Seeing her expression as if she was about to vomit, Xue Lingxiu was stunned and asked, "What's wrong? Haven't you seen this before in the secret realm of war?"

At that time, the ancient battlefield was littered with broken limbs, but she didn't vomit.

“I’ve seen it before…” Yun Xian complained, “But I wouldn’t be staring at you like that! The blood is about to spray on my face!”

"It's not 'all.'" Li Batu came over, carrying a suitcase, and wiped her face twice with his sleeve. The force was so strong that Yun Xian's head shook. "It's already been sprayed on."

Yun Xian: “…”

When Su Chi came back, he saw Yun Xian, who was clean just now, with blood spots all over his head and body. He was visibly stunned.

"Big Brother, what's the matter?" Yun Xian quickly adjusted himself and asked the most important question first, "Are there any more demons nearby?"

"Yes." Su Chi said, "I killed two."

It was unclear whether it was a coincidence or deliberate. At this time of year, the labor force was mostly out, and those left behind were either children, the elderly, or the seriously ill. The village was remote, unlike the southern city center, where guards were constantly stationed. If they hadn't arrived in time, a few demons might have massacred the village.

Halfway through her words, the headless corpse on the ground trembled and began to combust without wind. Yun Xian frowned and watched as his head, which was still open, turned into ashes in an instant. The wind blew away and disappeared without a trace, leaving only the dirty blood that had seeped into the soil on the ground and flowed to her feet, along with a very strange fragrance.

"The same thing happened to the two people I killed." Su Chi said, "The demonic essence took root, devouring not only their spiritual roots and spiritual energy, but also their flesh and blood."

Xue Lingxiu sneered and said, "That's really thoughtful. There's no evidence after death?"

Now is the most tense moment of stalemate, and the Demon Cult has not made a single move yet.

Chi You might not even notice her coming, but given his demonic nature, he definitely wouldn't stay at the pleasure boat any longer.

"Let's not talk about this for now." Yun Xian wiped the tip of his shoe on the ground and said, "Second Sect Leader, you haven't been heard from these days. What have you been doing? Brother Xue, why are you here?"

Li Batu asked, "Didn't you say you were going to destroy the Lingxu Sect?"

The wind blew, and the stench of blood on her body drifted close to Yun Xian's nose, extremely strong. She raised her hand and sniffed her forearm, saying, "Ah. It stinks."

"I received the signal she sent and came to find her." Xue Lingxiu said, "And I'll deal with the scene at the same time."

"...Oh. Looks like everything's fine." Li Batu said as a matter of course. Yun Xian couldn't help but look at the small suitcase in her hand. "So, what is this?"

Li Batu said without blinking, "Local specialties of South City."

Yun Xian: "What local specialties?"

"Master of Lingxu Sect." Li Batu teased her, "You want to see it? Forget it, it's not very interesting now."

Yun Xian: "...Sect Leader, you are the second funniest person I have ever met."

The last person who was so humorous was Ji Rongxue.

"In this emergency, I need to speak to the Grand Master about something." Yun Xian took the lead and flew towards the Miaoshou Sect on his sword. Not wanting to waste any more time on the road, he called out to the group behind him, "Let's go! I'll talk to you while we walk!"

“…”

During this time, Yun Xian told Xue Li and the others what he had just learned as briefly as possible.

"Chi You is now inside South City?" Li Jianye said firmly, "If that's the case, South City must remain sealed off."

There was never such an opportunity in the past. The Demon Cult has not been able to show up for many years. What's more, the Southern Realm is not in a time of war now. The Miaoshou Sect and various forces are recuperating and are in excellent condition.

"I'm wondering if I should send a letter to the two northwestern realms." Yun Xian said, "Things are unpredictable. The Buddhist sect, the Body Refining Sect, and the Xuanbao Pavilion can all lend a hand."

Not to mention, now there's this inexplicable medicinal pill. Where did this pill come from? Could it really suppress demonic energy? It was probably bullshit; she'd never seen anything that could remove demonic energy. Back at the Body Refining Sect, Ji Shang's demonic blade, stained with Qiu Mo's blood, and Qi Zhiye's purple gold bowl supplemented with Buddha Qi couldn't remove the demonic patterns. And that was directly affecting the body, so what kind of medicinal pill was that?

