Eradicating the Roots

Qin Sang and Yunyouzi conferred on the small island until nightfall before parting ways to make their respective preparations. Having agreed on a time to meet Yunyouzi, Qin Sang returned to Dichen Cave. Seeing that the Flying Yaksha's condition still showed no improvement, he knew he truly could not rely on it for this operation. He crafted several more Shaoyin Magnetic Bottles, almost filling his mustard seed bag, and set off alone toward the east, carrying an abundant supply of earth fiend qi. *** Earth Fire Mountain. The location of the Demon Flame Sect's mountain gate. Earth Fire Mountain was a low volcano tucked away among soaring peaks and ridges, entirely inconspicuous. Daoist Jiupao had chosen to establish his sect here precisely because very few people ever came to Earth Fire Mountain. With no contact with outside cultivators, the risk of the Kuiyin Sect remnants being exposed was minimized. Ever since the Demon Flame Sect was founded, it had maintained an extremely low profile while secretly gathering the surviving remnants of the former Kuiyin Sect. After slaying Daoist Jiupao, Qin Sang had originally planned to wipe out the Demon Flame Sect in one fell swoop. Unexpectedly, the Flying Yaksha had nearly been wrecked. Weighing his priorities, he had no choice but to take it back to heal first, and later he had been preparing for Core Formation, leaving him no time to deal with the Demon Flame Sect until now. "The sect master of the Demon Flame Sect and the Four Demon Flame Emissaries all perished by my hand. With no upper management showing their faces for over a year, I wonder what the sect looks like now, and whether the disciples are even still around." Qin Sang flitted quietly through the mountain forests toward the Demon Flame Sect's gate, murmuring to himself as he gazed at the distant peaks. He was not certain whether this trip would bear fruit. With all five of the highest-ranking leaders missing for so long, panic must have gripped the Demon Flame Sect; it would hardly be surprising if the monkeys had scattered as soon as the tree fell. After crossing several ridges in succession, Qin Sang finally caught sight of the Demon Flame Sect's mountain gate. To the east, north, and west of Earth Fire Mountain stood three cloud-piercing peaks that flanked the mountain like a solid shield. Compared to those three lofty summits, Earth Fire Mountain appeared squat and solid. Faint licks of firelight flickered at its peak. It was an active volcano, though an eruption was unlikely anytime soon. There were two kinds of disciples in the Demon Flame Sect. One kind consisted of the former Kuiyin Sect remnants. Those with higher cultivation went out to help Daoist Jiupao gather treasures, while those with lower cultivation concealed their names and kept entirely to themselves, not daring to leave this shelter. The other kind was composed of new disciples accepted after the founding of the Demon Flame Sect. These new recruits did not practice the demonic arts passed down by the Kuiyin Sect. Instead, they cultivated a technique Daoist Jiupao had found elsewhere that utilized the power of earth fire. They were fortunate; Daoist Jiupao no longer dared to refine Ten Directions Yanluo Banners with brazen abandon, so at least they did not have to fear becoming sacrifices for demonic tools. Daoist Jiupao's plan had been flawless. Once their cultivation bore fruit, they would be able to walk openly in the outside world. By that time, Daoist Jiupao would also have possessed Ji Wu's body and assumed a new identity, allowing the Demon Flame Sect to step out entirely from the shadow of the Kuiyin Sect. Unfortunately for him, every last scheme had been shattered by Qin Sang. These newly recruited disciples knew nothing of the truth and were kept entirely in the dark. Their cultivation was also low, and Qin Sang was not ruthless enough to slaughter indiscriminately; as long as they had committed no evil, he would let them leave. Yet the remnants of the Kuiyin Sect had to die! Every single one of them had stood by and watched the atrocities beneath the Yin Baleful Abyss; not a single one was innocent. Only by cutting weeds and digging up the roots, leaving no chance for the Kuiyin Sect to rise from the ashes, could Qin Sang vent this long-held fury and offer solace to the friends who had fallen victim to the Kuiyin Sect. Standing atop a distant peak, he looked toward Earth Fire Mountain. At a glance, he could see that the mountain was covered in a peculiar spirit tree. Resembling maple trees, they