Chapter 592

Chapter 592: Southern Dipper Soul-Chasing Arrow

It was no wonder Fang Lie flew into such rage. The enemies had deployed truly earth-shaking means this time – even with his undying nature, he’d barely escaped death!

Three Great Semi-Immortals, two Ninth-Rank Left Dao cursed treasures, combined with a pre-arranged Formation – such terrifying power unleashed suddenly could have slain even a Semi-Immortal!

Fang Lie’s survival hinged entirely on geographical advantage. Normally, even the old bird’s formidable Ninth-Rank peak treasure couldn’t have shielded him. But his life-bound Dao seed resided within the Cycle of Fire inside Mo Sect’s Ancestral Hall.

The Ancestral Hall, Mo Sect’s most crucial site, remains perpetually guarded by their protective array. To curse Fang Lie, the attackers first needed to breach this hall’s defenses.

Though the three Semi-Immortals and two Ninth-Rank treasures constituted fearsome power, they paled against Mo Sect’s protective array.

Mo Sect boasts the world’s greatest defensive capabilities. Their protective array represents the pinnacle of protective magic, refined over millennia to near-invincibility. Only if all mortal-world Semi-Immortals and Ninth-Rank treasures united could they possibly breach it.

Yet even so, the sudden assault drained significant Nascent Soul energy from the old bird controlling the array. The damage left it unable to speak clearly, remaining hidden within its token rather than using transformation power.

That even a Ninth-Rank peak treasure suffered such harm shocked Fang Lie to his core. His wrath burned hot, vowing eternal vengeance against the masterminds.

Facing this fury, the old bird sighed. "Abandon this. The culprits are either Zhu Xian or Shi Shen members – perhaps both. How can we challenge them?"

"What?" Fang Lie gasped.

In the cultivation world, Zhu Xian and Shi Shen thunder across the heavens as legendary Assassin Organizations. For sufficient payment, they’ll slay even Semi-Immortals – though such contracts demand Ninth-Rank Treasures as payment.

Such treasures being rare, such killings seldom occur. Yet history records two or three successful Semi-Immortal assassinations, cementing these groups’ fearsome reputation.

Legends claim these organizations descend from Left Dao remnants of ancient times.

In that bygone era, Left Dao dominated as the supreme sect with hundreds of Semi-Immortals and dozens of true immortals. But their tyranny and treasure-plundering provoked united retaliation.

Though shattered, Left Dao’s roots ran deep. Most leaders perished, but survivors escaped, reforming into new sects. Many current top ten demonic sects originated from Left Dao branches.

Zhu Xian and Shi Shen differ – they’re direct successors, not mere offshoots. Their names reflect hatred toward celestial beings, as Immortal Realm deities allegedly aided Left Dao’s destruction.

Left Dao’s protective array should have repelled mortal attackers, yet they fell mysteriously with minimal enemy losses. Surviving leaders discovered divine interference, breeding eternal hatred toward celestials.

These remnants seized secret Left Dao realms, forming two groups under Powerful Beings. Hiding their origins, they adopted the defiant names Zhu Xian (Immortal-Slayer) and Shi Shen (God-Slayer).

But establishing their organizations brought new problems. Lacking territory and resources, they turned to assassination. Using Left Dao’s terrifying Curse Techniques, they became the cultivation world’s most feared killers.

Relying on resources gained through killing, the Two Assassin Organizations not only survived but prospered, gradually becoming two of the most troublesome groups in the world!

Since they employed Curse Techniques that revealed their Left Dao heritage, they naturally became targets for the major sects’ attacks.

But after suffering heavy losses before, how could the Left Dao disciples remain careless? They operated in shadows, their base hidden within a Secret Realm left by the Left Dao—utterly unfindable.

The major sects launched multiple assaults but failed each time. Instead, the Two Assassin Organizations secretly eliminated many of their experts.

As the saying goes: thieves strike a thousand days, but none can guard against them for that long!

The sprawling major sects, riddled with vulnerabilities, couldn’t withstand the Assassin Organizations’ relentless harassment.

After unbearable losses, the sects finally compromised. They negotiated with the two groups, establishing three rules:

The sects would cease open attacks, while the assassins abandoned the Left Dao banner, killed only with clients’ orders, and limited their targets to prevent unchecked slaughter.

The Assassin Organizations, unwilling to fight the entire world, accepted this uneasy truce.

Normally, they avoided major sects, preying on smaller factions or renowned scattered cultivators.

Yet when benefits outweighed risks, even experts from major sects fell. The Xuan Sect once lost a Core Inner Gate Disciple to them—rare, but not unprecedented.

Hearing the organizations’ names, Fang Lie blurted, "Damn! They only hunt Wind Tribulation Immortals or higher. Why target a Qi Sea cultivator like me?"

"Hah! You underestimate yourself," the old bird chuckled. "Your strength rivals Wind Tribulation Immortals, yet your bounty matches a Semi-Immortal’s! To them, you’re easy prey with sky-high rewards. Add your countless enemies seeking revenge—who else would they hunt?"

"Really?" Fang Lie scratched his head.

"Absolutely!" the old bird said. "Three Great Semi-Immortals and two Ninth-Rank Treasures were deployed. Know what that means?"

"What?" Fang Lie frowned.

"Your head’s worth three or four Eighth-Rank Treasures!" the old bird snorted. "One Semi-Immortal’s fee alone costs at least one Eighth-Rank Treasure!"

"Bastards! With that wealth, why hire killers? Give it to me instead—I’d let them slay me ten times!" Fang Lie growled.

"You still jest?" the old bird retorted. "Zhu Xian and Shi Shen prize their reputation. Failing to kill a Semi-Immortal might make them retreat, but failing against a Qi Sea cultivator? That shatters their golden reputation!"

"So… they’ll keep coming?" Fang Lie tensed.

"Undoubtedly!" the old bird hissed. "Your survival stains their honor. Each day you live mocks their competence. To regain face, they must kill you!"

"So I’m now locked in endless war with Zhu Xian and Shi Shen?" Fang Lie smirked. "Good. I wasn’t sparing them anyway!"

"Planning to annihilate them?" the old bird mocked.

"Why not? Should I kneel and die?" Fang Lie retorted.

"Fool! Think they’re hiding in plain sight?" the old bird snapped. "If they were easily found, the major sects would’ve eradicated them ages ago! Stay in Mo Sect and focus on cultivation!"

"No! I’ll make them pay! They can’t kill me anyway!" Fang Lie insisted.

"Idiot! Think this failure means they’ll never succeed?" the old bird scolded. "Such arrogance!"

"Wait—can they truly kill me?" Fang Lie paled.

"You know the four Heaven-defying treasures," the old bird said gravely. "You hold the Buddhist Void Buddha Kingdom. The Left Dao possesses another—the Southern Dipper Soul-Chasing Arrow!"