stjorthotic Chapter 89: Liu Xiong's Confession
Chapter 89: Liu Xiong's Confession
Liu Xiong was in tears, and that one word, "Speak," pierced his last shred of hope. His will to survive overwhelmed everything. Ignoring the excruciating pain and boundless emptiness brought on by the shattering of his golden core, he struggled to raise his head, his veins bulging, and poured out everything he knew in a rapid but incoherent manner, his voice hoarse and broken.
"...What Zhao Kun knows... Chen Fuhai and Zhao Mang of Blackstone Town... Mo Laogui of Black Wind Ravine... the dockside cargo ships... all passed through my hands... Blood Crystal Stones are divided into different grades. The lowest grade is given to my subordinates, the better grade is used to bribe officials in Qingzhou Prefecture... the best..." A strange light flashed in his cloudy eyes, a mixture of awe, longing, and greed, "...the best grade is to be secretly sent to the capital, Tianqi, on a regular basis. The contact person is 'Miss Yun' from Minister Zhao's residence... but this is only the public face."
He gasped for breath, a near-fanatical look rising on his face: "My elder brother, Liu Ba, is the deputy envoy at the Demon Suppression Division's headquarters. Last year, he sent me a secret letter mentioning an incredible opportunity!" His eyes were unfocused yet frighteningly bright. "The greatest demand for Blood Crystals comes from the 'Longevity Sect'! This sect is mysterious, with extremely high entry requirements; only those of high rank and power can even hear of it! The sect is full of nobles! Dukes, generals, powerful cultivators… anyone could be a member!"
"The Longevity Cult?" Lin Yan frowned slightly.
"Yes! The Longevity Cult!" Liu Xiong's voice rose, tinged with morbid excitement. "By joining the Longevity Cult, one has the chance to be 'enlightened' by the cult leader, glimpse the secret of longevity, and escape the cycle of suffering! Blood Crystal Stones... are the key to the cult leader's secret techniques and 'enlightenment' rituals! They are the 'ladder' to longevity!" He chuckled, a twisted smugness in his eyes. "Zhao Kun? Liu Wenhuan? They only see Blood Crystal Stones as cultivation resources, a stepping stone! Short-sighted! In Qingzhou Prefecture... besides my brother, only I know the connection between Blood Crystal Stones and the Longevity Cult! What a secret! What an incredible opportunity!"
He turned around abruptly, looking up at Lin Yan, his eyes filled with fervor mixed with humble pleading: "My brother joined the Longevity Cult last year! He said that as long as I offer enough Blood Crystal Stones, he can speak well of me to the Cult Leader! I also have a chance to glimpse the Great Dao of Longevity! That's why I value the production of Blood Crystal Stones so much; it's my path to heaven!" He reached out to grab Lin Yan's clothes, but his hand fell limply.
Lin Yan listened quietly, his face expressionless, but his heart churned with a chilling aura. Immortality? Enlightenment? Blood crystals, crafted from the essence and soul of living beings, had become the key to immortality? This "Cult of Immortality" seemed more like a cult using immortality as bait to lure the powerful and wealthy into sacrifice! Their true intentions were likely far more complex than simply prolonging life. Recalling Su Yuanshan's conjecture about the "Demon-Suppressing Array" extracting spiritual veins, and the method of refining blood crystals to reverse life force… was there a darker connection between the two? What was this "enlightenment" ritual? What role did the blood crystals play in it? Could they be two sides of the same coin as the array that extracted spiritual veins?
Seeing Lin Yan remain silent, Liu Xiong assumed that the other party was either intimidated or tempted by the secret, so he hurriedly continued to express his loyalty: "Lord Lin! Your future is limitless! If you are willing, I can introduce you! I will give you all the details about my brother's line of contact... all the details about the Longevity Sect and the transportation of Blood Crystal Stones! I only beg you to spare my worthless life! I am willing to be your slave..." He spoke incoherently, treating "Longevity Sect" and "introduction" as his lifeline.
