“Junior Sister Ji, I was just joking earlier. Please, don’t take it to heart.”

Shen Wuji forced a strained, dry smile onto his face.

“Besides, I’ve already been exposed as an impostor by Falling Cloud Valley and beaten half to death by that Soul Formation spirit. Even in that critical moment, I didn’t drag you down with me or reveal your presence.”

He swallowed hard. “Considering I didn’t ruin your plans… how about letting this Senior Brother off the hook?”

Shen Wuji was terrified, yet he still clung to the title of ‘Senior Brother,’ desperately trying to appear harmless to awaken a shred of pity in the woman before him.

But as a disciple of the Saint Sect, he knew exactly how his peers operated. The Sect didn’t explicitly encourage fratricide, but they certainly didn’t hand out demerits for it either.

Worse, this place was millions of miles away from the sect’s headquarters. By the time anyone noticed his soul lamp had extinguished and sent an investigator, his funeral would be long over. What evidence would even remain?

If given the choice, he would rather face a hundred Righteous Path grandmasters than confront this particular Junior Sister.

“Hah! You still have the nerve to say you didn’t ruin my plans?!”

A graceful, enchanting figure stepped out from the shadows of the cave. She wore a magnificent purple gown that hugged her curves, her skin fairer than snow, her features as breathtaking as a datura flower blooming in the night.

Under normal circumstances, Shen Wuji—a man of significant lust—would have at least attempted a flirtatious remark. Now, he didn’t dare even lift his eyes, terrified of provoking the ruthless demoness further.

Shen Wuji hung his head low, pleading incessantly:

“Junior Sister Ji, I admit it! It was my fault! If you spare my life, I’ll swear a Heart Demon Oath right now. I will never be your enemy again, in this life or the next!”

“Also! During this trip, I extorted a lot of resources from those pseudo-righteous sects using the Holy Scion’s name. It’s a huge fortune! I’ll give it all to you! What do you say?”

Under the threat of death, his voice trembled, sweat dripping from his chin onto the cold stone floor.

“Spare your life?”

Ji Chan’er’s lips curled into a cold, cruel smile.

“If you hadn’t barged in and stirred up trouble, I wouldn’t have had to leave the valley to find Granny Qi and arrange for your… disposal.”

“If I had stayed at my post, that thing wouldn’t have escaped so easily. And I wouldn’t have fallen into that illusion and suffered a major backlash due to carelessness.”

Her eyes narrowed. “In short, everything went wrong because of you. How can I vent the hatred in my heart without killing you?!”

What?!

Although Shen Wuji didn’t understand what “thing” she was talking about, he felt the absolute killing intent in her voice. He shuddered violently.

“Ji Chan’er! Don’t forget I am a legitimate son of the Shen Clan! If you kill me, my father will never let it go! Do you want to start a war between the Ji and Shen families?!”

Ji Chan’er laughed, a sound like breaking ice. “Stop posturing. You aren’t qualified to start a clan war.”

“Your father has plenty of sons. If you die, your brothers will probably thank me.”

She raised a delicate hand, her pale fingertip tapping the air.

Pfft—

A bloody hole bloomed instantly on Shen Wuji’s forehead. The light in his eyes faded.

Frozen on his face was an expression of utter disbelief. Even in death, he didn’t understand what he had truly done wrong, or why Ji Chan’er was so determined to execute him.

Ji Chan’er didn’t hesitate. She opened her palm and made a grasping motion, ripping Shen Wuji’s soul from his body.

“AHHHHHHH!!!”

Amidst a series of agonizing, soul-tearing shrieks, Shen Wuji’s spirit was crushed into nothingness. Not even a Great Luo Golden Immortal could bring him back now.

Next, she conjured a ball of spiritual flame, incinerating the corpse until not even ash remained.

After scanning the area to ensure the scene was spotless, she finally let out a soft sigh of relief. With a wave of her hand, she retrieved a storage bracelet from the ground.

“I kill you, and all of this becomes mine anyway.”

Ji Chan’er murmured to herself, effortlessly wiping away Shen Wuji’s mental imprint. She extended her divine sense inside.

Her eyes lit up.

This Shen Wuji… exactly how many sects did he extort? This is a fortune!

