Chapter 466 - 340: Tit for Tat
Somewhere in the Celestial Demon Sect’s territory.
Fluctuations of Demon Power and Spiritual Power intertwined.
Both combatants were at the early Foundation Establishment Stage.
The early Foundation Establishment Demon was named Ma Shichen, an Elder of the Celestial Demon Sect.
He was on a mission today when he was ambushed by a Foundation Establishment Spirit Refiner—something he never would have imagined.
If he hadn’t reacted quickly enough, he would have fallen at the hands of this early Foundation Establishment Spirit Refiner.
’This isn’t a time of war, so why would a Foundation Establishment Spirit Refiner come all the way into our Celestial Demon Sect’s territory to attack me?’
This was a question Ma Shichen couldn’t figure out for the time being.
Nothing like this had ever happened before.
From the start of the battle until now, he had been at a disadvantage. This early Foundation Establishment Spirit Refiner possessed a Lower Grade Spiritual Artifact specifically designed to counter them. In fact, the Spirit Refiner had used that very artifact to ambush him at the beginning of the fight.
Fortunately, they were no longer unfamiliar with this type of Lower Grade Spiritual Artifact and knew to be on guard against it.
Ma Shichen knew with perfect clarity that he couldn’t let the fight with this early Foundation Establishment Spirit Refiner drag on. If it continued like this, he would sooner or later fall.
An opportunity appeared!
Seizing the chance, Ma Shichen let out a great roar.
"I’ll take you down with me!"
He fully activated his Demon Fox Bloodline, appearing as if he were about to perish together with his opponent.
However, just as the early Foundation Establishment Spirit Refiner raised his defenses, Ma Shichen, who had seemed to be unleashing his full power, turned and fled in a flash.
That’s right. His apparent all-out burst was just a feint to escape.
Ma Shichen knew the limits of his full power. He also knew there was an eighty percent chance that even his strongest attack wouldn’t be enough to deal with this early Foundation Establishment Spirit Refiner, so he chose to flee.
In the eyes of many Foundation Establishment Demons, fleeing from a battle with a Spirit Refiner of the same Realm within their own territory was an utterly shameful act.
Ma Shichen didn’t see it that way.
He felt that surviving was more important than anything else.
Of course, he would never say that to the other Demons.
The reason he was fleeing with all his might now was for the sake of the entire Celestial Demon Sect, to bring back news about the Spirit Refiners.
"Cunning Demon."
Watching the Demon’s figure disappear, Zhan Yufeng was indignant.
After calming down, he couldn’t help but mutter.
"I’m still too young and naive."
He was a very ordinary early Foundation Establishment Elder from the Celestial Cloud Sect’s Battle Peak.
After the sect changed its strategy toward the nearby Evil Sects, he was lucky enough to receive a mission to operate within the Celestial Demon Sect’s territory.
He was very happy about this.
Although he was an ordinary Elder on Battle Peak, he possessed a Lower Grade Spiritual Artifact for dealing with Demons. With it, he wouldn’t be afraid even when facing a mid-stage Foundation Establishment Demon; he was certain he could put up a fight.
But as it turned out, he had underestimated the Demon’s cunning.
During his Qi Refining Stage, he had fought a Qi Refining Stage Demon before. He remembered that Demon had fought him to the death and was ultimately killed by him.
’Things have already come to this. I should leave this place for now.’
In the Celestial Demon Sect’s territory, it was unwise to pursue a fleeing Foundation Establishment Demon, unless one’s own pursuit skills were formidable enough to be confident of catching up in a short time.
If the chase dragged on, the distance would grow, which meant venturing deeper into the Celestial Demon Sect’s territory and facing even greater danger.
The mission briefing was very clear.
They were to carry out missions in the Celestial Demon Sect’s territory. The primary objective was not to kill Demons—though doing so was a bonus—but to ensure their own safety at all costs.
...
At the Celestial Demon Sect’s main headquarters.
Upon returning, Ma Shichen immediately went to find the Hall Master of the Soul Destruction Hall.
"Hm? Isn’t that Elder Ma? I thought you were supposed to be on a mission outside the sect."
"The mission can wait. I’ve brought back important news today," Ma Shichen replied without turning his head.
"What important news?" the Celestial Demon Sect Elder who had spoken asked curiously.
"You’ll find out soon enough, but not right now."
He had to report this news personally and then collect the corresponding reward.
Ma Shichen felt that bringing back such important intelligence was more than worthy of a handsome reward.
Before long, he met with the current Hall Master of the Soul Destruction Hall.
This Hall Master had held the position for quite a few years.
Normally, the next Hall Master of the Soul Destruction Hall would only be chosen when the current one went into seclusion to break through to the Core Formation Realm.
"Hall Master Xue."
"Elder Ma." The Hall Master of the Soul Destruction Hall looked at Ma Shichen and frowned slightly. "Why are you still in the sect?"
"Hall Master Xue, it’s like this. I was carrying out my mission when I was ambushed by an early Foundation Establishment Spirit Refiner. There’s an eighty percent chance that Spirit Refiner is from the Celestial Cloud Sect."
Ma Shichen quickly explained the situation.
Judging by the Hall Master’s expression, if he didn’t clarify things immediately, the man might get angry.
"You’re saying a Celestial Cloud Sect’s early Foundation Establishment Spirit Refiner ambushed you?"
"Yes," Ma Shichen nodded frantically.
At that moment, the expression of the Hall Master of the Soul Destruction Hall became exceptionally grave.
This was something that had never happened before.
Anyone with even a slight understanding of the Celestial Demon Sect’s history would know the gravity of such an event.
Simply discovering a Foundation Establishment Spirit Refiner from the Celestial Cloud Sect in their territory was one thing.
Those Foundation Establishment Spirit Refiners were usually here to scout for information. Whenever such a Spirit Refiner was encountered, they would certainly move to eliminate them. However, these Spirit Refiners were skilled at concealment and not easily discovered.
But now, a Spirit Refiner from the Celestial Cloud Sect had taken the initiative to attack them within the Celestial Demon Sect’s territory. This was a completely different situation from before.