Malicious

Supreme Mystery Mountain.

Duanmu Ren looked at Hu Yueqiu and asked, "The Hua Household said they're out of pills?"

"Yes." Hu Yueqiu nodded.

Duanmu Ren frowned.

The Hua Household's Blood Pill saved her godfather and was the key to her own turnaround.

Yi Wood Spirit Pill's oral liquid products earned him a great reputation and political achievements, even leading to a promotion that was not part of the usual procedures.

Duanmu Ren already had a plan in mind for how to quickly climb the ranks by relying on the Hua Household's alchemy skills.

To my utter surprise, I heard devastating news as soon as I returned to Supreme Mystery Mountain.

Duanmu Ren frowned slightly. "Who told you?"

Hu Yueqiu replied, "It was Elder Hua who said it himself."

"Hmm." Duanmu Ren wasn't surprised. After thinking for a moment, he asked, "Has Senior Sister Hua returned?"

Hu Yueqiu shook her head. "No."

Duanmu Ren's heart sank immediately, sensing something was wrong. He smiled slightly and softened his tone, "Xiao Hu, you're managing the General Affairs Hall all by yourself now, it must be very tiring, right?"

Hu Yueqiu shook her head again. "No. The work in the General Affairs Department is very leisurely."

"In your spare time, remember to practice your swordsmanship and read Daoist scriptures." Duanmu Ren's expression grew increasingly kind as he inquired about Hu Yueqiu's cultivation, then casually asked, "Has the sect leader assigned you any tasks recently?"

Hu Yueqiu glanced at Duanmu Ren and remained silent.

Duanmu Ren's expression was serious as he said in a deep voice, "I am the sect leader's personal disciple. Now that my senior brother Senior Sister Hua is absent, it is my duty to handle the general affairs and share the burden of our sect leader. All matters on the mountain, unless the sect leader orders them to be kept secret, should be reported to me!"

Hu Yueqiu thought it made sense, so she said, "The sect leader ordered me to go down the mountain to the Hua Household the day before yesterday to convey his orders."

Duanmu Ren's expression remained unchanged after listening, and he continued to ask, "What edict?"

"The sect leader said that Supreme Mystery Mountain is Ancient Method immortal sect that upholds the righteous path, therefore it is forbidden to Human Pill Blood Qi." Hu Yueqiu replied, "After hearing this, Senior Hua destroyed two Blood Pill in front of me and swore he would never refine them again."

Duanmu Ren remained expressionless and asked softly, "Is there anything else?"

"The sect leader also said that the sect's grand formation consumes a lot of Spirit Stone." Hu Yueqiu said with her head down, "Southern Reach is about to fall into chaos, so we need to prepare more Spirit Stone. Therefore, I ordered the Hua Household to send pills to Azure Cloud Market to exchange for some Spirit Stone."

Duanmu Ren nodded slightly and instructed, "Since it's the sect leader's order, it must be carried out thoroughly. Remember to supervise it strictly and conduct random checks from time to time."

Hu Yueqiu looked somewhat bewildered, but still nodded and said, "Yes."

Duanmu Ren turned around and went to the back mountain to cultivate, breathing in Spiritual Qi and circulating it throughout his body.

They didn't stop their practice until the evening of the next day, when they went to the Ancestral Master Hall.

On the way, Duanmu Ren's steps were slightly heavy.

The sect leader's meaning is now very clear: he forbids me from using the Hua Household's elixirs indiscriminately on Earth.

Duanmu Ren naturally dared not disobey.

The sect leader has always been indifferent to Earth, much like a hermit cultivator who lives in seclusion and stays away from the mortal world.

Perhaps it wasn't indifference, but rather restraint.

Otherwise, with the resources of Supreme Mystery Mountain, it would be easy to stir up the situation on Earth.

"Mundane power and wealth are fleeting. What the sect leader truly values is probably finding those with Manifestation from Earth to revive the sect." Duanmu Ren seemed to understand something. "However, the actions must not be too drastic; they must be gradual. Otherwise, whether it's a change in Earth's Manifestation or attracting suspicion from the upper echelons of the cultivation world, Supreme Mystery Mountain may face utter destruction."

Having been experienced in officialdom for many years, Duanmu Ren knew that subordinates could have their own agendas, but they must never have any conflict with their superiors' plans.

We've arrived at the Ancestral Master's Hall.

Duanmu Ren took a deep breath, slowly walked in, and respectfully first knelt down to pay homage to the ancestor, then to his master, but did not rise.

Li Chengxuan had no intention of ignoring Duanmu Ren and deliberately keeping him waiting to establish his authority. He also didn't mention matters on Earth. Instead, he said directly, "Duanmu, go down the mountain later to pick up Chunning."