Lin Yan ignored him, shifting his gaze as if brushing away dust, and turned to Su Qingyao.
As dawn broke, Su Qingyao stood quietly beside the bluestone, her leather armor stained with dust and blood, her figure slender. The morning light shone on her profile, dewdrops clinging to her eyelashes. She gazed in this direction, her eyes swirling with complex emotions: the faint hope of surviving a calamity, the relief of seeing her enemies vanquished, the astonishment and contemplation of the secrets of the "Eternal Life Sect," and a hint of unease as she looked intently at Lin Yan.
Lin Yan stopped a few feet in front of her. "Qingyao."
Su Qingyao was slightly taken aback and met his gaze. "Brother Lin."
Lin Yan turned to Liu Xiong and said, "This man is one of the key culprits behind the Su family's downfall. His cultivation is now destroyed, and his confession has been recorded. I'd like to hear your opinion on how to deal with him." His tone was calm, a genuine inquiry and respect.
Su Qingyao's breathing quickened slightly. She looked at Liu Xiong, her hatred churning like frozen magma. She took a deep breath, suppressing her sobs and the burning heat in her eyes, and when she opened them again, her gaze was as calm as a cold pool.
"Brother Lin, this man's crimes are heinous, and he deserves to die. A quick death would be merciful." Her voice was clear and calm. "But the things he confessed to are far-reaching. The 'Eternal Life Cult,' the secret passage for transporting blood crystals, the connection to Minister Zhao's mansion in the capital... these clues are far more valuable than his life alone."
She slightly raised her chin: "In my humble opinion, it would be better to escort him back to Qingzhou Prefecture and hand him over to Uncle Zhou for detailed interrogation. Using his confession as a clue, we can not only dig deep into the remaining henchmen in Qingzhou Prefecture, but also follow the clues to investigate the matter of the 'Eternal Life Cult.' In this way, we can both punish him according to the law to comfort his soul, and make the most of his confession to prepare for eliminating even greater troubles in the future." Her voice was slightly deep.
Her gaze fell back on Liu Xiong, coldly scrutinizing him: "Besides, letting him live, watching everything he relied on crumble before his eyes; letting him drag his crippled body, chewing on despair and regret day and night in prison... perhaps, is a better punishment than ending it all with a single blow."
A hint of approval flashed in Lin Yan's eyes. Su Qingyao's ability to remain calm and have a comprehensive view of the overall situation in the face of a blood feud was truly remarkable. She was meticulous, resolute, and hardworking.
"Alright, as you say." Lin Yan nodded in agreement, then turned to Lu Ling and instructed, "Lu Ling, find a rope and tie him up. Check for any hidden poison sacs or self-destructive devices. Leave two people to guard him, and be extremely careful. The rest of you, take a short rest, distribute medicine, and treat your injuries. There are other important matters to attend to in an incense stick's time."
Lu Ling solemnly agreed and led his men to deal with Liu Xiong.
Liu Xiong vaguely heard Su Qingyao's cold words and saw Lin Yan take her in. He had just breathed a sigh of relief when a strange thought flashed through his muddled mind—why did that clear and calm female voice sound so familiar?
He strained to focus his blurry vision on the slender "young man" in leather armor. As he looked, his eyes widened suddenly, his pupils contracting sharply! He pointed at Su Qingyao, trembling: "You...you are...Su Yuanshan's daughter?! Su Qingyao?! You're not dead?! Impossible...that night clearly..." Utter terror overwhelmed him.
Su Qingyao slowly turned around, facing Liu Xiong's terrified and contorted face. The morning light illuminated her icy, piercing eyes. She looked at him silently, her gaze calm and unwavering, as if looking at an inanimate object. Beneath that calm lay a boundless hatred and chilling intensity that penetrated to the very depths of his soul.
Liu Xiong was struck dumb, his whole body trembling violently, his face ashen. He opened his mouth wide, unable to utter a sound, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted from fright.
