around suddenly opened. Seven or eight people emerged, glancing around until they saw Mo Ying standing on a nearby rooftop under the moonlight.
Immediately, someone shouted at Mo Ying, "Are you out of your mind? Shouting in the middle of the night instead of sleeping!"
The sound of doors slamming followed.
Some, annoyed, turned back to slam their doors shut, while women continued to curse, "Crazy!"
Mo Ying ignored them, his eyes fixed on the forest ahead, with a hint of hesitation in his gaze.
Entering again or leaving, that was the question.
But thinking of what lurked in the forest and that chilling laughter, he had to make the second choice, which was to leave!
He turned and disappeared into the night, leaving Yunlan Mountain behind.
Wen Ping, as usual, finished his mountain cultivation through the mist. On his way to have breakfast, he encountered Yang Lele, returning from training in the Gravity Field, clutching a Life Cigar.
However, after a day of squandering, the cigar was lit and extinguished repeatedly, and only a little remained.
Upon meeting Wen Ping, Yang Lele hurriedly said, "Sect Leader, do you have more of those Life Cigars?"
"Yes, yes, the usual, two sticks. Didn’t I leave 500 gold with you yesterday? No need for change."
"One person can only buy one stick per day." If it were yesterday, Wen Ping would have been unwilling to sell, as he also needed the Life Cigars.
But after upgrading the Trial Ground, there was definitely a big financial hole to fill, so he had to sell the Life Cigars for a profit to support cultivation.
Yang Lele looked disappointed as he accepted the cigar Wen Ping handed him and then asked, "Sect Leader, didn’t you say the second stick sells for 100 gold? My remaining 500 gold yesterday can all go to you, how about that?"
"Let’s talk, or else I won’t give you this stick either."
With that, Wen Ping pretended to reach for the cigar in Yang Lele’s hand, and Yang Lele guarded it quickly, like a mother protecting her kitten. He then sighed, "Sect Leader, can you sell me one of these cigars every day? Zhao Qing smoked your cigar yesterday and advanced to the Body Refining Sixth Layer, ruining my chance to outshine him and display my masculine prowess."
Wen Ping asked in surprise, "Zhao Qing also advanced?"