bayedsolid Chapter 709: Desperate Hunt
Chapter 709: Desperate Hunt
The setting sun was like blood, dyeing the Soul-Breaking Cliff in the west red.
The mountains here are precipitous, towering cliffs a thousand feet high. Only a winding plank road leads to the clifftop. The terrain is so dangerous it could be described as a desperate situation. Elites from the four major sects—Shaolin, Wudang, Beggars' Sect, and Emei—as well as dozens of smaller and medium-sized sects, totaling over three hundred individuals, have been lurking here for three days. The air is filled with the fragrance of grass and trees, but it can't mask the thick, unwavering aura of murderous intent.
Three days ago, a secret letter, intercepted by spies from the "Heavenly Secret Pavilion," allegedly from "Witch" Lin Wei to her remaining followers, quietly circulated throughout the martial arts world. The letter stipulated that they would meet at noon three days later at the summit of Broken Soul Cliff to discuss the grand plan of "overthrowing the martial arts world and avenging old grudges with blood."
The release of this letter was a lifeline for the Jianghu coalition, already filled with deep hatred and fear for Lin Wei. Devastated by the devastating defeat in the previous battle, they were worried about finding Lin Wei's main force and completely eliminating her. This letter was undoubtedly a godsend. The elders of the four major sects held an urgent meeting and unanimously agreed that the Cliff of Broken Souls was a strategically located area, easily defended and difficult to attack. If Lin Wei dared to attend the appointment, they could lure her into a desperate situation and annihilate her in one fell swoop, eliminating the threat once and for all!
Thus, a carefully planned hunt began at the Cliff of Broken Souls.
Shaolin Abbot Master Xuanci, rosary in hand and a solemn expression on his face, sat at the center, commanding the entire situation. Beside him stood Taoist Qingsong, head of the Wudang sect, sword slung across his back, his gaze blazing as he scanned the single path to the clifftop. The new leader of the Beggars' Sect, "Iron Palm" Lu Xiong, a burly figure with a ferocious scar across his face, had brought with him the sect's elite "Law Enforcement Hall" disciples, tasked with sealing off all possible escape routes at the base and flanks of the cliff. Master Jingci, head of the Emei sect, led her female disciples to occupy commanding heights on either side of the plank road. Their Emei spears and poisoned silver needles gleamed with a deadly cold light in the sunlight.
In addition, there are masters from Kunlun, Dian Cang, Kongtong and other sects, as well as many famous knights scattered in the martial arts world. Some of them had their sects destroyed by Lin Wei, or their relatives and friends died at her hands. At this moment, they are determined to die together and completely kill the "witch" here.
"Master, do you think the witch will be fooled?" Taoist Qingsong asked in a low voice, a hint of subtle anxiety in his tone. The wisdom and strength Lin Wei had displayed last time were so astonishing that they left him with a lingering fear.
Master Xuanci sighed, "Amitabha, now that things have come to this, we can only do our best and leave the rest to fate. Lin Wei is a woman with deep scheming and ruthless methods, but she carries a deep blood feud and a burning desire for revenge. This letter directly threatens the safety of her remaining followers. Given her personality, even if she knows there might be a conspiracy, she will probably take the risk."
Lu Xiong continued in a muffled voice, "Who cares if she comes or not! If she does, I'll make sure she never comes back! My iron palm has long been eager to see how hard this witch's bones are!"
Nun Jingci said coldly, "This girl is cunning. My fellow disciples, please be careful. The net we have laid must be foolproof."
Time passed little by little, and the sun gradually rose to the zenith.
The appointed noon hour has arrived.
The plank road leading to the top of the cliff was still empty.
Waiting is the most agonizing process. The martial artists below the cliff gradually felt a complex mix of anticipation, nervousness, and a hint of unease. Could it be that Lin Wei had seen through their plan?
"Hmph, I told you that this witch is as timid as a mouse and doesn't dare to come!" A young and energetic Kunlun disciple couldn't help but curse.
"Silence!" Master Xuanci shouted, "Don't disturb the morale of the army!"
At this moment, the Beggar Gang disciple who was responsible for monitoring the entrance to the plank road let out a low whistle.
coming!
Everyone's heart instantly rose to their throat, they clenched their weapons, and their breathing became rapid.
