Heretical Sects

Not long after, the Five Poisons Sect disciples herded a group of young men and women out of the town. They were being taken back to the sect.

“Hurry up, no dawdling! And you women, what are you crying for? We’re not sending you to be courtesans; we’re taking you to the sect. What’s there to cry about?”

Ye Qingyun followed silently behind them. They led the captives deep into the mountains adjacent to the town, moving slowly, stopping frequently.

They traversed one mountain range after another, eventually arriving at a hidden canyon. This canyon was nestled between three peaks, surrounded by incredibly lush foliage.

It was so well-concealed that it would be difficult to spot even from the sky.

Ye Qingyun and the others were all led into the canyon. Upon entering, a world of its own unfolded, filled with pavilions and numerous men and women clad in purple, red, and black garments of similar styles.

The women’s attire was strikingly revealing and alluring, imbued with a distinct unorthodox aesthetic. The male disciples, however, were more moderately dressed.

The unorthodox sect members, in their appearance and customs, were the complete antithesis of the righteous path. Righteous disciples would never dress in such a manner.

Ye Qingyun remained composed. Such eccentric attire was typical of unorthodox sects; few of them dressed ‘normally.’

Just then, a female disciple approached Sheling, performing a unique salute before speaking.

“Lady Sheling, you’ve returned! That’s wonderful; the Sect Master was looking for you.”

“Oh? For what reason?” Sheling inquired.

The female disciple quickly whispered something into Sheling’s ear. Sheling’s brow furrowed upon hearing it.

“Is that so? Wait a moment. Xu Yangzhou, take them to change their clothes. Those unwilling to join our Five Poisons Sect are to be confined for now,” Sheling instructed a male disciple.

The man named Xu Yangzhou immediately nodded, then led Ye Qingyun and the others into the unknown sect.

Sheling, meanwhile, rapidly flew towards the most prominent grand hall in the area. Once inside, she found a woman in a purple dress attending to some matters.

This woman’s attire was relatively normal, yet she wore numerous golden bells that chimed incessantly, giving her an undeniably sinister aura.

Her appearance was beautiful, but she exuded the dangerous charm of a rose with thorns.

“Sister Ziling, you were looking for me?” Sheling asked immediately upon entering.

This woman was Ziling, the current highest-ranking elder of the Five Poisons Sect and the individual with the most authority.

“Yes, Sheling, you’re here. I wanted to ask you, how should we deal with the Phoenix Immortal Sect? That Liu Ningxue woman refuses to surrender to us.”

“It will be very difficult to make them join our Five Poisons Sect,” Ziling said, her brow furrowed.

The Phoenix Immortal Sect they spoke of was likely a minor faction within Phoenix Cry Mountain, largely unknown. For the Five Poisons Sect, subduing such a small sect would be effortless.

This implied that their current location was not the original Five Poisons Sect stronghold but rather the Phoenix Immortal Sect, which had been usurped. Conquering the Phoenix Immortal Sect had been a trivial matter, posing no challenge at all.

“Hmm? It’s been days, and they still refuse to submit? Righteous women are always so prim. Sister Ziling, if you ask me, we should just kill them all.”

“Why keep them? It’s a waste of time. Better to hand them over to the male disciples to drain their primordial yin; at least then they’d be useful,” Sheling stated with a cold, ruthless expression.

This woman clearly possessed a strong murderous intent, evident from her words.

Ziling could only offer a bitter smile upon hearing this.

“Oh, you. Don’t be so bloodthirsty. Our Five Poisons Sect is in a dire situation right now. The Righteous Alliance is still searching for us everywhere.”

“We need a foothold. If the Phoenix Immortal Sect cooperates, we can completely integrate into Phoenix Cry Mountain and evade their pursuit. If you kill them all, how will our Five Poisons Sect deal with the local cultivators?” Ziling countered.

Her words were undeniably practical.

What had truly happened was that the Five Poisons Sect had recently been attacked by the Song Kingdom’s Righteous Alliance. They were forced to flee their original headquarters and arrived in The Capital region.

There, they discovered the Phoenix Immortal Sect, which they promptly seized, intending to use it as their new base.

“Then what do you propose? We can’t kill them, and we can’t release them either,” Sheling said, her face a mask of vexation.