It's just drinking poison to quench thirst.

"No," Li Jianye said, "Don't alert the enemy. As you said, Chi You doesn't know we know he's here yet. If a small city like Nancheng gathers the elites from the four realms, how could he not know our intentions?"

"...There's one more thing." Xue Lingxiu was thinking about something else the whole way. "There are quite a few people who are scattered throughout the entire South City right now. My second sister and I haven't seen any demons in the bustling areas. Instead, we saw three or four in the most remote places. This is definitely not a coincidence."

Yun Xian looked at him and saw that his beautiful features were filled with worry, and he roughly understood what he meant.

To many in South City, the people of the remote villages weren't considered "people." Or, to put it another way, they were people, but unlike themselves, only "half-people." The stark difference in their living environment convinced them that no matter how horrific the experiences of those people there, they had only a fraction of the world's weight.

A half-human is a half-human, and a human is a human. What does the experience of a half-human have to do with humans? Many people believe that becoming a "half-human" is simply a lack of diligence.

Why not eat meat porridge is never a joke.

Why do demons only dare to operate on this edge?

"We're here." The Miaoshou Sect's main gate quickly appeared before their eyes. Xue Lingxiu clapped his folding fan and said, "I'll have to have the Sect Master send more people to the northern villages to protect them. They're full of the elderly, the weak, women, and children. It's too dangerous to leave them there."

Unexpectedly, there are still distinguished guests visiting the hall today.

Yun Xian looked up and saw Li Jianye still sitting in the main seat. Having barely slept in recent days, her already sallow complexion had become even darker, making her look even more ill.

Sitting next to him was a wealthy scholar-businessman with kind eyes and a slight beard. He was saying something, and Yun Xian didn't know whether he should listen when he saw Li Jianye nod at him imperceptibly.

The group then sat down and listened to the two men exchanging witty remarks.

The Miaoshou Sect has always held absolute dominance in the Southern Realm's trading houses, but no matter how formidable a group is, it can't be all-encompassing. Judging by the reception, the influence of this Confucian merchant shouldn't be underestimated. However, Yun Xian, listening in for a while, felt a tinge of unease lingered between his words.

No matter how it is disguised, the sinister purpose will be exposed at the first sight.

This person spoke in a respectful tone, and flattered everyone to the highest heavens and on the lowest earth. His ultimate goal was to unblock the water transportation routes in South City. If it was just unblocking them, it would be reasonable, but from what he said, he even wanted to take over the management of water transportation.

Not to mention Sect Leader Li, even Yun Xian knew that this was absolutely impossible.

Water brings wealth. The Southern Territory's cargo flows endlessly, with sixty to seventy percent relying on water transport. If I were to just give it to him for nothing, it would be like cutting off my own arm! Is this guy here to provoke me?

Li Jianye didn't get angry. His expression remained calm. He covered his lips and coughed twice, then said calmly, "Are you kidding, Brother Yang?"

The Confucian businessman named Yang stroked his beard, smiled with an ambiguous smile, and suddenly changed the subject.

"It seems strange things are happening all the time in South City these days. Sect Leader Li must be very tired." He smiled and said, "Although the Miaoshou Sect is powerful and can cover the sky with one hand, sometimes they may need the help of a small shrimp like me, right?"

"Oh?" Li Jianye said calmly, "If you are a small shrimp, then the appetites of small shrimps in this world are really bigger than the sky."

Yang Rushang saw her calm face, which seemed unable to change color no matter what happened, and bit her cheek inconspicuously.

"According to Sect Leader Li, you're determined to go against everyone?" Yang Rushang asked, "You're wasting time and money, and you refuse to explain why. Do you, the Miaoshou Sect, really think you're the masters of the Southern Realm? Even if you do, there's no such thing as that!"

Li Jianye restrained his expression slightly and reminded: "You have lost your composure."

"The Immortal-Cheng Powder must be destroyed. Not a single drop of it can leak out. Nancheng must be sealed off until the incident is over." Li Jianye's tone firmed up a bit as he slowly said, "If you have any dissatisfaction... I beg you to forgive me!"

When Yang Rushang was leaving, his anger had subsided a lot, and he even sneered nonsensically before turning around and leaving.

"Miaoshoumen..." He laughed loudly, looking up to the sky, as if thinking of something very satisfying: "Haha!"

