Yun Xian had only been locked up in the small dark room for one night, but he already felt like he was going to get moldy.

The death cell at the Body-Building Gate was indeed well-built, with solid bricks and heavy shackles. After she saw Tiedan leave, she tried to stretch her legs out, but the formation at the door nearly shocked her hair. Ultimately, she gave up and paced back and forth inside the cell, until Xue Lingxiu couldn't stand it anymore and said, "Could you just sit quietly for half an hour?"

Yun Xian, a child with ADHD, said, "But it's really boring."

She could stay in her room all night, but once she was forbidden from leaving, Yun Xian's rebellious nature began to rise. The others meditated, rested, and everything was quiet. Darkness passed in a flash, and daylight returned. The Body Strengthening Sect's daily morning horn sounded as usual, majestic and deafening.

"After such a big incident, are you still practicing martial arts as usual?" Qiao Lingshan wondered. "I think the Sword Sect at least takes one day off every two weeks."

"It's okay." Yun Xian was worried that no one would talk to her, and said, "I guess they will practice as usual on the day when Master Qiu passes away. At most, they will change the horn to a suona." Practicing martial arts and sending off the dead at the same time is a very physical training school.

Qiao Lingshan: “…”

Xue Lingxiu was observing the wound on Qiu Mo's body. After all, this was the same wound his third sister, Li Pei, had tried to treat, using similar techniques. But as he watched, he noticed that Ji Shang had meanly turned his back, avoiding his gaze and preventing him from seeing.

As if afraid that he would snatch it away.

It's already rotten like that, who would want to grab it?

Looking at Jiang Lancui on the other side, he seemed to be still thinking about what he had just said. He was eager to pull him up to compare heights.

Who wants to compete with something that can be known at a glance?

Xue Lingxiu felt that there were really few normal people in this room. If he stayed any longer, he would become abnormal too!

He was already feeling annoyed, and Yun Xian was still walking around in front of him at this time, which was really annoying. And Xue Lingxiu had reason to suspect that she was doing it on purpose. If he hadn't said she was annoyed, she wouldn't move towards him, but when he did, she kept moving in front of him. Where did she get such abundant energy? Xue Lingxiu endured it again and again, and finally said, "Then who, take your junior sister away."

"What's wrong? This place is so big, and you won't let me leave?" Yun Xian said confidently, "I just want to stretch my body."

"Just in time." Su Chi said, "I haven't practiced sword for two hours today."

Yun Xian: "...Why are you so sleepy all of a sudden?"

After a long while, Yun Xian finally lay down quietly. Su Chi saw her pretending to sleep, her eyelids rolling up and down, with a faint smile in her eyes.

Regardless, the group was now trapped in the dungeon. No matter what, they could only wait for Ji Rongxue's decision. They could only leave when she was willing to release them. According to Jiang Lancui, this place was much better than where he had been imprisoned before. At least there were no rats or bugs, it wasn't too dry or damp, and they even had three meals delivered to them every day.

But no matter how good it is, it limits freedom.

Qi Zhiye said stiffly, "I wonder how long she'll keep us locked up until she's satisfied."

"Sure, sure." Xue Lingxiu chuckled. "It'll take three days to deal with the guests' mouths. Then, it'll take ten days to beat up all the elders and stewards. And then we'll gather up all the remaining miscellaneous items. In about half a month, we'll be able to get out."

Jiang Lancui listened and couldn't help but laugh, "Are you really friends?!"

From a moral and logical point of view, this matter is not quite justifiable. Everyone who has come to the Body Strengthening Sect these days, not to say that they are devoting themselves to it until their death, but at least they have put their lives on the line.

When Ji Rongxue got the seal of the leader, everyone protected her without considering whether they would get hurt. But she turned around and threw them into the dungeon. Although I can understand it, I still feel a little uncomfortable.

"The eldest lady is not that kind of person." Feng Ye said weakly in the corner, "She may have her own considerations."

Oh, Jiang Lan raised her eyebrows and asked: "You consider her, but has she considered you?"

"..." Feng Ye was speechless. After a long while, he stammered, "Maybe... I'm just... being more cautious. After all, this matter is of great importance, and we must be absolutely sure."

These people are really inexplicable. Even in such a situation, they still want to speak up for others. Where do they get the confidence from? Jiang Lan urged in disbelief: "Is this how you Qin cultivators make friends? If you don't know, you would think you are a bald donkey."

