Free Web NovelChapter 149: Chapter 149: The Sudden Appearance of Demon Cultivators
Back in his shop, Jiang Xu continued to cultivate the Divine Forging Technique.
The Master Level Divine Forging Technique was now allowing Jiang Xu to progress at a truly rapid pace.
Every day, Jiang Xu could feel a significant increase in his Spiritual Power.
However, the price for this accelerated growth in Spiritual Power was that Jiang Xu’s body felt even more drained.
Jiang Xu could only barely replenish his depleted body by consuming large quantities of Qi Blood Pills and precious Spirit Medicines.
But today, Jiang Xu wasn’t cultivating the Divine Forging Technique. Instead, for the first time in a long while, he left his shop and headed out into the Marketplace.
It wasn’t because his cultivation had hit a bottleneck.
It was simply because he had run out of elixirs to aid his cultivation and had no choice but to go out and buy more.
!
Jiang Xu was suddenly startled. He halted abruptly, retreated a step, and held his breath, pushing his Concealing Breath Spell to its absolute limit to hide his presence within the surroundings.
’What’s going on? Why are there so many... uh, Demon Cultivators?’
Ahead, Jiang Xu estimated there were at least a dozen unusual individuals.
This group exuded a cold and profound aura. Their gazes were as sharp as eagles’, and each one of them was like a keen blade hidden in its sheath, ready to be drawn at any moment.
Although they didn’t have the obvious black membrane characteristic of Demons, they radiated a unique aura entirely different from that of ordinary Magic Cultivators.
Their skin appeared no different from an ordinary person’s, but upon careful inspection with the Spiritual Eye Technique, he could perceive a faint, ink-colored mist swirling around their bodies. This was especially true around their Dantians, where the Demonic Qi coiled like a persistent vortex. It was contained within their bodies like a deep abyss—unfathomable and filled with a suppressive, dangerous aura.
Although Jiang Xu had seen Elder Demon Su before, he hadn’t dared to use his Spiritual Eye Technique on Su Duo for fear of being discovered.
Other than that, Jiang Xu had never seen a Demon Cultivator.
However, putting the pieces together, Jiang Xu was certain that the only ones who could match this description were followers of the Demon Dao.
Their auras were completely different from ordinary Cultivators, and the Demonic Qi circling their Dantians revealed they did not follow the orthodox Path of Cultivation.
Although they showed no obvious signs of demonization on the surface, their restrained and sinister auras were enough to send a chill down one’s spine.
Alarm bells rang in Jiang Xu’s mind.
’Why would so many Demon Cultivators appear in the Purple Profound Celestial Marketplace at the same time?’
’Could it be that something major is about to happen?’
’Or is this a secret operation targeting someone specific?’
’Or is it just a coincidence?’
Jiang Xu grew inwardly vigilant. He understood that this was not the time to make direct contact with these people, and he certainly couldn’t afford to expose his own presence.
Jiang Xu carefully concealed himself while activating his Spiritual Eye Technique to quietly investigate the surroundings, trying to figure out this group of Demon Cultivators’ purpose and movements.
After trailing them for a while, Jiang Xu discovered that the Demon Cultivators’ movements through the Marketplace seemed purposeful; they weren’t just wandering aimlessly.
’It looks like they really are on a mission. That makes sense. Given the status of Demon Cultivators in Dinghai State, they would never show their faces here unless something big was going on. Once discovered, they’re doomed to a grim fate.’
Jiang Xu decided to secretly tail the group of Demon Cultivators for a while longer to gather as much information as possible.
Over the next few days, while maintaining a state of extreme caution, Jiang Xu followed this group of Demon Cultivators as they moved through every corner of the Purple Profound Celestial Marketplace.
Jiang Xu realized they didn’t seem to be planning anything brutal like murder or arson within the Marketplace. Instead, they appeared to be scouting for something.
The Cultivators in the Marketplace noticed nothing unusual, each remaining busy with their own trading and cultivation. Meanwhile, the group of Demon Cultivators cleverly used the bustling, complex terrain of the Marketplace to hide their movements.
Though Jiang Xu was nervous, he didn’t lose his composure. Relying on his Concealing Breath Spell and Spiritual Eye Technique, he maintained a safe distance from the Demon Cultivators at all times.
At the same time, Jiang Xu tried to glean more information from the Demon Cultivators’ conversations. Although they were quite vigilant and often spoke in code, Jiang Xu still managed to catch a few key clues.
They were likely acting as scouts, sent to investigate the defensive situation within the Marketplace.
’Why would Demon Cultivators be scouting this kind of information about the Marketplace?’
’Hiss... Could it be?’
Jiang Xu grew more certain that this matter was no small affair. The Demon Cultivators’ actions were organized and their objective was clear. There had to be a mastermind behind the scenes leading them.
’What are they doing?’ Jiang Xu’s eyes narrowed as he observed the actions of the Demon Cultivators ahead.
He noticed that as they seemingly wandered at random, they would use imperceptibly fast and subtle techniques to quietly leave something behind in certain corners of the Marketplace.
However, due to the distance and their swift movements, Jiang Xu could only catch a fleeting flicker of light and shadow, unable to see what it was they were leaving.
After the group of Demon Cultivators had left, Jiang Xu cautiously and nervously approached the spot where they had been.
But when he searched the area carefully, he found nothing out of the ordinary, as if everything was normal and nothing had been changed. Not even a single trace was left on the ground, making it seem as if what he had just seen was a mere illusion.
But this clearly couldn’t be his imagination; Jiang Xu was certain the Demon Cultivators had done something.
Their actions were too stealthy and swift, their speed making them impossible to follow.
Jiang Xu suspected the Demon Cultivators possessed some special means, such as a high-level magic capable of concealing items or information, or perhaps they were using some kind of marking system that only they could perceive.
Jiang Xu’s brows furrowed in deep thought. His gaze locked onto the retreating backs of the Demon Cultivators, his mind racing.
...
"Have you scouted everything out?"
In a hidden, gloomy corner, Su Duo’s figure was cloaked in shadow, appearing exceptionally stern and unfathomable. He gave a slight nod and asked with great solemnity.
"Reporting to Your Excellency, based on the information we’ve gathered, the Marketplace is just as you said. There are no Golden Core Cultivators guarding it. There are only fourteen Foundation Establishment Cultivators from various sects within the Marketplace, plus fewer than ten resident Loose Cultivator Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Their strength is meager. As long as the Grand Array is broken, we can slaughter them all!"
Before Su Duo knelt twenty people dressed entirely in black. They were half-kneeling respectfully on the ground, their gazes fixed on Su Duo with fanatical devotion.
Su Duo looked at these trusted followers before him, extremely satisfied.
These twenty Black Demon Guards were the loyalists he had cultivated over the years—people who, like him, were willing to dedicate their entire lives to the Demon Dao.
Some of them had been drawn by his charisma back in Canglang State and had followed him voluntarily, while others were fellow Demon Cultivators he had secretly recruited in Dinghai State. Among them were eight Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivators and twelve Qi Cultivation Great Perfection Demon Cultivators.
"How is the placement of the items going?" Su Duo asked.
"Everything is proceeding according to plan."
