Yang Suyin's eyes narrowed further. He saw the man who had been the worm's initial target leap through the window in his peripheral vision. It revealed a potential escape route for him. But a seed of doubt bloomed within him, causing him to focus his gaze on the suspicious fellow.

"Watch out!" Yang Zhiqiang shouted as if he hadn't been the one to lure the worm.

The group turned their heads and scattered when they saw the worm sailing through the air toward them. Yang Yuchen reacted too late. He tried to dodge it, but before he could jump, the worm struck him, its pristine teeth biting through the lower half of his body. His upper body landed on the floor, blood gushing from his severed waist like a geyser and coating the floor red. His screams were so loud and painful that the worm unfurled its small wings, stopped midair, turned, and dove straight toward his upper body as if fearing his shouts would lure another worm to steal its food. The worm swallowed Yang Yuchen's lower body and dove toward his still-screaming upper body. It plunged into the ground, creating a hole as if boring through tofu.

Watching one of his clan members die, Yang Suyin glared at Yang Zhiqiang, who looked horrified but had a twinkle in his eyes, as if Yang Yuchen had been his enemy and his death brought joy.

"Run! We are doomed already. Save your lives!" Yang Zhiqiang shouted, and the rest of the group, seeing their leader's death, ran around like headless chickens.

At this point, Yang Suyin knew that this man was a fucking spy! To think someone could be so stupid, choosing to side with people who had betrayed his father, his family, and his empire. To work with a traitor meant waiting to be betrayed!

Yang Suyin watched as his clan members fell one by one to the worm. It moved through the ground, chomping down on his clan members, leaped through the air to strike and kill others, and even shot a yellow liquid that made people scream and melt before the worm devoured them. He clenched his fist. At least some clan members had successfully escaped, although whether they would survive remained another matter.

He saw Yang Zhiqiang sneak out the window where the man had jumped. And as he observed him, Yang Suyin noticed something strange. During the worm's massacre, Yang Zhiqiang had often been closer to the worm than others, yet the worm had never targeted him.

As Yang Zhiqiang escaped, Yang Suyin contemplated the situation. A spy's existence spelled disaster. This meant all their plans were compromised. However, a chance remained that this spy had not yet reported their simple plan. After all, Yang Zhiqiang had been alone ever since the prince decided they needed to come to this castle. This might be his first chance to report.

Yang Suyin decided he could not let Yang Zhiqiang go free.

He focused his eyes on the broken window, cycled his qi, and activated his technique. His body instantly grew light, and in the blink of an eye, he moved from the treasure room's second floor into an open hallway. Looking left and right, he sensed Yang Zhiqiang's position and began moving silently toward him.

His secret technique was impressive even by the standards of great sects. It was an Earth Grade technique that bordered on Heaven Grade, and to learn it, he had been required to change his cultivation scripture and method, but the results had been worth it. This technique allowed him to move so fast that it felt like teleportation, and even though he could not fully grasp it yet, it was already proving invaluable. He had hidden this technique from his clan and planned to use it later to secure an elder position. If the prince had known about his technique, he would undoubtedly have placed Yang Suyin in the fourth group.

Yang Suyin moved through the hallway and crouched near a golden pillar. From this position, he saw Yang Zhiqiang standing in the middle of the hallway. His right hand held a glowing communication orb as he spoke into it.

Shit. That guy was already talking to Yang Lihuo!

Yang Suyin's first impulse urged him to draw his blade and kill Yang Zhiqiang, but he held himself back. Killing Yang Zhiqiang would prove simple. After all, the man had only just reached the first stage of the Core Splitting realm, while Yang Suyin possessed two cores and years of experience. No, information mattered more, and while Yang Zhiqiang reporting their plan to Yang Lihuo spelled trouble, Yang Suyin might gain valuable information from this conversation, too.

"Your Highness, I've contacted you to give my report."

Silence hung for a moment, followed by a grunt. "Zhiqiang, as always, you're late."

