Translator: CinderTL
After entering the main hall of the Asura Sect and dismissing their attendants, Song Wen asked, "Fellow Daoist You'e, what brings you here today?"
You'e lowered her cloak's hood, revealing her gaunt, aged face.
"Ji Yin, I intend to eliminate Xue Mei and avenge my Junior Brother. But I cannot defeat her alone. I seek your assistance."
Song Wen frowned slightly.
Back then, he had spared You'e's life and allowed her to return, intending to use her to gather intelligence on the Profound Yin Sect. He hadn't expected that in just a few years, she would be declaring her intention to kill Xue Mei.
Song Wen naturally wanted to eliminate Xue Mei as well.
However, he didn't trust You'e.
He couldn't tell whether she was genuinely trying to take down Xue Mei or had ulterior motives.
"How do you plan to deal with Xue Mei?" Song Wen asked.
"After we parted ways in the Evil Marsh Secret Realm, I began investigating Gui Ni and Xue Mei. I uncovered something interesting. Xue Mei is searching for Blood Soul Stones, the primary material for refining the Crying Blood Infant. I suspect that Xue Mei obtained my Junior Brother's natal Mystic Treasure, the Crying Blood Infant, but couldn't directly refine and use it. Therefore, she's seeking the necessary materials to re-refine it."
"As far as I know, there's a Blood Soul Stone at the bottom of the Blood Abyss Rift. I plan to leak this information to Xue Mei, then set up a trap in the rift to wait for her to fall into it."
"Xue Mei is a Nascent Soul cultivator in the middle stage. I fear I won't be a match for her alone. Fellow Daoist, you mentioned you have a deep-seated grudge against Xue Mei as well. That's why I've come to ask for your help. If we join forces, two of us should be more than enough to deal with Xue Mei without fail."
As if fearing Song Wen would refuse, You'e explained the situation in detail, covering every aspect.
However, Song Wen still hesitated to agree.
Even if everything You'e said was true, Song Wen felt uneasy about going to a dangerous, unfamiliar place like the Blood Abyss Rift to ambush Xue Mei.
What if Xue Mei invited Gui Ni to accompany her? In that case, they might fail to kill Xue Mei and instead find themselves in mortal danger.
Seeing Song Wen's furrowed brow and lack of immediate response, You'e sensed his concerns. She didn't press him, choosing to wait patiently.
Suddenly, You'e noticed a glint of light flash in Song Wen's eyes.
"Ji Yin, have you agreed?" she asked urgently.
Song Wen nodded. "When do you plan to strike, Fellow Daoist?"
You'e said, "I want to act as soon as possible. After I return to the Profound Yin Sect, I'll find a way to leak the news of the Blood Soul Stone in the Blood Abyss Rift to Xue Mei. Then, I'll go ahead of her to set up a killing formation at the bottom of the rift."
"What do you need me to do?" Song Wen asked.
You'e replied, "I'll trouble Fellow Daoist to meet me at the Blood Abyss Rift within a month. If everything goes smoothly and the formation directly kills Xue Mei, you won't need to intervene. But if she breaks through the formation and escapes, you'll need to stop her."
The two then discussed the details, such as the type of formation to use and how to lure Xue Mei into it.
After reaching an agreement, You'e clasped her hands in a gesture of gratitude. "Then I'll thank you in advance, Fellow Daoist."
Song Wen replied, "Fellow Daoist is too polite. It's a mutually beneficial arrangement."
What You'e didn't know was that Song Wen had no intention of getting involved personally. He hadn't even decided whether he would go to the Blood Abyss Rift.
Of course, Song Wen wasn't lying to You'e.
But some matters didn't necessarily require him to handle them personally.
He planned to inform Lan Chen and Mo Yexue, letting them deal with Xue Mei.
Once Xue Mei fell into their hands, even if she didn't die immediately, she would certainly be imprisoned.
Just then.
Yu Wen burst into the main hall, her expression panicked.
"Chief Yu, why are you in such a hurry? What happened?" Song Wen's voice was tinged with displeasure.
Yu Wen, too flustered to observe formalities, blurted out, "Sect Leader, it's not good! People from the Profound Yin Sect have suddenly appeared and surrounded the entire sect!"
Song Wen's face darkened instantly. With a flash, he vanished from the hall.
He arrived above Tiancang Mountain and saw a formation barrier had risen outside the Asura Sect's Sect Protection Array.
Beyond the barrier, eight giant flying ships were stationed in various directions around Tiancang Mountain. Disciples of the Profound Yin Sect were on board, reinforcing the barrier.
Gui Ni and Xue Mei stood in mid-air outside the barrier, smiling as they watched Song Wen materialize.
"Ji Yin, you're trapped like a turtle in a jar now. Surrender, and perhaps I'll grant you a swift death," Xue Mei declared loudly.
Song Wen's expression was as dark as water. His first thought was that You'e was Gui Ni and Xue Mei's mole.
He turned to see You'e emerge from the main hall and fly toward him.
"Xue Mei! Gui Ni! What are you doing here?"
After a moment of shock, You'e quickly regained her composure and asked, "Are you planning to attack the Asura Sect? Why wasn't I informed?"
"Brother Gui Ni, this subordinate greets you. Is the sect planning to attack the Asura Sect? Why was I kept in the dark?"
Xue Mei sneered. "You're wasting your time pretending, You'e. You were plotting with Ji Yin to harm Brother Gui Ni and me. We simply turned the tables, using you to lure Ji Yin to Tiancang Mountain. Otherwise, finding Ji Yin's trail would have been quite difficult."
You'e was puzzled by Xue Mei's words. As the Asura Sect's Sect Leader, where else could Ji Yin be besides Tiancang Mountain?
At that moment, Xue Mei spoke again. "Ji Yin, based on my understanding of you, your usual cultivation cave must be located elsewhere. Moreover, I've come to Tiancang Mountain twice to find you, but you didn't appear immediately. You only showed up some time after I arrived."
Song Wen's expression darkened as he stared at the formation barrier set up by the Profound Yin Sect, remaining silent. He had been cautious enough in his actions, yet Xue Mei had still detected his plot. Indeed, the most dangerous enemies were often those closest to you.
"Xue Mei, don't spout nonsense. When did I ever plot against you?"
You'e refused to admit her betrayal, her face flushed with anger as if Xue Mei had truly wronged her.
Xue Mei didn't rush to attack, but slowly explained.
"Six years ago, You'e, you returned from the Evil Marsh Secret Realm wounded. You cleverly explained that Ji Yin had plotted to steal the Seven Lives Mushroom and killed five Golden Core Stage disciples who had emerged from the realm. You fought desperately, but couldn't defeat Ji Yin and were forced to flee."
"The flaw in your story is glaring. You never actually fought Ji Yin, so you couldn't possibly know his true strength. If he had truly wanted to kill you, you wouldn't have stood a chance of escaping."
"At the time, Gui Ni and I suspected you were colluding with Ji Yin. However, to lure him out, we didn't expose you. Later, you secretly inquired about Xue Cangqiong's relics. So, I deliberately spread rumors about searching for the Blood Soul Stone, and you took the bait."
Cackle, cackle, cackle...
You'e's expression darkened as she listened. Her meticulously crafted plan, which she had believed to be flawless, had been completely orchestrated by Xue Mei and Gui Ni.
(End of the Chapter)
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