Chapter 133
There were too many suspicious aspects to simply consider them petty thieves encountered by chance in the Secret Realm.
The Qi Condensation Cultivator with the Cloud Spiritual Root had revealed himself as a Rogue Cultivator from the Eastern Continent.
If so, there was no need to even question the Foundation Establishment Cultivator standing next to him.
Neither of them bore a Sect’s mark.
If they belonged to a Sect or a Clan, they would have already thrown their names around to flaunt their prestige.
However, the two were merely Rogue Cultivators.
A Foundation Establishment Rogue Cultivator had brought along a Qi Condensation Rogue Cultivator, delving deep into someone else’s Secret Realm.
Furthermore, they were moving together with the same mission.
‘If one guy is from the Eastern Continent, the other’s origin is obvious.’
Even without asking further, it was clear that both were Rogue Cultivators who had crossed over from the Eastern Continent.
After I figured that out, their awkward behavior finally made sense.
They could have broken their Escape Jade Tokens and fled earlier, but they ultimately failed.
It was because they had entered someone else’s Secret Realm with ulterior motives, leaving them with guilty consciences.
‘They definitely aren’t coveting the Cloud Spirit Pearl for an ordinary purpose.’
Baek-Cheong borrowed the puppet’s mouth to project an Illusory Sound once again.
“Why did Rogue Cultivators of the Eastern Continent crawl all the way to the Southern Region to aim for the Territory Lord?”
What returned was a long silence.
Both the Qi Condensation Cultivator and the Foundation Establishment Cultivator shook their heads in unison.
“So they have no intention of speaking obediently.”
Seeing their resolute attitudes, Baek-Cheong bluffed, adding intimidation.
“Must I rummage through your souls with the Soul Extraction Art for you to confess obediently?”
“I-I merely received an order to bring the Cloud Spirit Pearl! I truly know nothing else!”
At the mention of the Soul Extraction Art, the Qi Condensation Cultivator jumped in fright.
Then, the Foundation Establishment Cultivator turned deathly pale and cried out.
“To think a Demonic Cultivator has invaded the Biun Sect’s Secret Realm!”
Listening to their words, Baek-Cheong let out a hollow breath in disbelief.
Simply because she mentioned the Soul Extraction Art, they had arbitrarily branded her a Demonic Cultivator.
‘It’s convenient that they’re viewing me as a terrifying guy.’
However, she had no desire to correct them.
The more terrified they were of a Demonic Cultivator, the looser their lips would become.
Yet, despite the terror, the actual core information did not come out.
Therefore, to at least put on a show, she moved one of the puppets.
As it slowly approached the Foundation Establishment Cultivator oppressively, perhaps because of its extraordinary appearance, he opened his mouth urgently.
“I-I will speak! It was an order handed down from the higher-ups, so I don’t know the details either!”
Having spat out that much, the Foundation Establishment Cultivator mumbled for a moment.
Soon, he glanced at the puppet and added, as if being pushed.
“H-However, I heard that the Eastern Heaven Rogue Cultivator Alliance is gathering the Territory Lords not only from the Southern Region but from other continents as well!”
At the mention of the Eastern Heaven Rogue Cultivator Alliance, Baek-Cheong narrowed her eyes.
She had vaguely heard rumors that the Rogue Cultivators of the Eastern Continent had formed an alliance.
It was a place where, despite the Great Sects lacking Soul Transformation stage experts, two such experts existed among the Rogue Cultivators.
If the Rogue Cultivators of such a place were banding together to gather the Territory Lords of various continents.
“The scale of this is no joke.”
Each Territory Lord was associated with a Heaven and Earth Spirit Treasure comparable to the Cloud Spirit Pearl.
Scraping together such treasures across continents was difficult to see as mere ambition.
Though she didn’t know what they intended to use them for, it was clear that a massive dark plot was in motion.
‘And it’s definitely not a place for me to meddle.’
After hearing that, she wanted to withdraw from this even more.
She felt like she had learned something she shouldn’t have.
She even wondered if she should just drag the two Cultivators and hand them over to the Biun Sect.
However, handing them over was also unappealing.
It was obvious that questions would arise asking how a mere Qi Condensation Cultivator managed to tie up two Eastern Continent Rogue Cultivators, one of whom was at the Foundation Establishment stage.
It would be tantamount to voluntarily revealing the hidden cards she had painstakingly concealed.
Above all, stepping forward unnecessarily could entangle not only herself but also her Clan in troublesome matters.
‘There’s nothing good about rashly getting involved.’
Baek-Cheong decided to wash her hands of it without lingering attachments.
Instead, she decided to put on a plausible performance until the very end.
“The Nine Nether Demonic Palace will be taking the Cloud Spirit Pearl.”
The name Nine Nether Demonic Palace was taken from a Demonic Faction she had once heard in passing on the Nameless Forum.
She intended to make it look as if a Demonic Faction had snatched the Cloud Spirit Pearl.
As soon as she finished speaking, she made the puppets conceal their traces within the dark clouds.
Then, she also made the dark clouds that had covered the area through the Illusion Formation slowly disperse.
The Cloud Sea, which had been dyed pitch-black, returned to its original pure white appearance.
At the same time, she remained exactly where she was, hiding her body within the Stealth Formation.
From the start, she had no ability to leave the area immediately.
Within the Cloud Sea, she couldn’t even use the Concealment Art, and her running pace was sluggish.
