Chapter 105: Arc Light

However, during the Five Sects Conference, the sheer volume of people flowing through Sifang City and the Suitian Sword Sect’s territory was staggering. On top of that, Zhou Zhongling had gone out of his way to network with numerous cultivators for the sake of his clan. Just thinking about the effort required to trace everyone was overwhelming.

A Demon Seed could only be destroyed on the spot if it was completely whole. If it was incomplete, its demonic energy would regenerate. Even if the Demon-Slaying Grand Array wore down the larger portion of the Demon Seed, the attempt to slay the demon would end in complete failure if the missing smaller piece could not be found.

Therefore, before this larger portion dissolved, the other smaller piece had to be found and thrown into the Demon-Slaying Grand Array. In other words, it had to be found before this time tomorrow.

But with so many people, it was like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Zhou Zhongling had carried the Demon Seed, yet so many eyes had failed to notice it before he fell to the demonic path. Now, unless that smaller portion of the Demon Seed actively leaked demonic energy, there was… simply no way to save the situation.

Tang Ji’s expression was naturally grim. “Search for them! Even if you have to dig three feet into the ground, find them! And what about the Tianji Pavilion? Has everyone from the Tianji Pavilion left?”

Gu Wufang knew about this. “They left on the same day as our Yonglu Mountain.”

Thinking about it carefully, Zhou Zhongling was just the patriarch of a small clan in a southern city. How could he possibly steal a secret treasure from the Tianji Pavilion? And what kind of secret treasure did the Tianji Pavilion have that they actually brought it to the Five Sects Conference? The more Tang Ji thought about it, the hotter his temper flared. “If we weren’t short on time, I would go after them myself and get some clear answers!”

Well, this was just speaking out of anger. Although the Tianji Pavilion’s status was not as high as the Five Great Sects, Tang Ji could not treat them so willfully.

But everyone had a question in their hearts: why was the Tianji Pavilion so calm about the appearance of a demonized cultivator? Logically speaking, Qin Guan, as the Pavilion Master, should have arrived in Sifang City long ago.

The Suitian Sword Sect’s efficiency was still very high, or rather, the methods of cultivators were extremely efficient. Gu Wufang had only meditated for a moment to smooth his breathing when a Suitian disciple knocked on the door. It was Tang Ji’s eldest disciple, who was currently second on the Heaven’s Pride List, the Soul-Snatching Sword, Wei Zhou.

“Master, Venerables, this is a record of all Zhou Zhongling’s movements during his time in Sifang City. All the suspicious people he contacted are listed here.”

As a clan patriarch, apart from staying in his courtyard to handle affairs, Zhou Zhongling had mostly engaged in social gatherings and business discussions. There was little to note about this; most of these people had already been devoured by him, and the few survivors had already been tested with Demon-Detecting Talismans. None of them were hosts to the Demon Seed.

“He actually entered the Suitian Sword Sect? The Suitian Divine Sword didn’t react at all?”

Tang Ji’s expression became even more troubled. This meant that every Suitian disciple could potentially have been implanted with a demon. Things like Demon-Detecting Talismans hadn’t been used for hundreds of years; where would they get so much stock? “He actually went to see your Little Martial Uncle Wen. Gu Wufang, you…”

Gu Wufang’s face was also very grim. “Do you think the chances of him bypassing your Suitian Sword Sect’s inspection and bringing the Demon Seed into the sect are high?”

This was hard to say. Besides, who would pay attention to the patriarch of a small clan? No one knew when the Demon Seed had been planted in Zhou Zhongling. Perhaps it was on his way to the Five Sects Conference, or perhaps it was after he left the Suitian Sword Sect. Now that the man was dead, there was no way to investigate.

They couldn’t even know if Zhou Zhongling himself was aware that he was carrying a Demon Seed. When cultivators went to extremes, they were capable of anything.

“Sorry, Old Gu, I have no way to tell.” After all, even the Suitian Divine Sword had shown no reaction.

