That dark mark was black as ink, accompanied by an aura of ultimate evil and malevolence, symbolizing a force that could corrupt everything.
The mark spread rapidly, flowing downward as if someone had poured a bucket of viscous ink over Li Miao Zhen’s head.
Sensing this utterly evil, corrupting aura, the Heaven and Earth Society members present all experienced varying degrees of stress response, reminded of the Black Lotus Sect Leader.
The vicious “ink” flowed downward, covering Li Miao Zhen’s chest, abdomen, and legs, until only the golden light at the very bottom remained struggling to persist.
Sun Xuan Ji and Yang Qian Huan simultaneously stamped their feet, combining two circular arrays into a sealing formation that enclosed the Eight Trigrams Platform.
This was both to prevent Li Miao Zhen from escaping if she fell into demonic cultivation and to protect the junior disciples inside the tower.
If ordinary cultivators were contaminated by the corrupting aura, they would immediately become mentally unstable, their inner evil thoughts infinitely expanding, causing casualties.
“This karma runs deep…” Xu Qi An muttered internally, turning to glance at Golden Lotus Daoist. Seeing the orange cat Daoist’s solemn expression but lack of intervention, he could only continue to wait patiently.
Golden Lotus Daoist said softly:
“She was too impulsive in doing good deeds. The karmic entanglement is more dramatic than I imagined.”
“The cultivation methods of the Three Daoist Sects are all peculiar and strange, leading to rather quick deaths,” Yang Qian Huan shook his head, his tone revealing the pride of being a Ceremonialist.
“That’s why I only learn Human Sect swordsmanship, not their heart methods,” Chu Yuan Chen played the straight man.
Heh, you Ceremonialists aren’t any better, forgotten about the curse of killing your masters? Li Ling Su thought to himself.
But he didn’t say it aloud, as Yang Qian Huan was his “ally,” and he couldn’t undermine his ally’s position.
At this moment, Guardian Yuan’s azure eyes gazed distantly at the Holy Son, uncontrollably activating mind-reading:
“Your heart tells me: Heh, you Ceremonialists aren’t any better, forgotten about the curse of killing your masters?”
The scene suddenly grew silent, Li Ling Su’s face full of embarrassment, forcing dry laughs.
Why won’t this monkey die?! The Holy Son cursed internally.
Yang Qian Huan had his back to everyone, his expression unseen, but those present could sense his annoyance and embarrassment, after all, these inner thoughts were revealed by his good brother Li Ling Su.
Truly not afraid of death, hmm, I remember Guardian Yuan seems unable to control his innate divine ability… Miao You Fang thought gleefully.
Has mind-reading become difficult to control after merging with his innate divine ability? Asura examined Guardian Yuan, guessing the truth.
Normally, after the wedding chamber incident a month ago that offended so many people, anyone with survival instincts would be cautious with their words and actions, certainly not acting so “arrogantly.”
Guardian Yuan’s current “I’m done for” expression showed he had survival instincts, so it must be his divine ability going out of control.
This monkey simply doesn’t value his own life… Golden Lotus Daoist shook his head slightly.
Why did Sun Xuan Ji bring him along? Though there’s a reason for needing someone to convey thoughts, Sun Xuan Ji didn’t need to speak at such an occasion—did he deliberately bring Guardian Yuan? Be human, spending too much time with Xu Ning Yan has corrupted his heart… Chu Yuan Chen pondered secretly, analyzing Senior Brother Sun’s malicious intentions.
His heart suddenly trembled as he looked toward Guardian Yuan, finding the latter’s azure eyes also watching him.
Guardian Yuan uncontrollably began reading Chu Yuan Chen’s thoughts:
“Your heart tells me…”
Before he could finish, Xu Qi An sent a backhand slap through the air, knocking Guardian Yuan to the ground, and interrupting his mind-reading.
Chu Yuan Chen breathed a sigh of relief, returning his divine weapon that had been drawn three inches from its scabbard.
