Loyal Heart Roaming the Skies

Book 2: Chapter 24: In the center of the center of the center

Just as one wave subsided, another wave rose.

Jiang Wang's mind moved, but he did not immediately point out the problem of the invasion of death qi.

Because he couldn't be sure whose means this was, speaking out would only draw the attention of the person hiding in the dark.

But he couldn't let things continue to develop like this.

Jiang Wang organized his thoughts a bit and said, "In any case, because of the special nature of the Tianfu Dragon Palace, the person who incites the invasion of killing intent must be nearby. There are two possibilities. The first is that he is hiding right under our noses, but none of us can detect it. We don't need to consider this possibility for now because it's useless since we can't detect it."

"The second possibility is that he is one of us! In that case, he will definitely create opportunities for conflict to cooperate with his means. Therefore, from now on, anyone who tries to provoke a fight, I will consider them the mastermind behind the scenes and kill them with my sword!"

Jiang Wang looked at Ji Xiu and said, "Brother Ji, since you have a means to resolve the invasion of killing intent, how much time do you need to find the source of the disturbed killing intent? Or even expose the mastermind?"

Ji Xiu thought for a moment and said confidently, "As long as no one disrupts, I will definitely find the source of the means within fifteen minutes. As for the mastermind, once I find the source, there should be no lack of clues."

The cultivators of the Dongwang Valley had weight in their words in this regard.

Among the people present, whether they concealed it well or not, no one showed any abnormalities.

Jiang Wang secretly observed and said, "In that case, why don't we wait outside the hall for now? We can monitor each other. When Ji Xiu finds any clues, we can decide on the next course of action."

Lian Que immediately agreed, "That's fine."

"It's only fifteen minutes. There's no need to go out. The invasion of killing intent won't disturb you for the time being," Ji Xiu said as he took out a needle pouch from his pocket and was about to start his means.

"It's better to wait outside the hall." The female cultivator seemed a bit uneasy and looked around. "I always feel that there's something strange in this hall."

Zhao Fangyuan, who was still injured, was even more cautious and nodded repeatedly. "Let's wait outside. We won't be of any help here. It wouldn't be good if we disturbed the means of the Dongwang Valley."

Even the cloaked cultivator said, "That makes sense."

"You can do as you please." Ji Xiu took out a silver needle, flicked it with his fingers, and said calmly, "In case any opportunities arise during this time, I hope that you won't fight me too hard, considering my efforts to save you."

After saying this, everyone stopped.

Yes, what if an opportunity for divine abilities arises while they wait outside?

Although there was danger in the hall, didn't they know that this was a dangerous place before they entered the Tianfu Secret Realm?

Leaving the divine abilities that were still hidden and waiting outside would be ridiculous.

No one was willing to leave the hall. Everyone's feet seemed to be rooted to the ground.

The divine abilities that had always been hidden and unseen firmly grasped them, pulling them into the Tianfu Secret Realm and trapping them in the Tianfu Dragon Palace.

Jiang Wang suggested waiting outside the hall because he genuinely wanted everyone to avoid danger. However, in this situation, it was not appropriate to persuade them again, as there would be a risk of attracting the attention of the mastermind behind the scenes.

He couldn't determine yet whether the one manipulating the death qi and the one setting up the invasion of killing intent were the same person. He couldn't even determine if the other party was in the main hall.

Ji Xiu held a silver needle in one hand, raised it in front of his eyes, and used a secret technique with his other hand.

Just then...

His hand suddenly trembled, and the silver needle fell to the ground.

He couldn't even hold a single needle steady, and his expression became extremely weak.

What happened?

Jiang Wang was about to take action.

Bang!

The female cultivator tilted her head back and fell down!

She lay on the ground with her limbs in the air, her face covered in gray and black, indicating that she had already died in this short period of time.

It was the outbreak of death qi!

Jiang Wang's heart moved, and he immediately fell to the ground, pretending to be in pain. At the same time, he stirred his Dao Yuan, making himself appear as weak as a thread of air.

On the other side, Zhao Fangyuan spat out a mouthful of blood, which was mixed with a grayish-black color.

He was already seriously injured, and at this moment, he collapsed to the ground, barely supporting himself.

The cloaked cultivator had already fallen to the ground and his life or death was unknown.

Only Lian Que seemed to be in slightly better condition, still able to stand firm.

His face turned completely red, like a burning charcoal.

However, visible gray qi spread from his neck to his face.

The red and gray colors confronted each other, resisting each other.

Ji Xiu struggled to raise his head and looked at Lian Que with great effort. "So it was you who made a move! Is it also your doing to incite the killing intent? Have you been using a ruse all along?"

"No! It's not me!" Lian Que roared.

But as soon as he spoke, the gray qi on his neck surged up.

He had to immediately shut his mouth and focus on resisting the invasion.

His body was like a furnace, refining the death qi that invaded his body using a secret technique.

But there was too much death qi, and the outbreak was too sudden. He could only barely maintain it.

For a while, all the cultivators in the Tianfu Dragon Palace seemed to have lost their fighting power.

After a moment of silence.

"Who the hell could it be?"The voice grew louder.

Ji Xiu spoke and slowly stood up.

