Chapter 122: Used for Sacrifice

Gu Kun and his group were startled by the sudden appearance of the youth and immediately drew their weapons.

"You brat, are you tired of living?"

Xu Fei and the others recognized the boy at a glance.

"Xia Jiuxuan! It’s Xia Jiuxuan!"

"Brother Xia, run! These scumbags are powerful; you’re no match for them!"

Seeing that it was Xia Jiuxuan brought no relief to the group. Gu Kun and his cohorts had acquired some unknown treasure, boosting their strength to a level where ordinary people stood no chance against them.

"Oh? So you all know each other?"

"That makes things easier. Since you're here, why don't you just stay?"

Realizing that Xia Jiuxuan was an acquaintance of Xu Fei and the others, the assailants became much more relaxed. They were nothing but mere rabble to them.

"Ooh, this little brother is so handsome. Can I give you a hug? Hmm?"

Wu Xue, a girl with a fiery figure, walked up to Xia Jiuxuan with a flirtatious expression. She stretched out her fair hand, pressed it against his chest, and leaned her voluptuous body into him.

"Go ahead, please."

Xia Jiuxuan wore a goofy, simple-minded smile.

"Hmph, you’re quite the lecher," Wu Xue giggled, while strands of cyan mist seeped from the parts of her body pressed against him.

"Xia Jiuxuan, watch out! That woman is highly poisonous!" Luo Zheng shouted in alarm.

"Sigh, it's over. He's already been hit," Qin Wei sighed helplessly.

Xia Jiuxuan frowned, feigning a look of agony. "You... you actually used poison!"

"Haha! Another one bites the dust!" Wu Xue laughed triumphantly.

"Junior Sister, you’re amazing. No man can resist your allure," the other cultivators remarked with approval.

"Of course, just look at what I’ve got," Wu Xue said, deliberately shaking her chest with confidence.

Xia Jiuxuan stared at the swaying assets and licked his lips. "It’s true, they really are bigger than Duanmu Wan’s and Li Luoyan’s."

"???" Wu Xue turned her head and caught Xia Jiuxuan’s unabashed gaze. Her face hardened. "You idiot, even after being poisoned, you’re still lecherous? I’ll gouge your eyes out first!"

*Whoosh!*

Wu Xue lunged forward, her dagger aiming for Xia Jiuxuan's eyes.

"Stop!"

Suddenly, a figure in a black robe descended, issuing a sharp command.

"The Master has returned!"

"Greetings, Master!"

The group fell to their knees in reverence upon seeing the cloaked figure.

"Master?"

Even Xia Jiuxuan was slightly taken aback, sensing an intense aura of demonic energy emanating from the figure. He had only intended to play along before slaughtering these people, but he hadn't expected them to have a master lurking behind them.

"Take these offerings and follow me to the Abandoned Temple," the black-robed man commanded coldly.

"Yes, Master."

The group responded respectfully.

"Take them away!"

Over a dozen youths prodded Xu Fei and the others, preparing to move out.

"Lucky for you, you idiot. I'll send you to be sacrificed in a moment, hmph!" Wu Xue retracted her dagger and glared at Xia Jiuxuan.

Xia Jiuxuan remained indifferent, allowing them to escort him.

Back in the mist, Duanmu Wan and Mu Feng were hiding behind a rock, watching as Xia Jiuxuan was led away.

"Miss Duanmu, we have to go save them!" Mu Feng said anxiously.

Duanmu Wan fumed, "Save them? Didn't you see he poisoned himself willingly? Ugh, that dead man—he loses his mind the moment he sees something 'big.' He deserves it, let him rot!"

"..." Mu Feng was speechless; it was clear Duanmu Wan was overcome with jealousy.

"Uh, Miss Duanmu, Brother Xia surely didn't do it on purpose. We should still go save him!" Mu Feng suggested after a moment.

Duanmu Wan glared at him. "Are you stupid? Do you think that dead man is actually poisoned? He’s as lively as ever; there’s nothing to worry about."

Mu Feng blinked. "You mean Brother Xia is faking it?"

Duanmu Wan scoffed. "Obviously. The idiot just wanted that vixen to rub up against him a few more times."

"Uh..." Mu Feng didn't know what to say, so he just nodded.

A while later, Duanmu Wan stood up. "Fine, let’s follow them and see what that idiot is up to."

...

"Brother Xia, you were too careless. We’re finished now," one of the youths sighed.

Xia Jiuxuan said calmly, "Weren't you all tricked by that woman too? By the way, where are the others?"

Luo Zheng shook his head with a bitter smile. "We don't know. My friends and I fell into a swamp and stumbled upon Xu Fei and Qin Wei. We ran into trouble, and two of our companions were killed by an ancient crocodile. When we escaped, we found a severely wounded girl, but after we saved her, she used poison on us."

Xia Jiuxuan nodded silently.

"Xu Fei, what about your divine beast? Why didn't you use it to finish them off?" Xia Jiuxuan asked.

Xu Fei smiled bitterly. "Xiao Hei was wounded by the crocodile and is now dormant inside me. There’s no way to kill them."

Xia Jiuxuan then looked at Qin Wei. "Your puppets were destroyed too?"

In Xia Jiuxuan's eyes, Qin Wei was the strongest among them, as he possessed two top-tier puppet combatants.

Qin Wei’s face was pale, and a deep, bone-revealing wound cut across his chest. He shook his head and whispered, "They’re damaged, but still usable. I’m saving them for a critical moment to save your lives."

Xia Jiuxuan clicked his tongue. "That’s it? You guys are too weak. But don't worry, I'll avenge you later."

Xia Jiuxuan rarely helped others, but these few were an exception. When he had killed Li Mu, they had all been willing to stand by him and share the responsibility.

"Brother Xia, let it be."

"We are prisoners now; we're lucky to still be alive, let alone talk about revenge."

"Exactly. If it comes to the worst, I’ll ignite my Martial God bloodline to help you escape. Whether it succeeds depends on your luck," said Luo Zheng, who possessed the Martial God bloodline, his tone resolute.

It wasn't just Luo Zheng; everyone held a similar resolve, hoping to sacrifice themselves at the critical moment to help the others flee.

Xia Jiuxuan remained calm and said no more.

After traveling for another half day, an ancient, dilapidated palace appeared before them. Over three hundred people had already gathered in front of the ruins. Some had been captured, while others had been brought there by different black-robed individuals.

"Bring them over for the sacrifice," the black-robed man ordered Gu Kun and the others.

"Yes, Master."

"Take them!"

Xia Jiuxuan and his group were escorted toward the temple.

*Clack!*

As soon as they landed, Xia Jiuxuan saw a youth being beheaded, his blood pouring into the mouth of a statue in front of the ruined temple. Around the statue, more than twenty corpses already lay.

"Take him over for the sacrifice!"

Gu Kun said coldly, pointing at Xia Jiuxuan.