Seeing the atmosphere so tense, Ding Jieyou spoke up. “Things haven’t reached such a pessimistic point yet.”

Gu Wufang, however, remained clear-headed. Although he was angry, he was far from losing his rational judgment. “I understand. I will set off immediately to catch up to Little Martial Uncle Wen. He is indeed the most talented cultivator on the contact list. If that smaller portion of the Demon Seed was planted in him, the impact would be the greatest.”

Hearing this, Master Yicheng stepped forward. “This old monk will go with you.”

“Alright, sorry to trouble you.” Gu Wufang turned his head with a grim expression. “Mo Rong, you stay.”

Sword Venerable Morong nodded, indicating that he would report the status of the Demon Seed’s elimination at any time. Seeing this, Gu Wufang immediately set off with Master Yicheng to catch up with Yonglu Mountain’s flying vessel.

Meanwhile, on Yonglu Mountain’s flying vessel, the influence of the demonic energy had completely vanished. Wen Xu was currently being dragged by Bian Chunzhou to watch Chen Zui sparring with their fellow disciples. “This guy just can’t sit still. In such a short time, he’s already fighting someone again.”

Just as the two of them walked to the entrance of the cabin, they caught sight of a flying vessel sailing alongside them. Bian Chunzhou poked his head out to look. “It’s actually the Tianji Pavilion’s flying vessel! But is the Tianji Pavilion traveling the same way as us?”

Yonglu Mountain was located at the southern foothills, while the Tianji Pavilion was in the center of the continent. Heading south from the Suitian Sword Sect, taking this route shouldn’t have been very convenient for the Tianji Pavilion’s flying vessel.

“Tianji Pavilion?” Wen Xu felt an inexplicable sense of alarm. In fact, ever since the demonic energy appeared, he had been feeling uneasy, with a strong sense that a storm was brewing.

“It’s definitely the Tianji Pavilion’s emblem. I wouldn’t mistake it. Huh? They’ve knocked on the cabin door. It seems like there’s a very urgent matter. Elder Zhao went to negotiate.” Bian Chunzhou poked his head out to watch, quietly straining his ears. In truth, when it came to hearing, Wen Xu was naturally far superior.

“I heard it. The Tianji Pavilion’s Little Martial Uncle suddenly fell into a coma for unknown reasons, so they came to ask Senior Brother Lianshan for a medical consultation.”

Bian Chunzhou was astonished. “A sudden coma? Could it be related to… that scumbag Zhou?” It was no wonder he reacted this way. He hadn’t gotten the full story, but having caught just a snippet of the gossip, he had been thinking about it ever since.

How could a cultivator fall into a coma for no reason, unless it was related to their state of mind?

Wen Xu shook his head. “I don’t know. We’ll know once Senior Brother Lianshan examines him.”

The Tianji Pavilion’s request was not unreasonable, and by all rights, Zhi Lianshan had no reason to refuse. Although he looked sickly and as if he might pass away at any moment, when he left his family to join Yonglu Mountain back then, it was precisely to learn the arts of a Mystic Physician to cure his own congenital deficiency. Unfortunately, a physician cannot heal himself. Though he had mastered the skills, his health still hadn’t improved much.

Or rather, his body could not keep up with the rapid growth of his cultivation, which was also the main purpose of his recent closed-door cultivation.

Zhi Lianshan was quickly invited onto the Tianji Pavilion’s flying vessel. The Tianji Pavilion’s eldest disciple, Song Zijing, was talking to Zheng Jin. Their conversation was centered on the news of someone falling to the demonic path in Sifang City.

“Pavilion Master Qin didn’t go to Sifang City?”

“To tell you the truth, as soon as my master heard the news, he immediately returned to the Tianji Pavilion.” Song Zijing did not hide anything. “Although the Tianji Pavilion cannot foresee everything in the world, whenever a demon is born, we inevitably receive an omen. This time, a cultivator fell to the demonic path without any warning, so my master suspects there is trouble within the Pavilion.”

