Chapter 172: Help Kill Someone
With the Original Peak Master no longer in his way, Zhang Chi finally succeeded in taking control of Divine Needle Peak, becoming its new Peak Master.
He first refined the Peak Master Token, then began to control and familiarize himself with the Peak Protection Array.
The Peak Master Token was a black metal plate engraved with the two words "Divine Needle." It looked ordinary, but it could be used to control the entire Peak Protection Array.
Furthermore, the Token was bound to the Peak Master’s identity. If the Peak Master perished, the Token itself wouldn’t shatter, but the Restrictions within it would self-destruct.
However, if a Peak Master willingly abdicated and the transfer was officially recorded by the Sect, the Token’s authority could be handed over.
But the Grand Array was high-level and powerful, making it difficult to truly control the Array with just the Token. It was best to have the previous Peak Master carefully teach the secrets to its operation.
The Original Peak Master, of course, would do no such thing. He had given Zhang Chi the Token and left without a single word.
This was all part of his scheme.
Unfortunately for him, this scheme would only work against an ordinary Foundation Establishment Early Stage Cultivator. Zhang Chi was clearly an exception.
Zhang Chi had cultivated the White Bone Divine Forging Technique to the Perfection Realm, so his Divine Thought was a full Great Realm higher than his own Cultivation—equivalent to that of a Golden Core Late Stage cultivator.
But because he practiced a Top Grade Cultivation Technique and his Body Refining Cultivation was also incredibly strong, his Divine Thought had long since broken through its limits, successfully reaching the Golden Core Peak Realm.
Coupled with the fact that he was an Array Master himself, mastering the Array here was a simple matter.
In just half an hour, he had gained complete control of the Grand Array. He could even operate the Grand Array here more skillfully than the Original Peak Master.
Next, after tidying up the cave residence, Zhang Chi went to the Peak Master’s personal cave, set up his own Array, and released the Eye of the Spirit Spring. Then, atop the Spiritual Vein, he began his Cultivation.
"Not bad. The effect is excellent, just as I expected. It can completely satisfy my cultivation needs!"
After a session of Cultivation, Zhang Chi was quite satisfied.
Compared to other cultivators, he had another advantage here: he didn’t need to activate the Purification Array.
This not only saved a huge amount of Spirit Stones needed to run the Array but also reduced the drain he would experience during purification.
One shouldn’t underestimate the difference between the two; over time, the impact would be enormous.
After that, Zhang Chi also made a trip to Demon Suppression Peak and handed two of the three Puppets to Zhong Yu.
After all, Shangguan Hui had given them to Zhong Yu, so he certainly couldn’t keep them.
Fortunately, he had plenty of trump cards of his own, so the remaining one was more than enough.
Besides, he believed it wouldn’t be long before he could refine Tier Two Puppets himself.
Furthermore, Zhang Chi also saw Chen Ling’Er here. Apparently, she had also joined Demon Suppression Peak.
Or rather, she had been stationed here as a guard during her Qi Refining Stage.
Afterward, after chatting with everyone for a bit, Zhang Chi returned to Divine Needle Peak and formally began his Cultivation in Seclusion.
Just as he had expected, Divine Needle Peak was indeed very safe and quiet.
The only exception was at night, when the roars of Demon Beasts and Demons from the front line could be heard, making it a little noisy.
But with the Array active, it could be completely ignored.
And so, half a year passed in the blink of an eye.
One night, a group of black-robed, masked cultivators suddenly and silently arrived outside Divine Needle Peak.
"Senior Brother, your plan really worked. That kid still hasn’t truly mastered the Array."
"If it were an outsider, his current control wouldn’t be a major issue. But for us, this Array is basically wide open and completely undefended, haha!"
one of the Foundation Establishment Early Stage Cultivators said, his face alight with joy.
"Exactly. Let’s get inside immediately, bring over those Demon Cultivators from the other side, and then kill that kid!"
The other cultivators were also very excited.
However, as they spoke to each other, they contained their voices to their immediate surroundings, ensuring they couldn’t be heard from a distance.
They were, in fact, the Original Peak Master and his nine subordinates.
"Don’t get careless. Let’s go, follow me!"