It's endless, isn't it? Qi Xingye asked sharply, "Who are you calling a bald donkey?"

Jiang Lancui felt wronged. There was no monk here, so he called him a bald donkey: "I didn't scold you!"

"Well," Yun Xian said, "He's a monk. A real monk. He just hasn't shaved his head."

Jiang Lan urged: "...Ami tofu."

Qi Zhiye: "Get lost!!"

The weather was hot and irritable, and everyone was in a bad mood, easily exasperated. Yun Xian was trying to persuade others, and in the midst of the chaos, Feng Ye suddenly said, "...it's just that she doesn't trust us as much as we trust her."

The cell fell silent for a moment.

After a while, Qiao Lingshan frowned and said, "Feng Ye, what are you talking about?"

"Isn't it?" Feng Ye stuttered, "She has never turned her back on us...even to me. I'm just a zither cultivator, let alone others? And now, she knows clearly that we can't snatch it from her...even if she pretends on the surface! We treat her as a friend, but she..."

He didn't finish his words, but the implication was clear. Only this time, no one interrupted him, and the room was filled with silence.

Apparently, he wasn't the only one who thought this way. It was just that no one wanted to say it out loud. It wasn't a good look.

"Forget it. Let's not talk about this for now." Seeing that no one was talking, Yun Xian abruptly changed the subject and said, "Fellow Daoist Jiang, now that things have come to this, you and we are already in the same boat. Now, can you tell us who hired you to assassinate Ji Rongxue?"

Although it was highly likely that Jiang Lan's urging was just an excuse for Jiang Fengtian to come in and cooperate with the plan. By saying he was looking for his son, he was able to perfectly stay out of the situation like Yun Xian and his group, not getting involved in the party struggle. Although Jiang Fengtian did not have the opportunity to take action until the end, there was still a world of difference between having it and not having it.

With his cultivation level, he was able to save Nan Ronghong's life from the two previous waves of people.

However, Yun Xian knew from seeing Jiang Lancui's expression that he was probably still in his rebellious phase, believing himself to be the best in the world. It was a good thing he didn't fight with Jiang Fengtian, so why would he be so obedient in helping others? Sure enough, Jiang Lancui sneered and said, "Isn't he right next to me?"

Yun Xian's gaze shifted over, his expression fixed.

Beside him is Ji Shang!

"Speak clearly." Qi Zhiye's golden eyes shone with light, and he asked impatiently, "Is it Qiu Mo or Ji Shang?"

Ji Shang said, "It's me."

“…”

She had been speaking in a gentle voice, but now Qiu Mo's deep voice came out. It was truly unbearable to listen to, making one want to punch themselves to death. Yun Xian's lips twitched as he tried to guess Ji Shang's motives: "Why did you want to kill the young lady? Is it because, uh, you don't love Sect Leader Qiu anymore, so you dislike the young lady and want to..."

"Who is so crazy?" Ji Shang said inexplicably: "I want her blood."

Everyone couldn't help but think, "You're the one with the brain problems! Who else could it be?!"

"What do you want her blood for?" Yun Xian said, "Aunt Ji, since you're out now, let's talk a little. I have a lot of things to ask you."

Ji Shang: "I'm sleepy. Go to sleep."

Yun Xian: “?” What’s this? Learn from the barbarians to defeat them?

"You should tell me." Yun Xian gave up trying to communicate with her and continued, "You said you wanted blood, but you didn't say you wanted my life, right?"

"Yes. Or rather, 'As long as there's blood, no life.'" Jiang Lan corrected her, paused, and then said proudly, "Otherwise, how could you stop me? If I really wanted to kill her, she would have died long ago."

It seems that he is still very worried about the fishing nets on the treasure ship.

Jiang Lan urged, "The premise is that I can't use my own weapons. I have to use a knife, and the knife must be returned to her. She gave me the knife, spirit stones, ten spirit herbs, and a root bone pill."

"Root Bone Pill?" Yun Xian had a slight aversion to anything with the word "root bone" in it. Perhaps he was disgusted by the slimy demon core he had fished out of the Sword Sect's spiritual spring. He asked, "Brother Xue, is there such a thing? What kind of magic pill can work on root bones?"

Xue Lingxiu said briefly, "Dreaming is faster."

It is said that one's constitution is innate and cannot be changed, but why do some people just refuse to believe it?

