Atop White Fox Ridge

The thatched cottage west of Servant Disciple Peak.

Shortly after Nangong Yao and the others left, Zhao Ting arrived.

"Brother Chen! Brother Chen!"

Chen Xun yawned and was about to head inside to sleep. "I was just about to turn in. You really know how to pick your moment."

Zhao Ting froze, then came to his senses and circled Chen Xun, looking him over in disbelief before exclaiming:

"Holy shit, Brother Chen, you're not crazy anymore!!"

Seeing how excited Zhao Ting was, Chen Xun smiled faintly. "Not for the time being."

Zhao Ting was in no state to register the words "for the time being." He looked Chen Xun up and down, positively overjoyed.

He promptly pulled Chen Xun down to sit, took two flasks of wine from his storage ring, and handed him one. "Come, come, Brother Chen. I've got to have a proper chat with you. Heavens, I'm so happy you've recovered!"

"Calm down," Chen Xun said, feeling rather helpless. What did he mean, recovered? He had never been ill.

Chen Xun had only just finished drinking, and now Zhao Ting had dragged him into another round. Still, seeing how genuinely happy Zhao Ting was for him, he did not refuse.

The two chatted idly like that. Along the way, Zhao Ting proudly boasted that he had reached foundation establishment in a hundred days and was the Heavenly Dao Sect's greatest talent. He was already a foundation establishment late stage cultivator now, and declared that he would look out for Chen Xun.

Chen Xun merely smiled without saying anything.

After an indeterminate amount of time, Zhao Ting grew a little tipsy and said:

"Brother Chen, there's something that'll definitely shock you."

Chen Xun said, "Let's hear it."

Zhao Ting's expression turned somewhat solemn as he marveled, "You have no idea. When we came back during the day, we found hundreds of beheaded demonic cultivators. You know what? Those demonic cultivators were incredibly powerful. One was even the fourth elder of a major demonic sect! I heard he was at the nascent soul middle stage. Whew, even my master is only at the nascent soul middle stage. I don't know which senior slew those demonic cultivators, but they were incredible!!"

"What you don't know, Brother Chen, is that those demonic cultivators had laid an ambush. If that senior hadn't slain them beforehand, there's no telling whether we could have returned to the sect safely today."

Chen Xun nodded gravely. "From what you're saying, they do sound a little impressive."

Zhao Ting rolled his eyes at Chen Xun. "I don't like the sound of that, Brother Chen! A little impressive? They were incredibly impressive! The fifth elder told me that senior wiped out all those demonic cultivators with just one move. One move!!"

Zhao Ting's racket gave Chen Xun a headache. He rubbed his temples. "Fine, fine, one move it is. All right, I've had too much to drink and want to sleep. Let's talk another day."

"..."

Zhao Ting was dumbfounded. Seeing Chen Xun rise and enter the thatched cottage, he hurriedly stood and said with a wry smile, "Brother Chen, at least do me the courtesy of looking shocked?"

When the cottage fell silent, Zhao Ting sighed. Only then did he remember that Chen Xun was merely a mortal. How could he understand any of this? He could only shake his head helplessly, pick up the empty wine flasks, and slip away.

Three days later.

White Fox Ridge.

The ridge was named after a white fox, not because it was a den of white foxes, but because, seen from afar, it resembled a white fox lying down.

Several cultivation sects, both large and small, surrounded White Fox Ridge. Together with the ridge's treacherous terrain, this meant people rarely ventured there.

At that moment, atop White Fox Ridge.

Three members of the Heavenly Dao Sect had arrived: Sect Master Nangong Yao, Second Elder Liu Xuan Yin, and Third Elder Jiang Bailu.

Liu Yunjian and Chu Ningshang, the first and fourth elders respectively, had stayed behind to handle the sect's affairs rather than accompany them.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh-

The wind atop White Fox Ridge was strong, sending the three men's hair flying and their robes snapping.

"Sect Master, surely the people from the Great Evolution Demonic Sect aren't going to stand us up?"

Jiang Bailu frowned in displeasure.

In truth, his disciple Jingyao was probably in the Great Evolution Demonic Sect's hands right now, and he was rather anxious.

Nangong Yao gazed in one direction and said calmly, "They'll come."

"Sect Master, demonic sects are cunning, especially a first-rate one like the Great Evolution Demonic Sect. I'm worried they'll try something underhanded."

Liu Xuan Yin scanned their surroundings as he voiced his concern.

Nangong Yao sighed. "Naturally, I know that. Unfortunately, Jingyao and the other disciples are in their hands, so we don't hold the initiative. Being able to arrange this meeting at White Fox Ridge is already greatly to our advantage."

Liu Xuan Yin nodded solemnly, understanding this as well.

Jiang Bailu sighed and muttered, "If only the master had captured You Sha alive that day instead of killing him. Then we would have some room to bargain with the Great Evolution Demonic Sect."

"Slap your mouth!" Nangong Yao suddenly snapped.

Startled, Jiang Bailu immediately slapped his own mouth.

"Hmph." Nangong Yao snorted coldly. "Since when did the master's actions require your judgment, Jiang Bailu?"

Jiang Bailu's heart trembled.

Nangong Yao gave him an icy sidelong look. "If the master hadn't wiped out You Sha and the others lying in ambush, how could the two elders, Zhao Ting, and the rest have returned safely?"

"Third Elder, this isn't the first or second time you've spoken without thinking in front of me. If it happens again, I certainly won't let you off so easily."

Jiang Bailu hastily lowered his head. "Please quell your anger, Sect Master. I spoke out of turn."

Beside them, Liu Xuan Yin pressed his lips together. Suddenly sensing something, he whipped his gaze toward the horizon. "Sect Master, the Great Evolution Demonic Sect is here!"

"Mm." Nangong Yao looked in that direction, his gaze sharpening slightly.

Whoosh-

Several streaks of light swept in from the horizon, moving so fast that they reached the summit of White Fox Ridge in the blink of an eye.

A moment later, the streaks of light resolved into four figures, who landed before Nangong Yao and the two elders.

They were Ji Wucang of the Great Evolution Demonic Sect and three elders.

At the sight, Nangong Yao's eyes flickered slightly.

Jiang Bailu and Liu Xuan Yin also slowly grew tense, their vigilance rising...

When two sects met to discuss matters, it was an established custom in the cultivation world for each sect master to bring two elders. Yet the Great Evolution Demonic Sect had brought three elders in addition to its sect master... What were they planning?

"Heh heh heh, Sect Master Nangong, I trust you've been well."

Ji Wucang cupped his hands and smiled amiably.

But as the master of a demonic sect, his sinister features paired with that amiable smile looked strange no matter how one viewed it.

Nangong Yao returned the salute. "Sect Master Ji."

Ji Wucang's eyes flickered as he smiled. "Sect Master Nangong, our righteous and demonic paths seldom have dealings with one another. Since you've invited me to White Fox Ridge, let us open the door and see the mountain-come straight to the point."

"You're a forthright man, Sect Master Ji, so I'll speak plainly. I ask that you return our sect's two hundred and forty disciples. The Heavenly Dao Sect has no wish to become enemies with the Great Evolution Demonic Sect. Let this matter end here."

Nangong Yao spoke calmly.

"Hahahahaha!"

Ji Wucang suddenly threw back his head and laughed, whether in mockery or amusement was unclear. Then he abruptly stopped and said:

"Returning the Heavenly Dao Sect's disciples is certainly possible. But before that, I ask that Sect Master Nangong return our fourth elder, our two stewards, and all our elite disciples. What do you say? Wouldn't that be fair and just?"