4/10

━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

While Qin Zhou ventured into the dense forest to gather fire-stink grass, unrest began to stir within the Thousand Machinery Divine Sect of the upper realm.

The reason was simple.

The Great Demon Lord had arrived.

Standing at the sect’s entrance in his divine essence form, Wen Jue sent the disciples of the Thousand Mechanisms Divine Sect fleeing in terror. They rushed deeper into the sect while screaming, “The Demon Lord is here!”

“Activate the sect’s protective array immediately!”

“The Demon Lord Wen Jue has arrived!”

The disciples of the Thousand Machinery Divine Sect ran so fast that none stopped to hear Wen Jue speak.

He opened his mouth, then closed it again.

Never mind.

Among the myriad sects of the upper realm, the Thousand Machinery Divine Sect’s overall combat strength didn’t even rank in the top twenty. If not for their proficiency in the art of prophecy, they would likely have long since become an obscure, forgotten minor sect.

It was only natural that these weaklings fled at the sight of him.

Wen Jue advanced slowly, ascending the stone steps one by one.

How long had it been since his last visit?

Nearly a millennium, perhaps.

Though situated beyond the realm’s conflicts, the Thousand Machinery Divine Sect occupied one of the upper realm’s few regions abundant in spiritual energy.

With its verdant mountains and clear waters, the Thousand Machinery Divine Sect was indeed an excellent place for recuperation. At least for cultivators, it served as a decent retirement haven.

As Wen Jue completed the ascent of the white jade-paved steps, the main hall of the Thousand Machinery Divine Sect came into view.

At that moment, the sect master finally appeared, his urgency palpable. Upon confirming it was indeed Wen Jue, the half-frozen dread in his heart turned to complete despair.

The disciples trailing behind the sect master all froze upon seeing the radiant figure.

This is Wen Jue?

The top-ranked demonic tyrant on the Heaven-Piercing List?

The junior disciples present had never seen Wen Jue before, so they didn’t know that the legendary figure behind the demonic sect actually looked like this.

The cultivation world was full of strikingly handsome figures—take the Alchemist of Apricot Grove, who had visited recently, for instance. His very presence felt like a sacrilege to behold.

But Wen Jue was different. He was a demonic fiend!

All heads bowed in unison, daring not to look. Yet inwardly they wondered: If this man weren’t Wen Jue… with that white robe and that face, how many cultivators would he drive mad?

“Wen Jue… what brings you to our Divine Sect?” The Sect Master tapped his fingertips nervously. Was it too late to send a distress signal to the Sword Sect now?

After surveying the surroundings, Wen Jue stated bluntly, “I seek Lu Shisi.”

The Supreme Elder?

Cold sweat broke out on the Sect Master’s brow. “Wen Jue, the Thousand Machinery Divine Sect does not welcome you…”

Wen Jue arched an eyebrow. “Unwelcome? Then I shall force my way in.”

Sect Master: !

Gritting his teeth, the Sect Master demanded, “What business do you have with my sect’s Supreme Elder?”

If he intended anything toward the Supreme Elder, he’d have to get past them first!

Wen Jue grew impatient. “Enough of this nonsense.”

Wen Jue raised his hand in a gesture, spiritual energy radiating from his fingertips. His voice carried through the energy, swiftly spreading throughout the entire Thousand Machinery Divine Sect—

“Lu Shisi, if you don’t come out to see me, I’ll slaughter everyone in your Thousand Machinery Divine Sect today.” He curved his lips, the malice in his eyes not meant to bluff.

The Thousand Machinery Divine Sect’s Sect Master immediately drew his sword. “Wen Jue, cease your arrogance! Do you think no one in this world can restrain you?”

But the moment his sword left its scabbard, before it could even point at Wen Jue, it shattered with a crack. Fragments of the weapon flew everywhere.

A bloody gash split the side of the sect master’s face.

He hadn’t even… seen how the other had struck.

A chill ran through the sect master’s heart.

He was, after all, a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. Yet he hadn’t even lasted a single move…

“Lu Shisi, I’ll count to three.” The voice echoed out once more.

“Three—”

“No! Start counting from ‘one’!” Lu Shisi’s exasperated voice reached first, followed by his figure abruptly materializing before the master.

Wen Jue narrowed his eyes, fixing him with a stare.

Lu Shisi: “…”

Lu Shisi instinctively wanted to pull his neck back, but remembering his disciples were watching, he steeled himself, puffing out his chest: “Demon Lord, what business do you have with me?”

Wen Jue reached out and grabbed Lu Shisi by the throat.

Sect Master and disciples: No!

Supreme Elder, you’re being foolish! How could you confront the Demon Lord head-on!

“Lu Shisi, I have a matter to discuss with you,” Wen Jue said with a ‘warm’ smile.

Lu Shisi: …He’s being choked! He can’t speak!

“Demon! Do not harm our Supreme Elder! Whatever you wish to know, our Thousand Machinery Stone is at your command! Release our Supreme Elder!” The Sect Master stood as if facing a mortal enemy.

The Thousand Machinery Divine Sect only has this one precious elder! Losing him would be irreplaceable!

