Yang Suyin's eyes narrowed further. In his peripheral vision, he could see the man who was the worm's initial target successfully leap through the window, revealing a potential escape route for him. But that seed of doubt now bloomed within him.

"Watch out!" Yang Zhiqiang shouted, as if he hadn't been the one to lure those worms. The group turned their heads back, and when they saw the worms sailing through the air toward them, they scattered left and right.

Yang Yuchen reacted too late. He tried to dodge to the side, but his maneuver proved futile. Before he could jump, the worm struck him, its pristine teeth biting through the lower part of his body. His upper torso landed on the floor, blood gushing from his severed waist like a geyser, coating the floor red. His screams echoed so loud, so painful, that the worm unfurled small wings atop its body, stopped mid-air, turned, and dove straight toward his screaming upper body, as if fearing his shouts would lure another worm to steal its food.

The worm opened its mouth wide, swallowed the still-screaming and rolling Yang Yuchen, and dove through the ground, creating a hole as if boring through tofu and swimming through the earth.

Watching one of his clan members die, Yang Suyin glanced 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. Anger boiled in Yang Suyin's stomach, threatening to erupt.

"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.

This guy was a fucking spy! To think someone could be so stupid, choosing to side with people who betrayed his father, his family, and his empire. To work with a traitor meant waiting to be betrayed.

Yang Suyin observed his clan members falling one by one to the worm. It moved through the ground to chomp down his clan members, jumped through the air to strike and kill others, and even shot yellow liquid that made people scream and melt before it devoured them. He clenched his fist. At least some clan members successfully escaped, although whether they would survive is another matter.

He saw Yang Zhiqiang sneak out through the window where a man had jumped. And Yang Suyin noticed something strange. Many times during the worm's massacre, Yang Zhiqiang is closer to the worm than other people, but the worm has 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 hadn't yet reported their simple plan. After all, Yang Zhiqiang hadn't been alone since the prince decided they needed to visit this castle, meaning this might be his first opportunity to report.

Yang Suyin decided he couldn't let Yang Zhiqiang go free.

He focused his eyes on the broken window, cycled his qi, and activated his technique. His body instantly became 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 to change his cultivation scripture and method, but the results were worth it. This technique allowed him to move so fast that it felt like he was teleporting, and even though he couldn't fully grasp it yet, it was already proving to be invaluable. He hid this technique from his clan and planned to use it later to secure an elder position.

If the prince knew about his technique, he would undoubtedly place 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 hallway's middle. His right hand held a glowing communication orb as he spoke into it.

Shit. That guy is 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 should prove simple. After all, the man had only just stepped into the Core Splitting room's first core, 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.

"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, worm screeches echoed from far away, their numbers increasing rapidly. From one screech, to three and four and more, until a cacophony of screeches made his hair rise. It seemed their group wasn't the only one discovered. Others were too. He just 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."

The traitor snorted. "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. From their tone and way of talking, they seemed like friends, and Yang Zhiqiang still held respect for the person who betrayed their empire.

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"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."

"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. Learning that the main target was no longer in the upper treasure room, 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 wasn't 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 in this castle 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 held that conversation in his mind. Certain details made him want to bash this traitor's head. But two pieces of information stood most important. First, the traitor 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 proved 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 to think. He faced two immediate choices: leave immediately or take time to kill Yang Zhiqiang first. The second option tempted him greatly. After all, killing a traitor was necessary, and he had a pendant deterring the abominations from eating him. But time remained essential, and even without the pendant, Yang Suyin felt confident in moving undetected.

He opened his eyes and focused on Yang Zhiqiang. That bastard was jumping around like a child, knowing that his father was going to buy expensive toys in the city, and that annoying manner made Yang Suyin decide what he was going to do.

Yang Suyin unsheathed his sword and cycled qi through his body, then focused his eyes on his intended appearance spot. While this technique would amazed many, it required mastery for perfect use, and he would admit without shame that he hadn't mastered it yet. With his current mastery, he would release a burst of qi that others could detect after he returned from light to a flesh-and-bone body. Any decent cultivator at Core Splitting realm would instantly notice that burst, but Yang Suyin hoped Yang Zhiqiang wouldn't.

Gripping his steel sword, he activated the technique and blinked. His body turned weightless for a fraction of a second, then materialized behind Yang Zhiqiang. He swung his steel sword horizontally, aiming for the neck to decapitate him. As the steel blade came within a hair's breadth of biting his neck, Yang Zhiqiang suddenly turned around, his eyes wide as saucers. Yang Suyin gritted his teeth and 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 while gripping the side of his head. Blood gushed out.

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 arced 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 fire power was not as great as his fellow clan members.

Yang Zhiqiang looked down, eyes wide with panic, and took a step back, successfully avoiding that 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 his eyes narrowed further. 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 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 that he 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, making the air around him ripple and dust scatter. 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 repeatedly 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 was probably a treasure created by a demonic cultivator using sacrifices.

A screech echoed nearby. When he heard 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 from Yang Zhiqiang. Without turning around, he began to move rapidly through the castle.

Though he couldn't deliver the killing blow himself, he knew without 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.