Chapter 80: Let's prepare for the funeral of Emperor Song.

The word "brother" acted like a switch, causing the pure white light and shadow belonging to Yan Nanqiu to tremble violently, frantically fighting with Yan Ji for control of the body.

"No! Shut up!" Yan Ji's black consciousness roared madly, trying to suppress Yan Nanqiu's resistance. "That kid hates you, he hates that you have my blood in you, he wishes he could kill you, how could he recognize you as his brother?!"

"That's still better than you!" Yan Nanqiu's consciousness roared, and pure white light suddenly surged. "At least... at least he didn't treat me as a tool, as a vessel!"

Spurred by the term "brother," Yan Nanqiu's previously dormant consciousness seemed to be infused with new power, launching an unprecedented and fierce counterattack.

Two orbs of light and shadow fought fiercely inside his body, tearing at and devouring each other. Yan Ji's body trembled violently, his features distorted beyond recognition.

Gu Zhinan increased the spiritual energy input into the bronze mirror, and Yan Nanqiu clearly felt that his power seemed to have increased, so he worked even harder.

"Aaaaaahh ...

Yan Ji let out an extremely shrill scream, seemingly unable to defeat Yan Nanqiu in the end.

"Get out! Get out of my body!!!"

The pure white light, like a burning flame, frantically devoured Yan Ji's black fragments of consciousness. Yan Ji's roar grew weaker and weaker, finally turning into a screech filled with resentment and bitterness before completely dissipating.

The light from the bronze mirror gradually faded, and the surroundings returned to calm. Yan Nanqiu's body slumped down, and she was caught by Gu Zhinan, who was nearby.

Fu Yunshu came up and confirmed, "Yan Ji's consciousness has completely dissipated."

“Then I’ll take him back to heal his injuries first,” Gu Zhinan said.

The two left quickly.

Qin Lianyue walked over, her face grim; Chu Yu's death had deeply affected her. She looked at Fu Yunshu, her voice low and menacing: "Immortal Venerable Huaiwei, can you give me an explanation now? About Chu Yu, about Yuewu?"

Fu Yunshu looked at everyone and slowly said, "Chu Yu is no ordinary person. She is the Holy Maiden of the Demon Clan, who has been hiding in the Miaoyin Palace for many years. The reason why the Demon Clan was able to successfully attack the camp tonight was because of her participation. Moreover, she was blocking the door just now to prevent me from stopping Yan Ji from possessing her body."

These words were like a stone thrown into water, stirring up even bigger waves.

"The demon race?" Ji Yuanbai frowned. "Hasn't the Northern Border Seal been intact all along? How could the demon race have infiltrated?"

"Impossible!" Duan Xuan immediately retorted, "How could Senior Sister be a demon! She grew up in Miaoyin Palace since she was a child, and I've been with her everywhere. How could she be a demon!"

Qin Lianyue also shook her head: "Immortal Venerable Huaiwei, this matter is of great importance. Do you have any evidence? Chu Yu... I watched her grow up. Her cultivation method and aura are clearly those of a human cultivator. She has never had any demonic aura."

Fu Yunshu pointed to Chu Yu's corpse on the ground: "When she fought me just now, she used a secret technique of the demon race, and her strength far exceeded her usual level, reaching the peak of the Tribulation Transcending stage. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't have killed her. Look at the battle traces here. Some of them are ice-type spells that I often use, while others are clearly not the same as the spells of your Miaoyin Palace."

"Even so, it doesn't prove that Senior Sister is a demon." Duan Xuan was still unwilling to give up.

Fu Yunshu frowned, about to retort, when Yin Lisheng suddenly stepped forward and, before he could react, used the Duanyuan Sword to slash open his palm.

Blood dripped onto Chu Yu's corpse, and her true form gradually appeared: a blue phoenix.

"So, this proves it, doesn't it?" Yin Lisheng said coldly.

A warm touch came from his palm. Fu Yunshu had come over at some point and, with a cold face, tore off a piece of his clothes to bandage Yin Lisheng's wound.

"Master..." Yin Lisheng panicked immediately. He couldn't bear to see Fu Yunshu being questioned, so without thinking, he rushed up to prove Chu Yu's identity in the simplest way, never expecting to anger his master.

"Who is your master? I have never taught you to harm your own body." Fu Yunshu was both distressed and angry, and her tone was not kind.

Yin Lisheng immediately switched to a coquettish mode, softening her voice to beg for forgiveness: "Master, I'm sorry, I was wrong, I will never do such a thing again."

