Qin De collapsed to the ground, his eyes rolling back, drooling from the mouth, convulsing uncontrollably. The intense pain from the Soul Search was nearly enough to make him faint, but he forcibly held his breath to maintain his consciousness.

Wang Yu looked down at him, his gaze somewhat complex.

"He truly is a talent," he thought deep within, "What a pity."

In Wang Yu’s view: If someone like Qin De had been born into a prominent family, with a background and backing, how could it have come to this?

Qin De authored the "Saint Thief Scripture," though it opposed orthodox Confucianism, it was not a crime worthy of death. If he were a high-ranking descendant, they would have found ways to maneuver — such as labor, compensation and settlement, or sentence reduction. There would always be a way.

But Qin De had no background.

His only foundation was the Confucian Cultivator Group. And the "Saint Thief Scripture" made him a mortal enemy to this group.

Duanmu Zhang initially hoped he’d "reform and return to the right path," but after repeatedly failing in Debating Scripture, he finally recognized reality. Confucianism must grow, and Duanmu Zhang left Huazhang Country for Myriad Images Sect with a mission. Qin De, this stumbling block, had to be removed.

Yet, just as the Confucian Cultivator Group planned to eliminate Qin De, the high-ups of Myriad Images Sect intervened.

They discovered Qin De’s significance.

A "stone" that could suppress the Confucian Cultivator Group, why remove it?

Thus, Qin De was imprisoned for decades, becoming a stone suppressing the development of Confucianism.

Wang Yu gently shook his head.

"What a pity..." he repeated again in his heart.

He reached into his sleeve and took out an elixir pill, leaning down to feed Qin De.

The pill dissolved immediately upon entry, releasing a gentle medicinal power that nourished Qin De’s injured soul. Qin De’s convulsions quickly eased, and his breathing became smooth.

Qin De was a Golden Core Level cultivator, of course, only pills of Golden Core Level would be effective on him.

And for such a quick recovery, the pill had to be of high quality.

Wang Yu’s first Soul Search instilled a fondness for Qin De’s talent, thus he took it out.

Wang Yu patiently waited, until most of the pill’s effects were in play, he raised his hand once more, held above Qin De’s head.

The second Soul Search!

Qin De’s memories were vast and complex, like a book without an index.

Wang Yu’s first Soul Search gave him a rough idea of the contents, creating an index for this book, yet he lacked the energy to study the "Saint Thief Scripture" related aspects in detail.

Furthermore, Wang Yu’s Main Cultivation Method was unrelated to the soul, he wasn’t skilled in this area.

Wang Yu’s second Soul Search was guided by his mental index, selectively delving deep.

The focus naturally was on memories related to the "Saint Thief Scripture."

Then, he witnessed how Qin De dismantled Confucian classics one by one, how he learned externally, compiled by himself, how he reinterpreted sages’ words, how he constructed a brand-new theoretical system.

Those processes of deduction, logically coherent, were truly exquisite.

Wang Yu continued to investigate, seeing how Qin De improved the "Saint Thief Scripture" each time.

After each Debating Scripture, Qin De would review, reflect, and deduce. The issues brought by Confucian Cultivators became his motivation to refine the cultivation technique. Every victory made the "Saint Thief Scripture" even more perfect.

Debating Scripture had always been a path to increase strength.

The second Soul Search lasted for a shorter time, and soon ended.

Qin De lay on the ground, his sweat had soaked the nearby floor tiles.

He was pale and cold, nearly motionless, far worse off than from the first Soul Search. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

The previous pill had restored most of the damage, which now worsened further.

Wang Yu looked down at Qin De with deeper sympathy.

Qin De’s talent far exceeded his expectations.

Such a talent left to rot in Cloud Prison... perhaps is a waste?

Wang Yu again took out a high-quality Golden Core Level pill from his sleeve and fed it to Qin De.

While waiting for the pill’s effect, Wang Yu’s thoughts spun ceaselessly in his Divine Sea.

"This person... isn’t just talented, but exceptionally talented," he thought, "He is far superior to me in creating and comprehending cultivation techniques."

"The ’Saint Thief Scripture’ is very likely a Middle Grade Technique, and has perhaps even reached a hint of Top-Grade Technique stature. The future is uncertain!"

