The Cunning Treasure Hunter

Chapter 95 The Sword Ghost's Deception

The Blood Sword Corps was completely annihilated.

Corpses were strewn across the battlefield,

And dismembered limbs rolled down the mountain slope.

Yet, no one mourned this gruesome sight.

Instead, they were consumed by a mixture of revenge and exhilaration,

Pushing onward, higher, toward their goal.

They ascended Hollow Demon Valley,

Toward the distant crimson gate that marked the entrance to the Crimson Demon Gate.

"Drag out the Sect Leader! Bring him out and make him kneel!"

At Regis's command, the hired vagrants rushed forward without hesitation.

The warriors guarding the sect's entrance were, regrettably, no match for the now-defeated Blood Sword Corps.

"…Doesn't this feel strange?"

Vera broke the silence, her voice calm but laced with suspicion.

Both Regis and Gareth turned to her.

"What's on your mind, Vera?" Regis asked.

"Well… it feels like everything is going too smoothly."

"Hmm… You have a point, leader," Gareth agreed. "Surely, they must have anticipated our attack and prepared accordingly. It doesn't make sense for them to fall this easily."

Regis raised an eyebrow.

"But didn't they just lose their Division Commander unexpectedly?"

"That only makes it more suspicious," Gareth countered.

"If that were the case, they would have evacuated the sect long before we arrived."

"True… But it's hard to call this level of destruction a mere ruse."

He gestured with his Demon-Cleaving Spear to the surrounding carnage.

The complete annihilation of the Blood Sword Corps—

The destruction of their primary fighting force was a crippling blow, akin to severing the sect's right arm.

"This isn't some trick of the Crimson Demon Gate," Vera stated firmly.

"Then what's left…?"

Only the Infernal Blade Corps remained.

The remnants of the Demonic Cult.

But if they intended to attack, they had already missed their opportunity.

If they wanted to ambush us,

They should have done so when the Blood Sword Corps was still standing.

Without the Blood Sword Corps, the sect lacked the "anvil" to pair with their "hammer."

No matter how powerful the Infernal Blade Corps's hammer might be,

It would be ineffective without the support of an anvil.

"So it must be the Infernal Blade Corps, then," Vera concluded.

"The Infernal Blade Corps, coming to aid them? In this situation?" Gareth remarked, catching on.

But Regis shook his head slowly. He was thinking the same thing as Vera.

"leader is right. It's already too late for that…" Vera confirmed.

"Exactly, Gareth. There's no one left but the Sect Leader now," Regis said confidently.

The Crimson Demon Gate had hidden deep within the mountains of Eastern Mountain ,

Once a dominant force in the southern region, now reduced to nothing more than remnants of their past glory.

Still, they had managed to assemble a force of fifty elite warriors,

Including several at the supreme entry-level.

With the support of the Demonic Cult, they had become bold enough to challenge the Fiery Blade clan.

"No need to worry too much. We have the Black Eagle Guard with us," Regis added.

The Black Eagle Guard, the Fiery Blade clan's personal combat force, was largely intact.

The life-threatening tasks had been left to the hired vagrants,

Leaving the Black Eagle Guard's strength unscathed.

While not all its members were supreme experts, the division consisted of a mix of first-rate and supreme warriors,

With a ratio far superior to that of the Blood Sword Corps.

Half of them were supreme experts,

And the first-rate warriors served as their apprentices.

They had all mastered the Fiery Blade clan Spear Arts, a style designed for group combat.

"Indeed, that's somewhat reassuring," Gareth admitted, nodding as he glanced toward the Black Eagle Guard.

The death of their Commander had been unfortunate.

To be killed by his own Fiery Blade clan wife…

They hadn't even been married for a year.

Perhaps it was all part of some elaborate ploy to lure him in.

But what was the point of dwelling on it?

The dead were buried,

And they were here for revenge.

"It seems the interior is being dealt with, leader," Gareth observed.

"No, Gareth. Look closely… It's coming," Regis said firmly.

"It's coming…?"

At that moment, Vera raised her sword sharply.

A menacing aura swept through the area,

A chilling energy mingling with the pervasive stench of blood.

It was unmistakable.

This was the power of Adrian, the Sect Leader of the Crimson Demon Gate.

In the deepest part of Hollow Demon Valley,

At the heart of the Crimson Demon Gate,

Adrian, the Sect Leader, was in turmoil.

"Why!!!" Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire

His furious roar shook the Sect Leader's Hall,

Scattering objects and sending papers fluttering to the ground.

"Why aren't they coming!!!"

Terrified subordinates clung to the walls, too scared to respond.

From outside, the cacophony of battle filled the air:

The clash of swords and spears,

The shouts of warriors mustering their inner strength,

The screams of the dying and the desperate.

"Infernal Blade Corps!!!!"