Under normal circumstances, they would have eliminated them long ago. It was only due to these extraordinary times that they required a cover.

Ziling pondered for a moment, then suddenly conceived an idea. She began to whisper to Sheling, who, upon hearing it, displayed a sinister smile and nodded repeatedly.

It was undoubtedly a wicked scheme. Indeed, about ten minutes later, a line of women in flowing red gowns was led into the grand hall by Five Poisons Sect disciples.

The Phoenix Immortal Sect was a female-only sect; it comprised only women. Their Sect Master was a cultivator of peak attainment, a formidable level to ordinary people.

However, in the eyes of the Five Poisons Sect, her cultivation was inferior even to their own disciples, simply not on the same level.

Unfortunately, most of the Five Poisons Sect’s elite disciples were lost in battle. Few high-ranking members escaped, primarily Elder Ziling and Sheling.

The remaining disciples were outer sect members they had gathered from various places, mostly low-ranking cultists who had managed to survive.

“Hmph, demonesses! What do you want now? I tell you, this Sect Master will never surrender to your unorthodox path!” a woman in formal palace attire, poised and dignified, coldly scoffed at Ziling and Sheling.

This was Liu Ningxue, the Sect Master of the Phoenix Immortal Sect. The distinction between righteous and unorthodox was starkly evident now, in both temperament and attire.

“Heh, Sect Master Liu, this Seat has gathered the higher-ups of your Phoenix Immortal Sect because we wish for you to witness a spectacle.”

“Afterward, you may reconsider whether you wish to join our Five Poisons Sect,” Ziling said, waving her hand.

The void in the grand hall shimmered, then, like a water surface, a phantom image appeared. The image showed a prison cell, where more than a dozen young girls in thin red gowns were confined.

These were naturally disciples of the Phoenix Immortal Sect.

At first, things seemed fine, but then the scene drastically shifted. One by one, male disciples of the Five Poisons Sect stormed into the cells, roughly seizing the female disciples and dragging them out of the prison.

The female disciples, immediately restrained, were no match for these men. They were being dragged to an unknown location.

“What are you doing? Didn’t you promise that as long as we didn’t resist, you wouldn’t harm our disciples? Is the Five Poisons Sect so untrustworthy?” Liu Ningxue and the other high-ranking sect members immediately erupted in fury.

Sheling and the others, witnessing their anger, wore expressions of mockery.

“Heh, you know we are a demonic sect. When have you righteous cultivators ever expected honesty from a demonic sect?” Sheling retorted.

“You?!” Liu Ningxue was incensed, but before she could erupt, a powerful aura emanated from Sheling, instantly pressing Liu Ningxue and the others to the ground.

They were forced to their knees, utterly powerless to resist.

“You wouldn’t want to miss such a good show, would you? It wouldn’t be satisfying otherwise,” Sheling sneered.

Approximately ten minutes later, the girls who had been dragged from their cells were brought back by the male disciples of the Five Poisons Sect. However, they returned disheveled, their clothes askew and hair disarrayed, seemingly having endured humiliation.

Liu Ningxue and the others, witnessing this scene, felt their eyes practically spitting fire.

“Sect Master Liu, how does it feel? If you find this insufficiently stimulating, I can arrange something even more thrilling for you later. Guaranteed explicit, if you can bear to watch,” Sheling said, a smirk playing on her lips as she looked at Liu Ningxue.

Liu Ningxue’s eyes were filled with an unbearable mix of resentment and humiliation.

Their sect had been usurped, and they had fallen into the hands of unorthodox cultivators—this was already a profound disgrace. Now, her own disciples were being humiliated, and she, their Sect Master, could only watch.

The elders, too, were overcome with sorrow; many of those girls were their own disciples.

Sheling and Ziling exchanged a glance after observing their reactions, then continued to issue orders to their subordinates. Soon, the scene shifted to a second prison, also holding more than a dozen female disciples.

Another group of Five Poisons Sect men approached. They forcibly dragged these female disciples from their cells, and the scene then transitioned to individual cells.

The Five Poisons Sect disciples violently threw the female disciples into the cells, then, like wild beasts, lunged forward, tearing at their clothes. The female disciples desperately resisted, pleading for mercy, and at that point, the scene abruptly ended.

