What now?

Shen Wuji’s expression fluctuated wildly. The instinct to flee was already budding in his chest.

He couldn’t forget that Falling Cloud Valley housed a Soul Formation realm Formation Spirit. If his identity as a True Disciple of the Demonic Sect was exposed, he would be trapped like a rat in a cage, likely facing a swift execution.

But to give up just like that… to abandon such a perfect setup… he couldn’t reconcile himself to it.

Just then, Yin Qingyuan let out a cold sneer, his face twisted with disbelief.

“You little brat, you’ve always been full of cheap tricks and deceit. Do you really expect us to believe that two late-stage Golden Core elites from a Holy Sanctuary would hold a mere Qi Refining junior from a minor sect in such high regard? Even lowering themselves to befriend you?”

He scoffed loudly. “Hah! Dragging in some fake ‘Sanctuary disciples’ now? In my opinion, you’re clearly just trying to stall for time!”

Hearing this, the tension in Shen Wuji’s chest loosened slightly. A weed of hope sprouted in his heart.

Right! What if he’s bluffing?

If I panic now, won’t I be exposing myself for nothing?

He suppressed his unease and plastered a calm, arrogant mask back onto his face. “Kid, save your theatrics. Have those two come here and pay their respects to this Holy Scion. If it turns out you’re lying, I’ll make sure you suffer a fate worse than death!”

“Then listen carefully,” Qi Yuan replied calmly. He didn’t argue. Instead, he smiled slightly, activated the communication talisman in his hand, and deliberately cranked the volume to the maximum.

Everyone in the hall instinctively held their breath, leaning in to listen.

Immediately, a flirtatious, seductive female voice drifted from the talisman, echoing through the silent hall.

“Immortal Masters, the girls are all waiting outside~ As per your request, every single one is fresh and tender. Please, take your pick.”

“Pick what pick?! If the neighbors see us choosing, they’ll think we can’t afford it! Bring all the girls in! My brother and I will take the whole lot!”

The next moment, another voice—deliberately lowered to sound busy—came through. “Bro, I’m kinda busy here. Make it quick.”

Under the bizarre stares of the surrounding crowd, the corner of Qi Yuan’s mouth twitched violently. He felt a part of his soul withering away.

“Li Mingwang, where are you two right now?”

Li Mingwang?

Hearing the name, Piao Genshuo frowned. He racked his brain but couldn’t recall anyone by that name in the Celestial Zenith Sanctuary.

Through the static, Li Mingwang replied cheerfully. “Senior Brother Zhang and I are at the Drunken Joy Brothel in Reed River City. The girls here are top-tier! Why don’t you come over too, bro? My treat!”

Hearing this, Piao Genshuo’s eyes lit up instantly. “Junior Brother, if you put it that way, I’m wide awake! Send the location, I’m on my way—”

BANG!

Before he could finish, the Formation Spirit kicked him. Piao Genshuo flew across the room and stuck to the wall like a poster.

Meanwhile, a chorus of chirping, delicate greetings flowed from the communication talisman.

“This humble one greets the Immortal Masters~”

“The two Immortal Masters are so strong… just the two of you ordered our entire group…”

Qi Yuan’s face turned blacker than the bottom of a pot. He hissed into the talisman:

“Find a place with no people. Right now. I have business with you!”

“Alright, alright, hold on a sec.”

Sensing the murderous intent in Qi Yuan’s voice, Li Mingwang quickly agreed. A moment later, the background noise faded, and the talisman went quiet.

Then, Li Mingwang’s voice returned, sounding remarkably proud of himself.

“Don’t worry, comrade. We remember your instructions perfectly. We won’t reveal we’re Sanctuary disciples when we’re out having fun.”

“Isn’t there a trashy little sect called Falling Cloud Valley near Reed River City? We just told the madam that we’re both cultivators from Falling Cloud Valley…”

Li Mingwang chuckled triumphantly.

“So? How was that? Didn’t embarrass the Sanctuary, right?”

The Falling Cloud Valley disciples: “…”

The Elders: “…”

“Shut up and listen!” Qi Yuan massaged his throbbing temples, barely suppressing the urge to scream. “Go find Zhang Caiqiang. I’m inviting you two to Falling Cloud Valley to help me with something.”

Unexpectedly, Li Mingwang agreed instantly, skipping any questions.

“Got it, bro. Hang tight, we’ll be right there.”

Faintly, Li Mingwang’s shouting could be heard before the connection cut. “Senior Brother Zhang! Stop groping! We’ve got work!”

The talisman disconnected. The hall fell into a dead silence.

Every single person looked at Qi Yuan with new eyes.

Holy shit!

They thought he was bluffing, but he actually just summoned two elite disciples from a Holy Sanctuary like he was ordering takeout.

Sure, those two guys sounded… ethically flexible. But the communication proved they were genuine. It happened in real-time, right in front of everyone. There was zero chance of collusion.

This can’t go on.

Shen Wuji realized he was sitting on a ticking time bomb.

Indecision is death!

He made up his mind instantly. Without a word, he shot toward the hall’s entrance, abandoning his entourage of maidservants. As he fled, he threw a final threat over his shoulder:

“This Holy Scion has no time to waste with you trash! I’ll remember this insult! We will settle this debt later!”

His figure moved like lightning. Before the crowd could even process his retreat, he was already at the door.

He took the bait!

A cold glint flashed in Qi Yuan’s eyes. He turned to the floating spirit. “Senior Formation Spirit! A guilty conscience flees! His identity is fake. Can you capture him?”

“Hmph! This old man hates thieves the most. Don’t worry, he isn’t going anywhere!”

The Formation Spirit grinned sinisterly and pointed a finger at the fleeing Shen Wuji.

BOOM!

A vast, invisible pressure slammed down from the void, locking the space around Shen Wuji.

Not good!

Shen Wuji’s face twisted in horror. He felt as if a mountain had crashed onto his shoulders. His body stiffened, locked in place like a bug in amber.

Backed by the sect’s Grand Formation, the Spirit wielded power far exceeding a normal Soul Formation cultivator. As a mere mid-stage Nascent Soul, Shen Wuji couldn’t even twitch a finger against it.

Despair washed over him.

If I don’t go all out, I die here!

A ruthless madness filled his eyes. He no longer cared about exposing his true nature. He roared internally, igniting the demonic infant within his dantian.

Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!

Suddenly, the beautiful maidservants he had left behind exploded into clouds of blood mist.

Their bodies transformed into streams of pure, jet-black demonic energy. Like rivers returning to the sea, the energy rushed into Shen Wuji’s body.

His aura exploded upwards. A tidal wave of Yin-evil energy erupted from his skin, forcibly pushing back the Formation Spirit’s suppression just enough to break the lock.

Seizing the split-second of freedom, he accelerated madly, fleeing toward the valley exit.

“Little demon whelp! Finally showing your true colors!”

The Formation Spirit sneered. “If I let you escape after all this, I’d be a laughingstock!”

With a flicker, the Spirit vanished, chasing after the fleeing demon.

The hall remained silent for a long time.

Slowly, the disciples and elders woke from their stupor. They looked at each other, their faces pale with horror.

The Nether Demon Fetus technique!

Just moments ago, they had mistaken a demonic cultivator for the Celestial Zenith Holy Scion.

Even more terrifying… this demon had almost successfully framed their Sect Leader for collusion, nearly destroying the entire sect with a single lie.