His appearance was completely different from when he was about to kill someone.

Although he was very happy that his master cared about him so much, Yin Lisheng was even more afraid that his master would get sick from being upset.

"Ahem—" Ji Yuanbai cleared his throat twice, reminding the master and disciple to be mindful of the occasion.

But his own thoughts drifted away involuntarily. Immortal Venerable Huaiwei was currently the highest-ranking figure in the cultivation world, with the Qingyuan Sect, a great sect with ten thousand years of history, as his backing. If he wanted to marry such a person, the betrothal gifts would have to be substantial, otherwise Li Sheng would be looked down upon.

My brother and sister-in-law eloped back then, and I didn't get to see their wedding ceremony or prepare anything for them. Now that my nephew has someone he likes, we can't let him down this time; we have to make it a grand affair.

Ji Yuanbai began to ponder what valuable items the Ji family treasury held, only to discover that the old man had already squandered all the precious things. So he started thinking about which secret realm he should rob (crossed out) and explore.

...

"The reason why the Yin family has been guarding the northern border for generations is because their direct bloodline is naturally able to counter the illusion magic of the demon race. Which branch of the Yin family are you from?" Qin Lianyue asked.

"That's none of Palace Master Qin's concern. Just tell me if she's a demon or not," Yin Lisheng retorted coldly.

Qin Lianyue remained silent, her body swaying slightly before she was supported by a disciple beside her. She looked at Chu Yu's face—that familiar face, always carrying a gentle smile, now pale and cold. The disciple she had raised for so many years was actually a demon race saintess… This fact was unbearable for her.

Duan Xuan was still deceiving herself, "No...it's impossible...how could my senior sister be a demon...she was so good to me...we spent so many years together...how could she be a demon..." Duan Xuan shook her head, tears streaming down her face.

Yin Lisheng remained standing in front of her without moving. He looked at Duan Xuan and said calmly, "Junior Sister Duan, I know you are sad, but Master would not kill someone for no reason. Chu Yu did something he shouldn't have done, causing the deaths of many fellow disciples in the camp. That is a fact."

"That wasn't her choice!" Duan Xuan suddenly shouted. "She must have had her reasons! She must have been forced! Senior Sister is so kind, she wouldn't intentionally harm anyone!"

Fu Yunshu paused for a moment, then said, "No matter what, this is not a reason for her to harm her fellow disciples."

"No, I don't believe it!" She completely broke down.

"Ah Xuan!" Qin Lianyue shouted angrily, "Are you possessed!"

Duan Xuan's voice lowered, turning into suppressed sobs. She knew Fu Yunshu was right, but she couldn't accept that the person who had cared for her like a sister and accompanied her as she grew up had suddenly become an enemy and died in front of her. The blow was too great.

Yin Lisheng looked at Duan Xuan, who was sobbing uncontrollably, and tightened his grip on his sword, but still did not move aside. He turned to look at Fu Yunshu, his eyes questioning.

Fu Yunshu gently shook his head at him, indicating that he didn't need to be nervous.

Qin Lianyue walked to Duan Xuan's side and gently hugged her.

“Ah Xuan, don’t cry,” her voice was also choked with sobs. “We’ll investigate this matter slowly when we get back. Let’s deal with the immediate issues first.”

She raised her head and looked at Fu Yunshu, her eyes filled with complex emotions: "Immortal Venerable Huaiwei, I trust your judgment. Since Chu Yu has made her choice, she must bear the consequences."

"But... could you please return her remains to Miaoyin Palace? I would like to... give her a proper burial."

Fu Yunshu nodded: "Okay."

Ji Yuanbai also spoke up, saying, "Palace Master Qin, please accept my condolences."

Qin Lianyue said no more, and after greeting everyone, she left with Duan Xuan.

Gu Zhinan returned to the camp with Yan Nanqiu first. After handing Yan Nanqiu over to Ning Xuexi, he went straight to find Song Wenzhuo to tell him the good news.

To his surprise, as soon as he lifted the curtain, he saw Song Wenzhu lying on the bed, pale as a ghost, with Lu Yanci standing beside him.

"Wen Zhuo!" He practically lunged at her. "What's wrong with you?"

Gu Zhinan could sense that Song Wenzhuo was in very bad condition at the moment, with weak breath and spiritual energy draining from his body.

Song Wenzhuo remained unconscious, while Lu Yanci sighed beside him.

"Peak Master Gu, please accept my condolences and prepare for the worst. Sect Master Song's days are numbered."