"It seems that 'that thing' asked Ji Shang to do this." Yun Xian said thoughtfully: "Fellow Daoist Jiang, you didn't eat those ghost pills, did you?"

Jiang Lancui's face froze: "I ate it."

"Just eat it." Thinking that such a small amount wouldn't cause any serious side effects, Yun Xian said lovingly, "It's okay. Next time, remember not to eat anything given to you by strangers when you're out, okay? And, where's the knife?"

Jiang Lancui said bluntly, "It was taken away. I'm also surprised. The knife looks like an ordinary weapon, but it's very sharp. I've never used such a useful knife before."

As soon as he finished speaking, Su Chi, who had been silent the whole time, suddenly opened his mouth and said coldly, "Take it out."

Yun Xian: "Huh? Liing? Oh, I won't take it away, just take it and let me see it!"

"...Fuck?" Jiang Lan asked, "How do you know it's still there?! You have X-ray vision!!"

After a moment, the small knife was placed in front of everyone.

It was called a knife, but it looked more like a dagger. The blade was sharp, gleaming with a dull black glow. Dark lines entwined the blade, and the grooves on it still held the blood from when Ji Rongxue had been wounded. However, this blood seemed to have been assimilated, emitting a strange, foul odor.

"This knife looks fishy, ​​and you're planning to steal it too? Is Thirteen Spices really that unprofitable?" Yun Xian covered his nose, waved his hand to disperse the smell, and complained, "No wonder you smell like pickled vegetables stewed with pork kidneys for thirty days without even lifting the lid. I thought you were too embarrassed to tell me because you'd been in the dungeon for too long and neglected your hygiene. Turns out it's because of this!"

"What kind of a crappy description is that? What do you usually eat? And what do you think I want?" Jiang Lan said angrily, "This blood is proof that I completed the mission! Otherwise, who would know who injured her?"

Qi Zhiye frowned and reached out his hand.

The golden light slowly and firmly enveloped the blade, and the dark patterns on it suddenly squirmed and deformed as if alive, making a "sizzling" burning sound, like a child's scream, and the stench became stronger. At the moment before the patterns were about to dissipate, the pattern vaguely and strangely turned into the shape of an eye, with a dark eyeball, as if peeping out.

Qi Zhiye withdrew his hand and was about to speak when the lines that had just disappeared came back around him like a ghost.

It's so dark that it makes people feel disgusted just by looking at it.

"...Devil's sword, devil's book, devil's man." Qiao Lingshan said solemnly, "What will happen if this sword is stained with human blood? This will definitely be bad for the young lady!"

Xue Lingxiu looked at the shape of the blade and suddenly thought of something. He whispered "I'm sorry" to Qiu Mo, and continued to say "I'm sorry!" to the empty shell Ji Shang. Then he carefully used the handle of the fan to lift the corner of Ji Shang's clothes.

As expected.

Ji Shang actually had an identical magic sword on his waist!

Everyone held their breath.

"I've been wondering before, no matter how predatory the demonic energy is, how could she easily possess Qiu Mo's body given her limited cultivation and the huge gap between us?" Qi Zhiye said solemnly, "Nan Ronghong saw her climbing in through the window in the middle of the night, slashing and carving with a knife. How much of Qiu Mo's blood was stained on that knife?"

If you want to directly take over a person's body, it's too difficult. First, use this magic knife to injure the opponent, just like opening a "gap" in their body. If there is a first one, there will be a second one, and so on...

Jiang Lancui didn't follow the class and asked in confusion, "What are you talking about? This knife may not look like a decent item, but it might be a bad thing, right?"

There were many sects in the Four Realms, some more respectable and some less so. He remembered that in the Southern Realm, there was a sect that refined the bones of dead people to drive spirits, but they were still doing well, at most attracting a few gossips that damaged their moral character.

"I'm sorry, Brother Jiang, this is an urgent matter. I don't have time to talk to you right now." Yun Xian picked up the knife and said perfunctorily, "Go ask your father when we get out."

Jiang Lan urged: "..."

How ridiculous! When had he, the world's number one assassin, ever suffered such humiliation?!

Yun Xian studied the knife for a long time, but the clue was interrupted here.

Just as she had a vague premonition at the beginning, someone had planned the incident involving Ji Shang and Nan Ronghong, dispatching Jiang Lan to hasten the assassination of Ji Rongxue. Using clues from the magic book of the Xiaoshi Town cultivators, they deliberately lured Ji Rongxue and her group to the Body-Tempering Sect to attend the funeral banquet.