When Yun Xian saw his expression, he couldn't help but think that Xue Lingxiu's ability to be weird and not annoying was a great skill.

People came and went, the Confucian merchant left, and Yun Xian and his group went up to talk about the most important things. Grandma Li, who had been waiting for quite some time, brought Li Yuan and brought the medicine up, saying, "Li Da, drink the medicine first."

"Put it aside for now. I'll drink it later." Li Jianye closed his eyes and listened, his emotions unrecognizable. He simply said, "I understand."

"Medicinal pills?" Grandma Li Zu finally understood what she had heard. With a frown on her face, she angrily cursed Yun Xiao, "Which rich beast of the Yan family is this?! You're still trying to make money from this coffin board. Aren't you afraid that one day you'll get sick and no one will treat you, and you'll be eaten by demons?!"

Xue Lingxiu silently covered Li Yuan's ears.

"Grandma." Li Batu's ears were aching from the shock. She scratched them with her little finger and said, "Of course it's a demon. Just now, Young Friend Yun mentioned the pleasure boat, and I immediately sent people there. Now the demon is gone, leaving only an empty boat. This is a serious matter."

"What's so serious about this? Isn't this something that can be solved quickly?!" Grandma Li said, "If they want to eat, let them eat as much as they want. Catch someone and give him free food! Eat as much as he wants! Let everyone see what this person will become!"

Xue Lingxiu said, "What matters now is whether the medicinal pill can really cure people. No, the key point is no longer whether it can be cured, but whether they believe it."

Grandma Li was silent for a moment, then spoke with full energy, "Isn't this simple? We should listen to whoever is a medical practitioner! How can they know if this pill can cure the disease? I guarantee with the reputation of the Miaoshou Sect that this thing is fake, and they still dare to eat it?!"

"...Grandma." Li Batu said with a wry smile, "Miaoshou Sect has told us countless times not to consume Chengxian Powder, yet they're still happily enjoying it behind my back?"

"Then let's do this." Grandma Li Zu continued, "Didn't you say you encountered a demon? Hang the demon's body out for public display."

Li Batu: "It turned into ashes, without a trace left."

Grandma Li Zu: "Someone must have seen it, right?"

"The witnesses, at the moment, are a six-year-old child with a runny nose and two elderly men with blurry eyes and stuttering speech." Li Batu asked, "Will anyone believe what these people say?"

"..." Grandma Li Zu said, "Then this will be faster! Get a few disciples of the Miaoshou Sect to pretend to be possessed by demons, start a disturbance in the streets, and give them a good scare!!"

"No." Li Batu said, "If we are found out, no one will believe anything we say from now on."

"This won't work, and that won't work!! Anyway, nothing can be done!" Grandma Li slammed the table in anger. "Then tell me, what should we do?! In my opinion, don't worry about them! They'll know fear when they die. If you don't listen now, don't come to Miaoshoumen for treatment again! Medical practitioners are not their parents! We have to obey their wishes in everything!"

Li Yuan opened his empty eyes, wanting to say something, but didn't.

"Grandma." Li Jianye, who had been silent the whole time, said behind her, "You don't need to worry about this matter."

Grandma Li said: "Li Da..."

"Disciples' classes are suspended. As Ah Xiu said, you'll be assigned to various corners of the city. If you spot any clues... saving them is your top priority. If you have the strength to do so, drive them away." Li Jianye rubbed his brow wearily. "We also need to find the Demon Cult's second hideout... Yun Xian, I'm afraid your magic stone can't be used anymore. It's too dangerous. In two days, the Lantern Festival will begin, and after that, it's the Miaoshou Sect's annual entrance examination..."

Xue Lingxiu asked, "Do you want to cancel it?"

"Not canceled. Not canceled, but held as usual with all the grandeur." Li Jianye looked out at the tranquility outside the palace, where the golden and silver grass continued to flourish. She frowned and said, "As long as we can hold on for another two days..."

In the past few days, she not only dealt with the overwhelming amount of work, but also had to work with Li Pei to develop an antidote to the Chengxian Powder. Once the demonic energy entered the body, it was irreversible, but there was a narrow buffer zone before it was completely hopeless.

