A turning point?

Gong Changqian was still fleeing.

Since a moment ago, that terrifying aura had been fading—within moments, it vanished completely.

He believed the creature was likely feeding.

All things in heaven and earth possessed spirit—but humanity stood at its peak.

Whether demon or evil beast, they all favored human flesh.

Only now did a faint worry stir in Gong Changqian’s heart.

The sect would certainly blame him for this…

No. He needed to forge evidence.

Otherwise, he’d emerge unscathed—anyone could see through that.

He had abandoned his disciples to save himself.

After deep thought, he suddenly sensed someone approaching.

He gritted his teeth—slammed a palm into his own chest—and spat out a mouthful of blood.

To make it more natural, he swallowed a pill.

As a Golden Core cultivator, not treating an injury would be too suspicious.

“Elder Gong Changqian! What happened? Why are you so severely injured?”

The arrival was naturally Li Shuqin.

She hadn’t conspired with Gong Ning on any plan—but she could roughly guess her intentions.

Gong Ning’s affairs had been widely discussed since months ago.

Her and her disciple’s constant struggles—from Waste Immortal, to the新生大比, to the Great Yuan remnant scandal—even Yinjian Sect, isolated as they were, couldn’t remain unaware.

And thus, Gong Changqian, her long-time opponent, had inevitably entered public attention.

Though from the same sect, Yinjian Sect only honored contracts.

Protect the two elders.

If Gong Ning insisted on taking risks, she had no choice but to play along—to ensure the employer didn’t truly perish.

Sign the contract, follow it.

The employer is father.

Gong Changqian was overjoyed.

His current state desperately needed a witness.

He clutched his chest in grief:
“Just now… a Sovereign-level evil beast appeared from behind.
I fought it… but failed to protect my disciples…”

Li Shuqin didn’t know this was Gong Ning’s doing.

What if such a beast was real?

But Gong Ning had just gone deeper—then this beast appeared here?

Uncertain, she decided to proceed as planned.

“I felt that aura, so I came to check,” Li Shuqin said.
“Never expected such a tragedy… Elder Changqian, don’t grieve too deeply. The sect will surely stand by you.”

“I don’t need anyone to stand by me.
I only hope those disciples… can return… whole…”

Then—the aura surged again.

Gong Changqian’s sorrowful expression twisted instantly.

“It’s back!”

Even Li Shuqin’s heart trembled.

She found it hard to believe this was Gong Ning’s trickery.

If it were a real beast… Gong Ning was probably already dead.

“Run!”

Of course—it was Gong Ning’s doing.

She removed the talisman, reactivated the formation—meant to force Gong Changqian deeper into the abyss.

“Yunling, do you know what lies deep within Luoxia Abyss?”

“Yes.”

Gong Ning paused—she hadn’t expected her disciple to break the script.

“Then tell me. What’s there?”

“Cruel beasts that love destruction.
Unbreakable stone monsters.
A forest of fog that bewitches the mind.
And within it—the Soul-Devouring Vines.”

This… touched a blind spot in Gong Ning’s knowledge.

The fog forest originated from that fog.

Lu Yunling continued:
“Evil beasts today fall into four types—either wildly aggressive, impervious to blades, fond of eating humans, or capable of robbing one of reason.”

Very familiar.

Because these were the traits of the Four Ancient Fiends.

Gong Ning didn’t ask where she knew this.

If her disciple wanted to speak, she would.

“We’ll now drive Gong Changqian toward the Soul-Devouring Vines.
They love spiritual energy—and a Golden Core’s sea of qi is enough to excite them.”

“Will he go willingly?”

“He will.
The spiritual energy there is thickest.
As a Golden Core cultivator, he won’t care about some weak vines.”

“What if he uses that energy to turn the tide?”

“He can’t.”

Gong Ning had a backup.

She’d specially asked Yu’ao to infuse a Nascent Soul-level power into a hidden artifact—using rare materials to store the strike.

As long as it was triggered under the guise of a Sovereign-level attack—shattering his sea of qi—Gong Changqian would have no choice but to flee.

