Chapter 215 (Part 1): A Gathering of Worthies

The male and female pair looked at each other, bewildered. Well, they really didn’t know about this.

They had originally thought that this Black-Clad Girl—like them—had encountered a powerful group of cultivators, or maybe been ambushed by someone pretending to mediate after a desperate battle.

But no, it turned out to be this kind of situation.

“Evidence? Why should we believe you?”

The Black-Clad Girl’s deep gray eyes settled on the female Demonic Cultivator who had spoken.

Her gaze was like she was looking at a primitive whose brain hadn’t developed properly.

The female Demonic Cultivator was so angry she could barely control her violent temper.

She wanted to jump up and slash this dying girl who still looked down on her.

“What more evidence do you want? Isn’t my current state evidence enough? Isn’t the fact that I found you proof?” the Black-Clad Girl demanded, her tone accusatory.

Perhaps speaking too much at once inflamed her injuries. As soon as she finished, she couldn’t stop coughing, and her face visibly grew paler.

Using her one hand, she took a pill from her Storage Pouch and swallowed it.

Only then did she suppress the coughs.

She raised her eyes and coldly stared at the two Demonic Cultivators before her.

“If I had any other choice, do you think I would have come to you and suggested cooperation?”

That statement was undeniably true.

If there had been any way at all, Demonic Cultivators wouldn’t have pinned their hopes on other Demonic Cultivators.

Not to mention the Black-Clad Girl’s current state was so poor that a gust of wind could blow her over.

“If we want to leave this place, we have to cooperate. Find a sliver of hope in this desperate situation!”

“Cooperate? Are you joking? Even if we were willing to trust you, how could the three of us possibly break through all those obstacles?” The female Demonic Cultivator sneered.

She no longer considered the Black-Clad Girl a threat, but she still scoffed at her proposal.

She and her companion had managed to preserve their strength fairly well, but this Black-Clad Girl—aside from bringing a bit of information—didn’t even count as half a person. She was a liability.

If they teamed up, it wouldn’t be two-plus-one. It would be three-minus-one, because they’d have to take care of this frail invalid.

“Of course the three of us alone aren’t enough. But do you think cultivators in the same situation as us are few? If we can gather them all together, we’ll form a tremendous force—enough to break through any obstacle!”

The Black-Clad Girl’s meaning was clear: she didn’t just want to recruit these two Demonic Cultivators, but also the others who had been crippled.

By uniting these scattered remnants into a large army, they might have a chance to break through the wall ahead and rush toward the soon-to-open Exit Point.

“Stay here, and you’ll only die. Take a gamble, and you might live.”

“That…” The male Demonic Cultivator was tempted. Compared to hiding in this small cave like a rat that couldn’t see the light, he’d rather take a risk.

Even if he died in the end, at least he wouldn’t have to suffer like this. If they succeeded in breaking out, he’d be ecstatic.

He turned to look at his companion, asking for her opinion with his eyes.

The female Demonic Cultivator still couldn’t believe the Black-Clad Girl. Did she think a few words could trick her into risking her life? That was too naive.

Besides, uniting everyone was no easy task. What if they couldn’t unite in the end? Would the three of them really have to force their way through?

Under multiple factors, the female Demonic Cultivator had little interest in Hua Jian’s proposal.

She preferred to find her own solution rather than trust some weakling who could barely walk.

“I admit what you said is terrifying. If it’s true, then every day we stay here increases the danger.” She stared at the Black-Clad Girl, speaking word by word.

“But I don’t want to go die for nothing. Unless you really can rally the others, we’ll find our own way out.”

The male Demonic Cultivator heard his companion and thought it was reasonable.

Three people definitely weren’t enough. If the Black-Clad Girl could really form an alliance as she claimed, then they could join.

“That’s not an unreasonable request, is it? If you want our help, you have to make us believe we actually have a chance to break out of the Secret Realm, not just throw our lives away.”

The female Demonic Cultivator stared into the Black-Clad Girl’s eyes, her tone softening just a little.

She didn’t want to die either. If the Black-Clad Girl could actually raise a sufficiently large force, she wouldn’t mind joining.

That way, there would still be a chance to survive.

“Hahaha, you said it yourselves.” The Black-Clad Girl didn’t get angry after being challenged.

Instead, she laughed, as if she’d heard something very amusing.

She tapped her wooden staff on the ground, and an invisible wave rippled out of the cave.

“Come in, these two Daoist Friends are willing to join our team.”

As her voice drifted out, messy footsteps sounded from outside the cave.

The auras of seven Ling Kings entered the perception of the two Demonic Cultivators.

A full seven of them!

When all seven Ling Kings entered the cave, the two Demonic Cultivators finally understood why they had united.

Not one of these seven Ling Kings was in good shape.

Several were missing arms or legs, and each had a poor complexion.

