Jin Ping'er's Hunt Order! The Righteous and Demonic Paths' Initial Clash!

Night.

The evening breeze blew softly.

The girl sat crouched on the steps.

She drew her legs together and hugged them.

Then, drowsily tilting her head to the right, she leaned against Ye Changfeng, breathing in his scent and feeling an overwhelming sense of safety.

And then...

She fell asleep.

The evening breeze brushed across her pretty face.

The Cold and Aloof Girl's flawless features came into view.

Ye Changfeng stared at her blankly.

Though Naiqi was still somewhat youthful, she possessed a charm all her own, one that made hearts yearn for her...

Thinking of this, Ye Changfeng could not help but raise his hand gently.

He gave each of her cheeks a little pinch.

Tsk.

The feel was way too good.

Ye Changfeng smiled and shook his head.

He did not wake Lu Xueqi. Instead, he leaned against her and enjoyed the beauty of the night together with her...

It was not until the latter half of the night that Lu Xueqi groggily woke up.

The moment she opened her eyes, she realized she was leaning against Ye Changfeng's shoulder, practically clinging to him like an octopus...

"Ah!"

The Human-Machine Girl let out a startled cry.

She hurriedly sat up straight with a serious expression, but there was no hiding the blush on her cheeks. In the end, she could only let Ye Changfeng laugh at her...

"Awake?"

Ye Changfeng looked at her with a smile.

Lu Xueqi pursed her lips, her gaze wandering aimlessly. In truth, she was already far too embarrassed to say a word...

"If you're awake, hurry back."

"You still have matches tomorrow."

Ye Changfeng blinked lightly and said, "You promised you'd help me take first place."

Hearing this, Lu Xueqi raised her eyes slightly.

She noticed that the moon was nearly gone from sight and immediately realized how late it was. Her pretty face flashed with panic as she hurriedly got up and ran back with quick footsteps.

As she ran, she waved her hand. "Senior Sister makes random room checks at night, so I need to get back first..."

However, Halfway there, The girl suddenly stopped.

She turned around and stood amid the sea of clouds. Her White Dress fluttered in the wind, her beautiful hair falling loosely over her shoulders. Her clear eyes looked toward Ye Changfeng as she declared firmly, "I'll become the Seven Peaks Tournament Champion!"

After saying that, Lu Xueqi's face reddened.

Why did that sound so much like a confession?

Then, without waiting for Ye Changfeng to respond, she immediately turned around and ran off with quick footsteps.

Seeing this, Ye Changfeng could not help but laugh.

Naiqi was so cute.

He shook his head slightly. Rather than going back, he simply found a place to lean against and dozed through the night.

After all...

The courtyard assigned by Heaven-Reaching Peak was too small.

Seven or eight people crammed together—the sweat stench and foot odor were simply unbearable.

Tsk.

That aching, exhilarating feeling was damn authentic.

The next day.

Early morning.

The sky had only just begun to brighten.

Heaven-Reaching Peak, Yuqing Hall.

The Seven Peaks' Masters had gathered there early.

Tian Buyi looked at True Lord Daoxuan in confusion and asked, "Sect Leader Brother, you summoned us to Yuqing Hall so early. Is there some change to the Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament that needs discussing?"

As soon as these words were spoken.

The many peak masters present all turned their gazes toward him.

The sky had not even fully brightened yet.

Yet they had been summoned here so early.

Could it be that something had happened?

"My fellow Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters."

True Lord Daoxuan's expression was somewhat grave.

He raised a sheet of letter paper from his sleeve, then handed it to Cangsong Daoist beside him for them to pass around and read...

"Take a look."

Hearing this.

The peak masters raised their brows slightly.

After reading the contents of the letter one by one, their expressions gradually changed...

"The Demonic Cult Fiends moved so quickly!?"

Shuiyue's expression tightened slightly.

The letter recorded several events that had occurred in the Cultivation World yesterday...

Yesterday.

The Joyous Union Sect suddenly released news.

Three Marvels Fairy declared that her direct disciple, Jin Ping'er, had betrayed the sect and stolen the sect's treasured Purple Light Blade.

With that.

The entire Joyous Union Sect was shaken.

Three Marvels Fairy immediately issued a kill order against Jin Ping'er to the entire Cultivation World. Anyone who captured Jin Ping'er would receive a generous reward...

As soon as this news emerged.

The entire Cultivation World was immediately thrown into turmoil.

Countless independent cultivators and demonic cultists accepted the kill order issued by the Joyous Union Sect and began searching everywhere for Jin Ping'er's whereabouts...

Nor was that all.

The many remaining sects of the Demonic Cult also responded one after another.

The smaller sects could be set aside for now.

In any case, the Ghost King Sect, Longevity Hall, and Myriad Poisons Sect all followed suit and issued kill orders against Jin Ping'er.

With that.

There was no longer any place for Jin Ping'er in the entire Demonic Cult.

"I never expected that in just one day..."

"The Demonic Cult would make such a major move? They truly acted decisively!"

Zeng Shuchang, the master of Wind Return Peak, said heavily.

Hearing this.

The other peak masters did not know what to say.

Shuiyue pondered briefly.

She turned to True Lord Daoxuan and asked, "Sect Leader Brother, have our fellow cultivators from Tianyin Temple and Burning Incense Valley sent any news?"

True Lord Daoxuan shook his head and said, "Poor Daoist only dispatched disciples to deliver letters yesterday. Even if they wished to contact us in advance, a secret letter could not possibly arrive so quickly..."

"Furthermore."

True Lord Daoxuan's expression was somewhat grave.

His voice was somewhat low as he said, "Yicai has not sent Poor Daoist any secret letters for over a month now. He..."

"Perhaps he has already met with misfortune."

"What?!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall was shocked.

The many Heads all turned to look over with astonishment on their faces.

Who was Xiao Yicai?!

He was the Sect Master True Person's direct successor!

Leaving aside whether he would become the future Azure Cloud Sect Leader, his status as True Lord Daoxuan's direct successor alone was enough to make anyone take him seriously...

And now—

Something had happened to such a person?

If word got out!

Half the Cultivation World would likely be shaken!

"Sect Leader Brother."

"What do you intend to do?"

Cangsong Daoist asked with a grave expression.

Xiao Yicai's death was inseparable from him. After all, he had been the one to pass the information to the Demonic Sect...

"Alas."

True Lord Daoxuan let out a soft sigh.

He seemed to have aged several years at once, his vitality slightly waning. With a sigh, he said, "Spread the news first. See whether Jin Ping'er's life can be saved. As for Yicai..."

"Poor Daoist intends to send the top four disciples from this Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament down the mountain to investigate."

"To see whether they can find any clues."

"Additionally, people from Tianyin Temple and Burning Incense Valley will come to assist."

In truth.

True Lord Daoxuan no longer held much hope.

With Xiao Yicai's cultivation, infinitely close to the Upper Purity Realm, nothing should have happened to him while he was undercover in the Blood Refining Hall.

After all.

Old Master Nian of the Blood Refining Hall was only at the Peak of Ninth Layer of Jade Purity.

Yet something had happened to him...

Which meant—

Someone from the Upper Purity Realm had acted.

Myriad Poisons Sect, Longevity Hall, Ghost King Sect.

He did not know which Demonic Sect elder had done it?!

True Lord Daoxuan's gaze flickered slightly, and grief filled his heart. Xiao Yicai had been his foremost disciple...

And now he had died just like that!?

Alas.