Jiang Chan's heart tightened, but she forced herself to calm down. What was meant to happen would happen.
She followed the inner disciple through the familiar corridor, which felt like a cage to her, to the secluded retreat where Xuan Chengzi practiced his cultivation.
The hermitage was filled with spiritual energy and decorated in an elegant manner. Xuan Chengzi, dressed in a Taoist robe, sat cross-legged on a jade platform, closing his eyes to meditate, exuding an air of otherworldly grace.
However, Jiang Chan only felt a bone-chilling cold.
This seemingly detached person tacitly approved and even indulged the disciples' endless exploitation of her, treating her as a tool to enhance the sect's strength.
"Disciple Ning Dan greets Master." Jiang Chan performed a difficult bow, her voice weak and feeble, her body trembling slightly, a mixture of genuine and feigned weakness, as she followed her memory.
Xuan Chengzi slowly opened his eyes, his gaze falling on Jiang Chan. His gaze seemed peaceful, but it carried a penetrating scrutiny, as if he were weighing the value of a spirit stone that was about to run out.
Xuan Chengzi's voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable pressure: "I have observed that your spiritual power has been declining recently, and your spirit is listless. What is the reason for this?"
It's here!
Jiang Chan knelt down with a thud, her whole body trembling even more violently. Her head was lowered, and her voice was filled with sobs and immense fear. "Master... Master, please forgive me! It's my fault! It's my fault... My spirit is so weak, it really... really can't hold on any longer... I've let down Master and my fellow disciples who have nurtured me..." As she spoke, she coughed violently, her face ashen and frightening, as if she were about to die at any moment.
Xuan Chengzi stared at her expressionlessly, his eyes sharp as knives, as if he wanted to cut open her flesh to see how much essence was left in her spirit.
The pressure of silence made the air seem to freeze.
After a long pause, he slowly spoke, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger, "Can't hold on? I've heard that Zhao Mang's cultivation has improved rapidly recently."
Jiang Chan's heart sank, but her mind raced. Her master had indeed noticed Zhao Mang's unusual behavior! He was testing her!
She suddenly raised her head, her face showing just the right amount of astonishment, confusion, and a hint of grievance, tears welling up in her eyes. "Zhao... Senior Brother Zhao Mang? This disciple... this disciple doesn't know... this disciple just... just every time Senior Brother Zhao Mang asks me to 'cultivate' alone, he... he seems particularly anxious. This disciple... this disciple is so afraid of Senior Brother getting angry, so I dare not hold back at all... I give it my all... maybe... maybe it will make Senior Brother feel that it is more effective?"
She spoke incoherently, with the humility and fear of an oppressed person, completely absolving herself of any responsibility, while subtly and precisely conveying the key information points: "Zhao Mang was impatient," "forced exploitation," and "exceptionally good results."
"Extremely anxious? Giving it their all?" Xuan Chengzi repeated these two words, his gaze sweeping over Jiang Chan's bloodless face, which was filled with fear. He then recalled that Zhao Mang had indeed become much more impetuous and arrogant recently, and his cultivation had increased strangely. Could it be... that wicked disciple used some kind of powerful and domineering secret technique to forcibly exploit him?
A barely perceptible glint flashed in Xuan Chengzi's eyes.
He didn't care about her life or death, but he did care whether Zhao Mang's abnormally high cultivation level was sustainable and whether it would cause irreversible damage to his spirit body, affecting his long-term "use plan".
As for whether Zhao Mang was impatient for quick success, he didn't care, as long as he didn't damage this rare "spiritual stone".
"Hmph," Xuan Chengzi snorted coldly, no longer looking at Jiang Chan, "Since you know your spiritual power is insufficient, you should be even more diligent in your dedication, lest you delay your fellow disciples' cultivation."
He paused, his tone carrying an unquestionable command, "Go down and rest well. The sect's sacrificial ceremony is in a month, and you will be required to cooperate fully at that time. There can be no mistakes!"
Grand Ceremony to Worship Heaven!
Jiang Chan's heart trembled violently.
That point in the original owner's memories, where he was completely drained and turned into a pill! It's finally coming!
“Yes… this disciple obeys…” Jiang Chan lowered her head even further and replied weakly.
She stood up unsteadily, gave a difficult bow, and staggered out of the study. Only after walking a long way did she dare to straighten up slowly.
The cold moonlight shone on her bloodless face, but deep within her lowered eyes burned a light that was almost insane.
Take good care of yourself? Or is it so that everyone can drain her dry for the sacrificial ceremony?
The master's cold warning was like a final death warrant.
But Jiang Chan knew that this was also a signal that the most crucial part of her plan was about to begin!
Zhao Mang, this Gu worm, has been fed until he is fat enough.
And the boiling cauldron of greed within the Qingyun Sect is about to explode.
Tension and a hint of excitement for revenge surged through her withered body.
"The Heaven Worship Ceremony..." She silently murmured these four words, a chilling smile curving her lips.
The poison of honey has taken deep root, waiting only for the right moment to bring that pot of greed to its knees!
She dragged herself back to her dilapidated house with heavier steps than before, closed the door, and slid down to sit on the floor with her back against the door panel.
Outside, the sect disciples were bustling about preparing for the upcoming grand ceremony, while her small, dilapidated house was as silent as a coffin.
"The sacrificial ceremony to Heaven..." Jiang Chan repeated softly, her throat dry and sore.
Fragments of the unforgettable fear and despair from the original owner's memories surged up—it was on that day that she was used as the core of the array, enduring an unprecedented drain on spiritual energy, until she was completely exhausted, her meridians were severed, and even her corpse was refined into pills to nourish this group of vampires.
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and suppressed the nausea churning within her.
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