Vigilance

They were indeed "invited."

Because these people were originally convicts and exiles recruited by the Nangong Immortal Family from the northern countries—desperate, vicious criminals who had no place left in the north and were driven to the South Border.

With the backing of the Nangong Immortal Family, the ruling clan of the Twelve Countries under the Immortal Palace, naturally no one could rein in these demons.

So what was the Nangong Family after, gathering these evil cultists and heretics?

It turned out that back when they suppressed the Black Lotus Sect uprising, combined with the Nangong Family's own internal power struggles, their strength had taken a massive hit. Over half of their heavenly soldiers and generals were killed or wounded. In the end, even Li Country, which they ruled, dared to resist the Nangong Immortal Family's exploitation. Stirred up and schemed against by other forces, it defected to the Ink Bamboo Mountain Sect, greatly weakening the Immortal Palace's lineage.

With the loss of one country's tribute, the once-glorious Nangong Immortal Family's days grew increasingly impoverished.

The Nangong Immortal King, as the family head, naturally refused to accept this. He was determined to revive the family's fortunes. So he deliberately recruited rogue cultivators and demonic masters rejected by the Three Great Sects and the Twelve Countries to serve as his claws and fangs. There were even rumors that he had secretly reached an agreement with other factions within the Immortal Palace, actively taking in cultivators who had committed evil deeds in the Twelve Countries and been exiled to the South Border. Tiantai Mountain was one of the dojos where the Nangong Family settled these hounds.

Of course, such a deadly matter, involving great cultivators at the Transformation Stage, was only speculation and rumor, with no solid evidence. No one dared to openly criticize the Immortal Palace. But the Nangong Family had indeed been protecting Tiantai Mountain both openly and covertly. This time, they had thrown all pretense aside and acted directly, which was essentially the final confirmation.

So originally, those demonic cultivators had hidden in the mountain streams, pretending to be bandits and highwaymen, or evil spirits harming people, not daring to show their true colors. But recently, news spread that the Nangong Family's young master had achieved great success in his cultivation, breaking through to the Transformation Stage. The Nangong Family, confident in having three Transformation Stage great cultivators—the Nangong Immortal King, the Nangong Immortal Queen, and the Crown Prince—plus the support of their Immortal Palace allies, now felt they had the leverage to contend with Ink Bamboo Mountain.

These demons and monsters, emboldened by borrowed power, grew arrogant and overbearing. Of course, it might also have been on the Nangong Family's orders to test Ink Bamboo Mountain's limits. But in any case, they no longer needed to hide. They even cooked up this "Buddhist treasure appearing at Tiantai Mountain" scheme, openly establishing a dojo and indulging in cannibalism.

Li Fan frowned. "Cannibalism?"

Yes, cannibalism. If they had only been robbing and killing, or disguising themselves as monks and engaging in degenerate practices like "joyful meditation," Ink Bamboo Mountain might not have gone to such lengths, given the Immortal Palace's power and the lack of solid evidence.

But when the Lu Family investigated the bandits, they obtained irrefutable proof that these foreign demonic cultivators on Tiantai Mountain were actually eating people!

The women they abducted or seduced up the mountain, after being toyed with and exhausted, were corrupted by demonic techniques, tainted with Sha Qi, turned into corpse soldiers, and refined into undead troops. Occasionally, they even gave birth to Devil Embryos, which the demonic cultivators used as a delicacy to accompany their wine and boost their cultivation. They were truly eating people to refine their arts!

This crossed a massive taboo, and Ink Bamboo Mountain was determined to eliminate them swiftly.

After all, to put it bluntly, even if it wasn't about upholding justice, if these hounds under the Immortal Palace were allowed to use demonic arts to eat people, nurture Devil Embryos, and expand their power in a place only a day's flight from Ink Bamboo Mountain, it would become either a thorn in the side or a festering sore—a real headache.

Zhang He was already stirred with emotion, unable to contain himself. "Since the evidence is solid, we should wipe out these demons!"

