Chapter 369: How Many Body Integration Stage Cultivators are Hidden in Your Qingzhou Grand Celebration?

"Whew—whew—"

The figure in blood-stained robes panted heavily, his heart pounding frantically, as if it were about to leap out of his chest, completely stripped of his prior composure and arrogance.

"Damn it, what wretched luck! I only intended to observe the power of the nation's destiny to plan for the future, yet against all odds, I blundered right into an attack by a powerhouse at the Half-Immortal level. This era truly cannot be underestimated!

"Fortunately, I am meticulous and made two-fold preparations. Aside from the death-substituting jade, I also had this backup corpse ready!"

"Just now, I intentionally self-detonated to create a distraction, catching that Half-Immortal powerhouse off guard and seizing the chance to escape!"

During the Great Yu period, people had fearfully called the blood-robed figure the Scourge Venerable; his appearance invariably heralded bloodbaths and catastrophic chaos.

Moreover, he was in the Tribulation Transmutation Stage, completely unconstrained by anyone. He acted entirely as he pleased—who could possibly rein him in?

He had originally planned to use the opportunity of restoring the nation in this era to elevate his cultivation to a higher level, never expecting to encounter a peerless powerhouse capable of putting him to death.

"Damn it, when has this Deity ever been in such an embarrassing plight!"

The Scourge Venerable looked with deep disdain at this battered physical body, which was only at the Body Integration Stage, filled with deep regret.

To deceive that Half-Immortal powerhouse, his performance during the self-detonation had been extremely realistic, causing over half of his soul to be damaged, with his three hun and seven po souls nearly scattering. He had even intentionally left behind some soul residue on the detonated corpse.

Yet, the backup resurrection body he had prepared was only at the Body Integration Stage.

With both his soul and flesh at the Body Integration Stage, he had no idea how many natural treasures and earthly resources he would have to consume to return to his peak status.

Today was unlike the Great Yu period; all kinds of natural treasures already belonged to masters. He would have to employ countless schemes to obtain them, carrying the risk of exposing his identity in the process.

"Now is not the time to ponder these difficulties. The current plan is to leave this place first!"

He was not yet truly out of danger. The method of resurrection was restricted by distance, and his point of resurrection was inside a room at an inn at the foot of the mountain.

"Martial law is currently enforced in the surrounding area. If I fly out, it will be too conspicuous and easy to spot. Running out is the safest option."

He walked out of the room and left the inn. Suddenly, his eyes lit up as he saw a herd of fine horses leisurely grazing on the grass, looking as though they had not felt the pressure released by the two ancient Body Integration Stage cultivators just now.

The coats of these fine horses were sleek, and they were all mares. The white horse right in the center appeared somewhat decrepit and advanced in years.

Strangely, these mares were all intentionally or unintentionally rubbing against the old white horse in the center, casting flirtatious glances and harboring hidden affection.

The old white horse accepted all comers.

"A pureblood Dragon Horse!" The Scourge Venerable's eyes gleamed. He had not expected to encounter a pureblood Dragon Horse here, a rare species that existed only in the vast Eastern Sea. He had always wanted to go to the Eastern Sea to seize one, but legends said that the ancient immortal, Ying Tian Xian, was hidden there, so he had never dared to venture thither.

"The horse's master must have intentionally disguised this horse as an old one. Demonic beasts admire the strong; these ordinary horses are involuntarily drawn to the pureblood Dragon Horse. This is the advantage of lineage!

"A Dragon Horse travels swiftly. Leaving on a Dragon Horse will at least make up for some of today's losses!"

The Scourge Venerable calculated for a moment and felt this was the fastest method to flee the area.

Releasing a tiny hint of pressure, he frightened the herd of mares into fleeing rapidly.

The Dragon Horse's pupils flared with fury. The Scourge Venerable paid it no mind, laughing heartily, "Good Dragon Horse, I know you understand human speech. Come away with this Deity, and I will surely not treat you poorly!"

With that, he strode toward the Dragon Horse.

The Dragon Horse was also a demonic beast; it would surely leave with him.

Bang—

The Dragon Horse kicked backward with both hooves, dislocating both of the Scourge Venerable's arms.

