Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
At a side, Shu Yuan was struck with a sudden thought, his expression changed as he exclaimed, “Junior Brother Yin!” With that said, he dashed towards the back mountain of the remaining half of the floating peak.
The others exchanged a look and immediately followed. Rounding past the floating peak, the entire back mountain was in ruins, the spirit fields originally full of spirit herbs were patches of charred black now, where the floating peak broke off, there was still a huge hole left, remnants of the aura of a Nascent Soul cultivator and a shred of dark and cold black Qi was left in the air.
Yi Qing’s brows tightened, this black Qi was…
“It’s really Junior Brother Yin!” A trace of grief flashed across his face before anger took its place instantly. “Who exactly dared to put a hand on my sect’s Nascent Soul Elder and even forced him to self-destruct his Nascent Soul.”
Yu Luan’s expression also changed and he quickly turned around to order a disciple behind him. “Go, inform all disciples guarding the gates of every peak to lock the gates and guard the gates closely, no one is allowed to enter or leave!”
“Yes!” The disciple immediately turned and left to dispatch his orders.
Yu Luan was also boiling with rage, he didn’t expect the sect to lose a Nascent Soul Elder just like that and it was even on such an important day of the sect’s competition day, all done without a sound, using such a horrifying manner of self-destructing his Nascent Soul. The key was that none of them was aware of it, this proved that Elder Yin perhaps did not even have the chance to call for help.
He looked around the charred back mountain in detail, his eyes fixed on the black Qi that yet to dissipate. “This is heretic aura! Could it be that a fiendish cultivator infiltrated the sect?”
His eyes dimmed and was about to fly down for a sense when Yi Qing suddenly reached out and pulled him back. “Hold on!”
“Uncle-Master Yi Qing?”
“It’s not heretic aura…” Yi Qing glanced at those clouds of black Qi and said in a low voice, “It’s demonic Qi!”
“What?!” Yu Luan and even the Elders were shocked, everyone wearing looks of disbelief. “Demonic Qi! Uncle-Master is saying that this black Qi is…”
“Demonic Qi of the demon clan!” Yi Qing confirmed.
Everyone paled, taking a closer look at where the black Qi surrounded, they then realized that amongst the charred lands of the back mountain, wilted and rotting spirit herbs could vaguely been seen. It was evident that it wasn’t caused by Elder Yin’s self-destruction of his Nascent Soul but due to the influence of the black Qi.
“Causes vegetation to wilt instantly, destroys all living creatures, this… this is really the legendary Demonic Qi!” Someone exclaimed. Everyone’s expression became graver, even the few Elders who stood closer to the front also subconsciously moved back.
This was Demonic Qi! Written in the ancient legends, the aura of the Demon Clan that only the Divine race could rival.
“Then is it possible that whoever killed Junior Brother Yin is from the… De… Demon… Demon Clan?” Yu Luan was frozen, but that was a demon, not a fiendish cultivator, don’t mention the Gui Yi Sect, even if all the immortal sects were put together, they might not even be its match.
“No!” Yi Qing’s eyes dimmed as he said with certainty, “If a demon had appeared, it’s impossible that only this bit of demonic Qi was left behind.”
Yu Luan nodded as his heart eased, glancing down, his expression became more somber. “This demonic Qi… what should we do with it?” If it was the ordinary heretic aura, they didn’t fear it, but demonic Qi… they probably couldn’t even go close to it.
As if noticing their apprehension, Yi Qing stepped forward, with a wave of his hand, a red fire wall instantly swept towards those black Qi on the ground. Almost in the blink of an eye, the remnants of Demonic Qi on the ground vanished completely. Even the initially charred ground resumed some of its original color.
Yu Luan was totally put at ease then, after giving all the Elders some instructions, they dispersed to search for clues about the enemy. However, no regardless of how these people turned the blasted floating peak upside down, they did not find a single clue.
Everyone flew back to the great hall with solemn looks, Yu Luan also brought out the broke life token of Elder Yin who had self-destructed his Nascent Soul, hoping to find out the circumstances before his death using the remnants of the aura on the life token. But the spells failed too, he totally couldn’t get a view of who the culprit was.
Fortunately, due to the competition, most of the disciples on that peak were gathered at the main peak. During the destruction of Dan Chen Mountain, except for Elder Yin who died and a few other disciples guarding the peak sustaining severe injuries, there were no other casualties.
However, the Protective Mountain Array was activated in time then, the culprit could not have escaped in time, this also means that it was very possible that he was still hiding in the sect. Yu Luan could only call a complete halt to the competition then lock down the peaks and begin a full search in the sect.
——————
“Demonic Qi? How are there more!” Lonemoon who heard of the situation when he returned was stunned, turning towards Chef, he asked, “Could it be that other than the Earth Demon that fell from the River of Forgetfulness, there are also other demons in this little world?”
“I don’t think so!” Chef shook his head. “If there were really demons here, they would definitely be subjected to the repression of the Heavenly Dao, it wouldn’t strike so readily here,” Just like the Earth demon then, although it did not have a physical body, as a demon, it could easily rebuild a physical body. However, it did not and instead resided in the body of a fiendish cultivator, not even daring to do possession. This is because it was constantly being repressed by the Heavenly Dao and did not dare to show itself at all, otherwise the Heavenly Dao would eliminate it right away!
“Not a demon? Is it possible that there are fiendish cultivators that became Earth demons here?” When fiendish cultivators reach the Soul Formation stage, if they are able to pull through the Heavenly Tribulations, they are naturally able to ascend to the Demon World. All that heretic aura would also transform into Demonic Qi. Just like the demonic cultivator that Shen Ying met back then in the Immortal Ascension Pagoda in the Upper Azure World had already earned Demonic Qi through cultivation.
“If that’s the case…” Yi Qing thought of something and said with a frown, “I don’t think that person could have broken past my Protective Mountain Array, he must still be in Gui Yi Sect, but I used my Divine Perception to checked the entire sect, I did not find any trace of Demonic Qi.” There wasn’t even any heretic aura.
“That’s impossible!” Lonemoon rebutted subconsciously. “How could there be anyone that you cannot examine in this plane, unless the culprit isn’t from this pla…” He stopped midway as his eyes widened. “Damn it! No way!”
It’s the invader!
But Shu Yi was in the middle of competing then?
“There couldn’t be another, could it?” Were they forming a group to come tour?
Yi Qing’s expression darkened, he was about to say something when the voice of a messenger sounded outside.
“Disciple Chen Wen from the Main Peak greets Supremacy.”
“What’s the matter?” Yi Qing asked in a deep voice.
“Sect Master instructed that there is an urgent matter and requested for Supremacy to head to the Great Hall!”
Yi Qing and Lonemoon exchanged a glance, seeing him nod, he replied, “I’ll be there right away.”
The disciple bowed and left.
It was already noon, thinking that Yu Luan might have found some clues, the few of them did not take too long. They just had a simple meal, drank some tea and had a few plates of pastries… and fruits…
Before they left for the Great Hall.
