Chapter 23

Bai Ren Shan's eyes drooped at the corners, growing ever more kind, "A Li, sigh…"

The Jadeite Sect members all rose up in anger, "No wonder they're so vicious! Turns out she's a demoness!"

Su Chacha covered her mouth in disbelief, "How could it be, senior sister she—she—"

"Sure enough, she's a venomous demoness; fortunately we discovered her early, otherwise we junior disciples would be worn to death by her."

"Hum!"

"Hum! …"

On the Xuan Terrace, the demon-testing pillars darkened one after another, turning completely black.

By the time the fifth pillar was reached, the Xuan Envoy stood up, eyes showing alarm.

The scene also fell silent—once six demon pillars darken, it means a great demon lord!

"Her demonic nature is this terrifying!" the crowd murmured in discussion.

The commander of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Great Zhou Regent Prince, furrowed his brows.

The sect leader of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect also showed a grave expression, having thought Bai Ren Shan was up to some trick, but now it seems not?

"Hum!"

The sixth demon-testing pillar also darkened.

Shen Kuo pressed his thin lips tightly, the power of his bloodline already faintly stirred within him!

"Old Shen, what are you doing?" Shen Jin propped his elbow on Shen Kuo's shoulder, "It's fine."

Shen Kuo remained ramrod straight, his whole body tense, fearing someone might give Shen Qingli trouble—he had to protect her.

Beside him, Zhan Yue Feng wore a look of astonishment, "A demonic little junior sister? Is it really that exciting?"

"What excitement for you!" Liu Meng glared unhappily at Ji Wanxing, the giant sword at her back faintly humming, "They're scheming against the little junior sister!"

The Heavenly Star Sect group had no suspicions, all clenching their fists and rubbing their palms, ready to rescue! Ji Wanxing said, "Don't rush, keep watching."

Shen Jin glanced at him at once.

Ji Wanxing smiled faintly and nodded at him.

Shen Jin withdrew his gaze; young in years, he was naturally aloof.

At the same time, the scene erupted in frightened cries, "The seventh pillar has turned black too! What kind of demon is this?"

"The eighth! The ninth—this, this…" No one could remain seated; everyone rose to their feet.

Even Bai Ren Shan furrowed his brows, staring fixedly at the Xuan Terrace; if the demon-testing formation weren't off-limits, he would have rushed in to look.

"Ten!" a terrified, cracked voice rang out; on the Xuan Terrace, all ten demon-testing pillars were utterly black, like ten ink pillars.

The unprecedented sight terrified everyone; the guards of Xuan Mountain had already surrounded the Xuan Terrace, ready to execute the super demon lord.

"The demon god apparition appearing today—could it be meant for this very moment?" someone suddenly said.

Everyone recalled the demonic might that crushed all beings before the Xuan Mountain grand formation opened, and their faces darkened.

It turned out to be an omen that among this generation's young disciples lay a super demon lord.

"This demon-testing formation is quite interesting; I'd guess anyone who steps up would register as a demon."

Shen Qingli's voice slowly emerged from the demon-testing formation.

Everyone immediately tensed up!

"Female demon lord! Surrender at once!"

Gu Cihe shouted loudly, he had been waiting for this day for a long time!

The insults and contempt Shen Qingli once heaped upon him today must be repaid.

He is clearly the eldest legitimate son of the prestigious Gu family, his parents both extraordinarily gifted, yet she constantly suppressed him, saying his talent was ordinary and that only diligent hard training, painstaking tempering, could improve his physique and earn him a place among the outstanding.

But when Shen Qingli stepped out of the demon-testing formation, Shen Kuo instantly appeared before her!

Ji Wanxing, Liu Meng, and the others followed, appearing in quick succession.

"What do you intend?" the Xuan Envoy demanded.

"Someone tampered with the demon-testing pillar," Liu Meng said bluntly.

The Xuan Envoy angrily rebuked, "The demon-testing pillars are under our guard—are you questioning us Xuan Envoys?"

