Chapter 29: Exposing the Demon Part 1

Those who came to the Three Ways River for training were no timid weaklings—they had even prepared for the possibility of never returning. If they encountered danger and simply activated their jade slips to transmit out, why bother coming at all? If the foe ahead had been a Soul Transformation or Cave Heaven cultivator, nearly impossible to defeat, the daoists would have willingly retreated. But this was merely a Nascent Soul realm higher than the cultivators!

The oncoming frost whipped fiercely. Earlier, caught off guard, it had claimed their fellow daoists. Now, with their magic powers surging, no one froze in the chill.

Jiang Cizhu knew of Liu Lizhu’s odd behavior. The moment she spotted the Demon Shadow manipulating the frost, Liu Lizhu sprang to mind. Even as Liu Lizhu directed the Chongxu Sect daoists to resist the Demon Shadow, Jiang Cizhu couldn’t relax her vigilance.

It was Liu Lizhu who had suggested this route. Was this Demon Shadow connected to her? Was her leading the charge just an act? Once the Demon Shadow vanished, would Liu Lizhu turn on them? By then, with their magic depleted, wouldn’t they be fish on the chopping block?

But—

Jiang Cizhu turned her head and saw Yan Zhichuan winking at them.

She understood instantly. They could go all out now—Yan Zhichuan’s refined Ascending Dragon Dao-Protecting Pills hadn’t been fully used yet!

Streaks of colorful treasure lights soared through the cold winds and frost, clashing back and forth. The daoists cultivating physical strength had vigorous blood qi, purely resisting the storm with their bodies, gradually pushing to the front. Behind them were cultivators of killing sword arts—stronger in offense than the physical daoists, but more fragile themselves. In the center were the medical cultivators. The Miracle Hand Sect daoists excelled with flying needles, silver lights flashing as they healed the wounded and attacked the Demon Shadow.

Yan Zhichuan stayed among the medical cultivators. While curiously observing the eerie Demon Shadow, she deftly refined Blood Coagulation Pills, Yuan Restoration Pills, and others. Not far away, the Demon-Luring Lamp lay on the ground, manipulated by a Miracle Hand Sect daoist. Its light illuminated a patch, gradually expanding outward, drawing out the demonic qi bit by bit from the injured daoists who had fallen back.

A group of Golden Core daoists encircling a single Nascent Soul Demon Shadow had a solid chance of victory. The crimson glow in the Demon Shadow’s eyes gradually dimmed, and even the wailing roars of the winds it whipped up weakened. Magic power drained quickly in the storm, but the medical cultivators were there.

The Demon Shadow seemed to realize this. Two crimson points in the black shadow lit up like lanterns. A shrill screech suddenly stretched high and long. The massive Demon Shadow twisted and shattered, instantly splitting into a hundred streaks of black light that shot toward the gaps.

“Watch out!” The warning rang in their ears as the Demon Shadows blotted out the sky like dark clouds, stealing their vision in an instant.

The Miracle Hand Sect daoist’s heart leaped to her throat. The cultivator holding the Demon-Luring Lamp for the wounded hurriedly swung its light, covering the Demon Shadow that had broken through to the innermost layer. Her magic was limited, however, and prolonged exertion left her faltering. The lamp light stretched outward—then pop, like a deflating balloon, it suddenly contracted inward.

At the critical moment, Yan Zhichuan pushed forward her Medicine God Cauldron. The Nameless Plainness on her back shing-ed out of its sheath. Sword light swirled, and the gurgling sound of tidal waves rose, as if rivers flooded and waters surged. The sword light flowed like a gentle stream, yet endless and vast. Sword qi coiled, swallowing the nearest Demon Shadow in the blink of an eye.

It was the third style of the Sword of Nine Abyss—Flowing Water.

The Demon Shadow could only be dispersed by the Demon-Luring Lamp, but by the time they regrouped, the daoists had rushed back to aid, firmly shielding the medical cultivators behind them.

