Erasing the Evidence

The night had yet to fade, and in the silence of the deep forest, Wang Quan stood over the bodies of the slain pursuers, his gaze cold and calculating. He knew that while the Earth Dragon Worm had dealt with his enemies, leaving the corpses behind would likely draw attention from the sect, possibly bringing trouble to him.

"I have to dispose of these bodies. I can't leave any evidence behind," Wang Quan decided. Although the sect didn't usually concern itself with the deaths of outer disciples, these men were Li Cang's followers. If their bodies were discovered, it could spark an investigation.

He gathered the corpses and dragged them deeper into the forest. Under the cover of night, he dug a shallow pit and buried the bodies, ensuring that no obvious traces were left behind. Though this took considerable time, Wang Quan knew that being cautious was necessary.

"That should prevent any unwanted attention," Wang Quan muttered to himself, wiping the sweat from his forehead, his eyes still sharp. He returned to check the spots where the disciples had fallen. Although most of their possessions had been devoured by the Earth Dragon Worm—especially anything valuable like high-level pills or spirit stones that might have been on Huang Hu—he found some useful items on the lower-level disciples who had died at the forest's edge.

From their bodies, he collected a few bottles of low-grade healing pills and several spirit stones. While not precious, they were still a small reward for his efforts.

"The Earth Dragon Worm is indeed a fierce beast, capable of devouring so many cultivators… but it must have sustained injuries during the fight with Huang Hu and the others," Wang Quan mused, a glint of calculation in his eyes.

As a sixth-stage Qi Refining beast, the Earth Dragon Worm was far beyond Wang Quan's current strength. However, the fact that it had been injured presented an opportunity. Wang Quan began to formulate a plan—while he couldn't confront the beast now, once his cultivation improved, he might be able to take advantage of the situation.

"The Earth Dragon Worm's Earth Elemental power is immense. If I can kill it, its essence would be a perfect resource for mastering the Earth Element aspect of the Five Elements Art," Wang Quan resolved, determined to strike when the time was right. Not only would defeating the worm strengthen his cultivation, but it would also solidify his spiritual foundation.

With these thoughts taking shape, Wang Quan realized that his immediate priority was still to rapidly increase his strength. Huang Hu and Yan Qing were dead, but Li Cang would eventually return, and the time left to prepare was running out.

As dawn's light began to filter through the treetops, casting a faint glow over the forest, the air was filled with a slight dampness. After a night of fleeing and fighting, Wang Quan was physically and mentally exhausted, but he remained on high alert.

After fully disposing of the bodies, Wang Quan returned to the area near the Earth Dragon Worm's cave, surveying the surroundings to ensure that no traces would draw unwanted attention.

"It all falls on the beast now," Wang Quan thought with a cold smile. If anyone found out what had happened, they would attribute the deaths to the monster, with no suspicion falling on him.

Having finished his work, Wang Quan finally made his way back toward the outer sect. His nerves were still tense, but a sense of calm gradually returned to his mind. He knew that while the night's events had been fraught with danger, they had also bought him valuable time.

The pre-dawn wind howled through the mountains as Wang Quan reached his familiar straw hut. Once inside, he didn't rest immediately but instead hurried to a nearby river at the base of the mountain.

The river was clear and pristine, the moonlight reflecting off its surface in shimmering ripples. Wang Quan knelt by the water and swiftly washed away the blood and dirt from his body. He glanced up at the gradually brightening sky, his mind already turning to the next steps of his plan.

"The sect officials will likely inquire about the deaths of the outer disciples, but the outer sect's management is largely superficial," Wang Quan thought.

The Yunxiao Sect's system for outer disciples was much like raising venomous insects in a jar—encouraging competition and mutual slaughter, with little interference from the sect's higher-ups. Only the deaths of core or important disciples would attract the attention of elders or stewards. Though Huang Hu and Yan Qing had some notoriety in the outer sect, their deaths wouldn't stir much interest among the sect's leadership.

Wang Quan knew that all he needed to do was pay a small "fine" after the deaths were discovered, and the sect stewards wouldn't waste much effort investigating the demise of low-level disciples.

"However, this will make Li Cang even more suspicious..." Wang Quan frowned. He knew Li Cang wasn't a fool. Once he returned to the sect, he would undoubtedly investigate the disappearance of Huang Hu and the others.

When that time came, Wang Quan would have no choice but to face Li Cang's wrath.

"I must increase my cultivation as quickly as possible," Wang Quan set his goal firmly in mind. Only by gaining power could he truly stand his ground and have a chance against someone like Li Cang.

After cleaning himself, Wang Quan returned to his straw hut, sitting cross-legged to resume his training and regulate his energy. He knew that every step from now on had to be taken with extreme caution, without a moment of carelessness.

As daylight broke, the outer sect of Yunxiao Sect began to stir back to life, the usual calm returning to the area. The bloody battle of the previous night had left no visible traces, and few people seemed to notice the disappearance of Huang Hu, Yan Qing, and their men.

Wang Quan, too, acted as though he had never been involved, quietly preparing for the storm that would inevitably come.