The man in red paid no heed to the wary eyes surrounding him. Nearly everyone present had already circulated their inner force, their bodies taut, with many hands resting on their weapons.
Everyone was prepared to strike at any moment. Yet the man at the center of it all looked languid and utterly relaxed, as though his entire body were riddled with openings.
But on closer inspection, he was completely without flaw.
Many of those present had not even recovered from their shock, and their hearts were filled with dread.
Had the Shaolin monk not spoken up to warn them, they would not even have realized that the demonic cult’s envoy had approached them without making a sound.
Considering the strange, ghostly techniques of the demonic cult, if the man had not appeared so openly but had instead chosen to poison them in secret, by now the entire council chamber would likely have been littered with corpses.
The man in red seemed dissatisfied with the silence around him. He looked just like someone engrossed in gossip when, at the most exciting part of the story, the speaker suddenly stopped.
Completely unaware of his identity or predicament, he cast the senior monk an irritated glance.
“Those bald donkeys from Shaolin just love meddling in other people’s business. Why did you have to speak up at a time like this?”
The Shaolin monk remained silent, his face still wearing that benevolent expression. But anyone standing near him would have noticed that he was not as composed as he appeared.
The Shaolin monk was, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the most powerful person present. The more accomplished a martial artist was, the more accurately they could judge the strength of an opponent.
Although the elites of the four great families, eight major sects, and virtually every orthodox martial arts sect in the world had gathered here, their numbers did not give them much confidence.
It went without saying that since the man dared to appear here so openly, he must have something to rely on.
It seemed that there would be no peaceful resolution today. The monk let out a helpless sigh.
“Amitabha.”
The man in red urged Sect Leader Pei again. “And then?”
“Who exactly did the Qiu family’s daughter run away with?”
The contempt he showed for every hero present finally made the Jiang family unable to sit still.
This was the Jiang family’s stronghold. In order to receive the various martial arts sects today, they had recalled nearly every disciple in the sect. The manor’s defenses were airtight.
With so many experts from the various sects gathered here, this should have been the safest place in the world apart from the imperial palace.
Yet someone had infiltrated it without anyone noticing—and the first person to discover the intruder had not even been a member of the Jiang family.
The Jiang family wanted to lead the campaign against the demonic cult, but this first step had already become a laughingstock.
Thus, three senior members of the Jiang family moved at once, appearing outside the hall in the blink of an eye.
Their long swords were already drawn, their white robes fluttering as they rose into the air. Working together with perfect understanding, the three of them closed in from angles that no ordinary person could evade.
Their sword tips pointed straight at the man in red.
Yet the four demonic cult followers standing behind him showed no intention of protecting him. They behaved as though the ones charging forward were not three peerless experts, but three harmless ants.
Their utter disregard enraged the three men even further.
The leader, Second Master of the Jiang family, shouted angrily, “Demonic cult fiend! We had no intention of seeking you out, yet you dare come here yourself. How arrogant!”
“Excellent. Since you’ve come today, don’t even think about leaving.”
The three sword tips arrived almost simultaneously. Their speed was so great that everyone could already envision the demonic cult member being splattered with blood.
But it was only when they had entered within arm’s reach that the man in red finally moved.
Compared to the Jiang family’s three men, who came like bolts of lightning with overwhelming momentum, his movements seemed astonishingly slow. It gave the illusion that his hand had not even risen before his throat would be pierced.
And yet those lazy movements stopped the three men cold. Their sword tips could advance no farther.
The man in red casually raised his right hand. He held no weapon; he merely pressed his index and middle fingers together and thrust them toward the center of the three-man sword formation.
Second Uncle Jiang and the other two felt as though they had crashed into an iron wall. Their true energy rebounded violently, turning their faces pale.
The three men hung suspended in midair for a moment. Then the man casually swept his fingers to the side.
Their bodies stiffened. Their inner force dissipated, and they fell straight from the air.
They vomited blood and were unable to get back to their feet for some time.
“Second Brother! Third Brother! Fifth Brother!” Sect Master Jiang cried out in alarm.
Even he could not have broken through the three men’s sword formation with such ease.
With one thrust and one sweep, the man in red had revealed sword intent surging within his movements. His true energy had condensed into a sword—in other words, he had already reached the level where a sword was no longer necessary for combat.
This single exchange made the experts present even more cautious.
