Everyone Was Drunk, While I Alone Was Sober

At the summit of Tianmen Peak in Lingxu Sacred Land, a figure clad in a yin-yang Daoist robe sat cross-legged atop a massive boulder.

Several simple words were carved into the boulder, yet they exuded boundless majesty.

One sword opened Heaven's Gate.

Bai Muxu closed his eyes and felt it. At this moment, he had already made his choice: to break through Spirit Transformation and step into the Nascent Soul Stage.

Once he took that step, he would undergo a complete transformation. At the same time, he would have to begin facing the great terror of Evil Demons head-on and avoid those baseless influences.

"Before that, there is still one thing I must do."

Bai Muxu slowly opened his eyes and looked down over all of Tianmen Peak.

At that moment, a translucent figure slowly descended from the clouds and arrived before Bai Muxu.

Upon seeing the figure, Bai Muxu lightly cupped his hands in greeting.

"Holy Master."

Seeing Bai Muxu greet him in this manner, the Lingxu Holy Master nodded slightly as well.

"Elder Bai, it seems you have already made your plans."

"The shackles beyond Spirit Transformation and the signs of the five declines are not so easily resisted, even if you are a Peerless Prodigy rarely seen in a thousand years."

The Lingxu Holy Master fixed Bai Muxu with a gaze as sharp as torches.

"I have already made my plans. I am very satisfied with my successor disciple, but before that, I hope to see him enter the Taixu Forbidden Land before I make my breakthrough."

Bai Muxu nodded deeply and spoke of his intentions.

"This is an opportunity to obtain a Divine Ability. Are you certain you wish to give it to him?"

The Lingxu Holy Master was somewhat surprised as he asked.

"Foundation Establishment in a Hundred Days, reaching the summit of the Heart-Questioning Stairway, and now, at the Foundation Establishment Realm, he has already comprehended three Dao intents. His aptitude surpasses even mine in my youth. Furthermore, at Jinxu Peak, he defeated two Nascent Soul Evil Demons while still in the Foundation Establishment Realm. Though they were relatively ordinary Nascent Souls, perhaps he can use the Taixu Forbidden Land to break through to Golden Core in one stroke."

"Foundation Establishment in a hundred days, Golden Core in one year. This is what I will leave behind for Tianmen Peak's future."

Bai Muxu nodded firmly in reply.

Hearing Bai Muxu's words, the Lingxu Holy Master wore a trace of surprise on his face. Such talent was indeed worthy.

"Since Elder Bai has said so, naturally I will give him this opportunity."

"According to the deductions of the two Supreme Elders, he should return within the next few days. You may speak with him then."

Seeing Bai Muxu's determination, coupled with Li Tianwei's talent, how could the Lingxu Holy Master have any objections?

"Then I shall go prepare the items you will need to undergo your tribulation."

With a turn, the Lingxu Holy Master's translucent phantom scattered through the air, as though he had never appeared.

Before Lingxu Sacred Land.

Because of the major events that had occurred within the sacred land recently—the investigation into spies from the demonic sects and infiltrators within the sacred land—the entire place had become like the wind whistling through cranes, with everyone fearing for themselves.

Even Lingxu Sacred Land had activated the Sect Protecting Great Formation, and several Nascent Soul Elders had been dispatched to guard its entrance.

These Nascent Soul Elders were still stationed before Lingxu Sacred Land in shifts, as usual.

In their eyes, nothing could possibly happen. Forget demonic sects attacking their gates—even if Baiyuan Sacred Land joined forces with other sacred lands and came knocking, they would still have to spend considerable effort just to reach this place.

Thus, they were exceedingly leisurely. They appeared to be guarding against outsiders, but in truth, their main purpose was to prevent demonic sect spies within from escaping.

One of the Nascent Soul Elders responsible for the watch was Xu Yuansheng. The investigations within Lingxu Sacred Land during this period had left him trembling with fear, terrified that his identity as a member of the Heavenly Demon Cult would be exposed.

However, after making some inquiries, Xu Yuansheng learned that though Lingxu Sacred Land appeared to be in chaos, there was something hidden beneath the surface.

And that hidden mystery, after Xu Yuansheng's investigation, originated from Li Tianwei.

