The Truth (Continued)

The sudden change caught everyone present off guard.

As a Nascent Spirit Transformation cultivator, Zhu Hao shouldn't have been so easily ambushed, but firstly, he wasn't on guard against his own people, and secondly, the poison affected his True Qi circulation, preventing him from even activating his True Qi.

"Master, you were too careless. Even with your own people, you should still be wary. How could you completely entrust your back to someone else? You've completely disgraced the Nascent Spirit Transformation stage."

Lin Qingtong revealed a sinister smile that was neither a smile nor a frown, making her appear extremely unfamiliar.

Lin Qingtong!

Upon witnessing this scene, Lin Qingxiang was so shocked that his soul almost left his body. He shouted loudly, and the Xiaolian Sword on his back seemed to sense its master's anger. It leaped out of its sheath, landed in his palm, and transformed into a black shadow that devoured the light, soaring into the sky.

Lin Qingtong neither dodged nor evaded. While unleashing her Sword Qi to send Zhu Hao flying, she simultaneously swung her left hand in a side strike, her palm strike as solid as an iron wall, directly clashing with the pitch-black divine sword.

Lin Qingxiang was suddenly struck by an irresistible surge of divine power that crushed his Sword Qi. The remaining force, like a blow from across a mountain, struck his chest directly. Lin Qingxiang felt a sweet taste in his throat and was forced back, wounded along with his sword.

"How could this be!"

Lin Qingxiang could not hide his shock; the power his opponent displayed at this moment was three times greater than before.

"Brother, your strength is much weaker than before."

Lin Qingtong laughed loudly and swung her sword in pursuit, intending to kill Lin Qingxiang in one fell swoop. However, Si Ming intervened and struck the massive sword with his fists, producing a loud bang like the booming of a bronze bell. The two powerful forces collided and each was forced back several steps.

Seeing this, Wei Chunxi quickly Si Ming, "I'll lend you a hand."

He drew his soft sword from his waist, twirling its serpentine blade, about to unleash his Calamity and Disease Sword Intent, when a whooshing sound rang out and a flying soft whip interrupted his swordplay.

"Do you take me for an idiot? Even now, I still can't see that you're the one who poisoned me?" Yu Shuying said coldly.

Wei Chunxi didn't argue, but patted his head and laughed nonchalantly, "So you were exposed after all?"

Seeing that he admitted his identity so easily, Yu Shuying's heart sank. She knew that the other party was fearless and confident of victory.

Liu Qingqing helped the seriously injured Zhu Hao up, took out a bandage with ointment she carried with her, and bandaged his wounds. Lin Qingxiang, wary of her opponent, cautiously approached, while Si Ming stepped forward and stood at the very front. He was the one least affected by the poison among them.

The poison Wei Chunxi used was not very potent; its effects lasted only for a moment, the instant the victim activated their internal True Qi. The stronger the victim's Internal Cultivation, the stronger the toxicity. As a result, Zhu Hao and Lin Qingxiang were severely affected, Liu Qingqing and Yu Shuying were less affected, while Si Ming, with the weakest internal energy and a strong physique, had almost maxed out his poison resistance, so he was minimally affected.

While relieving the poison, Lin Qingxiang questioned his sister, "Why did you do such a thing? It's betraying your master and ancestors! Do you know what that means?"

"I became an apprentice to learn martial arts in order to become stronger, but my path has come to an end. He can't help me break through to the Spirit Transformation, so I found someone who can help me. What's wrong with that?" Lin Qingtong asked righteously.

Seeing that his sister's expression didn't seem fake, Lin Qingxiang felt a strong sense of Anomalies and a feeling of déjà vu.

"What's wrong... Are you crazy? How could you ask such a question? Don't you even have the most basic common sense?"

"What's wrong with a martial artist pursuing strength? Defeating the strong and breaking through one's own limits is what a martial artist should do most. As for morality and rules, they are all irrelevant things. How can you let them hold you back?"

Lin Qingtong looked at the wary crowd, stuck out her tongue and licked it, revealing the eyes of a wild beast that had spotted its prey.

"That look in your eyes... you've mastered the 'Illusory Moth Killing Art'!"

The image of his father standing amidst the corpses often haunted his dreams. How could Lin Qingxiang forget his gaze? He immediately recalled it and exclaimed in surprise, "When did you secretly learn this Cultivation Method?"

"My foolish brother, how could you ask such an ignorant question? Since I was able to easily steal the secret manual you hid with my little sister, why do you think that I haven't stolen any manuals in all this time?"

"But you've never demonstrated any of the moves from the 'Illusory Moth Killing Art'."

