Nameless District Arc Chapter 56: Control (Part 3)

The speed of sword cultivators is astonishing—not only their movement, but also their killing pace. In just a quarter of an hour, all three hundred demon beasts were slain, leaving behind a field densely littered with corpses and a baleful aura that soared skyward.

Were this outside, facing such a vast horde of demon beasts, even double the number of sword cultivators would only manage a fighting retreat, employing guerrilla tactics to whittle them down. But within this miniature world, the demon beasts were weak—most at the level of Qi Refinement. With just one or two sword cultivators holding back the formidable Foundation Establishment beasts, the rest could guarantee a lethal blow to every other creature.

After this bloody battle, aside from Mao Yishan, the leader among the sword cultivators, and the siblings Kong Xiaori and Kong Xiaoyue, not a single one of the remaining ten sword cultivators had fallen. Yet the beasts’ unique innate abilities were many and varied, leaving every fighter with wounds, minor or severe.

This once verdant meadow now lay transformed into a sea of corpses and blood. The low-lying areas, where streams once flowed, now merged into a crimson river—a literal river of blood, with a stench so pungent even the sword cultivators avoided the ground.

Corpses were everywhere, most of them incomplete, with severed limbs scattered about. The air itself was tinged red, the lingering malice refusing to dissipate.

"It seems we’re the ones who’ve had the last laugh. Quick, let’s gather up the spoils!"

The sword cultivators laughed heartily, spirits high, not bothering with the Five-Spirit Pill Valley disciples inside the giant cauldron. After all, they couldn’t do anything about the cauldron for now, and having slaughtered so many beasts, their pent-up resentment had vanished.

Especially given the abundance of bodies—these were valuable cultivation resources. True, sword cultivators didn’t prize resources as much as spell cultivators, but with them in hand, many things became easier: buying a higher-grade spiritual sword, enjoying delicacies and fine wines at the Immortal Tavern, and so forth.

Far off, the Yin Corpse Sect group, once pursued, was now reduced to just Bian Luxing and Wang Li; all their elite disciples had been wiped out. Against these four masters, not only the Qi Refinement disciples, but even the five Foundation Establishment disciples proved no match. Mao Yishan alone, at mid-Foundation Establishment, brought immense pressure, not to mention the internal sword cultivator fused with the Sword Orb, and the siblings who, though only at the ninth layer of Qi Refinement, could combine their spells to rival mid-Foundation Establishment power. How could anyone hope to win?

Their spiritual and mental strength had been depleted battling the demon beast army; faced with four at their peak, they had no thought of resistance—only flight.

"Split up and run!"

Bian Luxing and Wang Li exchanged glances, immediately diverging left and right.

Kong Xiaori shouted toward Wang Li, "You won’t escape! Senior Mao, Senior Gu, my sister and I will pursue this one. You two go after the other."

Without waiting for a reply, he accelerated toward Wang Li.

Mao Yishan looked worried. "Will those two be alright?"

Gu Yufeng’s lips twitched. "Don’t worry about them. Those siblings are monsters. You’d do better to hurry and finish off Bian Luxing, then help them out."

Hearing this, Mao Yishan relaxed. Remembering what Xuan Qizi had told them before entering the miniature world, he guessed these siblings were anything but ordinary.

Having diverged from Mao Yishan and Gu Yufeng, Kong Xiaori wore a mischievous grin. He was well aware of Wang Li’s identity—whether for betraying Xingyan Sect, slaughtering his peers, or fulfilling Zhou Xuanhong’s commission, Wang Li had to die!

The siblings kept Wang Li at a steady distance for hundreds of miles, then suddenly accelerated, forcing him to a desperate stand.

Wang Li’s stamina was nearly spent. The siblings’ spells were potent; even though they hadn’t reached Foundation Establishment, their affinity with elemental forces was terrifying. Continuing to flee would be certain death.

Wang Li could never have anticipated things would turn out this way. Originally, the Yin Corpse Sect and Five-Spirit Pill Valley were supposed to unite, forming a team of over a hundred to sweep the miniature world. But then the demon beast army appeared, followed by inexplicable deaths—and most baffling of all, the sword cultivators, usually lone wolves, unexpectedly banded together and struck at the critical moment. How had it all unfolded like this?

Wang Li felt as though an invisible hand was manipulating everything. The sensation was familiar, reminding him of his time in Luoshui City, when he too had been toyed with, unaware.

"Well, stopped running? Are you ready to offer your neck for the blade? Shall I give you time to wash it clean?"

Wang Li removed his hood, revealing his handsome features, and cupped his hands to the siblings. "Junior brother and sister, it’s me—there’s been a misunderstanding!"

Kong Xiaori feigned surprise. "Ah, it’s you, Senior Wang. Didn’t you betray our sect?"

Wang Li shook his head resolutely. "Junior brother Kong, it’s a misunderstanding. The sect discovered the Yin Corpse Sect and Five-Spirit Pill Valley’s conspiracy, so I was sent undercover—posing as a direct disciple—to sabotage their plans!"

Kong Xiaori acted enlightened. "So that’s it! A case of mistaken identity among kin. Sorry, senior brother. I might have struck too hard without knowing it was you. Here, I have a red healing pill—consider it an apology."

