Adopted son from a past life?

Heavenly Profound Immortal Sect.

News of Mo Yushang's latest failed plan had already reached the ears of the various Elders.

They weren't shocked; instead, there was a sense of relief, as if to say, it was to be expected. However, at the same time, the fear in their hearts grew even more intense.

They all rushed to find the Heavenly Profound Sect Master, hoping to persuade him to change his mind and fortify their sect into an impenetrable fortress within the remaining three days.

But to their surprise, the Heavenly Profound Sect Master had locked himself in his chambers and refused to see them.

The Elders were so anxious they could have jumped out of their skin.

"What's wrong with the Sect Master? Is he planning to run away?"

"Don't be ridiculous. Where could he possibly run to? If Luo Qingdie spares anyone, it won't be him."

"So what do we do? Do we continue?"

"Continue my ass! That would be a waste of time!"

"Let's go find the Vice Sect Master! Maybe he has a solution."

"Right, right!"

They swarmed to the Vice Sect Master, who was equally bewildered and had no idea what was going on.

He had devised the plan for Qingyun City, and after its disastrous failure, he had gone to the Heavenly Profound Sect Master to beg for punishment, mentally prepared for any consequences. However, the Sect Master hadn't even acknowledged him.

Now, seeing the Elders' anxious state, he gritted his teeth and said, "Alright, I'll go find him! We need to get to the bottom of this."

The Elders' faces lit up with joy, and they crowded around him as he approached the Heavenly Profound Sect Master's chambers.

They watched as he knocked on the door to announce himself.

When they saw the door open and him being let inside, hope surged in everyone's hearts.

After a full incense stick's worth of time, the Vice Sect Master emerged, a wide smile on his face.

Seeing this, the Elders' hopes soared even higher, and they rushed forward to inquire.

"How did it go?"

"I've spoken with the Sect Master," the Vice Sect Master said, nodding. "Just continue with the original plan."

The Elders' expressions froze, and their hearts sank.

"Don't misunderstand, I didn't come back empty-handed," the Vice Sect Master said confidently. "We've all misunderstood the Sect Master. He isn't acting out of madness for no reason. I can't reveal the details right now, but just continue with the plan. Luo Qingdie is as good as dead!"

The Elders exchanged glances, unsure whether to believe him.

Two days later, Dayan City.

This was the closest mortal town to the Heavenly Profound Immortal Sect and a crucial source of disciples for them. In previous years, those who wished to join the Heavenly Profound Immortal Sect would often stay here to make preparations.

Because these aspiring disciples were typically from wealthy or influential families, Dayan City had developed into a prosperous place.

An Elder, accompanied by a few familiar disciples, hid in the shadows.

Beside them was a small, out-of-place beggar.

The Elder's expression was grim. Two days ago, the Vice Sect Master had refused to explain the situation, insisting only that they continue with the plan. The group of Elders had hesitated, then hesitated again, before finally deciding to gamble on a long shot and follow his orders.

But the problem was that someone needed to lead the execution of the plan, and after a heated argument, that responsibility fell to him.

Despite the Vice Sect Master's firm stance, the Elder looked at the dirty little beggar with absolutely no confidence.

This beggar was someone the Heavenly Profound Immortal Sect had found through a secret technique designed to identify individuals closely connected to Luo Qingdie. The first group identified by the technique were blood relatives like Luo Qingdie's parents, followed by her friend Mo Yushang. However, the third person identified was this beggar, who had no apparent connection to Luo Qingdie.

At the time, everyone in the sect was baffled. They had captured the beggar and spent considerable effort investigating his background, discovering he was the child of a third-rate demonic cultivator. He knew some demonic cultivation techniques, but his spiritual root was so poor that he couldn't embark on the path of cultivation.

No one knew why the secret technique had determined he had a profound connection with Luo Qingdie.

If he had any other choice, the Elder would never have chosen him. Unfortunately, he was now their only bait.

If things go south, the Elder thought, I'll flee immediately. With the God-Avoiding Pearl to conceal my tracks, as long as I run fast enough, there's no reason she can catch me!

Just then, a figure appeared in the sky.

Everyone's spirits lifted as they immediately recognized her.

"It's Luo Qingdie! Luo Qingdie has arrived!"

The Elder looked at the beggar and said, "Do you remember what I told you to do? I don't care how you do it, you must lure her to the designated spot!"

The beggar nodded fearfully.

"Excellent, let's begin!"

Meanwhile, Chu Lu arrived above Dayan City. He gazed forward, already able to see the faint outline of the Heavenly Profound Immortal Sect's massive peak.

He didn't linger, preparing to press onward.

But just then, a furious roar erupted from below.

"Demonic fiend Luo Qingdie, stop right there!"

