Deep within Lake Heart Island lay a secluded, tranquil inlet.
Wutai Sect's master, He Yuzhou, still sat cross-legged atop that bluestone, a green bamboo fishing rod in hand, his aura merged with the surrounding mountains and waters.
The ripples spread soundlessly. That figure in plain white seemed to condense from the mist above the water, appearing noiselessly on the bluestone beside him and casting his line into the lake as well.
The two remained silent for a moment. Only the rustle of the breeze brushing through the treetops and the faint sound of lake water lapping against the shore rocks could be heard.
Suddenly, He Yuzhou's fishing rod dipped slightly. Its tip lightly touched the water, sending a ring of ripples outward.
With a steady flick of his wrist, he lifted a plump silver-scaled fish from the water. It struggled and flashed beneath the sunlight.
He Yuzhou deftly removed the fish and placed it in the fish basket beside him, neither hurried nor slow.
His gaze remained fixed upon the water as though he were asking idly, "Have you seen Heart Eater?"
The white-robed man beside him did not take his eyes from his own float either. His voice was calm and without a ripple. "I only met him once. The Demonic Sect's main force is locked in a fierce battle with the Tianbao Supreme Sect and is under immense pressure. The main altar has ordered every branch that, at this stage, their foremost tasks are to lie low, develop, grow stronger, and accumulate power. As the master of the Yunlin Branch, Heart Eater will not reveal himself lightly. Stability is the priority in all actions."
He Yuzhou nodded, unsurprised.
The overall strength of the Demonic Sect's various branches was generally weaker than that of the local sects, and the