Record of a Demon's Cultivation

Chapter 538 - Close Friends

Translator: Cinder Translations

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The old woman was terrified, but the arrow was already on the bowstring, leaving her with no way to retreat.

She quickly formed hand seals, and the eighteen array flags lit up with a blood-red glow.

The old woman likely wanted to draw the Xing family members into the array, planning to perish with them.

Now, she had no choice but to change her strategy and activate the array, hoping for death.

If she fell into Xing Xinyu's hands, it would be worse than death.

Xing Xinyu looked down at the bloodlight rising from the dense forest below, her lips curling into a cold smile.

"Want to die? I won't let you have it your way."

She raised her right hand and slammed it down.

In an instant, a violent wind howled, clouds swirled, and the sky turned dark.

A storm formed in front of her, sweeping across the forest below.

Wherever the storm passed, trees were shattered, and rocks cracked.

"Poof!"

Before the storm reached her, the powerful pressure caused the old woman's spiritual energy to scatter, damaging her meridians, and she spat out a mouthful of crimson blood.

However, there was no fear in her eyes, only endless madness.

"If I can die by the hands of a Nascent Soul cultivator, it would not be a wasted journey."

Suddenly, a large amount of blood mist erupted from her body.

Her aura quickly began to rise.

She burned her own blood essence, and...

Her soul!

She cast a vicious secret technique that sacrificed her flesh and soul. Once this technique was activated, the only thing awaiting her was the scattering of her soul.

A semi-transparent blood-colored barrier suddenly materialized, covered with countless blood-red runes, writhing like centipedes.

Before the storm could reach, the old woman managed to activate the array.

A blood-colored light pillar rose from her body, piercing through the array barrier and shooting toward the sky.

It resembled a towering pillar rising from the earth, aimed directly at Xing Xinyu in the high sky.

Xing Xinyu's cold expression revealed a hint of anger.

An insignificant ant dared to try to attack her.

She lifted a finger and gently pointed at the blood pillar.

A surge of magical power erupted.

"Boom!"

The magical power collided with the blood pillar.

The blood pillar shattered, turning into blood-colored mist that drifted into the air.

On the other side, the array was also shattered under the storm's force.

Without the storm's attack, the old woman was already at her limit. She looked up at the sky, her eyes filled with longing and reluctance...

A smile suddenly appeared on her lips.

In the sky above, there was no sign of the Wuling Sparrow.

"Boom!"

The old woman's body exploded, but no blood flowed out. Only countless dry, broken pieces of flesh remained.

Looking at the scattered flesh, Xing Xinyu's expression darkened.

"She died so cleanly, she got off easy."

She looked up and scanned the surrounding mountains, her gaze lingering on the mountain where Song Wen was hiding for a moment. But ultimately, she seemed to find nothing. Her figure suddenly disappeared without a trace.

Song Wen remained hidden in a tree hollow more than thirty miles away, suppressing his aura and not daring to make a sound.

He had only come to Cloud Ridge Mountain because it was a spiritual stone vein, planning to pick up some bargains. He never imagined a Nascent Soul cultivator would be guarding the place.

"Did the information from the 'Anti-Xing Association' go wrong, or was the old woman framed? Did the Xing family intentionally leak the information to eliminate their enemies?"

"But Cloud Ridge Mountain was randomly selected by the old woman from the many properties of the Xing family. It shouldn't have been a trap set by others."

Thinking about this, Song Wen's eyes suddenly brightened.

"Within Cloud Ridge Mountain, there must be some hidden secret treasure! That's why Xing Xinyu personally came to guard it."

The Xing family originally had three Nascent Soul cultivators. After Xing Gaohan's death, only two remained: the early-stage Nascent Soul Xing Xinyu and the newly promoted late-stage Nascent Soul Xing Wenyao.

The Xing family only had two Nascent Soul cultivators, yet one of them was stationed at Cloud Ridge Mountain. The treasures here must be extraordinary.

Song Wen waited in the tree hollow for more than ten hours, until the night of the following day. After confirming there was no one around, he stepped out of the hollow.

At the same time, several miles away, a Shadow Gu crawled out of a stone crevice, holding the unconscious Wuling Sparrow in its mouth.

Song Wen retrieved the Shadow Gu and tucked the Wuling Sparrow into his robe, heading toward the black market.

To uncover the secret treasure of Cloud Ridge Mountain, using the power of the 'Anti-Xing Association' was undoubtedly the quickest way.

Once inside the black market, Song Wen took out the communication jade slip from the old woman.

[Friend, your information was wrong. There are Nascent Soul cultivators guarding Cloud Ridge Mountain, which led to Jiang Fen's death.]

Jiang Fen was the old woman's name, as she had mentioned when they met in the poison cave.

Song Wen wasn't entirely sure the other party would reply, but after waiting for a few moments, he received a response.

[Who are you? How did you get this communication jade slip?]

The other person seemed to not believe the contents of the message, instead questioning Song Wen's identity.

[I am Jiang Fen's close friend. Based on your information, she went to Cloud Ridge Mountain to take revenge on the Xing family, but tragically died at the hands of the Nascent Soul cultivator hiding there. This incident was caused by your incorrect information, and you must take responsibility.]

[Is Jiang Fen really dead? Are there Nascent Soul cultivators at Cloud Ridge Mountain?]

[The destruction from the battle is still there. You'll see for yourself if you go to Cloud Ridge Mountain.]

[I am deeply saddened by Jiang Fen's death, but it was an unfortunate mistake on my part.]

[An 'unfortunate mistake'? And Jiang Fen lost her life because of it.] Song Wen seemed to truly be Jiang Fen's close friend, his tone harsh.

[What do you want me to do to take responsibility?]

[Investigate the hidden secret treasure of Cloud Ridge Mountain.]

[It seems you're not here for Jiang Fen's death but for the secret treasure of Cloud Ridge Mountain.]

The response from the other party was full of mockery and sarcasm.

Immediately after, the other person continued to send a message, [Don't worry, even if you don't speak, I'll investigate the secret treasure of Cloud Ridge Mountain.]

[Good! I hope you can uncover the truth as soon as possible, to comfort Jiang Fen's spirit in the heavens.]

[Friend, do you have a grudge against the Xing family as well? Would you like to join the 'Anti-Xing Association'?] the other person asked.

Through the communication jade slip, Song Wen could vaguely sense the other person's magical power aura. Therefore, they were able to tell that he was a Golden Core cultivator, and the person seemed to have the idea of recruiting him.

[I never associate with those who hide their true identities.]

[If you wish to meet me, it's not impossible. I'll be at the small river twenty miles east of the Black Market, waiting for you.]

TL/N: Referring to the Dark Star Black Market.

Song Wen looked at this message, feeling somewhat suspicious.

Was the other person not at the Black Market? Or perhaps they simply didn't want to reveal their identity and purposely chose a meeting place outside the Black Market?

After thinking for a while, Song Wen decided to meet this mysterious 'leader.'

(End of the Chapter)

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