Chu Lu froze, curiously turning his head to see who dared to be so foolish.

A Golden Core cultivator in a Heavenly Profound Immortal Sect robe slowly ascended, clutching a small beggar like a hostage.

"Demonic cultivator Luo Qingdie, if you dare take another step towards the Heavenly Profound Immortal Sect, I'll kill this beggar!" the cultivator snarled.

Chu Lu was bewildered and about to ask who the beggar was when Luo Qingdie exclaimed in his mind, 'Huh? Why is it him?'

"An acquaintance?" Chu Lu blinked, about to inquire, but then he recognized the beggar's appearance and immediately realized, "Wait a minute, isn't this that beggar you took in, who then betrayed you?"

Luo Qingdie: "Mhm."

Chu Lu became suspicious.

He mused that in this life, Luo Qingdie hadn't even met this beggar yet. How did the Heavenly Profound Immortal Sect know to target him?

He voiced his confusion: "Judging by your appearance, you're from the Heavenly Profound Immortal Sect, right? I can understand you being afraid of me approaching your mountain gate, but what's the use of holding a beggar?"

"Heh," the cultivator sneered, "Stop pretending. I know this beggar has a deep connection with you. Don't underestimate the secret arts of our Heavenly Profound Immortal Sect!"

"I see," Chu Lu nodded in understanding, thinking that it wasn't unusual to have strange spells in a cultivation world.

Having resolved his confusion, Chu Lu drew his sword, ready to kill them both.

Just then, the beggar seemed to be thoroughly terrified. His small body trembled, tears streamed from his eyes, and he cried out in a shaky voice, "Big sister, please save me. I'm so scared."

Chu Lu remained unmoved. However, Luo Qingdie, watching this scene in his mind, felt a sudden pang in her heart.

She recalled memories from her past life, envisioning the time she spent with this beggar, the heartwarming scenes that felt like family.

"Chu Lu," Luo Qingdie said, "Why don't we save him?"

"Huh?" Chu Lu was taken aback.

"He's different from the last two times. He clearly knows nothing and was just captured to be used as a hostage. He hasn't done anything wrong, yet he's about to be killed. That's not right, is it?"

"...Did you forget how you were tricked in your past life?"

"I haven't forgotten, but that, but perhaps I didn't guide him well enough." Luo Qingdie exuded a maternal aura. "I didn't pay attention to his desire for cultivation, didn't help him in time, didn't notice his inner struggles, which is why he took such a risk. But it's okay, I can try again now. This time, I won't make any mistakes."

Chu Lu listened, completely stunned.

Meanwhile, because Chu Lu hadn't made a move yet.

Those observing in secret began to stir.

The Elder watched the scene, suddenly feeling a sliver of hope for this seemingly haphazard plan.

Could it be that the Vice Sect Master was right? Is this plan actually working? Is this beggar really that important? Why else would Luo Qingdie hesitate? If so... that would be fantastic!

According to the plan, if Luo Qingdie truly cared about the beggar, there were two subsequent branches. One: the threat was successful, and the cultivator holding the beggar would directly demand Luo Qingdie go to the location where the magic array was set up, thus killing her.

Two: the threat failed. After all, the gap between Golden Core and Mahayana was immense. Luo Qingdie could easily kill the cultivator before he could strangle the beggar. In this case, the task of manipulation would fall to the beggar. Facing someone he had just saved, even Luo Qingdie would let down her guard.

Therefore, as long as Luo Qingdie had the thought of saving the beggar, they were sure to win!

The cultivator in the sky stared intently at Chu Lu, not relaxing his vigilance for a moment due to his silence.

Just then, he saw Chu Lu sigh.

"Fine, I get it," Chu Lu said in his mind.

"Really? Thank you, Chu Lu." Luo Qingdie was overjoyed.

The next moment, Chu Lu channeled his magic power, and his sword shot out like an arrow from a bow, so fast it didn't even leave a blur in the air.

In an instant, it pierced the cultivator's skull.

Seeing this, the Elder below was ecstatic.

It succeeded! She really wanted to save the beggar!

The beggar felt the fierce wind rushing past his head, stinging his cheeks. His face was filled with terror, but his heart was bursting with excitement.

He still remembered the Elder's words. The beginning was the hardest part. As long as he got through the initial hurdle and wasn't killed by Luo Qingdie right away, his life would be safe.

From now on, he just needed to put his years of practicing the art of feigning weakness to good use, subtly leading Luo Qingdie to the designated location, and everything would be over.

The Elder had even promised to recruit him into the Heavenly Profound Immortal Sect exceptionally if he succeeded.

The beggar looked at Luo Qingdie ahead, feeling no guilt or remorse. His mind was filled with only one thought.