Yang Zhiqiang smiled. "I'm not late. I'm always on time. Anyway, Your Highness, the other Yang clan members and I have already reached the castle."

As he spoke, he heard a single worm screech in the distance. Then, the number of screeches increased rapidly. First, there was one. Then, there were two. Then, there were three or four, and finally, a cacophony erupted, making the hairs on his neck rise. It seemed their group was not the only one that had been discovered. Others had been found, too. He hoped it wasn't the prince's group or the fourth group.

"Jinyan has always been brave yet stupid. It's believable he'd choose to enter the castle, even though it would only kill him and all who follow him."

"I'm not following him, though."

Lihuo snorted, his voice coming from the orb. "Yes, you're right. Now go on with your report. I'm kind of busy."

"All right."

Yang Zhiqiang then detailed their simple plan and objective. Several times, Lihuo interrupted to ask for clarification. Their tone and manner of speaking suggested they were friends, and Yang Zhiqiang still held respect for the person who had betrayed their empire.

"So, he's a disciple from a great sect. No wonder you guys survived this long. That guy now holds an army by himself, while you're just told to scavenge the remaining treasures in the castle."

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

"Indeed. While my group must retrieve treasures from the lower level, our main objective is actually armor in the upper treasure room."

"Twelve Sun Armor, huh." Yang Lihuo began to laugh. "Jinyan must think I ignored that armor. Is he that naive? Of course I already have my hands on it. Your mission is futile!"

Hearing this, Yang Suyin's heart quickened. This conversation had indeed become valuable. Realizing the main target was no longer in the upper treasure room, he knew he needed to contact the prince to avoid wasting time searching for treasure that had already been stolen. Nevertheless, he remained in his position. After all, their conversation was not over yet.

"What do you want me to do from now on?" Yang Zhiqiang asked. "This castle is dangerous now, even for me. The creatures Wei Yi created are fearsome."

"I've given you a pendant that marks you as an ally. Even if you enter their mouths, they won't kill you. To answer your question, I want you to sow chaos. Point the spirit beasts toward them. Without that disciple from the great sect, Jinyan's death becomes only a matter of time, but I want you to hasten it."

"All right, I'll do that."

"Good. I'll remember your contribution and promise you a high position in my empire later."

"Don't forget about the girl I desire." Yang Zhiqiang wore a lecherous smile.

"I'm not sure what you see in my sister, but I'll ensure you can enjoy Liangyu later."

"All right. Thank you."

"Anything else to report?"

"Yes." He spoke about the Purple Moon Sect, and how four groups of disciples from that sect would arrive later.

"That won't be a problem. By then, I'll have my new body, and they'll become merely fuel to increase my power."

"I'm really curious about your rebirth. Have you really caught Yang Zhaoyan?"

"Yes, Wei Yi holds him now, though he seems lucid and resists Wei Yi's control admirably. But very soon, I'll become a new being capable of subduing the world. Faster if Wei Yi proves more competent and controls Yang Zhaoyan better. Any additional reports?"

"No."

"Then I'll cut this connection short. Survive, Zhiqiang, and you'll taste your reward later."

Without waiting for Yang Zhiqiang's answer, Lihuo cut the communication, and the orb in Yang Zhiqiang's hand stopped glowing.

Yang Suyin processed the conversation. Certain details made him want to bash Yang Zhiqiang's head. But two pieces of information stood out as most important. First, Lihuo already possessed the Twelve Sun Armor, and second, Elder Yang Zhaoyan truly resisted Wei Yi's control. This was huge. Confirming these two facts could possibly turn the tide of battle, but only if they acted in time and were capable of doing something. What something? Hell if he knew. While he planned ahead well, he lacked the brilliant tactical mind to create instant plans.

Yang Suyin closed his eyes and thought. He had two immediate choices. He could either leave immediately or take the time to kill Yang Zhiqiang first. The second option tempted him greatly. After all, it was necessary to kill a traitor, and Yang Zhiqiang had a pendant that deterred the abominations from eating him. However, time was of the essence, and Yang Suyin was confident that he could move undetected, pendant or no pendant.

