Chapter Fifty-Eight: Chaos in Qiongyun

"Alright, the story's over. Time to get back to work for the sect leader." Huaying clapped her hands, pulling my drifting thoughts back. I studied her closely, realizing she bore an uncanny resemblance to Qianqian, both in appearance and in temperament.

What peculiar taste does Quanyou have? Could all the women around him be like this?

"What are you looking at? Let's go."

I murmured an "Mm," rotated my aching wrists, and followed her. Suddenly, she stopped and looked at me quizzically. "What are you doing?"

"Walking?"

"I mean, how long does it take to get from Xin'an Town to Qiongyun Sect?"

I felt a jolt in my heart. "Why do you ask?"

She stretched her arms above her head, lifting onto her toes. "It doesn't matter how long it takes. You should head to Qiongyun now. I'll handle Xinghuo Hall."

She wants to clear out Xinghuo Hall by herself? She struggled so much just now—what kind of joke is this?

"Your cultivation is so low, and you think you can take on Xinghuo Hall alone? Do you think you're Quanyou?"

"Killing isn't my specialty. This is." She scoffed, tapping her temple. "The sect leader specifically instructed that Xinghuo Hall isn't as urgent as the Demon Extermination Conference at Qiongyun. Just go."

I couldn't argue with her reasoning, but I kept my guard up, gathering information at a tavern along the way to confirm the start time of the conference.

Counting Qiongyun Sect, there were only three major orthodox sects: Luoyue Sect, Xianlin Pavilion, and Wanling Villa. However, Que Linyun's call also attracted many scattered cultivators.

Finding out their plans for the Demon Extermination Conference wouldn't be difficult, but I had to avoid detection by Qiongyun Sect members, especially Lingluo and Que Linyun.

I bought a hooded robe to conceal myself and found a remote inn at the foot of Qiongyun Mountain to rest.

At night, I carefully took out the Moon Spirit Jade from my bosom. Staring at the gem, I felt a pang of nostalgia, as if I could see the cold, clear visage of the Grand Immortal in its blue depths.

I began to channel my spiritual power into it. When nothing happened, I increased the flow. This time, the jade emitted a faint blue glow and started absorbing my energy aggressively, pulling at my essence until I couldn't pull away.

My strength waned, and I couldn't resist as most of my spiritual power was drained.

How domineering...

As my consciousness drifted, my eyes closed involuntarily. When I awoke, I was delighted to see a tiny figure reflected in the jade. Though indistinct, I was certain it was the Grand Immortal's spirit.

The ancient text was true. If I replenished enough spiritual power and transferred it to the jade, I could see the Grand Immortal again. Wonderful.

But why did my body ache so much after just one night of sleep? I stretched and cracked my stiff neck, then punched my back to ease the tension.

A pungent, sour smell suddenly hit my nose. Covering it, I noticed the fruit on the table had already begun to mold, though it had been fresh when the innkeeper brought it yesterday.

I pushed open the door and bumped into the innkeeper carrying a tray of food.

"Oh, you're still here? The Demon Extermination Conference starts today. The other heroes who arrived like you did two days ago have already left." He paused, looking me up and down. "Uh, aren't you here for the conference?"

Two days had passed? Damn.

I tossed some silver onto his tray and hurried out.

Qiongyun Sect was crowded, with long lines on the mountain path. Every sect, large or small, had to undergo inspection to prevent demons or evildoers from sneaking in.

I wrapped my cloak tighter and blended into the end of a small sect's line, slipping through easily.

They must have assumed that with Que Linyun overseeing the area and it being Qiongyun territory, no one would dare to cause trouble.

Outside the main hall of Qiongyun Sect, people gathered while the leaders of the four sects sat inside. Que Linyun was the first to speak. "Today, Qiongyun hosts the Demon Extermination Conference. I appreciate everyone's presence. I believe you are all righteous sects who despise evil and will act decisively against it. Therefore..." He suddenly sighed, shaking his head.

"Everyone here represents a renowned sect. If Sect Leader Que has something to say, just say it. Wanling Villa will fully support you."

The crowd began to buzz with conversation.

"Did you see? That's the mistress of Wanling Villa. Isn't she stunning?"

"Seeing her in person is even better. But I heard Wan Qixia is past forty. How does she look so youthful?"

"Wanling Villa has all sorts of rare beasts. They must have some way to defy aging."

I had heard these rumors before, but seeing it in person made me believe it.

