Liu Juncheng, Sui Jin, Jiang Yi, Sheng Yuan, and Shen Yue formed a sword array, surrounding the Silver Demon Guard and the Gold Demon Guard.
The Gold Demon Guard's face was grim, still maintaining his taciturn demeanor. The Silver Demon Guard smiled faintly, glancing at the courtyard. She said, "The Heavenly Venerate will kill that Nascent Soul cultivator! These five Golden Core cultivators are no match for the two of us! As for the rest of you... as long as you eliminate those two remaining people, everyone will share the true blood obtained this time!"
"This is the true blood of a Sword Sect disciple; if you miss this opportunity, it's gone forever!"
The Silver Demon Guard's voice still contained an endless allure.
Everyone's expressions changed, and they immediately looked at Li Shuang and Ye Zhaozhao.
Ye Zhaozhao quickly said, "Don't worry, I'm here! They don't have a third Golden Core cultivator! I will definitely protect Senior Sister Li!"
Li Shuang nodded to the cultivators from Ruthless Peak, her voice calm but with a convincing power: "Leave it to me!"
"Xiao Shuang! Don't hold back against these people! We'll come to help you once we've dealt with the Gold and Silver Demon Guards," Liu Juncheng said.
"Still have the mind to instruct your junior sister?" The Silver Demon Guard sneered, her fingernails suddenly lengthening and transforming into sharp blades, which she launched directly at the five cultivators.
The Gold Demon Guard's fists glowed with a golden light as he heavily struck the ground, causing the ground beneath the five cultivators to sink.
However.
Liu Juncheng and the others had rich combat experience; they were fearless, brandishing their swords to meet the attack, and the situation reached a stalemate.
Li Shuang withdrew her gaze and looked at the people in the courtyard, each with their own thoughts.
Ye Zhaozhao spoke first: "You've all seen it. We are righteous disciples; it's not too late for you to turn over a new leaf! Otherwise, once these Sword Sect disciples are free, you will all face a dead end."
A slight commotion stirred in the crowd.
Sword Sect disciples!
These four words still carried significant deterrent power.
The Sword Sect might be weaker among the Six Sects, but in the eyes of rogue cultivators, it was naturally a colossal entity!
If they killed a Sword Sect disciple, wouldn't the higher-ups of the Sword Sect retaliate?
Could they truly escape the Sword Sect's revenge?
But the cultivation levels of the Sword Sect disciples who came were not high; could they truly win?
Those who had just been deceived into coming were still manageable; they had a way out.
However.
These ghouls who had already entered the demonic path knew that if the Sword Sect truly took over this place, their cultivation of demonic arts would surely be discovered, and they would only face a dead end!
One was certain death.
The other offered a chance at survival.
From the very beginning, they had no choice.
At worst, after absorbing the true blood of the Sword Sect disciples, they would immediately flee!
Across the vast world, could the Sword Sect people really chase them forever?
One Foundation Establishment cultivator!
One early-stage Golden Core cultivator!
With so many of them, they might not be without a chance of winning!
In the courtyard.
Some of the gazes in the crowd had become strange.
Ye Qing'er didn't notice this peculiar change. She said with a joyful expression, "Liu Bai, they are Sword Sect disciples, we are saved! We just need to wait for them to defeat that Heavenly Venerate, and then..."
Amidst Ye Qing'er's joyful expression.
Liu Bai let out a sinister laugh, and familiar blood-colored patterns appeared on his neck.
Ye Qing'er's pupils suddenly widened.
Liu Bai's strength was originally only at the peak of Qi Condensation, but at this moment, he directly entered the Foundation Establishment stage!
At the same time!
Strange blood-colored patterns appeared on the bodies of the demonic cultivators hidden in the crowd.
Liu Bai's expression was cold: "Now, among these two, only the Foundation Establishment cultivator Li Shuang is a Sword Sect disciple! The other one, Fang Qingyu, doesn't even have a sword; she's just a rogue cultivator like us!"
"A rogue cultivator at the Golden Core stage might not be that powerful!"
"That Sword Sect disciple is only at the Foundation Establishment stage! With so many of us, are we still afraid of one Foundation Establishment cultivator?"
"Kill them! Take the true blood of the Sword Sect disciples, and our body-refining path will surely last longer!"
"If we achieve such a great feat, the rewards given by Lord Heavenly Venerate will be enough for us to ascend to heaven in one step! At that time, as long as we escape immediately, the Sword Sect might not be able to find us!"
Liu Bai incited the crowd.
Ye Qing'er stared blankly at his back.
She didn't understand.
Was this truly her Dao companion?
Had he... already entered the demonic path?
Then... his taking her to Chengping Town was not a coincidence at all; it was premeditated!
Those rogue cultivators who watched their closest kin instantly transform into demons also felt their hearts tremble.
Their most trusted person had actually led them down an evil path?
"You don't need to look like that," a demonic cultivator said. "Just now, Lady Yin has made it clear enough. We rogue cultivators, without cultivation techniques or secret manuals, are almost destined to be without the Grand Dao. Since the righteous path does not tolerate us, why not seek another path? With the bonus of the Sword Sect disciple's true blood, this reward is incredibly rich; once obtained, Golden Core and Nascent Soul stages are within reach! I brought you down this path for your own good; if it were anyone else, I wouldn't bother!"
"You don't need to worry; just follow me and kill the Sword Sect disciples!"
Some struggled.
Some despaired.
Some were in pain.
Everyone's thoughts were different.
"Qing'er. You and I are Dao companions; I won't harm you. Come with me and act," Liu Bai turned to look at Ye Qing'er.
Ye Qing'er's lips trembled.
She nodded almost imperceptibly.
Liu Bai's heart filled with joy, and he was about to say something.
Suddenly.
A short sword appeared in Ye Qing'er's hand, piercing directly into Liu Bai's Dantian.
Liu Bai's heart trembled. He quickly dodged, barely avoiding a vital spot, but a large wound still appeared on his abdomen.
Ye Qing'er's expression was pained, but she still said firmly, "To step on the corpses of innocent people to ascend to the Grand Dao, I cannot do it. Liu Bai, from now on, you and I have no more ties."
Ye Qing'er gritted her teeth and attacked again.
Liu Bai looked at her coldly, surprised that Ye Qing'er would be the first to attack.
This was good.
He wouldn't have to feel any guilt.
Liu Bai struck Ye Qing'er's forehead with his palm.
Ye Qing'er was ready to die, just staring fixedly at Liu Bai. It turned out that mistaking someone could have such a tragic consequence.
This was her own mistake, and now, she could only bear the consequences herself.
However.
Liu Bai's palm had not yet touched Ye Qing'er's forehead.
Suddenly.
He let out a scream.
His entire hand was abruptly severed.
Ye Qing'er was stunned for a moment. The next moment, a strange force pulled her, and she was instantly brought to Li Shuang's side by spiritual energy.
Li Shuang looked at the courtyard full of demons and monsters and said calmly, "Those who enter the demonic path shall be killed without mercy. Others still have a choice. I will count to ten; after ten counts, those who stand by me, after the subsequent Sword Sect personnel arrive and investigate clearly, the innocent can leave."
"If you still stand against me."
Li Shuang's Black Abyss Sword hummed, and her voice was icy cold: "Kill without mercy!"