Chapter 823: Disaster

The five sect members, including Ye Mo—who blended seamlessly into their midst—found seats. Feng Yanqi, believing she knew Ye Mo well, frowned, suspicious of his calm demeanor in the face of the unfolding events. He hadn't inquired about the sudden appearance of his fellow sect members, a fact she largely dismissed. Even if Ye Mo was acting strangely, she felt no fear; he was too young, regardless of his talent, to surpass the Black Level. Even an Earth Level cultivator posed little threat.

After settling, Ye Mo extended his spirit sense, hoping to discern the Golden Magical Gu's appearance. Instead, he observed the subtle actions of the others. Gu bugs emerged beneath Ren Xi, Wen Gu, Martial Brother Li, and Feng Yanqi, each silently burrowing into the earth and moving toward a smooth section of the stone wall. Wen Gu deployed two. Curiously, the strongest among them, Ji Lie, remained inactive.

Ye Mo's spirit sense probed the smooth stone wall, only to sink into nothingness, eliciting a searing pain in his spirit sea as if devoured. The wall's strangeness prompted an immediate withdrawal of his spirit sense.

Three or four hours later, a tremor shook the earth. Ye Mo, startled, assumed an earthquake and stood. The others followed suit.

"The passage is open!" Martial Brother Li exclaimed excitedly.

Instantly, the smooth wall vanished, a cold gust of wind sweeping past as a black stairway materialized. A rumbling persisted within the tunnel, like hammering against stone.

Wen Gu coldly ordered Ye Mo to proceed first. Ji Lie, though noting Wen Gu's excessive caution, citing countless All Gu Sect predecessors who'd traversed the passage, allowed Ye Mo to lead.

Maintaining composure, Ye Mo entered cautiously, intending no action until he sighted the Golden Magical Gu. His spirit sense penetrated only about ten meters before encountering a formation, a second such location linked to truth cultivators, further solidifying his belief in their past presence on Earth.

Feng Yanqi followed Ye Mo, trailed by Martial Brother Li, Wen Gu, and finally Ji Lie. To Ye Mo's astonishment, all five Gu bugs had entered Ji Lie's body, seemingly unnoticed. Though disquieted, he dismissed his unease as the tunnel's chill intensified.

At the three-hundred-meter mark, frost coated Ye Mo's brows. The others were similarly affected; to avoid suspicion, he feigned shivering and slowed his pace.

As he considered prolonging his charade, a large, black stone hall appeared, containing two football-sized eggs on a central stone table, encircled by a dark barrier. This was likely the Golden Magical Gu's eggs.

The barrier, a defensive formation powered by depleted spirit stones, was noticeably dim. The sect likely assaulted it every fifty years for the eggs. Ye Mo realized a single cultivator could easily breach it; even left alone, it wouldn't hold much longer. He decided to maintain his act, entering the stone room. The others, captivated by the Golden Magical Gu, followed, ignoring Ye Mo as they surrounded the barrier.

Feng Yanqi's shocked exclamation regarding the eggs' size was followed by obedient deference to Ji Lie. Ji Lie, after receiving their attention, nodded. "I'll have a look," he said, bringing out a double-sided axe and shattering the barrier with a single blow.

Their astonishment was palpable. The barrier's effortless destruction—without coordinated effort—left them speechless. A stronger frost wind blew through the newly-created breach, intensifying the cold.

Ji Lie sneered, crushing four Gu into pulp. Martial Brother Li screamed, rolling on the ground as his Life Gu perished. Ren Xi and Wen Gu spat blood, while Feng Yanqi remained unharmed.

Ye Mo deduced that Ji Lie had been aware of their Gu attack. Ren Xi and Wen Gu's lack of essence blood loss indicated premeditation, whereas Martial Brother Li's injury seemed genuine.

Ji Lie sneered, "We haven't even obtained the Golden Magical Gu, and you've already turned on me. No wonder the sect dwindles; it's because of people like you."

Martial Brother Li, stripped of his cultivation, struggled to accuse Feng Yanqi of betrayal. Feng Yanqi calmly countered, pointing out that Ren Xi and Wen Gu hadn't even spat essence blood. Martial Brother Li, stunned into silence, ultimately fainted after spitting more blood.

Ji Lie removed his mask, revealing a cratered face, clapping his hands. "How amusing! You plotted against me, yet three of you spared your Life Gu, leaving Li Buqing to bear the brunt."

Feng Yanqi smiled sweetly. "Li Buqing didn't understand his place. I never intended to harm Elder Martial Brother. His power is beyond my reach; suicide would be a wiser choice than attempting harm."