Chapter 153: Clearing the Air and Catching the Internal Traitor

"I was just saying that the medicine smelled familiar, and to think it actually contained Nine-leaf Chonglou; so it was formulated by my mother," Lingxiang said with a smile.

Hearing this, True Person Xuanhuai smiled: "No wonder you asked about this medicine earlier; it turns out you knew all along."

"It doesn't count as knowing," Lingxiang said, pulling a bottle from her robes—the very one she had swiped from Bai Yang's room—"It's just a bit strange. This medicine could clearly be made into pills, so there would be no need to take it every few days. Why did my mother give the True Person such a semi-finished product?"

True Person Xuanhuai let out a heavy sigh upon hearing this: "Back then, Tumi Fairy did indeed say this medicine was only half-finished and required one more ingredient to be made into pills. It was just that the ingredient was too rare and extremely difficult to obtain; she hadn't found it yet, so she never had the chance to finish refining this medicine."

"Later, because of the sealing of the ancient evil demon Zhuyan, my master lost his life on the battlefield, and for some reason, Tumi Fairy suddenly went into seclusion, so the matter was left unsettled."

Why Tumi Fairy later went into seclusion and lived for so long at the Yuanqing Sect remains unknown to this day. Even when I mentioned this to Chiyanzi a few days ago, he wasn't very clear about it either, only saying that he himself had been driven away by Tumi Fairy back then.

True Person Fuyin had never met Tumi Fairy, but a portrait of the former Sect Leader hung in his cellar; it was said to have been painted by his master himself for Tumi Fairy back in the day. She was indeed a beauty rarely seen in the Chenjian, but according to the Sect Leader, although the painting captured Tumi Fairy's appearance, it lacked much of her true grace.

Back when he had just saved Xiaomaidong, Junior Brother Danyang had come running back to the inn, stumbling and breathless, saying he had heard of the Yuanqing catastrophe in the market, which was why everyone had rushed back to Jiuque Mountain.

It is just that many things within it are truly difficult to investigate.

What exactly happened back then? Although the Sect Leader and the others experienced it firsthand, they kept their lips sealed and never revealed a single word, even ordering Hanyang and the others not to speak out of turn.

It is truly strange indeed.

As True Person Fuyin frowned, he heard Lingxiang laugh softly: "No wonder there is so much Rhodiola in my Qingwei Peak herb field; it was for you all along."

True Person Xuanhuai was startled upon hearing this. Could it be that Tumi Fairy had not forgotten about the Kunwu Secret Medicine back then?

"Rhodiola is indeed a difficult medicinal material to get one's hands on. Firstly, its maturation cycle is too long, and secondly, it must be grown in a specific location to exert its efficacy. I imagine my mother chose to go into seclusion at Qingwei Peak back then because she intended to cultivate this medicine in large quantities to fulfill the promise made years ago," Lingxiang said, resting her chin on one hand and looking at the still-distracted True Person Xuanhuai:

"How about it? If you tell me the way to Yunmeng Marsh, I will root out the Demon Race hidden in the Kunwu Sect for you, and I will also refine this medicine into pills."

"This kind of deal—your Kunwu Sect only stands to gain and never lose, what is there to hesitate about?"

Watching Lingxiang wink at him, True Person Xuanhuai fell into deep thought, then frowned and asked: "Why do you want to go to Yunmeng Marsh?"

Lingxiang smiled, picked up the kettle on the table to pour herself a cup of water, then lifted the tea cup and blew on it; even so, the steam from the tea still misted her face.

"Naturally, it is for that unfinished 'Huitian' pill."

Lingxiang took a sip of the hot tea in her hand, but her thoughts drifted back into that painting along with the rising steam...

"Back then, many in the Daoist Sect did not know why Tumi Fairy went into seclusion; in fact, it was because of the Huitian pill," the painting spirit said, ignoring the expression on Lingxiang's face.

Back then, Tumi Fairy ventured into Yunmeng Marsh alone, and the Huitian pill was refined in Yunmeng Marsh. But for some reason, the efficacy of this Huitian pill was not ideal; although it could help heal wounds, it could not bring the dead back to life, and it didn't even have the ability of the Life-Prolonging Pill to save someone on the verge of death.

And not long after she left Yunmeng Marsh, one day, she settled down at the Yuanqing Sect.

"But the strange thing is... she clearly refined three Huitian pills back then. One was used to test the efficacy, one was used on you, and the last one has been missing ever since."

Lingxiang was shocked upon hearing this: "You mean to say that what the Demon Race is still searching for is not the lost Life-Prolonging Pill, but that one Huitian pill?!"

The painting spirit shook its head: "I am not clear on that. Back then, the current Demon Lord did indeed follow Tumi Fairy for a long time and knew she was refining the Huitian pill, but he should not have known that Tumi Fairy had already succeeded in refining it. After all, she went to Yunmeng Marsh all by herself back then, with no one following her."