According to the Jiang family, the new leader of the demonic cult had only recently taken the position. He was young and supposedly easy to deal with, unlike the previous leader, who had been cunning, seasoned, and deeply accomplished.
But now, many of the older men who had participated in the battle all those years ago felt that facing this young cult leader was no less oppressive than facing his predecessor.
The man in red remained as relaxed as ever. He did not seem the least bit proud of defeating the three elders of the Jiang family. His attention was still fixed on the gossip.
Once again, he asked Sect Leader Pei, “Go on. Who exactly did the Qiu family’s daughter elope with?”
His attitude was infuriating enough to make one’s blood boil, but after witnessing what had happened to the three elders of the Jiang family, no one dared to act rashly for the moment.
Sect Leader Pei finally spoke. “Are you the current leader of the Holy Flame Cult?”
“That’s right.”
“May I ask your esteemed name?”
“Situ Zhuo.”
There was no apparent impatience on his face, but Sect Leader Pei did not ask any further questions.
She merely said, “If the cult leader wishes to hear this bit of jianghu gossip, I would naturally be delighted to prepare tea and welcome you. Under ordinary circumstances, I would be more than happy to do so.”
“However, this is hardly an appropriate occasion. Compared with this trivial conversation, I am more concerned about what has happened to the disciples of my Moon-Slaying Sect outside. Could the cult leader enlighten me, so that I can set my mind at ease and continue our conversation?”
Only then did the people around them react—or rather, some of them had already realized what was happening but simply could not believe it.
Those five demonic cult followers had appeared on the roof in full view. The Jiang family’s patrols were not made up of corpses, and the disciples of the other sects were not blind.
Even if no sounds of fighting had come from inside, martial artists were exceptionally perceptive. By now, they should have noticed something was wrong outside.
Yet the area beyond the hall was deathly silent, as though it had been completely isolated from the rest of the world.
The Jiang Manor had indeed gathered the combined martial strength of all the major sects, but that also meant they were more vulnerable to being wiped out in a single stroke.
After all, no one had expected the new cult leader to be even more reckless than the former one—to enter this place alone.
The man in red nodded at Sect Leader Pei.
“In consideration of the amusement Sect Leader Pei has provided me today—and because, among this crowd of fools who merely repeat what they hear, you are one of the few who can actually understand the situation…”
“If Sect Leader Pei answers my question, then as long as the disciples of the Moon-Slaying Sect do not act rashly, they will remain safe and unharmed.”
Everyone around them drew a sharp breath, never expecting their opponent to treat such a matter with such frivolity.
Then, shocked and enraged, they turned to look at Sect Leader Pei. From the beginning of the council, she had repeatedly defended the demonic cult. Now her own disciples were being threatened, yet the threat had been casually lifted.
Dark suspicions, resentment, and indignation at the threat being removed first all caused the crowd to turn their anger toward Sect Leader Pei.
Sect Leader Pei acted as though she saw none of it.
After all, she had already gained some understanding of the vile nature of these fools. What she found truly unfathomable was why the Heaven-Burning Sect had not yet risen to prominence again.
It had been fifty years already—nothing more than a bit of capital accumulation and enemies who were, for the most part, little better than pigs.
The newly appointed leader of the Holy Flame Cult, Situ Zhuo, appeared remarkably generous toward the Moon-Slaying Sect. He seemed almost grateful for her straightforwardness just now, as though he intended to return the favor.
But as the saying went, what people feared was not scarcity, but inequality. His generosity had placed the Moon-Slaying Sect in an even more disadvantageous position, rendering all her earlier posturing pointless.
His inscrutable mood—and his inexplicable hostility toward her—made Pei Liang suspicious.
Her mind turned over hundreds of possibilities, but her expression remained composed. Once she had obtained his promise, she said, “I don’t actually know whom Miss Qiu eloped with.”
The moment those words left her mouth, Situ Zhuo’s gaze visibly darkened, clearly dissatisfied with the answer. The Qiu family was no different.
However, before they could react, Pei Liang continued, “Still, for Miss Qiu to choose elopement so decisively, she must have realized that her family would never agree to her being with the man she loved, no matter what.”
“Why would that be? Either the man Miss Qiu loves has a sensitive identity, bears an irreconcilable grudge against the Qiu family, or comes from a background so lowly that there was not even the slightest hope for their union.”
