: There are advantages to taking it slow~

Without saying a word, Youyue took out a black token and infused it with spiritual power.

"Buzz—"

The clouds above the Xuantian Sect surged, and the jet-black Void-Crossing Divine Ship reappeared, its runes flowing, hovering silently in mid-air.

"Walk."

Chu Yuan took a step forward, and his figure appeared inside the boat.

Qianji and Litu followed closely behind, while Youyue boarded the boat last. With a flick of her sleeve, the flying boat shook violently, transforming into a streak of light that tore through the sky and sped toward the Shuiyue Sect in the Western Regions.

Standing before the Valley of Poisonous Things, Yun Zhongling looked up at the fleeting black streak on the horizon, his heart still reeling from the shock.

Is this how the strongest people in the world travel?

They come and go as they please, without even a trace of spiritual energy leaking out.

No, it's not that it wasn't leaked, it's that it was completely undetectable!

Even though the Demon Lord had been standing beside him for so long, Yun Zhongling couldn't feel any pressure at all, as if he were just an ordinary Qi Refining disciple.

But when those eyes swept over him, he felt a strange chill.

It felt as if I had been seen through.

"What a terrifying state of returning to simplicity this must be..."

Yun Zhongling murmured.

Mu Qinxin leaned closer and whispered:

"Is that really the Demon Lord? He looks...so young."

Yun Zhongling was both amused and exasperated, and reached out to gently flick her nose.

"Silly girl, who in this world would dare to impersonate the Demon Lord?"

Mu Qinxin stuck out her tongue, but her eyes were still a little dazed:

"I've only heard... some people are saying that after the Demon Lord and the Dao Lord fought, the Demon Lord suffered a qi deviation and his cultivation was greatly damaged, which is why he hasn't left seclusion for three years..."

"Shh!"

Yun Zhongling's expression changed, and he quickly looked around to make sure no one was nearby before lowering his voice:

"Never mention that again! How could we possibly fathom the Demon Lord's realm? Look at his actions today—in what way does it suggest that his cultivation has been compromised?"

He paused, his tone serious:

"Anyone who says that is either stupid or malicious. Our Ten Thousand Poisons Sect has now submitted to the Xuan Tian Sect; if such words were to get out, they would lose their heads!"

Mu Qinxin shrank her neck and nodded obediently:

"Okay, I was just saying it offhand..."

She looked up at the sky, where the dark streak had long since disappeared, leaving only drifting clouds slowly merging together.

"Senior brother, do you think something happened in the sect that the Demon Lord left in such a hurry?"

Yun Zhongling shook his head:

"That's not something we can concern ourselves with. Let's go. Before Master went into seclusion, he instructed us to properly reorganize the affairs within the sect... especially the lineage of Elder Mo Chan, we need to thoroughly investigate them."

"Um!"

The two walked side by side into the valley, their figures gradually disappearing into the swirling pale green poisonous miasma.

......

Inside the Void-Crossing Divine Ship.

Chu Yuan stood by the porthole, gazing at the rapidly receding sea of ​​clouds outside. His face remained expressionless, but in his heart he had already cursed them eight hundred times.

That old scorpion...

Why did they have to do this now of all times?!

He's only at the peak of Qi Refining, how can he possibly stop an elder who's only at the early stage of Tribulation Transcending?

But I can't not go.

If the scorpion was testing whether Chu Yuan still had the ability to control the overall situation.

If he doesn't show up, or if he does but can't control the situation...

Then, it's likely that more than one scorpion will emerge next.

Chu Yuan closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Don't panic.

Especially in times like these, it's crucial to remain calm and composed.

Perhaps Scorpion simply has a grudge against the Water Moon Sect!

Chu Yuan turned around and looked at the three people behind him.

"Youyue," Chu Yuan said, "tell them everything you know."

Youyue nodded, her eyes cold beneath the veil.

"Half a day ago, the Tenth Elder, Poison Scorpion, led more than three hundred disciples under his command to leave the main altar without permission and head to the Water Moon Sect in the Western Regions. Their motives are currently unknown, but according to reports from spies along the way, they are moving extremely fast, seemingly intending to quickly take over the Water Moon Sect."