Given his nature, wounded like this, he’d choose breakthrough through crisis—venture into danger to seek sudden cultivation advancement.

But in reality, it wasn’t a mindless beast—just a person who had meticulously plotted against him.

His hopes would be dashed.

The only variable was Yinjian Sect.

Gong Ning hadn’t expected them to ally with her.

Now, she’d use the contract to keep them there—blocking Gong Changqian’s escape route.

In panic, to avoid being discovered abandoning his disciples, he’d likely do something cruel.

Fine.

That saved one Nascent Soul-level strike.

The alliance had its benefits—she learned Tianjian Pavilion’s objective, raising the difficulty slightly.

Yinjian Sect strictly upheld contracts—but leaking secrets made others uneasy.

So everything had to be perfect.

Even if they knew it was her, they must find no evidence.

Suddenly, Gong Ning noticed her disciple’s face flushed strangely.

She realized—apply the talisman, let her calm down.

“No need, Master… the plan is important.
I’ll just move farther away.”

Yuan Gu Hua truly corrodes the mind.
She had nearly pinned her Master to the ground earlier.

Lu Yunling desired little—only two things in life: cultivation, and her Master.

“Not yet.
The time isn’t right.”

Meanwhile, Gong Changqian had fled further.

But the purple mist thickened—now he could barely see the path.

“Elder Li Shuqin, may I borrow some spirit stones? My body is damaged…”

Li Shuqin did have spirit stones.

But her primary duty was fulfilling the contract.

Until she saw the employer’s corpse, she had to assume he lived.

Three disciples were here—perfect for demonstrating Yinjian Sect’s rules firsthand.

“No.”

“Then… other sects? They—”

“They’ve probably all hidden.
That aura is too strong.
None among us can fight a Sovereign-level beast.
And everyone has disciples to protect—no one would risk detection with sensing techniques.”

In crisis, even protecting their own disciples was hard—why care about others?

Li Shuqin recalled the incident with Gong Ning months ago.

No one dared challenge that demoness’s Mirror of the Heart—they fled immediately.

Stranded disciples could only await death.

Only she stepped forward alone to resist.

Not everyone could do that.

These words shattered Gong Changqian’s last shred of hope.

He had abandoned his disciples—how could he expect others to help?

If the beast attacked, would Yinjian Sect protect him?

The aura returned from behind.

He keenly sensed Li Shuqin’s spiritual flow—preparation for a body technique.

Indeed, relying on others was useless.

He turned his gaze forward.

“Elder Li, could you escort me to the fog forest ahead?
The spiritual energy there is abundant—enough for me to heal.”

Li Shuqin feigned surprise.
“But that place has Soul-Devouring Vines—which feed on spiritual energy.”

“Just weeds.”

“Very well.”

Under Li Shuqin’s escort, Gong Changqian reached the fog forest.

The purple mist was so thick it blinded the eyes.

Leaves on the trees slowly emitted vapor—like filling every pore.

The longer one stayed, the dizzier the head became.

Once she delivered him, Li Shuqin left immediately—didn’t even pretend longer.

Besides, she had allied with Gong Ning.

Yet Gong Ning was nowhere to be seen—likely already discarded.

Her claim of having no spirit stones? Probably a lie.

His decision was correct.

The vines coiled around tree roots sensed the spiritual energy leaking from his body.

They crawled toward him—one after another—as if intelligent.

Gong Changqian growled, slapped the ground—flinging the vines away.

He couldn’t cut the trees or harm the vines—otherwise, they’d attack like mad.

Only gentle methods worked.

Then, he violently absorbed the dense spiritual energy here.

After so long dormant, his meridians suddenly flooded with such power—pain tore through him like shredding flesh.

But this very agony reminded him of youth—of battlefields, of the resolve when breaking through to Golden Core.

Thinking of this, a surge of wind rose—he felt himself elevating.

But suddenly—the vines swayed like serpent demons.

The forest roared with wind—rustle, rustle, rustle.

Gong Changqian opened his eyes in fury.

“WHO! WHO IS DOING THIS TO ME!”