“Otherwise, given Miss Qiu’s reputation for virtue, she would certainly have tried to persuade her family. Sect Leader Qiu, think back carefully. Has anyone come to your home to propose in the past month, only to be rejected and then disappear without a trace?”
The Qiu family enjoyed a fairly good reputation in the martial world. They were not on friendly terms with every sect and school, but neither had they been known to form any major enmities.
Miss Qiu was not the sort of heroine who often traveled the martial world. She spent most of her time at home. But if she had become involved with a servant in the household and the two of them had vanished at the same time, it would have been too conspicuous. Unless the Qiu family were fools, they would have suspected something and learned the truth by interrogating her personal maid.
Yet it was clear that they had never considered that possibility. That made Pei Liang’s theory all the more plausible.
Sect Leader Qiu appeared to recall something and suddenly said, “That’s right. Three months ago, a wandering swordsman with no sect or affiliation suddenly came to propose marriage. I drove him away, but he continued pestering us around the estate for months. Yet ever since Su’er disappeared, he has vanished as well.”
“I thought that if he truly cared for her, he might have gone to the Holy Flame Cult to look for her. I never imagined…”
It seemed the mystery had been solved. Of course, no one believed that Pei Liang had merely been making a deduction just now.
Before the members of the Holy Flame Cult appeared, she had spoken with such certainty, acting as though she had already ruled out any suspicion of the cult. Clearly, she had conducted her own investigation.
Yet now, her words were neither firm nor direct. She seemed to be holding something back, though no one knew why.
At present, however, there was no time to investigate Pei Liang’s intentions. Everyone was far more concerned about the disciples of their respective sects.
The leaders of the various sects stepped forward one after another, confronting Situ Zhuo with drawn swords in their voices. “There is no need for further small talk. Sect Leader Situ, you have come here today and restrained the disciples of our various sects. What exactly is it that you wish to discuss with us?”
Situ Zhuo clearly seemed unsatisfied, though he had figured out what had happened. Even so, he still felt as if he had not gotten what he wanted.
He swept his gaze over the crowd before letting it fall once more on Pei Liang. Her expression showed no sign of anything amiss, but Situ Zhuo was certain she had done it deliberately.
He felt displeased, but time was limited.
The five protectors had used a secret formation and certain drugs to isolate the leaders of the various sects and the allied army of disciples outside. But this could only last for a time.
The five of them had entered the Orthodox Alliance’s council chamber alone. No matter how high their martial prowess, they were still venturing deep into enemy territory by themselves. Using the tension between those inside and outside to restrain both sides, they had made the masters present hesitate to act rashly. Even so, the five could not afford to underestimate them.
With business taking priority, Situ Zhuo spoke. “We came today not only because it has been twenty years since the Holy Flame Cult last saw its old acquaintances from the various sects, and we have missed you dearly, but also because we intend to ask for the return of three treasures belonging to our cult that were left in the care of your various sects.”
“Oh? What do you mean by that?” someone asked.
Back then, the various sects had joined forces to besiege the Holy Flame Cult, and both sides had suffered heavy losses. Though the cult had ultimately been driven from the Central Plains, it had not allowed those who took part in the campaign to leave unscathed.
Before departing, the cult activated a mountain-sealing formation. The Holy Flame Cult’s already treacherous headquarters was instantly engulfed in poisonous mist, while the terrain shifted and countless traps appeared. The only route in or out—the suspension bridge spanning a bottomless abyss—was corroded by acid that had spilled over it. Anyone who failed to evacuate in time would be trapped inside, and even the greatest martial artists would have struggled to survive.
As a result, many people had died while retreating. Thus, although certain sects had seized dazzling martial arts manuals and weapons—treasures worth a fortune—from the Holy Flame Cult, they had ultimately gained nothing and lost much besides.
Who had truly profited? That was why, when the proposal for a united campaign had been raised this time, most of the Four Sects and Eight Schools had responded evasively.
After all, there was no benefit to such an undertaking. It would require sacrificing a large number of elite disciples and risk sending their sects into decline. Without sufficient rewards, who would be willing to act?
At this thought, one man’s old and new grudges surged to the surface. “Ridiculous! Most things belonging to the Holy Flame Cult are evil and harmful. Even if they were placed right in front of us, no one here would want them, let alone secretly hide them away.”
“Do not listen to this man’s lies! These people have come to sow discord and destroy our alliance.”