The Sword Ghost, who had promised aid, was nowhere to be found.

Gripping his iron-forged spear,

Adrian smashed through the wall with a single strike.

It was time for him to act.

The spear, imbued with the essence of the Crimson Demon Gate,

Hummed and radiated a malevolent glow.

The surging energy was proof of his status as a supreme expert.

"This… is absolute madness!!!"

Crimson Demon Ghost Spear, Second Form:

Blood Sky's Fall.

The spear, drenched in crimson sword energy, tore through the air,

Flying straight at two vagrants hired by the Fiery Blade clan.

In a heartbeat, their bodies were split in half.

Their swords, shattered and useless, scattered into fragments.

"So, you've finally shown yourself, Adrian!"

With a roar, Regis gripped his Demon-Cleaving Spear and charged forward,

Crashing into Adrian with full force.

Both of them were masters at the mid-tier of supreme-level martial arts.

Without being willing to lose an arm, neither could hope to take the other's life.

"Do you think you can kill me, Regis?!"

"Why wouldn't I?! Your pact with the Demonic Cult turned my daughter into that—how could I not?!"

"Do you have proof? Show me proof!"

Fear tinged Adrian's voice as he screamed,

Swinging his spear defensively.

He knew the truth: Regis was fully prepared to sacrifice an arm just to land a killing blow.

Faced with a foe who would give no quarter,

Adrian clung desperately to defensive techniques,

Knowing that even a momentary offensive move could lead to his death.

In battles between masters of equal skill,

The one who dared to throw everything aside always emerged victorious.

Vera walked calmly into the courtyard of the Crimson Demon Gate

Cutting down any who dared approach her with a single stroke of her sword.

Her pristine white martial robes were once again soaked in blood.

She wiped the occasional spray of blood from her cheek with her sleeve,

But never stopped advancing.

Despite her youth,

It was clear to everyone present:

This girl, no older than a child,

Was a supreme expert.

The role of vanguard, to carve a path for the others,

Was always reserved for the strongest.

With resistance nearly eradicated,

Only the duel between Adrian and Regis remained.

The Crimson Demon Gate was all but finished.

Even if Adrian survived and escaped,

What could he do?

There was nothing left.

No allies. No forces.

The Black Eagle Guard, following Regis's orders,

Set fire to the sect's buildings.

The flames consumed everything,

As they looted treasures—

Chests filled with silver, priceless scrolls painted by master artists,

And entire storerooms of premium weapons.

Just as the chaos seemed to settle…

"Young Warrior, take a look at this."

One of the Black Eagle Guard members approached Vera, holding out an object.

In that instant, a strange glint appeared in his eyes.

Something felt off—

But it was already too late.

"Ah…"

With a sickening thud,

A powerful palm strike hit Vera square in the chest,

Sending her flying several feet through the air.

She tumbled to the ground, pain radiating through her body.

Worst of all was the crushing blow to her solar plexus.

"Ugh… Hngh…!"

Her breath came in ragged gasps.

A dense, malevolent demonic energy surged into her body,

Filling her core with an overwhelming force.

Her Mixed energy Foundation worked tirelessly to expel the invading energy,

But it was too much.

The strike wasn't just laden with demonic energy—

It was the attack of a peak-level supreme expert.

Even without the energyi, the blow alone was enough to knock her unconscious.

"Vera!!!"

"Damn it!!!"

Both Marcus and Ethan rushed toward her.

But before they could reach her,

The attacker drew his sword.

The sheer pressure stopped them in their tracks.

Their breaths became shallow under the oppressive aura.

This was the aura of someone on the verge of Heavenly Realm,

A presence that commanded absolute fear.

"Allow me to introduce myself."

The man's disguise fell away, revealing his true form.

He was Daven, the Sword Ghost.

His malicious aura spread across the battlefield,

And from the surrounding hills, countless warriors of the Infernal Blade Corps emerged.

The sect had been surrounded all along.

But their target wasn't the Fiery Blade clan,

Or even Regis.

It was Vera.

"Listen well. I am Daven, the Sword Ghost, disciple of the Sword Demon,

And a master who has perfected the supreme level of martial arts."

He pointed his blade at Vera,

Who lay on the ground, struggling for breath.

"I require your heart to achieve Heavenly Realm. Your still-beating heart shall be mine."

His sword was cloaked in an ominous black sword energy,

An energy so dense and malevolent that it bordered on sword force itself.

Meanwhile, Regis was locked in combat with Adrian,

Unable to turn his attention to the unfolding events.

The revelation of Daven's presence had pushed Adrian to fight desperately,

Leaving Regis no choice but to respond with equal intensity.

"You'll serve as the final offering for my ascension to the Heavenly Realm,"

Daven declared, his blade aimed unerringly at Vera's chest.