Chapter Fifty-Four: The Truth

Halfway through the journey, the path widened, and more travelers appeared around us. I suddenly stopped and asked, "It seems we're nearing the city. Why are you taking me here?" In my mind, Xinghuo Hall, being such a dark sect, should be hidden away in some shadowy crevice, not brazenly headquartered in a thriving city.

He glanced at me and said loudly, "Just keep going." Without further explanation, I had no choice but to follow.

As we approached the stone gates, I saw the large characters for Lijiang City. The guards at the gate clearly greeted us, saying, "Lord Hongyi."

Before long, we reached the city center. Hongyi pointed to a lavishly decorated building. The words "Xinghuo Hall" were prominently inlaid in gold on the door.

Confused, I was about to enter when I heard a sorrowful cry from behind. Turning around, I saw a woman with red, swollen eyes chasing two men in black robes embroidered with red flames. Each man was carrying an infant in his arms, clearly disciples of Xinghuo Hall.

I couldn't believe that in broad daylight, the righteous factions would tolerate such an evil sect kidnapping people without intervention. If Que Han were still here, he would never allow this to happen...

"Hall Master Hongyi, are you just going to let your disciples run rampant in the city?" I asked.

Hongyi snorted, his smile not reaching his eyes as he looked at me disdainfully, "You must be joking. Xinghuo Hall isn't some renowned righteous sect. Naturally, we must resort to any means necessary for our cultivation."

"Fine." I smiled at him, forming two ice arrows with my fingers. "Since you won't discipline your disciples, allow me to assist."

Just as the arrows were about to fly, Hongyi quickly stepped forward, laughing nervously as he pressed down my hand. He then sternly ordered the disciples behind him, "Return the children to her!" The two disciples, bewildered, obediently handed the infants back to the woman.

Raising an eyebrow, Hongyi spoke kindly, "Now, young lady, can we go inside?"

Ignoring him, I walked straight into the building.

We passed through the main hall to the courtyard. Hongyi stepped in front of me, gesturing towards a fake rock mountain.

An underground passageway was concealed within the fake mountain, almost impossible to detect. We walked through a narrow stone corridor lined with variously sized chests, illuminated by only four oil lamps.

From the farthest corner, Hongyi retrieved a pearl the size of a fist, presented in a box, and handed it to me.

"This is a Mirage Pearl. By infusing it with magic, it can temporarily reveal a person's memories."

I had read about it before. A mirage beast from the sea could create illusions to entrap and kill, and its inner core was this Mirage Pearl.

"Once I perform the spell, you will see what truly happened then. Remember, what you see are just images from my memory, not tangible things. Don't act rashly..."

I rolled my eyes at him, "Stop babbling and get on with it."

Hongyi coughed a few times, then crushed the pearl with his hand. Countless misty white lights burst out, obscuring the world around us. In the blink of an eye, the scenery changed dramatically.

"Master, I swear that everything I say is true! Luo Yi'er and Luo Xi are remnants of the former Hall Master of Xinghuo Hall. They infiltrated Qiong Yun to conspire with Qing Yue, intending to derail Senior Brother's path to immortality!" In the Qiong Yun Sect, Ling Lu was speaking indignantly to a stone door.

A puff of white air emanated from behind the door, followed by a cold voice, "You expect me to believe your claims without proof? If I come out of seclusion, I will kill you first."

Ling Lu was momentarily stunned, showing a hint of fear. Then, biting her lip, she knelt before the stone door and continued, "Master, I must be honest. Luo Yi'er and Luo Xi are now in their demon forms, slaughtering people in the city. Senior Brother not only refuses to stop them but also protects those two demons! All of this is due to Qing Yue's bewitching words. I cannot bear to see Senior Brother fall to the dark path. I am willing to die if it means you will act to set things right!" Her words were resolute, and she raised her sword to her neck.

Just as Ling Lu was about to slash her throat, the stone door suddenly opened, a blast of energy knocking the sword from her hand. A blue light swiftly flew into the sky.

Overjoyed, Ling Lu wiped the tears from her eyes and then wore a victorious, self-satisfied smile, not even noticing Hongyi approaching from behind.

"You are truly ruthless," he remarked.

Ling Lu turned around calmly and smiled, "Otherwise, how do you expect to keep those brats from taking the Xinghuo Hall Master's position? Don't forget, you may have a demon form, but you're not truly a demon."