He opened his eyes and focused on Yang Zhiqiang. The traitor was jumping around like a child whose father was about to buy him expensive toys in the city. His annoying manner solidified Yang Suyin's decision.

Yang Suyin unsheathed his sword and cycled qi through his body, then focused his eyes on his intended point of appearance. While this technique would amaze many, it required mastery for perfect use, and he would admit without shame that he had not mastered it yet. With his current mastery, using the technique released a burst of qi that others could detect when he transitioned from light back to a flesh-and-bone body. Any decent cultivator at the Core Splitting realm would instantly notice that burst, including Yang Zhiqiang.

Gripping his steel sword, he activated the technique and blinked. His body became weightless for a fraction of a second, then materialized behind Yang Zhiqiang. He swung his steel sword horizontally, aiming to decapitate him. As the steel blade came within centimeters of biting into his neck, Yang Zhiqiang suddenly turned, his eyes wide as saucers. Yang Suyin increased the speed of his swing, but Yang Zhiqiang had already tilted his head sideways, out of the sword's path. The blade only cut his left ear, which flew cleanly from his head like a butterfly with a single wing.

"You bastard!" Yang Zhiqiang shouted, clutching the side of his head. Blood gushed from the wound.

Yang Suyin dropped into a low crouch, his knees almost touching the ground. In one fluid motion, he slashed upward with his steel sword, the blade whistling through the air as it raced toward Yang Zhiqiang's groin. It was a dirty trick, but Yang Suyin was not an arrogant master who shied away from tactics that could bring victory. After all, his firepower was not as great as that of his fellow clan members. However, it was not a real attack.

Yang Zhiqiang looked down, eyes wide with panic, and took a step back as expected, successfully avoiding the fearsome attack.

Yang Suyin channeled qi into his steel sword, making the blade gleam with yellow light as the qi extended its reach a hand's length beyond its physical form. The strike carved through both outer and inner robes across Yang Zhiqiang's chest.

As the torn fabric fell away, Yang Suyin's eyes locked onto something that made them narrow further. It was a grotesque red pendant hanging from his opponent's neck, an object that appeared to be a still-beating heart. Although it was only the size of a thumb, this was undoubtedly the pendant that had protected Yang Zhiqiang from the abominations.

Yang Suyin swung his blade again, and this time it was so fast, so swift, that it looked more like a beam of light than steel. It was an advanced technique he had created himself—turning his blade partially into light so it could be swung effortlessly. When it was about to hit the pendant, he undid his technique and successfully cut the beating heart pendant in two. The pieces flew in opposite directions, one part sailing freely while the other remained tied to a little golden chain around Yang Zhiqiang's neck.

"A traitor like you deserves to die a painful death!" Yang Suyin shouted, the veins on his neck bulging. He laced his voice with qi; the air around him rippled and dust scattered. The shout was so loud that even the abominations outside the castle probably heard it.

"You, do you know what you're doing?!" Yang Zhiqiang shouted hysterically, his eyes dilating as he began to breathe erratically.

"Of course I do. Now you won't feel so confident strolling in this castle," he spat. "Traitor." He then leaped toward the fallen piece of the pendant and stomped on it as if it were the vilest thing in the world—which it was. It had probably been a treasure created by a demonic cultivator using sacrifices.

A screech echoed nearby. Hearing it, Yang Suyin's smile grew wider while Yang Zhiqiang's face turned pale.

"Hope you have a terrible death," Yang Suyin said. He activated his technique, then blinked and reappeared hundreds of meters away from Yang Zhiqiang. Without turning around, he moved rapidly through the castle.

Though he didn't deliver the killing blow himself, he knew without a doubt that Yang Zhiqiang would die.

Now it was time for him to contact his prince. Hopefully, Yang Yuchen had thrown him the spatial bag containing a communication orb.

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