Chapter 43: A Beast-Control Evil Cultivator, the Hunt Begins

The disciples were already panicking. When they heard the Demon Beasts were attacking, they grew so flustered that they almost lost control of the Formation.

“Don’t panic! We can still hold them off for now. That Soul Formation beast hasn’t arrived yet. Keep your heads!”

Seeing the other disciples at a loss, Ling Wushuang hurried to steady them.

Golden Core cultivators of the older generation would never have made such elementary mistakes. But these were the gifted disciples of their respective sects and factions. Their cultivation had advanced rapidly, yet they had little experience of the world. After all, they were either cultivating or on their way to cultivate.

Fortunately, Ling Wushuang was there. With someone to rely on, the disciples stopped panicking.

“Put everything you have into holding the Formation. If that Soul Formation beast comes, I’ll try to lure it away. After that, you’ll have to rely on yourselves. You’re all gifted disciples, so I’m sure you have plenty of ways to save your lives. When it comes to that, don’t hold anything back.”

Despite his words, Ling Wushuang had no confidence at all. He would be facing a Soul Formation beast alone.

“That is noble of you, Young Master Ling. I’ll do my utmost too.”

Cang Xing deeply admired Ling Wushuang’s willingness to face the Soul Formation beast alone.

“Since you’ve both said that, I won’t hold back either.”

Su Lin also pledged his support. The three of them were the strongest in the group, after all.

“Junior Brothers, don’t keep your good stuff hidden away. You have to stay alive to use it! If you die, everything you leave behind will just go to someone else.”

Su Lin addressed the disciples of the Mysterious Yin Sect.

“The same goes for the Pure Yang Sect disciples. Whether we escape this disaster depends on all of us.”

Cang Xing gave his Junior Brothers the same instructions.

“Young Master, do what you must. Leave things here to us.”

Ling Wushuang had no need to rally the Immortal Dao Merchant Association’s disciples. They were trusted followers and disciples from collateral branches of the Ling Family, and already understood his intentions.

All the disciples then poured in more Spiritual Qi, putting their full strength into maintaining the defensive Formation. For now, the Demon Beasts could not break through.

“Disciple, our time as master and disciple may be coming to an end. Once the Formation breaks, flee on your own if you get the chance. You’ll have a better chance alone.”

Knowing how dire the situation was, Qin Xiao gave Yun Man that instruction.

It was not that he was especially noble. They had been master and disciple, after all; better for one of them to survive than neither. With Yun Man’s Nascent Soul strength and numerous pills, she had a better chance of escaping. But if she had to drag him along too, who could say?

“Master, don’t worry. Even if I die, I won’t abandon you.”

Yun Man was deeply moved. She had not expected her master to be thinking of her even now.

“What are you saying? I’ve spent so long training you. If you die, all that will go to waste! Besides, I won’t necessarily die. I have no cultivation, so even if the Formation breaks, the beasts won’t pay much attention to me. I may have a good chance of surviving.” Read this novel at novelping dot com for the best experience.

Qin Xiao was afraid Yun Man would be stubborn, so he quickly explained.

Even as he said it, he knew there was little hope. His Body Refinement had reached the peak of the second layer, but without breaking through to the third, he could not withstand an attack from a Nascent Soul beast.

“Master, do you have some other way to save yourself?”

Yun Man sounded doubtful.

“Of course! Those Nascent Soul beasts will go after the cultivators with higher cultivation first. An ordinary Golden Core beast can’t kill me that quickly, either. Have you forgotten? Even your fist, imbued with Spiritual Qi, only injured me.”

Qin Xiao spoke with certainty.

In truth, Qin Xiao had no idea how things would turn out. But what else could he say?

“I understand, Master. Once the Formation breaks, I’ll draw those powerful beasts away. Find a chance to escape then. I have some ways to save my own life too.”

His confident answer reassured Yun Man considerably. She would hold nothing back when the time came, drawing as many Nascent Soul beasts to herself as possible to give her master a better chance of escape.

“Watch out, everyone! That Soul Formation beast is coming!”

Ling Wushuang sensed its aura first and hurried to warn them.

“Oh? Not bad, boy. You sensed it that quickly?”

The Soul Formation beast came into view: a giant ape with a man sitting on its shoulder. It was the man who had spoken.

“There’s a man up there?”

Everyone stared at the giant ape’s shoulder in confusion.

“Good, very good! So many elite disciples to harvest today. Now I’m even more certain of breaking through to Soul Formation.”

The man on the giant ape’s shoulder spoke with satisfaction as he looked at the group of nearly two hundred.

“Who are you, Senior? Why target us?”

Seeing that their enemy was human, Ling Wushuang felt some relief. At least they could talk. If it had been nothing but Demon Beasts, fighting would have been their only option; beasts would not talk things over with them.

“Oh? People from the Immortal Dao Merchant Association, and disciples of the Pure Yang Sect and Mysterious Yin Sect too? All the more reason not to let you go!”

The man recognized Ling Wushuang’s clothing. Far from showing the Immortal Dao Merchant Association any respect, he grew even more excited. This chapter was copied from NovelPing without permission.

“Senior, who exactly are you? We haven’t offended you!”

When his association’s name proved useless, Ling Wushuang lost his brief sense of relief and grew tense again.

“You haven’t offended me? Have you heard of the Beast-Control Sect from three hundred years ago? Your ancestors wanted our Beast Control techniques. They branded my sect an evil cult, joined forces, and wiped it out! And you have the nerve to say you haven’t offended me?”

The man grew more and more agitated as he spoke, until he was shouting in fury.

“A remnant of the Beast-Control Sect?”

Ling Wushuang had heard of Qingzhou’s Beast-Control Sect from three hundred years ago. But all he knew was that it had been an evil sect, wiped out by the combined forces of the other sects and factions. Who would have thought it still had descendants three centuries later?

“A remnant? So that’s what you call me! Since you’ve run into me today, none of you will escape. Blame your ancestors. Kill them!”

With that, he ordered the Demon Beasts to launch an all-out assault.

The Demon Beasts went berserk, battering the protective Formation. The disciples maintaining it felt the impacts, their expressions grim.

The man and the Soul Formation ape beneath him did not join in. They watched the group struggle to hold out, enjoying the sight. He did not want these people to die too easily.

“Everyone, we can’t go on like this. That Soul Formation beast hasn’t joined the attack yet. They probably intend to drain our Spiritual Qi, then torture us to death at their leisure. We should strike first instead of waiting to die. Let as many escape as can.”

Ling Wushuang had seen through their enemy’s intentions. He was clearly holding back to wear them down. If they took a gamble now, they might still have a chance.

“Brother Ling, if you have a plan, just say it. We’ll follow your lead.”

Cang Xing knew they would all die if they kept letting themselves be worn down, so he quickly agreed.

“Yes, Brother Ling. Tell us what to do.”

Su Lin wasted no words either, leaving Ling Wushuang to give the orders.

“Leave the Soul Formation beast and that man to me. I’m no match for them, but I should be able to hold them up briefly. Use that chance to withdraw the Formation and scatter. Let as many survive as can. We’ll regroup on the first layer and decide what to do then.”

After a moment’s thought, Ling Wushuang proposed his plan. He had no other choice. As the strongest, he had to be the one to hold their enemy back. He had treasures to save his life; even if he could not win, he could escape.

“Brother Ling, be careful.”

Cang Xing and Su Lin had nothing more to say. Both voiced the same warning.

“Now! Withdraw the Formation as soon as I strike.”

Finding an opening, Ling Wushuang gave that last instruction and attacked the man.