The Sect Master's Seat

Looking at the two people chatting animatedly inside the barrier, Zhou Siyi felt a pang of sorrow.

Just now, during their conversation, her mother was mentioned.

This made her thoughts wander.

Perhaps, if my mother had taken me away back then, I would have been as innocent and carefree as other girls.

Instead of living a hellish life while pretending to be happy and innocent all the time.

Zhou Siyi thought to herself.

Without realizing it, she began to imagine what her mother looked like.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Teng Jingshan took his leave and got up to depart.

As soon as Teng Jingshan left, Zhou Xuelin's expression turned cold again.

He flipped his hand, and a black box, about the size of a palm, appeared in his hand.

"This is the Blood-Taking Plume. When activated with spiritual power, it can launch thirteen inch-long blades. They are coated with a deadly poison; Foundation Establishment cultivator who comes into contact with them will die."

"Take the Blood-Taking Plume and go to Wu Sheng's cave abode. Eliminate him, and while you're at it, kill all the Man-Snake in his cave abode as well."

"You're close to him, so he won't be wary of you, and it should be easy for you to succeed."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Siyi looked terrified.

"Given Wu Sheng's current importance to the sect, if I kill him in his cave abode, I will definitely be exposed, and the sect will not let me off the hook."

Zhou Xuelin said, "After you kill her, flee immediately. I will try to hold off your pursuers."

Zhou Siyi bent her knees and knelt heavily on the ground, pleading.

"Father, I don't want to die. Please don't make me kill Wu Sheng. If he dies, the First Supreme Elder will be furious. How can I possibly escape the pursuit of Nascent Soul expert?"

Zhou Xuelin squatted down, looking directly into his daughter's eyes.

"If you kill him, I will break the restriction that has been placed in your soul since childhood. From then on, you will gain the freedom you have always dreamed of."

A glimmer of hope appeared in Zhou Siyi's eyes, but it was quickly overshadowed by deep fear.

"Father, please spare me, I really don't want to die."

Zhou Siyi's eyes were red and swollen, and tears fell like raindrops.

Zhou Xuelin's eyes turned fierce, and he grabbed his daughter's smooth chin.

"You have to go, whether you like it or not. Teng Jingshan just came to deliver a message, saying that the First Supreme Elder has made a promise: whichever mountain peak first refines the Man-Snake Profound Corpse to the point of being filled with Profound Qi, the next sect leader will be chosen from that mountain peak."

"Teng Jingshan's lifespan is running out, and he can't possibly become the sect leader. As long as the Spirit Beast Peak can achieve the Profound Qi Filling Body first, then I will be the next sect leader."

"Now, the only obstacle is Wu Sheng. Once he dies, it will be difficult for the others in Pill Peak to successfully fuse with Profound Qi in a short time. Our Spirit Beast Peak has many people and abundant resources, and we will definitely be able to achieve the First Supreme's requirements before Pill Peak."

The so-called "Profound Qi filling the body" refers to the Profound Qi filling the entire physical body.

Zhou Siyi, tears streaming down her face, shook her head and said...

"Father, we can think of a more discreet way to kill Wu Sheng."

Zhou Xuelin said coldly.

"Wu Sheng is far too cautious; he rarely even leaves his sect. The only convenient place to make a move is his cave abode. And since you have a close relationship with him, you are the easiest person to enter his cave abode."

"But..."

Zhou Siyi wanted to say something more, but Zhou Xuelin interrupted her.

"If you continue to hesitate, I will activate the Soul-Locking Curse within your soul, causing you unbearable pain."

The words "Soul-Locking Curse" seemed to awaken the deepest fear in Zhou Siyi's heart, and her expression became extremely frightened.

"I...I will go...but you must keep your promise. Once Wu Sheng dies, you must break the Soul-Locking Curse."

Seeing that Zhou Siyi had finally agreed to assassinate Song Wen, Zhou Xuelin smiled.

"Once Wu Sheng dies, the Soul-Locking Curse will dissipate."

Zhou Siyi stood up from the ground and looked at her father.

I hope you'll keep your word.

After saying that, she looked around the cave abode.

This is where she grew up.

But she felt no attachment to this place whatsoever.

This cave abode brought her no joy whatsoever, only endless suffering.

This should be the last time she comes here in her life.

Regardless of the outcome, whether she lives or dies, she will never set foot in this cave abode again.

Zhou Siyi walked out of the cave abode without looking back.

Watching his daughter's retreating figure, Zhou Xuelin didn't forget to give her some instructions.

"Go back to your own cave abode first, calm your mind and formulate a thorough plan; do not act impulsively or rashly."

As Zhou Siyi's figure disappeared into the cave abode, Zhou Xuelin's expression turned icy cold.

"The Soul-Locking Curse will definitely dissipate, and along with Soul-Locking Curse, your soul will also dissipate."

"I raised you for over twenty years, and in the end, you're still just like your whore mother, always thinking about leaving me. Why does every one of you have to betray me?"

Zhou Xuelin roared hysterically.

He appeared to be insane.

Zhou Xuelin's curses echoed throughout the spacious cave abode.

Two days later.

Song Wen was in his cave abode, refining the Man-Snake into corpses.

Zhou Siyi's voice suddenly rang out from outside the cave abode.

"Junior Brother Wu, I have something to discuss with you. May I ask if you may open the cave abode to meet me?"

Song Wen was halfway through refining the corpse and did not want to be disturbed.

So he took out the Message Jade Slip.

[Senior Sister Zhou, I am currently refining a corpse and cannot go out. If you have any urgent matters, you can send a message Jade Slip.]

Soon, the Message Jade Slip received a reply from Zhou Siyi.

[Junior Brother Wu, I have nothing urgent to attend to. You should focus on refining the corpse.]

Song Wen put away the Message Jade Slip and continued refining the corpse.

Half a day later, Song Wen, having completed the corpse refining process, imprisoned the Man-Snake in the snake pit.

Through the Sacred Beetle Gu under the surveillance of the cave abode, Song Wen learned that Zhou Siyi had not left, but had been guarding outside the cave abode.

It wasn't a good idea to keep Zhou Siyi guarding the cave abode, so Song Wen had no choice but to open the cave abode's protective barrier and cave abode.

"Senior Sister Zhou, you didn't leave."

Song Wen feigned complete ignorance and extreme surprise.

"Junior Brother Wu, you're finally out."

Zhou Siyi looked delighted.

"Is there something important you need from me?" Song Wen asked.

"It's nothing important. My corpse-refining skills haven't improved much, so I was thinking of observing you when you're refining corpses. I wonder if Junior Brother Wu would agree?"

Song Wen had no doubts and readily agreed.

"Senior Sister Zhou wants to observe corpse refining, of course there's no problem. How about this, I happen to have a Man-Snake in my cave abode that needs to undergo its third corpse refining. I'll bring the Man-Snake to the Human-Snake Cavern, and call Zhang Bing and Li Shi, and I'll demonstrate the corpse refining process for you."

Zhang Bing and Li Shi are the elders in charge of the Human-Snake Cavern, and their corpse-refining skills are also quite rudimentary.

The two had mentioned to Song Wen several times that they wanted to observe his Song Wen- refining process.

Zhou Siyi was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.

They went to the Human-Snake Cavern to refine corpses! And they were with two other executive elders!

This is not what she wanted.

What she wanted was a chance to be alone with Song Wen.

Moreover, it was inside Song Wen's cave abode.