Muddy the Waters

Chu Yuan tapped the armrest lightly with his fingers.

No sooner had Yun Qingyao left than trouble broke out within the sect.

Are these two things related?

Chu Yuan thought for a while, but couldn't come up with a solution.

Never mind, let's deal with the immediate issue first.

Just then, Qianji and Litu suddenly returned.

A thousand machines open:

"Master, I have another piece of news."

"explain."

"After those spies from the White Bone Hall left, my subordinates sent men to secretly follow them. As a result, they were intercepted as soon as they left the territory of the Xuan Tian Sect."

Chu Yuan raised an eyebrow:

"Who?"

A thousand machines shook their heads:

"I don't know. The person who intercepted them was extremely powerful; my men dared not approach. But I vaguely heard that person ask them a question: 'What did the Demon Lord say to you?'"

Chu Yuan narrowed his eyes.

Is there anyone more concerned than him about the information these undercover agents are bringing back?

He deliberately let Li Han and his group go, hoping they would spread the message that "even demons have their own way" back to the righteous path.

Is someone intercepting us halfway through?

Li Tu slapped his thigh:

"It's definitely those old bastards from the righteous path! They're afraid their disciples will be fooled by the sect leader!"

Qianji shook his head:

"Not necessarily. If the person asking the questions is truly righteous, why hide it? Just bring them back to the sect for questioning."

"Maybe they wanted to ask privately before putting it back."

Li Tu was unconvinced.

"Why put it back?"

Qianji asked in return:

"The person has already been exposed, why send him back to continue his undercover work? The righteous path isn't stupid."

Li Tu scratched his head, thinking it seemed to make sense.

Chu Yuan smiled.

"So, someone doesn't want the righteous path to know what I said."

He paused:

"Or rather, someone wanted to intercept the message and then fabricate their own story to pass on to the orthodox sects."

A glint of light flashed in Qianji's eyes:

"Using someone else to do the dirty work!"

Chu Yuan nodded:

"If the righteous path received the news that 'the Demon Lord has humiliated the righteous path and threatened to raze the Heavenly Dao Sect to the ground,' what do you think would happen?"

Li Tu gasped in shock:

"Wouldn't the righteous path fight us to the death then?"

"right."

Chu Yuan leaned back in his chair:

"Regardless of who wins or loses, those who try to profit from the chaos will always come out on top."

Li Tu was slow-witted; it took him a while to finally manage to utter a sentence:

Who is that person?

Chu Yuan looked at Qianji:

"Can you find it?"

A thousand machines pondered:

"If that person is truly at the Tribulation Transcending stage, it would be very difficult to investigate if they wanted to conceal their identity. But..."

He paused:

"What if they are from the demonic path?"

The two exchanged a glance.

At the same time, I thought of one person.

Bloodstained.

Today in the main hall, although Chu Yuan did not name names, his words "the person behind you" were enough for everyone to understand.

Chu Yuan still remembers the incredible expression on Xue Lie's face at that moment.

It alternates between green and white, like a palette of colors.

If he wants to turn the situation around, what is the best way?

It instigated a great war between the righteous path and the Xuantian Sect.

He took advantage of the situation.

And that old guy must be really panicked right now.

The White Bone Palace's pawn was rendered useless; Bone Demon was killed on the spot, and his hidden schemes were completely exposed.

Whoever is Xue Lie will have to find a way to turn the tide.

Chu Yuan stood up:

"Pass down the order to intensify surveillance of Xue Lie. But do not alert him."

A thousand machines clasp their hands in a fist salute:

"Yes."

Chu Yuan then looked at Li Tu:

"Investigate something. In the past three months, has Xue Lie had any contact with anyone from the Youyue Sect?"

Li Tu was taken aback:

"Does the cult leader suspect that Qin Shuang's disappearance is related to him?"

Chu Yuan didn't answer, but simply said:

"If anyone wants to deal with me, pawns like the White Bone Palace won't be enough. We need to plant people within the sect as well."

Li Tu suddenly realized what was happening, clasped his hands in greeting, and left to accept the order.

