The entire sect is obsessed with love, but I'm the only one who's truly insane.

Mo Lin usually carries a sword and staff on his back, but today he stands tall at the door with the sword and staff in hand. The sword belt that used to be tied to the sword and staff is now tied to a rough wooden board.

He stood silently beside Lin Du, looking at Shao Fei, who had already lost all life in the room, and Lin Yuan, whose hand was covered in black ink. He couldn't help but recall the scene of Lin Du and Feng Yi playing chess before he left.

Lin Du had never studied Go, and Feng Yi, though ostensibly teaching him, was actually discussing the opening moves.

"Look, you've followed your planned strategy, but you've discovered that the enemy isn't acting as you expected, and their target isn't here either. What will you do?"

Lin Du lowered his eyes and presented the black piece, saying, "Even if the destination is wrong, the direction is right."

"Lure the enemy deep into our territory, prepare for both possibilities. Even if we take the wrong path, we're not far from our goal. We'll always be able to block their retreat."

Upon hearing this, Feng Yi put down the chess piece. "Are you sure? You're studying the art of formations. You should know that even a small mistake can lead to a huge error."

"If I could, I would proceed with the soul search regardless of whether it's a mistake or not." Lin Du paused, then smiled helplessly. "Unfortunately, that would make me no different from the heretics. If I'm wrong, it would only bring shame to the Supreme Sect."

Without absolute power and authority, every action a person takes will be subject to judgment.

"Do you know why the disciples of the Supreme Sect travel around all year round?" Feng Yi put away the chessboard, his phoenix eyes gleaming. "Those who cultivate the Dao seek longevity and the Great Dao, but this path is too long."

"It's so long that people will always get bogged down by something when they can't see the end."

"Human relationships, worldly changes, power, fame, and fortune are nothing but fleeting changes in the eyes of high-level cultivators. On the path to becoming stronger, the resources needed and the conditions that constrain you must be obtained through means."

"The means by which this is obtained, the path chosen, all of this is a form of human cultivation."

Feng Yi smiled and looked at Lin Du in front of her, "You are so young, yet you know how to restrain yourself. That's a good thing. We're here to protect your safety. As for the rest, you can choose."

Good and evil are separated by a single thought. If Lin Du broke free of his shackles on his first trip down the mountain for trials, then he should be cultivating his mental state properly at the Supreme Sect now.

Lin Du looked at Mo Lin, who was lying on the bed, half asleep. "People always demand a complete truth."

Mo Lin noticed Lin Du's gaze and was startled awake. "Junior...Junior Uncle, why are you looking at me like that?"

"It's nothing, I was just thinking that you and Tao Xian both have the title of senior brother," she turned to look at Tao Xian, "I've deduced many times today, and when you confront your master tomorrow, there may be things we've guessed wrong, but you must remember one thing, Yin Zhong must know your physical condition, so no matter who controls you, Yin Zhong, as your master, cannot escape responsibility."

Tao Xian nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

Mo Lin met Tao Xian's anxious gaze and comforted him, "Don't worry, we'll all be behind you tomorrow."

The sky, which had been shrouded in mist, was now tinged with a bright yellow-gold edge by the sunset glow that broke through the clouds at dusk, with rays of light shining in all directions.

A tall young man stood bathed in sunlight, sword in hand.

He spoke softly, "Tao Xian, let me show you around."

Lin Yuan was the first to react. He felt the spiritual energy draining from his body and gritted his teeth, trying to seal his meridians. He stared intently at Lin Du and said, "The personal disciple of the leader of the array path actually knows how to use Gu Sect incantations."

"I've thought about it for a long time. If a person's spirit is damaged and they have to devour other people's souls to increase their cultivation and prolong their lifespan, how can they possibly have the spare power to control so many soul imprints?"

Lin Du channeled his spiritual power into the Floating Life Fan in his hand, "Why did he insist on bringing Shao Fei back? What else does Shao Fei have that would make him have to give up his property to get her?"

"Until I saw a record of the Spirit-Devouring Gu, which parasitizes the dantian. At first, Gu masters thought it was a symbiotic relationship. The Gu worm resembles a golden elixir. While living in the human body and absorbing spiritual energy, it uses the human body as nourishment. After it grows, it will strangle the host."

