Former Interstellar Mercenary In Urban Cultivation World-Chapter 1357: Whispers of Betrayal

"You are indeed extraordinarily wise. Aside from the Water Vein Tribe, the Fire Vein Tribe indeed had good relations with the Earth, Wood, and Metal Vein Tribes. Our former leader never expected that they would join forces to ambush him, which is how he fell into their trap," Yeom Hwaryeon sighed heavily.

"I remember you said that the devils appeared a year ago, but you don’t know the exact time the passage was formed. From the moment you discovered it until now, the devils may have already infiltrated the Oryeong Mountains without anyone noticing. So during that unknown period, no one knows what they were doing, right?"

Yeom Hwaryeon’s body trembled slightly, his expression shifting. "Are you suggesting that someone from those three tribes has been influenced by the devils?"

Amalia chuckled. "What? You mean to say you’ve never considered this possibility?"

Yeom Hwaryeon gave a bitter smile and shook his head. "No, because of a certain legend within our Five Vein Tribes, I never suspected it."

Amalia asked, "A legend? Can you share it?"

Yeom Hwaryeon nodded. "Of course, it’s not exactly a secret. Each of the Five Vein Tribes possesses one of the Five Elemental Pearls. The Fire Vein Tribe has the Fire Pearl, the Earth Vein Tribe has the Earth Pearl, and so on. According to legend, if all Five Elemental Pearls are gathered, one can summon the supreme treasure left by the Five Element Immortal and have the opportunity to break through their cultivation limits."

Amalia raised an eyebrow. "So for the sake of obtaining this treasure and breaking through, they would turn against each other?"

Yeom Hwaryeon nodded. "That is one possibility. Another is simple self-preservation. The current leader of the 5 tribes are all strong, but they are also ancient figures, thousands of years old. Some of them are nearing the end of their lifespans, so they are desperate to find the treasure to extend their lives."

No one wants to die—especially those who have tasted the heights of power and luxury.

Once you have experienced the finest things in life, who would willingly let go?

"So, this so-called supreme treasure... does it actually have the ability to enhance cultivation?"

"We don’t know for sure what the supreme treasure is. However, there is an old legend about the Oryeong Mountains. It is said that before this mountain range existed, there was nothing but an endless plain. Then, one day, a massive piece of land fell from the sky, and that was how the Oryeong Mountains were formed."

"The mountains are extremely high, always shrouded in mist, and they possess an unusual quality. Some have tried flying over them, but midway through, they found that their spiritual energy drained at an alarming rate. It’s as if the mountains absorb energy. Over time, people stopped attempting to pass through them. All our knowledge about the outside world comes from the Devil Battlefield."

"A piece of land fell from the sky?" Amalia felt like she was missing something. She thought for a moment before turning to Elder Yeom Hwaryeon. "Elder Yeom, do you wish to collect all Five Elemental Pearls? These pearls might be connected to the mystery of the Oryeong Mountains."

"Gathering the Five Elemental Pearls is not easy. Each tribe treats their pearl as a sacred treasure and guards it tightly. Moreover, with the loss of our former leader, the Fire Vein Tribe lost many of its strongest warriors. We are no longer the dominant tribe of the Five Vein Tribes. In fact, we are the weakest one now," Yeom Hwaryeon admitted with a helpless sigh.

"Who said we have to take them by force? We can use strategy instead." Amalia smiled faintly. "And if someone in the other four tribes truly has been corrupted by the devils, what then?"

Yeom Hwaryeon’s expression turned serious. "Then everyone in the tribes would feel threatened. They would have no choice but to unite against the devils."

Amalia nodded. "Exactly. The threat of devils is greater than that of humans. No one would want to risk keeping a devil close, lest they themselves become possessed."

Yeom Hwaryeon frowned. "But how do we identify who has been replaced by a devil? There are so many people in the four tribes, we can’t possibly examine every single one. And the Water Vein Tribe would never agree to such an investigation."

"Whoever can influence a chieftain’s decision must hold a high position within the tribe. Or, the devil could even be a chieftain themselves—it’s not impossible. All you need to do is spread the rumors, along with the truth about the former leader of the Fire Vein Tribe downfall. Once they make a move, their actions will reveal their guilt. At the same time, this will help ease the crisis currently facing the Fire Vein Tribe."

The more Yeom Hwaryeon thought about it, the more he felt this plan was feasible.

Although it meant the young chieftain would learn the truth, it was not something that could be hidden forever.

He immediately summoned Yeom Hwayue and instructed him to spread the rumors.

Yeom Hwayue did not disappoint them.

He sent out several people to deliberately discuss the matter in various locations, emphasizing how the previous leader of the Fire Vein Tribe had been betrayed by the other chieftains.

As expected, the rumors quickly reached the ears of the various tribe leaders.

Earth Vein Tribe.

"Chieftain, this is bad! There are rumors spreading outside, saying that you are a devil!" A subordinate rushed in anxiously.

"Nonsense!" The Toyun Kangmin slammed the table beside him in fury, shattering it into pieces. "Who spread this rumor? Capture them at once!"

The subordinate trembled. "I don’t know who started it. By the time we heard about it, the rumor was already everywhere. We couldn’t trace its origin. However..." He hesitated.

"However, what?"

"The rumor might not be entirely baseless. Not the part about you being a devil, but the other things they are saying." The subordinate quickly explained, afraid that the Chieftain might kill him in a fit of rage.