Chapter 539 - 324: Ruse
The newcomer was none other than the Third Elder of the Golden Soul Sect, Jishan.
Over two months ago, the Golden Soul Sect had dispatched him to Chongwen State to hunt down the group audacious enough to attack one of their branch sects. Jishan had been searching everywhere since, and only just recently received a lead.
As the foremost power in the Fusheng Domain, the Golden Soul Sect had eyes and ears virtually everywhere within its borders.
If those culprits dared to show their faces, a report was sure to follow.
But to his surprise, the group had hidden themselves well. For more than two months, there had been no sign of them. They had only just reappeared today and, upon doing so, made a beeline straight for Earth Demon Cliff.
Earth Demon Cliff was, in truth, a major headache for the Golden Soul Sect.
The upper echelons of the Golden Soul Sect were aware of Earth Demon Cliff’s secrets.
The so-called Death Lord most likely hailed from the Central Continent and might even have close ties to the Five Great Celestial Sects.
However, the inhabitants were trapped here. They could neither be killed nor could they leave. Relying on their true Undying Bodies, they ignored all of the Golden Soul Sect’s demands and threats, refusing to yield to either carrot or stick.
Now that the attackers of their branch sect had entered this place, Jishan couldn’t help but wonder if they were connected to the Demon Fiends within Earth Demon Cliff. But to apprehend the group who dared to offend the Golden Soul Sect, he had no choice but to follow.
If even one person dared to strike at the Golden Soul Sect today and cause them heavy losses, it would inspire copycats, and the Sect’s reputation would be tarnished.
As the foremost power in the Fusheng Domain, this was a situation they absolutely could not allow to happen.
Therefore, any such possibility had to be snuffed out at the root.
Jishan’s arrival abruptly forced the surrounding Demon Fiends back. All of them stopped what they were doing and turned to look at him.
The two panicked Zombie Gods and their few remaining disciples looked as if they had just seen their savior.
"It’s Elder Jishan!"
"Elder Jishan, we are Cultivators from the Cyan Emperor Sect! We once visited your honorable sect to pay our respects and had the fortune of meeting you. Elder, please save us!"
The sudden, uncharacteristic attack from the Demon Fiends had jolted the two Zombie Gods from their previous euphoria, plunging them into an icy abyss and forcing them to their senses.
Seeing Jishan now, they immediately began to beg for help without a moment’s hesitation, all traces of their previous arrogance gone.
Jishan glanced down at them condescendingly. He had no memory of them whatsoever and didn’t give them a second thought, but he asked anyway:
"Have you seen this person?"
With a wave of his hand, a clump of flesh and blood detached from his palm. Dripping with fresh blood, it quickly coalesced in mid-air into the likeness of Yang An. It wasn’t a perfect match, but it was at least fifty or sixty percent similar.
"We have!"
The two Zombie Gods’ eyes lit up.
"That fellow is deep within Earth Demon Cliff! We crossed paths with him earlier. He wanted to get on our good side, but we refused him and didn’t reveal any information about the cliff."
’He’s the Third Elder of the Golden Soul Sect. Since he’s asking us about this, if we tell him the truth and earn some goodwill, a man of his stature will surely lift a finger to help us leave this place safely.’
The disciples with them represented most of their Sect’s elite. What’s more, the two of them were Zombie Gods, some of the few powerhouses in their Sect. If they all perished here, it would be no different from their Sect being wiped out.
’Heaven knows why these Demon Fiends from Earth Demon Cliff are acting so strangely.’
’But thank goodness Elder Jishan appeared. We can finally relax now.’
Just as the two Zombie Gods and their few remaining disciples breathed a small sigh of relief.
The next moment, however, Jishan simply nodded and then flicked a finger.
SPLAT—
The clump of flesh that had formed Yang An’s likeness suddenly burst open, extending countless tendrils that instantly burrowed into their bodies before they could even react.
In that instant, looks of astonishment appeared on everyone’s faces, quickly turning to terror.
Before they could make a move, their bodies dissolved into viscous slurries of blood, which were then devoured by the tendrils.
Even the two Zombie Gods could only attempt to struggle, but it was futile. They met the same fate.
Even at the moment of their deaths, they couldn’t comprehend why Jishan had suddenly attacked them, nor why he had been so merciless.
"Now, no one here has seen him."
The flesh and blood of the group had been completely absorbed. The floating clump of gore grew slightly larger before Jishan recalled it into his body.
His mission was not only to track down and dispose of those who had attacked the Golden Soul Sect, but also to protect the Sect’s reputation by keeping the matter contained.
The best way to do that was to eliminate everyone who knew about it. That way, no one would know, and the news wouldn’t spread.
Having disposed of the nobodies, Jishan’s gaze once again fell upon the surrounding Demon Fiends.
"Do I need to say it a second time?"
His voice was filled with an authority that came from his long-held position as the Third Elder of the Golden Soul Sect—an aura that was imposing even when he wasn’t angry.
But faced with Jishan, the crowd of Demon Fiends showed no fear. Instead, they watched him as if he were a joke, and many even displayed undisguised aggression.
"What’s with the act? If you want to see the Death Lord, go see him yourself. Don’t pull this crap with us."
The one who spoke was merely a Demon Fiend at the Early Stage of Zombie God, yet it showed no fear at all, even when facing Jishan of the Insect Dao Realm.
After all, Jishan couldn’t kill them. At most, he could cut them down for a time, but they would only resurrect after dying.