With these resources, she could easily trade for a Nine-Refined Illusion God Pill and finally achieve the Thousand Illusions Heavenly Demon Body…

Meanwhile, in Falling Cloud Valley.

[Ding! Main Quest Completed: Survive the Crisis & Expose the Traitors.] [Rewards: 800 Comeback Points.] [Bonus: Senior Sister Bai Xirou’s favorability has increased.] [Item Reward: Heaven-Grade Dual Cultivation Technique — Scripture of Yin-Yang Metamorphosis.]

As the System notification chimed, Qi Yuan noticed Bai Xirou looking at him. The affection in her gaze was so intense it was practically dripping onto the floor.

“Junior Brother Qi… we owe you so much. If you hadn’t exposed that evil cultivator and rooted out the traitor, Falling Cloud Valley would have been destroyed.”

Bai Xirou’s eyes were red and misty with tears. Her voice trembled with sincere gratitude.

“And not just that. If you hadn’t helped Senior Formation Spirit resolve his inner turmoil, he wouldn’t have intervened in time. My father… he would have died.”

Overwhelmed by emotion, she suddenly threw herself into Qi Yuan’s arms, weeping like a pear blossom drenched in rain.

Qi Yuan stiffened. A subtle, refreshing fragrance filled his nose, and the sensation of her warm, soft body pressing against him sent a jolt through his system. He quickly recited a mental mantra to remind himself that he was a gentleman of integrity.

Why do I feel like I lose control every time I touch her?

Does this Senior Sister have a special constitution?

Qi Yuan possessed the Innate Pure Yang Body. This physique granted him immense vitality and rapid cultivation speed, but it also acted like a magnet for women with certain Yin-aligned constitutions.

Not daring to test his willpower in front of a crowd, Qi Yuan gently pushed Bai Xirou away.

“Senior Sister, you should go check on your father. The demonic energy invaded his mind, but with the Senior Spirit’s treatment, he should be waking up soon.”

“Ah!” Bai Xirou snapped out of her daze, her face flushing crimson. She nodded frantically, turned, and fled toward the back hall to care for Bai Qingwu.

“Big Brother.”

The moment Bai Xirou left, Piao Genshuo slid up to Qi Yuan, his eyes full of envy.

“I didn’t expect a guy with such average looks and low cultivation to be a grandmaster of romance! You took down a beauty like that so easily. Teach me!”

With your face, you have the nerve to call me average?

Qi Yuan raised an eyebrow coolly. “Aren’t you supposed to be looking for your lost item? Why are you clinging to me?”

Piao Genshuo straightened his robes, adopting a solemn, dignified expression.

“Big Brother, allow me to reintroduce myself. This humble one is none other than Piao Genshuo, the Holy Scion of the Celestial Zenith Sanctuary. The Five-Color Celestial Token you picked up is mine. Please return it.”

“Oh? Is that so?”

Qi Yuan gave him a fake smile. “There are too many scammers these days. We almost got wiped out by one just now. You say you’re the Holy Scion? Proof?”

Piao Genshuo grew anxious. “I am Piao Genshuo! My face is the proof!”

Then, he remembered something. “Wait! Those two Celestial Zenith disciples will be here soon. Just ask them!”

“When did I say they were Celestial Zenith disciples?”

Qi Yuan scoffed, dumping a bucket of cold water on Piao’s hopes. “I said they were ‘Sanctuary disciples.’ I never specified which Sanctuary. Actually, those two are from the Supreme Mystery Sanctuary. Why would they know the Holy Scion of Celestial Zenith?”

“Huh?!!!”

The crowd in the hall gasped again, looking at Qi Yuan with incredulous eyes.

Holy shit.

So that demonic cultivator was literally trolled to death?

Piao Genshuo froze. His face twisted into a knot of frustration.

“Then… what do I have to do to prove I’m the Holy Scion?”

Qi Yuan smiled, his tone suddenly warm and friendly.

“I’ve heard that the Celestial Zenith Sanctuary produces a special item called the ‘Celestial Zenith Body Tempering Pill.’ It’s extremely precious, available only to those of high status.”

Qi Yuan extended an open hand.

“If you can give me fifty pills just to show me your strength… then I’ll believe you’re the Holy Scion.”

“You want the Body Tempering Pill?!”

Piao Genshuo’s left eye twitched violently.