Now, Ji Rongxue, distrustful of the group, had isolated everyone in the dungeon. She was left alone with only her subordinate, He Zhilin, and the other disciples of the Body Forging Sect, who were completely unaware of the demonic situation. If that thing were to strike, she would be like Senior Mingren back then, completely isolated and helpless!

Is this the situation "it" wants to see? Is Nan Ronghong also a link in this, at this weakest moment when the Body Forging Sect is in need of reconstruction...

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said those words just now." Feng Ye seemed to feel that his tone was too harsh, and said weakly: "What should we do? We can't get out now..."

"Let's wait." Yun Xian sighed, looking extremely tired: "We can only wait."

Ten days passed in a flash.

It must be said that every one of these guests who came to the Body Strengthening Sect was a skilled practitioner of flexibility, advancing when the wind was favorable and retreating when the wind was unfavorable, following whoever had the upper hand. Only at the beginning, there were a few stubborn people who refused to change their tune. Under Ji Rongxue's care, the guests were now dispersed into single rooms, but now shared a common mouth:

"Master Ji is truly a young and promising man! Haha! No wonder Master Qiu praised you highly even after his death!"

"Excuse me for being blunt, but I really don't understand why there would be any objections. Apart from you, Sect Leader Ji, is there anyone else who can do this? No! Not before, not now, and not in the future!"

"Actually, my relationship with Fellow Daoist Qiu Dan isn't that close. We've only had a few meals together and chatted a few times. I can clearly distinguish between right and wrong, public and private."

"Master Ji, don't worry. I sincerely mean it. What? Change your words? Why change your words? There are so many people here. If anyone says something stupid, I, Old Hong, will be the first to whip him!"

“…”

Nan Ronghong had already killed several of the thirty-two stewards, and Ji Rongxue had also killed several more. Now, if you counted them all, there were only about twenty-two. They looked rather lackluster, finally drooping.

Stewards were the backbone of the sect, and who sat on the headship wasn't actually that important to them. The important thing was that they couldn't be foolish. The sect was a massive organization, and every part had to be carefully managed. Twenty or so stewards were in charge of fifteen halls, and Ji Rongxue, after beating them, offered a sweet treat, promising that every hall would receive a generous amount of silver and spirit stones.

Next, it’s the elders’ turn.

The elders' weak points were all controlled, and they were also bound by the Sect Leader's seal. Their lives depended on Ji Rongxue's whim. Ji Rongxue didn't impose the same harsh pressure she had on the steward. Instead, she told them that if they wanted to leave the Body Refining Sect and seek other opportunities, they could do so now, and she wouldn't stop them.

But it's easy to imagine that the elders, after so many years in the Body Tempering Sect and accumulating so many root systems, are unlikely to just walk away at this moment. This kind of thing depends on whether someone steps forward. If someone truly wants to leave, then others will surely follow, but unfortunately, everyone's thoughts aren't quite on the same page.

The first elder is dead, the second elder is dead, and now the chief position should be taken by the third elder.

The Third Elder sighed for several days before finally making his final decision: "I submit to you. From now on, I will loyally assist you."

Naturally, his decision was tinged with guilt towards Nan Ronghong and Ji Shang—somewhat, but not overwhelmingly. Ji Rongxue had brought his clansmen to the Body Refining Sect for "careful care," and he understood what that meant. Furthermore, Ji Rongxue had a close relationship with Yun Xian and his group. Looking closely, Yun Xian, Qi Xingye, Xue Lingxiu, Su Chi... were all key figures in the sect's future. If this network of relationships could be well established, the Body Refining Sect would undoubtedly be a significant force in the future.

It doesn’t matter whether we are friends or not, as long as our interests are connected, that’s enough.

The only bad thing is that Ji Rongxue is still too young.

But since he made the decision, he had to take the risk.

Fifteen days later, everything was finally settled. The inauguration ceremony for the Sect Leader, originally scheduled for the day after the funeral banquet, had now been postponed for a full two weeks. The sects to which the guests belonged, sensing something was amiss, became restless and sent letters to the Body Strengthening Sect, inquiring about the matter. Ji Rongxue watched them respond to each letter before turning and leaving.

There was another cold wind howling outside the door.

Tiedan followed her and said, "Miss, it's almost winter."