Li Fan frowned. "But doesn't Ink Bamboo Mountain also eat people?"

The three rogue cultivators fell silent, closing their mouths.

Zhang Jiugao spoke frankly. "Yes, we do eat. But we only eat fellow cultivators. Once you set foot on the path of cultivation, even if you go mad and end up as a side dish for your dao companions, at least it's a path we know and chose ourselves.

"But what Tiantai Mountain eats are mortals—people forced by violence or deceived in their minds. They suffer humiliation in life and don't even get a whole corpse in death. They're forced to gestate Devil Forms and Devil Embryos, never having a choice.

"Do not do to others what you would not have done to you. Cross that line, and you become an unforgivable sinner.

"That is what it means to fall into the demonic path."

Li Fan nodded. If all this was true, there was no question—these demons deserved to be slaughtered to the last.

Of course, to be safe, it would be best to see what the Lu Family's "evidence" actually was. But given how much this sword duel had stirred up, and considering the general customs of this world, it was unlikely these villains were being falsely accused.

"The demonic obstacles on Tiantai Mountain mostly come from the north. Some might even be failed disciples of the Three Great Sects. As for many of the evil sects, I don't know their backgrounds. But we've dealt with the Nangong Immortal Family quite a bit.

"The Immortal Palace is an ancient sect that has existed since time immemorial. The techniques they pass down were personally created by the Immortal Venerable himself, cultivating both mind and body. Though somewhat outdated compared to the methods of the various paths today, it is still a righteous technique, with a solid foundation and deep heritage.

"Golden Core Stage mages all have divine light protecting their bodies and manifesting anomalies. The Immortal Palace's techniques are especially so—blazing flames shooting into the sky, dazzling armor shining. You'll recognize them at a glance. If you encounter them, just run.

"Foundation Establishment disciples have some distinctions. There are the direct descendants of the Nangong Immortal Family and the branch members. The gap in strength between the two is enormous.

"The Nangong Family's hereditary technique is the Samadhi Bright Flame Phoenix Profound Technique. This method cultivates Samadhi True Fire. When fighting, look at three points on the opponent: the crown of the head and Yintang, the two shoulders and Tianzong, and the chest and Tanzhong. If you see Profound Fire and Bright Flame flowing and gathering without extinguishing, that's a direct-line disciple of the Nangong Family who has cultivated the family's true technique. They must have reached the Perfected Realm and carry a magical treasure. Be sure to be cautious.

"If only one or two points are protected, and the three fires are incomplete, that's a branch disciple. The Immortal Palace places great importance on the distinction between direct and branch lines. Branch disciples not only have incomplete techniques but are also under restrictions. Sometimes they're even used as cauldrons, drained of their cultivation through harvesting.

"So just look at their appearance. If they're good-looking, they're probably kept as servants or catamites by the direct line and won't be taught any real skills, lest they harm their masters. If they're burly and rough, they're being trained as heavenly soldiers and generals. They'll definitely learn some Body Domination Technique to temper their bodies. Be careful not to engage them in close combat."

Zhang Jiugao rambled on, instructing his two disciples, Li Fan and Zhang He, with great care.

But listening to him, the Immortal Palace's combat rating system was really quite simple and easy to understand. To put it even more plainly, it could be summed up in two words: look at the face.

Ah, the Immortal Palace really was quite social...

'Profound Heaven Sword Intent indicates that the Immortal Palace's techniques are steady and solid, with a stable foundation and solid realms. Moreover, Samadhi True Fire is not Chisha Zhenqi but a secret method of combining the Five Qi. If both sides have equal cultivation, a single basic Sword Qi of yours won't be able to dispel it. Be sure to take note.'

Having a coach leak exam questions and give extra lessons before the competition, Li Fan felt a bit more at ease. He then asked targeted questions about the common spells used by Immortal Palace Foundation Establishment disciples, their attack range, casting startup, skill cooldown, and number of uses.

