C18 A Conspiracy!

"Heh, the Feng Family Patriarch certainly has a keen eye; this is indeed the location of his secluded cultivation!" Patriarch Chu announced, electrifying the crowd with his revelation. Lei Bao of the Lei Family couldn't contain himself and leapt to his feet, "What are we waiting for? Let's move out!" If this was where the madman Ou had been in seclusion, there had to be a formula for crafting Soul Seizing Pills, perhaps even some ready-made ones. Such treasures could rapidly enhance one's cultivation level!

Huo Yi Chang of the Huo Family's gaze shimmered with the same yearning, yet he lacked Lei Bao's impetuousness. He understood that Patriarch Chu had a reason for disclosing such a monumental secret. The Chu Family had no familial ties with the Feng, Huo, or Lei Families, so why would they share such a treasure selflessly? He was skeptical.

As expected, Patriarch Chu went on, "My dear Lei Bao, patience is a virtue. This cavern has been fortified by madman Ou with an extraordinary formation. I've exhausted every conceivable approach, yet neither brute force nor magical spells can penetrate it. There's only one solution."

"And what might that be?" the crowd inquired, speaking as one.

"A blood sacrifice!"

Gasps of disbelief echoed through the room. Lei Qiao Ying of the Lei Family was taken aback, Huo Yi Chang of the Huo Family was equally stunned, and Feng Jihui's jaw dropped in horror. Blood sacrifice, a method that involved using copious amounts of fresh blood to trigger and dismantle a special formation, was a practice shunned by righteous cultivators since time immemorial, a dark art only the most villainous would dare to perform.

But what Patriarch Chu said next left them utterly astounded. "The sacrificial candidates must all be cultivators, and only by offering the spiritual blood of these cultivators can the cave be opened! We need no fewer than five thousand individuals!"

It all clicked for everyone—the reason the Flower Blossom Festival had been rescheduled, and why the gates of Hundred Flowers City were wide open to cultivators. The Chu Family was sharing this critical information because they feared the Feng, Huo, and Lei Families might disrupt their plans if they caught wind of it. Without enough sacrifices, the blood sacrifice would be doomed to fail.

"Patriarch Chu, let's get down to business. What do you need from us?" Lei Bao was eager, his hands itching for action. The Soul Seizing Pill consumed his thoughts, and the fate of other cultivators meant nothing to him. If they perished, so be it.

Huo Zhenping and Huo Yichang exchanged a glance, their competitive spirit surfacing. "Lei Daoist speaks the truth. If the Huo Family can be of assistance, Patriarch Chu, please, don't hesitate to ask."

Patriarch Chu didn't respond to them directly but turned his attention to Feng Jihui. "What's the Feng Family's stance on this?"

Feng Jihui managed a wry smile. To oppose now would isolate him from the three major families, potentially turning them into adversaries. He had no choice but to agree. "The Feng Family is on board. But how do we convince all the cultivators to visit the hermitage of the Ou Madman?"

"Ha! Excellent, truly excellent! With the four great families united, there's nothing we can't accomplish," boomed Patriarch Chu with a hearty laugh. "As for drawing the cultivators to the hermitage, leave that to me. You three will simply need to help the plan along. We'll set our plan in motion on the day of the Flower Blossom Festival. Now, let's hammer out the details..."

Unbeknownst to the cultivators of Hundred Flowers City, they were already pawns in someone else's game.

...

As Feng Yimo pored over the 'Strange Pills' tome, he marveled at the ingenuity within. The creator of the Soul Seizing Pill was a genius, crafting a masterpiece that was both ingenious and divine. His thinking soared, capturing a new path for cultivators from an unexpected angle. Yet, Yimo uncovered a secret flaw in the Soul Seizing Pill: while it could rapidly enhance one's cultivation without the side effects of pill poison, the user's cultivation would peak at the Nascent Infant Period, never to advance again.

Yimo wouldn't touch the pill even if it lay before him; it was a clear case of short-term gain for long-term loss, a dead end. Those clamoring for it were blind to its lethal drawback. Moreover, in the current Cultivation Country, reaching the Nascent Infant Stage was the pinnacle. For some, never achieving that level in their lifetime, the prospect of even a single day as a Nascent Infant was enough to satisfy their deepest desires.

The Soul Seizing Pill's ability to purge pill toxins was indeed impressive. He intended to carve out some time to thoroughly research it and eventually refine a batch. That way, in the future, he could freely consume spirit pills during his cultivation without fear of the pill toxins' effects.

Despite the myriad of blossoms and the heady scent of flowers in Hundred Flowers City, Feng Yimo couldn't shake a persistent sense of dread, though he couldn't pinpoint the cause. With no other recourse, he buried himself in sleep, hoping to depart the city swiftly once the Flower Blossom Festival was over.

Before long, the Flower Blossom Festival commenced. Hundred Flowers City buzzed with activity; cultivators, locals, servants, and beggars alike thronged the streets, all eager to feast their eyes on the vibrant blooms. The city had transformed into an ocean of flowers.

Ling Ya, with Feng Yimo and Qiu Ju by her side, stepped out of the Pear Flower Courtyard, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Her face radiated sheer delight as she took in the sights.

"Miss, shall we go find the County Lord?" Qiu Ju inquired.

"No, let's explore a bit first. She's the County Lord and likely tied up with numerous formalities. We shouldn't bother her just yet. She might seek us out later in the afternoon," Ling Ya replied, caught up in her enthusiasm. She plucked a large red peony and tucked it into her hair, then turned to Qiu Ju, "How does it look, Qiu Ju? Do I look nice with this flower?"

"You look lovely, Miss. You're even more beautiful than the flowers themselves!" Qiu Ju complimented wholeheartedly.

Yet Ling Ya sought another opinion. She turned to Feng Yimo and asked, "What about you, Dummy? What do you think?"

Feng Yimo, however, was preoccupied, his attention fixed on the cultivators who seemed too rushed to enjoy the flowers, all heading towards the city gates. What urgent matter could be drawing them out? Was there an important event unfolding beyond the city?

Extending his Divine Sense, he overheard a snippet of conversation from two passing cultivators, "Did you hear? Twenty miles south of the city, a mysterious cultivator's cave has been discovered. Rumor has it, it's filled with countless spirit stones, magical treasures, and various pills to enhance one's cultivation. Everyone's heading there, so we'd better move fast. If we're too late, there'll be nothing left for us."

"Brother Chen, can we trust this information?" another cultivator inquired.

"Absolutely," replied the first cultivator with confidence. "The Feng, Lei, and Huo Families from Hundred Flowers City have all dispatched their disciples. They wouldn't bother if the news weren't true. Let's not waste any time—it's a mere 20 miles. We'll see for ourselves soon enough. And if it turns out to be a wild goose chase, so be it."

The other cultivator nodded, picking up the pace, and together they made a beeline for the southern gate, eager not to fall behind and miss out on a potentially life-changing opportunity.

Feng Yimo observed that they weren't the only ones in a rush. Every cultivator within Hundred Flowers City seemed to be hastily making their way out, all abuzz about the mysterious cave. A thought curved through Yimo's mind: if there truly was a cave belonging to a high-level, secretive cultivator, the city's four major families would surely go to great lengths to obscure the truth, keeping it from the ears of fellow cultivators. Could there be more to this than meets the eye—a hidden agenda, perhaps?