Chapter 22

Zhao Yue understood this perfectly, but she did not stop it, and even gave Shen Qingli a cold, mocking snort.

In her view, this was all Shen Qingli's own doing; she had already given this wicked girl countless chances to mend her ways.

But the wicked girl repeatedly defied her, not only that, she grew ever closer to Shen Kuo, that fickle scoundrel, and to that lowborn wretch, even joining forces to anger her—so she cannot be blamed for being ruthless.

Seeing her demeanor, Shen Kuo felt a jolt of alarm and grabbed Shen Qingli, who was about to step onto the Profound Terrace, saying, "A Li, you cannot go."

"The stands are all set up, so don't block me," Shen Jin said. "As for those petty tricks, rest assured, I've taken care of them."

"You arranged it?" Shen Kuo's face twitched slightly. "What have you arranged?"

Shen Jin scratched his head. "Plenty of things. Anyway, I won't let my sister suffer."

These past days he's been really busy, doing this and that, finally waiting for today; he couldn't let Old Shen interfere.

Shen Qingli's eyes flashed with an odd light. "What did you do? You'd better not cause me trouble, or I won't spare you."

"How dare I?" Shen Jin smirked, but seeing Pei Jianshu approach, he instantly changed his expression to one of extreme coldness and aloofness.

Shen Qingli stared blankly for a moment, then heard Pei Jianshu's voice from behind: "Shen Qingli."

Turns out it was the sight of an ill-omened person.

Shen Qingli raised her hand and pinched Shen Jin's cheek.

Shen Jin's face immediately fell, and he glared at her dissatisfiedly.

Shen Qingli had already turned her back, looking toward Pei Jianshu, who keenly caught the fondness and amusement in her eyes, leaving him momentarily dazed.

Before, she had always looked at Gu Cihe and Bai Li Chongtong that way; when looking at him, there was less fondness and more the delighted admiration of a youth for his beloved.

Now, there is none.

In the instant their gazes met, the warmth in the depths of her eyes turned entirely to cold stillness.

"Young Master Pei, do you have something?" Shen Qingli asked calmly.

Pei Jianshu frowned slightly, feeling uneasy inside. "Must you speak like that?"

Seeing that he had come to pick a fight, Shen Qingli lazily ignored him. "If there's nothing, then I'll take my leave."

Having said that, she walked toward the Profound Terrace, where a demon-verification array had already been set up.

"What exactly is your relationship with the Heavenly Star Sect?" Pei Jianshu asked.

Shen Qingli was surprised; she hadn't yet said anything about it to outsiders, so how did Pei Jianshu guess?

"Of course, she's our junior martial sister," Liu Meng's voice called from afar and drew nearer, confirming Pei Jianshu's speculation.

Shen Qingli was even more astonished, especially when she saw Liu Meng arriving together with Li Yidao, Zhan Yuefeng, and their master and sect leader; she...

She didn't even know what to say.

Liu Meng, however, continued on her own: "I originally thought the junior martial sister said she wouldn't spread it outside because her ties with your Azure Jade Sect weren't yet clear.

I never expected the junior martial sister to have never joined the Azure Jade Sect, and the sect never regarded her as one of its own. What are we waiting for? Junior martial sister, come, come, let's get acquainted."

Liu Meng turned to introduce: "This is our sect master; this is my master, also the sect's great elder. This person is the second elder, and also the master of your second senior brother Li Yidao. By the way, I'm the eldest senior sister!"

"I am the third senior brother," Zhan Yuefeng introduced himself. "And there's my master, the third elder."

"You're Xiao Qingli, aren't you?" said the Heavenly Star Sect's sect master, Ji Wanxing, stroking his beard with a smile. "Not bad, not bad."

Shen Qingli felt utterly confused. "Not bad what?" she thought. She looked like just a mystic cultivator, about to undergo demon verification—where was the merit?

"A Li, this is..." Shen Kuo had no idea his daughter had already joined another sect; his heart felt a bit sour, and he couldn't help asking, "Did you meet them on Profound Mountain?" He probably hadn't had the chance to tell her yet.