Lin Qingtong sighed, "Alas, I have to admit that I really don't have the talent to cultivate this Cultivation Method. So, after cultivating for so long, I've only barely scratched the surface. I haven't learned a single one of the corresponding moves; only the mental cultivation method has become more and more refined."

Lin Qingxiang shouted, "Wake up! Your mind has been bewitched by this technique. Your current thoughts are not your true intentions. Don't you want to know the truth about your father's sacrifice? He lost himself just like you because he cultivated the 'Illusory Moth Killing Art,' falling into the obsession of pursuing power. In the end, he was killed by me and my companions."

"Brother, why are you still so naive? Since I've cultivated the 'Illusory Moth Killing Art' and experienced the same State of Mind, how could I not know the truth about Father's death? I've been playing you all along." Lin Qingtong laughed. "Actually, I've thought so for a long time. Although you seem cold and mature, among the three of us siblings, you're the most innocent one."

Lin Qingxiang swayed, his face turning deathly pale, as if he had suffered a severe mental shock. "Before my father died, he regretted his actions and told me never to let my descendants repeat his mistakes. Wake up! Don't let your inner demons control you anymore!"

"Oh, so Father regretted it before he died. No wonder he couldn't break through to the Nascent Spirit Transformation. It seems his potential was only so-so," Lin Qingtong chuckled. "Don't confuse me with him. I know very well that pursuing strength is my true nature. The 'Illusory Moth Killing Art' only helped me realize this, allowing me to strengthen my beliefs and continue down this path. There's no need to fear it like a tiger. In the end, it's just a Cultivation Method; some people are good at it, and some are not."

Then, she turned her gaze to Liu Qingqing and said something that made Lin Qingxiang's face turn ashen, "For example, my little sister, she is extremely talented in the 'Illusory Moth Killing Art,' and her progress is so rapid that it even makes me a little jealous."

"You mean...?"

Facing the gazes of the crowd, Liu Qingqing showed a slight fear, nodded, and said, "These past few days, my second sister, under the pretext of instructing me in martial arts, taught me a set of Cultivation Method."

Because her eldest brother had retrieved the "Illusory Moth Killing Art," she never considered that her second sister would teach her the same Cultivation Method; this was a kind of ingrained way of thinking.

In addition, Liu Qingqing herself did not have much resistance. Although she had only cultivated for a few days, her cultivation level had improved rapidly, which was comparable to her efforts in the past six months. The "Illusory Moth Killing Art" was simply tailor-made for her, and she cultivated it with ease.

Lin Qingxiang received the answer he dreaded most, and could no longer hold back. He angrily retorted, "Do you know what you've done? Before Father died, he specifically instructed that my younger sister must never cultivate the 'Illusory Moth Killing Art.' Have you considered the consequences?"

Lin Qingtong smiled knowingly, "Oh, the old man really said that? I must admit, his judgment was quite accurate. It's really unfair; we're all his children, so why is it only my little sister who possesses the corresponding talent?"

"Enough! I will never let my little sister continue cultivating. You are beyond redemption, and I won't let you drag her down with you."

"Too bad, you can't stop me now. I'll show you the power I'm willing to betray my sect for."

Lin Qingtong rolled up her left sleeve, revealing that her entire arm had turned a metallic silver-white, reflecting light like a bronze mirror.

"Mechanical prosthetics?"

"This is not a mechanical prosthetic, but Metal Cells, a type of cell based on metallic elements that possesses biological characteristics. Its strength, toughness, corrosion resistance, and temperature resistance are more than ten times that of carbon-based cells. The only drawback is that it cannot cultivate Internal Cultivation, which is equivalent to lacking a portion of the meridians. However, it can be enhanced with True Qi like a weapon."

Yu Shuying said, "It seems the purpose of spreading the Rust Disease was to develop this kind of thing."

"That's right, I've only replaced one arm, and my strength has already doubled. If I could replace every single cell in my body... that future is truly enviable!" Lin Qingtong revealed an expression of immense longing, looking as if she had just mastered the technique. Suddenly, her expression changed. "So anyone who tries to stop me is my enemy, and I will show no mercy even to my master!"

Si Ming felt that the situation described by the other party was quite similar to his own physique, so he asked, "If you complete the metal transformation, wouldn't that mean you can no longer cultivate Internal Cultivation? How will you advance to the Spirit Transformation?"

Lin Qingtong said solemnly, "There are many paths to advancement in cultivation. Qi Refining and Spirit Transformation is just one of them. Our predecessors, through summarizing their experiences, discovered that this path is the most efficient and easiest to succeed, which is why everyone has chosen this path. But this does not mean that other paths are not viable. If we can achieve metal transformation, our lifespan will be longer than that of Spirit Transformation, our strength will be greater, and Spirit Transformation potential will be broader. So why not choose metal transformation?"