In the far north, it's winter all year round. Whether it's winter or not makes no difference to her. Ji Rongxue said, "I know."

Tiedan seemed to want to say something, but he didn't know whether he should say it. After a long pause, he said, "From now on, I may rarely see Xia Tian again."

Ji Rongxue's throat rolled over and he said, "I know."

Since she has succeeded the headmaster, she cannot go out unless it is a major event. For at least three years, she will have to sit in the main hall and face this endless snowstorm.

The Four-Way War took place in the summer. The air was hot and sticky, and the crowds were enormous. She didn't really like it, but for her, many people's memories began in the summer.

"How are Yun Xian and the others?" Ji Rongxue avoided the topic and asked, "Have the medicines been delivered?"

"We did, but Fellow Daoist Xue didn't use it. He said he had it with him and didn't need... ours." Tiedan said, trying to pick out the good parts. "Three meals a day were delivered as usual, but... the room is too small, it's a bit stuffy."

"Yes." Ji Rongxue walked into the main hall and said, "Please invite them to the coronation ceremony tomorrow."

Tiedan said: "Miss, this..."

He was a straightforward person, and he really didn't hide his emotions. His face was almost completely filled with the thought of "what if they don't want to come?" It seemed that the mood of the group over the past ten days was definitely not as calm as he said.

"Just invite them. Don't worry about anything else." Ji Rongxue seemed to want to make amends and added, "By the way, return all the weapons to them."

Tiedan replied "yes" and left the hall.

Ten days was enough time for the disciples to complete the renovation of the Body Tempering Sect's main hall. It was even more majestic and lofty than the previous main hall. Ji Rongxue had originally had no idea where he would live or what the main hall looked like, but when the work was almost finished, he suddenly had the black tiles on the roof replaced with bright red glazed tiles, the cold black iron framed by white jade.

Sure enough, with this little bit of color, the main hall instantly appeared brighter among the surrounding black iron and white snow, like a burning flame on the snowy field.

She went back to her room and closed the door.

The hall was very empty. All of Qiu Mo's things had been destroyed. Now there was only a cold jade bed that could temporarily suppress the invasion of her extremely fire-attributed spiritual energy. In an inconspicuous corner under the bed was the shabby doghouse.

That voice began to ring in Ji Rongxue's ears again.

Ten days and ten nights without stopping.

"Do you think you can pretend not to see it by not looking at it?"

Ji Rongxue still said the same word: "Get lost."

"You replaced the glazed tiles and covered the corners. Why?" the voice drifted in. "Because when Yun Xian first arrived, she said all the buildings were dark and dreary, and she hit her head on the corner when she fell? She just said it so casually, and yet you eagerly rushed to do it. What a shame, what's the point? You're just a friend she helped out. There are so many people who are more important to her than you, who are truly sincere to her. How ridiculous."

"Look at you again, you don't even dare to show your true face."

"What do you want to say?" Ji Rongxue said indifferently, "I'm not doing this to please anyone."

The voice laughed. "Do you believe what I said? You're right, you know it too well. Even your attempts at pleasing others are so clumsy, not even one ten-thousandth as good as others. When you were younger, you tried so hard to attract Ji Shang's attention and get your mother to like you. When you grew up, you tried to integrate into the Body Refining Sect and please the elders and stewards, but it was all in vain, wasn't it? Instead, you were looked down upon by others. It's the same, all the same."

Ji Rongxue took a deep breath and said, "What do you want in exchange for letting me go?"

The formation was useless, the magic weapon was useless. This voice seemed to be rooted in her mind, but no matter how hard she listened, she could only distinguish that it was her own voice.

"Let you go? Why do you say that?" The voice said gently, "I'm not here to harm you. I'm here to help you."

It was late at night, and Ji Rongxue sat at the head of the bed in a daze. The voice continued to ring all night until the horn for the master's accession ceremony began to sound outside the hall.

“Trust and love are the most useless things in the world. Because for you, you will never get them.”

"What you desperately need is to become stronger. As long as you become stronger, everyone will fear you... Don't you want to stop the demonic plague? How can you stop it now? You are too weak, and they are too weak. You shouldn't waste your time here. Instead, you should pursue higher peaks."

"Human feelings are too cheap and not worth mentioning. It's only been a few days and they're already resentful of you. Why do you have to do that?"

"Why should I..."