Situ Zhuo merely smiled. “A rabble without brains is still no threat to me, no matter how many of them gather.”
“Still, I am quite pleased by the farce of your supposed alliance—united in appearance, divided at heart.”
“How dare you—” The man was about to argue further when the alluring woman standing to Situ Zhuo’s right slowly removed her veil.
She was enchantingly beautiful and seductive. Perhaps her features alone were not peerless, but her entire body exuded a captivating allure, especially those eyes of hers, which seemed almost capable of speaking—half-hidden, half-yearning.
When her gaze fell upon a man, even his bones seemed to soften by three parts.
The man, who had been fuming with rage, abruptly lost the rest of his words. His eyes and heart seemed to contain nothing but that woman.
Seeing this, several sect leaders immediately shouted, “Clear your minds! Do not meet that temptress’s eyes!”
But it was already too late.
The alluring woman parted her red lips and slowly exhaled.
Even from a distance, it seemed as though one could smell the intoxicating fragrance that ensnared the soul.
Several martial artists standing nearby, whose cultivation was not particularly profound, immediately fell into a daze. Foolish smiles spread across their faces, as though they had forgotten entirely that a powerful enemy stood before them.
Had an enemy been nearby at that moment, a single slash would likely have ended their lives.
Their sect leaders were deeply embarrassed. It was the old beggar, leader of the Beggar Sect, who finally stepped forward, throwing back his head and laughing.
“Lust is a blade that cuts through the bones—best not touch it, best not touch it! Give me fine wine and good meat instead, and I’ll be immune to every poison under heaven!”
His voice, like that of the great monk earlier, was infused with inner force. It jolted the disciples who had lost control back to their senses.
They discovered that they were no longer standing where they had been. Instead, they had somehow staggered toward the group of fiends. Several were standing directly within the woman’s line of sight. With a casual strike of her palm, their skulls could have been shattered in their previous state.
They were immediately overcome by both shame and cold sweat.
The Orthodox side continued to make one blunder after another, yet Situ Zhuo did not move an inch.
Resting his chin on one hand, he looked at the crowd with an ambiguous smile. “Do the sect leaders intend to rely on their lofty status and let that rabble keep shouting without advancing, dragging this standoff out for several days?”
How was this possible? The disciples outside were still unaccounted for, and even if they knew this was the Demon Cult, they would hardly remain as composed as they appeared, let alone gamble with the lives of so many elite disciples from their own sects.
The Jiang family was about to speak, but before Sect Master Jiang could say a word, Situ Zhuo cut him off—
“People who are filthy and shameless are unworthy of speaking with me.”
The Jiang family had intended to lead the righteous sects in exterminating the demons, but their opponent had bluntly declared them unworthy. How could they possibly endure such humiliation? What was more, three of their people had already been seriously injured.
Sect Master Jiang said, “Fellow sect leaders, these demonic cultists are merely putting on a show. If they truly had the ability to stand against all of us, they would not be wasting time talking here.”
“Let us join forces and capture these fiends first. Their demonic arts will naturally fall apart, and we can determine the fate of the disciples outside as soon as possible.”
This argument won the support of several sects. The Limitless Sect, one of the Four Sects and Eight Schools, was the most enthusiastic.
The Sect Leader of the Limitless Sect swept forward, channeling his sect’s palm technique as he charged at Situ Zhuo. Before attacking, he declared righteously, his voice ringing out, “The leaders and elites of the Four Sects and Eight Schools have gathered here.”
“And yet, against a mere five demons, you make excuses and hold one another back, each scheming for your own benefit while allowing these fiends to restrain us. What a joke! This is nothing less than a disgrace to the righteous path.”
The moment his voice fell, the palm force crashing down like an avalanche met Situ Zhuo head-on.
The Sect Leader of the Limitless Sect was unquestionably a supreme expert. He had devoted decades to cultivating the sect’s highest art, the Limitless Method, and was said to be the most talented prodigy since the sect’s founding ancestor.
In recent years, he had even refined and improved the sect’s inner art, creating countless peerless techniques of his own. If the Limitless Sect had not been the least established among the Four Sects and Eight Schools, then judging by the strength of its sect leader alone, he would unquestionably rank among the top three.
Thus, he was nothing like the three members of the Jiang family from earlier. Even Situ Zhuo’s expression grew serious.
He still did not draw a weapon. Using his fingers as a sword, he exchanged several blows with his opponent in an instant.
