Gentlemen, it's time to enter the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls.

Chapter 406 A Line of Blood and Tears

Chen Ye has never had any goodwill towards the Mirage Faction.

From the moment they first met at Hundred Seas Valley, this sect exuded an arrogance that kept everyone at arm's length. Not to mention mortals, even ordinary rogue cultivators were treated like weeds in their eyes.

In particular, Zhou Lang's insidious actions were something Chen Ye deeply abhorred—if he hadn't been prepared in advance, the founding ceremony of the Yellow Springs Sect would probably have been turned upside down by this man.

At this moment, Yin Xiaoshuang and Zhou Lang arrived together, saying that the Demonic Sect was about to make a shocking move, which naturally filled Chen Ye with doubts.

Therefore, he did not come alone this time; beside him was the Supreme Elder of the Yellow Springs Sect, the most powerful cultivator in the world today—Qu Heng.

At this moment, the two stood atop the imperial city, looking down upon the countless beings below.

Besides bringing this person along, Chen Ye also carried all the treasures he could from the Yellow Springs Sect with him to ensure that nothing went wrong.

Even though Mo Suixin had divined an auspicious result for him before he set off, Chen Ye remained extremely cautious, not wanting his incredible luck to be ruined by his own negligence at a crucial moment.

Chen Ye looked up at the distant clouds and asked, "Grandmaster, what do you think the Mirage Sect is really up to?"

Qu Heng stood with his hands behind his back, pondered for a moment, and then replied, "If it were just Zhou Lang alone, I would have suppressed him on the spot. He has no truth in his heart. But since Sect Leader Yin Xiaoshuang also appeared, things are not so easy to say."

"Oh?" Chen Ye asked with slight curiosity, "Does Grandmaster know this Sect Leader Yin?"

In his memory, the leader of the Mirage Sect was like a shadow. He had only seen her once at Rift Sky Mountain. The rest of the time, he only heard that she was always in seclusion. It seemed that this leader just liked to cultivate in seclusion and did not care much about the affairs of the Mirage Sect.

“I don’t know her.” Qu Heng shook his head. “But back then, in order to scheme against the five major sects, I carefully investigated the lives and personalities of these sect leaders. According to various rumors and private conversations among the disciples of the Mirage Sect, Yin Xiaoshuang is a good person and can be considered upright and incorruptible.”

"She is more like a rigid and conservative righteous cultivator from a thousand years ago. Even though the Mirage Sect has a grudge against my Yellow Spring Sect, she would never hold the Yellow Spring Sect back on such a major matter concerning the safety of the world."

"So, the Mirage Sect's intelligence is mostly true?" Chen Ye frowned. "Are those two demons, Youluozi and Feilian, really going to come to the capital to sabotage my plans?"

At this moment, Chen Ye could still vaguely sense that the aura of Lord Feilian was thousands of miles away.

For cultivators at the Returning Void Realm, distance is meaningless. Tearing apart the void and shifting heaven and earth is but a thought away. From the ends of the earth to the imperial city is also just a matter of a single thought.

“I cast a divination for this trip,” Qu Heng said, his brows furrowing slightly. “The divination result was chaotic and unclear. The karmic entanglement between you and the Yellow Springs Sect is now too vast, especially for you. The karma entangled on you is already quite messy, and any divination about you will hardly yield any results.”

This is not an exaggeration, nor is it Qu Heng shirking responsibility.

The Yellow Springs Sect is already a top sect in the world, and its every move affects the world's格局 (geju, a term referring to the overall situation or landscape).

Chen Ye is a big fan of excitement. In the past two years, from the Alliance of Loose Cultivators in Hundred Seas Valley to the Blood Sacrifice in the Northern Frontier, to the founding of the Yellow Springs Sect, and even the recent deaths of several Demonic Sect Masters at his hands... all these events could be told by storytellers for a year and a half.

The karmic connections within Chen Ye are so complex that even a single misstep can have far-reaching consequences. To predict his fate would be impossible, even for a true immortal descending to earth.

"Then, according to our master's opinion, how should we deal with this?" Chen Ye asked.

"When soldiers come, we'll meet them head-on; when water comes, we'll dam it." Qu Heng's tone suddenly became confident. "The Mirage Sect is nothing. No matter what their schemes are, I will take them on myself. Even if Yin Xiaoshuang and Zhou Lang join forces, I can suppress them both at the same time! Besides, don't you still have the Qinghe Sword Sect's communication flying sword? If necessary, summon Yu Jizi. With the two of us working together, we'll truly be invincible. We won't be afraid of anyone."

