Chapter 222

Chapter 222: Secret Plot and Ambush

"Hadn’t we agreed Fang Lie was merely a junior Qi Sea cultivator from the outer gate? How did he slaughter a thousand men at once, including dozens of Nascent Soul True Immortals?" Immortal East Sea demanded angrily of Immortal North Sea.

"This…" Immortal North Sea grimaced. "I don’t understand either. When I last contacted Bai Fangya of the Mo Sect’s family clans—you witnessed it, Big Brother—I concealed nothing!"

"Then he deceived us," Immortal East Sea growled, eyes flashing. "Contact him again. This time we’ll extract the full truth about Fang Lie!"

"At once!" Immortal North Sea produced a bronze mirror and chanted. Soon, the cultivator’s face reappeared.

"Ah, Dao Friend North Sea! How fare you these days?" Bai Fangya smiled. Though his manner seemed cordial, a glint of malicious amusement lurked in his eyes.

Immortal North Sea, seasoned in deception, instantly recognized Bai Fangya’s anticipation of their misfortune. Rage ignited as he snapped, "Well? You’ve dug a pit for us to fall into!"

"Dao Friend, what strange accusations!" Bai Fangya feigned innocence.

"You swore Fang Lie was a mere Qi Sea whelp, his sea barely spanning ten miles! Yet today he butchered over a thousand on the shores—hundreds at Purple Palace stage, scores of Nascent Soul True Immortals! The town’s entrance became a charnel house as thousands fled! Since when can ten-mile Qi Sea trash perform such feats?"

"Impossible!" Bai Fangya paled. "He lacks such strength! Your sources must err!"

"Multiple channels confirm it!" Immortal North Sea recalled. "He wielded a crimson-black Demon Sword in demonic frenzy, cutting through all resistance!"

"Ah… that." Bai Fangya’s smile turned strained. "He recently won that Demon Sword in a wager. Powerful, yes—but channeling its full might requires absorbing killing energy. Shouldn’t that have destroyed him?"

As he spoke, Bai Fangya’s shifting eyes betrayed unease.

Immortal North Sea pounced: "A Wind Tribulation Immortal intervened, watched Fang Lie crumble to ash! Yet within two hours, he strutted back unharmed to wreck our shops before thousands! Explain this undying trickery!"

"Well…" Bai Fangya squirmed. "Fang Lie possesses… an undying nature."

"What?!" All four Immortals gaped.

"Undying? No mortal’s unkillable!" Immortal North Sea protested.

"Fang Lie is," Bai Fangya shrugged. "Why else would family clans endure his offenses? We reduced him to ashes with Eighth-rank formation flags once—he returned unscathed! Exiling him to Wanxing Sea was our only recourse."

"Curse you!" Immortal North Sea roared. "Why conceal this?!"

The Four True Immortals seethed, wrath palpable. A single Wind Tribulation-level foe they could crush collectively. But an immortal enemy? Catastrophe!

The Four Seas Alliance’s vast holdings—thousands of shops—lay vulnerable. Fang Lie needed but plunder periodically to beggar them within years. Half their stores ruined would suffice to cast these lords of commerce into jianghu destitution!

Bai Fangya smirked. "You never asked about his undying nature."

"Who asks such absurdities?!" Immortal North Sea spat. "Had we known, we’d never have provoked this undying monstrosity for paltry gains!"

Bitter regret choked them. Before assaulting Qingyu Island, they’d consulted Bai Fangya—who’d omitted this critical weakness. Thus they’d slain Fang Lie’s men, stolen his goods, blockaded his base… and awakened an eternal, vengeful demon.

Sheer folly.

Bai Fangya smiled slightly at Immortal North Sea’s wrath and said, "All right, all right. Perhaps I was careless back then. But what’s done is done. You should stop worrying about other matters and focus entirely on dealing with Fang Lie!"

"Hmph," Immortal North Sea retorted, not fooled. "Isn’t this your true aim? Do you hold a grudge against Fang Lie?"

"Correct," Bai Fangya replied with a grin. "Let me speak plainly—that scoundrel Fang Lie has repeatedly oppressed my Bai family, even killing the direct disciple we were training to become the next Family Head. This feud cannot coexist under the same sky. If you four manage to kill him, the Bai family will reward you generously!"

"What?" Immortal North Sea exclaimed in shock. "He dared kill your future Family Head? The Bai family is one of Mo Sect’s ten great family clans! How could you let this slide?"

"There are hidden circumstances I won’t waste time explaining," Bai Fangya said. "Regardless, you and Fang Lie are now sworn enemies. That boy is ruthless—once he marks you as foes, it’s a fight to the death. Your priority should be devising ways to eliminate him!"

"He possesses an undying nature," Immortal North Sea snapped irritably. "Even your family can’t kill him—how could we?"

"Our hands are tied from openly attacking him," Bai Fangya countered solemnly. "But you face no such restrictions. Try every method! No cultivation method is truly invincible, no divine skill unbreakable. However he gained his undying nature, there must be limits. Keep testing, and you’ll find a way to end him permanently!"

"Hah!" Immortal North Sea scoffed. "So the Bai family wants to use us as blades? Empty promises to make us risk our necks? Why should we?"

"Naturally, we won’t ask for free service," Bai Fangya said smoothly. "Kill Fang Lie, and the Bai family will gift you a Seventh-rank sea ship!"

The Four True Immortals’ eyes lit up like stars.

In Wanxing Sea, sea ships reigned supreme—capable of transport, battle, near-universal utility. Yet crafting high-rank vessels demanded staggering resources, effort surpassing even Eighth-rank treasures. A Seventh-rank sea ship’s value rivaled Eighth-rank treasures—proof of Bai family’s sincerity.

Immortal North Sea glanced at Immortal East Sea, who gave a slight nod.

Straightening, Immortal North Sea pressed urgently, "Do you swear to this?"

"I’ll take the Heart Demon Oath," Bai Fangya declared gravely. "Break this vow, and my cultivation stagnates forever."

"Good! Then we brothers commit fully!" Immortal North Sea agreed instantly.

"Then I await your triumphant news," Bai Fangya said with a smile.

Yet inwardly, he sneered. *Kill Fang Lie? Impossible. Even our sect’s Thunder Tribulation Immortals failed. With the Ninth-rank Benevolence Token guarding him, not even East Kunlun sect could succeed—perhaps only Xuan Sect might manage. Still, let Four Seas Alliance harass him. Keeping him from peaceful cultivation suffices.*

Unaware of Bai Fangya’s scheme, the Four True Immortals basked in visions of owning a Seventh-rank sea ship.

"Big Brother," Immortal North Sea asked eagerly, "how do we kill him?"

Immortal East Sea stroked his beard. "Simple yet complex. Ordinary methods failed—even Eighth-rank formation flags reduced him to ashes without effect. But I know an expert in soul confusion magic. Bewitch his mind, seal him away. A Qi Sea cultivator’s Lifespan barely reaches a Hundred Years. His natural death would feel like brief closed-door training to us."

"Brilliant!" Immortal North Sea cheered. "The sea ship will be ours! Though waiting a century pains me."

"Why wait?" Immortal West Sea smirked. "Seal him for eight or ten years, then claim his death and demand the ship!"

"Clever!" Immortal South Sea approved. "Big Brother, proceed!"

"Agreed. No delays." Immortal East Sea rose. "I’ll summon my friend now." Sword beam gleaming, he soared into the distance.