While Sun Gongming led three thousand troops to the oasis, an unexpected disturbance erupted in the military camp outside Yanbao City.
Inside a medical tent, the Blood Spirit Corpse that had ingested Li Qingling's "antidote" was recovering. Since it had regained some semblance of humanity, it wasn't confined but allowed to rest under observation.
At first, the effects seemed promising—the creature began speaking simple words and holding basic conversations. But soon after, it grew lethargic, spending most of its time sleeping. The physicians assumed this was part of its recovery and lowered their guard.
Then, without warning, the Blood Spirit Corpse jolted upright from its bed. Its eyes, no longer blood-red but eerily hollow, snapped open. In a flash, it tore through the tent flap and vanished outside.
Moving with unnatural speed, it evaded patrols and headed straight for the prison area—where the High Priest and Enforcer of the Blood God Cult were being held.
"Halt! No one approaches the prison without the General's orders!"
The guards stationed outside immediately drew their weapons, but their warnings were met with a blur of motion.
Twin streaks of crimson light severed their throats before they could react. The Blood Spirit Corpse didn't pause, barging into the prison tent where the two cultists sat slumped in iron cages.
The High Priest's eyes gleamed with recognition when he saw the intruder.
Razor-sharp claws shredded the cage like paper, freeing the High Priest in an instant.
"Hehe! Master's foresight is impeccable," the High Priest sneered, lips curling in triumph. "To think the plan would proceed so smoothly!"
Through a secret artifact, he and Li Qingling—the Blood Sword Heavenly Lord—had been communicating. This "recovered" Blood Spirit Corpse was a crucial piece of their scheme.
While the antidote had indeed purged the Blood Corpse Poison, it contained another ingredient: the Nine-Revolutions Heart Pill, which allowed Li Qingling to maintain control over the creature.
The plan was simple—use this puppet to free the High Priest and Enforcer, who would then incite the Blood Spirit Corpses within Yanbao City to attack the garrison.
With Sun Gongming and the bulk of the army lured away to the oasis, the remaining soldiers, lulled into complacency, would be caught off guard. Even if they eventually suppressed the uprising, the casualties would be devastating.
Another cage shattered as the Enforcer was liberated.
"High Priest, what's going on?" The Enforcer blinked in confusion.
"This is Master's doing," the High Priest crowed. "The garrison's main force is gone. Now, we make our move. Once we unleash the Blood Spirit Corpses, every last soldier here will perish!"
The Enforcer's face split into a grin. "Master truly is peerless! To manipulate even the Northwestern Army so easily—they're nothing but fools!"
"Hehe." The High Priest turned to the "Blood Spirit Corpse." "Now, escort us out of the camp."
But instead of obeying, the creature's hollow eyes locked onto him, radiating killing intent.
"Y-You... What are you doing?"
The High Priest's blood ran cold. With his cultivation sealed by Ling Feng, he stood no chance if this thing turned on him.
But that shouldn't be possible—the Nine Revolutions Heart Pill ensured absolute obedience!
"What else? Punishing two unrepentant Blood God Cult scum."
The voice that answered wasn't the Blood Spirit Corpse's—but one the High Priest knew all too well.
Whirling around, he saw a group of soldiers storm into the tent, followed by Gong Cheng, Jiang Xiaofan, Ye Nanfeng, and a middle-aged general.
"Just as Big Brother suspected," Jiang Xiaofan growled, cracking his knuckles. "Li Qingling's 'antidote' was a sham. And after sparing your lives, you still choose treachery!"
The High Priest and Enforcer gaped, their minds scrambling to process this reversal.
"Enough acting, Bufan."
Gong Cheng smirked and waved at the "Blood Spirit Corpse."
In reality, this wasn't a puppet controlled by the Nine Revolutions Heart Pill—but Li Bufan in disguise.
The "slain" guards outside? Merely knocked unconscious, their throats untouched.
This entire charade had been orchestrated to expose Li Qingling's scheme to Vice-General Huang, who now stood witness to the cultists' confession.
Before leaving, Ling Feng gave Gong Cheng only a brief hint, sharing his suspicions. As for the plan itself—that was entirely Gong Cheng's own idea.
It had to be said, Gong Cheng truly lived up to his reputation as a "strategist". With ease, he unraveled Li Qingling's scheme to use the High Priest to control the Blood Spirit Corpse.
"Damn it!" The High Priest clenched his fists. Their downfall wasn't due to strength, but sheer intellectual inferiority!
"Vice-General Huang," Gong Cheng said calmly, clasping his hands, "you've seen the truth with your own eyes now."
Earlier, no amount of persuasion would have sufficed. But seeing—and hearing—the cultists' admission left no room for doubt.
"Mm. I have." The Vice-General Huang's brow furrowed. "But General Sun..."
If Li Qingling truly was the Blood God Cult Master, then the "herb-gathering expedition" was undoubtedly a trap.
"Relax," Jiang Xiaofan laughed. "With Big Brother there, nothing will go wrong."
"Still," Gong Cheng mused, "it wouldn't hurt to send reinforcements, just in case."
"Well said." Vice-General Huang nodded grimly before turning to the prisoners. "Take these cultists away. Two hundred lashes, then pierce their collarbones. Lock them up under maximum security!"
If sealing their dantians wasn't enough to keep them in line, he'd break their bodies instead.