“Alright, that’s enough for now. I fear Sect Master Liu might not be able to bear the rest. Sect Master Liu, you should understand the intentions of our Five Poisons Sect. I’ll ask you one last time: if you still refuse, your remaining disciples, including yourselves, will have your primordial yin forcibly taken.”

“Then, your cultivation will be crippled, and you’ll be sold to brothels in the mortal world. That way, we can still earn some money,” Sheling said with a malicious grin.

At these words, Liu Ningxue and the others’ faces turned ashen.

“You demoness! May you die a horrible death!” Liu Ningxue cursed.

But as she cursed, she slowly lowered her head. What could she do? Women might not fear death, but they feared humiliation. Sheling had made her intentions perfectly clear; there was no room for resistance.

The other elders also resigned themselves to despair, then knelt alongside Liu Ningxue.

“Very well, we surrender. Please, no more harm to our disciples,” Liu Ningxue said, her voice laced with humiliation.

This was the outcome Sheling and the others desired.

“Heh, a wise person knows when to yield. Sect Master Liu, your choice will not disappoint you. However, empty words are insufficient. I ask that you all consume this item, so we can fully trust you,” Ziling said with a faint smile.

Ziling produced several pills.

Liu Ningxue and the others sighed, then took the pills, swallowing them with hesitation.

These were the Five Poisons Sect’s Gu pills. Once consumed, Gu worms would parasitize their bodies, placing their lives entirely in the hands of the Five Poisons Sect.

There was no longer any room for resistance; they were now no different from slaves.

“Alright, Liu Ningxue, from now on, you are a member of our Five Poisons Sect. Rest assured, you will remain the Sect Master of the Phoenix Immortal Sect, and our Five Poisons Sect disciples will also be your disciples.”

“Of course, this is merely a superficial arrangement. You will not regret joining us. Now, go to the dungeon and inform your disciples that the Phoenix Immortal Sect has been merged into the Five Poisons Sect.”

Ziling waved her hand, lifting the seals on Liu Ningxue and the others’ powers.

The high-ranking members of the Phoenix Immortal Sect felt helpless. This was a stark display of the law of the jungle. Who were they to blame but their own misfortune for encountering the Five Poisons Sect, who had chosen their location as their new base?

Liu Ningxue and the others stood dazed, as if they hadn’t heard Ziling’s words. Ziling raised an eyebrow, then shook the bells on her wrist.

“Clang, clang, clang.” Clear, chiming sounds echoed in everyone’s ears.

Liu Ningxue and the others immediately let out agonizing screams, clutching their heads and writhing on the ground. This was Ziling’s treasure for controlling the Gu worms; a gentle shake would awaken them, and the revived Gu worms would tear at the host’s flesh.

Such pain was unbearable for ordinary people. None of them could endure it for even half a minute.

“Stop shaking them! We’ll go now!” Liu Ningxue shrieked.

Upon hearing this, Ziling ceased shaking the bells.

Liu Ningxue went to the Phoenix Immortal Sect’s dungeon, but the outcome was quite unexpected. Upon arriving at the dungeon, they discovered they had been deceived.

The scenes Ziling had shown them earlier were all an act. Their disciples had not been humiliated; at least, they were all still intact.

But it was too late. Soon after, all the Phoenix Immortal Sect disciples were released, and the Five Poisons Sect members changed out of their original attire, blending into the Phoenix Immortal Sect.

Since the Phoenix Immortal Sect was a female-only sect, all the former male disciples of the Five Poisons Sect went into hiding, concealing themselves in a secret underground palace beneath the Phoenix Immortal Sect, which the Five Poisons Sect had constructed.

With the immediate problem resolved, Sheling had another matter to attend to.

“Alright, that’s settled. Sister Ziling, I have some truly wonderful news to share with you.” Sheling announced, her own affairs concluded.

“Oh? What is it?” Ziling looked at Sheling with a hint of curiosity.

Sheling, seeing her interest, quickly leaned in and whispered into Ziling’s ear, naturally recounting Ye Qingyun’s circumstances.

“What? A girl with special eyes? This suggests she possesses an extraordinary physique!” Ziling exclaimed in surprise.

“Precisely. However, this girl needs proper guidance and refinement. Our top priority is to recover our strength and establish a firm foothold in the Song Kingdom first,” Sheling stated gravely.

To secretly regain their power, they had to maintain a low profile.