There wasn't much she could do, except to let people know that the plundered cultivation was not theirs in the end. If they lifted the fog that blocked their eyes, what they would get in the end would be nothing but empty illusions.

But no one expected that even these two days could not be waited.

The Lantern Festival is a tradition of the Southern Realm. Monks compete in martial arts, while the audience lights lanterns in celebration. The victor is listed on the Golden List. While it's just a list, naturally, it doesn't count, but everyone knows it's a stepping stone and ladder to success, a path to unstoppable success.

Such a grand event should be jointly organized by all major sects and businesses.

The city was in turmoil, and the Demon Cult was watching covetously. When Li Jianye sat down in the main seat, the disciples of the Miaoshou Sect, dressed in uniform, lined up inside and outside, closely watching any movement.

The sky was as dark as ink. In the middle of the venue, round firefly beads piled up into a small pagoda, dazzling beyond words.

Yun Xian said with a dirty face, "He is really rich and powerful."

Even for a wealthy place like the Qiankun City Auction House, a row of Firefly Beads embedded on the wall was considered a luxury, but to actually use them to build a tower was beyond her poor imagination.

"..." Qi Zhiye frowned and said, "I always smell a faint fragrance."

Yun Xian was stunned for a moment, then quietly put his shoes back on.

Taiping: "...What does this have to do with your shoes?!"

Yun Xian: "Hehe."

Although Jimo Shu told her not to act rashly and to wait and see what happens, Yun Xian was such a restless person, how could she really just sit there and do nothing? She had been running around South City these past few days, hoping to catch a demon or two alive, but to no avail.

Mei Yanliu might have reported the matter of the magic stone, but now she had no reaction. She sneaked into the clinic she had visited last time and stole a bottle of medicine pill, pretending that she had bought it with the ten taels of silver she had left last time. When she returned and asked Xue Lingxiu to investigate, she discovered that the person who developed this medicine pill was indeed very smart, but also very heartless.

Simply put, it only temporarily absorbs the demonic energy and spiritual energy together, like a sponge that stores water. When it can no longer store water, it explodes completely, and there will be no room for struggle.

It's going to rain, so the Dragon King sells umbrellas. One person eats both, and uses them all up.

Gradually, people entered the arena, and the area was already packed with spectators. The Southern Realm preferred grace, posture, and graceful landings to bloody, intense combat. Xue Lingxiu gazed at the person below and said, "This person, it's his turn this year."

This annual lantern festival is mostly attended by young people. Too young, they lack the cultivation; too old, they lack the prestige. Furthermore, most people only attend once—though there are no restrictions on the number of participants in the lantern festival, attending too many times in a row wears off the novelty, like failing the college entrance exam three or four times—it's not that you can't do it, but it's just that people will gossip and criticize you behind your back.

The man that Xue Lingxiu pointed at looked about the same age as the others, but his face was gloomy, and his hands couldn't stop shaking slightly before the fight even started.

According to others, this was his fourth Lantern Festival. He was truly unlucky. He was very strong, but not incredibly strong. He came in second the first time, feeling rather disappointed. He was still hurting before his second attempt, so he came in second again. He thought he'd finally gotten it right the third time, but then a talented competitor emerged that year who was just as strong as him, and he came in second again.

If it were another year, he would have won first place long ago, but he was unlucky and ended up second, second, and second again. Judging from the vicious words of some people, he probably can't escape the title of "eternal runner-up".

Qi Zhiye glanced at him and said, "I have an obsession."

This is a more polite way of saying it. To be more straightforward, if I don't get first place this time, I might really go crazy.

"Yeah." Yun Xian said, "It seems that his mental state before the exam is a bit poor. He's too nervous."

Feng Ye: "What is 'psychological quality'?"

Qiao Lingshan: "It's something you don't have."

"There's only one person this year who's as strong as him," Xue Lingxiu said. "He was injured a while ago, and his bones haven't healed yet. I'm afraid he's no match for him. There's another person in fourth place, but he's been staying indoors lately. He must have given up."

As expected, this Lantern Festival was a sure thing. The man, having fought his way through countless obstacles and slew of enemies, saw the dawn of victory dawning, a smile breaking through his tense face when he heard the crowd suddenly erupt in whispers.

The fourth person actually appeared again! He even looked radiant!

At the same time, Li Jianye, who was sitting in the main seat, suddenly looked cold and hard.

