Signs of Trouble

Over the next two months, the gates of the Profound Heaven Sect remained as solemn as ever—the morning bell rang on schedule, the sounds of disciples practicing their swords swept across the Sword Trial Platform, and True Person Yu Qing sat in the Council Hall each day as usual, handling the sect's trivial affairs without the slightest sign of anything amiss.

Yet beneath that calm surface, undercurrents had long begun to surge. In secret, he ordered Zhou Wan and Lin Huaixu to investigate the movements and whereabouts of the core disciples from top to bottom. Anyone who had recently made unusual contact with the outside world, or whose words and conduct deviated from the norm, was recorded on a list.

He also dispatched Formation Pavilion disciples to reinforce the outer layer of the sect-protecting formation day and night, expanding its warning range threefold to prevent any traitor from leaking information before the Heavenly Mystery Assembly.

At the same time, he secretly manipulated the elders previously found to be suspicious, luring them into making mistakes before using those mistakes as grounds to transfer them to the fringes of authority. They were assigned peripheral duties, their power steadily weakened.

The entire Profound Heaven Sect was like a sheet of paper that appeared smooth and unblemished, while in truth, an inescapable net had already been laid in the shadows. All they needed was the day the assembly began—then, with one gentle pull of the net, the worms hiding in the dark would be exposed completely beneath the light of day.

The lattice windows of Bamboo Retreat stood open. Autumn wind swept through carrying bamboo shadows, rippling the clear tea in the cups on the desk.

True Person Yu Qing sat at the head of the table, his fingers lightly tapping its surface as