Chapter 276: Harboring Sinister Intentions

“Just happened to have some free time, so I made a few talismans. Fourth Senior Brother, you can carry them with you for protection.” Yu Feng took out a stack of yellow talisman papers from his storage ring and handed them to Fourth Senior Brother.
“This is the Golden Armor Talisman. It’ll form a golden shield when you’re in mortal danger—even ordinary Golden Core cultivators won’t be able to break through it. This one’s the Strength Boost Talisman, it can instantly multiply your strength by ten times, but don’t use it too often—your body won’t be able to handle it. And this…” Yu Feng explained one by one.
Fourth Senior Brother was overjoyed. He knew how skilled his Junior Brother was. At the Golden Core Stage, there probably weren’t any better talismans than the ones made by Junior Brother.
From the sound of their effects, these were likely his Junior Brother’s most treasured items.
“And here are some pills. This is the Minor Recovery Pill—it can heal your body. Detoxification Pill, as the name suggests, can neutralize all poisons…”
Fourth Senior Brother was completely moved by Yu Feng’s generosity. He decided that after he got Junior Brother’s cultivation technique, he would at least leave Junior Brother a complete corpse and let him die with dignity.
“The ominous signs around you have lightened a bit.” Yu Feng was happy for Fourth Senior Brother, then calmly added, “But just to be safe, we should make a few plans to protect ourselves.”
“Alright.”
“So, here’s what we’ll do…”
…
“What a coincidence, Master is in seclusion, comprehending the Dao, and has shut off all six senses. As long as there’s no spiritual fluctuation reaching Nascent Soul level, he won’t notice anything.”
“Seems like Fourth Senior Brother’s death is destined.” Fifth Senior Brother sighed. They were once fellow disciples—who would’ve thought that now Old Five would be the one sending off Old Four. What a cruel world.
“Third Brother, Fifth Brother, so this is where you were.”
“Sister Wu Lian, Junior Brother, what brings you here?” Third and Fifth Senior Brothers were discussing tonight’s plan and hadn’t expected Senior Sister and Junior Brother to show up.
They didn’t find it strange that the two came together. After all, after three and a half years together, Sister Wu Lian and Junior Brother had already confirmed their relationship—they were practically inseparable.
What did surprise them was why the two were looking for them. They had important business tonight—assassinating Old Four. Missing such a rare opportunity would be a real shame.
Yu Feng invited warmly, “We’re usually all busy with our own things and haven’t had a chance to gather. I was worried we were growing distant. If it were a formal gathering, Master would surely be involved, and with an elder present, everyone feels a bit restrained. Tonight’s perfect—Master’s in seclusion. It’s a great day for a disciples’ get-together.”
Sister Wu Lian added smoothly, “And Xiao Feng just broke through to the Golden Core Stage—this is a good chance to celebrate.”
Originally, Sister Wu Lian was planning to cultivate, but Yu Feng came by and suggested a gathering of all the disciples, and also to celebrate his breakthrough.
Sister Wu Lian felt he made a good point, so the two of them went to invite Third, Fourth, and Fifth Senior Brothers.
Third and Fifth Senior Brothers were surprised. They had known that Junior Brother had been stuck at the peak of Foundation Establishment and thought he’d be stuck there for a while. They didn’t expect him to reach Golden Core so quickly.
After all, Junior Brother was only eighteen—it was fair to call him a prodigy.
“This…” Third and Fifth Senior Brothers hesitated. Tonight was the perfect chance to assassinate Old Four. Were they really going to just watch it slip away?
Or try to assassinate him right under the eyes of Senior Sister and Junior Brother?
Neither option was good.
“What, you don’t want to go? Even Old Four said he’d attend.” Sister Wu Lian feigned anger—it was obviously fake, but oddly charming.
“Of course we’ll go.” Third and Fifth Senior Brothers quickly changed their tune. If Old Four was so eager to walk into his death, then he had no one to blame.
Since the gathering was Yu Feng’s idea and also a celebration of his breakthrough, it was naturally held at Yu Feng’s residence.
