Outside the Green Grain Market, a Plantain Leaf descended from mid-air.

Two thousand-year-old scholar trees loomed ahead. Wang Hui was just about to step into the market when Hong Liang called out to him.

“Junior Brother Wang, hold a moment. Let us speak.”

Wang Hui smiled. “Speak? What is there to discuss? I can hardly wait to enter the market and taste some fine Green Grain wine!”

“I have some heartfelt words I wish to share,” Hong Liang said, stopping in his tracks. He sighed with exaggerated emotion. “Remember when we were merely Outer Disciples? Back then, we watched the Inner Disciples crisscrossing the skies above the Green Grain Market with such envy.”

“And what use was envy?” Hong Liang continued, his tone turning bitter. “The Inner Disciples enjoyed privileges and respect we could only dream of. To ascend back then required harsh conditions—the seventh layer of Qi Refining, immense merit contributions, and passing the sect’s internal examination.”

Wang Hui listened closely and nodded. “True. It was indeed difficult to enter the Inner Sect in those days.”

“But our luck turned. We caught the wave of the Exceptional Promotion Order and finally became Inner Disciples ourselves…”

Before he could finish, Hong Liang shook his head dismissively. “But can we compare to the original Inner Disciples? This exceptional promotion is inferior in every way. Take Magical Artifacts, for instance. We couldn’t fly directly into the Green Grain Market before. Now that we are Inner Disciples, we still can’t… What was the point of it all?”

Wang Hui chuckled. ” The sect’s crisis outweighs everything. Naturally, they cannot allow disciples to fly freely in and out of the market. It is quite reasonable.”

Hong Liang offered a strange smile. “Heh, Junior Brother Wang, your temper has certainly improved. It is quite different from what I recall. Did your assignment to guard duty temper your disposition?”

Wang Hui kept smiling. “Toward the useless subordinates below me, I naturally have a temper. But toward the sect? I dare not show any. Besides, I was the one who erred first. I admitted my guilt and accepted the punishment. What right do I have to be angry?”

“To be so open-minded is rare,” Hong Liang remarked.

Just then, a horse-faced middle-aged man walked slowly out of the market. He held a tray and approached them with an ingratiating grin.

“Two Immortal Masters, care to taste my flower cakes? They are made with fresh blossoms and the finest rice.”

Hong Liang smiled. “We have no gold or silver for you.”

The man chuckled obsequiously. “It would be my honor if the Immortal Masters deigned to taste them. These cakes aren’t worth much money. How could I dare ask for payment?”

As he spoke, he drew a small knife, cut two pieces of pale red cake, and offered them to Hong Liang and Wang Hui with both hands.

Wang Hui looked at Hong Liang, his smile fixed.

Hong Liang reached out, took a piece, and smiled. “Then I shall have a taste.”

He popped it into his mouth, chewing thoughtfully. “Sweet, soft, and fresh. Not bad at all.”

He turned to Wang Hui. “Junior Brother Wang, won’t you try one?”

Wang Hui’s face remained full of mirth, but his hands stayed at his sides. Instead of reaching for the cake, he took a step backward, retreating toward the market.

“Junior Brother Wang?” Hong Liang’s expression shifted slightly. “What are you doing?”

“Hong Liang, do you take me for a fool?”

Wang Hui continued to back away. “If we were inside the market, I might have lowered my guard. But out here—”

Before he could finish, the horse-faced vendor’s hair exploded into a vivid crimson.

A thick, nauseating stench of blood erupted from his body. In an instant, he transformed into a blurry red shadow. With a deafening bang, he slammed into the retreating Wang Hui, knocking him to the ground.

A foot stomped heavily onto Wang Hui’s chest, crushing the breath out of him and forcing a mouthful of fresh blood from his lips.

From within the swirling bloody mist, a hoarse voice dripped with mockery. “Long time no see, Steward Wang!”

Wang Hui struggled to open his eyes against the stinging blood aura. Recognizing the face looming over him, shock and fury convulsed his features.

“Li Quan! It’s you, you Old Coot!”

“That’s right, it’s me!”

Old Taoist Li’s face twisted in savage delight. ” Steward Wang, you called me ‘ Old Coot ‘ time and again. You looked down on me repeatedly. Did you think I, Li Quan, would swallow such humiliation in this lifetime?”

He leaned in, his eyes burning. “You didn’t expect me to still be in the Green Grain Market, did you? You didn’t expect me to reach the seventh layer of Blood Refining and become a leader of the Demon Blood Sect here, did you?”