Even so, she had no desire to break a perfectly fine Escape Jade Token.
The moment she crushed the token, it would mean abandoning the Secret Realm, scattered with prime medicinal herbs.
‘There’s still a mountain of things to sweep up, so I can’t leave here.’
Therefore, rather than disappearing, it was better to make the two Cultivators leave on their own.
Baek-Cheong held her breath deep within the Stealth Formation and quietly watched the two Cultivators.
* * *
Only after a long time had passed did the Qi Condensation Cultivator realize that he had survived.
He clearly had almost had his soul rummaged through by the Demonic Cultivator.
Yet, for some reason, his life was perfectly intact.
The Foundation Establishment Cultivator beside him was also groping his own body with a bewildered expression.
As the two men belatedly realized they had survived, their legs gave out.
Still, it was too early to relax.
There was no telling when the Demonic Cultivator might change his or her mind and return.
Without needing to prompt each other, the two Cultivators hurriedly left the area.
Only after running for a long time, making their way through the Cloud Sea, did their pace slow down a little.
Around that time, the Qi Condensation Cultivator suddenly halted his steps.
It was because a familiar presence his Cloud Spiritual Root had sensed a familiar presence from afar.
“The Cloud Spirit Pearl… is absorbing the clouds again. It’s gotten quite far away.”
The fact that the Cloud Spirit Pearl was again absorbing the clouds from afar meant that the Demonic Cultivator was also far away.
Only then did the Foundation Establishment Cultivator let out a deep sigh of relief.
However, no sooner had he felt relieved than the Foundation Establishment Cultivator suddenly changed his gaze.
“To think you dared to divulge the secrets of our Alliance.”
The Foundation Establishment Cultivator pressed the Qi Condensation Cultivator with a stern expression.
“When we return to the Alliance, you will be held accountable for that, along with losing the Cloud Spirit Pearl.”
The Qi Condensation Cultivator was so dumbfounded that he was at a loss for words.
The one who had actually brought up the Eastern Heaven Rogue Cultivator Alliance was the Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
He had spilled the secret with his own mouth and was now shifting the blame.
Even so, he was in no position to argue against a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
The Qi Condensation Cultivator swallowed his anger and bowed his head.
“…Understood.”
As that bout of scolding passed, the taut tension also unraveled.
Perhaps thanks to the loosened tension, the Qi Condensation Cultivator absentmindedly chewed over what they had just experienced.
What the Foundation Establishment Cultivator had struck down, thinking it was Cheong Un, was definitely a puppet.
And the weapon used to attack the Foundation Establishment Cultivator was a sword.
“Puppetry and a sword…”
It was an uncommon combination.
Those who wielded Puppetry were rare, and those who handled a sword alongside it were even rarer.
Yet, it was also a somewhat familiar combination.
The more he chewed on it, the more a person who wielded the exact same skills came to mind.
It was the Heavenly Talent of the Yeonha Baek Clan whom they had encountered in the main matches of the Martial Arts Competition.
However, one thing weighed on his mind.
The Heavenly Talent of the Yeonha Baek Clan was definitely only a Qi Condensation Cultivator like himself.
The Demonic Cultivator they had just faced had toyed with a Foundation Establishment Cultivator in the palm of her hand.
It could not be called a Feat that a mere Qi Condensation Cultivator could pull off.
However, when he glanced at the Foundation Establishment Cultivator beside him, his thoughts changed.
The Foundation Establishment Cultivator before his eyes acted like a half-wit no matter who looked at him.
Even so, his skills were undeniable, as he possessed the aptitude to Master a Second-Tier High-Grade Spell even while at the Mid Foundation Establishment Stage.
One could not judge the inside just by looking at the outside.
Especially if it was the Heavenly Talent of the Yeonha Baek Clan.
The skills the Heavenly Talent of the Yeonha Baek Clan had shown in the main matches far surpassed those of her peers.
Furthermore, there was also the sword she had never drawn from its sheath until the very end.
She surely had many other talents she hadn’t revealed outwardly.
He was taking all of that into consideration.
It wouldn’t be that strange if the Demonic Cultivator from just now were the Heavenly Talent of the Yeonha Baek Clan.
As his thoughts reached that point, a chill ran down the Qi Condensation Cultivator’s spine.
Losing the Cloud Spirit Pearl was a painful blunder.
But if the Heavenly Talent of the Yeonha Baek Clan had taken the Cloud Spirit Pearl, there was a way to recover it.
Moreover, if he reported the extraordinary tale regarding the Nine Nether Demonic Palace
If things went well, he might receive a reward instead of a punishment upon returning to the Alliance.
Seeing hope amidst despair, the Qi Condensation Cultivator rejoiced inwardly.
Right at that moment.
“So the bugs were here. I don’t know who got you, but thanks to them, my job just got easier.”
An unexpected voice rang out from behind.
At the same time, his chest felt hollow.
The Qi Condensation Cultivator slowly dropped his head.
A large hole was blown wide open near his heart.
Without even the time to fathom the reason, his body pitched forward.
Amidst his fading consciousness, the Foundation Establishment Cultivator’s shout could be heard.
“Cheong Un! To think you’d dare break our promise…!”
Then, a cold voice returned.
“Promise? I don’t know what you’re talking about. Once you disappear, no one will know.”
With those final words, the Qi Condensation Cultivator’s consciousness sank into darkness.