Chapter 681: The Old Man in the Shadows

Chapter 681: The Old Man in the Shadows

“Master, I’ve heard that the temperature around Ziyuan Mountain has undergone a mutation, and there are rumors of demons causing disturbances.”

“Demons causing disturbances is fine, but I’m more worried about an existence that is even more terrifying than the demons.”

Han Fairy spoke softly, a hint of worry in her tone,

“There have been many strange occurrences lately. Whenever a celestial star falls, various bizarre events follow; perhaps it’s related to the star. Speaking of which, the location of the falling Tianwu Star has changed, causing a massacre, and the resources within the star were plundered. It’s truly a tragedy. Shuqin, you’re the only one at Tianling Mountain, so follow me to Ziyuan Mountain.”

“Okay, Master.”

Liu Shuqin nodded in obedience, always respectful and compliant towards her master.

Moreover, the sudden temperature drop wasn’t a good sign—it was a matter of livelihood. The coming cold would lead to many innocent lives lost.

“Alright, prepare yourself. We’ll set off.”

After a while, Han Fairy led Liu Shuqin to the cliff’s edge, lightly waved her hand, and the Spirit Sword soared into the air, landing at their feet.

Stepping on their swords, they took flight, leaving Tianling Mountain behind.

……

In the depths of the forest.

“Reporting to the Lord, our stealth mission has failed. The Royal Guard is tightly secured, and a young girl from the army saw through our scout’s disguise.”

“So you all just came back like that?”

“We attempted a rescue midway—it went well at first, and we were close to saving them, but then an inexplicable brat appeared, with remarkable strength, blocking our way, and we were injured. With no choice, we had to kill the scout to prevent exposing our information. We failed, and we ask for your punishment, my Lord.”

“Forget it, it’s all minor stuff. In comparison, the Royal Guard is just a small force; we still have opportunities.”

“Thank you for your mercy, my Lord.”

“I’m not forgiving you; I don’t like punishment. In fact, I want you to make up for your mistakes. The investigation into the Royal Guard’s plans isn’t over; you must continue until every last one of you is dead.”

“Yes, my Lord!”

The group hurriedly bowed and knelt, showing profound respect to a tall man.

They retreated, leaving only that man deep in the woods.

“Master, you’ve come.”

The man spoke to a dark corner, from which emerged an elderly man leaning on a cane.

The old man squinted, appearing very kind.

“Hello, young man, it’s been a while.”

The old man stopped in front of the man, stroking his long white beard.

“Young man, judging by your aura, you must have made some progress in your cultivation.”

“Of course, this is also thanks to Master’s guidance.”

The man smiled as a layer of Demon Qi suddenly enveloped him, spreading out and causing the nearby branches and grass to wither.

“Master, I suppose soon I will be able to contend with the Refining Demon Sect.”

“Confidence is good, young man, but the Refining Demon Sect is ultimately the largest demon sect in the world; contending with them isn’t something that can be achieved in just a day or two.”

The old man stroked his beard, chuckling lightly,

“Your ability to conceal your Demon Power is a significant improvement. In contrast, your cousin hasn’t been so fortunate. Do you see that iceberg? That’s her handiwork, and soon those cultivators will see her as a demon disciple and try to eliminate her. Even if they can’t, they will still dampen the fervor of the cultivators.”

“She has always been revered, yet now she must sink to the depths of being universally hated. But it’s for the best; if she doesn’t wish to join our ranks, she can only reap the consequences.”

The man laughed; he was Qin Shili’s cousin, named Qin Dao. Originally a martial practitioner, his strength was relatively weak within his family, and thus his status was low.

In a large family, lack of status means being looked down upon and ignored, with no dignity.

Of course, his situation was better than Lin Nuo’s; Lin Nuo was truly bullied by everyone in the Lin family, while the Qin family was relatively kinder, though he had little say and, being low-ranked, rarely faced provocation.

But he was not content with the status quo, dreaming of turning the tides.

Though he hadn’t accomplished much in martial arts, he excelled in scheming and playing tricks, secretly allying with various forces.

He had ambition, not just to raise his status within the Qin family but to carve out a place for himself in the world.

As for the old man, he was an ancient demon practitioner named Liang Zhao, skilled in witchcraft and star observation, with profound knowledge.

Qin Dao practiced the Demonic Path, guided by Liang Zhao. Qin Dao allying with various underground organizations had built his own sphere of influence, and by chance, he met Liang Zhao.

Liang Zhao saw through Qin Dao’s troubles and ambitions. He told him he had a great physique suited for the Demonic cultivation, and with his strength, he could aim to become a dominant power in the future.

Liang Zhao had previously been a member of the Refining Demon Sect but left due to suspicion from the sect leader.

After leaving, he dabbled in witchcraft, combining it with demonic power, achieving some peculiar Spirit Techniques.

Qin Dao and Liang Zhao conversed as if kindred spirits, hitting it off at once. From then on, Qin Dao delved into demon techniques and, with Liang Zhao’s help, indeed experienced significant improvement.

Liang Zhao understood celestial phenomena and was one of the few able to sense the existence of the Demon Star in advance. This star’s presence would undoubtedly drive many demon practitioners mad.

He discovered that this star’s existence greatly enhanced the effectiveness of his witchcraft, drastically increasing its success rate.

Many in the world sought to comprehend demonic power through it, but often, lacking depth in their cultivation, they would regress over time with no serious repercussions.

However, Liang Zhao could manipulate those touched by the demonization; if their hearts were muddled with resentment, the success rate would be even higher.

Liang Zhao had already led many down the path of demonization; even Su Lingjiang’s demonization was aided by him; otherwise, the Demon Spirit wouldn’t be that strong.

As for Qin Shili, she too was secretly led to demonization by him. Initially, she wished to enhance her demonic power and combine it with her spirit techniques. Liang Zhao seized this point and easily succeeded.

After Qin Shili faced problems, Qin Dao naturally knew and planned to bring her into his team. After all, once she was possessed, she couldn’t hide it. He had methods to help her conceal it.

But Qin Shili rejected him; she believed in her ability to overcome it, retreating instead to Ziyuan Mountain, a desolate place hard to detect by outsiders, where she could cultivate in peace.

But her situation deteriorated. Originally strong, she started affecting the weather, and now Ziyuan Mountain had turned into an iceberg. The area of cold was expanding, threatening the lives of the common people.

This ultimately couldn’t be hidden; as matters escalated, cultivators would surely go to investigate, and with wild rumors circulating, the Xuanyun Sect would be alerted.

“I’m really looking forward to how her sectmates will react upon seeing her now. I can’t wait to see them turn on each other; it’ll be quite the spectacle,” Qin Dao chuckled. Over the years, his heart had grown increasingly twisted, and he had developed the nature of a demon.

Liang Zhao squinted and smiled; everything was under his control.

……

In the Royal Guard’s camp.

Lin Nuo stepped out of his tent, gazing solemnly at the distant Ziyuan Mountain, where snow was swirling around.

That place……

A chill wind swept in, sending a shudder through him.

So cold; I better hide back in the camp……

And with that, he slipped back inside.