Tiedan's voice echoed from the outer door. Ji Rongxue had sat there all night, his eyes bloodshot. Finally, he stood up, his expression incredibly clear.

The headmaster of the Body-Building Sect wore a lightweight suit of armor inlaid with glazed gemstones, which looped around his neck. Draped in snow lion fur, representing the highest level of cultivation, it exuded a cool, yet noble air.

She put on her armor and, with the guards on both sides bowing their heads, she walked up the long steps to the main hall.

The other side was already full of guests, who seemed unaffected by the previous disturbance. They raised their chopsticks, drank, and talked and laughed.

"Drink! Drink! I'll drink, you can do whatever you want!"

"We are gathered here today to celebrate the succession of Sect Leader Ji, whom we have watched grow up."

"From now on, the future is limitless! Everything will be smooth sailing!"

Ji Rongxue looked at it without any fluctuation on his face.

Yun Xian sat quietly in a familiar seat far away, not touching anything on the table. He had a cold expression on his face. He knew that Ji Rongxue had come, but he deliberately avoided her.

The others also had indifferent expressions, seemingly wanting to just maintain the surface.

Tiedan was behind her, pursing his lips and saying, "Miss, at least they are willing to come..."

The voice said, "You're willing to come, so you want to leave quickly after this?"

Ji Rongxue said: "Yes."

"You're still giving them weapons. Aren't you afraid they'll turn against you? Aren't you afraid they'll betray you?" The voice rose slightly, and said solemnly, "Even if there are elite guards outside the palace and the formation is assembled, you clearly know you can't bring yourself to attack them."

Ji Rongxue said: "Yes."

"..." The voice finally asked, "What do you mean by 'right'? What do you mean?"

"What I mean is, everything you said is right. Hmm. Anything else?" Ji Rongxue completely stepped into the main hall. The surrounding formations activated, and the inner disciples lined up in front of the hall. The guests were instantly silenced. She slowly said, "I'm not strong, I'm very weak. I don't need to treat people sincerely, so I can't be liked. My father is dead, and my mother is crazy. Neither of them has ever loved me. I have a good friend, and I have many friends. I'm not the only one. They don't trust me, and I don't trust them either - that's right, that's right, everything you said is right."

The voice: "Then why did you invite them?"

"Ha." Ji Rongxue finally couldn't help but chuckle, his eyes as cold as snow: "Otherwise, how am I going to lure you out?"

“…”

“…”

In an instant, the sword was unsheathed, and all the acupoints on his body were tightly sealed. The needles were inserted into them, locking the vital points. The purple gold bowl, a treasured Buddhist treasure, hung above his head, and the golden light enveloped his figure, preventing him from leaving. The leader was placed on his neck, the sword blade only millimeters away from his throat. Yun Xian's voice came from above his head:

"I don't know if this is my older brother or sister, are you here? Please reply if you get it." Yun Xian said coldly, "May I ask if you know one thing: pyramid schemes are prohibited in the world of cultivation?"

“…”

It wanted to leave, but its body was trapped inside this shell and it couldn't move at all.

The guests rushed out from the side door, and the whole hall instantly turned into a prison, with elite soldiers watching covetously outside, and inside... a group of little brats whose combined age was not even one percent of theirs.

If you walk by the river often, you will get your feet wet.

"..." Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Feng Ye finally raised his drooping eyelids, curled the corners of his lips, and smiled, "Can you tell me what's wrong with me?"

It was clear that he was using the same body, but Feng Ye usually looked like a timid and easily frightened musician. Now, he had curved eyebrows and a friendly smile, but from the corners of his eyes and eyebrows, there was an unconcealable devilish and passionate aura that made his face look quite stunning.

Qi Zhiye said: "Don't laugh like that, it looks disgusting."

Qiao Lingshan said silently: "I agree this time..."

"I've been thinking that your infiltration target seems to have been the major sects of the four realms from the beginning. You've got the Buddhist Sect, the Swordsmith Sect, and even the Wonderful Hands Sect and the Lute Workshop. So, I'm wondering why there's really no trace of them at all in the Sword Pavilion?"

"I'm absolutely certain there's no demonic energy within the Sword Pavilion. Back then, the only ascended sword immortal in the Four Realms suppressed the demonic sword in this realm and ascended to heaven. The demonic sword was once wielded by someone else... You were truly devastated back then, weren't you? Are you scared? Why did the decline of fortune first target the Eastern Realm, or rather, the Sword Pavilion? Because you were afraid. You were afraid that another descendant of the sword immortal would appear in the Sword Pavilion and suppress your weapon, shattering your form, leaving you to survive by attaching yourself to others for hundreds or thousands of years!"