Hongyi flicked his sleeve, speaking disdainfully, "Hmph, Xinghuo Hall was once a branch of the Moon Shadow Sect, where only highly cultivated demons could become Hall Master. But now that Xinghuo Hall has established itself as a separate sect, what do I have to fear?"

Ling Lu laughed, "Indeed, what do you have to fear? But without the support of the Xinghuo Hall elders, you will never obtain the fast-track cultivation methods and treasures in the secret chamber. When those two return, everything you've gained will be handed over! We've been working together for years, so don't pretend to be a righteous man now."

Hongyi fell silent, waiting for Ling Lu to continue, "I'm going to help Master now. Whether you kill those two remnants yourself is up to you. I won't help you with that." She clenched her fist and followed the blue light.

So everything that happened before was a collaboration between Ling Lu and Hongyi. What was her true motive? Had she done all these evil deeds just to deal with me?

Hearing Ling Lu's final words, my heart grew anxious. I silently prayed not to see the scene I dreaded.

The scene changed again. Luoyang City was drenched in blood and filled with a cacophony of endless screams and wails. Corpses littered the ground, and the horrific sight of a blood-soaked landscape unfolded before my eyes. I couldn't help but cover my mouth in shock.

Blood formed winding rivers that imprinted themselves in my eyes. A flash of pale blue robes caught my eye, marred by dark stains on what used to be pristine fabric. The once proud and strong figure now seemed fragile, like withered grass uprooted by a fierce wind and dusted with the frost of an early winter morning.

"Great Immortal…!"

The words caught in my throat. I wiped the warm tears constantly flowing from my eyes, my hand trembling as I tried to block the sight.

But through the gaps in my fingers, the scene remained terrifying. I heard Que Lingyun's furious reprimands. I saw a shattered figure propping himself up with a broken sword to protect the two giant serpents behind him. The reality of the boiling blood felt like cold chains wrapping around me.

What am I seeing?

What am I shouting?

Who am I in pain for?

I didn't know. It wasn't clear. The world seemed to blur into a bright, deceptive mass, furiously digging out things long gone from my heart. A sense of helplessness permeated my entire being, plunging me into the abyss of darkness, seeking refuge.

"Is this all it takes for you to break down? How do you expect to get revenge if you're this weak?"

The sharp words stabbed through me like needles, and I opened my eyes wide.

In the secret chamber, Qian Qian was fiercely battling Hongyi. Her moves were erratic and unpredictable, yet it seemed Hongyi held the upper hand.

I couldn't help but ask, "Why are you here?"

"Are you kidding?" Qian Qian turned her head to look at me. "You don't realize you've been tricked by this ghost? He wants to use you to refine…!" Hongyi's eyes suddenly sharpened, and he reached out to strangle Qian Qian.

"Qian Qian!" I screamed, conjuring an ice blade and slashing at Hongyi.

"Ha! Child's play!" Hongyi effortlessly caught the ice blade with his bare hand, crushing it and striking me solidly with his fist.

A sharp pain shot through my abdomen, and a salty liquid surged up my throat.

This old thief had hidden his true strength well. Over the years, he must have cultivated to a level on par with Que Lingyun, explaining his brazen disregard for the heavenly laws.

"You've been cultivating with human lives for years. Aren't you afraid of divine retribution?!"

"Heh, do you really think relying on human lives alone could make me progress so rapidly? It's all thanks to this divine artifact." Hongyi tossed Qian Qian aside, pulling out a jade stone. "The essence of the Moon Spirit, a power that only ancient gods possessed, was refined from the bones of that Great Immortal you cried out for in your illusion."

It was as if thunder exploded in my mind, something inside me crumbling.

If he is the Moon Spirit Jade… If he is the Moon Spirit Jade…

Then that means his soul is gone too...

Hongyi laughed maniacally, his face contorted and grotesque. The rage inside me boiled over, driving me to madness.

I glared at his repulsive face, wanting to scream and tear apart his laughter: "Impossible! You're lying! Lying!!!"

His disgusting smile grew more animated. "But that's the truth. The fragment of a soul you retrieved, no, it was merely a wisp of spirit energy, just slightly purer than ordinary spirit energy."

"I'll kill you!" I poured all my magic power into an attack on Hongyi. He easily dodged, and my limbs went limp. I watched helplessly as he extended his bloodied nails, sneering at me with disdain, "Fool."

In the end, I still couldn't do anything.