Lu Ling checked his breath and pulse: "My lord, he fainted from shock, but his life is not in danger."
Lin Yan nodded and stopped looking in that direction. The valley fell silent for a moment.
……
The group found a sheltered spot on a large rock to rest. After a night of fierce fighting, everyone was injured and needed time to recover.
Lin Yan sat cross-legged, his eyes slightly closed. The spiritual energy within his newly advanced Core Formation Realm surged like a river, circulating freely and nourishing his injuries. The wound on his right rib healed rapidly, leaving only pale pink new flesh. The old injury on his right shoulder also slowly faded under the cleansing effect of the spiritual energy.
As the Golden Flame Fox's vitality, demonic power, and primal power were devoured and refined, some fragmented memories surfaced in his mind.
Most of the stories depict a wild world perceived from the perspective of a fox spirit: the outbreak of hunting, the sweet and pungent taste of blood, the violence of fighting for territory, the comfort of absorbing moonlight... chaotic and disorganized.
But a few fragments are particularly clear:
One aspect concerns the layout and spiritual energy distribution of Seven Star Valley. The fox spirit senses fluctuations and nodes within the valley's spiritual energy flow. Most unique is the Spirit Milk Cave, hidden in the northwest, behind a pale purple poisonous miasma. The cave entrance is narrow and concealed, but inside lies a vast natural cavern, filled with stalactites and stalagmites. Every sixty years, on a specific full moon night, the tips of the stalactites at the cave's core secrete a milky-white, fragrant "spiritual milk." This substance has a fatal attraction for demonic beasts, capable of tempering their blood and flesh.
Another instance concerns the Silverback Ape King. In fragmented memories, a massive, silvery-gray figure appears multiple times, over two zhang tall, with broad shoulders and a body covered in silvery-gray fur, and a tuft of pure silver-white on its back. It is muscular, incredibly strong, possesses a thunderous roar, and is extremely territorial and violent. It is always accompanied by a dozen or so robust and ferocious giant apes, forming a clan.
The Golden Flame Fox and the Silverback Ape King clashed fiercely multiple times over control of the Spirit Milk Cave and other hunting grounds. The Fox relied on its speed to outmaneuver the Golden Flame, rarely achieving a true victory. Judging from the fragmented memories, the Silverback Ape King's strength was likely at the mid-stage of the Core Formation realm, and with the power of its clan, it was the overlord of Seven Star Valley.
Lin Yan slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sharp and restrained. He stood up and walked towards Lu Ling and Zhou Fu, who were discussing the matter.
"Lu Ling, Zhou Fu," he said, his voice steady, "we may not be able to leave Qixing'ao for the time being."
The two looked up, their eyes filled with surprise.
Lin Yan pointed to the northwest direction on the map: "From here, head northwest, passing through the poisonous miasma, and you'll find a 'Spirit Milk Cave.' Every year on a specific full moon night, the cave secretes 'Spirit Milk.' This substance is an excellent treasure for cultivators to enhance their cultivation and temper their physical bodies. This was originally our goal for this trip."
A look of realization and eagerness flashed across their eyes, but their doubts only deepened.
Lin Yan changed the subject, his tone becoming serious: "But there is only one day left until the next full moon night of the sixty-year cycle. At the latest, before midnight tonight, spiritual energy fluctuations will begin to appear within the Spirit Milk Cave. At that time, powerful demonic beasts that sense the spiritual energy fluctuations will surely move in to seize the opportunity."
"And currently, the most likely contender for this prize in Qixing'ao, and the strongest one," he said, emphasizing each word, "is a silverback ape king."
Lu Ling and Zhou Fu's expressions turned serious.
"This ape's strength is likely at the mid-stage of Core Formation. It possesses immense strength and astonishing defense, and it doesn't act alone. It has a small silverback ape clan under its command, numbering about a dozen, and they know how to coordinate attacks. In the past, this ape and its clan have won most of the battles for the birth of spiritual milk," Lin Yan said in a deep voice.
