When Golden Finger Meets Salted Fish

For Yun Qingyue, too many events had transpired in a single day. From welcoming her master's return, to Tiandao Sect rushing over to demand accountability, to now being swept away by suddenly appearing demonic energy. Everything happened within the span of just a quarter-hour, as if someone had arranged it all in advance, giving no one time to react before being swept along by circumstances to the present situation.

At the moment she was enveloped by the demonic energy, Yun Qingyue had no time to react before everything went black and she lost consciousness.

The three Xuanqing Sect Peak Masters failed to stop the demonic energy despite their efforts. Seeing this, the Grand Elder of Tiandao Sect and Dharma Master Huiming of Buddha Sect hurried to assist. But even with five Fusion stage masters working together, the demonic energy still managed to escape with its captive.

"It's Grand Achievement stage!" someone exclaimed in shock.

At this cry, Supreme Elder Mingxi, who had been cultivating aboard the Spirit Boat, was finally alerted. With a flash, she appeared above the demonic energy, her slender hand striking downward with the force of ten thousand pounds.

Peak Master Qingyu, having suffered light injuries when struck by the demonic energy earlier, immediately shouted upon seeing this: "Elder, please show mercy! That demonic energy has enveloped our sect's disciple!"

Supreme Elder Mingxi had originally put eighty percent of her power into this strike, but upon hearing these words, she immediately withdrew half of it. The strike still hit the demonic energy, but with insufficient power to disperse it, only making the black energy somewhat thinner, vaguely revealing the slender figure within—precisely because she saw this figure, Supreme Elder Mingxi became somewhat hesitant to attack fully.

In this moment of delay, the demonic energy completely vanished from everyone's sight, too late for any further interception.

Seeing this, Peak Master Qingyu pressed her lips together, showing a hint of frustration, but having her disciple taken away was still better than seeing her die before her eyes. Composing herself, she quickly addressed Supreme Elder Mingxi: "The one taken was my disciple Yun Qingyue. Please, Elder, save her."

Supreme Elder Mingxi's face was unusually stern. She had rarely appeared since arriving at Mingzong Mountain and had little interaction with Yun Qingyue. But having come to oversee matters, allowing a demonic cultivator to kidnap a disciple right in front of her was essentially a slap in the face. Just as she was about to agree, someone in the crowd suddenly said: "She's just a spy who colluded with the demonic path—why should anyone rescue her?"

This voice, neither loud nor soft, was sufficient to reach the ears of every cultivator present. Regardless of others' thoughts, Supreme Elder Mingxi's expression immediately darkened. With a wave of her hand, a figure was pulled out from the crowd.

To everyone's surprise, this person wasn't a Tiandao Sect disciple, but wore the robes of a Xuanqing Sect disciple.

Apparently not expecting to be singled out for making a comment while hidden in the crowd, the disciple's face showed a flash of panic, then he shrank like a quail, not daring to say another word.

But Supreme Elder Mingxi didn't spare him despite his status as a fellow sect member. Instead, she became more severe: "Condemning someone without investigation—is this how you conduct yourself?" After speaking, her gaze swept across all disciples, including the three Peak Masters: "And the rest of you, are you all so confused that you can't withstand the slightest provocation? You've lived to such an age only to be as foolish as dogs!"

Peak Masters Qingxu and Qingyuan quickly admitted their fault, while Peak Master Qingyu's expression changed several times, feeling both relieved and complicated.

Compared to the honest admission of error from the Xuanqing Sect members, the Grand Elder of Tiandao Sect's expression was even more varied—he felt that Supreme Elder Mingxi wasn't just scolding the younger generation, but him as well. After all, among everyone present, he was the oldest, and that remark about "living to such an age only to be as foolish as dogs" was clearly directed at him. However, since her cultivation was higher than his, he could only silently endure the rebuke.

Fortunately, Supreme Elder Mingxi had no time to waste on these juniors. After this admonishment, she tossed the provocative disciple toward Peak Master Qingxu, then disappeared with a sweep of her sleeve: "I'll go rescue her."

The White Tiger was again a step too slow, chasing after her and calling out: "Elder, take me with you!"

Unfortunately, Supreme Elder Mingxi had already gone far and had no intention of bringing her along. The White Tiger chased quite a distance before giving up. Then, looking back repeatedly, she returned, casting a sinister glance at the provocative disciple, and said disdainfully: "Such dark thoughts, slandering your fellow sect member—how could Xuanqing Sect have a disciple like you?!"

The disciple trembled all over, and seeing the expressions of the three Peak Masters, his legs went weak and he collapsed to the ground—he didn't know why he had been so extreme earlier, the words leaving his mouth without thought. Now he deeply regretted it.

But he didn't regret his reckless speech for having tarnished someone's reputation, but rather for speaking rashly and incurring the displeasure of the Supreme Elder and the three Peak Masters. He feared that he would never have a chance to rise within Xuanqing Sect in this lifetime.

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Deep in the mountains, black demonic energy surged constantly, carrying the unconscious person toward the distance.

The demonic energy moved incredibly fast, about to disappear beyond the forest in the blink of an eye, when it suddenly stopped and hovered. It was as if some terrifying presence had blocked its path.

Indeed, someone stood ahead—the Crimson Blood Sect Leader in white robes had appeared from somewhere, the killing intent around her body having solidified into substance. Though she wore white robes and hadn't even cast a glance, she gave the impression of standing amidst mountains of corpses and seas of blood. At this moment, even the surrounding air seemed viscous, carrying a nauseating bloody scent.