Lingxiang suddenly realized at this moment that the reason the Demon Lord slaughtered the Three Great Demon-Exterminating Families of the Chenjian was not for the Life-Prolonging Pill in their hands, but for that final Huitian.

However, her mother had not told anyone that she had finished refining the Huitian. The reason the Demon Lord knew was because of her own resurrection, which confirmed that her mother must have refined the Huitian pill back then, only no one knew where it was hidden.

That's it, that's it; all the tragedies were because of this Huitian pill!

No wonder that Huitian pill was marked with the Suspended Thread Technique; it was only because this pill required...

It required a life for a life!

True Person Fuyin could not see Lingxiang's face, nor did he know what kind of scheme she was plotting. Although he had never heard of any Huitian pill before, he figured Tumi Fairy must not have finished it. If even someone with Tumi Fairy's cultivation could not refine it, how could Lingxiang possibly do it?

Besides, for something that can bring the dead back to life, even the Da Luo Immortals beyond the heavens must consider the timing, the location, and the people. How could it be achieved with just this mere pill?

Furthermore, why does Lingxiang want to refine Huitian? Could it be...

Could it be that she wants to resurrect Tumi Fairy!?

But...

But the tomb of Tumi Fairy within the sect...

At the thought of this, True Person Fuyin immediately panicked and was about to speak, but he heard True Person Xuanhuai sigh:

"Child, there is no such thing as a resurrection medicine in this world. Even the Divine Pill of Doushuai Palace that saved the King of Wuji Kingdom only did so because a Dingyan Pill preserved his physical body, and then his soul was summoned from Fengdu. How much effort was spent to go up to heaven and down to earth? Nowadays, Spirit Roots are scarce in the Chenjian; who can enter the Yellow Springs and still return unscathed?"

These words truly spoke to True Person Fuyin's heart, and he hurriedly agreed, only to receive an eye-roll from Lingxiang.

"Who said I wanted to resurrect anyone? I'm just a bit unconvinced," Lingxiang said, setting down her tea cup. "Since my mother couldn't refine 'Huitian' until her death, if I can refine it, firstly, it would prove that I can use this as a turning point to continue my cultivation, and secondly, who knows, perhaps the Huitian pill can repair this Residual Spirit Root."

Once these words were spoken, True Person Fuyin felt a bit relieved, but True Person Xuanhuai was horrified.

"What did you say? You... you have a Residual Spirit Root?"

"Look at you, making such a fuss," Lingxiang said, picking up the tea cup again, though the tea inside had cooled down. "What's wrong with a Residual Spirit Root? What's so strange about it?"

"It's not that a Residual Spirit Root is strange, but since you have a Residual Spirit Root, how were you able to use the Witchcraft of Spirit Substitution from such a distance?" True Person Xuanhuai asked.

Hearing this, True Person Fuyin's expression darkened. He knew better than anyone why Lingxiang was able to use so many types of Witchcraft; those mountain rocks on Qingwei Peak could best testify to Lingxiang's suffering...

Wait...

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Did Lingxiang just use the Witchcraft of Spirit Substitution?

"You used a Blood Talisman?" True Person Fuyin walked up to Lingxiang in shock, grabbed her wrist, and took her pulse. "Do you know the dangers of a Blood Talisman! How can you be so reckless!"

Lingxiang struggled and broke free from True Person Fuyin's hand: "Hey, Sixth Senior Brother, why make such a fuss? Whether I use a Blood Talisman or not, what difference does it make to live one day more or one day less? But if this Huitian pill can be refined successfully, and it happens to repair my Residual Spirit Root, then what is a day or two worth?"

"But..."

True Person Fuyin wanted to say something more, but True Person Xuanhuai laughed.

"Since you, child, have made such a great sacrifice for our sect and promised the matter of the pills, it would be unreasonable for me not to tell you the way to Yunmeng Marsh. Even if I were to enter the Yellow Springs, I imagine I would have no face to see my master."

Lingxiang smiled upon hearing this: "Since the True Person has promised, then come with me to catch that member of the Demon Race."

True Person Xuanhuai smiled and shook his robes.

"Brother Fuyin truly has a miraculous touch; having slept for so long, it is time to go out for a walk!"

After nightfall, the back mountain of the Kunwu Sect was desolate; few people ever came here, so even the slightest movement could be heard clearly.

And it was precisely amidst this desolation that a man's low growl could be vaguely heard.

"Now that we've lost that pawn, Changpu, how are we to sow discord between Xuanhuai and Xuantan?!"

"What's the rush?" a childish voice rang out. "The human heart is inherently the most fragile thing; a mere crack can topple a city, let alone a tiny Kunwu Sect. You only need to think carefully about how to trick the location of Yunmeng Marsh out of that old immortal Xuanhuai when the time comes."

