Chapter 398: Chapter 25: Baiting with One’s Own Body (Part 2)

"Little thief, get out here!"

Much to Xu Xiaochun and Li Ji’an’s surprise, the five people chased them to this spot without hesitation and surrounded the tree hollow where Xu Xiaochun was hiding, as if they could sense him.

Xu Xiaochun’s expression tightened, and upon checking himself, he found no obvious signs that exposed his whereabouts.

The next moment, he curled his lip, snorted coldly, and walked out brazenly.

"Hmph, a bunch of filthy bandits, you’ve got guts to try and kill an Upper Sect disciple!" Xu Xiaochun, upon appearing, seized the momentum with his words, showing no fear of being surrounded.

"Just a group of bloodsucking pests, killing you would be to uphold justice and avenge the cultivators you’ve victimized!" said the leader, righteously.

"Ridiculous, which of us Upper Sect disciples didn’t earn our place through talent and hard work? The Immortal Path values competition; if you had superior talent, you could also come to the sect for trials.

You’re just a bunch of failures who blame the heavens, bah!" Despite his poor background, Xu Xiaochun smoothly entered the sect at age fifteen, especially thriving under Li Ji’an’s tutelage, naturally oblivious to the struggles of Loose Cultivators.

"Does having talent mean you can seize all spiritual resources? Does it mean you can stand so high above others? Why?" one of the five shouted in anger, clearly rattled.

Xu Xiaochun deliberately stalled for time, waiting for the poison to take effect: "Why? If the spiritual resources aren’t concentrated on those with superior talent, should they be given to those with inferior talent?

The same spiritual resources can easily establish the Foundation for those with superior talent.

Whereas those with inferior talent would need to consume several times the resources to establish their Foundation.

If those with inferior talent were truly in power, it would be a waste of spiritual resources!"

"You’re... you’re talking nonsense!" another person from the opposing group shouted, clearly upset.

"Utter nonsense, you speak of the Immortal Path valuing competition, yet you sect parasites monopolize resources, giving us no chance to compete!"

Xu Xiaochun laughed heartily: "Isn’t this the result of competition?"

"Everyone, this little thief is crafty with words, don’t let him continue his nonsense, attack!" The leader, unable to argue with Xu Xiaochun, became furious.

Xu Xiaochun carefully observed the state of the five opponents, noticing the poison hadn’t taken effect, hurriedly raising his hand to stop them: "Hold on, since you claim the Upper Sect gave you no chance, fine, I’ll give you a chance. Come, one-on-one duel, if I lose, I’ll willingly admit you’re right. Dare you?"

The five exchanged glances.

Ultimately, none dared to step forward for a duel.

After all, the best cultivation technique they practiced was Profound Level Middle Grade, and the magic power they cultivated couldn’t compare to Xu Xiaochun’s in terms of thickness or purity.

Not to mention the sect has countless techniques and secret methods for assault.

"Afraid? Given the opportunity, you’re useless." Xu Xiaochun noticed they weren’t falling for it and immediately fanned the flames.

"Hmph! We restore the cultivation realm, not resorting to brute courage. To slay sect scum, we’ll fight without holding back, all together!" shouted the leader.

"Right, why reason with such hypocrites? Attack!"

The leader’s words restored their dignity, prompting them to act.

"Not good!" However, as they were about to attack, one of them suddenly felt his magical power unable to be mobilized, and it rapidly dissipated.

"It’s the Soul-Devouring Powder! Quickly take the Antitoxic Pill!" The leader immediately realized and hurriedly reminded.

"Hmph! An Upper Sect disciple using such despicable poisoning tricks, shameless!" someone exclaimed indignantly.

Xu Xiaochun restrained his smile and acted swiftly. A fiery wave erupted from the crimson flute in his hand, sweeping toward them.

This was a war trophy collected from Gao Yang’s group by Li Ji’an, an Upper Grade Fire Attribute Magical Artifact. Li Ji’an didn’t use it and was too lazy to sell it on the black market, so he gifted it to him. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"Able to unleash five-hole flames." Li Ji’an nodded slightly in surprise as he saw Xu Xiaochun’s fire flute attack.

This is a Seven-Hole Flute Artifact, typically used to its full potential by cultivators in the Foundation Establishment Early Period.

During the Qi Refining Stage, activating four holes is already difficult.

"Careful!" The five hurriedly dodged, none daring to face it head-on.

