Chapter 150

Chapter 150: Seed of Demonic Corruption

***

“Xiaotao… I’m so bored.”

Lin Muyu leaned against Xinlian’s embrace, feeling the steady breathing of the person behind her, unable to help but sigh inwardly.

Although being held by her Master as a pillow was quite comfortable, she couldn’t do anything and could only zone out. It was really too boring.

“Then let me tell you more about the fundamentals of formation arithmetic.”

Xiaotao’s voice transmitted from her mind, carrying a hint of seriousness.

“Last time I talked about calculating spiritual energy distribution in intermediate formations, but I didn’t finish.”

Lin Muyu wanted to refuse, but before she could speak, all sorts of obscure and difficult formation terminology flooded into her mind.

Things like “conversion formulas for formation core positions and spiritual energy flow rates,” “ratios between formation size and spirit stone consumption” — listening to it all gave her a headache.

Even though Foundation Establishment cultivators didn’t need sleep, at this moment she was forcibly lulled by Xiaotao’s formation lecture until her eyelids grew heavy, and before long she fell asleep leaning in Xinlian’s embrace.

“Intermediate formations generally require calculating spiritual energy distribution, formation core positions, and formation size. This usually requires using the ‘Three Powers Spiritual Energy Formula,’ and the core of this formula is…”

Xiaotao was still explaining endlessly in her mind when she suddenly noticed Lin Muyu had stopped responding, and her voice paused.

She looked out through the bead on Lin Muyu’s chest, only to see her master leaning in her Master’s embrace, sleeping soundly with even a bit of drool at the corner of her mouth.

Xiaotao helplessly sighed and complained quietly in her mind:

“Bad master, you actually fell asleep listening! If I’d known, I would have told you about the new alchemy techniques I learned…”

……

Qinglan Sect, Council Hall.

Immortal Fuyun sat upright in the central main seat of the great hall, his face having long since lost the easygoing manner he had at Fuyun Peak, replaced instead by complete seriousness.

His gaze swept over the Peak Masters and Elders seated below, and he asked in a deep voice:

“Is everyone here?”

“Reporting to the Sect Master, all Peak Masters and core Elders have arrived, with only Jade Lotus Peak’s Peak Master Xinlian absent.”

An Elder below wearing a gray Daoist robe with ordinary features stood up and answered respectfully.

“No need to wait for her, let’s begin.”

Immortal Fuyun waved his hand dismissively, his tone flat.

Xinlian never participated in sect meetings. If she actually showed up one day, everyone present would probably be more surprised.

“Yes!”

The Peak Masters and Elders in the hall were not surprised by Xinlian’s absence. After all, Jade Lotus Peak was a special existence within Qinglan Sect, and Xinlian’s position in the sect was also special.

If Xinlian had attended, they would have felt it strange instead.

Just like this year’s disciple recruitment ceremony, when news spread that Xinlian had suddenly taken on a disciple, everyone in the entire sect was shocked.

Many Elders even specifically went to investigate, wanting to see what kind of disciple could catch Xinlian’s eye.

“Spiritual Sense Peak, you explain the situation.”

Immortal Fuyun looked toward an Elder on the left side of the hall and ordered.

“Yes, Sect Master.”

That Elder stood up, bowed toward the main seat, then began speaking.

“Today a disciple reported that outside a village in the southeast direction of the sect, they discovered a pig demon infected by demonic energy. I immediately dispatched people down the mountain to investigate and found no less than 10 demon beasts corrupted by demonic energy, with 3 of them already showing early signs of demonic beast transformation.”

The Elder paused, his tone becoming grave as he continued:

“According to the disciples’ investigation, the source of the demonic energy in these demon beasts is unknown, but the corruption speed is extremely fast. If we had discovered them any later, at least half of them would have completely transformed into demonic beasts, and the villagers around the sect would likely have been in danger.”

Hearing this news, the faces of the Peak Masters and Elders in the hall all darkened, and they began discussing among themselves. The originally quiet Council Hall instantly became noisy.

Immortal Fuyun sat in the main seat, picked up the teacup in front of him and took a sip, his eyes calmly watching the discussion below without speaking.

“Sect Master!”

Suddenly, a booming voice rang out. The Peak Master of Longblade Peak on the right side of the hall stood up, a burly man with a straightforward personality.

“In my opinion, this must be the work of those demonic clan scum! Besides them, who else would use such sinister methods!”

“We can’t rule out that possibility, but we can’t jump to conclusions too early either.”

Immortal Fuyun put down his teacup and said flatly, his tone revealing no emotion.

At this time, the Peak Master of Beast Taming Peak also stood up. He wore a green Daoist robe and played with a small jade flute in his hands, his brows slightly furrowed:

“If it really is the demonic clan, what’s their purpose? According to the intelligence we’ve gathered, the nearest demonic corruption zone is at least separated from our Qinglan Sect by the Qiuqing territory ruled by the fox clan. There’s an eight-tailed great demon stationed there. For the demonic clan to circle around to our side, it’s impossible they wouldn’t be discovered.”

“Peak Master of Beast Taming Peak is correct.”

Immortal Fuyun nodded and added.