Seeing the red pill in Kong Xiaori’s hand, Wang Li’s eyes widened. It was a red pill—something even a master like Wei Cangyuan couldn’t concoct. For Kong Xiaori to offer it so casually spoke to his wealth, intensifying the murderous intent in Wang Li’s heart.

Wang Li, seasoned in combat, knew the siblings’ power lay in their ability to fuse their spiritual energy, multiplying their strength. By revealing his face and waiting for an opening, he hoped to kill one, tipping the odds in his favor.

He couldn’t let them live—once outside, the higher-ups would expose him. He had to kill them to cover his tracks, and Kong Xiaori’s displayed wealth only made him more eager.

As Kong Xiaori approached, storing his sword in his pouch, Wang Li rejoiced. Under his voluminous black robe, a flying sword was ready—just a bit closer, and he could strike.

But Kong Xiaoyue moved even faster. Without a word, she softly intoned, "Form the array!"

Suddenly, runes flared around her, and within fifty meters, an array formed, trapping the space and catching Wang Li off guard.

Not that he was completely unprepared, but his focus was on Kong Xiaori, fearing he might attack first. He hadn’t expected the silent Kong Xiaoyue to act.

Wang Li’s expression soured. "Junior sister Kong, why?"

Kong Xiaoyue stared coldly, occupying the array’s core. She could deploy a second-grade trapping array swiftly because it was a one-use, instant array—requiring herself as the anchor and immobile, a tactic for array masters in group combat.

Her aim was simply to trap Wang Li. With him contained, the rest was easy. Since he couldn’t escape, as long as she controlled the core, he could be blasted to death.

The siblings avoided close combat; once the array was set, Kong Xiaori retreated to his sister’s side, taking his place at the array’s core.

Kong Xiaori laughed. "Isn’t it obvious, Senior Wang? We’re going to kill you!"

Wang Li, realizing he couldn’t bluff his way out, grew grim. "How did you know I betrayed Xingyan Sect? I’ve worn this black robe for over twenty days—even the Yin Corpse Sect didn’t know my identity."

He was sharp, understanding his disguise had been completely penetrated. The siblings had known his identity from the start, which was why Mao Yishan and Gu Yufeng hadn’t pursued him.

Kong Xiaori shook his head. "We don’t know your identity. Our only task is to kill you; someone else told us your disguise and location."

Wang Li’s heart sank. He sensed the intrigue behind the recent battle, and Kong Xiaori’s words made it clear—one figure leapt to mind.

A young man of unremarkable appearance, temperament, and cultivation, yet the one who had toyed with Wang Li since age ten—Zhou Xuanhong!

"It’s Zhou Xuanhong! It must be him! Damn it, why is it always him? He couldn’t even enter the miniature world, so how am I still falling into his trap?"

Wang Li quickly regained his composure, glaring coldly at the siblings. He sneered, "You really think you’ve got me? Just two strong Qi Refinement ninth-layers—I’m at Foundation Establishment second layer. Even weakened, you can’t handle me!"

Wang Li took out a jade box from his pouch, containing a blood-red pill radiating violent energy.

The siblings wouldn’t let him take it, attacking immediately. As they prepared to use wood and fire spells, they paused, swiftly switching to water and wood spells, aiming for mutual restraint.

The collision of water and fire produced a surge of steam. But before their attacks could reach Wang Li, the elements neutralized each other—water doused fire, fire evaporated water—leaving no damage, only stirring the elemental energy and spiritual power within the array to a frenzy.

Wang Li seized the moment, swallowing the pill. Its effects surged through him, filling his depleted dantian and restoring him to his peak, his aura leaping to Foundation Establishment fourth layer.

"Hahaha! Worthy of Earth Spirit roots—this Violent Spirit Pill’s effects are fully unleashed. I’ve broken through mid-Foundation Establishment in one go. It’s temporary, but more than enough to kill you both. You dare hunt me? You’re courting death!"

Feeling the massive steam around him, Wang Li shook his head and laughed. "Your talent is impressive—casting without pause, instant spells, tremendous power. If you hadn’t foolishly used conflicting elements—one fire, one water—I’d have been killed before the pill took effect."

"Well, now the roles are reversed. I’m the hunter. Two adorable little prey—time to run!"

Kong Xiaori impatiently cleaned his ear. "Are you done? You’re just stalling for the pill to fully take effect, aren’t you? Trying to trick us into thinking it’s done—do you think you’re clever?"

Wang Li dropped his smile, suddenly uneasy. He quickly examined his dantian with his divine sense, horrified to find a bloodthirsty parasite had entered with the pill’s energy, gnawing at his Foundation Establishment platform.

"Die!"

Wang Li focused his spiritual energy to crush the parasite. Because it hadn’t entered when he formed his foundation, he could kill it. But it was too late—the parasite had bitten a hole in his foundation. It wasn’t serious, but under the pill’s violent energy, spiritual power surged through the gap, flooding out uncontrollably.

"No!"

He barely had time to savor his new power before Kong Xiaori, Kong Xiaoyue, and the hidden Zhou Xuanhong trapped him.

Seeing their chance, the siblings unleashed two instant spells, again water and fire, but this time fused together—no mutual restraint, water within fire, fire within water.

"You—how is this possible—"

Boom!

Before he could finish, the fused spell struck him. The violent energy erupted, and Wang Li had no time to scream before he was obliterated in a massive explosion centered on himself.