"That's an interesting guess." Feng Ye clapped his hands and laughed. "How can you be so sure there's no demonic energy within the Sword Pavilion? You brought the Demon Sword Taiping out, but how do you know you won't be the next to be possessed by the demon? Who will be able to stop you then?"

"Haha, you don't know that." Nonsense, if there was demonic energy, Taiping would have been lying there for so many years, how could he not see it? As for whether he was possessed by a demon or not, Yun Xian stood proudly and said, "Because my brain is slippery, any words I don't want to hear will bounce off it!"

Feng Ye: "..."

Everyone: “…”

Xue Lingxiu collapsed: "I beg you to stop embarrassing yourself!!"

"Jimo Shu is doing this just because you disobeyed me?" Feng Ye, with so many swords pressed against his neck, looked at Yun Xian calmly and said, "I really can't understand it."

Yun Xian: "How is the Saint Lady now?"

Feng Ye chuckled again and said jokingly, "I'll tell you, will you let me go?"

"What do you think?" Yun Xian continued, "The Demonic Book, the Demonic Core, the Root Bone Pill, the Sorrow and Joy Altar... those who use these now have gained tangible benefits, but there will be endless troubles. However, since these 'future troubles' have not yet erupted on a large scale, they will not be believed. If there is benefit, people will flock to it. It cannot be stopped by one or two people, or even one or two sects."

"How did you know I would come?" Feng Ye even poured himself a glass of wine and said slowly, "Did you find the knife? And how did you convince Ji Shang to return to his body?"

In truth, it was just speculation at first. A hundred years had passed since Ming Ren. During that time, the Four Realms had maintained a semblance of peace, and this kind of unrest had rarely occurred. How could Chi You ignore this opportunity? If he hadn't come to the Body Refining Sect, he would have gone looking for Zhong Changyao. Now that Zhong Changyao was alive and well, that option was ruled out.

Furthermore, sending other demons was unlikely. First, the young saintly maiden Jimo Shu, originally assigned for this mission, had neglected her duties, instead following Yun Xian around daily, seemingly becoming a pillar of the righteous path. She even transformed her demonic essence into demonic stones and gave them to Yun Xian. Second, the demonic sword Taiping, which constantly screamed an alarm, could also detect demonic energy. Unless someone with a cultivation far superior to that of this demon and sword, it would be impossible to conceal it. Third, it was clear that the demon Chi You had no faith in anything.

It was indeed a guess at first, but since Feng Ye started to behave abnormally, this guess has become more and more solid.

After Yun Xian discovered the demonic blade, he speculated that it likely required conditions to possess a human. The higher the cultivation level and the stronger the luck, the more demanding the conditions. For example, to possess Qiu Mo, one must first inflict a wound with the demonic blade and then use Ji Shang to clear the way. Feng Ye was simply unlucky, with no cultivation level and poor luck. And now, he'd been kicked out of his place.

Yun Xian thought about all this in an instant, but said, "No answer."

Feng Ye wasn't annoyed. With a look of innocent curiosity, he asked Yun Xian, "Can you tell me where I went wrong? My memory, my technique, my personality, my tone. Everything is exactly the same, so how did you find it?"

"...You don't really think you're a good actor, do you?" Yun Xian choked and said, "First, you let it slip back on the treasure ship. When we first met Jiang Lancui, Lingshan started talking to you, and you started talking about 'Chief Thirteen Spices'. How did you know he was the leader? He looked mentally retarded at the time."

"Secondly, Feng Ye can't possibly not bring his zither. Although he always says that it's useless for him to bring his zither, you don't understand at all. One of the reasons why he's still fighting is to make himself seem less useless! He can even play the zither while unconscious. Do you know what zither cultivation is? How dare you not bring your zither!"

"The third mistake you made is also the most fatal one."

Yun Xian pointed at him and said, "Feng Ye's presence is weak, but he's not quiet. He talks a lot, but only in certain situations! Two exits appeared in the Demon Realm, and you absolutely shouldn't have offered suggestions at that time. You have to know that Feng Ye would never, at this moment, offer any constructive suggestions! The most he dared to say was—"

Everyone in the group said in unison: "That's right!"