“Our spies stationed in Qiuqing territory have sent word that the demonic clan is indeed attacking Qiuqing, but that eight-tailed fox demon of Qiuqing is formidably powerful. The demonic clan simply cannot break through right now, and both sides have been in a stalemate for quite some time.”

“Then what’s their real purpose?”

The Peak Master of Fierce Fire Peak also stood up. With his impatient temperament, he couldn’t help but ask.

“They can’t be so bored that they came to the area around our sect to release demonic energy for fun, right?”

“I suspect they’re trying to divert Qinglan Sect’s attention.”

Another Elder from Spiritual Sense Peak, holding a yin-yang compass in his hands, speculated.

“The demonic clan can’t take down Qiuqing, so they deliberately create disturbances on our side to make us think they’re attacking from both fronts. This way we’ll dispatch forces to defend, and they can concentrate their strength to attack Qiuqing.”

Listening to everyone’s speculation around him, Immortal Fuyun raised his hand and tapped the table. The hall instantly fell silent.

He stood up, his gaze sweeping over everyone, and said in a deep voice:

“Pass down the order. First, command all disciples executing missions outside, if there are no urgent matters, return to the sect immediately and await orders.”

“Second, from today onward, each peak shall daily dispatch disciples down the mountain to clear out demon beasts corrupted by demonic energy. The threat must be controlled within 100 miles of the sect.”

“Third, Spiritual Sense Peak shall increase investigation efforts. You must find the source of the demonic energy, and report any news immediately!”

“Yes! We respectfully obey the Sect Master’s order!”

The Peak Masters and Elders in the hall responded in unison, their tones respectful and resolute.

The atmosphere within Qinglan Sect became lively almost instantly.

Even Luo Chenxi, thousands of miles away in the capital of the Great Xia Dynasty, received the sect’s transmission at the first opportunity.

Luo Chenxi pinched the warm transmission jade talisman between her fingers, her Master’s voice echoing in her ears:

“My disciple, recently the demonic clan’s activities have become increasingly frequent. Even around the sect, traces of demonic energy have already been discovered.”

“Although the sect has now sent transmissions recalling disciples outside, your important matter in the capital is not yet concluded. This master won’t force you to return immediately, but you must remember, be extremely cautious of the demonic clan in all your actions!”

Luo Chenxi pressed the jade talisman against her palm, gazing out the window toward the heavy palace complex in the direction of the capital’s imperial city, warmth welling up in her heart.

This time, her Master had sent not only a message of concern, but also many precious items.

These items were undoubtedly like timely assistance in the snow for her current stalemate in the struggle for imperial power.

As for the demonic clan that her Master repeatedly mentioned, it wasn’t that Luo Chenxi didn’t take it to heart, but she always maintained a firm conviction deep in her heart.

The defensive line that Qinglan Sect had established with other sects at the border of human territories was as solid as a rock.

She truly didn’t believe the demonic clan could silently cross the defensive line and fight all the way to the capital in the heartland of the Great Xia Dynasty.

However, within this conviction, there was also a trace of worry.

She secretly made up her mind.

If Qinglan Sect truly faced a demonic clan threat in the future.

Once she ascended to the supreme position of the Great Xia Dynasty, she would definitely use imperial decree to summon the entire nation’s military forces, have all of Great Xia unite as one, and support Qinglan Sect with the entire nation’s strength.

She understood better than anyone that Qinglan Sect was not only her sect, but also an important barrier for humanity against the demonic clan.

Once Qinglan Sect fell, those several sect defensive lines would collapse one after another like dominoes.

At that time, all of Great Xia and even all human territories would fall into an abyss of eternal damnation.

……

Meanwhile, in a secluded cultivation cave, Su Wanqing’s eyes suddenly snapped open, a flash of clear spiritual light passing through her pupils.

She raised her hand and waved, and a transmission light screen floated before her eyes, it was the summons message from Qinglan Sect.

After reading the message content, she raised her hand and rubbed her brow.

“I’ll go clear them out after I finish cultivating this divine technique.”

Then she intensified her cultivation efforts.

Qinglan Sect’s transmission was like a stone thrown into a lake surface, stirring up ripples among the disciples scattered in various places.

Within just 3 days, those cultivators who had temporarily remained elsewhere after completing sect missions outside.

Disciples who had been in closed-door cultivation for many days but couldn’t break through their bottlenecks, all packed their belongings and rushed toward Qinglan Sect.

The disciples who returned to the sect had no moment of rest before spontaneously forming teams and heading to the mountains and forests around the sect to clear out demon beasts infected by demonic energy.

For them, this sudden demon-clearing operation was less like a mission and more like a rare opportunity.

The sect had already announced that killing demon beasts infected by demonic energy would earn double sect contribution points.

And contribution points were the key to exchanging for cultivation methods, pills, and artifacts.

In this operation, the disciples didn’t let any area around Qinglan Sect go unchecked. Some even searched all the way to Rain Fairy Village.

But with the Village Chief vouching for them, plus Lin Muyu returning in time, the tree spirit and Xiaoyun didn’t encounter any mishaps.

By coincidence, some disciples also discovered the source of this demonic energy, the Seed of Demonic Corruption…