As he spoke, Qu Heng exuded a powerful aura.

Although he hasn't broken through to the Dao Integration Realm yet, Qu Heng's cultivation has definitely made another breakthrough recently.

Not long ago, Chen Ye shared all the secret techniques of the Nirvana Sect with him, which benefited him greatly. The Crimson Dragon Buddha that Qu Heng cultivated originated from the Nirvana Sect's method of becoming a god through incense offerings. Now that he has obtained the true fundamental method, it will definitely be of great help. It would not be an exaggeration to say that he is invincible.

With Qu Heng's words, Chen Ye was finally at ease.

"In that case, I'll ask you, Grandmaster, to deal with the two from the Mirage Sect for me later. I'll take care of things here in the Imperial City first."

Qu Heng smiled and said, "Don't worry, if anything unusual happens, I will protect you behind me."

Chen Ye and Qu Heng descended from the clouds and landed in the imperial city.

Looking at the busy eunuchs and palace maids, Chen Ye felt that the imperial city seemed unchanged, just like when he last came.

Moreover, since the previous emperor had "become a monk" rather than died, there was no need for mourning clothes or any funeral rites.

Chen Ye couldn't help but sigh, "An emperor was changed every three days, but it had almost no impact on the world. As long as the emperor and officials don't act recklessly, the world doesn't really need an emperor."

Qu Heng laughed and said, "That's just how it is. Mortals still survived even without emperors. It's the same for cultivators. Whether you're on the righteous path or the demonic path, as long as you don't affect mortals, it's actually meaningless to them."

Chen Ye asked in confusion, "Why did my master agree with me today? He would definitely scold me on a normal day."

"Naturally, I've been influenced by you. I used to think that mortals were ants, and cultivators could crush them at will. In the past, even if I wanted incense offerings and prayers, I relied on deception, robbery, and the strength of my fists. But now that I enjoy the incense offerings from mortals, I have no right to say such things."

Qu Heng was indeed influenced by Chen Ye.

Back then, faced with the blood sacrifice of over 100,000 people, Qu Heng could calculate how much benefit he should gain without batting an eye.

But Chen Ye, a mere Qi Sea Realm cultivator, dared to point his finger at him and berate him severely, and the key point was that Qu Heng really couldn't do anything about it.

Qu Heng originally felt that he was very similar to Chen Ye, both of them could find a way to make themselves invincible in desperate situations.

But from that day on, Qu Heng knew that he was different from Chen Ye.

Qu Heng's calculations were all for personal gain, but Chen Ye's actions were not solely for his own benefit. He always did what he could to help the weak, even if it meant suffering a slight loss.

There are many wise people in the world, but very few can uphold this benevolent heart.

Qu Heng, who came from the Demonic Sect, knew all too well how difficult it was to be a good person.

But precisely because of this, this cause and effect brought Chen Ye great rewards. Otherwise, how could he have become the number one in the Tongxuan Realm in just two years? Talent and luck alone are far from enough.

Now that the Yellow Springs Sect has gained considerable power, Qu Heng is well aware of the immense contributions Chen Ye has made. Having achieved his goal, he feels that achieving Dao Integration and ascension is just around the corner, and thus he is exceptionally tolerant of his grand-disciple Chen Ye.

As soon as they landed in the imperial city, Zhou Lang and Yin Xiaoshuang appeared without Chen Ye having to look for them.

This illusion made Qu Heng squint.

He hadn't even noticed their presence. Zhou Lang alone couldn't have done that. It just goes to show that Yin Xiaoshuang is the true master of illusion. The Mirage Sect was right to choose her as their leader.

Yin Xiaoshuang stepped forward a few steps, maintaining a subtle distance, and spoke in a calm tone: "Sect Leader Chen, since we parted at Rift Sky Mountain, you have become even more radiant than before. Congratulations!"

Chen Ye knew perfectly well that this was nothing more than a formality.

Back at Rift Sky Mountain, he probably wouldn't even have been worthy of her attention. But he was already quite adept at polite formalities. Chen Ye's face broke into a warm smile, as if there had never been any animosity between the Yellow Springs Sect and the Mirage Sect: "Sect Leader Yin is too kind. It is an honor to have both of you grace us with your presence. I apologize for not greeting you properly..."

He was about to exchange a few more pleasantries and probe the truth of the Demonic Sect's intelligence when his gaze fell on Yin Xiaoshuang's face, and he was suddenly startled.