Li Tu frowned:

"The Water Moon Sect? Do we have a grudge against them?"

A thousand machines shook their heads:

"Never heard of it. The Water Moon Sect is a mid-level sect in the Western Regions, practicing water-based techniques. They have always been law-abiding and have no conflict with our sect."

He paused, then said:

"Poison Scorpion is a man with a fiery temper who cultivates the Poison Scorpion Demonic Art, but he is not a mindless brute. His choice to make his move at this time must have a deeper meaning."

Chu Yuan looked at him:

"What do you think is the deeper meaning?"

Qianji pondered for a moment and said:

"There are only two possibilities. One, he was instructed by someone to deliberately create trouble, forcing the cult leader to take action and testing the waters. Two..."

He looked up, his gaze slightly narrowed beneath his black robe:

"There is something he absolutely needs to obtain within the Shuiyue Sect. However, this matter cannot be handled through the sect's normal channels, which is why he dispatched troops on his own."

Chu Yuan nodded.

That's pretty much what he thought.

"Master," Youyue stepped forward, "Now that we've arrived, what should we do? Suppress them directly, or...?"

Chu Yuan raised his hand to interrupt her.

Direct suppression?

With his current level of cultivation, in the past he wouldn't have been able to suppress others, he would have been a pushover.

Unless some preparations are made in advance!

Chu Yuan was silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke:

"We will not show our faces directly."

The three of them looked at him at the same time.

Chu Yuan spoke calmly:

"First, conceal your identity, secretly infiltrate the Water Moon Sect's territory, find out Poison Scorpion's true purpose, and then make a plan."

Li Tu was taken aback:

"Hide our identities? Master, our flying boat... isn't it too conspicuous?"

Such a magical treasure as the Void-Crossing Divine Boat is extremely rare in the entire Cangxuan Realm, and wherever it flies, it becomes the focus of everyone's attention.

Who said the flying boat was equipped with a hidden array?

But what if it gets detected? Wouldn't all our efforts be for nothing?

Chu Yuan smiled:

"Who said we were going to take a flying boat in?"

He looked at Youyue:

"We landed three hundred miles from the Shuiyue Sect, and the flying boat became concealed. The four of us then secretly infiltrated."

Li Tu hesitated for a moment:

"Master, isn't that a bit too slow?"

What used to take only a few breaths may now take half an hour.

"There are advantages to going slowly."

Qianji suddenly spoke, his tone revealing understanding:

"The leader wanted to use this opportunity to observe the situation along the way, and at the same time... give Scorpion enough time to perform."

He looked at Chu Yuan, his black robe fluttering slightly:

"Am I correct?"

Chu Yuan remained unfazed:

"Um."

He was just trying to stall for time...

Set up the formation you brought in advance.

But Qianji's words immediately made him seem very far-sighted.

Li Tu suddenly realized, and slapped his thigh:

"I see! Master, you're brilliant! Let's wait until that old bastard Scorpion has had his fill of causing trouble before we clean up the mess!"

Youyue nodded as well:

"I will adjust the flight path immediately."

Thirty li outside the Shuiyue Sect.

A row of makeshift tents stretched out, with the black and gold-edged Xuan Tian Sect flags fluttering in the wind.

Inside the central tent, an old man dressed in a dark red robe with scorpion patterns sat in the main seat, his face sinister, toying with a jade pendant adorned with a scorpion.

It was none other than the Tenth Elder, Poison Scorpion.

Below the tent, several trusted disciples stood with their hands at their sides.

"Elder, our scouts report that the Water Moon Sect's protective formation is fully activated, and all the sect's disciples have retreated. It seems they intend to hold out to the death."

A disciple reports to the instructor.

The scorpion sneered:

"Defend? Can they hold out?"

He stood up, walked to the tent, and looked at the mountain gate in the distance, shrouded in pale blue water.

"Water Moon Sect, Water Moon Sect... If you have to blame someone, blame your bad luck."

A glint of greed flashed in his eyes.

"Pass down the order: analyze the formation. Once the analysis is complete, break the formation and slaughter the entire sect!"

"yes!"

The disciple accepted the order and withdrew.