These terms did leave the cultivators a bit bewildered, but the meaning wasn't hard to grasp. Since the Nangong Family's disciples had been rampant in Li Country for a long time, Zhang Jiugao and the three rogue cultivators also shared the Nangong Family techniques they had seen, all of which Li Fan jotted down in his notebook.

Comprehensive analysis showed that the Foundation Establishment stage was in an awkward position. The most powerful flying swords—those that could track targets remotely, attack automatically, and come with light and shadow effects—couldn't be nurtured at this stage. Even if an elder bestowed a protective magical treasure, it could only be thrown out once or twice before their true qi was exhausted.

Their physical defense was also insufficient. Arrows could kill them, blades could cut them down. Once their dao breath was depleted and their limbs grew weak, even an ordinary mortal could ambush and injure them, potentially causing a loss. Stuck at this threshold was really awkward.

So the most common attacks were mid-to-short-range spells within visual range.

The Five Elements Escape Techniques, basic Sword Qi, various sword techniques and formulas, and the Nangong Family's Samadhi Immortal Fire—all were projectile attack spells. After all, no matter how refined your Body Domination Technique was, close combat was risky. A single slip could mean a gutted belly. Better to play it safe.

By the time they reached the Tiantai Mountain area, Li Fan had already memorized the data on common Samadhi True Fire spells at the Foundation Establishment stage. Honestly, if he could just get a look at the Nangong Family's technique and learn how Samadhi True Fire was refined, he could probably impersonate an Immortal Palace disciple right now.

"We're almost there. Everyone on guard. Watch for ambushes." In the flying boat, Zhang Jiugao unstrapped his Chi Qiu sword and readied himself. The others also took out their colorful magical treasures.

Xuanji the Hermit held a hairpin made of apricot-yellow wood with pearl pendants. Qingguo held a jade hammer shaped like an olive. Jinzhao carried a spittoon... hmm... or a flowerpot? No, a spittoon. Yeah, it looked like a spittoon...

Profound Heaven Sword Intent had also reminded Li Fan that Qingguo and Jinzhao, being children who had probably reincarnated after severing their mortal bodies, might have hidden treasures from their past lives. That wasn't hard to understand.

But unexpectedly, Zhang He also took out a jade sword about two feet long, like a paper knife, holding it with both hands in a defensive stance.

Li Fan looked at the pair of unadorned iron maces in his own hands and sighed inwardly. Sure enough, cultivation was just a pay-to-win game. No wonder Fuling and Xuanbao had to risk their lives fighting for resources, while those with family and dao companions backing them could just sit back and watch the show.

Fortunately, no one ambushed them. As they neared a low peak near Tiantai Mountain, a beam of light rose into the air. In the distance, a blue pillar of light could be seen waving like a banner—probably some kind of formation.

Li Fan extended his Divine Sense and saw bright talisman lights near the light banner, recognizing it as the encampment of Ink Bamboo Mountain's disciples.

Zhang Jiugao also released a flying talisman to send a message, and moments later, a beam of golden light rose from the pillar, circled around once, and then the pillar opened a gap.

Zhang Jiugao bowed to the golden light, and under its guidance, piloted his boat down into the formation.

The mountain peak held a dilapidated nunnery, temporarily borrowed by Ink Bamboo Mountain's disciples. They had swept the overgrowth clean, tidied the side courtyards, and set up a formation for a short stay.

From a distance, figures bustled within the nunnery. Some thirty cultivators had gathered here, setting up a cauldron in the front yard, brewing pills while breathing in rhythm, clearly restoring their Dao energy.

Li Fan spotted Fuling sitting among them from afar, limbs intact, and breathed a sigh of relief. But seeing her eyes closed in meditation, she seemed to have suffered some hidden injuries—brow furrowed, face pale as paper. She likely hadn't gained much advantage and had definitely been hurt.

