The sect leader of the Ghost Blade Sect, Ma Hualong, knew how formidable the woman before him was and how many resources she controlled. If Yulia were to give them even a sliver from her fingernails, be it money or medicine to enhance strength, it would be more than enough for the Ghost Blade Sect to feast and prosper.
Therefore, he fawned over Yulia to the extreme. Even without her using her charm techniques on him, Ma Hualong dared not betray her or harbor any disloyalty. He was well aware of the consequences of betraying the Heavenly Demon Sect; once on this ship, there was no getting off!
As for Li Fei, who was also present and held power, his personality was unpredictable, and his actions were ruthless. It was impossible to deal with him, so Li Fei could only keep his distance.
Ma Hualong had once witnessed firsthand a member of the Heavenly Demon Sect, simply for interrupting his train of thought while reporting work, fall to the ground bleeding from all seven orifices. The next day, numerous insects crawled out of the man's body, which had been hollowed out by the bugs, leaving only a skin.
That scene haunted Ma Hualong with nightmares for over a month, making him wish he could stay far away from that fellow.
"Elder Liya, please rest assured. My men in the Ghost Blade Sect are all hardened warriors who live by their blades. Their strength is formidable. I am confident that within an hour, I can find and kill everyone on this island!"
Yulia smiled and winked, nearly causing Ma Hualong to lose his composure. This woman was truly captivating.
"Sect Leader Ma, if you handle this matter beautifully, the Sect Master will surely not be stingy with his rewards. Not only that, but I will also bestow some benefits upon your sect, guaranteeing that the Ghost Blade Sect will dominate the Northwest and even make a name for itself throughout the martial arts world of Huaxia!"
"That would be most grateful. Actually, fame is not important. As long as we can strengthen the power of our disciples, I will be content... Our entire Ghost Blade Sect, under Elder Liya's command, will make the greatest contribution to the revitalization of our Heavenly Demon Sect..."
Yulia was pleased. Although there were many sects like the Ghost Blade Sect, few were as sensible and perceptive as Ma Hualong. Who didn't like a flatterer?
This operation was planned and initiated by Yulia and her subordinates, with the Ghost Blade Sect serving as the main force. Through intelligence, they learned that the sect leader of Misty Rain Pavilion, Misty Rain, and her prized disciple, Autumn Red, were currently on this island. Moreover, the island held the wealth and treasures accumulated by Misty Rain Pavilion over a thousand years.
Therefore, Yulia decided to eliminate Misty Rain and Autumn Red. This way, Misty Rain Pavilion would be leaderless, and their affiliated forces and personnel could be gradually absorbed and encroached upon by Yulia. The accumulation of Misty Rain Pavilion over centuries would also be a great boon to the Heavenly Demon Sect. The Heavenly Demon Sect was currently recruiting heavily. Although the Heavenly Demon Sect had substantial resources, it also needed some income to offset its deficits. The war with the Righteous Alliance was a protracted one!
At this moment, a sinister voice sounded from the side.
"With your eloquence, it's a shame you didn't join the civil service. You're quite adept at flattery."
The speaker was Li Fei. He strongly disliked Ma Hualong's sycophantic behavior, but with Yulia present, he could only tolerate it. Although Li Fei was not Yulia's match, he possessed the ability to take her down with him. However, doing so would be entirely unworthy. Furthermore, this woman seemed to have some unclear relationship with the Sect Master of the Heavenly Demon Sect.
"Oh, by the way, Ma, stop boasting. Three of your subordinates are already dead... Oh, no, four!"
"That's impossible!" Ma Hualong found it hard to believe. He had brought about thirty people with him this time, all outstanding disciples. In his opinion, even if some were injured during their surprise attack, there wouldn't necessarily be fatalities. To be told that four were dead was difficult for him to accept.
"Please do not speak nonsense. I believe in the strength of my subordinates!"
"Heh heh, believe it or not, there are now five dead!"
Li Fei, of course, had detailed knowledge of the Ghost Blade Sect disciples' conditions because they all carried the Divine Power Gu. The mother worm of these Divine Power Gu was parasitic on Li Fei, nurtured by his vital blood. These Divine Power Gu were telepathically linked to the mother worm on Li Fei. Once the hosts they attached to died, the Divine Power Gu would crawl out of the host's body within a very short time. If they couldn't find a new host within that time, they would die. The news of the deaths of those killed by Ling Tian was transmitted to Li Fei through a special channel by the Gu worms. Another Ghost Blade Sect disciple was killed in a desperate counterattack and encirclement by members of Misty Rain Pavilion.
"Impossible, you're lying!" Ma Hualong's eyes were turning red. He couldn't accept this reality. Seeing him lose his composure, Li Fei was quite pleased.
At this point, Yulia spoke, "Sect Leader Ma, what Li Fei says is correct. Elder Li Fei has means to monitor these individuals. If there are no accidents, your disciples should be gone by now! I suggest you go quickly to check on and support your men. After all, Misty Rain Pavilion is quite well-established; perhaps they have a few consultants or the like!"
Ma Hualong gritted his teeth, "I don't care who it is. Anyone who dares to touch my people will regret ever appearing in this world!" After saying this, he drew his oversized ghost-head saber from his back and charged directly towards Misty Rain Pavilion.
Seeing this, Li Fei let out a cold sneer.
"Tsk, a useless fellow who only knows how to flatter. Yulia, I'm not saying this to be rude, but you really shouldn't waste your time on such trash!"
"Heh heh, Lord Li Fei, even trash has its value if used correctly. These fellows are all cannon fodder. A few kind words and a smile, and they'll die fighting for you. It's a worthwhile transaction."
"Perhaps, but I have a feeling our operation might not go as smoothly as planned!"
"If that's the case, then I'll have to trouble you to help this humble girl..." Yulia gave Li Fei a seductive glance.
"Enough, I'm only interested in insects. Women, heh heh, your tricks are useless on me!"
Yulia shrugged helplessly, inwardly sighing. What Li Fei said was entirely true. This fellow had no interest in women whatsoever. Yulia, such a beauty, was less appealing to him than a mother worm. And Yulia's charm techniques had no effect on him.
At this moment, on the island, a disciple of Misty Rain Pavilion was being pursued. Just as a ghost-head saber was about to strike her back, a cold glint flashed, and a three-edged steel spike pierced directly through the throat of the Ghost Blade Sect disciple!