Chapter 73: Ambush

Chu Jie and Duan Kun remained hidden behind the massive boulder, their eyes fixed on the only entrance. Where they were, the surroundings formed a ring of giant stones, with just one access point leading to their refuge.

"Everyone, stay alert. I have a bad feeling about this," the rough voice sounded once again.

They had already been ambushed by the Stone Ridge Demons, losing three companions, and were now as skittish as startled birds.

Chu Jie had long since consumed a Blue Azure Pill, restoring his spiritual energy to its peak. He was ready; if the enemy approached, he would ensure none returned.

Duan Kun watched the entrance with a cold expression. Having received a Blue Azure Pill from Chu Jie, his body was brimming with energy.

Soon, more voices drifted over.

"You two, check over there. I'll look here alone," the gruff voice commanded.

Footsteps approached, growing closer, but just as they neared the entrance, they halted.

Chu Jie and Duan Kun exchanged a glance, exasperated. Their adversary was being exceedingly cautious, as if he'd spotted something amiss. Chu Jie signaled to Duan Kun, then crept toward the entrance himself. If the man would not come in, he would strike first, lest the man outside raise an alarm and force Chu Jie to relocate.

He had only taken a few steps when the gruff voice muttered, "Ah, that's a relief..."

Only then did Chu Jie realize the man must have sent his men away to relieve himself. No wonder he was alone.

Chu Jie immediately froze, waiting for the man to finish his business and approach. Then he would strike.

After a moment, the man's head appeared behind the boulder. Chu Jie pressed himself further into the shadows, wary of being seen.

A moment later, the man fully entered the clearing. He was extraordinarily tall and burly, his face thick with muscle, and his cultivation had reached the second level of the Spirit Convergence Realm. He had been leading the search nearby.

The instant his body crossed into the open space, his expression changed. He opened his mouth to shout, but a streak of light slashed across his throat.

Chu Jie's Universe Wheel spun through the air with a whistle and returned to his fist.

At the same time, Duan Kun's spindle-shaped artifact bored a massive hole in the man's torso.

"Another one," Chu Jie remarked coolly.

He summoned the Barbaric Cauldron, absorbing the corpse within. With a sweep of his divine sense, he searched the bodies, finding several bottles of Blue Azure Pills—essential for restoring spiritual energy. These pills were standard for Spirit Convergence cultivators, while the Body Tempering Realm had little use for them.

Unfortunately, there was nothing else of value. Yet so many cultivators had come to kill him; perhaps there were still useful spoils to be had.

Now, Chu Jie was prey to over a thousand hunters, but to him, they were no less his own prey.

Before long, someone noticed their leader was missing, and tension spiked.

"Was the last place the boss was seen in here? What if he's just resting inside? It might not be wise to barge in," a timid voice suggested.

Chu Jie and Duan Kun stayed put—they hadn't killed enough yet to warrant moving.

"What’s there to fear? We have so many people. Even if those two notorious fiends are inside, we could still escape."

"Exactly! You’re too timid. When I was at the fifth level of the Body Tempering Realm, I was as skittish as you. But after enduring many hardships, I reached the sixth level, and now I fear nothing. When you return, you should train harder."

"Uh, since you’re all so brave, can I stand at the back?" the timid one muttered.

Soon, five or six people entered the clearing. Finding no one, the rest followed, for the space was large enough that someone might be hiding in a corner.

Chu Jie and Duan Kun had squeezed behind a rock fissure they’d just discovered after the last kill—a perfect hiding spot.

Now, as the group spread out, it was time to attack.

Yet these were merely Body Tempering cultivators—killing them offered little benefit.

Chu Jie glanced at Duan Kun. Both held their ground; if they remained undiscovered, perhaps the crowd could leave unscathed. But if they pressed their luck, they would have to die.

"There are so many rocks here. Let’s search every inch—don’t miss a thing. The boss disappeared here, so those two fiends could be hiding," someone ordered.

"If they truly were fiends, would they need to hide? They’d have slaughtered us already. We should just leave," the timid one suggested again.

"Shut your mouth, you cowardly fool, or I’ll kill you myself," another snapped.