"Once this thing is refined, it becomes a great tonic for people. Not only can it absorb all spiritual energy, but it also has another wonderful use."

Lin Du smiled as he looked at Lin Yuan, whose face was gradually turning ashen. "It is said that it can tightly unite the body and soul, making it impossible for people to see any signs of incompatibility after possession."

"However, the Soul-Devouring Gu disappeared five hundred years ago, simply because that Gu village was destroyed."

Lin Du sighed softly. "May I ask you a question? Why was that Gu Village destroyed?"

Lin Yuan's expression gradually turned terrifying. "As expected of the number one on the Azure Cloud Ranking, your wisdom is almost demonic. Do you know that extreme intelligence is bound to cause harm? This innate deficiency of yours is the result of your own actions."

Lin Du ignored his curse and watched as Ju Yuan and Feng Yi, who were guarding the back of the courtyard, had already captured the other people in the blacksmith shop. He let out a soft sigh, "Anyway, you'll die before me, so I'm not at a loss."

She walked into the shop step by step. "You used all the pieces until the very end, but unfortunately, you couldn't wait for us to leave."

"Oh, looks like you're already planning to run away?"

Lin Yuan gritted his teeth and looked at Lin Du, "What tricks did you play with the Spirit-Devouring Gu?"

The Floating Life Fan suddenly unfolded, and a chilling spiritual energy poured out. Lin Yuan hurriedly retreated, forced to release his acupoints and try to summon his spiritual energy, but it was like a mud ox sinking into the sea; he couldn't muster any spiritual energy at all.

The young man was forced to throw everything within reach at Lin Du.

"That's the nature of the Spirit-Devouring Gu. Isn't this the method you taught Shao Fei? What, you don't recognize it now that it's the Reversal Devouring Gu Curse?"

"The Spirit-Devouring Gu can devour the spiritual power of other Gu worms and bodies. You taught Shao Fei a blood array that reverses the power of the mother and child Gu, so Qi Zhun's spiritual power, which he couldn't even use himself, was devoured by the Spirit-Devouring Gu."

Lin Du smiled and used his spiritual power to push away the heavy objects and magical artifacts, then precisely grabbed the person's throat.

"If you behave well, you can live for another fifteen minutes."

"Now," Lin Du slowly tightened his left hand, "tell me, why do you want my grand-nephew's spirit bones?"

Lin Yuan gritted his teeth. "It's just fate. The victor is king, the loser is villain. I have nothing to say."

Lin Du chuckled, "Perfect, I'm too lazy to argue with you anyway."

At the same level, no one can match Lin Du. Moreover, Lin Yuan's spiritual power was devoured by the Spirit Devouring Gu when he dug it up, and now he is reaping the consequences of his actions, like a cripple.

The veins on his pale hand slowly bulged from the exertion, and a sickeningly sharp cracking sound echoed through the blacksmith's shop.

Lin Du let out a soft "Ah," and said, "The cervical dislocation execution method is just right for a rat in the gutter like you."

After she finished speaking, her divine sense poured out and entered the man's divine palace.

The man's spirit struggled violently, trying to resist Lin Du's soul-searching technique.

Before Lin Du could react, an exceptionally powerful white light shielded her from the damage.

"Search as you please. This old monster has lived for at least a thousand years," Yan Ye's voice rang in her consciousness, adding, "This is a one-time exception."

Lin Du closed her eyes, and a sudden sound of clashing weapons rang out behind her, but she paid no attention.

Mo Lin silently stood behind Lin Du, holding his sword and staff, his brows slightly furrowed as he looked at the cultivator who had suddenly appeared before him. "A sneak attack is not the act of a gentleman."

Another powerful and domineering blade aura emanated from the sword, which the Xuanjin sword staff calmly met. The spiritual energy collided, producing a resounding clang.

"It just so happens that I haven't stretched my muscles in a long time." The young man relaxed his brow and directly raised his hand to deflect the descending broadsword. "I suppose you would be willing to spar with me."