"What can I do?" the man said, exasperated. "The secret of Yunmeng Marsh has always been passed down by word of mouth from Sect Leader to Sect Leader. If I cannot become the designated successor to the Sect Leader, I cannot know the entrance to Yunmeng Marsh."

Hearing this, the childish voice laughed, the laughter full of mockery: "You really are a pathetic Head Disciple. So many years have passed, and you haven't gained even a shred of trust from that old man Xuanhuai. You've only managed to learn a half-baked version of the Niling Technique, and yet you complain to me. Instead of wasting time on this, you'd be better off going back and thinking about how to pry something useful out of your old immortal master."

It turned out that the male voice was Bai Yang.

And at this moment, the moon, which had been obscured by dark clouds, finally revealed itself. As the clear radiance spilled down, standing before Bai Yang was, surprisingly...

It was Zhuhuang in a yellow robe!

At this moment, there was not a trace of the day's naivety on Zhuhuang's face; instead, it wore a sinister and ruthless expression.

Hearing Zhuhuang's sarcasm, Bai Yang dared not show the slightest displeasure; instead, his face was filled with frustration, as if it were not him that Zhuhuang had just been berating.

"What other way do I have? Although I have been by Master's side since I was a child, he has always refused to teach me more. Even Hongying, who came later, was taught the entire Niling Technique. How can this be my fault?" As Bai Yang spoke, the frustration on his face suddenly turned into violent hatred.

"That old man looks down on me and favors Hongying, actually teaching the Niling Technique to a woman who came later. I suppose he intends to pass the position of Sect Leader to her in the future. Who knows, perhaps that woman already knows the secret of Yunmeng Marsh. Since I cannot get the truth out of that old thing, I might as well start with Hongying!"

The venom in Bai Yang's words was colder than even the chill of the night wind.

Just then, a round of applause was heard not far away, and then a person stepped out from behind an old tree to the side.

"I wonder what Sister Hongying would think if she heard this. She treats this Head Disciple with all her heart, yet she doesn't know that this Head Disciple is a wolf, wishing he could tear her into ten thousand pieces."

Bai Yang was shocked and hurriedly looked toward the sound, only to see Lingxiang strolling over from behind the tree, as if she were just taking a casual walk in the night.

"Why is it you? Why are you here?" Bai Yang asked in alarm.

Lingxiang seemed to disdain answering him; she leaned against the tree and spoke to herself: "I found it strange earlier. You said you saw Daoist Xuantan poisoning True Person Xuanhuai, but you also said you initially thought it was a sect secret medicine. Yet, the moment this secret medicine is opened, one can smell the strong scent of Silver Dan Grass. Even through a window, one would certainly be able to smell it. How could you have mistaken it for a sect secret medicine?"

"Furthermore, regarding the matter of the Life-Prolonging Pill that Changpu heard about, as far as I know, your sect only has three female cultivators, and they all live in the same room. Sister Hongying and she are both female disciples, yet I heard about the Taishang Sect from you, a man. I find it strange—are the female disciples of your sect at odds with each other?"

"And about that sect secret medicine—since you said you thought Daoist Xuantan mixed that secret medicine for True Person Xuanhuai, when I asked you what color it was, you were uncertain, only saying it was probably white. Little did you know that this so-called sect secret medicine is actually brown, made from stir-fried and ground herbs. How did it turn into white?"

Lingxiang laughed as she spoke: "Adding it all up, it can only mean you are lying."

Hearing what Lingxiang said, the usual refined air on Bai Yang's face vanished completely, and he began to cackle hideously: "I didn't expect you to be so clever, able to see through things so thoroughly. But so what? Aren't you still going to die here today?"

Lingxiang, however, showed no sign of panic upon hearing this: "Oh? Are you sure? A half-baked amateur who can't even fully learn the Niling Technique—could you possibly have the ability to kill me?"

Bai Yang's face twitched at her words, and he immediately pointed viciously at Zhuhuang and said: "I may not be able to do anything to you, but she is different. She is..."

"Shut up!" Zhuhuang immediately barked a command to stop him.

Seeing her like this, Lingxiang looked startled: "How... how are you..."

Just as Bai Yang thought Lingxiang was frightened by Zhuhuang, he heard Lingxiang laugh again: "Why are you still wearing this human skin? Could it be that you are afraid of exposing the scars on your body?"

Bai Yang was utterly confused by this and hurriedly looked at Zhuhuang, but Zhuhuang frowned and asked: "When did you find out?"

"I knew from the very beginning," Lingxiang said, standing up straight. "You have no pulse, yet you can live in this world as peacefully as a human. The only ones capable of doing this are the most orthodox of the demon kind."