Evil Way

The Void-Crossing Divine Ship hovered above Hundred Flowers Valley.

The entire valley erupted in chaos instantly.

"What is that?!"

"Enemy attack—!"

"Shut up! That's the Xuan Tian Sect's Void-Crossing Divine Ship!"

"A demon...a demon lord?!"

Figures darted out from all directions, some gripping their magical weapons, some running away, and some collapsing to the ground with their legs giving way.

After all that commotion, not a single person dared to rush forward.

When Mo Yurou rushed out of the main hall, her face was pale.

She looked up at the massive, pitch-black ship and felt the undisguised aura of those at the Tribulation Transcending stage on board, causing her heart to skip a beat.

The Demon Lord has arrived in person?

Why?

Hundred Flowers Valley has absolutely no connection with the Xuantian Sect, so why is he here?

Could it be that they found out about the person I sent to infiltrate the area?

"Don't move!"

Mo Yurou gave a low shout, suppressing the commotion among the surrounding disciples. She took a deep breath and led the group out of the mountain gate.

The Ferry-Crossing Divine Boat slowly descended, hovering three zhang above the ground.

The boat door slid open.

A figure in a black robe stepped forward first, standing in mid-air with his hands behind his back, looking down.

Behind him, Youyue, Litu, and Qianji stood in a row.

Then came the Fifth Elder, the Eighth Elder, and Xue Lie, without exception.

Mo Yurou's pupils contracted slightly.

This is quite a spectacle...

She forced herself to remain calm and bowed respectfully.

"Mo Yurou, the mistress of Hundred Flowers Valley, greets the Demon Lord. I was unaware of your arrival and have failed to greet you properly; I hope..."

"Alright."

Chu Yuan waved his hand, interrupting her polite words.

His gaze swept over the group from Hundred Flowers Valley, his tone casual:

"I've heard that you've taken in quite a few new disciples in the past three months?"

Mo Yurou's heart skipped a beat.

So that's what it was all for!

A cold sweat instantly broke out on her back, and her mind raced.

How did the Demon Lord know about this?

What does he want to do?

Could it be that there are spies from the Xuantian Sect among those new disciples?

Mo Yurou opened her mouth, about to explain.

Chu Yuan didn't look at her, but turned his head to look at Qianji.

Qianji stepped forward, took out a jade slip from his sleeve, unfolded it, and cleared his throat:

"On the twelfth day of the third month, Hundred Flowers Valley accepted a disciple named Zhao An, who is in the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm. He was originally an outer disciple of Hundred Flowers Valley and was ordered to infiltrate the White Bone Hall before returning."

Mo Yurou's expression changed.

Qianji continued reciting:

"On the 19th of March, I accepted three disciples. The first is an outer disciple of the Heavenly Dao Sect, in the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm, who was ordered to infiltrate the White Bone Hall. The second is an inner disciple of the Lingxiao Sect, in the early stage of the Golden Core realm. The third is an outer deacon of the Divine Body Sect, in the late stage of the Golden Core realm."

"Two disciples were accepted on the 21st of March..."

"Accepting disciples on the third day of the fourth lunar month..."

One after another.

By the time the thirteenth recitation was given, some of the newly initiated disciples of Hundred Flowers Valley had already started to tremble.

Those whose sects were mentioned but whose names weren't called all lowered their heads, not daring to breathe.

Mo Yurou's face turned deathly pale. Her lips moved, but she couldn't utter a single word.

After Qianji finished reading, he put away the jade slip and returned to his original position.

The entire venue was deathly silent.

The senior disciples of Hundred Flowers Valley stared wide-eyed at their "fellow disciples" beside them, looking at them as if they were monsters.

Mo Yurou took a deep breath and forced herself to speak:

"Demon Lord, regarding this matter... Hundred Flowers Valley does indeed bear responsibility for oversight, but these disciples have not committed any acts that harm the demonic path since joining. We urge the Demon Lord..."

"I have said it."

Chu Yuan raised his hand to interrupt her, his tone remaining calm:

"I am not here today to accuse you."

Mo Yurou was taken aback.

Not to question or punish?

Then... what are you here for?

Chu Yuan looked at her, a faint smile playing on his lips:

"It's a gift."

