'If only the hive mind could pass through the formation, I wouldn't have this problem!'
After the group gathered, Ariadne sent out small spiders to restore the lost connection.
This way, she would be able to quickly tell who was a traitor, if there were any.
But she didn't even need to wait for this.
More than a dozen of her members tried to escape.
With a single motion, she cut off all their heads.
Her action shocked everyone in her presence, making them all fall on their knees, begging for forgiveness.
Even though it wasn't really their fault, they were still implicated since they let this happen for a long time.
'Does Yubina have a hand in this?
But in that case, why would she make a deal with me?'
Ariadne couldn't wrap her head around this matter.
She suspected Yubina the most, but this didn't rule out the possibility that another emperor was responsible.
While she was busy cleaning up, a silver snake slithered through the ground.
He had already passed the Thousand Abyss Ridge.
As his presence was just like that of a very weak monster, he didn't attract any kind of enemy.
But this still came with a risk.
If he accidentally got caught up in another beast clash, he could get hurt, resulting in his disguise being removed.
The terrain was also steep, and the cliff there showed pure darkness like an abyss.
No one knew what was down there since everyone who fell never returned.
Since this was also part of the border area, everyone also thought it was made by the formation that sealed their world.
Hence, no one wasted their time trying to analyze what was inside.
"Dammit! I really hate using this method. I almost screwed up many times."
The silver snake emperor said with a sigh.
He felt relieved he had finally come out to this area.
Now, he just needed to make sure to get his goal, and for the return path, he already had a method prepared.
It was a teleportation talisman he had acquired from the Gu clan.
Just like the one Yubina had, the only difference was that this one would bring the silver snake emperor back to his secret hideout, no matter where he was.
At first, he had two sets, one to leave and the other to return.
But on the last trip, he found an ancient artifact that allowed him to do this transformation.
The silver snake emperor decided to use it to return.
He looked toward the sky, and despite already being out, he didn't transform back to his original form.
He was waiting for someone.
Not long after, a man arrived.
"Tsk, your title is Sword Immortal, and you are still coming here late.
Can't you be punctual!?"
"I had something to do, you are the one who suddenly decided to come without any plan.
Don't you realize how dangerous it is?"
"This is important for our goal, I already took most of the work, what you need to do is gather forces and prepare to cooperate.
Stop complaining. Did you bring it?"
"Not here, follow me."
The silver snake emperor leaped from the ground, landing on the sword immortal's shoulder.
His body then disappeared, turning into a silhouette.
The next moment, he appeared inside some kind of inn.
This was Sword Saint City, the capital of the Li family.
The Li family was descended from the sword immortal.
With his backing, the family grew unchallenged in the area, allowing them to prosper.
The sword immortal spread his qi, sealing the room.
He swiped his finger, and some kind of formation started to activate.
Not long after, a human body appeared. It was a very beautiful human.
"You brought a woman to me?"
The silver snake emperor asked in anger.
"As I said, you are asking in a hurry, and look closely.
For someone of your caliber to fail to discern a gender is pathetic.
I know your power is dormant in that form, but don't beastmen always pride themselves on their instincts?"
"That person is a man?"
The silver snake emperor leaped down, then slithered closer toward the body.
The man had long black hair with pale white skin.
His body was lean like a woman's.
At a glance, anyone would mistake him for one.
The silver snake emperor touched the man's forehead.
"His body's potential is good, well, not bad."
"Make sure you don't hurt him; it will be annoying to explain things to others."
The silver snake emperor turned his gaze to look at the sword immortal, ridiculing him.
"You should already know the side effect of my skill.
Even if he is alive, he will become retarded.
Wouldn't it be better for him to be dead than to recultivate?"
"No, too annoying. In that case, just kill him and disperse his soul.
I will send out orders for him to check the new danger zone.
The mortality rate there is very high, so I'm sure no one will raise any questions."
"Well, do as you like. It's not my problem."
The silver snake emperor's body shrank smaller and then slithered through the man's ear.
The next moment, the body stood up.
He cracked his bones, then began mixing his qi.
Well, I will go now. The sooner this is taken care of, the less risk we have."
But the sword immortal moved, blocking his path.
"Leaving already? Tell me first, what do you plan to do?
The situation around here is quite complicated now.
A new faction has risen, carving out a new territory.
If you plan to interfere with them, the other immortals will find out."
Everyone knows that without proof, it's different than admitting it outright.
The current silver snake emperor is using a cultivator from his family.
He can try to deny it, but the other immortals aren't stupid.
They will pounce on the opportunity and then launch an attack on him.
The justification would be undeniable.
He broke the pact by helping a beastman enter human territory.
And this one is a beast emperor.
Yeah, you're right. It could be related to them.
In that case, how about changing the mission?
Order me to attack the place.
Also, give me a person you wouldn't mind disappearing."