"Tap, tap..."
Amid the steady footsteps, the conversation of two men suddenly reached Xu Taiping's ears-
"Old Ancestor Wumei, everything is proceeding according to the plans you and Old Ancestor Duyan made back then. Tomorrow, I will have someone plant a Poison Curse on Zhao Qian's only daughter, Zhao Linglong. It will serve as our final trump card for threatening Zhao Qian."
"Mm, you've done well."
"Old Ancestor Wumei, the greatest uncertainty at present should be the Sword Inquiry on the day of the Grand Ceremony. Are you truly certain that all the Qingxuan disciples, including Zhao Qian, will suffer a drastic loss of strength that day without anyone noticing?"
"You needn't concern yourself with that. There is only one thing you need to worry about: how to ensure that you and your people win that Sword Inquiry without exposing your identities as Demon Cultivators, leaving Zhao Qian unable to activate the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation."
"Rest assured on that count, Old Ancestor. Our Nine Abysses' Heart-Eroding Curse is specifically designed to counter the Qingxuan Restrictions. Even if someone in Qingxuan sees through our identities, the Qingxuan Restrictions will still recognize our eligibility for the Sword Inquiry. When the time comes, Zhao Qian will have to accept the Sword Inquiry whether he wants to or not."
"The Nine Abysses' Heart-Eroding Curse certainly has its subtleties. Even I cannot sense the demonic aura on you."
"You flatter me, Old Ancestor Wumei."
"By the way, it seems I haven't seen Old Ancestor Duyan for two years now. Nothing has happened to him, has it?"
"Don't worry. You'll see him on the day of the Grand Ceremony. With him concealed in the shadows, we will have nothing to fear even if the Nine Prefectures suddenly sends reinforcements."
Hearing this, Xu Taiping, who had suppressed