Heavenly Profound Immortal Sect, Council Hall.
At this moment, the hall was deathly silent.
The elders' faces were uglier than those of the dead.
One elder was the first to challenge him. "Deputy Sect Master, what is going on? Didn't you say that as long as we continued with the plan, Luo Qingdie would certainly die? We believed you only out of respect for you. How did it end up like this? Elder Wang died for nothing, and two days were wasted for nothing. Luo Qingdie will arrive tomorrow! What are we supposed to do?"
"Don't be anxious." The Deputy Sect Master was the calmest person present. "Once the Sect Master comes out, everything will be settled."
"Hmph." An elder snorted disdainfully. "You're still going on about the Sect Master this and the Sect Master that. We haven't seen hide nor hair of him for days. I say he secretly ran away long ago!"
"Elder Liu, watch your words!"
Just then, a deep, resonant voice sounded from outside.
Everyone turned their heads and saw the Heavenly Profound Sect Master striding inside.
Weariness could not be concealed on his face, but his eyes were brimming with excitement.
He took his seat at the head and said, "I am the Sect Master of this sect. How could I possibly abandon the Heavenly Profound Immortal Sect and flee alone?"
"Sect Master!"
"Sect Master, you finally came out!"
"Wonderful!"
The elders immediately became excited.
One elder said, "Sect Master, Luo Qingdie has already..."
With a wave of his hand, the Sect Master cut him off. "No need to repeat it. I already know the situation. There is no need for concern, everyone. Everything has been properly arranged. The day Luo Qingdie steps into our sect will be the day of her crushing defeat!"
His words were domineering, but none of the elders present dared readily believe him.
The Heavenly Profound Sect Master smiled faintly. Their reactions were within his expectations, so he did not grow angry. Instead, he slowly explained, "I know that you all have doubts, and that you are greatly puzzled by my actions these past few days. No matter. I will explain everything to you now."
"It would be best if you are willing to explain, Sect Master."
"Yes, if you make things clear, we can finally set our minds at ease."
The elders urged him eagerly.
The Heavenly Profound Sect Master nodded. "In truth, when I learned that day that Luo Qingdie had seen through the Qingyun City trap, I was as shocked as all of you. I also realized that the entire plan had already failed, and that continuing it would only mean treading the old road to ruin.
But unlike you, I did not despair, because I knew our sect still possessed an even more powerful trump card!"
The moment those words came out, the elders all revealed shocked and doubtful expressions.
"There's another trump card?"
"That's impossible. Why have we never heard of it?"
"Isn't the Ten-Direction Flawless Immortal-Locking God-Extinguishing Grand Array already the strongest? Could there be something even stronger?"
"That's right, something far stronger than the Ten-Direction Flawless Immortal-Locking God-Extinguishing Grand Array." The Heavenly Profound Sect Master paused before saying, "When the Old Ancestor ascended, he feared that us descendants would prove unworthy and drag the sect into decline, so he left behind many methods and treasures. On the surface, the strongest was this formation capable of killing Mahayana Stage cultivators, but in truth, there was another treasure far more powerful than it."
"Its might is boundless. It can likewise kill Mahayana Stage cultivators, and even go a step further—no matter how a Mahayana Stage cultivator defended with all their strength, they could not withstand a single strike from it. At the same time, it is easy to carry, can be moved at any time, and can attack repeatedly. It is the strongest treasure left behind by the Old Ancestor, the true divine artifact protecting our sect!"
"This treasure is our sect's greatest secret, passed down orally only between Sect Masters. It is perfectly normal that you elders have never known of it."
The elders were both shocked and filled with yearning.
"Our sect actually has such a powerful treasure!?"
"Is that true?"
"Sect Master, tell us quickly. What treasure is it?"
The Heavenly Profound Sect Master smiled faintly. "This treasure is called the Demon Slaying Mirror!"
A trace of confusion appeared on the elders' faces. None of them had ever heard that name.
Thus, they could only continue asking, "May we ask, Sect Master, what powers does this mirror possess?"
The Heavenly Profound Sect Master explained, "Once this mirror is activated, it releases a beam of Heavenly Dao Spiritual Light. This Heavenly Dao Spiritual Light is extraordinarily profound and contains the power of endless laws. It can ignore cultivation realms, ignore spiritual power, ignore the physical body, and pierce straight through the enemy's soul. Therefore, it cannot be resisted!"
The elders' faces were filled with horror.
"Such a treasure actually exists in this world?"
"Damn it. With this treasure, what do we have left to fear? What the hell is there to fear!"
"However, this treasure also has one flaw," the Heavenly Profound Sect Master said.
Everyone was immediately startled and hurriedly asked what it was.
"This item is a Righteous Path treasure, and thus specifically kills heretical demons and those with evil thoughts." The Heavenly Profound Sect Master said, "If a person neither cultivates demonic arts nor acts dishonorably, and from the bottom of their heart does not believe they have ever committed a single evil deed, then the Demon Slaying Mirror will have no effect on them. Conversely, the more evil deeds a person believes they have committed, the more terrifying the Demon Slaying Mirror's power becomes."
"There's actually such a restriction?" An elder first looked astonished, then suddenly realized something. "Wait, Sect Master, the reason you had us continue the plan was..."
"That's right. It was precisely to make Luo Qingdie commit more slaughter," the Heavenly Profound Sect Master said.
Although everyone present knew about Luo Qingdie's slaughter of the Inquiry Sword Sect, and though they all called her a Great Demon, deep down, they harbored doubts.
After all, the surviving Inquiry Sword Sect cultivators had almost unanimously taken Luo Qingdie's side. She might truly not have been the one at fault.
They spoke of eliminating demons and defending the Dao, but in their hearts, they knew perfectly well that whether it was spreading rumors and slander or plotting murder, it was all because they feared their own status would be damaged.
Of course, even if beaten to death, they would never say such words aloud.
"In these past few days, parents and close relatives, friends, closely connected little beggars, and dozens of Heavenly Profound Sect cultivators—so many people have died at Luo Qingdie's hands." The Heavenly Profound Sect Master said, "I refuse to believe that this endless killing would not make her wonder in her heart, even for a single moment, whether she had done something wrong. Whether she should not have killed. And once that thought arises in her mind, she will be unable to withstand the Demon Slaying Mirror's power!"
Excited smiles also appeared on the elders' faces.
—That's right. Even if she had reasons every time she acted, she had still killed so many people. How could her heart remain without the slightest wavering? The Sect Master was right. Luo Qingdie was indeed doomed to die!
"Besides that, I have another reason. I suspect someone in our sect is a spy." The Heavenly Profound Sect Master said, "If someone had not leaked information, I would truly find it difficult to believe that Luo Qingdie could see through the trap so easily. Retrieving the Demon Slaying Mirror requires some time to prepare. If word leaked and the spy interfered, it would become troublesome."
The moment these words came out, the elders erupted into an uproar, each demanding to prove their innocence.
But the Heavenly Profound Sect Master repeatedly waved his hands, telling them to calm down. "Everyone, remain calm. These past few days, I secretly had people monitor you all, and I have already confirmed that at least none among you are spies. I am revealing this matter now both so that you will be careful in the future and not let anything slip, and so that you can make preparations."
"After all," the Heavenly Profound Sect Master paused, "Luo Qingdie is not a fool. She will not stand there as a target. We must do more to ensure that Luo Qingdie cannot escape, to ensure we accomplish everything in one battle! And if possible..."
The Heavenly Profound Sect Master revealed an evil smile. "I want a reward far richer than simply killing Luo Qingdie!"