At the entrance of the plank road, a slender figure slowly appeared.
She was dressed in black, with long hair draped over her shoulders and a face so pale that it was almost transparent. It was Lin Wei.
Alone, without a single follower or weapon, she calmly ascended the winding plank road, step by step. The sunlight shone on her face, but it couldn't dispel the icy chill that enveloped her. Her eyes were empty and lifeless, like a walking corpse, with only the occasional flash of crimson revealing the fire of revenge burning deep within her heart.
"She's the only one?" Lu Xiong's eyes widened in disbelief. Didn't the intelligence say she was going to reunite with the remaining members of her group?
Master Xuanci's eyes flashed, "Not good! This woman is cunning, I'm afraid there's an ambush! Pass the order down, strengthen the guard, do not act without authorization, wait for her to enter the center of the encirclement, and then obey my orders!"
Lin Wei seemed oblivious to the murderous intent lurking around her, continuing to walk up slowly. Her steps were light, yet they struck like a heavy hammer, striking at the hearts of every ambusher.
Closer, closer.
She had already walked into the middle section of the plank road, where the terrain was the narrowest, with steep cliffs on both sides, making it an ideal location for Emei disciples to ambush.
A cold light flashed in Master Jingci's eyes, and she raised her right hand slightly.
At this moment, Lin Wei suddenly stopped.
She raised her head, her empty eyes slowly sweeping across the mountain walls on both sides of the plank road, and a cold and strange smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.
"Have you been waiting here for a long time?" Her voice was not loud, but it spread clearly throughout the valley, with a strange penetrating power, as if it came from the Nine Nether Hell.
Everyone in the ambush was shocked! She discovered it?
"Witch, stop being so arrogant!" Nun Jingci shouted, slamming her right hand down. "Shoot!"
The Emei disciples, who had been ready for a long time, took action instantly!
"Shhhhhh!"
Countless poisoned silver needles and short arrows shot out from the mountain walls on both sides like a rainstorm, blocking all the space in front, behind, left and right of Lin Wei, leaving her with no escape!
At the same time, below the plank road, Lu Xiong shouted: "Attack! Block her escape route!"
Dozens of Beggar Gang disciples rushed out from their hiding places, holding steel forks and iron rulers, and instantly blocked the entrance to the plank road.
Above their heads, masters from Kunlun and Dian Cang sects also appeared, swooping down from the top of the cliff, swords and knives in their hands, aiming straight for Lin Wei's head!
There are blockades in front, pursuers behind, powerful enemies above, blockades below, and deadly rain of arrows on both sides!
Perfect surround!
Everyone thought that Lin Wei was definitely going to die!
However, facing this overwhelming attack, the smile on Lin Wei's face became more and more weird.
She didn't dodge or block.
She slowly raised her hands, palms facing up, and whispered some obscure spells.
As the spell rang out, a heart-pounding black aura emanated from her body, rapidly spreading. The aura was cold and sticky, carrying a strong stench of blood and decay, like the miasma of hell.
"Oh no! It's a poisonous skill! Everyone hold your breath!" Master Xuanci's face changed drastically and he warned in a stern voice.
But it's too late.
The speed at which the black aura spread was far beyond imagination, and it instantly enveloped the entire middle section of the plank road.
The few Kunlun disciples who were in the front were the first to be hit. As soon as they inhaled a trace of black air, they screamed, their bodies quickly stiffened, their skin turned black at a speed visible to the naked eye, black blood oozed from their seven orifices, and they fell straight off the plank road, dying instantly!
The poisoned silver needles and short arrows shot into the black air, like a drop in the ocean, disappearing silently and unable to get close to Lin Wei's body at all!
"What kind of evil skill is this?!" Taoist Qingsong exclaimed in shock, his eyes filled with horror.
Lin Wei's figure became blurred and distorted under the cover of black miasma, as if a real witch had descended.
"This isn't a poison technique..." Master Xuanci's face paled, his hands clasped together. "It's... it's a Gu! An extremely vicious 'Blood Evil Gu'! This Gu feeds on one's own blood and essence, and when activated, it can release a deadly poisonous miasma that corrodes bones and rots the heart! This woman... has actually cultivated to this point!"