By the time the four of them arrived at Yu Feng’s small courtyard, Fourth Senior Brother had already prepared a table full of delicious dishes.
“Perfect timing, everything’s ready. Come, come, have a seat.”
The five of them sat around a round table, arranged by seniority. Wu Lian and Yu Feng sat side by side. Fourth Senior Brother was sandwiched between Third and Fifth Senior Brothers.
“Try this stir-fried lily. I had Fourth Senior Brother make it—see if it suits your taste.” Yu Feng picked up some with his chopsticks and placed it in Wu Lian’s bowl.
Wu Lian took a small bite. It was exactly to her liking, and her eyes curved like crescent moons. “Mmm, so good.”
Yu Feng was charmed by Sister Wu Lian’s expression. He couldn’t help but feel grateful—thankfully, he hadn’t followed Senior Jiang’s advice. That’s how he managed to win Wu Lian over.
Every time he thought about it, Yu Feng would break out in a cold sweat, scared stiff. If he had taken Senior Jiang’s advice, he probably never would’ve ended up with Sister Wu Lian in this lifetime.
Third and Fifth Senior Brothers exchanged glances. With Senior Sister and Junior Brother so wrapped up in each other, they wouldn’t notice any subtle movements. Excellent.
Maybe it was because he planned to harm Fourth Senior Brother, but Fifth Senior Brother kept feeling suspicious about the food and drink prepared by Fourth Senior Brother. He secretly stirred the wine with a silver needle using a secret technique—no poison detected. Only then did he relax.
“Fourth Senior Brother, you’ve looked after me a lot over the years—thank you. Let me toast you. But let’s agree—no one’s allowed to use spiritual power to suppress the alcohol.” Fifth Senior Brother raised his cup and clinked it with Fourth Senior Brother’s.
Fourth Senior Brother smiled and accepted. The two of them downed their drinks.
Fifth Senior Brother sneered inwardly. He had just laced his own cup with slow-acting poison and deliberately spilled a bit into Fourth Senior Brother’s cup during the toast.
He’d already taken the antidote—his own poison wouldn’t harm him.
Die, then.
Fourth Senior Brother also sneered inwardly. Don’t think I didn’t see you test for poison with that silver needle. What you didn’t expect is that my poison is under the rim of the cup.
Die, then.
Neither of them had used fast-acting poison.
“Here, let me toast you again.”
“Cheers.”
To show their supposed brotherhood, Fourth and Fifth Senior Brothers kept raising their glasses and drinking.
Suddenly, Fifth Senior Brother’s brow furrowed. He clutched his stomach and broke out in cold sweat.
“What’s wrong, Fifth Senior Brother?” Seeing his discomfort, Yu Feng stepped up to check on him.
“N-nothing, probably a cultivation mishap—hurt my stomach. I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll check on him.” Third Senior Brother supported Fifth Senior Brother and led him out.
As soon as they were out of sight, they cast a sound-isolation array.
“What’s going on with you?” Third Senior Brother asked.
Fifth Senior Brother cursed, “Dmn it, that bstard Old Four must’ve poisoned me. If there’s nothing in the wine, then it must be the cup rim. Luckily, the poison I gave myself neutralized some of his, so it just feels like a stomachache.”
“What a sneaky b*stard, that Old Four.” Third Senior Brother felt lucky he hadn’t touched the wine.
Wait, could the chopsticks be poisoned too? Thinking that, he popped every detox pill he had.
“Looks like Old Four knew we were going to harm him—he struck first!”
“Do you think Junior Brother and Senior Sister know anything about this?”
Third Senior Brother thought for a moment and said, “From their behavior, it looks like the gathering was a spontaneous idea.”
“Good.” Fifth Senior Brother agreed. “My stomach’s fine now. Let’s head back.”
What Fifth Senior Brother didn’t say was—how did Old Four know they planned to harm him?
It had to be Third Senior Brother who spilled the secret.
Maybe Old Three and Old Four were in on it together, trying to take him out.
Fifth Senior Brother stayed vigilant. This gathering was dangerous. He couldn’t trust Old Three or Old Four. Only Junior Brother and Senior Sister could be trusted.