I saved the entire sect by playing idly by letting things fall apart.

Does this mean—

She can have her?

Or perhaps, her performance was far more powerful than his?

All things perish.

The name sounds impressive, but if the results don't live up to the name, she'll definitely send a warm greeting to the Heavenly Dao family when she undergoes her tribulation.

Ye Qiao winked and smiled at him, then approached him in a friendly tone, "What's the name of your curse mark?"

His lips were pressed into a straight line.

Ye Qiao made a hand seal with her fingertips and continued chatting with him casually, "Do you think I can do the same as your spell seal just now?"

Her light-hearted words made the young man tense up, his pupils trembled slightly, and he carefully observed her movements, discovering that Ye Qiao's starting stance was exactly the same as his previous actions.

impossible.

He silently retorted in his heart.

Where did she, a cultivator, get her connections?

Or rather, how could a cultivator like her possibly be worthy of it?

Of all religions, he firmly believed that only Buddhism and Taoism were truly the chosen ones.

"Ye Qiao learns things very quickly; you'll never have to use the same trick twice in front of her." For some reason, Shenzi remembered his master's admonition to him again.

The problem is, I've only used it once.

How could she have learned it so quickly?

Just as he was frantically refuting this in his heart, Ye Qiao seized the opportunity, rushed forward, and knocked him to the ground with a single punch.

The young man instinctively reached out to block, but he lost at the beginning. It was difficult to fight back against Ye Qiao. The moment Ye Qiao subdued him, the other demon kings rushed forward and took down all the Buddhist cultivators.

nonsense.

Ye Qiao knew that his methods were not limited to this, and that demon kings were generally a bunch of useless people with little intelligence. In order to avoid any complications, it was important to take him down as soon as possible. Taking advantage of his moment of shock, Ye Qiao used a feint to catch him off guard and punched him with all her might, almost piercing his abdomen in an instant.

Blood spurted directly from his mouth. Ye Qiao dodged to the side, and the Divine Child's entire body was embedded in the ground. He couldn't move, and all his bones were shattered by her punch.

Dragons...

Ugh, those damned dragons!

Her physical skills alone weren't that strong, but the dragon race's physical skills were inherently abnormal. Without holding back, the divine son was defeated in one move, completely subdued. Yet, he remained defiant, his voice fragmented as he squeezed out two words: "Despicable!"

He thought she really remembered the curse mark he had just cast.

He immediately fell into a state of existential doubt, little did he know that she was just faking it.

He feinted, then delivered a punch that rendered him unable to care for himself.

Ye Qiao asked in surprise, "Is this the first day you've met me?"

"When you came to the territory of our Five Sects, didn't any cultivators tell you that there are many bad people in the Five Sects?"

At that time, someone will probably add, "Ye Qiao is even worse."

He was so angry at her attitude that he felt like vomiting blood.

"You came into the inner area looking for treasure, right?" Ye Qiao stepped on him, sealing his spiritual energy with a talisman, and smiled. "How about we take everything here together?"

Regardless of what it is, the fact that he went to such lengths to enter the inner circle to obtain it means that there are many opportunities within the Cloud and Smoke Secret Realm.

Whatever the opportunity, let her join in too; we're all good friends anyway.

His expression was cold and indifferent, and he remained silent as the Golden Lotus of Merit healed his injuries, all the while sneering, "You think the Cloud and Mist Secret Realm is your home? That things inside are easy to take?"

Every place has its own unique opportunities and rare spiritual plants, each guarded by a mythical beast.

Any celestial-grade spiritual plant is almost always guarded by powerful demons at the Nascent Soul stage or above. If you're unlucky, you might even encounter a Void Refinement stage cultivator. Does she think this is her home? That she can just take whatever she wants?

Without saying a word, Ye Qiao kicked him: "Why are you talking so much nonsense? Just go when I tell you to, stop babbling."

"If I'm in a good mood, I might even share some with you?"

"You think I care about these things?" He curled his lips into an almost icy smile, clearly not believing that Ye Qiao, with her unlucky streak, could possibly get anything. He forced a slight smile, his words resolute, "Even if I die here, I would never take your things."

The gold thread trim on the snow-white robe accentuated the youth's gentle features, making him appear exceptionally otherworldly. The faint gold line between his brows, which had not yet faded, truly made him resemble a divine being untouched by worldly dust.

The master chosen by this Golden Lotus of Merit is indeed a man of principle, Ye Qiao thought to herself.

Only the Divine Child could truly understand the bitterness he endured. He had tried to steal a chicken but ended up losing the rice instead. He was the only one who knew the entire path of the Cloud and Mist Secret Realm. He was the one who brought in the evil cultivators, and he was the one who deliberately placed the Bodhi Fruit to lure the Ning family members inside.

