CHAPTER 713: CHAPTER 98: SUDDEN MISHAP DESPITE CAREFUL PLANNING

Zhang Yan drew eight talismans from his sleeve, rubbed them with his thumb, and instantly smoke and mist surged forth, transforming into eight streaks of white light that flew into the depths of the dark cavern, disappearing within.

Narrowing his eyes, his Heart and Spirit followed the talismans closely, probing each area.

Those talismans were Demon Extermination Talismans, capable of dispersing Yin Demons. Yet, at this moment, he was not using them to kill Devils but rather to search for areas where Devils were notably sparse—places likely influenced by Blood Essence Sect disciples subjugating Devils.

When the talismans reached several miles out, each extinguished in turn, revealing nothing out of the ordinary.

He wasn’t surprised; this spot was near the Sea Eye Demon Cave’s entrance, and it was highly probable that the opposition would deliberately avoid this area.

As for whether the Blood Essence Sect might forgo this place due to concerns regarding the Mingcang Sect, he felt that was highly unlikely.

Not to mention the nature of Demon Dao disciples, abandoning such an advantageous Demon Cave was near impossible—resisting this temptation was a feat few could achieve.

As long as Blood Essence Sect disciples were still active here, he would continue to search, eventually unearthing some clues.

Still, he knew this method was excessively time-consuming and energy-draining, with the investigation proceeding far too slowly. When he first accepted this task, he had some confidence owing to Su YiAng, who had spent over twenty years within this Demon Cave and was incredibly familiar with the site.

But unexpectedly, after returning to his residence from True Master Peng, when he attempted to summon Su YiAng’s Soul Splitting for questioning, he found it significantly weakened, almost dissipating to the brink. Guessing that it was caused by clashes with some formidable adversary, Zhang Yan called out several times without any response, concluding that the wounds must be severe; thus, he temporarily shelved his plan.

Mo Ying observed that upon entering the small demon cave, two among her group of twelve disciples had fallen victim to its traps, revealing the Devils’ formidable nature. To prevent further incidents, she hurriedly retrieved a calming Elixir Pill from her sachet and swallowed it.

In truth, those two disciples hadn’t been as incompetent as she presumed, nor were the Devils exceptionally powerful. It was simply that Zhang Yan’s presence here had given them a sense of overconfidence due to his senior status, leading them to unwittingly lower their guard.

Upon being reminded by Zhang Yan and repelling the Yin Demons, the two disciples felt a deep sense of shame. After all, they had devoted over ten arduous years to cultivation, and this journey into the Demon Cave was a precious opportunity. If their Heart Demons were to seize control, losing their sanity, no one could save them—not even reincarnation would be within reach.

Luckily, they had come fully prepared. Mo Ying swiftly called on several disciples to place Prohibition Array Flags around them, encircling the group of twelve, ensuring their protection. The area was rich with Spiritual Energy, allowing them to settle in, focus on their breathing, and seize the opportunity to elevate their cultivation levels.

Mo Ying stole a glance at Zhang Yan, who stood atop a high stone platform. Divine Light flashed within his eyes like lightning as though he was investigating something far off.

Being a perceptive and meticulous woman, her earlier excitement faded, leaving her strangely uneasy.

The sect had actually dispatched Zhang Yan, ranked ninth among the Top Ten Disciples, to accompany them. If his sole purpose was merely to safeguard their group, it seemed far too extravagant—a notion she found difficult to believe. She thus speculated that this matter must indeed be unusual.

If genuine danger lay ahead, everyone here was her fellow disciple. She didn’t wish tragedy upon any of them.

Pondering carefully, she bit down gently on her crimson lips, stepped forward, and, with a Wan Fu bow, greeted Zhang Yan. "Mo Ying humbly greets Uncle Zhang and conveys my uncle’s greetings as well."

Zhang Yan raised his brows slightly, replying, "Which senior brother is your uncle?"

Lowering her gaze, Mo Ying softly said, "My uncle’s surname is Mo, given name Tianhua."

She felt a pang of nervousness after speaking, for Mo Tianhua and Zhang Yan shared no cordial relationship; in fact, there was lingering tension between them.

Yet she was shrewd—recalling how, during their conflict, Zhang Yan had not suffered but instead taught Mo Tianhua a lesson. Even if Zhang Yan chose to ignore her, he wouldn’t make things difficult for her as a junior. This gave her the chance to start a conversation and perhaps glean some information.

Zhang Yan glanced at her, chuckling with cryptic intent. "Ah, so you’re Mo Senior Brother’s kin. Hmm, you do bear some resemblance, though I must say, he’s far less clever than you."

Meeting his gaze, Mo Ying felt suddenly exposed, as though he had seen straight through her intentions, causing her to lower her head quickly.

Zhang Yan turned his attention further ahead, gazing into the distant depths. He said, "This Demon Cave holds even richer Spiritual Energy than when I last visited, meaning the Devils here are likely even stronger. Yet, that will greatly benefit your cultivation. The deeper you venture, the greater the rewards. I won’t conceal the truth—this mission indeed carries additional tasks, requiring me to proceed to the deeper regions of the Demon Cave. However, every hundred miles, I will establish a Prohibition Array. Among you disciples, if anyone possesses the courage, you may follow me deeper within."