Zanxing looked toward the xiezhi statue in front of the white pagoda.

For some unknown reason, from the first moment she saw this statue, she felt uncomfortable in her heart, and it was the same now. The statue had a pair of pitch-black, indifferent eyes, and in these eyes she could find not a trace of kindness—only coldness.

Why would a divine beast that judged worldly sins and governed law have such cold eyes? It seemed to hide a trace of ill intent.

She asked Ming Jing beside her softly, “Master, who cast this xiezhi statue, and how long has it been guarding this white pagoda?”

Ming Jing hadn’t expected her to ask this. He hesitated before answering: “The xiezhi statue was cast personally by Master Jingshan. The statue is the first trial, to prevent guilty people from entering this pagoda with impure intentions, taking the trial rewards, and bringing disaster to all beings.”

“Bringing disaster to all beings…” Zanxing smiled: “But didn’t Gui Yansheng also enter this pagoda? Once he takes the trial rewards, all beings will truly be in terrible luck.” At this point, Zanxing suddenly paused.

If the xiezhi could truly peer into people’s inner evil and past to conduct judgment, then Gui Yansheng’s ability to pass the xiezhi’s judgment—did it mean Gui Yansheng was innocent? Could it be that while Gui Yansheng appeared to be a madman who destroyed heaven and earth, he was a great benefactor who saved the world? This world was already abnormal, just like how she had become the Demon King’s daughter without doing anything. So Gui Yansheng could be different from his appearance.

Xiao Shuang stood to the side, reminding Zanxing, “Young Master, shall we enter the pagoda now?”

Most of the Demon Suppression Army had entered, so it was time for the demon clan to act. Sure enough, the Demon Suppression Army over there had already begun mocking.

“Why aren’t they going in yet? Are they afraid?”

“You’re stupid—they’re the demon clan, demon clan! They’re all evil heretics who kill without blinking, covered in sins that even the waters of the Yellow Springs couldn’t wash clean. How would they dare accept judgment?”

“Right, no wonder they don’t dare enter. If they went in, before even entering the pagoda, they’d all die in front of this statue. Wouldn’t that be the joke of the century!”

“This is called evil cannot suppress righteousness!”

“Bah—” The demon clan here wouldn’t be outdone, looking at the Demon Suppression Army and retorting: “You’re so noble, you’re so capable, you’re the light of righteousness—then why don’t you go in? You’ve come all this way, you’re at the entrance, how can you not touch the goat’s horn?”

“Exactly, exactly. Touching it once won’t make you lose a piece of flesh. Could it be you’re afraid? Impossible! Everyone’s a righteous disciple with a clear conscience—what’s there to fear? Could it be that, like us demon clan, you’ve done countless evil deeds in private, killing like mowing grass?”

“Stop making false accusations!”

“It’s you who are tigers pretending to be monks—human faces with beast hearts!”

Seeing that the two sides were about to fight again, Zanxing turned her head to look at Xiao Shuang and whispered instructions: “Have them stay farther away. I’ll go in and try first.”

Xiao Shuang was startled: “Does Young Master think there’s a problem with this statue?” Seeing many from the Demon Suppression Army pass through smoothly, they were also somewhat tempted. Although most demon clan members weren’t good people, some loved peace and never did evil to others. Such people could pass the statue.

Zanxing looked at the xiezhi statue, her voice slightly heavy: “Although they say the xiezhi judges those entering the pagoda based on guilt or innocence, Gui Yansheng is not the same type of person as Meng Ying and the others, yet he still entered this pagoda. This shows the judgment conditions aren’t that simple. Moreover…” Zanxing gripped her staff tightly: “We are a demon clan… In the eyes of all people under heaven, the demon clan is born guilty.”

What exactly was the demon clan, born guilty, in the eyes of this divine beast? Perhaps it didn’t even need to peer into their hearts—just this identity alone determined their sins.

“I can’t risk your lives,” Zanxing gripped the Wuyou Stick and walked forward alone: “I’ll try first.”

“Young Master!”

Zanxing left the voices behind her. Looking into the xiezhi’s eyes, she took a deep breath, extended one hand, and grasped the statue’s goat horn.

……

Inside the pagoda, someone stood on the first floor, not continuing forward.

Those from the Demon Suppression Army willing to enter the pagoda had walked in and stood at the pagoda’s base, looking around.

However, the few from the Taiyan Sect were staring toward the entrance.

“Junior Sister Zanxing hasn’t come in yet.” Tian Fangfang spoke worriedly: “Most of the Demon Suppression Army who could enter have entered. It should be the demon clan’s turn now.”

“She may not be able to enter.” Putao stood to the side and finally couldn’t help but speak coldly: “She’s demon clan, born with sin. How could she enter?”

“Gui Yansheng is also demon clan, didn’t he enter too?” Tian Fangfang was somewhat displeased: “I say, Fellow Cultivator Putao, back at Gufeng Mountain, Junior Sister Zanxing even drank with you. Even if she’s demon clan, there’s still some friendship. Do you have an opinion of her? My junior sister doesn’t seem to have offended you.”

“She’s demon clan.” Anger flashed in Putao’s eyes, and her tone became agitated: “Aren’t you all being too close to a demon clan member?”

“Because my junior sister is likeable, others are happy to be close to her.” Tian Fangfang glanced at Putao and suddenly laughed. He usually acted like a silly, good person, but now his eyes had sharp insight, half-jokingly saying: “Fellow Cultivator Putao, are you dissatisfied with my junior sister because she’s demon clan? Or are you dissatisfied with her because my martial uncle is close to her?”

As soon as these words were spoken, the surroundings fell silent for a moment.

Putao was stunned, embarrassment quickly creeping across her face. She stood in place, biting her lip tightly and refusing to speak, tears almost falling. Meng Ying and Mu Cengxiao were always taciturn and wouldn’t speak at such moments. Meanwhile, Gu Baiying was holding the Xiugu Spear at the pagoda’s base, staring toward the entrance in a daze, completely oblivious to the commotion here.

Only Nie Xinghong, standing in the middle, found it awkward to stay or leave. His hand holding the fan froze mid-air. Finally, he could only bite the bullet and try to smooth things over, forcing a laugh: “What dissatisfaction? Everyone’s fellow cultivators. It’s just some misunderstanding. Fellow Cultivator Zanxing is cheerful and magnanimous, Fellow Cultivator Putao is lively and lovely—they’re both treasures of our Duzhou, right?”

No one responded to his words. Putao glared fiercely at Tian Fangfang and walked away.

……

Outside the entrance, Zanxing grasped the xiezhi’s goat horn.

The moment she grasped the goat horn, a soft sensation came from her hand. It felt like grasping a jumping living creature. This stone sculpture was dead, yet holding it felt as if it had come alive. She suddenly realized something and looked sharply toward the stone sculpture’s eyes.

In those indifferent, cold eyes, a trace of mockery now flashed, and there seemed to be cunning laughter flowing within.

Not good! Zanxing thought to herself, immediately trying to let go, but before she could move, the stone sculpture before her had already moved close. That grim, black horn thrust fiercely toward Zanxing’s throat!