Former Interstellar Mercenary In Urban Cultivation World
Chapter 974: Deception and Alliances

Chapter 974: Deception and Alliances

With a loud bang, a shield appeared behind Jinhwa Hou, blocking most of the attack.

Jinhwa Hou had anticipated this moment and showed no surprise on his face. He quickly stepped out of their attack range, eyeing Jiheon Yang and Songji Yan, whose expressions had changed instantly.

"Jiheon Yang, cooperating with the Demonic Night Palace—isn’t that a risk? Aren’t you afraid they’ll turn on you in the end?"

Jinhwa Hou stood up straight and let out a casual, mocking laugh.

"Everyone in Mystic Void Continent knows the Demonic Night Palace’s nature. You might be allies one moment, and the next, they could stab you in the back."

Jiheon Yang’s heart tightened; he’d almost forgotten that the Demonic Night Palace could just as easily turn to cooperate with the Green Lotus Sect, waiting until he trusted them completely before backstabbing him.

After all, to most people, an alliance between the Green Lotus Sect and the Demonic Night Palace seemed unlikely. Precisely because of this, it would be nearly impossible to guard against.

"Senior Brother, don’t listen to Jinhwa Hou’s nonsense. If we can seize their tokens, we’ll be able to leave safely," Songji Yan said, moving to block their path.

"Tokens?" Jinhwa Hou sneered. "Even if we had a pile of tokens, there wouldn’t be enough for everyone here to leave safely. Songji Yan, Jiheon Yang, you two are really just thinking of your own escape, aren’t you?"

"Exactly," Renshu Chang said, glancing at the others. "You’re helping them fight us now, but have you considered that even with our tokens, it’s unlikely we’ll reach the six hundred black tokens required for safe passage? When the time comes, only two people can leave, and it certainly won’t be you. You’re all just sacrificial pawns."

With just a few words, Renshu Chang and Jinhwa Hou managed to make the expressions of the other disciples from the Eternal One Sect and Demonic Night Palace darken.

"Jiheon Yang, I think what the Green Lotus Sect said makes sense," said Ilmyeong Yi, the Eternal One Sect’s only cultivator in the Peak of the Soul Formation stage.

"I think so too..." another disciple muttered softly.

Their strength couldn’t compare to Jiheon Yang’s, and those two escape slots would never fall to them.

"Don’t listen to Jinhwa Hou’s nonsense! They’re just trying to sow discord," Jiheon Yang said, his face darkening.

"Oh, a clever trick. But unfortunately, you won’t succeed in creating a rift," Songji Yan said to the others. "I won’t abandon any of you. If there’s a chance to escape, I’ll bring back help for those left behind."

"If it’s for help, then anyone could leave, right?" Jinhwa Hou said with a smile.

"Of course. But we can’t guarantee that the wandering Spirits won’t attack from behind. Whoever leaves needs the strength to fend them off; otherwise, they won’t survive long enough to get help."

Songji Yan finished his explanation, then turned his sinister gaze toward the Green Lotus Sect members, ignoring what his own sect might be thinking.

"Everyone, let’s attack together. This is our only chance, and a chance to avenge Brother Zhao. If he finds out, he might just put in a good word for you."

These words stirred the others’ hearts. Brother Zhao held a prominent position in the Demonic Night Palace, and earning his favor could mean increased resources in the future.

Jiheon Yang’s words persuaded the Eternal One Sect disciples as well. "Let’s go all out."

Jinhwa Hou shook his head. "What a bunch of fools. No wonder they’re so easily controlled."

"Be careful, everyone. I can only hold off two Peak of Soul Formation disciple cultivators."

"Jinhwa Hou, be careful yourself."

With that, Jinhwa Hou launched an attack, moving swiftly and targeting the Eternal One Sect cultivator in the Peak of Soul Formation stage, intending to take down the weaker opponents first.

Facing Jinhwa Hou’s assault, Ilmyeong Yi felt immense pressure, and within moments, he was forced several steps back.

"Help me out here!" he immediately shouted toward Songji Yan, who hadn’t yet made a move.

Only then did Songji Yan rush over, intercepting one of Jinhwa Hou’s strikes.

"I warned you, working with the Demonic Night Palace is your biggest mistake. You’ll regret it," Jinhwa Hou said, facing the two men with an air of calm control.

Ilmyeong Yi’s expression turned grim, and a hint of dissatisfaction filled his gaze toward Songji Yan, annoyed at Songji Yan’s delay. Any slower, and he might have been seriously injured by Jinhwa Hou. If the Demonic Night Palace then turned on them, the Eternal One Sect would be at a disadvantage.

At that moment, Ilmyeong Yi’s wariness, previously at a six, rose to a ten.

Indeed, Songji Yan had ulterior motives.

Little did they know, Songji Yan was cursing inwardly as well. A cultivator in the peak of Soul Formation stage who can’t even handle a few hits from Jinhwa Hou? How useless is his cultivation?

Songji Yan hadn’t intended to make his intentions so obvious, but he had overestimated his ally’s strength.

Still, this might work out. When it’s time to act, taking him down will be effortless.

Meanwhile, after Amalia slaughtered a hundred or so wandering Spirits, the remaining Spirits quickly fled, disappearing without a trace.

Amalia continued forward, but encountered no more large groups of Spirits—just a lone one here and there.

"There were so many before, and now there’s barely any. Something’s definitely up."

Amalia didn’t believe her luck was that good, that the group of Spirits she faced earlier just happened to be all the wandering Spirits in this area.

There were only two explanations for such a gathering: either something had drawn them there, or the Spirits in this area were all in one place.

Amalia speculated that for some reason, the Spirits in this region had been summoned by a stronger Spirit.

"The lord is playing a game over there; many spirits are gathered to watch the show. Do you also want to go and see?"