Lu Xing was also there, the only one standing, not meditating, guarding the courtyard entrance, dressed neatly and composed. This instigator looked as if nothing had happened, still calm and collected. It made Li Fan's anger flare.

As for Yuan Xuanbao, Senior Brother Gao, and Lu Qi's group, they were nowhere to be seen. The disciples who had been detained were probably their lot. He wondered if anyone else had died.

"Yan the Real Person, what's the current situation?" Zhang Jiugao glanced at the Ink Bamboo Mountain disciples outside, his face darkening as he led the group to greet a black-robed, round-faced, bearded Daoist guarding the formation.

Li Fan didn't disturb Fuling, who was still recovering, and followed into the main hall. As he entered, a smell of blood hit him. Turning his head, he saw a row of coffins in the side hall, sealed with talismans and tied with red ropes.

"Junior Brother Zhang, you've come," the bearded Yan the Real Person nodded. "We struck first, seized some women held captive by the demonic path, and were about to withdraw. Then another group suddenly charged in, taking advantage of the chaos to plunder. I noticed some Ink Bamboo Mountain disciples among them and turned back to rescue them, but they scattered too far. A dozen or so couldn't be pulled out. Tiantai Mountain reacted and trapped them on the mountain with a magical treasure.

I recognized it as something like the Nine Dragons Divine Fire Cover. The real deal would burn someone for nine days, so a few days' time isn't life-threatening. But the scene was too chaotic—I don't know the details."

Zhang Jiugao also looked at the coffins nearby. "Real Person, you did your best. These are..."

"Those women. They were all cursed with a vile spell. As soon as they left the mountain, the Sha Qi inside them activated, turning them into corpse puppets. I'm afraid Tiantai Mountain has truly mastered the evil art of refining living people into Sha corpses. I've sealed these pieces of evidence in the coffins. Senior Brother Yao will arrive soon. With these solid proofs, we'll confront the Immortal Palace for an explanation."

Yan the Real Person paused, then lowered his voice. "Little Crane, I saw Nangong Wuchen at Tiantai Mountain."

Zhang Jiugao's eyes shot wide, his hair and beard bristling. "So he really isn't dead!"

"He took a sword from me, full of vigor. But no matter—I cut off one of his arms and half his face, so it's not a loss." Yan the Real Person shook his head, tearing open his black robe to reveal a sword scar on his chest, straight through the heart chamber. And he was still alive!

Li Fan saw the veins on Zhang Jiugao's knuckles bulge.

But Zhang Jiugao turned back, expressionless, and said to Li Fan and Zhang He, "It's nothing. I'll treat Yan the Real Person's wounds. Wait until Master Yao arrives. You two go outside and keep watch."

Seeing him close the door to dismiss guests, the three old friends and fellow cultivators stayed inside with serious faces. Li Fan guessed it was some private grudge not fit for the younger generation to know, so he grabbed the still-dazed Zhang He, and they both took their leave, walking out to the courtyard to guard the Foundation Establishment disciples recovering their Qi.

"Head of the Lu Family." Li Fan went straight to Lu Xing outside, bowed, and said, "This Humble One has some matters to inquire about with the family head. Is it convenient?"

Lu Xing returned the bow, glanced at the flying sword in Zhang He's hand, and said, "Junior Brother, please guard our fellow disciples for me. Junior Brother Li, let's talk over here."

Zhang He quickly nodded in agreement.

Li Fan followed Lu Xing to the side hall. As soon as they entered, she bowed deeply. "Junior Brother Li, Lu Xing sought personal revenge and dragged many fellow disciples into danger. If not for Sister Fuling's help, Lu Xing would have died. Now she's gravely wounded, and Lu Xing's heart is full of guilt..."

Li Fan frowned and raised a hand. "You don't need to tell me this. Apologize to them yourself. I only ask the Head of the Lu Family: do you know where Yuan Xuanbao is? What about Lu Qi? Are they trapped together, or already dead?"