When Ye Qiao and the others seal off the secret realm, and news spreads that all the direct descendants of the Ning family have died and all the rogue cultivators inside the secret realm have perished, it will surely arouse public anger. Then, under the watchful eyes of the public, they will take action to quell all the turmoil. At that time, the five sects will become rats in the street, and the overall situation of the cultivation world will fall into their hands.

Logically speaking, everything should have been within his calculations.

Where exactly did we miscalculate?

……

Strange phenomena continued to occur outside the region. A tribulation of lightning at the Nascent Soul stage was intertwined in the sky, causing passing cultivators to stop and discuss loudly which cultivator had broken through to the Nascent Soul stage.

If another Nascent Soul cultivator joins the ranks, then the cultivation world will have three new generations of Nascent Soul cultivators.

"Perhaps it's Qin Huai? Even if it's not Qin Huai, he should be here in the next few days."

Qin Huai's cultivation level showed signs of weakening within the Cloud and Mist Secret Realm. After leaving the secret realm, his aura had already reached the Nascent Soul Realm. As long as he could withstand the tribulation lightning, he would truly become a young Nascent Soul cultivator.

"The aura is from the Demon Clan, probably from one of the other sects. Zhou Xingyun and Mu Chongxi are the most likely candidates."

However, what stopped everyone in their tracks was not just this. The strange phenomenon caused by the intertwining of divine tribulations in the air, and the oppressive feeling permeating the air, gave the faint impression that a powerful being in the tribulation stage was about to ascend.

This might not be an illusion.

Every time a powerful being ascends to immortality, the blessings bestowed upon them extend throughout the entire cultivation world.

There are always signs before ascension.

It should be noted that on the righteous path of the cultivation world, there is only one person at the Tribulation Transcending stage.

Logically speaking, it should be a joyous occasion for a powerful cultivator to undergo tribulation, especially for the Sword Inquiry Sect. Originally, the Changming Sect had taken first place in the competition, but if a powerful cultivator ascends to the Tribulation stage, it would be easy to reclaim the title of the number one sect.

After all, no matter how strong your Changming Sect is, can it be stronger than a sect with an ascended master?

But now, neither the Sword Inquiry Sect nor anyone outside is happy.

There is only one Tribulation Transcending stage cultivator in the righteous path of the cultivation world. If the sect leader of the Sword Inquiry Sect ascends to immortality, then only the Demon Lord will remain to undergo Tribulation Transcending. Wouldn't the Demon Lord then be invincible?

If the sect leader of the Sword Inquiry Sect leaves, how will the cultivators on the righteous path survive?

Despite being away from the battle, Mu Chongxi, with his head held high, was determined to observe the fight between the powerful figures and seek a breakthrough in his cultivation level.

As the boy wiped away the blood, he asked his junior uncle, still puzzled, "Why is the Demon Lord keeping chasing after the Sword-Asking Sect Master?"

"Why isn't the sect leader fighting back, he's just dodging?"

His skill level was too low to see their specific situation, but Mu Chongxi, being born with a sword bone and an instinctive sensitivity to swords, was able to catch a few of their movements.

After getting a clearer picture of the battle situation, Mu Chongxi was somewhat confused.

Xie Chuxue narrowed her eyes, speaking casually: "He's pressuring the Sword Sect Master to reveal his breakthrough."

"Breaking through the realm?"

Mu Chongxi blinked, puzzled. "What exactly is the Sect Master undergoing tribulation for? If he breaks through another realm, then he'll... ascend to immortality?"

"Yes." Xie Chuxue said calmly, "Once he ascends, there will only be one person in heaven and earth to transcend the tribulation. Do you think that without the checks and balances of the tribulation stage, who will ultimately have the final say?"

Mu Chongxi was slightly taken aback, and muttered, "...Despicable."

Xie Chuxue wholeheartedly agreed, "So both sides are stalling for time. Qin Fanfan and the others are covering for the Sword Inquiry Sect Master, trying their best to prevent him from making a move."

However, in the end, Qin Fanfan and the others are a whole realm lower, so when necessary, the Sword Inquiry Sect Master still has to take action.

"How long can the Sword Inquiry Sect Master hold out from ascending?" Mingxuan asked cautiously. Damn, if the Sword Inquiry Sect Master really disappears, will the cultivation world become completely ruled by the Demon Lord? He didn't even dare to think about how difficult life would be for the righteous path.

"At the latest, within three months, he has been constantly stimulating the cultivation level of the Sword Inquiry Sect Master. If he is not careful and exerts too much force, he can easily break through the shackles."

Without the restraint of tribulation, the righteous path is about to face its darkest hour.

Thinking of this, Xie Chuxue's brows furrowed slightly.

However...

The demon core that Ye Qiao held in her hand was the only one of its kind in the cultivation world, belonging to a demon at the Tribulation stage.

If one can refine it, it is not impossible to break through to the highest realm.