The Limitless Palm descended with the force of mountains bearing down from above. Compared with it, the lightness of Situ Zhuo’s finger-sword seemed as though it could be crushed at any moment.
Yet with every move, Situ Zhuo struck directly at the nearly imperceptible flaws in the Limitless Palm. Concentrating his strength at a single point, he broke apart the palm force with ease.
After several exchanges, the Sect Leader of the Limitless Sect was drenched in sweat, while Situ Zhuo appeared increasingly relaxed. As he gradually adapted to the circulation of his opponent’s palm force and inner energy, every move became an example of using minimal strength to overcome overwhelming force.
During their final clash, Situ Zhuo changed the angle of his attack, seemingly exposing a flaw.
A relieved smile appeared on the Limitless Sect Leader’s face. But just as that smile began to bloom, pain came surging through him as the energy within his body reversed its flow.
Situ Zhuo curled his lips into a smile and raised a finger toward the man’s brow.
The index finger was long and fair, its joints sharply defined. It seemed entirely harmless, yet to the Limitless Sect Leader and everyone behind him, it looked as if a colossal sword had erupted from the earth.
It carried the power to break through a myriad of armies, all of it concentrated at a single point.
Everyone was increasingly horrified by the depth of Situ Zhuo’s cultivation. But the Limitless Sect Leader, caught within the sword’s force, realized only one thing—
Death!
He was going to die.
He could not die. Otherwise—what had it all been for?
In his desperation, the Limitless Sect Leader abandoned all restraint. His footwork shifted, and his body became as elusive as a ghost. He moved several paces aside, then followed the direction of the sword’s force, twisting and retreating away.
He did everything possible to disperse the damage from the sword’s remaining momentum, and his entire body landed safely on the ground.
The Limitless Sect Leader let out a breath of relief, having narrowly escaped death.
Then he heard a mocking laugh from above. It was Situ Zhuo’s voice.
The Limitless Sect Leader’s body stiffened. He knew something was wrong. Sure enough, Situ Zhuo spoke.
“So that’s how it is. You obtained the Sacred Flame Method.”
An uproar erupted around them. Those with poor eyesight or limited knowledge might not have understood, but the Four Sects and Eight Schools contained elders who had taken part in the campaign against the Demon Cult back then. They understood perfectly.
Someone said incredulously, “Sect Leader Qiu, was the movement technique you just used the Demon Cult’s Moon-Covering Step?”
Another person spoke before Sect Leader Qiu could answer. “There’s no mistake. Twenty years ago, I personally saw the Demon Cult Leader use it. His movements were ghostly, and his afterimages filled the air.”
“To twist the body to such an extreme degree and evade an attack that should have been impossible to avoid—that can only be the Moon-Covering Step.”
“How did Sect Leader Qiu learn the Demon Cult’s techniques?”
“Sect Leader Qiu—”
“Sect Leader Qiu—”
Sect Leader Qiu’s face turned deathly pale. The other members of the Limitless Sect hurriedly said, “Nonsense! This footwork was created by our sect leader himself.”
“So what if it resembles the technique used by that demon twenty years ago? All martial arts ultimately follow the same principles. How can you doubt our sect leader based on the ramblings of a few demonic cultists?”
No one paid them any attention. Their words might fool the young or win the unconditional support of the sect leader’s disciples, but the experts present could easily tell the difference between techniques that merely looked similar and the way the underlying arts were circulated.
At that moment, Situ Zhuo rose to his feet and looked down at Sect Leader Qiu.
“With your level of cultivation, even I would not have been able to defeat you so easily. Unfortunately, you mixed sand into gold. The peerless technique of my Sacred Flame Cult was torn apart, altered, and forcibly fused together by you.”
“Not only was its power cut in half, but every flaw remained. I had hoped to see whether the person who stole the Sacred Flame Method and secretly cultivated my cult’s techniques for twenty years had achieved greatness and become a worthy opponent. I never expected to find it altered beyond recognition and reduced to such a pitiful state.”
This was effectively a final verdict. Given Situ Zhuo’s age and cultivation, no matter how formidable he was, Sect Leader Qiu’s strength should not have allowed him to be defeated so quickly.
It turned out that Sect Leader Qiu had used the demonic art to make up for the shortcomings in his own techniques. But he lacked the ability to integrate the two completely. The man who had genuinely cultivated the demonic art had therefore been able to seize upon the flaws and defeat him with ease.