"If that's the case, I'll speak plainly. The Moonshadow Sect, established among mortals, is entirely composed of demons. Over the years, they have committed countless atrocities. If we don't act now, they will surely poison all three realms. Our sect intends to strike before this tiger harms anyone further!" Que Linyun finished, coughing in his excitement.

"Master, are you alright?" A veiled woman in white stepped to his side, giving him some pills. It was Lingluo.

"Sect Leader Que is right. Eliminating the Moonshadow Sect will remove the last great threat to our world." The other two sect leaders voiced their agreement.

"Our sect will contribute what we can to eradicate these demons alongside Qiongyun Sect!" Voices echoed in agreement from the gathered crowd.

Suddenly, someone tapped my shoulder, making my heart jolt. A voice from behind asked, "Why aren't you chanting?"

Just as I tried to dodge the person, they stepped in front of me, their expression changing dramatically. "Who are you? How did you sneak into our sect?"

This is bad.

I broke free and ran, but behind me, I heard Lingluo's sharp cry, "She's a demoness from Moonshadow Sect! Capture her!"

There was no time to summon my flying sword. Just as I was about to cast a spell to escape, chains formed by magical power bound my feet securely.

"Everyone, this is the demoness from Moonshadow Sect! She conspired with Xinghuo Hall to infiltrate Qiongyun Sect, murdering disciples and stealing secrets. She disfigured me and killed my senior brother! Now, she's here to harm us again." Lingluo's beautiful eyes glared at me fiercely, the red veins almost bleeding, as she pointed a long sword at me. "Today, I'll make you pay tenfold!"

"Miss Lingluo, don't worry. With all the sects gathered here, this demoness won't escape," said one of the other sect leaders.

Watching her pile accusations on me, I couldn't tell if she was clever or despicable. I laughed and said, "Lingluo, don't you feel ashamed saying such things?"

"Ashamed? You dare do such things but are afraid of being spoken about? You colluded with demons and intentionally killed my senior brother. He treated you so well, yet you..."

Her hypocritical stance ignited a sudden, inexplicable rage within me. Biting my lip, I shouted at her, "Shut up! You have no right to mention the Grand Immortal!"

She was startled, tears welling up in her reddened eyes before streaming down as she sobbed, "I have no right? And you, the murderer of my senior brother, do?"

"She even killed Que Han, her supposed master. Such ruthlessness."

"A demoness is indeed a demoness."

"Truly heartless."

Their words wrapped around me like a suffocating net, twisting my heart painfully. My chest throbbed, feeling like it was being sliced by a burning hot iron, and I spat out a mouthful of blood.

The taste of blood filled my mouth as my vision blurred, the scene before me turning into a hazy, red mist. Shadows became indistinct figures. I shook my head, trying to regain clarity, but my vision kept shifting between clear and blood-red.

Suddenly, demons appeared all around, throwing the crowd into chaos. Using my last bit of strength, I took a female disciple hostage, forcing her to release the chains, and fled to the back mountain with her using a spell.

Just as we reached the back mountain, several strange demons attacked. I barely managed to fend them off with a dagger, finally collapsing from exhaustion.

"Go," I told the frightened girl, her face pale. She stumbled away like waking from a nightmare.

Watching her run, she unexpectedly headed straight into two stone demons. Mustering my strength, I forced myself up, rushing to kill the demons before they could reach her.

Blood splattered, and the demons wailed in agony on the ground before falling silent, their blood pooling into small puddles.

"Qingyue, wake up." A familiar voice echoed around me, but I couldn't find its source.

The girl suddenly screamed and fainted as more demons emerged from the surroundings.

When did these demons infiltrate Qiongyun Sect? This doesn't make sense.

Gripping my dagger tightly, I prepared for a desperate fight. My mind raced, but then a blue light flashed before my eyes, clearing my vision. The demons transformed into human shapes. I stared, stunned, at the spot where the two demons had fallen. They weren't demons at all—they were people!

The onlookers, seeing this, scattered in all directions, leaving me alone, dazed and confused.

Thunder rumbled overhead as heavy rain began to fall, mixing with the blood on the ground to form crimson streams.

At this moment, Lingluo and her followers caught up.

"Look, this demoness is indeed harming the innocent, killing again."

Is all of this Lingluo's doing? Does she hate me so much that she would go to any lengths to frame me and see me dead?

"If you want to kill me so badly, just do it with one stroke." I closed my eyes, not wanting to think about anything anymore.

Maybe this way, I could reunite with the Grand Immortal.