Confession

A guilty disciple, Luochen, bows before Master.

In the main hall of Bamboo Green Peak, Luochen prepared to kneel.

“Alright, that’s enough. I’m somewhat of an accomplice myself.”

A gentle force lifted Luochen, settling her onto a nearby chair.

“Master…”

Luochen hesitated, on the verge of speaking.

“I know what you’re thinking, what you want to ask me: why I didn’t tell you Chen Ruan was a demonic cultivator.”

“Mm…”

“And why I helped you cover for her.”

Venerable Zhu Qing reverted to her customary languid tone.

“Master truly foresees everything with divine insight.”

Luochen clicked her tongue in awe, then fell silent.

“The first time I met her, I sensed the aura of a demonic cultivator about her, but I discerned it through my unique ability.

Others, even Sect Master Yuxi, might not have been able to perceive it.

What’s more, I investigated her Qi Sea; she should have already broken through to the Fifth Revolution.

To possess such a potent, highly concealed demonic cultivation technique alongside Fifth Revolution cultivation…”

‘An infiltrator?’

Luochen seemed to grasp the implication.

“Precisely. My initial thought was an infiltrator. Yet, after sifting through all our intelligence on the Demonic Sect, I found no record of such a person.

Moreover, your bringing her here was purely coincidental; you only descended the mountain that day because I instructed you to.

Furthermore, she lacked the typical scent of blood associated with demonic cultivators, indicating she likely hadn’t harmed others for her cultivation. Thus, I discarded that theory.”

Luochen knew that Master’s unique spiritual energy granted her the ability of [Shining Heart, Discernment] (TL Note: An ability to perceive the good or evil intentions within a person’s mind), allowing her to judge the morality of one’s thoughts.

Yet, for it to discern even this was truly beyond Luochen’s expectations.

After a moment of contemplation, Venerable Zhu Qing resumed speaking.

“Do you recall that day I asked you to fetch elixirs, and I inquired about your thoughts on Chen Ruan?”

“I do.”

“You said she was very important to you.”

“Just because of that…”

Luochen gazed at Venerable Zhu Qing, a hint of disbelief in her eyes.

Venerable Zhu Qing raised a hand, gesturing for silence, indicating she would continue.

“The last person you deemed ‘very important’ was Su Yue, and now she has become an indispensable part of our lives.

Chen’er, I’ve always had a peculiar feeling about you.

Whatever you believe to be true invariably proves to be so in the end.

Perhaps you are the very destiny of this world,” Venerable Zhu Qing quipped with a smile.

“Of course, to judge solely on that would be far too childish.

My own Master, she excels at divination, capable of peering into the very secrets of heaven.”

‘Master… your Master?’

Luochen’s eyes widened; this was the first time Venerable Zhu Qing had ever spoken to her about her own Master.

“As her disciple, I naturally also dabbled in the art of divination.

After you left that day, I cast a divination.”

‘So the guàxiàng (TL Note: The symbolic patterns or results derived from divination) instructed you to keep her?’

“No, the guàxiàng instructed me to kill her.

However, my divinations have never once been accurate, so I chose the exact opposite path: not to kill her.”

‘Master, must you always speak with such dramatic pauses?’ Luochen exclaimed, feeling her heart skip a beat from the fright.

Venerable Zhu Qing offered a mischievous smile, clearly having done it on purpose.

“And so, I chose to let her stay.

In the days that followed, my impression of her only improved. She truly is a good child, which is why I intervened to help her when she suffered a backlash.

To be honest, I’m still uncertain whether letting her go like this was the right decision or not.

A demonic cultivator, younger than both you and Su Yue, yet already at the Fifth Revolution — if she were to mature and stand against us…”

‘That would surely be a disaster.’

Luochen murmured to herself.

“Indeed, a disaster.”

‘Miss Chen, you must not fall into depravity.’

Within her heart, Luochen silently offered a prayer for Chen Ruan.

****

On the bustling streets of Moyang City, a man with refined features caught the frequent sidelong glances of every passing woman.

This man was, in fact, Chen Ruan, disguised and transformed.

As Chen Ruan observed the surrounding scenery, a peculiar sensation welled up within her.

How could the topography and surrounding landscape here be so strikingly similar to Moyang City?

She casually found a seat at a roadside stall and settled down.

“Aren’t there still empty tables?” The burly man sharing her table watched her with surprise.

“Waiter, a pot of wine and a plate of beef!”

“Coming right up!”

“The wine and meat are on me; might I inquire about a few things?”

“Of course, of course!” The man’s eyes gleamed with interest.

“Is this place Moyang City?”

“Where else would it be?” The man regarded her with a peculiar look.

“But wasn’t Moyang City destroyed a few years ago?”

“My good sir, have you perhaps lost your memory? Moyang City began rebuilding immediately after its destruction, and now it’s largely complete.”

Chen Ruan was rendered speechless; she had indeed not returned since her departure.

“But at that time, Moyang City was a complete ruin. How could it have been rebuilt so thoroughly in such a short span?”

“Ah, that brings us to the Feibai Sect.”

The man’s face lit up with admiration, and his voice began to grow animated.

“Back then, Moyang City was ravaged by that Demonic Sect Leader, who sought to refine the entire city. Fortunately, cultivators from the Feibai Sect intervened and managed to slay him.

Following that, the Feibai Sect exerted themselves to aid in the city’s reconstruction, even going so far as to contact survivors and the families of the deceased to offer compensation.

Such a benevolent and righteous sect truly lives up to its name as the vanguard of the righteous path!

Alas, my talent is too meager; otherwise, I would have joined the Feibai Sect to eradicate evil and uphold justice alongside them.”

The man’s chatter became endless once he started, but Chen Ruan no longer cared to listen to the rest of his words.

‘How is this possible? The Feibai Sect is actually helping with Moyang City’s reconstruction.

And why does he say it was the Demonic Sect Leader who was refining souls, when it was the Feibai Sect cultivators who launched a surprise attack, disregarding the lives of the entire city’s populace for their success?

How can this be? Which side is truly telling the truth?’

Chen Ruan was filled with disbelief.

Her thoughts still raced when a sudden, needle-like pain surged through Chen Ruan’s brain.

She clutched her head, her expression contorted.

“Are you alright?”

The man’s inquiry beside her sounded distant and muffled.

‘No, this is wrong, utterly wrong.

The reconstruction efforts are merely a cover-up for their crimes, a way to accumulate prestige among these foolish mortals.

The so-called Demonic Sect Leader refining souls is just an excuse the Feibai Sect fabricated for destroying Moyang City.

This is all a conspiracy by the Feibai Sect, nothing more than a smokescreen to deceive the world.

A sect that regards human lives as mere blades of grass dares to boast of its achievements here, without shame.

I will make you pay the price.’

A crimson glint flashed in Chen Ruan’s eyes.

Within Chen Ruan’s Sea of Consciousness, the soul seed, marked by the Soul Refining Array, emitted a strange light.

Ye Yuli resided within it, her face alight with a smile.

“Fortunately, this aspect of the alteration was successful.”

As if recalling something troublesome, Ye Yuli’s brows furrowed deeply.

“That Luochen actually holds such importance in her heart. Even with the soul seed activated to its maximum without alarming her, I couldn’t alter her core perceptions.

But I’ve already ensured she’s left the Feibai Sect, and there’s still a long time ahead.

As long as she becomes tainted with enough demonic energy, corrupting her [Luminous Pure Body] (TL Note: A rare spiritual physique, usually associated with purity and resistance to evil), the day of my possession will arrive.

Luochen, this time, you won’t stand in my way.”

A sinister voice echoed within the soul seed.