"..."
Lin Shu stood in place and raised his arm slightly. Even his fingers were encased in sharp Hand Armor. When he clenched his fist, it was like watching a dragon’s claw open and close.
Dark red Fog swirled around his entire body. He no longer resembled an Immortal Cultivator in the slightest; he was the very image of a ferocious Great Demon.
’A High-grade Magical Treasure?’
’One mace of Karmic Fire Gold Essence actually caused a complete transformation in the Magical Artifact. It’s just as tyrannical as when it grants an Immortal Rank to a Wild Demon!’
’Does this mean I can mass-produce such precious items...? Hiss... No, other people would have a hard time using them.’
Lin Shu felt the surging malevolence. Even he, who had been tormented by the Sin Coin and was protected by his Guarding Essence Root, felt his mind being affected while using it—to say nothing of an ordinary Cultivator.
Without sufficient experience and willpower, anyone who used these Magical Treasures would probably have their mind instantly controlled, turning them into a killing-crazed lunatic.
’Whatever. I should head back first.’
Lin Shu turned the Demon Armor back into a Thumb Ring and put it on.
Just as he was refining the treasure, Yu Sheng’s warning had suddenly echoed in his mind.
’When did this little chick get so clever? How could it have figured out what Yu Mingxuan was thinking?’
By this point, Lin Shu rarely interfered in the little chick’s affairs. After all, traveling back and forth like this was quite tiring.
’If the little one could handle things on its own, I could spend most of my time with the Group of Demons instead of having to go back and keep watch so often.’
’Wait for me at the Academy. I’ll be back soon.’
...
「Anren Prefecture City, Qiankun Academy.」
Two Armored Spirit Horses neighed as they charged in. The Ruan Family Siblings vaulted off their mounts and darted straight into an Elegant Attic deep within the Martial Arts Academy.
Anyone with eyes could see how anxious the two Vice Generals were.
’Aren’t they supposed to be garrisoning the counties below for Immortal Yu Sheng?’
’Did something happen?’
The instructors and students furrowed their brows, feeling a sudden sense of unease.
Lately, the atmosphere in Anren Prefecture had been extremely strange.
After Yongzhou Pass fell, the Qi and Yu Families had joined forces. They were supposed to make a clean sweep of the surrounding Group of Demons, after which their many experts would gather to retake the Border Region in one fell swoop.
But it had been a long time since the prefecture gazette published any good news about slaying demons.
This couldn’t help but make people wonder if the situation was truly proceeding as smoothly as they had imagined.
At this thought, everyone subconsciously turned their gaze toward a particular courtyard. To restore everyone’s confidence, they would have to rely on that senior Mountain Master to personally retrieve the head of a Demon Monarch.
"..."
Inside the courtyard, Qian Yiru slowly opened his eyes.
He could easily catch the conversations of the people in the Academy just by listening to the wind.
There was most likely a reason for two Vice Generals from the Demon-slaying Bureau, who were supposed to be garrisoning the counties, to return so suddenly and in such a hurry.
’The news is spreading too slowly.’
’My original assessment was a one-in-ten chance of survival.’
’The only way out was for the Mountain Master, Lin, to see through the conspiracy and restrain his pride.’
’But it seems he failed to do that.’
’Certain death.’
Qian Yiru closed his eyes again.
’Although we are both Cultivators, that young man and I are not on the same path. We might even become enemies in the future.’
’For Junior Sister Yun’s sake, I’ve already done what I could. I won’t feel too much regret over this.’
’Facing a Golden Core Realm Cyan Simurgh filled with killing intent, no matter how skilled that young disciple might be, it would be impossible to escape the Wind-Riding Mountain Patrol with his life.’
He kept his eyes closed for two full days.
It was not until an instructor’s respectful voice sounded from outside the courtyard that he stirred. "Senior Brother Qian, General Lei has returned. The Mountain Master summons you. The other seniors are waiting in the Stargazing Pavilion."
"I understand."
With a slight flicker of his form, Qian Yiru appeared outside the courtyard.
The instructor bowed his head respectfully but couldn’t help but swallow hard.
’The Golden Core Third Grade Immortal Technique, the Divine Simurgh Three Clouds Formulas.’
’That is the Yu Family’s most profound Moving Technique. It reaches the level of Late-stage Golden Core, second only to the Wind-Riding Mountain Patrol that only an Immortal can master.’
’This Senior Brother Mountain Master has only a Mid-stage Golden Core Cultivation, yet he has already comprehended one of the Upper Three Grades of Immortal Techniques.’
’If his Moving Technique has already reached such a level, how terrifying must his specialty, the Sword Formulas, be?’
The instructor lowered his head instinctively, causing him to miss the fleeting change in Qian Yiru’s expression.
Qian Yiru glanced sideways toward the Academy’s main gate.
His pupils constricted.
He saw a familiar Flowing Cloud Sword Robe.
The young disciple whom he had already written off as a corpse was now stepping into Qiankun Academy, his expression as calm as ever!
’Interesting.’
After a long silence, Qian Yiru slowly withdrew his gaze.
He then recalled the Cyan Simurgh he had seen earlier, the one that emanated a crimson-gold light.
The highly cultivated Mountain Master Disciple let out a slow breath. His expression was complicated as he tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword.
’It seems the muddy waters of Anren Prefecture are far deeper than I anticipated.’

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