Chu Jie sighed inwardly. If they’d listened to the timid one and left, they might have survived. But their insistence on searching meant only death awaited.

As one of the warriors approached Chu Jie’s position, he finally acted.

A streak of light shot out, severing the man in two. Instantly, the Universe Wheel flew toward the others, trailing arcs of blood.

Duan Kun’s spindle artifact spun through the air, crisscrossing in a deadly dance of light and blood. In moments, the clearing became a hellscape.

The two emerged from behind the rocks.

"You had your chance, but you didn’t cherish it," Chu Jie said with a hint of regret. He summoned the Barbaric Cauldron, which devoured the bodies and even the bloodstains, leaving the clearing pristine—as if nothing had ever happened.

They tallied their kills—over forty now, but it was not enough. They would continue until at least a hundred fell before they moved on.

More than half the search party remained. Chu Jie and Duan Kun took turns meditating to restore their energy. Even with plenty of Blue Azure Pills, their supply was finite and needed for critical moments.

After a time, a signal flare shot up nearby—a firework crafted from low-grade Mystic Crystal, ignited with a touch of spiritual energy.

"They’ve found us. Let’s go," Chu Jie said, exasperated. At least some were clever; after losing so many, they realized something was wrong and called for reinforcements.

"Let’s wait a bit longer," Duan Kun proposed.

"Why?" Chu Jie asked.

"They’ll send reinforcements, but likely not the strongest yet. We still have a chance," Duan Kun reasoned.

Chu Jie agreed and continued to meditate.

Above, the vortex in the sky expanded, as if to swallow all things. Streams of light shot up from the depths of the Abyss of Gods and Demons, feeding the growing maelstrom.

It was unclear how long before the situation changed, but until then, all eyes would be on the two of them.

Two notorious fiends, bearing powerful artifacts, were enough to stir the emotions of every cultivator present.

To these people, Chu Jie was merely an appetizer.

But who was truly the prey remained to be seen.

Rummaging through the corpses in the Barbaric Cauldron, Chu Jie found some Spirit Gathering Grass. Sharing it with Duan Kun, they began to absorb its energy. Compared to Mystic Crystals, Spirit Gathering Grass was still the best for cultivation, while the crystals were far less efficient.

They fought battle after battle to sustain themselves.

Once recovered to peak condition, it seemed reinforcements had arrived.

Chu Jie listened intently, soon hearing voices.

"Are you certain they’re here?" asked a cold voice.

"Yes, absolutely. We’ve lost many men and can’t handle them. That’s why we called for help," came the reply.

To stand against the fiends, most cultivators had now united, for after all, they were all from Bloodslaughter City and could agree on at least this much.

The main search force outside consisted of Body Tempering cultivators, mere cannon fodder. When they encountered anything, they summoned large groups of Spirit Convergence cultivators.

This squad had fifty, the strongest at the fifth level—he was the temporary captain, his face covered in red beard, called Qin Lie. He had been the one questioning earlier.

Others ranged from first to fourth level.

"Quite a few experts this time," Chu Jie said, a flush of battle lust rising within him.

"We shouldn’t engage for long. Best to kill a few, then retreat," Duan Kun advised. Facing so many, even together, was difficult. The best plan was to strike a blow and leave.

Qin Lie’s voice sounded again. "This is where they disappeared? Are you sure?"

His tone was commanding, with an undercurrent of threat—should his subordinate dare lie, Qin Lie would kill him without hesitation.

"I’m sure!" the man replied.

"Good. You lead the way. Move! If you’re too scared to go first, I’ll kill you myself," Qin Lie barked coldly.

Clearly, he was no kind man.

Chu Jie's Universe Wheel had already solidified, spinning restlessly around him. He was even prepared to use the Nine Suns Heaven-Splitting Claw. So many Spirit Convergence experts posed a genuine threat.

He himself was only fifth-level Spirit Convergence, with strength comparable to a seventh-level. With Duan Kun, they could even challenge an eighth-level master.

Eighth-levels were rare—for beyond that lay the Star Core Realm.

In the end, the subordinate accepted his fate, leading the group forward, with the others close behind.