Sect Leader Qi of Wanchun Valley shoved a pill into his mouth, not daring to pause for even a heartbeat.

As he frantically converted the medicinal energy into mana, he pushed the green jade gourd to its limit, tearing through the sky toward the Spirit Sword Sect, ten thousand miles away.

Finally, the faint glimmer of sword lights and lanterns appeared in the distance. Both Sect Leader Qi and Li Tonghai let out heavy breaths of relief.

The headquarters of the Spirit Sword Sect sat atop nine solitary, perilous peaks. The mountains rose steeply, as if hewn by a divine axe, their surfaces pitch-black like quenched cold iron.

The texture of the rock resembled intersecting sword scars. Day and night, sword qi flickered and gleaned across the stone—the defining characteristic of the Spirit Sword Sect.

As they approached the perimeter, two disciples on flying swords intercepted them.

“Halt! Who goes there?”

“It’s me!” Li Tonghai called out. “Let us in, quickly!”

“Senior Brother Li?” The two disciples glanced at him in surprise, then looked suspiciously at Sect Leader Qi. “And who is this with you?”

“Sect Leader Qi of Wanchun Valley!”

“What? The Wanchun Valley that colluded with Demonic Cultivators?” The two disciples exchanged wary looks. “Senior Brother Li, why are you with him?”

“It is a misunderstanding! I was ordered by my master to investigate this matter. I have confirmed that Wanchun Valley has not colluded with anyone. I must take him to see my master and explain the truth!”

The two Spirit Sword Sect disciples hesitated, looking at each other.

“Please wait a moment, Senior Brother Li. We must report to the sect immediately.”

“Report to my master at once! If you see my senior brothers or sisters, ask them to come as well!” Li Tonghai instructed with urgency.

One of the disciples hurried away.

Li Tonghai couldn’t help but shout after his retreating figure, “Hurry!”

Before the disciple could return, four figures appeared on the horizon, flying toward them with terrifying speed.

Standing side-by-side on a twin-winged black bear were the burly cultivator from the Spirit Beast Sect and Ke Yuan. On a silver-white spindle stood the gaunt cultivator from the Little Sky Net Sect. Riding a single magical sword was the Daoist from the Mystic One Sect.

The moment they arrived, Ke Yuan let out a furious roar.

“Qi Wanfa of Wanchun Valley!”

“Not content with colluding with Demonic Cultivators, you dare to bewitch a disciple of the Spirit Sword Sect? You deserve death!”

Accompanied by this roar, he pressed his fingers together. Sword energy erupted, shooting straight toward Li Tonghai!

Simultaneously, the cultivators from the Spirit Beast Sect and the Mystic One Sect launched their attacks directly at Li Tonghai.

If they killed Li Tonghai, Qi Wanfa would be rendered voiceless, and Ye Guxing would have no way to verify the truth.

The attackers knew this logic perfectly well. Sect Leader Qi knew it too.

Li Tonghai was the only witness Ye Guxing might trust. If he died, would Ye Guxing believe an outsider like Qi Wanfa, or his own junior brother Ke Yuan and the other sects?

The outcome was a foregone conclusion.

Without a second of hesitation, Sect Leader Qi enveloped Li Tonghai in his own Golden Core mana, firmly protecting him. He swung the green jade gourd around to use as a shield.

Ten Green Wood Thunder Pills shot out from the gourd’s mouth. Amidst the chaotic dance of thunder and lightning, the combined attacks of Ke Yuan and the others were neutralized.

At that critical moment, Sect Leader Qi’s expression suddenly went blank. He looked toward the side, his face lighting up with surprise.

“Master Ye is here!”

The gaunt man from the Little Sky Net Sect let out a soft, sinister chuckle. He knew his mental interference had worked. Veins bulged on his thin hands as he poured mana into the silver-white spindle, almost losing control of the artifact.

By the time Sect Leader Qi snapped back to reality—a mere instant later—a silver-white thread had already pierced through the center of his chest.

The Little Sky Net Sect cultivator, his face deathly pale from the exertion, held the thread tight. His eyes were filled with ferocious malice.

“Surname Qi, this is destiny. Accept it!”

“I refuse!”

Enduring the agonizing pain and the blockage in his mana flow, Sect Leader Qi roared in anger.

A golden sword flew from his Storage Bag. Gritting his teeth, he slashed down, severing the silver-white thread. At the same time, he tried to open his mouth to swallow a healing pill.

But how could four Golden Core cultivators, united in purpose, give him such a chance?

The lightning from the Green Wood Thunder Pills had faded. Ke Yuan, the Mystic One Daoist, and the burly Spirit Beast cultivator—three Golden Core experts—attacked in unison from the front.

Their bombardment covered both Li Tonghai and Sect Leader Qi.

The gaunt Little Sky Net cultivator poured even more mana into the remaining thread, yanking it violently.

Rip!

Flesh and blood sprayed from Sect Leader Qi’s chest, leaving behind a fist-sized hole.

Although he had severed the thread and swallowed the pill, the attacks of the three Golden Core cultivators had already arrived, crashing down with crushing weight.