Liu Meng indeed was, she wasn't afraid to speak plainly, but Shen Qingli stopped her, "Xuan Envoy, please look carefully—I've been out for a while, and the formation shows no change; is there a problem?"

Following Shen Qingli's gesture, the Xuan Envoy saw that the ten demon-testing pillars remained black. He paused, told the guards not to act rashly, and began inspecting the formation.

During his inspection, the demon-testing pillars inside the formation showed no change, as if a super demon lord still lingered within.

"What's going on?"

"Can the demon-testing pillars even malfunction?"

"Impossible! It's a treasure from ancient times to the present."

Gu Cihe, hearing all around, felt a surge of agitation and couldn't help shouting, "It must be Shen Qingli tampering with the formation! Causing the demonic aura inside the pillars not to disperse—given how heavy her demonic energy is, that wouldn't be hard."

That sounded plausible, but as soon as he finished speaking, the black on the demon-testing pillars faded away until it vanished.

Shen Qingli immediately said, "Xuan Envoy, I have a suggestion: let the Jadeite Sect disciples come up for a test, especially the loudest speaker, Gu Cihe—let him go in and try, and we'll know."

The Xuan Envoy said nothing, currently consulting with another Xuan Envoy.

Gu Cihe had already retorted angrily, "Shen Qingli, what's your motive? You've fallen into demonhood—I haven't!"

"Gu Cihe, right? Come up." said the Xuan Envoy after finishing discussion with his colleague.

Gu Cihe's face instantly changed, "Sir Xuan Envoy."

"Come forward." the Xuan Envoy flicked his sleeve; in truth he had long been annoyed by this noisy junior, but his rank restrained him from making a fuss.

Now, with a sweep of his sleeve, the Xuan Envoy sent Gu Cihe into the demon-testing formation.

Zhao Yue couldn't even stop him in time, blurting, "The Xuan Envoy acting like this isn't proper, is it?"

"We are in the midst of verification; since he's talked so much, letting him try first is no harm—saves us from his noise."

The Mysterious Envoy spoke bluntly, and the clamor fell silent! I almost forgot—the Mysterious Mountain envoys are all incredibly strong!

Although they had always been gentle, their cultivation was evident; once angered, no one dared to provoke them further.

However, the crowd's silence didn't last long—the demon-testing array's pillars stirred and also turned black!

"Has Gu Cihe also gone demon?"

"This..."

Bai Ren Shan's fingers, gripping his sleeve, twitched slightly.

Zhao Yue had already turned her head to look at him!

Shen Qingli had been observing them; upon seeing these small gestures, the contempt at the corner of her lips grew stronger.

"One person might be mistaken; please, Mysterious Envoy, have all the Blue Jade Sect disciples go for testing."

Bai Ren Shan looked at her with eyes like lightning, a warning hidden in his gaze!

If it were an ordinary Mysterious Scholar, that glance alone could make her kneel! After all, he is a Mysterious Venerable powerhouse; his divine pressure is something even Zhao Yue can't withstand, let alone juniors.

But Shen Qingli was completely unaffected, saying, "Mysterious Envoy, what do you think?"

"That's how it should be." The Mysterious Envoy had already judged the situation; his gaze toward the Blue Jade Sect grew sharper, and Bai Ren Shan silently thought, "Not good!"

The Mysterious Envoy, however, swept his wide sleeves and sent Su Chacha and the other Blue Jade Sect disciples one by one onto the Mysterious Platform! After a "ruckus," the demon-testing results for all the Blue Jade Sect disciples were—fallen demon!

However, no one was like Shen Qingli, whose all ten pillars turned black. Normally only three pillars blacken, but even three pillars indicate falling into demonic cultivation.

"Mysterious Envoy, the entire Blue Jade Sect, top to bottom, has likely fallen into demonic cultivation; they should all be killed."

Shen Qingli smiled and made the proposal; Bai Ren Shan and the others' faces turned green!

That Peak Master Xu flew into a rage and shouted, "You demon! You must have tampered with the formation! Prepare to die!"

As the words fell, a medicinal cauldron came hurtling toward Shen Qingli, clearly aiming to smash her skull and kill her on the spot.