Although Situ Ye had started taking pills, Su Luo knew that this was no longer just a pre-battle ritual. Now, if he didn’t take the pills, he would feel uncomfortable all over.
He had already developed a physical dependence on the pills. Poor guy.
"Forget it, we have more important matters to attend to, right, Qing Bukuang?" Su Luo said.
What Su Luo said was true, but everyone else had only one thought in their minds.
Is Su Luo backing down? Is Su Luo scared?
Huh, what does this mean? Was Qing Bukuang right all along?
It’s hard to say, but the possibility has significantly increased.
Qing Bukuang responded to Su Luo, "Indeed, there are more important matters. The reason I called you all here is to once again hunt down Lin Xuan. I trust everyone is confident this time?"
"Of course, my new techniques are itching to be used," Cui Baiquan said with full confidence.
This time, no one gave him a hard time, including Situ Ye, who allowed Cui Baiquan to speak.
It seems that Lin Xuan has brought everyone together in unity.
"What a coincidence, I’ve also learned a new technique. I’ll take down Lin Xuan in one go," Shan Gui said with equal confidence.
"Confidence is good, but we must not be careless this time. Of course, my hands tell me that we’ll win next time," Xu Wuliang said, revealing his hands, which seemed to breathe with a life of their own.
It felt a bit eerie.
But without a doubt, they radiated power.
Liao Duci: "Hehehe..."
Then everyone turned to Su Luo.
Indeed, everyone had shared their recent achievements, so Su Luo had to say something too.
"Hmph, after my relentless cultivation, my cultivation has now reached the Golden Core Perfection stage!"
Su Luo spoke with fervor, but the others didn’t react much.
It felt... rather ordinary?
"Su Luo, cultivation isn’t important. What about your treasures? Are they ready?"
"What do you mean cultivation isn’t important? I’m now at the Golden Core Perfection stage, second only to Qing Bukuang," Su Luo retorted, clearly agitated.
"That’s not important. What about your treasures?"
In their minds, Su Luo’s cultivation truly wasn’t important—his treasures were. Moreover, reaching Golden Core Perfection in such a short time made them wonder how much of it was real progress.
And what use was cultivation? Qing Bukuang had also been at Golden Core Perfection before, and he still lost.
"None," Su Luo said in a huff.
When Su Luo said this, the others couldn’t help but laugh inwardly.
Qing Bukuang smiled and said, "We’ll take that as a joke. I hope you can bring out some good treasures when the time comes to kill Lin Xuan."
"We’ll see."
Qing Bukuang nodded, a pleased smile on his face. "Everyone, go and prepare. I’ve recently found out that Lin Xuan will be heading to Lone River Peak. We’ll ambush him there. This plan must not fail."
Why Lone River Peak? It was because the Seven Stars Sword Sect needed to gather ores there to forge more weapons.
Their team had quite a few strong members, which was why they had managed to hold out for three days under siege.
The plan was set simply, and everyone left to return to their own homes.
However, shortly after the seven disciples left, they circled back.
Only Su Luo was not among them.
"Is the inner plan solid? I think now is the best opportunity," Qing Bukuang said with an even more delighted smile than before.
"Indeed, Su Luo has been unusually quiet lately. He probably doesn’t have many trump cards left," Liao Duci said, licking his lips.
The surface plan was to kill Lin Xuan, but the inner plan was to kill Su Luo.
Originally, the others didn’t support this. After all, Su Luo had been too strong recently—why provoke him? But Qing Bukuang had presented a theory.
Su Luo’s treasures were nearly depleted.
Given how strong Su Luo had been acting lately, Elder Wei and Yin Youming alone would have forced him to use up a significant amount of treasures, not to mention earlier battles.
Treasures are finite, after all.
And Su Luo’s recent behavior was far less arrogant than before, when he would casually use his treasures at the drop of a hat.
Qing Bukuang’s theory seemed to be proving itself step by step.
"Qing Bukuang, are we really going to do this?" Xu Wuliang asked at this moment.
"Why, do you have doubts?"
"The Demon Lord said we must not turn on each other."
"I respect the Demon Lord deeply, and I don’t wish to go against his will. But what if Lin Xuan kills Su Luo? That wouldn’t be our fault, right?"
"Exactly, it’s Lin Xuan’s doing. What does it have to do with us?" Situ Ye was already laughing, imagining Su Luo’s face in death, which made his blood boil with excitement.
"This is a rare opportunity. When Su Luo uses his trump card against Lin Xuan, we’ll take them both out," Qing Bukuang finalized the plan.
"I’ll say it again—this plan must not fail. Any objections?"
"None."
"None."
"Agreed."
"Approved."
Finally, Xu Wuliang nodded as well.
Everyone was in agreement.
Not long after, the Seven Heavenly Demon Disciples set off for Lone River Peak.
This time, Qing Bukuang and the others brought a large number of subordinates, planning to go all out.
"Su Luo, are you sure bringing so few people is okay?"
At the moment, Su Luo only had Yun, Little Yu, and a dozen or so Heavenly Demon Sect members whose names he didn’t even know.
"My subordinates are free to come and go as they please. I’m enough on my own."
In truth, the reason for so few people was that Su Luo hadn’t sent out any messages. The others simply didn’t know.
Those who followed had only happened to find out by chance.
"Is that so? Well, our side is strong enough."
Qing Bukuang showed off his subordinates, not blaming Su Luo in the slightest.
In truth, he had more than just these subordinates.
Normally, they wouldn’t bring out their full force, but to kill both Lin Xuan and Su Luo, Qing Bukuang had gone all out, and the other disciples had done the same, calling in everyone they could.
They just didn’t show it openly, keeping a portion of their forces hidden.
On the way, Little Yu quietly asked Su Luo, "Su Luo, are we going to deal with Lin Xuan?"
"Exactly, but you don’t have to fight when the time comes."
"Then what should I do?"
"Play it by ear. You don’t even have to make a move."
"Won’t others say something about that?"
"It’s not a big deal. I can handle it."
"Okay."
Since Su Luo said so, Little Yu naturally believed him.
A day later, they arrived at Lone River Peak.
But the place was already bustling with activity.
"News has come in—a beast army is attacking Lone River Peak," Qing Bukuang couldn’t help but laugh.
He hadn’t expected the beast army to be here at this time, nor that they would be attacking Lin Xuan and his group.
"Hahaha, it seems the heavens want Lin Xuan dead. Then we won’t hold back either. Attack! Don’t give Lin Xuan any chance to catch his breath."
Qing Bukuang immediately ordered his subordinates to attack.
The seven disciples, however, chose to observe first. If the beast army was already here, there was no need to rush.
They would wait until Lin Xuan was sufficiently weakened before moving in for the kill.
Now, with enemies on both sides, Lin Xuan had no way to escape.