Yin Xiaoshuang's right eye had turned blood red without her noticing. A thick, sticky tear of blood silently slid down her cheek, leaving a glaring mark on her fair, jade-like face. Chen Ye's pupils constricted, and he almost blurted out a question, but reason instantly pulled him back.

Not right.

Yin Xiaoshuang's expression remained unchanged, indifferent, as if she were completely unaware of the situation, while Qu Heng, standing next to Chen Ye, also showed no reaction.

According to the previous agreement, as soon as Qu Heng noticed anything unusual, he would immediately protect himself behind him, but at this moment he did not move an inch.

Could it be that only Chen Ye himself can see this tear of blood?
Is this an illusion? But why cast such an illusion?

Chen Ye's mind raced, but his face remained impassive. He looked at the expressionless sect leader again and said in his usual tone, "Sect Leader Yin has come from afar; he must have something of great importance to discuss. There are too many people around here; perhaps we should find a quiet room to discuss this further?"

This statement was meant to provide Yin Xiaoshuang with an excuse. If the blood and tears were indeed an illusion, and Yin Xiaoshuang had done it on purpose, then she must have wanted to convey some secret message to him without anyone else knowing.

Chen Ye has now given her an opportunity; it remains to be seen how Yin Xiaoshuang will respond.

However, to Chen Ye's surprise, Yin Xiaoshuang, the leader of the Mirage Sect, did not follow his lead. Instead, she slightly turned her body and calmly stepped aside to let Zhou Lang behind her out.

"The information about the Demonic Sect was obtained by Junior Brother Zhou. He will explain the details to you two."

As soon as she finished speaking, she stepped back a few paces and disappeared back into the background, leaving the center of the stage to Zhou Lang, whose face was full of gloom.

By this time, the blood and tears on her face had long since disappeared, leaving not a trace.

Chen Ye had many doubts, but he could only suppress them and look at Zhou Lang.

Zhou Lang made no attempt to hide his disgust for Chen Ye, his tone harsh as he cut to the chase: "According to our intelligence, the three great demons, Soulfire, Youluo, and Feilian, have joined forces to devise a 'Soul Splitting Plan.' The details are unclear, but this matter concerns the rise and fall of the Demonic Sect, and its core lies in this Central Plains Imperial City. Now that you have uncovered the plan ahead of time, those two demons, Feilian and Youluo, will certainly not stand idly by."

He paused, then explained, “The Yunlu Immortal Sect is stretched thin, Tianxin Island has just been attacked and its strength has not yet recovered, and the Qinghe Sword Sect has already dispersed to various parts of the Central Plains. This is a matter of great importance concerning the safety of the world, and our Shenlou Sect has come to offer our assistance. Sect Leader Chen, we are currently engaged in a great war between the righteous and the demonic, and I believe you will not refuse our Shenlou Sect from afar because of past personal grudges, will you?”

Chen Ye frowned, because the intelligence report sounded full of holes.

Given Soul Master's suspicious nature, how could he possibly entrust his life to Youluozi, whom he had always been wary of? Moreover, Zhou Lang's words were vague and ambiguous, making it impossible to determine their truthfulness.

Considering the strange blood and tears that Yin Xiaoshuang had just shed, there must be something fishy going on behind this.

But Zhou Lang had already put himself in a position of "righteousness," so Chen Ye couldn't simply drive him away. He changed his mind and politely smiled, "Thank you for your help, fellow Daoist, for disregarding past grievances. Since that's the case, there's something I'd like to ask you both for help with. Deep within the Imperial City's underground palace, there's a cave entrance leading directly to the earth's veins. If the Demonic Sect wants to secretly carry out their schemes, this is the most likely place. However, we two are currently unable to spare the time. Could you please go and investigate first? What do you think?"

He deliberately made an excuse, both to send the two away so that he could discuss things privately with Qu Heng. At the same time, it was also a test; if Zhou Lang insisted on staying by his side, his ulterior motives would be obvious.

However, Zhou Lang did not refuse, but agreed almost immediately: "Alright, our two factions rarely cooperate, so we may not have any tacit understanding. It would be better to fight separately and be more cautious."

Having said that, he said no more, turned around with Yin Xiaoshuang, and their figures merged into the surrounding illusionary barrier, disappearing without a trace in an instant.

Chen Ye immediately gave Qu Heng a wink. Qu Heng understood, and the phantom of the Crimson Dragon Buddha flashed by, instantly enveloping the two of them in an invisible barrier of magical power, cutting off all prying eyes from the inside and outside.

