Cultivation Simulator: Shocking the Academy

Seeing Bai Ya's expression, a gleam of wisdom flashed in Qi Ling's eyes. "Lord Bai Ya, the person beside me is Su Chen, the rising genius of the Carefree Sect. He is the key figure in the Eight Years' War four years from now. If you don't believe me, you can take him as a hostage. If I leak the secret, you can kill him. At that time, the Carefree Sect will surely fail in the competition for the top position among the Seven Sects."

"Qi Ling, you—!"

Su Chen had never expected her to say such heartless words and was momentarily stunned.

"Husband and wife are like birds of the same forest, flying separately when disaster strikes. Besides, we are only somewhat familiar. I don't want to die with you in this desolate wilderness."

Qi Ling looked at Su Chen with a smile.

Su Chen's expression suddenly froze. A buzzing filled his mind as if he had fallen into an icy abyss, surrounded by a bone-chilling cold.

He thought she wanted to get close to him; turned out, it was all his wishful thinking! This sweet-looking girl, when ruthless, could be so cruel and heartless!

Bai Ya stared at Qi Ling for a long time, countless thoughts flashing through his mind, which a heartbroken Su Chen could never comprehend.

It wasn't until a piercing screech suddenly echoed across the horizon that Bai Ya's expression changed. He grabbed the two and shot toward the passageway like lightning.

"Follow me!"

The passageway quickly closed, and atop the mountain, silence returned.

A giant bird with black metallic sheen wings appeared like a bolt of lightning atop the mountain. Its arrival seemed to obscure the afternoon sun, and the intense scent of blood vanished as it flapped its massive wings.

Its neck was long and slender, adorned with three horizontal silver-gray diamond patterns. Its terrifying giant wings resembled layers of sharp blades, with three silver-white plumes standing erect on its head, exuding an aura of royal dominance. Its fierce eyes emitted a frightening light. What was more surprising was that an old man clad in a moon-white robe was riding on its back!

The old man's gaze was cold and stern. His stature was not imposing, but the strong water-like aura he exuded felt exceptionally chilling.

"They were here just now. How could they suddenly disappear without a trace?"

The old man frowned with white eyebrows, his long eyes surveying the surroundings. When he saw the gruesome corpses, his gaze froze!

"It really is a Blood Sect demon!"

He leapt forward, checked the breathing of the corpses, and examined the wounds carefully before shaking his head helplessly.

Gazing at the ever-cold mountain top, with its scattered corpses, shattered giant rocks, and bloodstains, the old man's eyes lingered on the stone altar for a moment before pulling away.

"It seems the Blood Sect is resurfacing on the continent. I must quickly bring this news to the other Sect Leaders..."

Saying this, the old man mounted the monstrous bird, which then flapped its enormous wings and flew toward the sky in an instant.

Bai Ya walked in the narrow, dark corridor, followed by the silent Su Chen and Qi Ling.

The staircase had about hundreds of steps, after which it turned into this narrow, damp corridor. The corridor was about four meters wide but not even two meters high, making it unusually oppressive. However, what suffocated Su Chen wasn't the external environment but the heartless words Qi Ling uttered atop the mountain.

"If you don't believe me, you can take him as a hostage. If I leak the secret, you can kill him. At that time, the Carefree Sect will surely fail in the competition for the top position among the Seven Sects."

"Husband and wife are like birds of the same forest, flying separately when disaster strikes. Besides, we're only somewhat familiar. I don't want to die with you in this desolate wilderness."

When she said these words, her demeanor was so relaxed and natural that Su Chen had to believe these were her most heartfelt words. However, recalling her previously innocent and playful teasing, Su Chen's heart ached. Why, why can someone be so vulnerable to the test of death? Is everyone in this world inevitably selfish and willing to betray friends for survival?

Qi Ling walked in front of Su Chen, never looking back, not even a slight shoulder twist. She didn't care about her own life or his feelings.

Su Chen lowered his head, his eyes filled with anguish and gloom.

Finally, after walking down this long corridor for about ten minutes, the three saw a light ahead.

"We're here. If the Sect Leader doesn't ask questions, no one is allowed to speak."

Bai Ya's tone suddenly turned authoritative.

Qi Ling glanced at his rare stern appearance and nodded. Su Chen, however, continued to bow his head, like a walking dead, silent.

Bai Ya cast a faint glance at him, then led them into the brightly lit hall. Qi Ling covered her eyes with her hands, peeking through her fingers, finally seeing the gruesome sight of the Blood Sect hall.

Corpses, surrounded by dead bodies.

Nothing but corpses!

The hall was filled with bodies, some in ragged clothes, others in luxurious attire, some with expressions of pain, others with looks of terror. Piles of corpses either occupied the ground or hung on the surrounding walls. The faces, dry and sallow under the firelight, appeared extremely grotesque. The smell of decay floated in the vast, palace-like dark hall, creating a scene reminiscent of Asura Hell. And the pile of corpses in the center of the hall, shockingly, belonged to the former Beast Cultivators who followed Ghost Howl down—had they all died here? Who exactly killed them?