bore crimson leaves that stretched across the slopes, mirroring the magma churning deep within the volcano. These spirit trees formed part of the Demon Flame Sect's mountain-protecting grand formation. Drawing on the five-element principle of wood giving birth to fire, supplemented by the volcano's copious fire essence, the formation was remarkably formidable. Wooden cabins and dormitories were nestled among the trees, and shadowy figures could occasionally be seen bustling beneath the canopy. On the back side of Earth Fire Mountain stood several noticeably more luxurious halls. Since the Demon Flame Sect was still in its early stages and Daoist Jiupao had yet to aggressively expand, there were not many disciples within the sect. Only a handful of Kuiyin Sect remnants had survived in the first place, and after Qin Sang's previous hunts, probably no more than a dozen remained, though all were Foundation Establishment cultivators of decent strength. The newly recruited disciples numbered barely over two hundred, with very few at Foundation Establishment—scarcely a fraction of Shaohua Mountain's numbers. At this moment, an atmosphere of peace hung over Earth Fire Mountain. The disciples seemed blissfully unaware that their sect master and emissaries were all dead, and several younger disciples were even discussing the Dao beneath the trees. *Did Daoist Jiupao leave instructions before he left?* The more Qin Sang thought about it, the more likely it seemed. Before preparing for possession, Daoist Jiupao must have made arrangements; otherwise, they could not possibly be this unconcerned. That made things much easier. Qin Sang's gaze swept over Earth Fire Mountain, and he slipped quietly around it toward a secluded valley behind the three tall peaks. The valley was bitterly cold, presenting a stark contrast to Earth Fire Mountain. Deep within the secluded valley, beside a mud bog, lay a pitch-black cave. Strands of yin baleful qi leaked from within, restrained by restrictions. Unlike earth fiend qi, yin baleful qi was not difficult to find, often forming in places that swallowed living souls, seas of corpses and bones, or damp, dark chasms. The cultivation methods of the Kuiyin Sect required yin baleful qi to progress. Although this cave was small and its yin baleful qi far less abundant than that of the Yin Baleful Abyss, it was sufficient to support the cultivation of the Kuiyin Sect remnants. Having a clear estimate of their strength, Qin Sang invoked the Ten Directions Yanluo Banner and the ebony sword. He had long since obtained the method to break the restrictions from the captured Demon Flame Emissary, and he slipped effortlessly into the cave. Once inside, Qin Sang discovered three people cultivating within, each occupying their own territory—one at late Foundation Establishment, and two at the middle Foundation Establishment stage. Qin Sang made a beeline for the late Foundation Establishment cultivator. The cave was pitch-black. Concealing himself in the yin baleful qi, Qin Sang crept closer and soon pinpointed the man's position. He was meditating atop a black boulder, flanked by warning restrictions and a defensive spirit array formed by several small flags. Qin Sang came to a halt. Opening his palm, the Ten Directions Yanluo Array drifted out without a sound, followed by a sudden, surging torrent of ghostly flames. *Rippp!* With a sound like tearing silk, the defensive spirit array around the man was torn open in an instant by the ghostly flames, the array flags scattered in pieces—some broken, some shredded. Jolted awake, the man went pale with terror. Suddenly, a dazzling ray of sword light flashed before his eyes, accompanied by faint rumbles of thunder, flickering like lightning. Before he could react, an agonizing pain tore through his abdomen as the ebony sword pierced clean through him, severely injuring his dantian. Terrifying sword qi tore wildly through his sea of qi, causing his spiritual power to drain away at blistering speed. "Aargh—" A dark shadow flitted out behind him, catching him by the throat and choking back the scream. Qin Sang held him by the neck, capturing him with ease. Without pausing, he abandoned all concealment and lunged straight toward the other two. "Who is it?" "Senior Brother Luo, what's happening—" Although the two were alerted, their strength lagged far behind. Qin Sang did not even need to use his ebony sword to subdue them effortlessly. Without breaking a sweat, he took all three alive. Sure enough, every one of them was a remnant of the Kuiyin Sect.