"What? Did you find something wrong?" Qu Heng asked immediately.

Chen Ye nodded solemnly: "That's right. Just now, a line of bloody tears flowed from Yin Xiaoshuang's right eye. Did Grandmaster see it?"

Qu Heng frowned: "I only sensed that this place is covered with illusionary barriers, but this is not my forte, so I can't discern the subtle changes. Her tears of blood, could it be a scene that she deliberately created so that only you could see it?"

Chen Ye pondered for a moment and then offered his deduction: "I suspect that Yin Xiaoshuang is trying to convey some kind of message to me. The person she's trying to avoid is probably not you, Grandmaster, but that Vice Sect Leader Zhou Lang."

"They are from the same sect..." Qu Heng said halfway before chuckling to himself, shaking his head and sighing, "Could it be that my righteous path will ultimately follow in the footsteps of the demonic sect? With a formidable enemy at hand, must we first engage in internal strife?"

"Internal strife?" Chen Yeshang was somewhat puzzled.

Qu Heng explained, "Zhou Lang covets the position of leader of the Mirage Sect. He caused a scene when Yin Xiaoshuang took over the position, and everyone knows about it. This man has a mean face and a narrow mind. He has been jealous of Yin Xiaoshuang for hundreds of years and probably dreams of taking her place. If it weren't for Yin Xiaoshuang's consideration for their fellow disciples and her repeated tolerance, how could he have lived peacefully until now?"

He looked at Chen Ye and continued his analysis: "Think about it, given the prestige of Yin Xiaoshuang's faction, what could she not say openly instead of resorting to such covert methods? The only explanation is that she is in a constrained position and cannot speak her mind. And who else could make her so wary besides Zhou Lang? Perhaps Yin Xiaoshuang is already under someone else's control."

Upon hearing this, Chen Ye gasped.

He knew very little about the internal workings of the Mirage Faction, but after Qu Heng's explanation, everything seemed to make sense.

“Does Zhou Lang really dare to plot against Yin Xiaoshuang?” Chen Ye still found it hard to believe. “Fratricide, especially between the leaders of a sect, cannot be covered up by the excuse of ‘internal sect affairs.’ Once this is exposed, how can the Mirage Sect maintain its standing on the righteous path?”

If the harm to fellow disciples were to occur to ordinary disciples, it could be dealt with according to the sect rules.

Other sects might inquire about the results, but unless things go too far, they won't interfere in other sects' internal affairs.

To plot against the sect leader is an unforgivable crime that shakes the very foundation of a sect. Other sects will surely join forces to bring this to justice and will not stand idly by.

Qu Heng pondered and said, "I'm just guessing. Logically speaking, Yin Xiaoshuang's cultivation is above Zhou Lang's. The possibility of turning her into a puppet and daring to bring her out so ostentatiously is extremely slim. It wouldn't be difficult to ambush and kill Yin Xiaoshuang, but she is a Void Returning Realm cultivator and a master of illusion techniques. Turning her into an obedient puppet would be as difficult as ascending to heaven."

Chen Ye also felt that the matter was quite serious, so he asked Qu Heng, "Then what does Grandmaster think we should do?"

Qu Heng sneered, "If they truly harbor ill intentions, they will eventually slip up. You go and attend to your business; I will protect you. If they dare to make a move, I will not hesitate to show no regard for any 'fellowship'!"

Chen Ye nodded.

The key is to remain unchanged in the face of all changes. He has now found the location of the Soul Master's largest split soul, which is hidden in this imperial city.

Chen Ye is about to dig out this split soul; perhaps he can extract the Soul Master's true plan from it.

However, this time Chen Ye will also have to face another divination result from Mo Suixin.

Because the Soul Master's largest fragment of soul was not elsewhere, but attached to Princess Hongyu.

However, the divination result that Mo Suixin gave for Princess Hongyu was extremely ominous, indicating certain death.

Of the three hexagrams, at least two are true.

Once the outcome is decided, even a celestial being descending to earth cannot change it.

Therefore, the fate of Princess Hongyu almost determined the fate of Chen Ye and Ye Chen.

If Princess Hongyu can survive, then the divination will prove to be wrong.

The remaining two hexagrams indicate that Ye Chen, this demon, will surely die, and Chen Ye will get what he wants; these two hexagrams will definitely come true.

In other words, as long as Princess Hongyu is rescued, Chen Ye can rest easy.

(End of this chapter)