His health was already fragile!

A crowd surrounded the two, yet Wen Jue’s aura of spiritual energy kept them at bay, not allowing them to come within an arm’s length.

In desperation, the Sect Master even contemplated a direct assault on Wen Jue to force him to release their Supreme Elder.

“All of you… step back.” Shisi waved his hand, his face flushed crimson before he could utter the words.

He wouldn’t die. He truly wouldn’t die. If Lu Yi truly wanted him dead, he wouldn’t even be breathing right now.

The Sect Master grew even more frantic: “Supreme Elder!”

“Listen to me. Since he has something to ask of me, he dares not strike me down. All of you, step back… Cough.” As he uttered the word ‘ask’, Shisi felt a twinge of unease.

The Sect Master stared intently at Wen Jue for two seconds, seemingly trying to confirm whether he truly had a request for their Supreme Elder.

Countless figures of note in the cultivation world had sought the Supreme Elder’s divination before… yet every one had been courteous. Only this shameless demonic scoundrel…

“Demon scoundrel! If my Supreme Elder suffers even the slightest harm, my Thousand Machinery Divine Sect and all the righteous sects will never let you…”

Before the words had fully left his mouth, Wen Jue had already vanished, taking their Supreme Elder with him.

“…”

After a moment of silence, the Sect Master frowned. “Dispatch a message to the Cangyun Sword Sect immediately! Tell them Wen Jue has taken Elder Shisi away!”

With the secret realm about to open, this demonic fiend, Wen Jue, dared to kidnap their Supreme Elder at such a critical moment. What could he possibly be after!

 ━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

Wen Jue hadn’t actually taken Shisi very far. He’d simply found a random hilltop and tossed him onto the ground.

Landing on his backside, Shisi shot him an incensed glare. “You haven’t graced my Thousand Machinery Divine Sect with your presence in millennia. What wind has blown you here today?”

Wen Jue glanced down at him from above, a smile playing on his lips. “I missed you so I came to see you.”

Shisi shuddered.

Something was off.

Unnatural behavior always signaled trouble. His subconscious screamed that Lu Yi’s attitude felt wrong.

It was exactly like… when he’d smashed the woodcarving he’d made for the village chief as a child. Lu Yi had reacted exactly like this!

But he hadn’t broken anything this time.

“If you have business, just say it…” Shisi stammered, his mind churning in a whirlwind of confusion. He still couldn’t fathom what had possessed Wen Jue to come here like this.

Was this how he threatened a junior disciple he hadn’t seen in millennia? He’d report this to the village chief!

Suddenly, something flashed through Shisi’s mind.

Could it be because of the village chief…?

But before he could ponder further, Wen Jue’s voice reached his ears, laced with a subtle threat: “What is this?”

Shisi watched as Wen Jue pulled a piece of armor from his sleeve.

Only a palm-sized fragment remained, its edges cleanly severed—likely for easier transport.

Clearly visible on that half was the emblem of the Thousand Machinery Divine Sect.

A soaring dragon unfurling its wings in midair.

“The Thousand Machinery Divine Sect’s… armor plate?”

“Doesn’t this armor plate look familiar to you?” Wen Jue sneered coldly.

Shisi: !

He remembered!

“This was meant for…” The word ‘meant’ trailed off as Shisi slowly lifted his head.

The warmth in Wen Jue’s eyes gradually cooled. “Meant for whom?”

“You already know, yet you still ask me!” Shisi gave up, hanging his head dejectedly. “The village chief summoned me first. It wasn’t my choice to be the first one summoned.”

“You can’t take it out on me just because the village chief didn’t summon you first…” Shisi hung his head low. He knew Lu Yi was that kind of person.

Today’s frustration would likely just have to be endured.

Wen Jue’s fingertips trembled slightly: “…”

Truthfully, the seed of suspicion had been planted long ago. The longer he stayed by Qin Zhou’s side, the deeper it took root and sprouted. He just… couldn’t bring himself to believe it.

But now, Shisi’s offhand remark had finally allowed that seed to fully blossom.

Just as expected.

Qin Zhou was the Old Man.

And he had summoned Shisi.

Any previous uncertainty suggesting Qin Zhou might not be the Old Man now felt flimsy and powerless.

Because only the Village Chief possessed the power to summon all villagers.

Wen Jue lowered his gaze.

The truth was clear, yet his mind remained a chaotic whirlpool.

Why hadn’t that man summoned him first upon returning? Why Shisi?

This single question nearly knocked Wen Jue off his feet.

Vanished without a word for millennia.

Returned yet remained utterly silent.

The turbulent waves in Wen Jue’s eyes unsettled even Shisi.

“Isn’t it good the Village Chief is back?” Shisi couldn’t help asking.

Wen Jue: “…It is.”

How could it not be?

How long had he waited for this man? Only he knew the answer. Yet the clearer the answer, the more bitter the taste.

He had worn the hairpin the man had given him all this time, cherishing it for millennia. The object reflected the man himself.

He had once thought the old man didn’t reveal his identity because he didn’t recognize him, and couldn’t see his face.

But clearly, he could summon him, couldn’t he?