Although Xu Xiaochun had just reached the Late Period of Qi Refining, among the five, four had achieved Qi Cultivation Perfection, theoretically making them stronger.

But Xu Xiaochun wore an Upper Grade Magic Robe, which could block 30% of their attacks.

And now, using an Upper Grade Artifact to unleash fire magic was threatening to them.

However, the five were seasoned combatants, strategically dodging while persistently surrounding Xu Xiaochun.

"Whoosh~" was skilled at sneak attacks and joint strikes.

Xu Xiaochun missed his attack, and they immediately retaliated.

Moreover, upon detecting the poison, they immediately consumed the Antitoxic Pill, an essential skill of seasoned fighters.

Thus, Xu Xiaochun’s use of poison failed.

Fighting one against five, he gradually fell into a disadvantage.

"Little thief, surrender now!" The five increased their aggressive pressure, leaving Xu Xiaochun heavily injured.

The exquisite magic robe was scorched black, tattered.

"Surrender, and you might keep your life!"

"Never!" Faced with their tempting offer, Xu Xiaochun shouted defiantly, showing the spirit of preferring death as jade rather than living as clay.

"Pfft~" Finally, after another sneak attack, Xu Xiaochun spat a mouthful of blood and fell heavily to the ground.

"Hmph, an Upper Sect disciple, is but so." The five sneered and immediately sealed his limbs with magical power.

"Filthy bandits, bah!" Xu Xiaochun still maintained the sect’s dignity with his proud spirit.

The five ignored him, eagerly inspecting the spoils of their fight.

"Upper Grade Artifact! Tsk tsk."

"So many pills? All Upper Grade!"

"Too bad about this Upper Grade Magic Robe."

...

Seeing this, Li Ji’an frowned slightly.

He had to admit, there is a deviation between the sect’s nurturing philosophy and his own.

After all, sect disciples prioritize the sect, with preserving its dignity being their guiding principle.

Xu Xiaochun, with his gentle exterior and firm interior, experienced smooth sailing upon entering the sect and was greatly influenced by its philosophy.

In comparison, Xiao Changfeng was more adaptable, prioritizing survival first, especially after a less than ideal experience during his Foundation Establishment Stage, which shaped his character.

However, the next moment, Li Ji’an raised his eyebrows sharply.

As the five were collecting the spoils and preparing to take Xu Xiaochun away, they suddenly convulsed, foaming at the mouth.

"Poison!"

"More... poison!"

"How is this possible? Could it be... Second Tier venom?"

The poison was rapid and powerful, unlike the previous Soul-Devouring Powder, this time it attacked the organs and shattered the dantian, a truly deadly toxin.

As the five fell one by one, unavenged in death, Xu Xiaochun’s indignation gave way to a sigh.

"This kid!" Li Ji’an’s Split Soul carefully examined the five’s dying expressions, finally discovering the clue.

Xu Xiaochun had actually applied Second Tier poison on his magic robe, including on the fire flute artifact, even the storage pouch.

Despite his insufficient skill in concocting Second Tier poison, it was highly toxic, yet distinctly colored, oddly scented, and visibly solid, making it difficult to poison successfully.

Especially for these seasoned combatants.

The earlier Soul-Devouring Powder was just a distraction to make them lower their guard after taking the Antitoxic Pill.

The true trump card was the deadly poison on him.

However, it must be said that this was somewhat reckless, as Xu Xiaochun, only possessing Qi Cultivation, risked being poisoned himself. Even with timely Antitoxic Pill consumption, he’d be easy prey to backlash.

"Scum!" After a pause, Xu Xiaochun broke free from their magical restraint and sprang up, looking refreshed, unlike his previous unfortunate state during the siege.

Then he used magical power to reveal their faces, severing the five heads and storing them.

He checked their storage pouches, finding only a wooden token for each, nothing else, no items revealing identity.

Setting the corpses ablaze with fire, Xu Xiaochun returned quickly, rushing back along the way.

Meanwhile, Li Ji’an in the flying boat furrowed his brow slightly.

The words and actions of these five clearly indicated a force opposing the ruling class.

Moreover, their methods were far more extreme than any Loose Cultivator rebel army that previously appeared.

"Is it a coincidence or a deliberate hunt for sect cultivators?"

In this area, besides the trial of Qi Refining disciples from Biyun Sect, both the former Fiery Sun Sect and Dongli Sect used to do the same.

Now with the Fiery Sun Sect’s demise, only Biyun Sect and Dongli Sect disciples remain for trials.