His expression remained unchanged, his feet stable, showing no signs of being injured.

He looked around the hall, observing everyone present with sharp eyes. "I'm really curious, who is behind this killing technique? Are you enjoying the effects of my Nine Deaths Poison?" he asked.

Zhao Fangyuan collapsed on the ground, his expression panicked. "What poison?" he asked.

"You heard me right." Ji Xiu chuckled softly, seemingly satisfied that someone recognized the poison. "Many people know the name of the Nine Deaths Poison, but they don't know its true nature. In fact, this poison has nine different manifestations. I only used one of them."

He glanced at the body of Tian Yong on the ground. "Using the dead aura from this unlucky guy's body, I activated the dead aura within the poisoned individuals, causing sudden death. Except for that woman who had a hidden illness, the rest of you have shown remarkable resilience. However, this poison is incurable because it is the dead aura that exists within everyone. The Nine Deaths Poison is just an early arrival of your death."

This poison was too terrifying, almost impossible to defend against. It even had a hint of rewriting fate.

In Zhao Fangyuan's terrified eyes, Ji Xiu continued, "Alright, I've satisfied your curiosity. Who among you will satisfy my curiosity? Who is behind this technique that manipulates killing intent? Tell me, and I'll make your death easier."

Curiosity alone was not enough for him to repeatedly inquire. In fact, he was interested in this secret technique that used killing intent as a means.

Using killing intent was more concealed than using dead aura. Perhaps he could turn the Nine Deaths Poison into the Ten Deaths Poison.

Everyone remained silent.

"Do you feel threatened by the invasion of killing intent? Even though I have the Killing Qi Snake, I dare not show my killing intent too directly, so I'll give you a chance to struggle with the next Nine Deaths Poison. So... are you not afraid of my threats?" Ji Xiu shook his head, seemingly sighing at the naivety of those who hid.

He flicked his index finger and a silver needle appeared. "This is the Broken Pattern Needle."

With a light flick, the silver light shot out like lightning, piercing through the dome of the hall.

Above the dome, red lines quickly formed, combining into a complex and chaotic pattern.

It turned out that the dome had already been inscribed with an array without anyone's knowledge!

And Ji Xiu had already discovered this array.

He wasn't lying; he really could find the source of the invasion of killing intent.

The hidden array now revealed its traces. However, the array had already cracked, and all the red lines were severed.

"Tsk tsk tsk, the method used to inscribe this array is truly ingenious. The way it activates the invasion of killing intent is so marvelous," Ji Xiu exclaimed.

"But it's gone now."

"Now, I can kill whoever I want, however I want."

"So, I'll ask again, who is it?"

"Step forward and give me the technique that invades with killing intent, and I can guarantee that I won't kill you. If you don't trust me, you can swear a blood oath."

Still, there was only silence.

Ji Xiu lost his patience.

"Since that's the case, I'll ask one by one..."

He flicked his finger, and a silver needle shot out, directly piercing through the heart of the cultivator in the long cloak.

"Hmm, it's not you," Ji Xiu muttered to himself.

Now he controlled the situation, with the power of life and death in his hands.

Initially, he had planned to kill Lian Que first, as the fewer survivors there were, the fewer variables there would be.

But when Jiang Wang spoke up, he changed his mind.

Firstly, Tian Yong's death was indeed suspicious. Although he was confident in the methods of the Eastern King Valley, he was also worried about unexpected circumstances. After all, those who dared to enter the Heavenly Secret Realm were not weak. So he personally examined the body to investigate the root cause and be prepared in advance.

Secondly, he took advantage of Tian Yong's body to spread the Nine Deaths Poison. Regardless of who was secretly using this technique, they would die from the poison as well.

The person who secretly set up the invasion of killing intent had indeed used a remarkable method, even Ji Xiu had to admire it. If he hadn't brought the snake that could devour killing intent, he would have been in danger.

But in the end, he had the upper hand.

Now, he held the lives of everyone in his hands.

There would be no more surprises in the Heavenly Dragon Palace.

However, if he could also obtain the technique that invaded with killing intent, that would be perfect.

The cultivator in the long cloak was the one he suspected the most. So without hesitation, he killed him first.

In his opinion, since the person still hadn't spoken, there must be some other means waiting.

But it didn't matter; no one could escape the Nine Deaths Poison.

As for the next target...

He looked at Lian Que. Lian Que had already lost, lying on the ground with most of his face covered in gray, and the gray was creeping towards his eyes.

Anyone could see that he wouldn't last much longer.

Lian Que was a simple-minded fool who had been played by almost everyone from beginning to end. There was no need to consider him; he could be killed last.

Zhao Fangyuan... his injuries were too severe, and the chance of turning the tables was slim.

Ji Xiu naturally turned his gaze to Jiang Wang, who was lying on the ground, seemingly completely resigned and silent.

He couldn't quite gauge the depth of this person.

So, he would kill him to find out.

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Ji Xiu's mouth as he pulled out a silver needle, ready to strike.But suddenly, he lowered his head, looking at his own chest.

Because a hand had silently pierced through his back, reaching his chest from behind.

It was a stiff, cyan-black hand, unlike that of a living person.