“Then those techniques Sect Leader Qiu claimed to have created himself…”
“They were probably dismantled and modified from the Demon Cult’s arts as well.”
“No wonder those techniques always felt disjointed. We had assumed that creating them from scratch was difficult and that the occasional flaw was understandable, something that could be refined later. Who would have thought the truth was this…”
Sect Leader Qiu and the Limitless Sect endured the scrutiny of everyone present, their faces growing darker and darker.
After today, the reputation of the Limitless Sect would likely be destroyed just like that of the Jiang family.
Even so, Sect Leader Qiu still believed that exposing himself had been worth it. The important thing was that he was still alive.
But Situ Zhuo’s next words left him terrified out of his wits.
Situ Zhuo casually said, “If you had not been so eager to conceal your identity and deliberately leaped forward, I would not have identified my target so quickly.”
“After all, according to the recollections of the cult members who were the last to retreat that day, two people entered the former cult leader’s secret chamber. Besides you, there was also a disciple from Medicine King Valley.”
“Originally, my first suspicion fell on him. But to be cautious, I should ask the people from Medicine King Valley.”
As he spoke, his gaze fell upon Valley Master Fang of Medicine King Valley.
By then, Valley Master Fang’s expression had already undergone a violent change. He stared at Sect Leader Qiu in disbelief.
He murmured, “You obtained your demonic cultivation manual from that secret chamber?”
“You entered by accident at the same time as my elder brother. In the end, you came out, while my elder brother was trapped inside by a ten-thousand-jin stone. At that time, the Demon Cult’s mountain-sealing formation was reactivated, and all the sects had to evacuate in haste.”
“My elder brother was locked in there and left to die, and now we discover that you obtained one of the Demon Cult’s supreme manuals from that very place?”
At those words, some of the older members present recalled the incident. Back then, everyone in Medicine King Valley had been plunged into grief, and Sect Leader Qiu had bitterly regretted failing to rescue the man.
Though they had blamed the other party in their anger at the time, as the years passed and reason returned, they came to understand that it had not truly been his fault.
But if one man had died in the Cult Master’s secret chamber while another had returned with an unparalleled martial manual, then perhaps the truth was not as simple as it appeared.
Sect Leader Qiu hurriedly tried to deny it, but Situ Zhuo, seemingly determined to drive the nail in deeper, added, “The Ten-Thousand-Jun Stone is not connected to the mountain-sealing formation.”
“After all, the mountain-sealing formation exists to protect Sacred Mountain, whereas the Ten-Thousand-Jun Stone is a mechanism designed to imprison intruders. Their functions are entirely different. Anyone who failed to escape the mountain-sealing formation in time would be no safer trapped in the secret chamber. In fact, the chamber would be more secure.”
Although these words came from the Demon Cult Master and could not be accepted without reservation, the people of Medicine King Valley believed him.
Valley Master Fang launched himself into the air and attacked Sect Leader Qiu with thunderous force and murderous intent.
Sect Leader Qiu had only just restored the circulation of his reversed qi. His internal injuries were severe, and now he was faced with Valley Master Fang and several members of Medicine King Valley attacking without regard for their own lives. Even with his formidable martial arts, he was soon hard-pressed on all sides.
Fortunately, the Four Gates and Eight Schools were unwilling to fight among themselves in front of the Demon Cult’s people. The great monk from Shaolin and the old beggar from the Beggars’ Sect each stepped forward and forced one side back.
The great monk pressed his palms together and sighed. “Amitabha. Since the truth of this matter has yet to be fully uncovered, why not settle accounts afterward, Valley Master Fang?”
With Shaolin and the Beggars’ Sect joining forces to suppress them, Medicine King Valley had no choice but to temporarily yield. At least the Wuji Sect would not be able to escape.
But while the righteous factions were willing to show consideration, the Demon Cult was not.
Before Valley Master Fang could even nod, a shrill scream suddenly came from behind the great monk.
Everyone turned in alarm, only to discover that Situ Zhuo, who had been on the roof moments earlier, had somehow come down.
Just as the old beggar forced Sect Leader Qiu back and turned around, Situ Zhuo had appeared before Sect Leader Qiu like a ghost. He had used none other than the Moon-Shrouding Step.