Lu Ling and Zhou Fu remained silent, their faces grim. Their side was heavily wounded and exhausted; facing such a formidable enemy, a direct confrontation offered little chance of victory.
Lin Yan's gaze sharpened: "A direct assault would be like throwing an egg against a rock. But with opportunity before us lies a formidable enemy. If we retreat out of fear of danger, we will not only lose the spiritual treasure, but also the golden opportunity to weaken this beast and eliminate future troubles. If we can make good use of the terrain, set up ambushes, and strike when they are unprepared, we may still have a chance to win through strategy."
"What does Your Excellency mean?" Zhou Fu pressed.
Lin Yan squatted down and used pebbles to trace the ground: "As far as I know, the entrance to the Spirit Milk Cave is narrow, only allowing four or five people to enter side by side. However, the cave is spacious inside, with many stalactites and stalagmites, which are excellent cover and obstacles. There should be no monsters guarding the cave at this moment, making it the perfect time to ambush them."
He pointed with pebbles: "We can sneak in beforehand and set up a battlefield inside the cave. I will go alone to the Silverback Ape King's territory, provoke it, and lure it to the outside of the Spirit Milk Cave. With my newly advanced Core Formation cultivation, combined with my talent and control of the Golden Flame, I should be able to hold out by fighting outside the cave for a while and then luring it to the cave entrance."
"Then, I feigned defeat and retreated into the cave. The Silverback Ape King, in his rage, would surely follow me in. However, his men, due to the narrow entrance, could not rush in all at once, thus creating an opportunity to divide the enemy forces and attack them one by one."
The pebble in his hand roughly divided the cave area in two: "We can split our forces and set up an ambush in two groups—"
"One group will be led by Lu Ling." He looked at Lu Ling. "Select two brothers who are agile and skilled in using talismanic crossbows to ambush inside the cave entrance. The mission is not a direct confrontation, but rather to launch a sudden attack from concealed positions after the Ape King has caught up. Use support and control talismans to disrupt its movements; use crossbows to target vital points. Continuously harass it, distract it, and restrict its movement and power, creating an opportunity for the other group to attack."
Lu Ling nodded emphatically: "Understood! Harass and contain them, create openings!"
"The other group will be led by Zhou Fu." He turned to Zhou Fu, "He will lead three of the brothers with the most stable shields and the most solid lower bodies to ambush in a more open area deeper inside the cave. Once I lure the Ape King into the designated area, you will immediately appear and form a defensive formation. The mission is to 'trapped' it, using the stone pillars and the light walls of runes to restrict its movement and prevent it from breaking through the path. Just hold out for enough time—enough time for me to deliver the fatal blow. Never try to fight it head-on; focus on defense and delaying it."
Zhou Fu said in a deep voice, "Yes! Form a defensive formation to trap the enemy and hold your ground while waiting for an opportunity!"
"As for the silverback apes outside the cave," Lin Yan said decisively, "the remaining brothers, under Wang Dashan's command, will all take up shields and form a defensive formation to hold the cave entrance at all costs! The mission is the most direct and brutal: before we deal with the ape king inside, we must prevent any silverback apes from rushing into the cave and disrupting the battle! The cave entrance is narrow and the terrain is slightly higher, which is advantageous for defense. As long as the formation remains intact and the shields don't break, we can take turns absorbing the impact and hold out for a while. This is a matter of life and death; we cannot afford to lose it!"
He tossed aside the stones and stood up: "The key to this plan lies first in 'luring.' I must successfully lure the ape king into the cave alone and control his rage. Secondly, it lies in 'dividing.' The guards at the cave entrance must withstand the ape horde's frenzied charge to buy time for the battle inside. The two ambushes inside the cave must launch precise and timely attacks, and the encirclement must be strong and enduring. If any link in the chain fails, the entire operation could be lost."