Zheng Jin was astonished. Was this really something he was supposed to hear?

“Trouble within the Tianji Pavilion… Are you sure?”

Song Zijing smiled bitterly. “I’m not sure. That’s why Master ordered me not to return to the Tianji Pavilion for now. It’s also why, when Little Martial Uncle fainted, I could only come to ask Senior Brother Lianshan for help.”

Indeed, Song Zijing was much closer to Zhi Lianshan than to Zheng Jin, so it made sense for him to seek his help.

Just as Zheng Jin was about to speak, the Tianji Pavilion’s flying vessel shook violently. A female cultivator flew over, her eyes vacant and her entire body exuding a sinister, terrifying aura. At a glance, it was clear she had lost her mind and was being controlled by an evil demon.

“Little Martial Uncle!”

At Song Zijing’s cry of alarm, Zheng Jin forced himself to hold back most of the lethal strike he had already unleashed. This gave the “female cultivator” an opening, allowing her to charge straight into the cabin of Yonglu Mountain’s flying vessel.

Seeing this, Zheng Jin bellowed, “Form an array!” As he spoke, he threw a magical artifact directly at her. However, the “female cultivator” was extremely agile; with a swift flutter of her figure, she dodged it completely.

She then drove straight in, charging directly toward Wen Xu inside the cabin.

Wen Xu’s perception of danger was incredibly sharp. Even though he was blind, the wind brought him every warning sign. Right now, for instance, he sensed the threat a step ahead of Chunzhou.

Terrifyingly, however, he could not move at all, nor could he make a sound. He could only remain helplessly frozen as the danger rapidly closed in.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Wen Xu felt his heartbeat pounding deafeningly. That sickeningly sticky, suffocating sensation swept over him once again, even though he had not sensed any demonic Qi.

“Wen Xuxu, what’s wrong?”

Seeing his friend frozen, Bian Chunzhou grabbed him and retreated without a second thought. But the danger pressed too close, leaving him no time to even throw a talisman. Just as they ran out of room, a nearby door was flung open, and Chen Zui charged out, saber in hand.

With a sharp clang, the blade was blocked by a surge of powerful spiritual energy. Chen Zui coughed up a mouthful of blood, but he managed to hold his ground, buying enough time for Zheng Jin and Song Zijing to catch up.

To everyone’s horror, even with two Nascent Soul True Monarchs working together, they could not capture the out-of-control “female cultivator.”

“Song Zijing, what is wrong with her? Where is Zhi Lianshan?”

Zhi Lianshan swayed on his feet, panting heavily. “I’m here! Her soul is bound to someone by a Heaven and Earth Oath. She’s possessed!”

It was precisely because he had detected this earlier that “she” had suddenly lost control.

The shock on Song Zijing’s face was genuine. “How is that possible?”

“Possible or not, do something! If Yonglu Mountain’s Little Grand-Uncle Master is harmed, I will make your Tianji Pavilion pay!”

Yet the “female cultivator” only let out a shrill laugh. Though she still wore Xin Ci’s beautiful face, her expression was now deeply eerie and sinister. She pointed an invisible finger, her smile stretching almost to her ears. In the next instant, Wen Xu, shielded by Bian Chunzhou and Chen Zui, collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud. As he fell, a pouch slipped out from the storage ring on his finger.

Bian Chunzhou recognized it immediately. It was the spiritual seed storage bag that Zhou Ji’s father had brought when he came up the mountain to apologize. But why would it just fall out like this?

Sensing danger, he instinctively tried to blast it away with his spiritual Qi. But before he could move, a streak of blackish-red light shot out from the storage bag. In the blink of an eye, it flew straight toward Wen Xuxu’s forehead. But it didn’t go in?!

Before Bian Chunzhou could even process this, Wen Xu, who had just been lying on the ground, stood up and grabbed the streak of light bare-handed.