In the next instant, Sect Leader Qiu let out a miserable cry and collapsed to the ground, all four limbs twisted like a wet garment that had been wrung dry.
Situ Zhuo’s expression was cold as he said to the great monk and the old beggar, who had originally intended to preserve the situation, “This is a dispute between two sects. I shall not interfere.”
“But no one is permitted to use my Sacred Flame Art in such a vulgar and clumsy manner.”
In the past, if a Demon Cult figure had crippled a sect leader in full view of everyone, the crowd would surely have risen up in outrage.
But under the present circumstances, those who secretly learned another person’s martial manual deserved to have their limbs severed and their cultivation destroyed once they were exposed. Moreover, Sect Leader Qiu had most likely murdered Valley Master Fang’s elder brother in order to monopolize the manual and conceal the secret that he had secretly cultivated the Demon Cult’s martial art.
For a time, no one present could find a reason to challenge Situ Zhuo.
But Situ Zhuo was far from satisfied.
He walked past Sect Leader Qiu, who lay there in misery like a torn piece of cloth, and continued, “I will personally come to retrieve the Sacred Flame Art manual before long. As for any techniques derived from the Sacred Flame Art, if anyone from the Wuji Sect dares use them in public, this will be your fate.”
“That makes the first treasure something I have already reclaimed. Next is the second…”
The people around him felt their hearts sink.
If it was a treasure on par with the Demon Cult’s supreme martial arts, valuable enough for the Demon Cult Master to pursue personally, and it had been obtained by only a handful of people, how could the sects that had taken part in the campaign—suffering heavy casualties yet gaining nothing—possibly accept that?
That was also why, despite the fact that a few people present understood that the sensible thing to do would be to set aside their grudges and capture Situ Zhuo first, they had never been able to organize themselves.
In a one-on-one fight, even the great monk would not be able to retreat unscathed from the Demon Cult Master and his four Protectors, each of whom had cultivated sinister arts.
The other side had effortlessly neutralized the advantage of numbers. By turning the factions against one another, they had precisely exploited the lingering resentment of the various sects over their heavy losses in the original campaign.
Those who were desperate to silence Sect Leader Qiu had now exposed their own motives. Those who had obtained nothing of value saw no reason to risk further casualties protecting the people who had acquired the treasures.
As for those who had obtained something, Sect Leader Qiu’s fate served as a warning. If they stepped forward now, they would instead appear suspicious.
A mocking glint flashed across Situ Zhuo’s eyes. He continued, “The second supreme treasure is the Demon Cult’s Formless Divine Water.”
“The formula for this medicine has long since been lost, and one of its essential ingredients has gone extinct. Only three drops remain in the world.”
“It is colorless and odorless. Even a divine physician would be unable to detect it. One drop is enough to kill a person, and the cause of death cannot be determined.”
The people around him exchanged looks. Though such a poison was terrifying in anyone’s hands, the fact that so little remained could at least be considered a blessing in disguise.
Some secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
But Situ Zhuo continued, “If that were all, the Formless Divine Water would naturally not deserve to be called one of our sacred treasures.”
“After drinking it, the poison does not take effect immediately. The victim will pass an entire month without showing the slightest abnormality. Only after that month will they suddenly die, and no one will be able to discover who the murderer was.”
After all, how many times would a person eat or drink in the course of a month? How could anyone investigate every possibility? With such a long interval, it would be easy to fabricate an alibi.
Everyone drew a sharp breath. Someone hurriedly asked, “Then how can we determine whether a person died from this poison or simply suffered a sudden death?”
“Simple. Those who die from the Formless Divine Water will have fingertips that are crimson and hot to the touch. After death, their bodies will decay two or three times more slowly than normal.”
The moment he finished speaking, his figure appeared before Abbess Yuqing of Emei Sect. His eyes fell upon the iron bracelet in her hand, the symbol of her position as sect leader.
Three gems were set into the center of the bracelet. The one in the middle was particularly beautiful, glowing with a deep blue radiance.
Abbess Yuqing was startled. She immediately swept out her horsetail whisk, its strands stiffening like needles. Countless long spikes shot toward Situ Zhuo’s face.
Situ Zhuo merely raised a hand and drew a circle in the air. The steel needles, which had spread in every direction and left no opening to exploit, were drawn together as though gathered by an invisible force. The next moment, they were severed at the roots.