"I smell it again." Qi Zhiye said, "That fragrance."

"..." Yun Xian recalled the strange fragrance that the demon had smelled before it turned into ashes, and said solemnly: "He, used it to disperse."

He was called the Fourth, and everyone knew that his cultivation level had previously been no higher than the First, and in fact, far behind. But now he appeared with such confidence, and within a moment of fighting with that person, the tip of his knife was pointing directly at the First's throat!

Everyone was shocked. This was a complete upset!!

The perennial second-in-command was in disbelief, his fingertips digging into his palms, blood trickling down. Just as he was on the verge of despair, Li Jianye suddenly said from the main seat, "I do not accept this result."

As soon as the words fell, the whole audience fell silent.

"You don't admit it? Why would Sect Leader Li say that?" Yang Rushang, sitting next to him, tried to smooth things over. "A duel ends when the time is right. Winners and losers can be determined. Why wouldn't you admit it?"

Li Jianye said, "He uses crooked methods and relies on shortcuts. If we acknowledge him as number one, it would be unfair to the other cultivators!"

"Unorthodox?" asked another guild leader. "Didn't the Miaoshou Sect say before that the Chengxian Powder is poisonous? It must never be used if it harbours demonic seeds, otherwise it will drive one mad. Are you saying that this cultivator used the Chengxian Powder, which greatly increased his strength and enabled him to overpower the others? Isn't that a contradiction?"

The whispers below continued:

"Yes, yes! Look at this man, he's so radiant!"

"There's no evidence to suggest he used the Immortal Becoming Powder...it's possible he had some kind of fortuitous encounter."

"I've heard rumors before that this tonic was blocked by the Miaoshou Sect when it was first developed. That's why when it first appeared, it had to be disguised as being produced by the Miaoshou Sect. They're really overbearing..."

"Ridiculous!" Li Jianye stood up, his face as gloomy as water, and said, "I've already said that the foundation cannot be improved!"

"So, Master Li is saying that the Sword Sect, one of the four great sects in the Northern Realm, is also engaging in fraud?" Another person laughed and said, "The Sword Sect's spiritual spring is renowned for its ability to refine one's bones. While the effect isn't as pronounced as this, in Master Li's mouth, soaking in it for a few years might drive one mad. I doubt we've ever seen a Sword Sect disciple go mad during the Four-Way War, have we?"

Yun Xian: “Tsk.”

It’s the Sword Sect again…!!!

"Master Li, you've been in charge of affairs in recent years, and you might have neglected medicine." The person next to him said, "There are so many medical clinics in the Southern Realm, and each of them has its own history. Just because your Miaoshou Sect is the leading medical sect doesn't mean you're the pinnacle of medicine, right? Even the God of Medicine wouldn't dare to boast like that! If the Miaoshou Sect can't develop something, can other sects not?"

Li Jianye heard a faint laughter beside his ear.

Yang Rushang cast a playful gaze on her face.

...All the business sects present now surprisingly united and tore their faces off on the spot. They would rather lie with their eyes open, disregard the black and white facts, and disregard human ethics and morality, just to bring down the Miaoshou Sect!

"For the last time, I refuse to acknowledge this outcome," Li Jianye said indifferently. "You have two choices. First, you follow me back to my clan. One day later, take the Huayuan Pill to dissolve the Chengxian Powder, which doesn't belong to you. We can then have a fair fight. Second, the Doudeng Festival will be postponed."

The person who used the scattered words said nothing, but the people below were in an uproar.

"What do you mean it doesn't belong to him? What does Sect Leader Li mean?"

"Postponing the date would be unlucky...postponements weren't a custom in the past, right?"

"Hua Yuan Dan?" Yang Rushang asked, "Other sects go to great lengths to improve their people's cultivation, but the Miao Shou Sect truly takes an unconventional approach, insisting on suppressing people! Master Li keeps saying that Cheng Xian San is a poisonous pill, so can you prove that your Hua Yuan Dan isn't a poisonous pill? Which one looks more like a poisonous pill? Everyone has their own opinions!"

Xue Lingxiu clutched her folding fan tightly and angrily said, "How can you prove this?! This is simply too much!"

"Fourth Young Master Xue is right. How can we prove this? It's all just a matter of the Miaoshou Sect opening their mouths."

