More schemes.

Before both men could speak, Shao Yuhui raised a finger to her lips to silence them. Xing Feng was even more direct with his "Shut the goddamn fuck up." He felt exhilarated to be able to say that to a soul realm cultivator, without fearing any consequence.

Meng Jian, who had already not been in the right state of mind, lost his temper and initiated an attack. Yet both stood there complacently, as Wen Hui and Tang Zhelang both obstructed them.

Wen Hui was no fool. He had already realised after Tang Zhelang had exposed his schemes, that the two disciples had also been involved. Otherwise he would have idiotically revealed both his own crimes as well as Yuan Huan's dooming the both of them.

So Tang Zhelan had sold out Yuan Huan to the two of these disciples who presumably also had solid backing within the sect. Probably from a faction opposing Shi Kun. The truth was close. Actually, these disciples initially had no backing, yet Zi Xinya of the Zi family, who were enemies with the Shi clan, had secretly sent a message to them along with her badge.

They were to find evidence of wrongdoings committed by Yuan Huan under Shi Kun's instruction. Zi Xinya had learned from a spy that Shi Kun was planning to abduct a woman to become his plaything. They were to act oblivious while figuring out a way to incriminate him.

After Yuan Huan had met Wen Hui privately, they thought they had their first lead. Yet before they could question him, Tang Zhelang had come to them with the evidence they needed.

He had met with Yuan Huan earlier to discuss eliminating the youths of the other clans. Yet he needed to enforce the deal, and to do that he needed some leverage over the party. So he had requested a memory crystal from Yuan Huan which could record moments in time and play them back.

Memory crystals were common in sects yet a tight control was kept over them being distributed to the kingdoms. It was rare for people who weren't part of sects to possess them. So Yuan Huan had handed one over without any suspicion. Yet what he didn't know that Tang Zhelang already owned a memory crystal. They both recorded the entire bribe, yet Tang Zhelong, on his other crystal, discretely only recorded the part that incriminated Yuan Huan without incriminating himself.

This was what he had handed over to the other two disciples as evidence. He had not known that they were actually undercover at the time. In fact, he still didn't know. He thought it was also possible the two disciples would be afraid of Yuan Huan and not publish the evidence. Yet he knew they would. Because Yuan Huan would never walk out of that forest alive. There was no need to fear the dead.

Shao Yuhui and Xing Feng would not stop the trial at any costs. Yes, evidence was great, but not as effective without victims. So they killed the hopes of the two men staring at them in despair.

Of course, they had no idea that Yuan Huan would never walk out.

They decided to wait out the remaining four days. One resigned. Two despairing. One grievous yet happy. Two indifferent. Things had taken an unpredictable turn.

Yet, the two disciples and Wen Hui, were still confused as they stared at Tang Zhelong out of the corner of their eyes. The two disciples didn't believe for a second that Tang Zhelong didn't offer something in exchange of Yuan Huan's help as didn't Wen Hui.

Yet why had he betrayed Yuan Huan in the end? And why did he look grieved?Wasn't he aware that once Yuan Huan came out that would be his end?

...

In the past three days, the gang of five had managed to hunt 13 peak sixth rank beasts. they could've opted for the easier method and killed 300 late sixth realm beasts. Yet although easier, overall, it would take too long, and they would run out of time. So they decided to go for the harder option.

Currently, they were fighting against a four armed golden furred ape. Its brute strength was incredible yet it was also quite nimble. It was a tough opponent.

Ling Jun's strength was not high enough so he was attacking with his bow, whilst Ling Ji and Ling Su also used long range attacks. They barely did damage, however they still drew blood, and over time the beast was getting wearier and wearier. Meng Li was at the forefront using both her daggers and drawing blood with every swing.

After all her cultivation was higher than the beasts. Ling Hao, who's cultivation had reached the late fifth stage, was also at the forefront, since he relied on fist techniques and dodging. He was in a precarious situation but Meng Li had him covered.

Within fifteen minutes, the beast had been killed and its core dug out.

That was when Ling Jun saw a figure appear in his spatial sense. Lured by the sound of the battle, he was heading over at fast speeds and would be here in a few moments.

Ling Jun quickly signalled Meng Li, before they knocked the three extras out cold and threw them somewhere behind in the forest. Then they both hid in nearby trees. Ling Jun realised that Yuan Huan was followed by four Tang clan disciples.