Situ Zhuo smiled. “According to the recollections of those from our Cult who took part in that battle, the prospective sect leader who led Emei into the fray back then was said to possess extraordinary talent and dazzling brilliance.”
“Upon returning, I had expected to witness the bearing of those who fought in that battle. I never imagined that Emei would now be controlled by such an incompetent.”
Abbess Yuqing was over forty. In public, she was known for her stern and upright character. Though her natural talent was unremarkable, she was exceptionally diligent, and her leadership of Emei had won the sect’s respect.
Now, Situ Zhuo’s words filled her with both humiliation and fury. She was just about to retract her whisk and launch another attack when a clear crack of breaking bone rang out.
Abbess Yuqing’s face contorted with pain. The iron bracelet symbolizing her authority as sect leader had been forcibly removed.
Her entire palm hung unnaturally limp, clearly no longer capable of resisting.
“Abbess!”
“Demon Cult scoundrel, return our sect leader’s bracelet!”
Situ Zhuo, however, had no interest in the bracelet itself. With ease, he tore it apart as though it were a sheet of paper, removed the blue gem from its center, and tossed the bracelet—now reduced to a lump of scrap metal—back.
After examining the blue gem for a moment, he finally nodded in satisfaction.
“The Formless Divine Water. Though only two drops remain, it is still better than nothing now that it has returned to the Sacred Cult.”
“What?”
Although he had a vague premonition, it still shocked those around him when he actually heard it.
The Wuxiang Divine Water was in the hands of Abbess Yuqing, and one drop was already missing, which meant—
Someone present had already realized it: "The previous intended successor of the Emei Sect's former sect leader seemed to be Abbess Yuqing's senior sister, the once well - known Fairy Yuruo in the martial arts world."
"Yes, Fairy Yuruo was both beautiful and talented, with outstanding natural endowments. It's a pity that the gods envy the beautiful—how did Fairy Yuruo die?"
"The cause of death is unknown. She suddenly died an untimely death—"
As they spoke, everyone's gazes fell on Abbess Yuqing. Even the several senior nuns of the Emei Sect stared at her solemnly.
"Sect leader, we also need an explanation for this matter."
Back then, Fairy Yuruo's succession to the position was the will of the people. Which Emei disciple of that generation didn't respect her? This was even something that Abbess Yuqing's twenty - year prestige as the sect leader couldn't compare with.
But while the Emei Sect was still being polite internally, some people couldn't remain calm.
A long whip flew over and instantly snatched Abbess Yuqing, who was seriously injured. By the time everyone reacted, the other person had already appeared at the other end of the broad courtyard.
It was seen that Sect Leader Wei of the Qianhe Sect grabbed Abbess Yuqing, his palm pinching her neck, his face full of hatred and killing intent.
"When Yuruo died, her fingertips were red and hot, and her cheeks were still rosy three days after her death, as if she were still alive."
"Yuruo, you poisoned her!"
Only then did everyone remember that Sect Leader Wei of the Qianhe Sect, who remained unmarried all his life, was the fiancé of Fairy Yuruo at that time. They were also a golden couple envied by everyone in the martial arts world back then.
Sect Leader Wei was deeply in love with Fairy Yuruo. When Fairy Yuruo suddenly passed away, he was on the verge of grief - stricken death. How could he accept this fact now? And how could he bear to let the murderer of his fiancée live?
Sect Leader Wei tightened his grip, but no matter how big the suspicion on Abbess Yuqing was, people couldn't just let him kill her here.
After all, she was the sect leader of a school now, not someone who could be casually beaten and killed.
So several people quickly stepped forward to stop him. Abbess Yuqing had a strong will to survive. Regardless of the pain of her broken left palm, she desperately attacked with her elbow.
But Sect Leader Wei was already red - eyed. He held on tightly even at the cost of getting injured. As the victim, people couldn't lay heavy hands on him.
During the scuffle, they finally snatched Abbess Yuqing out of his hands. But in the chaos, no one knew who accidentally tore Abbess Yuqing's outer robe.
A brightly - colored sachet, obviously inconsistent with her simple and elegant dressing style, fell out.
When everyone took a look, there was clearly an embroidered character "Xun" on the sachet. If it was three years ago, maybe no one would think much of it and just think it was a coincidence.
But now, everyone looked at Jiang Xun one after another, and the attitude in their expressions was obvious—
[Why are you involved in everything?]
[Why do you seduce every woman?]
