In downtown Xuanjian City stood a building called Xuanyue Tower.
Ever since the Xuanyue Pavilion had made a name for itself and opened branches all across the Central Continent, many factions had taken to adding the character "Moon" to their names.
But so far, only the Pure Moon Flying Sword had achieved anything.
Xuanyue Tower was one such faction. Compared with smaller outfits, it had mysterious backers and deep pockets. Even though it had been running at a loss all this time, it still hadn't gone under.
But no one knew that Xuanyue Tower had actually been founded by a group of old devils from the demonic path. Its public-facing business was of no importance. There was only one thing that truly mattered: creating artificial souls.
This was one of their bases for cultivating artificial souls.
A city where the strongest cultivators only reached Spirit Transformation was practically perfect. Once in a while, a Void Return or Dao Integration cultivator might come by to inspect the place, but with enough preparation, they could keep the operation hidden.
But that was no longer possible. First, an ancient cultivator emerged from seclusion, then some penniless pauper showed up and refined a Ten Thousand Soul Banner.
A string of upheavals had turned this little city on the outskirts into the center of attention.
The old devils with higher cultivation had sensed something was wrong and fled overnight. Those who remained either hadn't gotten the news or couldn't get away.
Dozens of meters beneath the building lay a vast laboratory.
Only, all the equipment inside had now been cleared out, leaving it completely empty.
"These demonic bastards set up such a huge underground lab, and the mayor's an idiot?"
Behind a massive pillar, a figure muttered under her breath.
She was a lively-looking young woman, her hair simply tied in a high ponytail. She had delicate features and bright, clear eyes. She wore a white T-shirt and black cargo pants.
Once I become Sect Master, I'm definitely firing him!
Her name was Chi Jiuyu, a third-generation disciple of the Sword Sect. Her goal was to become its next Sect Master.
She had just arrived in Xuanjian City today. While searching for her Martial Uncle, she noticed several people with strange auras carrying a large amount of demon beast blood.
As the future Sect Master, she felt it was her duty to keep law and order in a city under the Sword Sect's jurisdiction!
So she had quietly followed them here.
A dark, eerie basement, a large amount of demon beast blood—these people were definitely from the demonic path!
Ding-dong!
The phone in her pocket suddenly rang, making Chi Jiuyu jump.
She hurriedly pulled out her phone. Ignoring the message that popped up, she first switched it to silent mode.
Phew~
Only then did she check the message.
"Have you found your Martial Uncle yet?"
The sender's nickname was "My Most Respected Master," and the avatar showed a little yellow duck holding a sword, with the words "Invincible" written on its forehead. It looked a little silly.
"Not yet," Chi Jiuyu replied.
Xuanjian City wasn't exactly small. Where was she supposed to look?
And if her Martial Uncle didn't want to be found, how could she possibly find him?
"Find him as soon as possible. Your Martial Uncle is a very generous person, especially right after he comes out of seclusion."
"Got it, got it!"
After sending that, she tucked away her phone and continued sneaking deeper inside. Who cared about her Martial Uncle right now? Taking down this lair was more important!
Chi Jiuyu carefully crept through room after room. The strange liquid left on the floor and the faint smell of blood only confirmed her suspicion: this was a hideout for demonic cultivators!
After passing through several more rooms, she reached an equipment room. Inside were several strange, broken devices. She could faintly hear voices.
"Young Master, how much longer do we have to stay here?"
"Not much longer. That senior's injuries are almost healed."
Young Master? Senior?
This was definitely a big fish!
A faint golden light appeared in Chi Jiuyu's eyes as she probed the cultivation levels of the two men through the wall.
Early Nascent Soul, early Nascent Soul.
Assessment complete: two little minnows. She had never feared anyone at the same level!
She just didn't know what level the senior they'd mentioned was. If he was at Spirit Transformation, she could still fight him. If he was at Void Return, though, things would get tricky.
Just as she was thinking this—
"Youngsters really are careless. They even let a little rat sneak in."
