Chapter 142: Chapter 134: Let’s Not Tell Junior Sister About the Lingxi Inquiry Profound Mirror for Now

Although the survivors were temporarily safe, a bone-deep chill filled their hearts.

This demonic sect was a hundred times more terrifying than they had ever imagined!

A mere argument could escalate into a life-or-death battle between disciples, even erupting into a massive brawl involving dozens of people.

If not for Su Ling’er’s timely warning and decisive action, the twelve of them—total newcomers—would have been torn to shreds by the violent aftershocks, dying without even knowing why.

However, Su Ling’er, the very person who had saved them, instilled an even deeper fear.

She seemed completely accustomed to this kind of situation, even capable of using others as human shields without a change in expression.

This cold-blooded law of survival, combined with her noble status as the "Holy Daughter" and the three strange, evil auras clinging to her...

They all fretted over their future, worrying about what to do next.

Just then, a dangerous thought quietly surfaced in one disciple’s mind.

’We all have Four-Element Pseudo Spirit Roots. How come Miss Su can reach Foundation Establishment and become the Holy Daughter?’

’It makes no sense that she can do it, but I can’t, right?’

’This place may be dangerous, but the opportunities are...’

But at that moment, Dong Changsheng’s voice transmission boomed in their minds!

[Dong Changsheng]: "...Shut up! Look at you all, pathetic! A little bloodshed is enough to destabilize your Dao hearts?!"

He first reprimanded them, forcibly suppressing their panic, as well as his own.

[Dong Changsheng]: "You think staying here will make you like Miss Su? You only see her status, not the mountain of corpses she’s climbed to get there! Have you forgotten the Sect Leader’s kindness to us?!"

His passionate speech made the disciples lower their heads in shame.

’Yeah, Mr. Dong is right!’

’We came here to repay a debt of gratitude, to walk the path of immortality, to achieve greater success!’

’How can we shrink back because of this?’

[Disciple F]: "Mr. Dong... about the Lingxi Inquiry Profound Mirror, should we still tell her?"

Dong Changsheng fell silent...

He glanced at the three wisps of evil energy on Su Ling’er, his own heart pounding with uncertainty.

’That was just talk to get them to calm down. It’s a good thing they bought it.’

His following actions, however, were brutally honest.

[Dong Changsheng]: "...Ahem, we won’t mention this for now. It’s to... protect her! Yes, to protect Miss Su!"

Just then, Li Chunfeng, who had been holding his sword the whole time, also spoke up.

"This is actually a good thing..."

’Even if Miss Su has really become an Evil Cultivator, doesn’t she still know to protect a burden like me? It means she still sees us as sect-mates. Her conscience isn’t completely gone!’

’For a small fry like me who could die at any moment... isn’t this a huge blessing?’

Li Chunfeng only cared about two things.

Seeking the Dao, and... staying alive.

In his view, Su Ling’er’s current status actually greatly increased the chances for a nobody like him to survive here.

Having come to this realization, the group composed themselves, their faces once again adorned with humble and grateful expressions. They walked up to Su Ling’er and bowed deeply.

"Miss Su! If not for your decisive action in that crisis, we would have been... Sigh! We will never forget this debt of saving our lives! Please accept our bow!"

"Thank you for saving our lives, Miss Su!"

"Your kindness is like a second chance at life! In the future, we will certainly serve the sect and you faithfully!"

"Miss Su, you are truly our guiding light! With you here, we feel so much more at ease!"

"Yes, yes! If it weren’t for you, Miss Su, we would’ve been done for!"

"That’s right! We owe it all to you!"

...

Su Ling’er watched this group of sect-mates, their attitudes growing ever more deferential, and felt nothing.

She was just a survivor who had been fumbling in the dark for longer than they had. To her, their thanks sounded more like the desperate cries of drowning people clinging to a piece of driftwood.

She could even see a reflection of how she used to flatter her own senior brother in their behavior.

Nevertheless, she accepted their gesture and led the group of still-shaken undercover agents to the Knowledge Hall. There, she found Mr. Qian and registered them one by one.

Afterward, they received their identity Tokens, sect robes, and Wooden Swords.

The entire time, the "gaze" from her senior brother felt like a thorn in her back, not allowing Su Ling’er a moment of carelessness.

She could only brace herself and continue with this damned tour guide mission.

"Ahem... Next, I’ll take you all to see the sect’s Alchemy Pavilion and Artifact Refining Pavilion."

Upon hearing those two names, everyone’s hearts leaped into their throats once more.

Alchemy, Artifact Refining...

’In a demonic sect that revels in bloody slaughter, what could these two places possibly be like?’

’Will they use the souls of Cultivators for Alchemy?’

’Or use the bones of Cultivators for Artifact Refining?’

The moment she finished speaking, Su Ling’er keenly sensed the bodies behind her instantly stiffen and their faces turn pale again.

’Looks like they’ve thought of it too.’

She didn’t explain, simply leading the way in silence.

The closer they got to the Alchemy Pavilion, the hotter and drier the air became.

Even before they got close, a wave of scorching air washed over them.

When they finally stepped into the Alchemy Pavilion’s grounds, they witnessed a scene they would never forget for the rest of their lives.

A Guixi Sect disciple, his face alight with a fervent and expectant expression, charged toward a giant cauldron.

Without the slightest hesitation, under the horrified gazes of the twelve undercover agents, he took a great leap!

"SPLASH—!"

With a dull thud, his entire body plunged directly into the boiling, unidentifiable medicinal liquid!

"SIZZLE—"

Accompanied by a shrill scream that was cut short, the liquid in the cauldron churned violently for a moment before quickly returning to calm.

A wisp of green smoke curled up from the cauldron, emitting an even richer aroma of... cooked meat?

"..."

Time seemed to freeze at that moment. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

The twelve undercover agents were petrified on the spot, the color instantly draining from their faces.

’Refining... refining a living person?!’

’This demonic sect... they actually... they actually throw living disciples into a cauldron in public to refine pills?!’

’How utterly deranged!’

’How inhuman!’

Su Ling’er turned around, about to say something to calm everyone down, when she saw a disciple with weaker nerves finally succumb to the extreme visual and mental shock. His eyes rolled back, and he fell backward, stiff as a board!

????

’Seriously?’

’Why’d you faint at first sight just like Wang Xiedi?’

"Junior Brother!"

"Quick! Pinch his philtrum!"

The scene instantly descended into chaos.

...

「Real World」

[News Archive]

The "Nirvana" corporation has quietly announced that a new cell repair agent, codenamed "Tinder," has passed Phase III clinical trials, with both safety and efficacy far exceeding expectations.

Test subjects have shown varying degrees of "reversal" in their average physiological age.

As soon as the news broke, the stock prices of publicly traded companies related to anti-aging and life sciences plummeted worldwide.