Li Jianye lowered his eyes and said, "Then postpone it."

"Postpone? Postpone until when?" The man grinned, "Are we going to postpone it until you, Sect Leader Li, are you satisfied? Since we've already broken the rules, why not break them again? The Dou Lantern Festival will continue until Sect Leader Li is satisfied with the results! Do you agree?"

All the surrounding chambers of commerce burst into laughter.

"Who dares to disagree? The Miaoshou Sect has absolute control over the Southern Realm. If the weather gets cold and you're in a bad mood, we'll bankrupt your entire family!"

"It's clearly just a sect, yet they still cut off your waterways without hesitation. They won't even compensate a penny for the damage caused! What a good sect! A doctor's heart is kind, a doctor's heart is kind!"

"Medical practitioner? I think they are bandits! Treating illnesses and robbing people for money is only natural!"

The disciples of Miaoshou Sect present had always studied medicine within the sect, and had never been ridiculed like this before. They were so angry that their fingers trembled and their chests heaved.

What's wrong with charging a fee for treating illnesses and saving lives?! Do all medical practitioners have to be unable to afford food, live in poverty, and treat patients, leaving them in such a miserable state, in order to satisfy them and to be considered a medical practitioner?!

Li Jianye knew that further talk was pointless. He didn't believe the demonic seed. He didn't believe the demonic cult was here. The Miaoshou Sect had been acting too aggressively recently, and the people were growing restless. Staying any longer would only unsettle the sect. She stood up and left, the rest of the disciples following in a mighty procession, returning to the sect to await further orders.

The "eternal second" watched her leave, and the hope in his eyes gradually turned dead.

The outcome of the Lantern Festival was no longer important. Those with keen senses had already sensed the impending storm. These businesses, which normally only dared to feed on the scraps that slipped through the fingers of the Miaoshou Sect, were now acting so ruthlessly, seemingly intending to form an alliance and directly oppose the Miaoshou Sect.

Yun Xian was called away by Li Jianye, and Xue Lingxiu stood there, feeling that the depression in her heart was about to break out.

He noticed that the man looked strange, so he followed the man whose attention had been taken away all the way to the clinic. The man went in for a moment, then came out again, and went straight to a deserted place.

Xue Lingxiu followed and saw that person open the familiar bottle without thinking and was about to pour it into his mouth. His expression became fierce, and his folding fan flew over, directly scattering the Chengxian Powder on the ground!

"What are you doing?!" Xue Lingxiu didn't know where this anger came from. "Why? No matter what I say, you don't believe it... This can't work!!"

It's obviously for your own good, it's obviously... Do you have to wait until you pay the price before you regret it?

"Get out!" The man picked up the bottle and was about to pour it into his mouth again, but was knocked down by Xue Lingxiu again.

The two stood facing each other in the darkness.

The man said clearly: "Get lost."

"Tell me to get out?" Xue Lingxiu said hurriedly: "Do you know what will happen after being possessed by the devil? You will regret it later-"

Before he could finish his words, a medicine bottle slammed into his face. The man roared hoarsely, "What's this got to do with you?! What's this got to do with your Miaoshou Sect?! You're a child of destiny, you'd be recognized even if you just stood there! What do you know? Are you worthy?! It's been three years, what am I supposed to do next?! Tell me!"

Xue Lingxiu: "That person used the Immortal Powder, and later..."

"Later, later. And what a bullshit later!!!" The man hit him again, the sharp edges hurting Xue Lingxiu. "Now he's using it, he won. He's defeated me, and nothing will happen to him. It's that simple!! Why don't you let me use it?!"

"......" Xue Lingxiu took a deep breath and gritted her teeth, "We can obviously just ignore it..."

The sharp light was so strong that he was caught off guard. The back of his slender hand was directly cut open, and the index finger holding the needle was almost cut off.

Xue Lingxiu finally froze.

"Who told you to intervene? We begged you to intervene!" The man looked at him with red eyes, and said as if he had killed his entire family, "You're interfering with me now? Why didn't you intervene with him back then? You told him not to use it! Why didn't you act so arrogantly then? Now you come here and say you can't intervene. Isn't that ridiculous?"

"Alright. Don't give a damn! Who cares about you? You're so self-indulgent! Get out of here!!!"