Why summon Shisi…

And not him?

Seeing Wen Jue’s eyes redden, Shisi sensed trouble and immediately stood up, grabbing his shoulders. “Lu Yi!”

Wen Jue was forcibly pulled back from his thoughts by Shisi’s grip, his tone turning cold. “…What are you doing?”

“I… I thought you were about to succumb to darkness,” Lu Shisi whispered.

“I have long succumb to darkness,” Wen Jue sneered at Lu Shisi. “Besides, Lu Shisi, do you think too highly of yourself? To believe that summoning you first would lead me to darkness? What threat could you possibly pose to me?”

Lu Shisi: ?

That’s way too mean!

“How am I not a threat?” Lu Shisi immediately opened his Cosmos Bag, pulling out the small medicine bottle the Village Chief had given him. He lifted his chin proudly. “The Village Chief made me this Soul-Stabilizing Pill. After summoning me first, he knew my body was weak and immediately concocted this for me.”

Wen Jue shot him a sideways glance, as if to say, Oh, is that all?

Lu Shisi snorted lightly: “I know you’re jealous. No need to say more. After all, my health is poor.”

“Jealous?” Wen Jue pinched the back of his neck, smiling as he said, “Yeah, I’m so jealous, I might as well just snatch your Soul-Stabilizing Pill away, huh?”

Lu Shisi: “…”

What a devil!

Shisi hastily tossed the pill bottle into the Cosmos Bag, instantly becoming docile. “I was wrong, Brother.”

The words were out before he could stop them, and Shisi seemed to realize something. He opened his mouth, but the words wouldn’t come back.

That single “Brother” made Wen Jue pause.

Shisi still had that baby face, showing not a trace of the ancient being nearing ten thousand years. But how could a person not age? Even if his appearance remained unchanged, his mindset was no longer what it once was.

Especially since they had parted ways, each walking their own path for thousands of years.

As for the Soul-Stabilizing Pill.

No matter how deranged he became, he could never seize Shisi’s lifesaving medicine.

“What else?”

The voice rang in his ear, leaving Shisi puzzled. What else?

Wen Jue turned his back, revealing only half his profile. “Old man…” He paused mid-sentence, adjusting his address. “Did Qin Zhou summon you over without asking anything?”

“He did.” Shisi’s expression grew serious.

“You didn’t say much, did you?” Wen Jue’s gaze darkened.

Lu Shisi: “No.”

“Mm.” Wen Jue lowered his gaze. “Don’t tell him about my affairs.”

Lu Shisi understood—he meant the matter of becoming a demon lord.

“But… can we really keep it hidden? The village chief will come to the upper realm sooner or later.”

“We’ll deal with that later.”

Lu Shi shrugged. Fine.

He had no choice but to agree—refusal would earn him a beating.

“Lu Shisi.”

“What is it?”

Wen Jue pressed a finger to his lips, deep in thought. “Tell me—if I went to Cangyun Sword Sect now and had Lu Er arrange for me to become an elder, could I pull it off…?”

Shisi: “…”

His silence spoke volumes.

Ask Second Brother for help? Might as well have Lu Yi beat Second Brother to death and inherit his Sword Master position directly.

“Then what should we do…” Wen Jue’s expression flashed a hint of anxiety. “When the old man left, I was still a disciple of Cangyun Sword Sect.”

Shisi swallowed hard, not daring to respond.

He didn’t believe he could pull this off!

The moment the Village Chief ascended to the upper realm, he’d surely hear tales of the glorious exploits of the Great Demon Wen Jue!

But Shisi promptly pushed the thought from his mind.

Anyway, he wasn’t worried.

“Enough. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. This one departs.” Wen Jue couldn’t wait to return to the lower realm.

Seeing this, Shisi frowned. “How many trips have you made to the lower realm lately? Your spirit essence looks…”

“Don’t worry, I have medicine.” With that, Wen Jue pulled out his velvet box from his sleeve.

As the box opened, the delicate fragrance of a Sixth-Tier Core Stabilizing Pill filled the air.

Shisi’s eyes widened instantly. A Sixth-Tier… Core Stabilizing Pill.

Shisi’s mind went blank. He grabbed Wen Jue’s sleeve. “The Village Chief gave you this? When?”

“Just the other day. Why?” Wen Jue tossed the Core Stabilizing Pill into his mouth. His spirit essence recovered significantly. He snorted lightly. “Did you think you were the only one with medicine?”

Sixth-tier pills—both then and now—were like candy to that man.

Two days ago… Shisi plopped down onto the ground, as if struck by a massive blow.

He hadn’t thought Wen Jue lacked medicine.

He hadn’t known the White Crane Tears the village chief requested were actually for refining Core Stabilizing Pills for Lu Yi! He knew it! Soul-Stabilizing Pills didn’t require White Crane Tears at all!

Shisi stared at the box in Wen Jue’s hands, his heart twisting in agony.

Even worse…

His medicine came in the most ordinary little pill bottle. Lu Yi’s, however, was presented in an exquisite little box.

Village Chief, you!

Waaah! People can’t—at least shouldn’t—be this biased!