Shen Qingli shook her head. "I met them before entering the mountain."

Shen Kuo fell silent.

Shen Qingli still asked for confirmation: "Sect Master Ji, are you truly willing to take me into your sect?"

"Hah, really desperate for people!" Gu Cihe suddenly interjected sharply. "A demonic seed that went berserk, defied his mother, and betrayed his ruler and teacher—yet you're rushing to take on disciples. Heavenly Star Sect, you truly live up to being a degenerate, low-tier sect of the Xuanti Continent."

"Gu Cihe, you must not be rude to your elders," Zhao Yue scolded.

Gu Cihe immediately apologized: "Yes, Master. Sect Master Ji, I was rash just now and blurted out the truth unintentionally; please forgive me."

"It's fine," Ji Wanxing said, not caring at all, still smiling narrowly at Shen Qingli. "Little Meng said you want to join my Heavenly Star Sect, right?"

Shen Qingli opened her mouth but had not yet spoken.

Ji Wanxing nodded. "I understand; I agree. You are now our Heavenly Star Sect's hundredth-generation junior disciple. As for your master, we'll choose one after you enter the sect."

"Ah?" Shen Qingli doubted whether she had just spoken, though she clearly hadn't; had she answered?

"Sect Master Ji," Shen Kuo also felt it was hasty, "Your sect—"

"Are you Xiao Qingli's father, Daoist Shen?" Ji Wanxing interrupted Shen Kuo's words. "Indeed, you bear the markings of a dragon and the beauty of a phoenix—no wonder you have such an outstanding daughter; why not also join my Heavenly Star Sect?"

"And me," Shen Jin volunteered.

Ji Wanxing looked at him and smiled. "If Daoist Shen is willing, that would be excellent."

"I am willing," Shen Jin said naturally. "Wherever my sister goes, I go."

Shen Kuo, "... also good."

"Hahaha!" Ji Wanxing laughed heartily. "Today is truly a great fortune for my Heavenly Star Sect."

"Are you crazy?" Zhao Yue gave Shen Kuo a cold glance. "Have you repaid what you owe the Azure Jade Sect?"

"Holy Maiden Zhao would do better to consult her own master," Shen Kuo said with an extremely indifferent expression. "If it weren't for A Li, I would have left the Azure Jade Sect long ago; now that A Li has a place to go, I will naturally follow her."

Upon hearing this, Bai Ren Shan could not stay seated. "Peak Master Shen, this matter should be carefully considered. The Supreme Elder has not issued any directive; acting this way may violate sect rules."

"Ridiculous," Shen Kuo sneered. "The Azure Jade Sect was never my sect; it merely saved me thanks to Supreme Elder Su long ago, and I agreed to serve as a tribute for ten years."

"For over ten years I have taken nothing from your sect; the debt of gratitude has been repaid. Yet you insult my daughter like this and still expect me to continue serving?"

Bai Ren Shan's eyes were icy, yet his tone remained gentle. "It seems Peak Master Shen is also deceived by A Li. Well then, let's first look at the demon-verification result. A Li..."

He wanted to call Shen Qingli onto the platform immediately, without further delay!

Unexpectedly, Shen Qingli had already stepped into the demon-verification array; ten demon-verification pillars burst with flowing light, drawing everyone's attention.

"How do you read these pillars?" Liu Meng said; this was her first time watching a demon verification, and she had never paid attention to the relevant records before—if she had known earlier, she would have learned more.

「Verification demon pillar is a supreme treasure passed down from ancient times, extremely sensitive to demonic qi. Normally, when a verification demon pillar shows a black gleam, it indicates demonic corruption. 」

「In earlier years, it was said that a demon lurked inside the verification demon pillar, and the test showed all six verification demon pillars turning black. That person is none other than the current Demonic Sect Sect Leader, Peng Chenyang. 」 Ji Wanxing said leisurely.

On the Mysterious Terrace, the verification demon pillar suddenly darkened!

One of them, shifting from radiant flowing light, turned pure black!

「Has fallen into demonic corruption! 」

「Shen Qingli has truly succumbed to demonic corruption! 」