Gift-giving?

The people of Hundred Flowers Valley looked at each other in bewilderment.

The Demon Lord personally came, bringing a boatload of Tribulation Transcending cultivators, just to deliver a gift?

Mo Yurou's mind was a little foggy.

Chu Yuan didn't explain further, his gaze passing over her and landing deep in the Valley of a Hundred Flowers.

On the Void-Crossing Divine Ship, Chu Yuan stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze passing over Mo Yurou and landing deep in the Valley of a Hundred Flowers.

Mo Yurou's heart tightened.

That direction... leads to the forbidden area in the back mountains.

Chu Yuan withdrew his gaze, looked at her, and said casually:

"Valley Master Mo, haven't you been strengthening the protective array and being on guard day and night these past few days because you suspect there's a traitor within the valley?"

Mo Yurou's expression changed.

How did he know?

She only mentioned this to a few trusted elders; outsiders had no idea...

Chu Yuan smiled when he saw her expression:

"I've come today to help you find that undercover agent."

Mo Yurou was stunned.

Help her?

When did the Demon Lord become so kind?

She opened her mouth, then hesitated and said:

"Demon Lord...why are you helping Hundred Flowers Valley uncover the spy?"

Chu Yuan said calmly:

"Because he has abandoned the demonic path and entered the evil path."

Mo Yurou frowned slightly.

Break free from the demonic path?

Stumbling onto the wrong path?

Why does this sound so convoluted?

She was still somewhat skeptical and probed:

"Demon Lord, it's not that I don't trust you, it's just..."

Chu Yuan interrupted her:

"You can go and see if the elder in the back mountain is still alive."

Mo Yurou's pupils contracted.

The elder on the back mountain...

That was an elder from her master's generation, who was in seclusion for many years and was rarely seen even by her.

She turned to head towards the back of the mountain, but stopped after taking just one step.

wrong.

What if this is a diversionary tactic?

She gritted her teeth and gave a wink to one of her trusted disciples:

"Go check the back mountain, and come back quickly."

The disciple accepted the order and vanished in a streak of light.

After a while.

The disciple returned, his face deathly pale, his voice trembling:

"Valley Master... Elder Zhou... he... he has passed away!"

Mo Yurou's mind went blank.

He passed away peacefully?

That old fellow may be old, but his cultivation is solid; he could easily live for several more centuries. How could he suddenly...?

She suddenly looked up at Chu Yuan.

Chu Yuan didn't look at her, but simply turned his head slightly:

"Youyue".

"exist."

"Bring her here."

Youyue's figure flashed and disappeared from the spot.

Before the people of Hundred Flowers Valley could react, they heard a "bang" and a female disciple in a light green dress was thrown into the center of the square.

The female disciple was dazed and confused after the fall, and when she got up, she looked terrified.

"Valley Master? What mistake has this disciple made...?"

Mo Yurou stared at her, her brows furrowed.

She recognized this disciple; he was a new disciple who had joined the sect three months ago. His name was... what was it again?

Seeing that no one spoke, the female disciple looked at Chu Yuan again, her eyes reddening.

"Demon Lord, I am but a rogue cultivator, and have never done anything wrong. Why have you arrested me?"

Chu Yuan looked down at her without saying a word.

The female disciple felt uneasy under his gaze, but she still forced herself to remain composed.

"I lost both my parents at a young age and wandered far and wide. I finally managed to become a disciple of Hundred Flowers Valley, and all I wanted was to cultivate diligently... If the Demon Lord doesn't believe me, you can search my storage ring and investigate my background. I have not uttered a single falsehood!"

As she spoke, tears began to fall.

The older disciples of Hundred Flowers Valley felt a pang of pity watching this.

What problems could a young girl, who has only been learning for three months, possibly have?

Mo Yurou also frowned and looked at Chu Yuan:

"Demon Lord, this..."

Chu Yuan waved his hand, interrupting her.

He crouched down, looked the female disciple in the eye, and suddenly smiled:

"Well done."

The female disciple was taken aback:

"Demon Lord, this humble woman does not understand what you are saying..."

"Sun Yan".

Chu Yuan uttered two words softly.

The female disciple's expression froze for a moment.