“…” Guardian Yuan’s face showed fear and the expression of one who had narrowly escaped death.
Li Miao Zhen remained completely unaware of her companions’ interactions, immersed in her world.
A world interwoven with light and darkness.
Divine, pure golden light and utterly evil, malevolent black light each occupied half the sky. When they merged, gold and black mixed, twisting into a chaotic color.
Li Miao Zhen’s fine brows furrowed as she stood at the convergence of the two colors, looking left and right. In the corrupting evil black light, she saw a human figure twisting into form.
It was a young swordsman, holding a blood-dripping sword, glaring darkly at Li Miao Zhen.
Li Miao Zhen remembered him—a knight she had saved from a group of mountain bandits not long after leaving the mountain.
“You, why are you here?” Li Miao Zhen asked blankly.
The young swordsman licked his sword, grinning viciously:
“Many thanks to Flying Swallow Heroine for risking your life to save me. Without your life-saving grace, how could I have become a mountain king in these chaotic times, burning, killing, and plundering?”
Li Miao Zhen’s expression grew somewhat blank, a trace of sorrow flashing through her eyes.
A second twisted figure condensed into form—a round-faced, corpulent middle-aged official.
The official smiled and said:
“Flying Swallow Heroine, this official has understood: water too clear has no fish. If one wishes to advance in officialdom, one must go along with the crowd. This official was previously too proud of his talents, thus repeatedly hitting walls, unable to fulfill his ambitions.
“After experiencing a brush with death, I finally achieved great enlightenment. Many thanks for Flying Swallow Heroine’s life-saving grace.”
He had originally been an upright official who, angered by his superior’s exploitation of common people, intended to travel to the capital to report to the emperor. En route, he was pursued by assassins sent by his superior, and at the critical moment was saved by Li Miao Zhen.
Li Miao Zhen remained silent, the sorrow in her eyes growing heavier.
More figures twisted into form, both men and women, of different identities and professions—all people Li Miao Zhen had once saved who later strayed onto evil paths.
As Li Miao Zhen listened to their mockery, wild laughter, and sarcastic narratives, the sorrow in her eyes grew deeper and deeper, and her whites and pupils were gradually replaced by viscous ink.
At this moment, another figure twisted into form—Yang Chuan Nan!
Former Yun Province Commander Yang Chuan Nan.
Wearing a military dress and resting one hand on his sword hilt, he gazed at Li Miao Zhen and said coolly:
“Yang was able to eliminate the Shamanic Cult’s influence, turn Yun Province officials, and survive the Governor’s investigation thanks to Flying Swallow Heroine’s guarantee and protection.”
Li Miao Zhen’s mind “exploded,” the viscous ink in her eye sockets like a bursting flood, quickly covering her whites and pupils, turning her eyes pure black.
Her mentality grew increasingly twisted, evil thoughts arriving in waves, believing how ridiculous her former self had been.
Killing intent, jealousy, anger, lust, pride… various negative emotions surged endlessly.
Just then, a high-pitched recitation suddenly rang in her ears:
“Youthful chivalry, gathering heroes of five cities, liver, and gall transparent, hair standing on end, in the discussion, sharing life and death, one promise worth a thousand gold…”
Li Miao Zhen stiffly turned her head, a golden light piercing her ink-black eye sockets, dispersing the viscous ink.
She saw a youth standing with his sword, bathed in blood.
Back when Yun Province faced a crisis, it was her timely appearance that preserved Xu Ning Yan’s physical body.
“Bastard, don’t die…”
A second voice came—she saw herself holding Xu Qi An’s “corpse,” desperately trying to piece together his dispersing Primordial Spirit.
That was when Xu Ning Yan forcibly disrupted the Heaven-Human Duel and suffered a backlash from Confucian techniques.
It was her second time saving Xu Qi An’s life.
“Great Feng warrior Xu Qi An, here to breach the formation!”
As the third voice echoed, a figure in cyan robes swallowed a golden pill and leaped down from the city wall.