By contrast, the two Demonic Cultivators were in the best condition.

Probably because they had only fought one battle and used their friend to buy time while retreating, so they hadn’t been beaten too badly.

“These are all the remaining scattered teams in the Secret Realm.”

The Black-Clad Girl raised her hand and introduced the seven Ling Kings to the male and female Demonic Cultivators one by one.

Among the seven, three were lone wolves and two were pairs.

Counting these two Demonic Cultivators, the total number of cultivators came to nine.

But it was only the numbers that had any deterrent power.

In a real fight, the nine of them probably couldn’t muster as much strength as two full teams.

“I didn’t expect you’d already gathered so many. Then why didn’t you just bring them in? Why come alone and risk us killing you?”

The female Demonic Cultivator looked at the seven Ling Kings behind Hua Jian with a complicated expression, unable to understand the Black-Clad Girl’s intention.

If you’d said you had so many people from the start, we’d have agreed to join right away.

“I didn’t want any backstabbers or ill-intentioned scum in the team. They’re more hateful than the enemies in front.”

The Black-Clad Girl chuckled twice, bluntly stating that this had been a test for the two of them.

If they had killed her, that would prove they were untrustworthy, and the seven Ling Kings wouldn’t have come in.

If they didn’t act, that meant they had some sense, and she could bring them along for the big plan.

“Even though I’m hurt, if someone really wanted to kill me, I’m confident I can take my killer down to hell with me.”

The Black-Clad Girl curled her lips and casually dropped a remark that sent chills down the spines of the two Demonic Cultivators.

If she had said she was confident in killing them in retaliation, they wouldn’t have believed her.

They’d have thought she was bluffing.

But saying she was confident in dragging her killer down with her—that kind of mutual destruction was very convincing.

Yes, I can’t live, but I can take you two murderers with me. Having more company on the road to the Yellow Springs isn’t bad.

That kind of statement had too much credibility. Too high to doubt.

She had staked her life on it. Would you really gamble that her last resort couldn’t take you down?

Even if it couldn’t kill you, it would leave you half-dead.

Then you’d have to drag your crippled body through this gradually hellish Secret Realm, searching for a slim chance of survival.

See if those vicious demonic cultivators would spare you. See if Wanhuagu’s claim that the Secret Realm was about to collapse was true.

At this point, the two could only feel relief. Relief that they hadn’t directly killed the Black-Clad Girl.

Otherwise, they’d be completely finished.

Amid their relief, looking at the other Demonic Cultivators gathered in the cave, hope for survival reignited in their hearts.

With a total of ten people—a formidable force—maybe they really could break through the interceptors’ obstacles.

As long as they reached that place, they could leave alive!

“The Transmission Array will open soon. Prepare yourselves; we’re moving out.” The Black-Clad Girl stood up, leaning on her staff.

“I know you don’t trust each other. I don’t expect you to coordinate. Just remember one thing: numbers are our real weapon.”

“Now, move out!”

……

“There are quite a few eyes around, but none are trying to get close. A bunch of cowards.”

Standing on the city wall now covered in a bloody red mist, a red-haired, red-eyed Demonic Cultivator looked disdainfully into the distance.

Within his perception range, there were quite a few auras of decent strength, but none of them moved.

They seemed to be waiting.

Waiting for what? Who knows?

Maybe they were waiting for the heavens to take pity and drop a meteorite to smash their wall?

In his heart, he truly felt a sense of grandeur—guarding the pass alone, a match for ten thousand.

Wanhuagu was really cunning, hiding mechanisms in the city wall.

Once these mechanisms were activated, the city wall would become a true iron fortress, giving the defenders endless advantages.

Occupying this city wall, they could choke off all paths to the Exit Point. Anyone who wanted to leave would have to get past them.

Even if they eventually lost, they could abandon this place and retreat to the Exit Point.

Offense and defense both possible—a perfect setup!

“There’s only a shichen left until the Transmission Array opens. Looks like no one’s coming to die.”

Another Demonic Cultivator walked over, a hint of regret in his voice.

He wanted to see just how sturdy this city wall was, but unfortunately the group of fellows surrounding it were all cowards.

None of them dared to come and test its power.

“Sigh, what a bunch of cowardly mice. I’d like to see how long they can hold out.”

“They can dodge the first but not the second. They’ll have to get past us eventually, haha!”

The two were laughing loudly at the cowards outside when suddenly a deep voice came from above.

“Don’t get distracted. Something’s coming!”

A strong light shot out from the top of the city wall, straight towards the distant shadows.

At that moment, the sky of the Secret Realm had turned dim, and with the obstruction of the Magic Mist, visibility on this road was poor.

With this illumination, the two Demonic Cultivators, who had been mocking others just moments ago, realized that someone had unknowingly crept up to a point not far from the city wall.