Only Chu Yuan and Qian Ji remained in the hall.

Qianji suddenly said:

"Master, that woman Yun Qingyao...should we also investigate her?"

Chu Yuan remained silent for two seconds.

check?

What should we use to investigate?

If someone can't even see through delusion with their true eye, sending anyone to investigate is just asking for trouble.

"No need."

Chu Yuan waved his hand:

"With her cultivation level, she doesn't need to go through all these complicated procedures."

Qianji nodded thoughtfully:

"That's true. If she really wanted to harm the leader, she wouldn't have left so easily today."

"Never mind her for now."

Chu Yuan waved his hand:

"She hasn't made a move yet, so we won't make one for now. Let's deal with the immediate situation first."

Qianji was silent for a moment, then suddenly lowered his voice:

"Master, there is one more thing I need to report."

"explain."

"After the various sects left today, I secretly observed Xue Lie. After leaving the main hall, he did not return to his cave, but instead went around to the back mountain."

Chu Yuan raised an eyebrow:

"The back mountain? What are we going there for?"

A thousand machines shook their heads:

"I dared not get too close, for fear of being discovered. But I vaguely saw that he stood in front of a cliff on the back mountain for a long time, as if he was waiting for someone."

"Did we get there?"

"We've arrived."

Qianji nodded:

"A quarter of an hour later, a dark figure emerged from behind the cliff. The two exchanged a few words, and then the figure vanished. Xue Lie then returned to his cave."

Chu Yuan narrowed his eyes:

"Did you see who that dark figure was?"

"no."

Qianji paused:

"But the way that person moved when they left... seemed somewhat familiar."

"look familiar?"

"It's like... the cultivation techniques of our Xuantian Sect."

Chu Yuan's heart skipped a beat.

The martial arts techniques of the Xuantian Sect?

Are the people Xue Lie met in secret on the back mountain members of the sect?

Moreover, the person he was asked to meet in person must be of high status.

Chu Yuan's mind raced through the names of the elders.

Third Elder Han Song?

No, that old man is obsessed with weapon crafting and doesn't get involved in these trivial matters.

Fifth Elder?

Although that old fox is close to Xue Lie, he doesn't have the guts.

"Can you determine which lineage of martial arts it belongs to?"

A thousand machines shook their heads:

"That person only used movement techniques, without making any moves, so I couldn't discern their style. But I feel like I've seen that starting stance of their movement techniques somewhere before."

Chu Yuan remained silent for a few seconds.

He trusted Qianji's judgment.

He said he looked familiar, so he must have seen him before.

Moreover, those who can be remembered by Qianji must be at least at the Tribulation Transcending level or above.

Chu Yuan suddenly felt like cursing.

Just how many trump cards does this old fox Xue Lie have up his sleeve?

Another cult member has emerged.

It turns out there was someone hiding among them all along.

"Keep an eye on it."

Chu Yuan spoke:

"Don't alert him. I want to see what other tricks he can pull."

Qianji nodded:

"Understood."

He paused, then asked:

"Master, those undercover agents who were intercepted...should we send someone to pursue them?"

Chu Yuan thought for a moment, then waved his hand:

"No need. The person has already been intercepted; it's too late to chase after them. What we need to find out now is who intercepted them, what they found out, and who they're planning to pass it on to."

"I will investigate immediately."

Qianji withdrew.

"Go."

Qianji withdrew.

The palace doors closed.

Chu Yuan stood there alone, rubbing his temples.

The White Bone Palace, Qin Shuang, and the interception of the undercover agent—if these three events are viewed together, they are clearly part of a grand scheme.

First, plant people within the demonic path to cause trouble, then incite the righteous path to fight. When both sides are in chaos, who will benefit the most?

Several names flashed through Chu Yuan's mind.

But there is no evidence.

He walked to the window and looked out at the dark night.

Yun Qingyao's words were still echoing in his mind.

Before I die, I will personally come to take your life.

Could it be that something really happened to Dao Zun?

That shouldn't be happening!