More people appeared, likewise from various classes and different identities—commoners, beggars, knights, officials, etc.—all people Li Miao Zhen had saved.
Dense as thousands of troops.
These people, including Xu Ning Yan, all looked toward her, bowing with clasped hands, their shouts merging into a single voice:
“Flying Swallow Heroine, boundless merit!”
The viscous ink in Li Miao Zhen’s eyes completely receded. Behind her, that black viscous space and those evil, corrupted people all dissolved in the golden light of merit.
Boundless merit!
…
On the Eight Trigrams Platform, Asura watched Li Miao Zhen covered in black viscous ink and asked:
“Can you see her current thoughts?”
No way, Miao Zhen’s inner monologue right now definitely can’t be seen, if spoken aloud she’d be so embarrassed she’d fall on her sword… Just as this thought flashed through Xu Qi An’s mind, Golden Lotus Daoist slowly said:
“Judging her current state based on her inner thoughts would indeed be more effective than simply observing the corrupting force.”
Miao You Fang said seriously:
“The Daoist is an expert, let’s listen to him.”
Li Ling Su agreed:
“Not heeding elders’ words brings immediate regret, so following the Daoist must be right.”
Chu Yuan Chen analyzed:
“I think Golden Lotus Daoist makes a lot of sense.”
Though Li Miao Zhen’s situation appeared dire, everyone remained relatively relaxed, as many supernatural powerhouses were protecting—First, Second, and Third Rank all present. The worst case for Li Miao Zhen would only be failing to gather merit.
She certainly couldn’t become a second Black Lotus.
Under the group’s coercion and enticement, Guardian Yuan’s clear azure eyes gazed at Li Miao Zhen.
This process lasted ten seconds, his expression growing increasingly horrified, lips trembling, wanting to speak but not daring, reason and instinct struggling against each other.
“Her, her heart, te-tells me…”
Before he could finish, Li Miao Zhen’s Yang Spirit suddenly changed—the viscous ink covering her body receded like a tide, replaced by magnificent, divine merit light in seven colors.
Boom!
As the air slightly trembled, a seven-colored light pillar burst from the Yang Spirit, shooting into the clouds, and dyeing the night sky clouds with gorgeous radiance.
Illuminating half the capital.
Throughout the city, countless experts awakened from sleep, either rushing out of their houses or pushing open windows to gaze at the light pillar in the sky.
Great Feng had gained another Third Rank powerhouse.
After continuing for over ten seconds, the seven-colored light pillar withdrew, Li Miao Zhen’s Yang Spirit returning to her body. Her form emanated faint but divine rosy light, making her skin crystalline as jade, her features beautiful and delicate, radiating heroic spirit.
“Congratulations, Blue Lotus!”
Golden Lotus Daoist smiled and bowed.
“Congratulations, Flying Swallow Heroine.”
“Congratulations, Miao Zhen.”
“Congratulations, Junior Sister.”
Others each performed a Daoist bow, offering congratulatory words as if they hadn’t just been coercing Guardian Yuan to read minds.
Li Miao Zhen opened her eyes, first looking at Xu Qi An, seeing his genuinely heartfelt smile, then glancing sideways at Huai Qing, before finally looking around at everyone, smiling and returning their bows.
After the formalities, Xu Qi An hurriedly raised his hand, saying:
“Miao Zhen, while you were gathering cultivation, Asura, Chu Yuan Chen, and Miao You Fang all encouraged Guardian Yuan to read your mind, including your senior brother and Golden Lotus Daoist.”
Yang Qian Huan, who had been silent until now, rarely agreed with the dog bastard, saying:
“That’s right, I can testify.”
Li Miao Zhen’s expression changed dramatically as she whirled around:
“You, you read my mind?!”
Her energy became somewhat chaotic in that instant, like falling into demonic cultivation.
What was she thinking just now? This thought flashed through everyone’s minds.
Guardian Yuan backed away in shock, shaking his head vigorously: “No, no…”
Only then did Li Miao Zhen breathe a sigh of relief, glaring at Miao You Fang and the others, saying:
“This advancement was quite dangerous, I almost fell into the demonic path.”
