Qin Ping steadied himself and said slowly, "I have only met Yun Jin a few times. My intention to lead everyone to join Wushuang Sect was merely for benefit. We gathered for profit, and we will inevitably disperse for profit. Why would you think that Yun Jin would come because of me when this was such an obvious trap? Aren't you overestimating me?"
"Chen Chen" chuckled lightly, "Of course, it's also possible that it won't work. But what's the harm in trying? If one person like you isn't enough, what about all the people behind you combined? And if that's still not enough, what about all the citizens of this entire capital? Tens of millions of lives, plus yours, does that bargaining chip suffice?"
As he spoke, a trace of madness entered "Chen Chen's" voice.
Qin Ping's heart trembled, "All citizens of the capital? What have you done here!"
"Chen Chen" chuckled, "Nothing much. Just spent several decades laying down a massive sacrificial formation beneath the entire capital. If she doesn't come, I will use raging flames to cook these tens of millions of common people!"
"Chen Chen" licked his lips, "Although most of them are just mortals, if the number is large enough, it can still help me advance further!"
Qin Ping's entire body trembled.
Several decades.
A formation spanning the entire underground of the capital, and they had actually been completely unaware!
He seemed to realize who this "Chen Chen" truly was.
Qin Ping said word by word, "Blood Daoist, why not show your true face!"
Having operated within the territory of Canglan Kingdom for so many years and possessing such capabilities, only Blood Daoist fits.
The Blood Dao Sect had already been active in Canglan Kingdom for a hundred years. The Demon-Destroying Alliance had issued extermination missions against them multiple times. On the surface, the Blood Dao Sect appeared relatively low-profile.
But after realizing they could conceal their aura, Qin Ping understood.
This wasn't low-profile at all, they had simply hidden themselves and chosen to infiltrate in secret.
The enemy was in the dark, while they were in the open. The capital of Canglan Kingdom had most likely already fallen completely under the control of these demonic forces.
Having been recognized, "Chen Chen" didn't deny it. He let out a strange laugh and gently touched his face.
In the next moment, an extremely pale face was revealed.
Blood Daoist's appearance was handsome, with an androgynous quality. His eyes rolled slightly, carrying a nauseating murkiness.
He seemed to live without ever seeing sunlight, his face was frighteningly pale.
Blood Daoist spoke slowly, his voice carrying a trace of coquettish charm, "As expected of National Preceptor Qin. What a coincidence, before the Demon Lord issued the order, I had already chosen Canglan Kingdom as a key area of activity. There was no particular reason, just that it was remote enough to avoid encountering major figures. Who would've thought that things would align so perfectly? Decades of planning were all put to use today."
Qin Ping said coldly, "You should know that to cultivators, the lives of mortals are the same as grass. Not to mention tens of millions, even hundreds of millions of mortals, what use are they? Yun Jin will not come! Everything you're doing is completely pointless."
"Hehehe." Blood Daoist suddenly let out a delicate laugh. "I originally wasn't certain whether Yun Jin would come. But the more you say this, the more convinced I become."
Qin Ping frowned, "Doing these things so openly will definitely attract the Demon-Destroying Alliance. Sect Master Ji is currently in this region. Are you not afraid of his sword? To kill a single Yun Jin, you expose decades of planning and may even lose your life, is it worth it?"
At these words, Blood Daoist's gaze flickered, a trace of unwillingness flashing through, but he quickly regained composure, "The Demon Lord's command must be fulfilled, no matter what. Qin Ping, stop speaking such nonsense."
Afraid that Qin Ping might say more, Blood Daoist waved his hand.
Qin Ping's mouth was instantly sealed by spiritual power, and he could no longer speak.
Blood Daoist said coldly, "Torture them. Record images of their pain and begging. I want to see whether Yun Jin truly has such a heart of stone!"
Several people immediately responded.
They approached Qin Ping and the others, clearly planning to inflict all kinds of cruel punishments.
A subordinate thoughtfully set up a table and chair for Blood Daoist.
Blood Daoist sat, sipping tea while leisurely watching them suffer.
After a short while, he found it a bit boring.
Qin Ping and the others were all stubborn beyond belief.
The punishments used were already among the harshest, yet these people would rather bite off their own tongues than cry out.
Blood Daoist couldn't help frowning.
This wasn't the scene he wanted to see.
"Sect Master, should we increase the severity of the punishment…" a subordinate asked cautiously.
"No need. If we increase it further, they will die. Qin Ping and the others would gladly die." Blood Daoist sneered. "Just record the footage as is. Their unyielding stance may instead make Yun Jin feel more distressed."
As he spoke, he slowly took a sip of tea, a trace of coldness flashing in his eyes.
Originally, he had his own plan.
He did indeed plan to take control of Canglan Kingdom and turn it into a base for Blood Dao Sect.
But that was meant to be achieved gradually through subtle infiltration, not through a sudden, forceful strike like this.
However.
The Demon Lord had issued an order, commanding him to capture Qin Ping and the others, lure out Yun Jin, and then kill Yun Jin in Canglan Kingdom!
Blood Daoist didn't know how Yun Jin had offended the Demon Lord.
But he knew that the Demon Lord's desire to kill Yun Jin had already reached the heavens.
Humanity still didn't know that right now on the Demon Clan's bounty list, the Demon Lord had unilaterally moved Ji Wusi from first place to second.
And first place was now Yun Jin!
A cultivator in Soul Transformation Stage was actually ranked first on the bounty list.
It was utterly absurd.
But the Demon Lord was still the Demon Lord, he had the authority to adjust the list.
Even if other demons were dissatisfied, they would have to wait until the Demon Lord returned to the Demon Realm to argue.
But for now.
Yun Jin remained number one.
This meant that even if the entire Demon Clan had to be mobilized, she must be eliminated!
No matter the cost!
Right now, Blood Daoist had only barely stabilized in Mahayana Stage. His earlier success in ambushing Qin Ping and the others was entirely due to prior preparations within the imperial palace that suppressed their strength. Only then could the sudden attack succeed. In a direct confrontation, he might not necessarily be Qin Ping's match.
No matter what.
He had won now. What he had won was not just this battle, but decades of careful planning.
This time, he had exposed everything to achieve this result.
And yet his goal was only to kill a cultivator in Soul Transformation Stage!
Even Blood Daoist found it very absurd.
But a secret technique had been planted in him by the Demon Lord. If he disobeyed, the Demon Lord could take his life from afar.
He had no choice but to comply.
The Demon Lord insisted on acting openly, only then could Yun Jin be drawn out.
But just as Qin Ping said.
Such high-profile actions would definitely attract the Demon-Destroying Alliance, perhaps even that terrifying sword! By then, even if Yun Jin died, he would have to be buried with her!
Blood Daoist had no intention of dying so miserably.
But the mission had to be completed!
This time, he needed to find a way to survive out of this.
It didn't matter if the Blood Dao Sect perished alongside Yun Jin.
But he himself couldn't die just like this.