"Blood Evil Gu?!" Everyone was shocked when they heard this. The legendary, long-lost forbidden Gu technique had actually appeared on Lin Wei!
"Kill! We can't let her activate the poison again!" Lu Xiong's eyes were bloodshot, and he roared, rushing forward first. He poured his internal energy into his palms and struck the black miasma. The wind from his palms was fierce, with the power to split mountains and split rocks.
"Oh!"
The iron palm struck the black energy with a dull thud, and the black energy surged violently, but did not dissipate. Lu Xiong felt a chilling force penetrate his meridians through the palm wind, causing him to shudder and his blood to surge.
"What a strange evil power!" Lu Xiong was horrified and quickly retreated.
At this moment, Lin Wei moved.
She no longer passively defended herself, and her figure rushed forward like a ghost under the cover of black miasma!
"Stop her!" Taoist Qingsong gave an order, and the Wudang disciples who had been prepared for a long time immediately formed a sword formation, with swords flashing, trying to block Lin Wei's way.
But Lin Wei was too fast! Her figure was erratic, as if she had no substance, and the exquisiteness of the Wudang sword formation was completely unavailable. Even more terrifying, wherever she passed, the black poisonous miasma was like a maggot on the tarsal bone, constantly corroding the surrounding martial artists.
"Ah! My eyes!" A disciple of Dian Cang Sect accidentally inhaled poisonous miasma, screamed, covered his eyes with both hands, black blood seeped out from between his fingers, and he became blind instantly.
"Save me!" Another Kongtong Sect master, approached by Lin Wei, felt a numbness in his chest before he could see the other party's moves clearly. He looked down and saw a pale and slender hand had been inserted into his chest, and blood gushed out.
Lin Wei pulled her bloody hand out, her face expressionless, as if she had only done something insignificant. The blood dripping from her fingertips made a sizzling sound as it fell to the ground, corroding the rock into small pits.
"The poison has penetrated my bones, the poison has eaten away my heart..." Lin Wei murmured softly, her voice filled with madness and despair. "You all must die! Buried with me, the entire Lin family!"
Her figure transformed into a streak of black lightning, darting through the crowd. Every strike was accompanied by a scream and the loss of a life. Her martial arts were unpredictable and unpredictable: sometimes fierce and domineering, her palms shattering rocks; sometimes delicate and cunning, a mere flick of her fingertips capable of taking lives. Even more terrifying was the pervasive poison and witchcraft she possessed, making defense impossible.
"The witch is fierce! Let's form a formation to resist her!" Master Xuan Ci was extremely anxious when he saw this. He personally led the Shaolin disciples to form the "Arhat Formation", trying to use the defensive power of the formation to stop Lin Wei's advance.
"Amitabha, Mr. Lin, it's never too late to turn back!" Master Xuanci put his hands together and chanted the Buddha's name. The palm wind was full of compassion, but also contained the power of thunder, and slapped towards Lin Wei.
Lin Wei's eyes were cold, she didn't dodge or evade, and slapped out with the same palm.
"Oh!"
Their palms clashed with a deafening roar. Master Xuanci felt a chilling, sinister internal force pierce his body like a venomous snake, tracing his arm meridians and piercing his body. His blood surged, and he took three steps back, a trickle of blood oozing from the corner of his mouth. Lin Wei, too, was shaken by this palm strike imbued with authentic Buddhist internal energy, her blood surging. Her face paled even further, but the madness in her eyes remained undimmed.
"Turn back? I have lost my home, where can I go back to?" Lin Wei smiled bitterly, moved again, avoided the sharp edge of the Arhat Formation, and turned to pounce on the Emei disciples whose defense was relatively weak.
"Junior sisters, be careful!" Master Jingci was shocked when she saw this. The Emei Spear in her hand danced into a ball of white light and rushed towards Lin Wei.
While each of the Emei disciples possessed exceptional martial arts skills, they were ultimately women, and faced with Lin Wei's reckless fighting style and strange poisonous abilities, they were instantly in danger. A young Emei disciple hesitated for a moment, and was struck by a strand of black silk from Lin Wei's fingertips. She instantly collapsed to the ground, convulsing, and died with blood gushing from all seven orifices.