“Fortunately you advanced successfully.” Chu Yuan Chen coughed as if dispelling the awkwardness, sighing:
“Think back then, among Heaven and Earth Society members, only the Holy Son and I had Fourth Rank combat power, the rest of you had lower cultivation. In almost three years, I’m still at Fourth Rank, while you’ve all advanced to supernatural ranks one after another.”
The Top Scholar’s reminiscence wasn’t feigned.
When the Heaven and Earth Society was first established, Li Na, Li Miao Zhen, Heng Yuan, and others were all below the Fourth Rank. Strictly speaking, even Li Ling Su only advanced to Fourth Rank after wandering for a year after leaving the mountain.
Not to mention the secluded Number Eight and Number Nine Golden Lotus, Chu Yuan Chen had been the strongest member in combat power.
But now, Numbers One and Two had successively entered the supernatural realm, Number Three was even a First Rank warrior, and though Number Six remained at Fourth Rank, he possessed a Kill Bandits Position—not an ordinary Fourth Rank by any means.
Numbers Eight and Nine were in Second Rank.
In this situation, even though Chu Yuan Chen had an easy-going personality and didn’t care for fame or gain, he couldn’t help but feel a strong sense of “crisis”—if he didn’t advance soon, he’d truly be left far behind.
“Listen to how you talk—I’m still at Fourth Rank too.”
Li Ling Su consoled him: “And there’s still Li Na and Master Heng Yuan.”
Chu Yuan Chen smiled, “The Holy Son makes sense.”
Guardian Yuan stared at the Top Scholar and suddenly said:
“No, you’re lying. Your heart tells me: ‘A libertine indulging in sensual pleasures, a stupid girl who only knows how to eat—how can I be the same as them?'”
Guardian Yuan’s face showed the pleasure of revenge.
The air suddenly grew quiet!
Xu Qi An, Li Miao Zhen, Golden Lotus Daoist, Asura, and others turned their faces away, pressing their lips together, holding back laughter.
Chu Yuan Chen’s face stiffened, his feet awkwardly gripping the ground in embarrassment.
Send this monkey back to the Southern Borders soon, or one day he’ll end up in a soup pot… Li Ling Su didn’t know how to respond either, pretending to admire the scenery around them.
“Ahem!”
Golden Lotus Daoist coughed, breaking the awkward atmosphere, saying:
“It’s late. Tomorrow we’ll discuss how to attack Alanda. Let’s rest for tonight.”
With that, he rose on the wind and disappeared into the night.
Everyone simultaneously took to the air, dispersing in different directions to return to their lodgings.
Sun Xuan Ji brought Guardian Yuan back to their chamber. The latter lit an oil lamp, its light spreading through the room, and said:
“I’m going to the latrine.”
After Sun Xuan Ji nodded, Guardian Yuan cautiously took out a teleportation jade talisman from his robes, holding it in his hand before feeling safe enough to go out.
As a demon species drifting north alone, one must learn to protect oneself.
Shortly after, Guardian Yuan returned, washed his hands in the copper basin, then grabbed a spring peach from the fruit plate on the table and began eating.
“Ahem!”
Sun Xuan Ji, sitting cross-legged on the bed, first deployed a sealing formation to isolate the room’s energy and sound, then coughed, gesturing for Guardian Yuan to look at him.
Guardian Yuan turned to stare at him for a while, then said:
“I can’t reveal Li Miao Zhen’s thoughts—she’d kill me if she knew… You’ll protect me? Nonsense, you didn’t seriously protect me, those two girls from the Xu family stalked me for several days… I don’t accept your explanation, I won’t listen, I won’t listen, this Guardian will die before betraying Daoist Li Miao Zhen.”
“Knock knock!”
At this moment, someone knocked on the door, which then opened by itself. Yang Qian Huan’s back appeared in the doorway as he walked in backward, speaking in a low voice:
“What was Li Miao Zhen thinking while gathering merit?”