The demonic bird shadow in the glacier fell into a weakened state—a prime chance to strike. Liu Lizhu didn’t notice whose sword style it was and assumed it was Zhan Yujie coming to the rescue. She took the Demon-Luring Lamp from the Miracle Hand Sect daoist and ignited its flame. With her high cultivation, the lamp blaze surged, instantly blazing like a fierce sun, melting the frost and Demon Shadows alike. Under the light’s cover, wisps of demonic qi from the daoists’ wounds drifted like smoke, gradually drawn into the lamp.

“These Demon Shadows we encounter are getting stronger,” a Miracle Hand Sect daoist sighed.

Zhan Yujie lowered her eyes and asked casually, “Didn’t Fellow Daoist Liu scout the terrain earlier? No anomalies here?”

Liu Lizhu had expended much magic powering the Demon-Luring Lamp; her face was deathly pale, her body radiating fragile vulnerability. At Zhan Yujie’s words, she merely frowned slightly.

But the Chongxu Sect daoists bristled, glaring unkindly at Zhan Yujie. “What do you mean by that? Are you saying we deliberately led everyone here?”

Zhan Yujie stared straight at Liu Lizhu. “Just offhand, Fellow Daoist. Why so hasty?”

Chongxu Sect daoist: “You—”

The other daoists fell silent as quails, not wanting to get dragged into the feud between sects. Finally, Jie Tianxuan stepped in to mediate, changing the subject. “Demon Shadows haunt this area—our friends in the cave might have encountered them too. We handled the demonic qi with this Demon-Luring Lamp. Without such a tool in the cave, aren’t they in dire straits?”

“Yeah.” The silent daoists, seeing Jie Tianxuan speak up, began easing the tension.

Jie Tianxuan added, “Who knows what lies ahead. Everyone, take some pills to restore your vital energy first.”

The Chongxu Sect lacked a Medicine Peak like Nine Abyss Sect and relied on Miracle Hand Sect for pills, so they gave Jie Tianxuan face.

Zhan Yujie arched a brow but said no more.

Yan Zhichuan stood beside Zhan Yujie, eyes darting about. When their gazes met, she flashed an innocent, obedient smile.

The Heavenly Dao System flapped its wings, perched on Yan Zhichuan’s shoulder.

Liu Lizhu was a Demon Cultivator—did that make Yan Zhichuan a good one? Hardly!

It had witnessed Yan Zhichuan pull a switcheroo, slipping a Demon Disguise Pill into the medicine the Miracle Hand Sect prepared for Liu Lizhu!

“Where’d you learn that?” The Heavenly Dao System couldn’t believe Yan Zhichuan had such sleight of hand.

Yan Zhichuan: “Nine Abyss Sect kitchens.”

Heavenly Dao System: “…”

Liu Lizhu wouldn’t suspect the Miracle Hand Sect daoists.

Before her harvest, the medically skilled Miracle Hand Sect cultivators were crucial—more valuable than even her Chongxu Sect juniors.

She had indeed taken some wounds battling the Demon Shadow. She concealed her aura with a artifact from Sky Nether City, even cultivating orthodox Xuanmen techniques. It was a treasure-grade artifact called the Imperial Median Edict Seal, refined by a Dao Fruit Realm cultivator long ago.

In ancient times when immortals and demons coexisted, some cultivated both—requiring balance of internal energies. After that daoist perished, the artifact fell to the Demon Clan. With their lord’s awakening, the seal reemerged. But not everyone could endure its imprint—cases like hers were rare. Most hidden in Xuanmen had taken a Heartless Pill refined by some Xuanmen daoist.

After the Imperial Median Edict Seal’s imprint, she needed balanced energies. Damage to her orthodox pure qi could unleash the hidden demonic qi, so she took spirit pills to nurture her vital energy.

Unobtrusively, Yan Zhichuan tugged Zhan Yujie back a couple steps.

Jiang Cizhu traveled with them, clearly trusting them more.

Chang Zhi was chatting with the furry one.

Little Fat Chirp suddenly pecked Chang Zhi, warning her that something big was wrong.

Chang Zhi paled in shock. Another Demon Shadow?

But no new Demon Shadow appeared. Instead, Liu Lizhu—surrounded by Chongxu Sect daoists—suddenly erupted with thick demonic qi. Wild demonic energy shattered the surrounding ice shards, her body cloaked in an ominous aura even creepier than the demonic bird.