The Original Peak Master was also pleased but remained composed. He immediately led the group through some gaps that existed because the Array wasn’t fully activated and, following a familiar path, skillfully snuck onto Divine Needle Peak.
Before long, they arrived at the rear of the mountain and activated a pre-arranged Array.
Behind the Array was a passageway. Its four walls were covered in profound runes, which made the tunnel exceptionally stable.
They followed the passageway down and then north, quickly arriving at the edge of the Demon Abyss.
There, they found a heavy Stone Gate, which was also covered in runes.
Opening the Stone Gate and proceeding a short distance would lead them directly into the Demon Abyss, allowing them to pass under the defensive line of Azure Dragon Ridge.
Normally, this would be impossible, as there were also Arrays laid beneath Azure Dragon Ridge. But this passageway had somehow managed it.
Of course, the passageway wasn’t created by the Original Peak Master and his cultivators; they didn’t have that kind of power.
The passage had always existed; the Original Peak Master and his group had simply discovered it by chance and began to exploit it.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK...
The Original Peak Master walked up to the Stone Gate, circulated his Spiritual Power into his right hand, and knocked forcefully a few times.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK...
An identical series of knocks immediately came in response from the other side of the Stone Gate.
"They’re really here!"
Hearing the response, the Original Peak Master and his men were at once nervous and overjoyed.
K-KRAK...
Then, the Original Peak Master infused his Magical Power into a dragon-shaped pattern on the side of the passageway, and the Stone Gate immediately began to open slowly.
Immediately, seven cultivators, also dressed in black robes with their faces covered, rushed in as fast as lightning.
"Quick, close the Stone Gate! There are Demons and Demon Beasts chasing us!"
These black-robed cultivators were covered in wounds and looked quite battered. Their voices held a mixture of joy and terror.
Moreover, they emanated faint traces of Demonic Qi; they were the Demonic Cultivators from Yuan North.
Clearly, the Original Peak Master was in the business of smuggling Demonic Cultivators into Yuan South.
The sky above the Demon Abyss was shrouded in Demonic Qi and an ancient Grand Array, making it nearly impossible for either Demons or cultivators to pass through under normal circumstances.
There were only three ways to cross.
The first was to travel through the Nine Heavens Gang Wind Layer, but this required immense Cultivation or powerful Magical Treasures.
For instance, a Nascent Soul Powerhouse, or a large group of Golden Core Powerhouses traveling together.
The second was to go through the channels of the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower and the major Top Level Sects, but the price was exorbitant.
The final method was, of course, smuggling.
This secret passage on Divine Needle Peak was undoubtedly one of the best options.
However, this method was also dangerous. Not only did they have to avoid being discovered by other cultivators from the Cangwu Sect, but they also had to face the Demons and Demon Beasts within the Demon Abyss.
The group before them was a prime example. They had started with twenty people, but now only seven remained.
Before the gate opened, they hadn’t just been waiting outside the Stone Gate; they had also been fending off the Demons and Demon Beasts that were hunting them.
Fortunately, the passageway was sturdy and relatively narrow for most Demon Beasts and Demons. It was a classic choke point where one man could hold off ten thousand, which was the only reason they had been able to hold out this long.
"Alright!"
The Original Peak Master and his men knew the situation was urgent. They quickly infused their Magical Power once more to shut the Stone Gate.
The Stone Gate closed much faster than it opened, so the Demons and Demon Beasts were blocked outside before they had a chance to charge in.
No matter how the creatures battered it, the Stone Gate and the passageway remained firm and unmoving.
Seeing this, all the cultivators immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
"Where are the rest of the Spirit Stones? Give them to us first, and then we’ll escort you off Divine Needle Peak!"
the Original Peak Master demanded immediately.
His subordinates’ breathing grew slightly heavier.
"Fine. Here, you can count them!"
The Demon Cultivators didn’t try to go back on their word. They readily took out a large sum of Spirit Stones, placed them in a Storage Bag, and tossed it to the Original Peak Master and his men.
"Very good. The amount is correct," the Original Peak Master said after quickly counting and storing the Spirit Stones. "But we’ll also be needing your help to kill someone!"