Deception

"Whoosh!"

The loud sounds of fighting, the roars of the monks, and the towering flames plunged the quiet camp of the Hanging Temple into chaos.

Many Qi Refiners were startled awake from their sleep and came out to see what was happening.

"Another Qi Refiner trying to escape?" someone muttered, having heard the slandering shouts of the middle-aged monk.

Not all the Qi Refiners here were mediocre; many of them had keenly noticed the two middle-aged Daoists escaping last night.

"That young man who arrived yesterday, was he so quickly captivated by Yan Yushu, so infatuated with her beauty?"

Some Qi Refiners stared at Chen Xuan's room, guessing.

They found it unbelievable. Although they themselves couldn't help but constantly recall the scene when they brushed past the stunningly beautiful Yan Yushu, a truly rare sight in the human world.

But it was just a fleeting encounter; the two sides hadn't even exchanged a single word before Yan Yushu quickly moved away.

Even though they couldn't help but develop a good impression and couldn't forget her, and felt deep regret for the terrible fate Yan Yushu was about to face...

But just because of this, would he disregard his life and directly oppose the Hanging Temple?

Those who practice Qi are almost all outstanding individuals with excellent temperaments; the influence of the Six Desires Heaven is not that terrifying... People like the middle-aged Daoist and the burly man are just a small minority.

"The young man is seeking his own death, not taking advantage of the Hanging Temple's leniency, and insisting on doing something foolish." A Qi Refiner sighed, believing Chen Xuan was certain to die.

"No! This young man has undergone Second Ascension! He killed the Hanging Temple's strong expert!"

Suddenly, a Qi Refiner with a high cultivation level exclaimed in surprise, seeing the wooden door of the tightly shut room where Chen Xuan was located being pulled open from the inside.

"Rustle..."

Chen Xuan's expression was calm as he stepped out of the room. His body was tall and straight, his eyes as deep and quiet as a dark, silent pool. His gaze swept around, scanning the faces of everyone in the camp.

Then, he left the wooden house and walked towards the area where the Hanging Temple monks were gathered.

"Hiss! The thing in his hand!"

A Qi Refiner cried out in alarm, seeing Chen Xuan walking while dragging the corpse of a young monk. The monk's calf was clutched, his body dragging on the ground, and his entire head was like burning charcoal, charred black with flames.

This scene was too bizarre. Wasn't he supposed to escape to help Yan Yushu?

Why was he dragging a monk's corpse to find the Hanging Temple? What exactly was he going to do?

Could it be that their speculation was wrong?

"Amitabha..."

The old monk who was cooking porridge, the Ascetic Monks who were chanting morning scriptures, and over a dozen gazes filled with doubt and varying degrees of anger were fixed on Chen Xuan.

Outside the camp, many Ascetic Monks working in the woods noticed the change and were quickly returning.

"Fellow Daoist, what are you doing?"

An Ascetic Monk frowned and asked, not knowing exactly what had happened. "Why did you kill a disciple of my temple? Are you really trying to escape?"

Although the middle-aged monk's deliberate slanderous shouts were loud and spread far, almost everyone in the entire camp heard them clearly.

But in fact, some people were very rational and remained skeptical, especially this group from the Hanging Temple.

Because Chen Xuan had not shown any abnormality from beginning to end.

Moreover, what were their two senior and junior brothers doing in someone's room? Could it be that they had foreseen the future and guessed that Chen Xuan would cause trouble?

"..."

Chen Xuan did not answer. He threw the young monk's corpse in front of all the Ascetic Monks and walked directly to the bonfire with the iron pot.

He held a crystal-clear, slender jade hairpin upside down in his hand—"Clang!"

"Clang!"

"Clang!"

The crisp and rhythmic sound of metal and jade colliding echoed from the edge of the iron pot, resonating in everyone's hearts.

"I saw it..."

Chen Xuan's calm voice sounded. His scrutinizing gaze fell into the withered and cloudy eyes of the old monk opposite him.

The cold wind stirred up the hot mist, and Chen Xuan continued to speak slowly.