Duanmu Ren was taken aback. He didn't ask for the reason or mention that his disappearance from Earth for several days would be troublesome. Instead, he immediately replied, "Yes, disciple obeys."

It was already dark by then.

Li Chengxuan walked to the lamp on the altar of the ancestral master's statue, but instead of lighting it, he took it in his hand and stroked it carefully. "Chunning has been delayed at the Azure Cloud Sect for some time, she should be arriving at Azure Cloud Market."

"Go wait outside Azure Cloud Market and follow them secretly."

"If everything is fine, there's no need for you to show your face."

"If Chunning encounters any life-or-death crisis, do your best to save her."

After listening, Duanmu Ren pondered the last sentence for a moment, then nodded thoughtfully and said, "This disciple understands."

"Good that you understand." Li Chengxuan chuckled, ran his hand along the rim of the lamp, and three drops of Essence Blood fell from his fingertip into the lamp. He then gently pushed the ancient lamp in front of Duanmu Ren: "Use this lamp for self-defense when you go down the mountain."

"This lamp is an Ancient Method implement of the [Ding Fire] lineage."

"[Ding Fire] is symbolized by a lamp or candle, most capable of penetrating deep thoughts and ghostly realms; it is fire of the human world, therefore it can ignite my worldly Blood Qi."

"After you descend the mountain, remember to borrow some fire from an ordinary farmer's house. Do not use the fire of the wealthy, and certainly not the fire of the immortals."

Duanmu Ren carefully put it away. "Disciple obeys."

"Hmm." Li Chengxuan didn't say anything more, just waved his hand and said, "Go."

"Yes." Duanmu Ren got up, walked out of the Ancestral Hall, and hurried down the mountain.

I walked quite a distance before stopping and looking back at Supreme Mystery Mountain.

It was already dark, and the stars and moon were dim.

In the darkness of night, Supreme Mystery Mountain was reduced to a blurry outline. Though not particularly tall or imposing, it possessed an Manifestation that seemed to suppress the heavens and earth.

Duanmu Ren let out a long breath.

With a casual wave of his hand, the sect leader shattered all his little schemes and ulterior motives.

Previously, I only thought that the sect leader was easygoing, unconventional, and had the face of a kind person who was always easy to talk to.

In retrospect, it was simply that the sect leader's bottom line wasn't crossed.

If it concerns the master's Dao Path enlightenment or the sect's grand plan, the sect leader will reveal his domineering and resolute side, tolerating no disobedience.

Duanmu Ren had no doubt that if he had shown even the slightest sign of disobedience in the Ancestral Hall, the sect leader would have severely punished him.

Another soul-crushing finger strike would be bearable; though painful, I could eventually endure it.

If the sect leader uses the [Ding Fire] Ancient Method artifact, it will be troublesome.

After all, the sect leader put it bluntly: [Ding Fire] is the most capable of seeing through the hidden thoughts and ghostly realms.

However, the imagery of [Ding Fire] that the sect leader described is certainly true, but it is not complete.

Duanmu Ren had read the Daoist scriptures and vaguely remembered that the imagery of [Ding Fire] had been altered by an important person.

Although the power to penetrate the darkness still exists, the original gentle and harmonious imagery of being vigorous yet not fierce, and waning yet not inexhaustible, has been forcibly changed into a vicious and ruthless force that clings to the bone and burns to the life, relentlessly pursuing death.

Once infected, it is extremely difficult to remove; it will only be extinguished after burning away the skin, flesh, bones, blood, and even one's Manifestation Fate. It is a first-rate and extremely harmful lineage.

"[Ding Fire] is insidious and cunning, not good at direct attacks, but it can see into the shadows and uncover ambushes. That's why the sect leader ordered me to hide in secret." Duanmu Ren pondered for a moment, then slowly stepped forward to look for the lights in the human world. "Hua Chunning went to the Azure Cloud Sect... Azure Cloud Sect practices wood magic, and I heard it's controlled by two families."

"The surname Qiao refers to those who cultivate medicinal herbs and refine elixirs; they are considered to be of the [Yi Wood] type."

"The Lin surname follows a robust path, leaning towards [Jia Wood]."

"[Yi Wood] is damp wood, and in the heavens it represents wind, which may extinguish a candle, thus it is detrimental to [Ding Fire]."

"[Ding Fire] is weak but not exhausted, feeble but not extinguished. If it is near Jia Wood, it can rely on it to survive, but it will burn the wood to ashes. Therefore, it can restrain [Jia Wood]."

"Could it be...?"