“Today, I finally have you, you dead fat pig, under my boot! I will crush your bones and scatter your ashes—HAHAHAHA!”

“This is truly the most satisfying moment of my life!”

Hong Liang hissed a warning from the side. “Kill him and let’s go! I still need to fake a fight with you—people are coming!”

Indeed, figures were already emerging from the market gate to investigate the commotion. Someone in the distance saw Old Taoist Li enveloped in blood mist and screamed, ” Demonic Cultivator !”

Panic began to spread. The Wanchun Valley disciples would be upon them momentarily.

Old Taoist Li’s eyes narrowed coldly. “If I don’t let him die understanding why, how can my heart be at ease? I’ll kill him now!”

“Pity we didn’t plan this better. We could have been more discreet,” Hong Liang frowned anxiously. “And you just had to target him specifically… Just kill him!”

Old Taoist Li waved his hand dismissively. “Venting this breath of resentment has cleared my mind! I will go into hiding and we can contact each other using the old method. It won’t ruin the plan!”

As he spoke, seven or eight dark red, murky Blood Droplets shot simultaneously toward Wang Hui beneath his foot.

Thud, thud, thud!

Old Taoist Li looked down in surprise.

The Blood Droplets had all struck a thick, broad leaf—the Plantain Leaf Wang Hui used as his flying Magical Artifact. In the life-or-death moment, Wang Hui had summoned it as a shield.

It was, after all, a refined artifact. The volley of Blood Droplets only damaged the surface, causing the leaf’s spiritual light to flicker violently.

Blood bubbling from his mouth, Wang Hui didn’t dare delay. He clung to the back of the leaf like a fat caterpillar, gripping the veins desperately while channeling every ounce of his Spirit Breath.

The Plantain Leaf trembled, then wrapped around him, lifting him five feet into the air before shooting toward the Green Grain Market.

Seeing this, Hong Liang felt a surge of rage.

If not for this Li Quan insisting on a personal vendetta, why would I have lured Wang Hui out? How did it turn into this mess?

If Wang Hui survives, I can never stay in Wanchun Valley!

“Still holding back? Do you have any illusions left?” Old Taoist Li roared. His blood energy surged as another volley of Blood Droplets shot toward the fleeing leaf.

Simultaneously, the old Taoist’s body dissolved into a blood shadow. His crimson hair whipped in the wind as he raised a fist high, gathering all his Blood Essence for a martial strike he knew by heart.

Hong Liang’s face twisted in bitterness. He had no choice.

Gritting his teeth, he activated two fire Talismans, one in each hand, and hurled them at the Plantain Leaf.

Wanchun Valley is lost to me. If I kill Wang Hui, I am a traitor. If I don’t, I am still a spy. There is no path back!

The Blood Droplets slammed into the leaf first.

“Save me!” Wang Hui screamed in terror.

The Plantain Leaf’s spiritual light shattered. Several holes punched through its surface, and it began to plummet.

Immediately after, Old Taoist Li arrived, his fist smashing through the damaged leaf.

The iron scent of blood assaulted Wang Hui’s nose. The sound of tearing vegetation filled his ears. His eyes widened in absolute horror.

“Die for this Taoist Master!”

Old Taoist Li roared with feral joy as his fist connected with Wang Hui’s massive bulk.

Wang Hui was launched like a ragged sack, flying high into the air before crashing heavily into the dirt.

The Flame Technique released by Hong Liang’s Talismans arrived a split second too late, scorching the empty ground black where the leaf had been.

Inside the Green Grain Market, the nearest Outer Disciples arrived at the perimeter, shouting, ” Demonic Cultivator! Do not flee!”

Old Taoist Li looked up. The glow of Magical Artifacts was rising en masse from the market.

He knew he couldn’t delay another second. If a Foundation Establishment cultivator arrived, escape would be impossible.

He wrapped himself in a dense shroud of blood mist and ignited his Blood Essence. Activating the Bloodlust Technique, he transformed into a streak of crimson light moving at breakneck speed.

He swept past Hong Liang, paused just long enough to grab him, and vanished into the dense forest.

A dozen breaths later, two Deacons stationed in the market touched down. Hearing a hurried report, they immediately mounted their artifacts and gave chase toward the forest.

Moments later, Elder Yan arrived from the direction of the sect, standing atop a black vine staff. After confirming Hong Liang’s collusion with the Demonic Cultivator, he too shot toward the treeline to hunt them down.