Starting as a cowherd, he sought a way to cultivate immortality.

The talisman masters were relieved to find it was a false alarm.

Chen Chi did not intend to kill them to silence them, but instead asked them if they recognized the items in the storage rings of the deceased Jie Xiu.

"Gentlemen, please look, what is this?"

In Chen Chi's palm appeared a jade pendant engraved with a wolf's head.

A talisman master's pupils contracted, and he exclaimed in surprise:

"This is a family jade pendant belonging to a member of the Sima family; I've seen it before."

"Could it be that these three cultivators have also murdered members of the Sima family?"

The Sima family...

Chen Chi remained silent, walked to the pile of ashes left behind by his second brother Jie Xiu, and picked up a storage ring.

Another wolf-head jade pendant appeared in Chen Chi's hand.

Then, Chen Chi looked at Dao Yuan, whose cultivation had been crippled and who was now lying paralyzed on the ground.

Dao Yuan was looking at Chen Chi with a pair of resentful eyes.

Chen Chi stepped forward, lifted his mask, revealing a ferocious-looking face.

He took Dao Yuan's storage ring, erased the divine consciousness on it, and probed into it.

Sure enough, Dao Yuan also had a wolf-head jade pendant from the Sima family in his storage ring.

"this……"

The talisman masters weren't fools; they immediately realized that these three cultivators were members of the Sima family.

"The Sima family is very powerful, so why would any of its members become cultivators who rob cultivators?" someone asked, puzzled.

Chen Chi frowned.

"Sima Daoyuan, do you have any last words?"

"You—" Dao Yuan's face showed a look of surprise.

How do you know my name?

Chen Chi sneered, the image of the man-eating green-robed demonic cultivator he had personally killed flashing through his mind; that person seemed to be related to the Sima family.

"Not only do I know your name, but I also know that your Sima family is secretly cultivating demonic cultivators who eat human flesh and blood!"

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the talisman masters changed drastically.

"Danqing, are you telling the truth?"

Chen Chi glanced at Sima Daoyuan, who was lying on the ground with a pale face.

"If you don't believe me, just ask him."

Sima Daoyuan fell silent for a long time before speaking in a hoarse voice:

"We three brothers would never stoop to their level..."

This statement definitively confirms the close relationship between the Sima family and demonic cultivators.

Were the two invasions by demonic cultivators that occurred in Donglin also related to the Sima family?

Chen Chi's mind raced, and his expression grew increasingly grave.

"If you don't want to go along with the corrupt practices, then you'll commit murder and robbery?" Chen Chi said in a deep voice.

Sima Daoyuan was speechless for a moment.

"Just kill me!"

Just as Chen Chi was about to swing his sword to end Sima Daoyuan's life, he was stopped by the talisman master who was with him.

"Danqing, don't kill him. We need to take him to report this to the sect leader."

Chen Chi pondered for a moment.

Now that his strength has been exposed, he will definitely be questioned by Luo Jin when he returns to Lingyun Sect.

He needs to think of what to say.

"Alright, let's not delay, let's go back now." Chen Chi slowly put away the peach wood sword.

……

Lingyun Gate, Lingyun Hall.

In front of Luo Jin floated three wolf-head jade pendants belonging to Sima Daoyuan and others.

Luo Jin looked at Sima Daoyuan, who was like a corpse, and ordered his disciples to take him down from the hall and keep him under strict guard.

Then, Luo Jin's sharp gaze fell on Chen Chi.

"How do you know Sima Daoyuan, and how do you know about the Sima family's demonic cultivation?"

The other talisman masters who were traveling with him were about to speak up for Chen Chi, but they were so frightened by Luo Jin's cold gaze that they shut their mouths.

Faced with the oppressive aura of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Chen Chi remained neither humble nor arrogant, and explained:

"My real name is Chen Chi. I used to cultivate in Cloud Mist Valley for a period of time."

When he went out with the Zhao family cultivators, he was also robbed by Sima Daoyuan and his two companions.

I escaped by sheer luck, which is why I know Sima Daoyuan's name.