As someone who had meddled in the Heavenly Demon Cult's arrangements, Xu Yuansheng could basically conclude that this entire situation had definitely been orchestrated by Vice Cult Master Hun Yuan.

Just look at how Li Tianwei, with his Pseudo-Spirit Root, had managed Foundation Establishment in a Hundred Days, successfully deceiving so many elders of Lingxu Sacred Land. He had even fought a genius from Baiyuan Sacred Land and stirred up conflict.

In the end, he had even caused Baiyuan Sacred Land's infiltrator to strike in secret. The power of this single hidden piece had, in such a short time, muddied the waters of Lingxu Sacred Land completely.

As Xu Yuansheng, who knew these secrets, watched the elders and disciples of Lingxu Sacred Land panic until they did not know what to do, he could not help feeling that everyone was drunk while he alone was sober.

No one knew that Li Tianwei, this so-called genius, possessed a Pseudo-Spirit Root and was also an infiltrator of the Heavenly Demon Cult.

"It seems the word 'Vice' in Vice Cult Master Hun Yuan's title should be removed."

Thinking this, Xu Yuansheng felt he ought to change how he addressed Hun Yuan.

Xu Yuansheng could only say that Cult Master Hun Yuan truly looked high and saw far, deciding victory from a thousand miles away. With merely a pill that disguised a Pseudo-Spirit Root as a Heavenly Spirit Root, he had laid out such a grand scheme.

"I should also make a point of befriending this colleague properly."

"Unfortunately, he has not returned yet. He must have gone to the demonic sect territory to find Cult Master Hun Yuan. Otherwise, with his spirit root, how could he continue pretending to possess the aptitude of a Heavenly Spirit Root? He will probably have to raise his cultivation by another minor realm upon returning, so that it makes sense."

"Just imagine it: a heaven-blessed prodigy framed by other sacred lands, struck by a scheme, and then finally returning. He ought to deliver a little shock."

"As expected of Cult Master Hun Yuan. This script has been arranged so thoroughly."

Xu Yuansheng sighed inwardly again and again.

Just as Xu Yuansheng was marveling, he suddenly seemed to sense something. He hurriedly rose to his feet and looked into the distance.

In the western sky, a strange phenomenon formed from faint Evil Qi and yin qi emerged, as though a layer of black-purple qi had shrouded that direction.

An aura of extreme yin and extreme evil was rushing over at an astonishing speed.

At the sight, Xu Yuansheng shuddered.

"This can't be right! This is Lingxu Sacred Land's territory. How could demonic cultivators come here?"

"What a dense aura!"

"Could the demonic sect territory be attacking?"

At that moment, seeing this scene, Xu Yuansheng considered the possibility. Yet when faced with the prospect of the demonic sect territory invading Lingxu Sacred Land, he was still hesitating over whether to surrender.

Far away, a wheel emanating intense Evil Qi cut across the sky. At its front, a banner fluttered in the wind, continuously channeling the Resentment Force of heaven and earth into the spirit wheel beneath it.

Upon the spirit wheel stood more than a dozen figures, with cultivations ranging from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment.

Among them, the man leading at the front was the most conspicuous. He wore simple robes and possessed handsome features, his eyes exceptionally bright as he stared straight ahead without the slightest fluctuation.

Yet black-purple Evil Qi continuously howled forth from behind him, mixed with the shrieks of Fierce Ghosts and faint demonic flames that burned within.

No matter how one looked at them, they did not seem like a group of good people.

These were Li Tianwei and the others, returning all the way from the demonic sect territory to Lingxu Sacred Land.

Now that they had returned to Lingxu Sacred Land's territory, the disciples of Lingxu Sacred Land aboard the Spirit Light Wheel were cautiously watching Li Tianwei.

Especially seeing that he had not restrained his aura in the slightest, they dearly wanted to step forward and remind him, lest he cause unnecessary trouble.

After all, Li Tianwei's aura was now surging from his entire body, yin qi and Resentment Force gathered around him. Combined with the terrifying speed of the Spirit Light Wheel as it charged toward Lingxu Sacred Land, the scene looked exactly like they were about to invade Lingxu Sacred Land.

Yet strangely, despite Li Tianwei's state, they traveled smoothly all the way without encountering any obstruction, as though the powerful figures of Lingxu Sacred Land knew of Li Tianwei's situation and had chosen not to make things difficult for him.