Is Wanchun Valley destined to fall?

Am I destined to die here?

In despair, Sect Leader Qi forced his sluggish mana to move, trying to position the green jade gourd to shield himself and Li Tonghai.

But it seemed too late.

Suddenly.

A streak of sword light shot horizontally from the Sword Peak.

In that split second, it was blindingly brilliant, illuminating heaven and earth as if the sun had risen at midnight.

“Who is trying to kill my disciple?”

A cold voice rang out.

“Senior Brother! It’s Sect Leader Qi Wanfa of Wanchun Valley! He’s trying to kill your disciple Li Tonghai!” Ke Yuan shouted immediately.

“That’s not—”

Li Tonghai opened his mouth to speak, but Ke Yuan and the other three Golden Core cultivators simultaneously unleashed their spiritual pressure. The tangible weight of their combined aura crushed down on him, rendering him speechless, his face flushing crimson.

Sect Leader Qi, one hand clutching the gaping hole in his chest, slammed his other hand onto Li Tonghai’s back. Struggling, he poured his mana into the younger man to break the suppression.

“Speak! Quickly!”

“Master, save me!” Li Tonghai screamed, his voice breaking through.

“Martial Uncle wants to kill me! Martial Uncle colluded with outsiders! Not only to harm Wanchun Valley but to kill me as well!” he shouted toward the source of the sword light.

Another flash of light.

A white-haired man arrived, standing atop a flying sword.

Behind him, hundreds of Spirit Sword Sect disciples followed closely. Points of sword light flickered like a vast swarm of fireflies, illuminating the night sky. A pillar of sword qi soared into the clouds, rushing toward them with suffocating pressure.

Ke Yuan hurriedly tried to explain again. “Senior Brother, this Qi Wanfa is extremely cunning. He has bewitched your disciple, saying—”

“Saying what?”

The white-haired man’s face was not old, but his sword-like eyebrows were raised in sharp interrogation.

With just that one question, Ke Yuan choked, daring not to speak further.

Without waiting for an answer, the white-haired man swept his gaze over everyone present. His eyes were sharp, piercing, and terrifying—like forks of lightning.

“Even if my disciple has been bewitched, you should have informed me first. Why were you so eager to kill him? What is the logic in that?”

“Four Golden Core cultivators besieging one… what is the reason? Is it confirmed that Wanchun Valley colluded with Demonic Cultivators?”

“They did!” Ke Yuan stated immediately.

“They didn’t!” Li Tonghai shouted back. “Master, I personally heard Martial Uncle admit to the other three sects that they are framing Wanchun Valley! They accused them of collusion just to have an excuse to destroy them!”

“Is that so?” Ye Guxing asked indifferently.

Sect Leader Qi immediately spoke up. “It is the absolute truth. Wanchun Valley has never colluded with Demonic Cultivators!”

“Then who did?” Ye Guxing asked.

Sect Leader Qi was momentarily stumped. He replied, “I do not know. Perhaps these three sects are related to the Demonic Cultivators and are crying thief to hide their own crimes. Or perhaps no one colluded at all, and they simply framed us because they desire our destruction!”

Ke Yuan and the cultivators from the Spirit Beast, Mystic One, and Little Sky Net sects shouted in unison: “It is you who colluded! You are the one crying thief!”

Ye Guxing frowned slightly. “Evidence?”

“We have evidence!” the burly Spirit Beast cultivator shouted. “From last year to this year, Demonic Cultivators have appeared repeatedly in Wanchun Valley’s Green Grain Market and among their Laborer Disciples. Qi Wanfa, do you admit this or not?”

“So what? It is inevitable that Demonic Cultivators lurk in the shadows. Is it our fault that our sect actively captures them?” Sect Leader Qi retorted angrily.

“Master Ye, he refuses to admit it! Please, execute this traitor immediately! If Master Ye is unwilling to dirty his hands, letting us do it is the same!”

The burly cultivator continued shouting at Sect Leader Qi, “Not only have Demonic Cultivators been active in your valley, but we also captured one who personally confessed to colluding with you to cause mass slaughter! Moreover, someone within your own sect practices the Blood Refining Art!”

“And furthermore! Just now, on the way here, didn’t your Wanchun Valley’s Supreme Elder use the Demon Blood Sect’s ‘Bloodlust Technique’ to suddenly erupt in power and kill my junior brother?”

“Nonsense! Utter nonsense!” Sect Leader Qi roared in fury.

Ye Guxing listened quietly.

Suddenly, he raised his hand. A streak of sword light, incredibly bright, illuminated his snow-white hair.

“Wanchun Valley does not know who the Demonic Cultivators are. The Spirit Beast Sect claims to have captured a witness pointing to Wanchun Valley. Tomorrow, we will go to Wanchun Valley. Bring your evidence and your witnesses.”

“If it is proven that Wanchun Valley colluded with Demonic Cultivators, I will immediately execute all those who practice demonic arts.”

The four antagonists relaxed slightly.

“And if it cannot be proven, then what?” Ke Yuan asked instinctively.

“Then I will first enforce sect rules and punish you,” Ye Guxing said calmly.

“What?”