The voice was harsh and grating. The golden light in Chi Jiuyu's eyes dimmed. Beyond that ear-splitting voice, she also heard the rustling sound of insects crawling.
She turned around. In the dim, lightless equipment room stood a hazy, indistinct shadow of a demon.
"Holy crap!"
She was done for. She'd stumbled upon a shark—a Dao Integration old devil!
The two people in the inner room had also sensed something was wrong and came running out.
"Young Master, I think we've been followed."
The young man in sunglasses shot his subordinate a fierce glare. No shit!
He cupped his hands toward the shadow.
"Forgive me, Senior. It was my oversight."
Then he turned to Chi Jiuyu and snarled, "Talk! Which faction are you from, and why did you follow us here?"
"Because my sense of justice detected the stench of evil!" Chi Jiuyu declared righteously.
What the hell was the stench of evil?!
The two men nearly lost their composure. A Dao Integration old devil stood right in front of her, and she couldn't even act nervous?!
"This person has cultivated the Void-Piercing Golden Pupils. The concealment techniques you two use are no match for her," the Dao Integration old devil explained.
The Void-Piercing Golden Pupils, a pupil technique from the Sword Sect's supreme inheritance, the Great Void Sword Canon.
Someone from the Sword Sect?
"To have reached this level at such a young age, and to have mastered such a pupil technique as well... Given time, you might even surpass me," the Dao Integration old devil said indifferently.
"Yeah, right!" Chi Jiuyu scoffed. "You think a little too highly of yourself."
She—she was always this cocky?!
The Young Master and his subordinate were both stunned.
Look who you're talking to! There's a Dao Integration old devil standing right in front of you!
The Dao Integration old devil paused at her words, then said indifferently, "Even if you grow stronger, that's for the future. Do you think you'll have one?"
Rolling demonic energy churned, filling most of the equipment room. Chi Jiuyu was on the verge of being swallowed up.
No matter how powerful a Nascent Soul cultivator was, they were still an ant before a Dao Integration cultivator.
Chi Jiuyu's vision blurred, but she suddenly shouted at the top of her lungs.
"Master, save me!!!"
Vummm!
A grand hum rang in the ears of the Young Master, his subordinate, and the Dao Integration old devil.
Everything before them swiftly vanished. Their perspective seemed to rise without end. The great principles of the Dao flowed before their eyes, and in that instant, countless cultivation problems were answered.
The Dao Integration old devil even felt his realm loosening—but he felt not the slightest joy.
A nearly transparent, pale-red figure stepped forward, possessing peerless, immortal grace.
Her gaze fell upon them. The Dao Integration old devil froze. That was because her eyes weren't indifferent or emotionless; instead, they brimmed with feeling.
How could this be?
"You dared to bully my disciple. You must die."
You must die!
Those words were like a decree from heaven and earth. Boundless terror surged through the Dao Integration old devil's heart.
"No!!!"
As his desperate scream rang out, terrifying demonic energy shot skyward. A Dao Integration cultivator unleashing his full power was terrifying beyond measure.
By all rights, a few mere Nascent Soul cultivators should have been unable to stop him. Yet the rising demonic energy seemed sealed away in another dimension, utterly ineffective.
Chi Jiuyu watched as the withered old man before her screamed in despair, then vanished into a cloud of purple specks like drifting sand. She couldn't help clicking her tongue.
It was always like this. What exactly were they seeing?
With the Dao Integration old devil dead, the Young Master and his subordinate came back to their senses. Neither of them had been killed.
If you couldn't even beat someone at the same level, then you deserved to die.
As it happened, Chi Jiuyu thought the same way. She drew a long sword.
"You two, come at me together!"
Who the hell wanted to fight you?!
The two men finally understood why the old devils in this base had fled so quickly.
"You're Senior Sister's disciple?"
A person appeared out of thin air where the old devil had vanished. It was Xu Xing, who had just been in the director of studies' office at Xuanjian City No. 3 Middle School.
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