The Heavenly Profound Immortal Sect. The foremost righteous sect in the world. I can finally begin my cultivation...

Thwack.

The beggar froze.

A small sword tip emerged from his forehead, glinting with sword light.

"Huh?" the beggar.

Not just him, but at that moment, the Elder below and Luo Qingdie within his mind let out stunned gasps.

However, the Elder reacted fiercely the next moment.

Plan failed! Flee immediately!

He turned to flee, not even bothering to speak to the disciples beside him.

But as he turned his head, he saw Chu Lu waiting for him on the other side.

The Elder's face turned ashen, and he suddenly shrieked, "Impossible! The God-Avoiding Pearl clearly..."

The next moment, the Elder's scream cut off abruptly. He saw the entire world tilting upwards.

He wondered what was happening.

It wasn't until half his body crashed to the ground that he finally understood.

"Ah, so I was cut in half."

The Elder died instantly. Following that, the disciples also perished one after another.

A thick smell of blood permeated the room.

Chu Lu shook his sword, confirming there were no survivors, and turned to leave the room.

At this moment, Luo Qingdie in his mind finally reacted and screamed, "Chu Lu! You promised you wouldn't kill him!"

"I didn't," Chu Lu said. "I just said I knew."

"And then you killed him? So, what is it that you know?"

"I know I have to kill him," Chu Lu sighed. "Listen, I don't know your reasons. Whether you're just being a bleeding heart, or if you've been emotionally unstable since your last breakdown and want to prove someone still likes you. But either way, you didn't need to find this person!"

"There are so many children in this world, couldn't you have chosen someone obedient, well-behaved, and grateful to nurture? Why pick this trash who would stab his savior in the back?"

Luo Qingdie fell silent.

She understood Chu Lu was right. She had no reason to be fixated on such a terrible person. Even if she had some lingering feelings, they had vanished the moment he was thrown into the alchemy furnace. But...

"But there was no need to kill him, right? After all, those were things from his past life. He hasn't done anything in this life; he's innocent," Luo Qingdie said.

"If you put it that way... it does make some sense. But then again, even if he hasn't done anything yet, his trash nature hasn't changed, has it?" Chu Lu said. "I'm just killing a scumbag who didn't get a chance to do evil. You shouldn't criticize me, should you?"

"I'm not criticizing, it's just..." Luo Qingdie paused. She recalled everything that had happened since Chu Lu transmigrated. Finally, she couldn't hold back the words that had been stuck in her throat. "I think you're still too extreme, Chu Lu. Killing people indiscriminately is still wrong, isn't it? Even if you solve the problem in the end, you'll still have a guilty conscience, won't you?"

Chu Lu frowned. "When did I kill indiscriminately? I clearly gave everyone a chance. If your disciple hadn't truly intended to kill me, I wouldn't have killed him. If, later on, any of the Elders, the Supreme Elder, your senior brother, or your Master had been fair and just, they could have lived. This isn't me making excuses; the small group of Inquiry Sword Sect cultivators who thought I was right survived, didn't they?"

"But what about these people from the Heavenly Profound Immortal Sect? Although I don't know why the Heavenly Profound Immortal Sect slandered me and tried to kill me, it must have been at the command of the higher-ups, the Elders, right? The disciples running errands for them were likely also innocent people who were misled. Is it right to kill them?" Luo Qingdie said.

Chu Lu was silent for a moment, then sighed sincerely, "You're right. They shouldn't have died."

Luo Qingdie's spirits lifted, and just as she was about to speak again, she heard Chu Lu say, "So, tell me, how shameless is this Heavenly Profound Immortal Sect? They actually killed their own disciples!"

Chu Lu said righteously, "After we attack, I'll cut the Heavenly Profound Sect Master a few extra times. Consider it revenge for them."

Luo Qingdie: "Huh? No, that's not right! Shouldn't we let them go?"

Chu Lu: "The ones who killed them were the Heavenly Profound Sect Master. How can I let them go? Even if I let them go today, won't the Heavenly Profound Immortal Sect send them again tomorrow? When I attack the Heavenly Profound Immortal Sect and kill their Sect Master, will they stand aside? If I try to explain the truth to them, will they believe me?"

Luo Qingdie: "..."

"That Chu Lu..." Luo Qingdie asked, stunned for a moment, "Don't you feel any guilt or remorse?"

"No," Chu Lu said calmly. "I kill without a guilty conscience every time."

Luo Qingdie was momentarily stunned. She found herself unable to refute him, and her mood became complex.

The path of cultivation was not just about honing one's magic power but also about tempering one's state of mind. She had reached the Mahayana Stage, so she naturally had some accomplishments in this regard.

But now, she suddenly realized her state of mind seemed far less firm than Chu Lu's, who was only at the Qi Condensation Stage.