At the top of the mountain, a ray of sunlight poured down, with dust dancing around in the light. An old man in black stood with his head lowered, reading a book. He read page by page as if he was reading very slowly.

“Greetings, spirit reverend!” Dai Mengfan was determined to reject her appointment to first senior sister, but before she could even mention it, the Spirit Reverend of Ocean Returnance said, “This is an order.”

“What if I refuse?” Dai Mengfan raised her head and glared at the Spirit Reverend of Ocean Returnance furiously. She did not want to become some annoying first senior sister and throw her life at the demonfolk.

“So you plan on betraying the sect as well?” The Spirit Reverend of Ocean Returnance glanced up at her.

Under the gaze of his deep, silent eyes, Dai Mengfan’s anger suddenly vanished as if it had been swallowed by icy-cold seawater. She lowered her head and clasped her hands. “I would never.”

She understood very well that if she refused his order here, she probably would not be leaving the Pavilion of Heavenly Tomes again.

In the eyes of the nobodies from the Qingyang temple, she was a figure of great significance, beyond their reach, but in the Myriad sect, even direct disciples were nothing but replaceable and dispensable. As for the entire cultivation community, they were of even less importance.

She did not have the courage to reject a powerful Human Immortal. She did not even have the courage to flee from the Myriad sect. Now that the crisis of the world was imminent, the Myriad sect was the only thing she could rely on.

Even when Yang Soul cultivators stood at the apex of all cultivators, they were still just cultivators.

If they could not become Human Immortals, it would be all for nothing.

The Spirit Reverend of Ocean Returnance lowered his gaze and said nothing more. He only waved his hand. As a result, she obediently pissed off back to the Direct Disciple hall and became the first senior sister of the Myriad sect.

Now when she heard the words “first senior sister”, a vein popped on Dai Mengfan’s forehead, and her anger suddenly erupted, glaring straight at Yang Miaozhen as if she wanted to eat her.

In a short while, she seemed to have become a completely different person. Just earlier, she was as enthusiastic and warm as the height of spring, but now, she had become as cold and bitter as the harsh winter. The malicious aura she gave off immediately filled the entire hall, stunning everyone present. They deeply experienced the power and horrors of a Yang Soul cultivator at the very peak.

Only Yang Miaozhen was unfazed. Within her indifference, she gave off a sense of resolve and staunchness.

Dai Mengfan’s heart skipped a beat. She felt like she saw “that man’s” shadow. She could not help but hold back on her aura a little, but the atmosphere only became more serious. “Impressive composure, junior sister!”

“The likes of us never should have possessed so many selfish and unnecessary thoughts.”

Yang Miaozhen glanced past everyone from the Qingyang temple with her hazy eyes. Including the Qingyang Master, no one dared to meet her gaze. In the end, she looked back at Dai Mengfan and smiled. “And, someone has once taught me that the path of cultivation is to advance valiantly without a fear for death.”

“Then do you know what are the consequences of developing ties with the Demon domain in the Human realm?”

“I’ve always focused on cultivation without dabbling in these matters.”

“Considering the fact that you’re quite a talent, I’ll ask you again. What is your relationship with Li Qingshan?”

Yang Miaozhen answered indifferently, “An acquaintance, as well as the father to my child.”

“I have no other choice then.” Dai Mengfan shrugged and ordered resolutely, “Take her away!”

However, apart from the people from the Qingyang temple, there were no other disciples of the Myriad sect in the hall. She eyed up the Qingyang Master.

Sweat trickled down the Qingyang Master’s back. He felt like he was sitting on pins and needles.

Dai Mengfan squinted her eyes slightly. “Are you also on good terms with Li Qingshan?”

“Of course not! Senior sister, of course not!” The Qingyang Master shook his head rapidly. “Li Qingshan has betrayed humanity and fallen as a demonfolk. He should be hunted down for everyone. I only wish to tear this damned traitor of humanity to pieces, so how can I be on any terms with him?”

He was well aware that they could massacre entire cities and refine souls in the Human realm, and no one would necessarily care as long as they did not get in the way of other cultivators.

However, if they became involved with the Demon domain, even if they had only done so under coercion or deception, they would definitely face judgment from the Desireless Heavenly Palace, either ordering major sects to hunt them down or directly sending the divine generals of the Six Ding or the Six Jia into the Human realm, not only killing them for good, but obliterating their souls as well so that they could never be reborn.

As for those cultivators who fell into the Demon domain, they would be labelled as traitors of humanity, even more despicable than demonfolk themselves. Even if they could not punish the person themselves, everyone that was connected to them would suffer in the process. On the lighter end of the scale, they would have their paths of cultivation severed, while the heavier end involved death, sending them back into rebirth.

