Traveling at breakneck speed, Xiao Feng quickly returned to the Ming Cult headquarters.

Without alerting anyone, he quietly made his way to the vicinity of the temple, relying on his familiarity with the terrain.

Just as he was about to go find Su Xueqing, he unexpectedly heard suppressed conversation coming from inside the main hall.

It was Su Xueqing and the High Priest's voice!

Xiao Feng's heart stirred, and he immediately concealed his aura, quietly approaching the palace gate and listening intently.

Then the high priest's sinister, androgynous voice slowly rang out: "Holy Maiden, that old scoundrel Qiu Mobai, if used properly, could greatly benefit our sect."

"High Priest..." Su Xueqing's voice carried a hint of hesitation and unease: "Isn't this... a little disgraceful?"

Xiao Feng could imagine Su Xueqing's predicament at that moment.

She was kind-hearted, and although she was a member of the Ming Cult and her actions were inevitably tinged with some cunning, she still rejected such dark methods at heart.

Her fingers were probably unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes, her brows were furrowed, and she was struggling internally.

Is this really the right thing to do? Is it acceptable to use any means necessary for the sake of the Ming Cult?

If Xiao Feng knew, how would he see himself?

"Radiance?"

The high priest let out a low, cold laugh, like a viper flicking its tongue.

"Holy Maiden, those who achieve great things do not concern themselves with trifles! What is glory or disgrace? What brings benefits to our sect is the greatest glory! That old bastard Qiu Mobai has been secretly cultivating demonic arts for many years and is already an out-and-out demon! Such a scoundrel deserves to die! We might as well use his secrets!"

The high priest's voice was seductive and persuasive.

"Think about it, if we expose the fact that Qiu Mobai is a demonic cultivator, the Immortal Cloud Sect will certainly be disgraced, but what real benefit will it bring us? But if we take this secret and go to those forces that have colluded with Qiu Mobai in the past, or those who are afraid of their demonic cultivator identities being exposed..."

He paused, his tone becoming even more sinister.

"What price would they pay to silence us? Elixirs, magical treasures, territory... even, it's not impossible for them to serve our sect! Holy Maiden, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! What are a few tricks compared to the great cause of the Ming Cult?"

The high priest's words were like a curse, testing Su Xueqing's limits.

She truly cared for the Ming Cult and longed to see it regain its former glory; the high priest's vision was extremely tempting.

She bit her lower lip, her eyes flickering, clearly struggling with an internal conflict.

Should we stay true to ourselves, or compromise for the greater good?

Hearing this from outside the hall, Xiao Feng could no longer hold back!

That high priest is indeed a treacherous villain!

They actually tried to use such despicable means!

He even seduced Su Xueqing!

"shut up!"

With a roar like a thunderclap from a clear sky, Xiao Feng suddenly pushed open the palace door and strode inside!

His eyes widened, burning with rage, as he stared directly at the figure inside the hall whose face was obscured by a wide black robe.

"High Priest! You're supposed to be a high-ranking member of the Ming Cult, yet you've come up with such despicable methods! How are you any different from those evil demons and heretics?!"

Xiao Feng's voice was powerful and resonant, echoing in the hall, filled with righteous indignation and undisguised anger.

He approached step by step, his imposing manner saying, "What you're doing will only tarnish the reputation of the Ming Cult and make you a laughingstock to the world!"

The sudden angry shout and the figure that barged in startled both people inside the hall.

The high priest turned around abruptly, and a cold glint seemed to flash in the shadows beneath his hood.

Su Xueqing froze the moment she saw the person's face.

She stared wide-eyed in disbelief, her pupils suddenly contracting, and her small hand instinctively covered her mouth, as if afraid she would cry out.

It's him!

It really is him!

Xiao Feng?!

He...he's not...

A tremendous surge of joy overwhelmed her instantly, washing away all her previous hesitation and struggle.

She stared blankly at that familiar figure, at his face, which was made all the more vivid by his anger, and her eyes instantly reddened.

"Xiao...Xiao Feng?!"

Su Xueqing's voice trembled with disbelief, almost out of tune.

She suddenly rushed towards Xiao Feng, her steps even a little unsteady, as if she had used up all her strength.

Surprise, excitement, disbelief... a mix of emotions mingled on her face, finally turning into two streams of hot tears that spilled from her eyes.

She ran up to Xiao Feng, extending her slightly trembling hand as if she wanted to touch him, yet feared it was just an illusion.

"You...you're not dead?! You're really...back?!"

Xiao Feng's gaze was cold and hard as it swept over Su Xueqing's face, which was filled with tears, excitement, and disbelief, as if he did not see her trembling hand.

"High Priest, there's no need to waste your efforts."

His tone was tinged with sarcasm: "Qiu Mobai is dead. Even if you have evidence that he was some kind of damned demonic cultivator, you can't threaten a dead man. This trick won't work anymore."

After he finished speaking, the hall fell into a deathly silence.

The high priest's face, hidden in the shadows, seemed to twitch slightly.

Although his expression was obscured by his robe, the sudden tension in his body and the instantaneous stillness in the air revealed the turmoil raging within him.

He seemed to want to say something, his lips moved slightly, but in the end he only let out a barely audible gasp.

Qiu Mobai is dead? How is that possible!

This important piece is gone just like that?

All his plans instantly fell apart!

At this moment, Su Xueqing also ran in, her face still wet with tears. She looked at Xiao Feng's back and then at the High Priest, appearing somewhat at a loss.

Xiao Feng slowly turned around and finally turned his gaze to Su Xueqing.

But in those eyes, there was no joy of a long-awaited reunion, only an overwhelming disappointment, like a bucket of cold water that extinguished the flame that had just ignited in Su Xueqing's heart.

"Junior Sister Su,"

Xiao Feng's voice turned cold, carrying a pained and indignant tone: "It's only been a short time since we last met, how have you become like this? Hmm? When did you learn this high priest trick? Using someone's weakness to threaten them? Is this what a Holy Maiden of the Ming Cult should be doing? Threatening the people of the Immortal Cloud Sect? Have you lost your mind or been kicked by a donkey?"

A barrage of questions rained down on Su Xueqing like hail, turning her face deathly pale. Her lips trembled as she tried to explain, "I...I just wanted to...want to fight for some benefits for the Ming Cult...Qiu Mobai, he..."

"Enough!"

The high priest finally regained his voice, though it still carried a slight, almost imperceptible tremor, but his tone had returned to its usual composure.

He defended Su Xueqing, saying, "Xiao Feng, you mustn't be rude! The Holy Maiden's actions were all for the greater good of our sect! Although Qiu Mobai is dead, the Holy Maiden's heart is with the Ming Cult, and there is nothing wrong with her actions! As the Holy Maiden, what is wrong with protecting the interests of our sect?"

"That's right? Ha!"