As for the matter of the demonic cultivator, it was something I did after escaping and passing through a town…”

Chen Chi recounted in detail his encounter with the green-robed demonic cultivator to Luo Jin, claiming that he had stumbled upon a fortuitous opportunity that allowed him to reach the late stage of Qi Refining.

Luo Jin's expression was uncertain, clearly indicating that he did not trust Chen Chi.

"Then what is your purpose in infiltrating my Lingyun Sect?"

Chen Chi cupped his hands and said:

"I joined the Lingyun Sect because I wanted to see someone."

"Who?"

"Li Jing".

A glint flashed in Luo Jin's eyes, and he said in a deep voice:

"What is your relationship with the Grand Elder's disciple?"

Chen Chi smiled:

"Master Luo must know that Li Jing comes from the Yan Kingdom in the mortal world."

In the mortal world, Li Jing was my nephew.

Upon hearing this, the talisman masters exchanged glances, their eyes revealing shock.

Chen Chi is actually Li Jing's uncle?

Seeing Chen Chi's composed expression, Luo Jin's doubts lessened somewhat.

He instructed his disciples to summon Li Jing to Lingyun Hall.

Not long after, Li Jing piloted the spirit boat and landed outside the palace.

He strode into the hall, glanced at Chen Chi, and a hint of doubt flashed across his face.

"Disciple greets Sect Leader," Li Jing said, bowing to Luo Jin.

When Luo Jin saw that Li Jing did not recognize Chen Chi, a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

"Li Jing, do you recognize this person?"

Li Jing looked at Chen Chi beside him and shook his head, saying:

"Sect Leader, this disciple does not recognize this person."

"Li Jing, you really don't recognize me?" Chen Chi asked, reverting to his original voice.

Li Jing was slightly taken aback, then a look of joy appeared on his face.

"Uncle Chen, you've changed your appearance again?"

"Cough cough..." Chen Chi quickly coughed a few times.

Li Jing immediately realized he had misspoke and bowed to Luo Jin, saying:

"Sect Leader, I guarantee with my life that Uncle Chen is absolutely fine."

Luo Jin's expression was unfriendly as he said to Chen Chi:

"You don't even dare to show your true face, how can I believe you don't have ulterior motives?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Chi's heart stirred.

"I am dissatisfied with Sect Leader Luo, and I do indeed wish to request something."

"Oh? What do you want?"

"Foundation Pill."

Luo Jin frowned.

"If you want the Foundation Establishment Pill, we'll have to see what you can do for my Lingyun Sect..."

……

Inside the cave where Li Jing cultivated.

Li Jing and Chen Chi recognized each other again, but this time it was the Lingyun Sect instead of the Zhao family, which made them feel a sense of nostalgia.

"Uncle Chen, I thought I would never see you again."

Chen Chi finally revealed his true face and smiled slightly:

"It's been a few years, and you've already reached the fifth level of Qi Refining."

"Thanks to my master for taking me as his disciple, I have been able to improve my cultivation so quickly." Li Jing smiled, a hint of respect in his eyes.

"Uncle Chen can kill a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator with a flick of his finger; he's far stronger than me."

Chen Chi shook his head and said sincerely:

"I attained this level of cultivation only because I encountered a fortuitous opportunity."

In terms of talent, I am far inferior to you.

"You don't know, before I came to Lingyun Sect, I attempted to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, but I failed."

Upon hearing this, Li Jing's expression tightened.

"Uncle Chen failed to break through to the next realm. Did he damage his foundation?"

"You don't need to worry about that," Chen Chi said softly. "My foundation is very solid."

Li Jing felt relieved, and after thinking for a moment, he said:

"Or, after Master comes out of seclusion, I'll ask him for a Foundation Establishment Pill for you?"

"Senior Han is in seclusion?" Chen Chi raised an eyebrow, then remembered what Han Xuanyu had once told him.

"Yes, Senior Han is aiming to break through to the Golden Core realm."

Seeing Li Jing nod, Chen Chi took a deep breath and slowly said:

"Let's talk about the Foundation Establishment Pill later."

The most urgent task now is to find out the exact relationship between the Sima family and the demonic cultivators.