Yuan Huan leapt through the trees and landed on the ground to inspect the traces of battle. He was looking for evidence of a five person group. Just as he ran a hand through the mud, Two arrows came flying at him extremely fast from in front. That was followed by five razor sharp shrikes as well as three double edged blades. Meng Li also threw out various random bits and bobs she had 'collected' over the years.

Yuan Huan reacted instantly, twisting his upper body as fast as he could, he managed to completely dodge the arrow aimed at his forehead, whilst the one aimed at his leg connected, damaging his mobility.

Yuan Huan instantly took a shield out of his spatial ring. The shield expanded and hovered about three metres in front of him. He cowered behind it as all the bits and bobs landed, yet the shield held firm. However, he was unable to see his assailants yet he knew they would attack him from his exposed sides. He quickly jumped forward in a bid to exit the range of the projectiles, so he could remove his shield and regain visibility in front.

Ling Jun and Meng Li had been expecting that. Even before he could remove his shield, they both struck with their peak earth grade weapons, slicing through the shield.

Ling Jun had used Sword before sound, his current strongest move, to end this quickly. Meng Li similarly use her strongest technique.

Yuan Huan's eyes widened in alarm and he yelled in panic as he quickly turned his body to dodge. However, the speed of the attacks were too fast. he could only try to turn his body as much as possible so his life wouldn't be taken.

The sword cut through his left arm like a knife through butter. The dagger slid through his right thigh.

Yuan Huan's screams sounded out like those of a dying pig. Yet even as he screamed in pain, his mind was running furiously. He noticed that the weapons had met no resistance, not affecting his two assailants momentum at all, so they had ended up about 15 metres behind him.

Without hesitation, he utilised the forbidden earth escape technique. He had not reached mastery at all, and this was already a dangerous technique so forcefully using it would seriously damage him. It was even possible that it would straight up kill him. However he was completely out of options.

It was either certain death, or possible death.

He merged into the earth and appeared some distance away.

"Whew! Fucking intense that was." Ling Jun couldn't help but exclaim as he used his spatial sense to check where the lingering Tang clan disciples were.

"We need to kill the remaining disciples, they saw our true strength. Even if our faces were covered I'd rather not leave any witnesses."

Yes. After fretting for a while, Ling Jun realised there was an easy and simple solution to the problem. All they had to do was mask themselves and injure him enough to scare him away. After figuring that out, Ling Jun had wanted to punch himself out of frustration.

Even as Ling Jun began to move to mop up the extras, He noticed that Meng Li had not moved.

"Hey...Can you do that alone please?..." Meng Li's voice sounded like she was afraid.

"...Sure." Ling Jun gave her a deep look for a second before killing all the Tang clan members who had witnessed the spectacle.

Why were Tang clan disciples following him? Ling Jun thought to himself as he undid the black fabric he had tied around his face. He thought back to the loose end the Tang clan had left. Was the poison there simply to throw the other clans off the scent of their real plan? Was the real plan utilising Yuan Huan to kill all the disciples from other clans? How did they convince him to do that?

Ling Jun decided to think about it later.

...

Meanwhile, some distance away from where Meng Li and Ling Jun stood, a figure missing an arm and a leg was laying on the ground, gasping for breath. His leg hadn't initially been detached, that was a result of the technique.

Even as he struggled for his next breath, he tried to get a healing pill out of his spatial ring, before realising it had been on his left arm, which was...quite some distance away.

Suddenly, he heard a rustling in the trees behind him, and out walked a youth who wore the clothes of the Tang clan. Seeing the crest on his robe, Yuan Huan sighed with relief.

"Its me...Yuan Huan. I was... ambushed by two enemies and... left in this state. Quickly take me... back to the other disciples... so I can be healed!" He said between heaved breaths.

The Tang clan member, Tang Yimu, looked conflicted for a few seconds, before resolve shone in his eyes.

"Don't blame me for this, the elder is watching my every move. He said I must kill you, or else my parents die. If you die however, my parents will live a good life within the clan. I...I wont be there to see it though." Vague tears could be seen cupping his eyes, yet his resolve never faltered.

"I'm sorry mother...i'm sorry father. If there is a next life, I hope that I will meet you again! But now... now, Tang Yimu, will never be coming back to you!" As soon as he finished speaking, he burst into tears.

Yuan Huan had lost the strength to speak. Even as he begged with his eyes, helpless, he began to feel fluctuations of an eminent self destruction. His eyes sank into despair as he realised that the detonation could not be stopped. He lay there helplessly as the blast instantly took his life, along with an intense burning flame that completely decomposed his body into ashes.