If a cultivator of shallow cultivation had appeared here, facing the Crimson Blood Sect Leader with such aura, their mental state would likely collapse within moments. But the demonic energy was clearly different; also at the Grand Achievement realm, it merely showed some wariness.

The Crimson Blood Sect Leader slowly walked to the middle of the path, finally raising her eyes to look over, a single glance like the eighteen layers of hell.

The demonic energy churned a couple more times before a somewhat hoarse voice emerged from within: "Sect Leader Zhu, we have no past grievances or recent enmity—why do you block my path?"

The Crimson Blood Sect Leader snorted derisively, seemingly feeling that words were superfluous, and raised her hand to launch an attack. The demonic energy opposite her simultaneously launched its own attack, even slightly faster than the Crimson Blood Sect Leader's. This wasn't because the opponent's strength exceeded the Crimson Blood Sect Leader's, but because the earlier words were meant to distract her attention, attempting a sneak attack.

Unfortunately, the Crimson Blood Sect Leader was clearly someone who preferred action over words. Her attack connected perfectly with her opponent's. The two attacks collided in midair, immediately producing an earth-shattering sound.

The Crimson Blood Sect Leader frowned almost imperceptibly, developing some concerns—she had actually arrived early, witnessing the latter half of the commotion aboard the Spirit Boat, but had refrained from appearing due to considerations about her identity. Even when the demonic energy seized Yun Qingyue, she hadn't intervened, but what was unforgivable was that the demonic energy had injured Qingyu while taking Yun Qingyue!

Therefore, from the beginning, the Crimson Blood Sect Leader had no intention of resolving this peacefully. However, the disturbance caused by Grand Achievement cultivators fighting was too great, and with a Supreme Elder from Xuanqing Sect present, she didn't want to alert them.

Coincidentally, the person within the demonic energy felt the same way, so after a probing exchange, both parties tacitly agreed to change locations and continue their fight.

Grand Achievement cultivators moved with incredible speed, and the Crimson Blood Sect Leader, due to her bloodline, possessed certain space-controlling techniques. Thus, when Supreme Elder Mingxi arrived slightly later, she only sensed the aftershocks of the battle. As for the Crimson Blood Sect Leader and the demonic energy, she didn't see them at all, and despite attempting to track them, she couldn't catch up, losing all trace of them.

Setting aside Supreme Elder Mingxi's frustration, the Crimson Blood Sect Leader and the demonic energy clearly couldn't coexist peacefully. They practically fought while moving, with the Crimson Blood Sect Leader showing no mercy, using her full strength in every attack.

Finally, the person within the demonic energy became increasingly stifled and couldn't help but ask strangely: "Isn't this girl your bloodline? Why do you attack so mercilessly? Aren't you afraid I'll kill her?!"

The Crimson Blood Sect Leader glanced at Yun Qingyue enveloped in the demonic energy, but her expression didn't change at all: "As you wish."

The demonic energy seemed to pause momentarily, then laughed coldly: "Very well, very well, very well."

Repeating "well" three times, seemingly enraged, the attack originally aimed at the Crimson Blood Sect Leader suddenly turned toward the unconscious Yun Qingyue. This attack not only showed no restraint but exerted twelve parts of power, clearly intending to kill.

The Crimson Blood Sect Leader's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she finally couldn't remain indifferent. Her technique changed, attempting to save the person.

The opponent, having set this trap precisely to force her hand, immediately changed tactics to attack the opening exposed by the Crimson Blood Sect Leader.

Unfortunately, that opening was false—the Crimson Blood Sect Leader clearly hadn't let concern cloud her judgment, but instead countered the scheme with a move of her own. Then both sides fought intensely, neither gaining an advantage for the time being.

Perhaps due to the massive energy fluctuations produced by Grand Achievement cultivators fighting, Yun Qingyue, affected by the energy spillover from their battle, finally regained consciousness. But with only Nascent Soul cultivation, she could hardly fare well in a Grand Achievement level confrontation. Even though neither combatant currently intended to attack her, the moment she awoke, she felt a sweetness in her throat as blood surged up.

Yun Qingyue immediately pressed her lips tightly, not letting the blood spill out, but silently swallowing it back. With the taste of blood filling her mouth, her mind became exceptionally clear, and she opened her eyes to assess the situation.

She remembered clearly what had happened before losing consciousness, but from the moment she was swept away by the demonic energy, she knew it wasn't the Crimson Blood Sect Leader who had acted.

Now opening her eyes, she quickly understood the situation. Faced with two demonic path figures fighting, she found herself instinctively siding with the Crimson Blood Sect Leader. Then, while both were engaged in fierce combat, paying no attention to a mere Nascent Soul cultivator like herself, she suddenly attacked the person within the demonic energy who had kidnapped her—she might only have Nascent Soul cultivation, but that didn't mean she was an ant to be ignored. Whether it was the Ice Soul Condensation Pearl gifted by the Little White Tiger or the mysterious Square Seal, both gave her confidence to face Grand Achievement cultivators.

Sure enough, the person within the demonic energy was caught off guard by the Square Seal that Yun Qingyue suddenly deployed. Moreover, the Ice Flame that Yun Qingyue had painstakingly refined and subdued made its first appearance, launched together with the Square Seal.

In an instant, the Ice Flame ignited the demonic energy, and azure flames erupted with a roar.