"Old man, just now... you were peeking—"

The old monk held the wooden stick for stirring the porridge, his face full of confusion.

The softened rice grains in the iron pot churned in the hot water. In the sky, a ray of dawn slowly appeared.

The sky was about to brighten.

"Little Daoist, I don't understand what you're saying?"

The old monk who had discussed Ancient Seal Script with Chen Xuan slowly shook his head, his old face full of wrinkles, looking very puzzled.

The other Ascetic Monks were also completely bewildered, finding it unbelievable. The other party was actually questioning them?

And with such a strange question?

A fight had caused such a huge commotion. Shouldn't everyone be curious and check it out?

Chen Xuan stood tall and straight, his gaze looking down at the hunched and withered old monk, creating a strong sense of pressure.

He knew the other party could understand what he meant.

Before causing the commotion, Chen Xuan had looked through the crack in the door at the night outside.

At that time.

There were eyes in the darkness, staring intently at the small house...

Chen Xuan saw them.

"Hmph!"

The old monk looked as if he had been wronged, his expression furious. He suddenly banged the iron pot loudly with his wooden stick, repeating coldly:

"I don't understand what you're saying? I'm not the only one looking. Don't deliberately cause trouble!"

"Clang!"

The iron pot was suddenly knocked over by a hand, and the hot, thick rice porridge spilled onto the ground, steaming.

"I said I saw it."

Chen Xuan raised his hand and pointed at the old monk, who had an angry expression, his tone decisive:

"Old man, you weren't just peeking... you smiled... You, why did you smile?"

Hearing this, the old monk's body stiffened in surprise, a hint of astonishment flashing in his eyes.

Did I smile?

The old monk himself wasn't sure...

Suddenly, the old monk's heart tightened fiercely, as if he was being stared at by a beast with bared fangs!

Chen Xuan had already captured the fleeting astonishment in the old monk's eyes. His palm shot out like lightning, grabbing towards the old monk's head!

"Old thing... you really have a problem!"

The old monk was terrified, realizing he had been tricked into revealing himself. The other party's perception was so sharp; his momentary astonishment had been instantly discovered. He quickly dodged backward, while also screaming:

"Fellow brothers, save me! This person has lost his mind, his life is completely ruined!"

The old monk was also a Second Ascension expert, but he had been observing the situation in secret, knowing the power Chen Xuan possessed by forcefully killing two people. He knew he would likely be no match and could only rely on the strength of his fellow disciples to handle the current crisis.

"Clang! Clang!"

Almost simultaneously, several hands radiating golden-white light intercepted him from the air. The group of Ascetic Monks had already surrounded Chen Xuan and made preparations, ensuring he wouldn't succeed easily.

"You still dare to attack? Explain yourself!"

An Ascetic Monk roared, bravely intervening to stop him.

"It seems you've truly been bewitched by the Six Desires Heaven and are determined to go against the Hanging Temple. You're completely beyond saving!"

An Ascetic Monk roared in anger, feeling this person was too arrogant. He wasn't even willing to answer a single word of explanation. Chen Xuan wasn't even prepared to listen to the old monk's explanation. He had judged that the old monk had a problem, casually verified it, and then directly moved to kill...

Was he treating them as transparent air? Among these dozen or so people, nearly half were Second Ascension experts!

"Connected with the Six Desires Heaven, a rotten life, not worth regretting death!" Another Ascetic Monk immediately struck ruthlessly, his killing intent strong. He had been under too much pressure recently and was taking this opportunity to vent.

In an instant, countless roars, golden-white fist prints and palms filled the sky, striking towards Chen Xuan from all directions.

"Get lost!"

Chen Xuan's eyes revealed fierce intent. He pushed the Little Firebird Trick to its limit, channeling Red Qi. The hairpin tip between his fingers drew a crescent-shaped arc of red light, sweeping directly towards the overwhelming golden-white fist shadows, meeting them head-on.

"Whether my life is rotten or not is not for you people to say!"

He refused to back down even an inch.

The wind howled fiercely, the flames melted gold, and a dry, bloody smell rose in the air.