As he asked, he closed the door.
Guardian Yuan still shook his head:
“I can’t say. I’m a demon of integrity. If you want to know, ask her yourself.”
Yang Qian Huan said deeply:
“If Heaven hadn’t born Yang Qian Huan, Great Feng would be in eternal night. Yang is also a person of integrity, rest assured.”
Knock knock!
The knocking interrupted Yang Qian Huan’s words. Because the room was enclosed in a sealing formation, he couldn’t teleport out, nor could he use the door.
Senior Brother Yang made a quick decision and hid in the clothes cabinet by the wall.
Sun Xuan Ji extended his palm, gently pushing out a circular array that attached to the cabinet door, sealing Yang Qian Huan’s energy signature.
After all this was done, Guardian Yuan got up to open the door.
Outside, Miao You Fang and Li Ling Su entered rubbing their hands together, immediately asking:
“Brother Yuan, we have something to consult about.”
Guardian Yuan closed the door, staring at them expressionlessly:
“Li Miao Zhen’s thoughts?”
Miao You Fang and Li Ling Su looked at each other, nodding together:
“Talking with Brother Yuan is straightforward indeed. We’re all forthright people, we should speak forthright words, so…”
Before they finished, knock knock came at the door again.
Without any hesitation, Miao You Fang and Li Ling Su scanned the room, darted toward the clothes cabinet, and opened the door…
They saw the back of a head.
The back of the head said: “What a coincidence.”
Miao You Fang and Li Ling Su: “…”
The two squeezed in, gently closing the cabinet door, their energy signatures completely disappearing.
Guardian Yuan opened the door with a grave expression.
With a creaking sound, the blue-robed swordsman appeared in Sun Xuan Ji and Guardian Yuan’s view.
Top Scholar Chu said casually:
“Late-night visits are not gentlemanly behavior. I came mainly to check on Guardian Yuan’s recent situation…”
Guardian Yuan interrupted him:
“And incidentally inquire about Li Miao Zhen’s thoughts?”
Chu Yuan Chen froze, showing an awkward but polite smile:
“Either work!”
Guardian Yuan returned to sit at the table, shaking his head:
“I promised Daoist Li Miao Zhen I would never reveal her thoughts. Please don’t put this demon in a difficult position, Brother Chu.”
Chu Yuan Chen’s expression remained unchanged:
“You can tell Senior Brother Sun? If you weren’t discussing this, why use a formation to cover the room?”
Guardian Yuan glanced at Sun Xuan Ji—this human was clever, not easily fooled.
Just as he was about to explain, there came another knock at the door.
Chu Yuan Chen’s expression changed slightly. His gaze swept the room, locked onto the cabinet door, and he stood up, saying:
“Trouble Senior Brother Sun to seal my energy signature.”
Handling matters thoroughly and considering everything comprehensively—this showed why the first three’s minds indeed weren’t as sharp as Top Scholar Chu’s.
As he spoke, Chu Yuan Chen opened the cabinet door to see two awkward but polite smiling faces and one back of a head.
“You all…”
Chu Yuan Chen froze, then his face burned red hot.
“Hurry in, let’s see who’s next.” Miao You Fang had the attitude of a dead pig unafraid of boiling water.
Chu Yuan Chen squeezed in helplessly.
Guardian Yuan opened the door to see the nine-foot-tall Asura standing there.
“…” Guardian Yuan was still somewhat afraid of him and hurriedly stepped back several paces.
Asura took the opportunity to enter, nodding to Sun Xuan Ji and Guardian Yuan while closing the door, asking:
“What was Li Miao Zhen thinking just now?”
It was Asura asking, so Guardian Yuan wasn’t sure whether to answer and looked toward Sun Xuan Ji.
Guardian Yuan nodded, saying:
“Senior Brother Sun asks you why someone of your status would want to get involved in such matters?”
After speaking, Guardian Yuan muttered internally: You’re no different!