"A Body Integration Stage Great Demon King!" The Scourge Venerable was horrified. How could there be another Body Integration Stage being? Why had it not struck when he was dealing with the two ancient Body Integration Stage cultivators just now?

With a Great Demon King as a mount, who could its master be?

"The mount of that Half-Immortal powerhouse!" The Scourge Venerable instantly thought of this possibility. He had made a move on the Half-Immortal powerhouse's mount, and the other party might have already discovered him.

Run!

The Scourge Venerable still did not dare to fly. Boldly using his magical power, he tunneled into the soil and crawled blindly forward, not even daring to release his divine sense for fear of being detected.

After running for a while, the terrifying Half-Immortal level pressure that made his heart tremble never descended, allowing him to breathe somewhat a sigh of relief.

"It seems I was not discovered by her just now."

He poked his head out of the ground. The surroundings were desolate, with only one person sitting in meditation and practicing, so he climbed out with peace of mind.

"It should be safe here."

He looked at the meditating person nearby, and greed arose in his heart.

This place was already very far from the Qingzhou Grand Ceremony. If a cultivator vanished, no one would suspect him.

Devouring a cultivator would at least restore some of his magical power.

He walked straight toward that cultivator, only to hear the cultivator keep his eyes tightly shut and speak coldly, bearing an expression that warned strangers to stay away.

"If I were you, I would absolutely not come near this place."

The Scourge Venerable sneered. Had the man sensed his malice, realized there was no escape, and sought to intimidate him?

It seemed the cultivators of this era also enjoyed bluffing. What a pity; these were all tricks he himself had played out long ago!

"Is that so? I would quite like to see what happens when I get close!" The Scourge Venerable took step after step toward the cultivator.

Vice Sect Master Shi opened his eyes. Seeing the Scourge Venerable still approaching him, he gently shook his head.

The Scourge Venerable had changed his body, so he did not recognize him, but if someone was looking for death, he certainly would not stop them.

Boom—

A sudden clap of thunder resounded, echoing through the universe. The deafening roar of thunder shook the entire sky, causing anyone who heard it to change expression.

The lightning was like a giant silver-white spear descending from the heavens, linking sky and earth, piercing through the world.

"What is going on! Where did this tribulation lightning come from!" The Scourge Venerable was startled out of his wits. How had a tribulation lightning suddenly appeared?

Most importantly, the tribulation lightning was also locking onto him!

"Damn it, it is you!" The Scourge Venerable glared at Vice Sect Master Shi. The other party was undergoing a lightning tribulation, and he had been dragged into it, judged by the tribulation lightning as an intervener.

"I already told you not to come near this place," Vice Sect Master Shi's tone was indifferent.

"A mere lightning tribulation, why should this Deity fear it!" The Scourge Venerable roared furiously, his robes fluttering as he exerted his full strength.

"It's you!" Vice Sect Master Shi's expression shifted. From the aura released by the other party, he sensed that this person was precisely the culprit who had ruined the Qingzhou Grand Ceremony!

He instinctively tensed up for a moment, but then perceived that the other party's vitality was greatly depleted, with a cultivation level nearly identical to his own, so he was no longer afraid.

"You are the one who ruined the Qingzhou Grand Ceremony, making it so this old man can't even keep his shop open!" Vice Sect Master Shi said in a rage.

"Huh?" The Scourge Venerable froze for a moment. The information from Vice Sect Master Shi was a bit overwhelming.

"You, a Body Integration Stage cultivator, went to the Qingzhou Grand Ceremony to open a shop?"

The Scourge Venerable's eyes widened. How was this yet another Body Integration Stage cultivator who hadn't taken action?

Just how many monsters were hidden within the Qingzhou Grand Ceremony?

"Words are useless. Cross this lightning tribulation with this old man!" Vice Sect Master Shi was in his peak state, while the other party was on his last legs. Facing the lightning tribulation, the other party would definitely suffer far worse than him!

Retribution, well deserved!

When enemies cross paths, their eyes blaze with hatred. Vice Sect Master Shi had never imagined that by slipping out secretly to undergo his tribulation, he could actually run into his enemy.

If he didn't take revenge now, when would he!

Boom—

The tribulation thunder descended, boundless lightning dissolving into a sea of plasma that engulfed them both in its searing, incandescent fury.