This was why even Dai Mengfan, despite becoming the first senior sister already, tried her best to draw a clear line between her and Li Qingshan.

Dai Mengfan furrowed her brows. “Then what are you waiting for? Aren’t you a disciple of the Myriad sect?”

“Yes, ma’am.” The Qingyang Master accepted the order and approached Yang Miaozhen.

……

“Clang… clang… clang…”

Myriad city sank into deathly silence. No one had managed to recover from their shock yet as if they had all been frozen in place at the same time. Suddenly, the Direct Disciple hall rang its bell and gathered all the direct disciples for a discussion. Everyone else was ushered out.

Immediately, streaks of light shot across the sky, all landing in the Direct Disciple hall.

With a whoosh, everyone had been thawed again, and Myriad city immediately seemed to explode. All of the cultivators discussed loudly. Their voices filled the air.

The first senior brother of the Myriad sect had fallen into the Demon domain. This was basically a tremendous scandal, but also a thrilling event that was completely unheard of. Was this perhaps a premonition of the crisis of the world?

Within the Direct Disciple hall, the formation was activated, and the doors were firmly shut.

The direct disciples all took their seats according to their ordering on the Myriad rankings. They all furrowed their brows and sat in silence as if they were still digesting this overly-startling piece of news.

Dai Mengfan sat seriously at the very front. “Junior brothers and sisters, is there anything you’d like to say?”

“Qingshan couldn’t have fallen into the Demon domain!” A soft and gentle voice rang out from a corner, but it was filled with immoveable confidence. “There must be some kind of misunderstanding.”

Dai Mengfan gazed over, only to see a woman in bamboo-green clothes with long, inky-black hair sitting there quietly, except she was rather emotional.

“Junior sister Ruan, are you saying that the spirit reverend is wrong?”

Ruan Yaozhu lowered her head, pinching the corner of her clothes without saying anything.

Dai Mengfan stood up. “Since no one has anything to say, then listen up!”

“Where is Pi Yangqiu?”

“I am present.”

“Under the spirit reverend’s orders, the Department of Heavenly Dwellings will be taking back the Xuaming dwelling immediately.”

“You want me to breach the formation?” Pi Yangqiu furrowed his brows heavily. He had quite the relationship with Li Qingshan. In the past, he had personally handed the formation disc of the Xuanming dwelling to Li Qingshan.

Dwellings were the lifeblood of cultivators. Not only were they the treasured land they usually cultivated in, it often stored all of their possessions as well, so it would definitely be protected by a great formation, as they could not afford to lose it. How could it just be taken back so easily? He would definitely have to breach the formation. However, something like that was almost equivalent to the searching and confiscation of someone’s home in the mortal world. It would definitely lead to a tremendous grievance, one that could only be settled with death.

“Along with all the possessions in the dwelling.”

“First senior sister, I’m afraid I don’t have the ability.” Pi Yangqiu absolutely refused to develop a grievance with Li Qingshan. He had probably become a Heretic God already.

“Are you betraying the sect as well?” Dai Mengfan stared into his eyes with a sneer.

Pi Yangqiu shivered inside and said nothing more.

The terrifying question made all of the direct disciples widen their eyes. The atmosphere immediately became as solemn as stone, even giving off a hint of bloodiness.

“There’s no need to be nervous. That’s what the spirit reverend said to me earlier.” Dai Mengfan smiled self-deprecatingly. “You’re all welcome to consider whether you want to obey or betray the sect.”

Pi Yangqiu was forced to leave with the order.

“Where is Leng Yuan?”

“I am present.”

“Under the spirit reverend’s orders, the Department of Law and Punishment is to investigate all disciples in the sect with close relationship with Li Qingshan and order them to draw a clear line between them and Li Qingshan.”

“How do you want them to draw a clear line?”

“That’s your problem.”

Leng Yuan accepted the order and backed away.

“Where is Ruan Yaozhu?”

Ruan Yaozhu stood up gracefully and arrived in the centre of the hall. Her expression was still rather lost. “I’m present.”

“That mount of his, the phoenix called Li Fengyuan, is cultivating in your Hundred Herbs garden, right?”

“Yes.”

“Under the spirit reverend’s orders, the Hundred Herbs garden is to capture Li Fengyuan immediately!”

“...” Ruan Yuanzhu lowered her head silently.

Dai Mengfan’s heart softened. She tried to persuade her gently, “Piece of wood, I’ll give you three days. You better not let Li Fengyuan go! Humans and demons can never coexist. You must draw a clear line between you and him, or even I won’t be able to help you!”

“I understand.”