Ziling nodded in agreement.

“For now, we will remain hidden within the Phoenix Immortal Sect. We’ll discuss other matters once the commotion dies down,” Ziling declared.

Sheling had no objections. Ziling was the leader of the Five Poisons Sect, and her words were law.

Meanwhile, Ye Qingyun and the others were led to the former Phoenix Immortal Sect’s training grounds. The Five Poisons Sect disciples began distributing new uniforms to them, thrusting them into their hands regardless of their willingness.

Then, the male disciple named Xu Yangzhou stepped forward and announced to the assembled crowd.

“Now, you stand before two paths: either become a part of our Five Poisons Sect, or become slaves. Let me tell you, once you’re here, you won’t be leaving.”

These words caused the men and women present to break into sobs. How many mortals dared to defy cultivators? Soon, they separated into male and female groups and began to change into their new attire.

[Notification: Player has officially become a disciple of the Five Poisons Sect. Reward: Identity, Five Poisons Skirt.]

[Notification: Sect System activated.]

The system chimed.

Ye Qingyun let out a soft chuckle.

Soon after, the newly dressed disciples, along with the other Five Poisons Sect members, gathered on the training grounds. There were nearly a thousand people.

Ziling and Sheling walked to the front of the crowd. They first scanned the individuals, particularly the ordinary people, who trembled with fear.

“Alright, starting today, our Five Poisons Sect will operate under the name of the Phoenix Immortal Sect. The current Sect Master will remain Liu Ningxue, the Sect Master of the Phoenix Immortal Sect. Liu Ningxue, please come forward.”

Ziling looked at the lifeless-eyed Liu Ningxue below the platform. They needed a manager, and Liu Ningxue was perfectly suited for the role.

Ye Qingyun glanced at the figures who emerged. Upon seeing them, their names shimmered with golden light, especially Ziling.

This was a major boss, the highest-ranking and most powerful individual present.

Because Ye Qingyun’s current cultivation realm was too low, he couldn’t discern their specific cultivation levels. This was due to the simulation’s realism; in reality, one could only perceive another’s cultivation if their realms were comparable.

Liu Ningxue reluctantly stepped onto the platform, then cast a helpless gaze at the crowd, particularly the original Phoenix Immortal Sect disciples. Those disciples were filled with profound sorrow, realizing they were all about to fall into the unorthodox path.

Thus, the new Five Poisons Sect was hastily established. It was a rushed affair, driven by the Five Poisons Sect’s urgent need to establish a foothold in the area, leaving them no time for niceties.

However, this small sect had suddenly gained several hundred new members, making the sect grounds a bit cramped. Therefore, expansion began, and they started to construct new facilities for the Phoenix Immortal Sect.

Following that, it was time to teach Ye Qingyun and the others how to cultivate. After about a day of rest, Ye Qingyun and his group were summoned by Sheling to the Phoenix Immortal Sect’s training grounds.

On the training grounds, everyone sat quietly in meditation. Sheling stood at the very front, beginning to explain the fundamentals of cultivation to Ye Qingyun and the others.

“The righteous path aligns with heaven, while the unorthodox path defies it. We believe not in gods, nor in Buddhas, but only in ourselves. You, too, must discard your old notions.”

“In the world of the unorthodox, survival is paramount. Death is meaningless. Now, follow me and recite the Five Poisons Heart Mantra. This is our Five Poisons Sect’s most basic cultivation technique.”

“After reciting the incantation, I will teach you a set of hand seals. A demon is one who defies the Dao, without gods, without thoughts, without heart, without form…”

Sheling recited each line, requiring Ye Qingyun and the others to repeat it. At first, some were reluctant, but after the first recitation, for reasons unknown, everyone felt their inner turmoil gradually dissipate.

Their previously complex emotions settled into a state of peace. Each of them sat with closed eyes, like stone statues, continuously chanting the Five Poisons Heart Mantra.

‘What a strange sensation? Is this the method of cultivation?’ Ye Qingyun felt as if his soul was drifting through the void, weightless and ethereal.

[Notification: Player has learned Five Poisons Sect Basic Internal Cultivation, Five Poisons Heart Mantra.]

[Notification: Player’s cultivation journey has begun.]

A series of system notifications echoed in Ye Qingyun’s ears.