Liu Lizhu’s heart jolted, her expression changing drastically.

Had the artifact failed? No— she was still circulating Xuanmen techniques. Where had this demonic qi come from?

Bewildered, Liu Lizhu stood frozen while the other daoists panicked, retreating with hands on their artifacts.

“Senior Sister?” The Chongxu Sect daoists paled, not suspecting demonic fall, but cried anxiously, “Senior Sister’s invaded by demonic qi? The lamp! Where’s the Demon-Luring Lamp?” A Chongxu Sect cultivator frantically activated it, but the light over Liu Lizhu did nothing to her demonic qi.

The Chongxu Sect daoist stiffened.

The Demon-Luring Lamp worked against Demon Creatures, Demon Cultivators, Demon Shadows, and their qi—but not if the demonic qi arose from within. Had her demonic thoughts overwhelmed her?

“So Fellow Daoist Liu deliberately led us to the Demon Shadows?” Zhan Yujie’s Azure Bamboo Staff struck the ice plains, ringing with metallic clash.

Chongxu Sect daoist glared furiously at Jiang Cizhu. “What nonsense is that?”

Jie Tianxuan frowned, unease mounting.

She suddenly recalled Yan Zhichuan’s earlier jest.

What if Liu Lizhu was a Demon Cultivator?

But Liu Lizhu—

Chongxu Sect’s proud daughter. How could she fall to demonhood?

The Chongxu Sect daoists trusted Liu Lizhu, stood by her—but the others didn’t.

Even those she’d saved now shuddered at the demonic qi swirling around her.

Chang Zhi muttered, “By Nine Summers Continent rules, no matter the reason—demonic fall means execution.”

For orthodox Xuanmen fallen to the demonic path, death was a mercy.

Her words thickened the air.

Liu Lizhu met Zhan Yujie’s icy gaze and sneered, “Nice move, Fellow Daoist Zhan.”

The daoists turned to Zhan Yujie.

Zhan Yujie pursed her lips, disgust flickering in her eyes.

Yan Zhichuan blinked innocently. “You mean my senior sister forced you to lead us to the Nascent Soul Demon Shadow? Forced you into becoming a Demon Cultivator? Oh, right—you said she tried to kill you before. This all… self-directed drama to avenge your junior sisters?”

The daoists turned back to Liu Lizhu.

Right—Chongxu Sect and Nine Abyss Sect’s grudge stemmed from Chongxu Sect’s fault.

“Since when is Chongxu Sect so petty? Truly shaming your ancestors. That incident involved three sects, yet Miracle Hand Sect never feuded with us Nine Abyss.” Yan Zhichuan complained, rambling on. “Chongxu Sect disregards ancestral honor—have they all betrayed their masters?”

“Ew, Chongxu Sect’s turned into a Demon Sect outpost in our Xuanmen!”

Yan Zhichuan’s mouth unleashed a barrage like beads on a string, turning the Chongxu Sect daoists’ faces iron-gray with rage.

“Speaking of, Chongxu Sect shares ancestry with Nine Abyss Sect’s founder. If Chongxu Sect harbors Demon Creatures, then Nine Abyss Sect will righteously exterminate our own kin and enforce heaven’s will!” Yan Zhichuan declared righteously, stepping back and shoving Zhan Yujie forward.

How could Zhan Yujie not guess Yan Zhichuan was behind this? Liu Lizhu, disguised as Xuanmen daoist, wouldn’t reveal herself lightly. Likely, Yan Zhichuan fed her the timed Demon Disguise Pill—they needed to deal with her quickly.

“After you.” Zhan Yujie wasted no words, urging her sword light forward in a cascade of cold, dazzling radiance.

Liu Lizhu still didn’t know the source of her change. She could explain to Chongxu Sect, but Nine Abyss was there—they wouldn’t let her go. Mind racing, she flashed Zhan Yujie a mocking smile. “Vital energy unrestored—you think you’re my match?” She pointed, and swirling sword lights scattered like falling stars toward Zhan Yujie.

The other daoists hesitated, not acting.

Liu Lizhu’s demonization was obvious, but Chongxu Sect glared daggers.

Was Liu Lizhu truly a Demon Cultivator? If so, why save them?