Lu Ling and Zhou Fu stared intently at the diagram, their minds racing with calculations. Could the ambush inside the cave deceive the senses of a Core Formation Realm demon beast? How long could the guards at the cave entrance hold out? For the adults to lure the enemy in alone, engage in hit-and-run maneuvers, and deliver the fatal blow was as risky as walking a tightrope!
A moment later, Lu Ling raised his eyes, his gaze filled with resolute fighting spirit: "My lord's plan is indeed a way to win against all odds. The key lies in seizing the right moment and adapting to the situation. The pressure at the cave entrance is the greatest, so we need to select the brothers who are in the best condition and most skilled in defense. For attacks from inside the cave, we need a sufficient and diverse supply of talismans and crossbow bolts."
Zhou Fu said in a deep voice, "The space inside the cave restricts the ape king's movement and also limits our numerical advantage. If the ape king breaks through the trap with brute force, the formation will likely collapse in an instant. With the silver-backed ape king charging with all its might, it is still unknown whether the 'Earth Formation' can withstand it for a long time. We need to reserve room for changing formations."
Lin Yan nodded slowly: "Your concerns are quite valid. This plan is extremely risky. However, with the aid of our newly acquired talismanic treasures, our defensive and long-range harassment capabilities are far superior to what they used to be. We can ambush them inside the cave, catching them off guard; and we can hold the cave entrance, waiting in comfort for them to tire themselves out. Although the Silverback Ape King is strong, its intelligence is inferior to that of humans, and it is unfamiliar with the characteristics of talismanic treasures and battle formations. This is our advantage. Moreover..."
His gaze turned to the northwest: "Spiritual milk is the essence of heaven and earth, a once-in-a-lifetime event, which is of great benefit to our cultivation. With such an opportunity before us, wouldn't it be a betrayal of heaven's will to retreat out of fear of danger? Furthermore, the Silverback Ape King has been entrenched here, and now that the Demon Fox is dead, the balance within the valley has been broken. If we don't take this opportunity to weaken or eliminate the Ape King, he might become a formidable force once he consolidates his remaining power, making him even more difficult to deal with. For both public and private reasons, this battle is necessary, and it should be fought sooner rather than later."
He looked at the two men again, his voice steady and powerful: "I know this battle is dangerous, but you brothers have followed me all this way, have you ever been afraid of danger? If this battle is successful, we will not only obtain the spiritual milk, but also eliminate a future threat, deter the remaining enemies, and temper our team. I believe in your abilities, and I believe even more in our tacit understanding of sharing life and death."
Lu Ling and Zhou Fu exchanged a glance, their eyes igniting with fighting spirit and unwavering trust. "We will obey your orders, sir!" they clasped their hands in a fist salute, their voices resolute.
"Alright." A cold glint flashed in Lin Yan's eyes, but he regained his composure. "There's no time to lose. Lu Ling, Zhou Fu, Wang Dashan, you two go and select manpower immediately, finalize the rosters for the three groups, taking into account their injuries and specialties. Qingyao," he turned to Su Qingyao, "please take stock of the remaining talismans, crossbow bolts, and pills, and distribute them according to the mission requirements. Check the spirit patterns and energy of the talismanic shields."
Su Qingyao nodded vigorously: "Don't worry, Brother Lin, Qingyao understands." She turned and walked towards her luggage, her movements light and swift.
Lin Yan looked at everyone one last time: "Except for two who will stay behind to guard Liu Xiong, the rest of you brothers, quickly recover, treat your injuries, and check your equipment. Gather here in an incense stick's time, and we'll set off with you to the Spirit Milk Cave to ambush them! Be extremely careful along the way, conceal your presence, avoid demonic beasts and miasma, and be absolutely silent; do not alert the target prematurely!"
"Yes!" A deep, resolute reply rang out. The morning light illuminated these scarred yet determined faces, for an even more perilous and intricate hunt was about to unfold deep within Seven Star Valley.