Lu Xing shook her head. "The battle was perilous and chaotic. Lu Xing truly doesn't know. Were Senior Brother Yuan and Lu Qi also here?"

Hearing her still say this, Li Fan's anger surged. He nodded with a cold laugh. "There's no one else here. Stop pretending with me. Back when you set out, you left in a hurry on a light boat. Sister Fuling didn't even mention it to me, and Zhang Jiugao's lips were so tight that no one else knew a thing about the enemies you were targeting or the location.

Yet Lu Qi's group somehow knew to act at Tiantai Mountain, dawdling along, gathering a bunch of friends Lu Qi knew well to join the raid. Where did they get the location? Who leaked the Lu Family's plan if not you?

If you asked Lu Qi for help and brought more people to back you up, that's one story. But you didn't even mention this second wave of fellow disciples to Yan the Real Person inside. If he hadn't recognized them as Ink Bamboo Mountain disciples on the spot, he'd have just ignored them as opportunistic looters, right?

Heh, how clever. You tricked them into covering your retreat. If something went wrong, it's their fault for being greedy and acting on their own. Meanwhile, you've done a great service for Ink Bamboo Mountain, escaped unscathed, and the sect can use the dead disciples as an excuse to attack Tiantai Mountain.

And you, Lu Xing, not only eliminated a rival and his cronies but also used the sect's power to settle an old family grudge. Now you've secured your position as head of the Lu Family, and Ink Bamboo Mountain is sure to appreciate and promote you. Heh, you used so many people, stirred up so much trouble, and didn't even lose a hair. How could they not appreciate you?

That elder brother of yours, far away in Li Country's capital—even if he comes back, how can he compete with you? Speaking of which, he still hasn't come to pay respects? Is he even still alive?

Tsk, but no matter what, this arrow shot at Tiantai Mountain was exquisitely aimed. It brought down the whole family of eagles in the sky, neat and tidy!

And you apologize to me? You feel guilty? What guilt? You're probably quite pleased with yourself!"

Lu Xing was silent for a moment, then spoke softly. "Junior Brother misunderstands. Lu Xing had no such intention."

Li Fan nodded repeatedly. "Of course you had no such intention. It all happened inadvertently, driven by others' selfish desires. Everyone has their own schemes—how could it be blamed on you? How could it be your intention? I can only say you're so thorough in your actions, so meticulous in your handling, that no one can catch you out.

Of course, I have no proof. But you just happen to be the one who gained the most. How can you clear yourself of suspicion? I really dislike these underhanded, harmful tricks, and I'm not fit to judge your brilliant schemes. But have you ever thought—if you and Sister Fuling had lost and fallen into the hands of those evil monks at Tiantai Mountain, what would have happened?

I don't think you haven't considered it. It's just that you were born with nothing, so you have to gamble everything. And you don't believe you'll lose. So you don't even care about your own life—why would you care about dragging others into danger with you?

Head of the Lu Family, I can't control what you want to do. I'm just telling you: whether it's the Jiang Ji matter or Tiantai Mountain, Sister Fuling has been used by you twice now. Three strikes and I'll remember.

And Yuan Xuanbao's life—I barely saved it. He hasn't even paid me back the interest yet. If he ends up dying because he's Lu Qi's friend and you got him killed in this mess...

Heh, then we'll have a score to settle."

Li Fan bowed to Lu Xing, turned around generously, leaving his back completely exposed to her, and swaggered out the door.

Sword intent, did she prepare to strike from behind, plotting to ambush me?

'Profound Heaven Sword Intent indicates no. She's biting her lip and crying.'

Bullshit. Crying? She didn't even cry when her father died. She's putting on an act!

But Li Fan walked all the way outside, standing beside the tense, jittery Zhang He who was on high alert for an ambush, and Lu Xing never made a move.

Tsk, too bad. Couldn't provoke her. Wasted half a golden core on me...

Pfft, Kun, taste it. Smells like licorice.