Asura said frankly:
“Heaven and Earth Society members seem to love playing these games. Except when handling serious matters, they’re always scheming against each other, wanting to make others lose all face and feel ashamed enough to crawl into the ground.
“I don’t like these games, but since I must deal with them, I need to prepare in advance, control their secrets and private matters, to maintain an invincible position.”
“I think they’re thinking the same thing.”
After Guardian Yuan revealed these thoughts, Sun Xuan Ji waved his sleeve, and with a bang, the cabinet door opened.
Asura saw three awkward but polite smiling faces and one back of a head.
“What a coincidence!”
The four greeted.
“You all…”
Asura’s expression was stunned as he hurriedly reviewed his previous words, and after confirming he hadn’t said anything embarrassing, he regained his composure.
“It seems we’re all clever people who know to prepare in advance.” Chu Yuan Chen tried to save face.
“Right, right.” Miao You Fang and Li Ling Su agreed.
The three walked out of the cabinet, Yang Qian Huan backing out.
The group sat around the table, Yang Qian Huan standing in the corner. Asura thought for a moment and said:
“Let’s just leave the door open and see who else comes. If Li Miao Zhen comes, we’ll disperse, if not…”
He glanced at Guardian Yuan, his meaning clear without words.
Everyone agreed.
The door stood open, time passing second by second. Half an incense stick later, an orange cat with a tail held high walked past Sun Xuan Ji’s doorway with elegant steps.
It casually glanced inside, calmly withdrew its gaze, and continued walking forward.
“Stop pretending, Golden Lotus Daoist!”
Chu Yuan Chen called out.
The orange cat ignored them, continuing forward.
“That cat, we’re talking to you!”
Li Ling Su said.
The cat hesitated slightly, very calmly saying:
“What a coincidence, everyone!
“This poor Daoist had business with Guardian Yuan…”
Everyone said expressionlessly:
“Li Miao Zhen’s thoughts!”
The cat’s face froze.
…
The orange cat sat on the table, looking around, saying:
“Xu Ning Yan hasn’t come?”
Guardian Yuan nodded:
“He hasn’t come, only you all.”
“I don’t believe it!” everyone said in unison.
The cat Daoist pondered, asking:
“Who came first?”
Guardian Yuan told the orange cat the order of arrival.
Xu Ning Yan only has two methods of concealment—Moving Stars and Changing Constellations, and Shadow Lurking. The former can only screen energy signatures but can’t hide form, so that leaves the latter. Yang Qian Huan excels at teleportation, but Shadow Lurking can’t keep up… The cat Daoist had a thought, turned to look at Miao You Fang, and spat out a beam of rosy light.
The rosy light enveloped Miao You Fang, making his body radiate light, dissolving shadows.
Within Miao You Fang’s shadow was hidden another shadow which, under the merit light’s illumination, had nowhere to hide and slowly restored to human form.
Xu Qi An’s expression remained unchanged as he smiled:
“What a coincidence, everyone!”
This bastard… everyone looked at him expressionlessly.
Xu Qi An pretended not to understand everyone’s expressions and turned to Guardian Yuan, saying:
“Can you tell us now?”
Xu Qi An had come together with Miao You Fang, originally planning to quietly hear the news.
He hadn’t expected that among the Heaven and Earth Society members, not one was proper—no, Master Heng Yuan was the only conscience.
Huai Qing didn’t come, probably couldn’t lower herself to it, or wasn’t interested.
A room full of big shots looked at Guardian Yuan, saying nothing, giving silent pressure.
Guardian Yuan looked at them, and surprisingly calmly responded:
“I don’t mind, but you’ll have to ask if she agrees.”
As he spoke, he took out a brocade pouch from his robes and opened it!
In an instant, merit power filled the entire room, and Li Miao Zhen’s Yang Spirit floated out of the pouch, hovering in the air, coldly looking down at everyone in the room.
Guardian Yuan had met Li Miao Zhen when he went to the latrine.
Everyone: “!!!”