A hairline gap between the pages (2)

"Someone is deliberately directing the demonic qi?" True Person Yu Qing's pupils contracted sharply at those words, and storm-tossed waves surged through his heart. He instinctively pressed, "Could an even greater power be plotting behind the scenes? Who could possibly have the ability to guide demonic qi silently through the Nine Domains? And what would they gain by deliberately spreading it?"

The more he thought, the more alarmed he became, until a sheen of cold sweat seeped down his back—if such a power truly lurked in the shadows, its ambitions had to be immense. Not only the Profound Heaven Sect, but the safety of the entire Nine Domains might hang by a thread.

He hurried a step forward, leaning slightly toward the mirror. "Brother Xuanji, can you calculate any trace of this power? Or their purpose in drawing in demonic qi?"

At that, Xuanji Zi gently shook his head in resignation, a trace of exhaustion showing on his face.

The image in the Water Mirror suddenly drew back slightly. True Person Yu Qing clearly saw divination rods scattered in disarray across the table before Xuanji Zi and all over the floor. Some had even snapped in two, revealing just how much effort he had poured into divining this matter.

"To be honest, Brother Yu Qing, from the very first day unusual movements of demonic qi appeared in the Heavenly Domain, I began trying to trace this power with the Heavenly Secrets Deduction Art."

As Xuanji Zi spoke, he could not help coughing softly twice. His voice carried a hint of weary self-mockery. "But every time the deduction reaches a crucial point, a cold, uncanny, invisible force suddenly appears, forcibly breaking it off and sending the results completely astray.

"Alas... my skills are lacking. I couldn't pierce the mystery behind this,