However, refining a demon core at the Tribulation Transcending stage is incredibly difficult. It's obvious that it's impossible to do in a short time. Ye Qiao has been in the Cloud and Mist Secret Realm for so long without any news of her appearance, so—

Xie Chuxue fell into thought and asked Mingxuan, "What is Xiao Qiao doing in the secret realm?"

"Her?" Mingxuan's lips curled up. "She and the Divine Child are inside the Cloud and Mist Secret Realm, and their current situation is unknown."

Xie Chuxue was taken aback. "What divine child?"

"Well..." Mingxuan opened his mouth, wanting to explain, but Mu Chongxi interrupted him in a hurry.

"What?!" The boy almost jumped up.

"That divine child..." Mingxuan subconsciously tried to explain.

Mu Chongxi shouted anxiously, "Let that idiot divine son die already! Is my junior sister alright?"

What divine child? He doesn't even know him. He should just die.

Mingxuan's lips twitched. Sometimes Mu Chongxi's logic was really simple and clear. Anyone he didn't know, anyone he was an opponent of, anyone he didn't like, should just die already.

Perhaps they think this way when they ask themselves questions... naive?

Mingxuan almost laughed. "Ye Qiao is fine. The one who's in trouble is that divine child."

Xie Chuxue raised an eyebrow. He wasn't worried about Ye Qiao's safety. Hearing that the other party hadn't come out of the secret realm, he guessed that the kid must have other plans. He changed the subject, "Your senior brother is about to break through, so he can't move his position casually. Let's leave it at that for now. The three of you, go back to the sect, but remember, don't actually enter the sect."

"What do you mean?" Xue Yu blinked and joked, "We've entered the sect? We were just pretending?"

Xie Chuxue: "I wasn't joking with you." He said, "Perhaps your first step into the sect will be being captured by people from the Buddhist and Taoist sides."

"No, why?"

Why would Buddhists and Taoists dare to take them down?

"I'm asking you," Xie Chuxue said gently and patiently, "Is the Sect Master's Token in Ye Qiao's hands?"

"That's right. Junior Sister is now the acting sect leader of our sect, right?" Xue Yu had it all figured out: "To be honest, I've already thought about how I'll flatter her when we get back to the sect."

Xie Chuxue: "..."

That's good. While everyone else was thinking about the problem, only the simple-minded Xue Yu was thinking about how to go back to the sect and become a sycophant.

Seeing that his words had silenced his junior uncle, Xue Yu smiled and said, "Just kidding. I understand what you mean. Actually, I've been wondering about something too. Theoretically speaking, without the sect leader's order, elders cannot arbitrarily dispatch any disciples, let alone something as important as opening the sect to invite other sects to join."

"If I remember correctly, it's usually necessary to consult the sect leader."

Xue Yu was also puzzled. Which elder, whose brain was underdeveloped and whose cerebellum was completely undeveloped, agreed to allow Buddhist cultivators to enter the Changming Sect? This was tantamount to allowing Buddhist cultivators to settle in the sect in disguise.

The Changming Sect was already short-handed, and once Buddhist cultivators entered, it would be easy for them to control all the Buddhist cultivators in the Changming Sect.

It is said that not long ago, the demons forcibly entered and swept through the area, but Ye Qiao single-handedly turned the tide.

If Ye Qiao knew this news, she would probably be so angry she'd vomit blood.

When he first heard that the sect leader's token was in Elder Zhao's hands, he suspected that Elder Zhao might be a mole. How could Buddhist and Taoist cultivators be good people if they allowed them to join the sect?

As it turned out, the sect leader's token was in Ye Qiao's hands.

That made things even more dramatic.

Without the sect leader's order, no one except Ye Qiao should be qualified to manage the affairs of the sect. So who released her? Ye Qiao is still imprisoned in the Cloud and Mist Secret Realm, so it couldn't have been her.

Xue Yu's eyes darkened slightly. "Who exactly agreed to release them?"

Ordinary people, any normal person, wouldn't agree to release them, right? Those Buddhist monks clearly had ill intentions.

"I don't know."

"So, so." Xie Chuxue clapped her hands and quickly shooed them away: "You three hurry up and find out which elder did it, then we'll take him down when Xiao Qiao comes back. Hurry, remember not to enter the sect, if things look bad, leave immediately."

"Why is it the three of us again?"

"Because the three of you together are the most perfect!" Xie Chuxue's eyes sparkled as she earnestly encouraged them. "In my opinion, no matter who Ye Qiao or Zhou Xingyun are combined, their effect is far inferior to the three of you together!"

Although Xie Chuxue didn't have high expectations for these three people, there's a saying: even three cobblers can outwit a Zhuge Liang.

The three of them together are at least more useful than a dog.

They were slightly taken aback, never expecting that in their junior uncle's eyes, their trio was even more formidable than the trio of Ye Qiao and Zhou Xingyun.

"We understand." The trio left, deeply moved.