"It’s a pity he cannot cultivate... but he can pass it on to future generations."

"Neither Qin De nor the ’Saint Thief Scripture’ should be left like this. There should be a better plan."

Wang Yu thought deeper and deeper.

Myriad Images Sect is inclusive like an ocean, what kind of person cannot be absorbed? Demon Cultivator, Ghost Cultivator, Demon Cultivator, as long as they are useful, they can be accepted. Although Qin De is guilty, if he can be secretly recruited and trained, it isn’t impossible.

"Of course, this matter is of great importance."

His gaze toward Qin De grew deeper.

The ’Saint Thief Scripture’ and orthodox Confucianism are already mortal enemies. If Myriad Images Sect secretly nurtures descendants of Qin De, if exposed, they would inevitably become great enemies with Huazhang Country and Confucian Cultivators worldwide.

"The Sect Leader might be hesitating too..."

Wang Yu was also hesitating.

If this matter is done, the impact will be too great. But the more dangerous something is, the more valuable it often is.

"If someone were to master the ’Saint Thief Scripture,’ what would its power be!"

Qin De lay on the ground, motionless.

His consciousness fluctuated between clarity and blur. The successive Soul Searches had pushed his soul to the brink of collapse. Were it not for Wang Yu’s pills sustaining him, he would’ve dissipated long ago.

Fear accumulated deep inside Qin De.

He fabricated some false memories. The Confucian Cultivator Literary Palace excelled in this. The little mana gained from shifting to the "Ten Thousand Methods of Falling Demon Technique" was beyond Wang Yu’s expectations. His mixed memories fooled the Danxia Peak Peak Master twice.

But the third time may reveal its flaws.

Qin De had a strong premonition because he also knew, false is always false, there would be flaws he personally couldn’t anticipate, or discordances.

Given enough time, he could rectify these flaws one by one. But he simply didn’t have the time!

"No, I have another hope."

"Since that person taught me the ’Ten Thousand Methods of Falling Demon Technique,’ I’ve successfully deceived the Myriad Images Sect high-ups twice."

"My actions have already shown my intentions, my stance. If things go wrong again, he should lend me a hand!"

Xiao Juxia had been silently observing all along.

He knew, at this moment Qin De was already on the edge of life and death.

"If Wang Yu conducts a third Soul Search, he can’t hide anymore. Time is limited, his setup is still too rough."

Wang Yu was deceived mainly because of the shackles, chains, and Cloud Prison on Qin De.

Wang Yu never imagined that Qin De could use mana.

Qin De shifted cultivation to the "Ten Thousand Methods of Falling Demon Technique," although not fully demonized, it circumvented the seals on him, giving him some room and ability to cast.

"Will he conduct a third Soul Search?" Xiao Juxia observed with interest.

In the next moment, his lips curved slightly, showing a mocking smile.

Because Wang Yu once again extended his five fingers, suspended above Qin De, starting the third Soul Search!

Wang Yu himself had no doubts.

But he was a smart person, well versed in political maneuvering. He knows, with this personal Soul Search, there must be no mistakes.

At the same time, reporting to others, saying three successive Soul Searches found Qin De on the verge of death, even exhausting Treasure Medicine barely supporting him, such a statement eliminates any possible criticism.

Proving that Wang Yu is serious enough and never careless. Proving that Wang Yu is responsible, accountable to himself, and accountable to Myriad Images Sect!

If Tuoba Huang had done it, the first time would have sufficed.

But Wang Yu conducts himself like Alchemy; always crafting a perfectly rounded pill, he is thorough and meticulous, never slipping on these details.

Wang Yu performed the third Soul Search on Qin De!

"It’s over!" Qin De felt extremely anxious, only hoping for Xiao Juxia to rescue him.

Xiao Juxia chuckled, finding it quite interesting.

Even if he, or the "Ten Thousand Methods of Falling Demon Technique," is exposed, so what?

"I want to see how the Qi Fortune of the Demon Path resolves this difficulty!"

To him, Qin De is just a pawn.

"Even I myself, am merely a pawn of the Qi Fortune of the Demon Path."