"How could Lu Nanfeng have been killed by Ye Chuxue?"

The Heavenly Inquiry Sect’s Sect Master voiced the question on everyone’s minds. Beyond the shock, they felt a pang of heartache over Lu Nanfeng’s death.

Although Lu Nanfeng’s talent couldn’t compare to Bai Yang’s or Ye Chuxue’s, he was still a True Disciple the Sect had heavily invested in. His sudden demise was a great loss for the Heavenly Inquiry Sect.

"Sigh, the Heavenly Inquiry Sect has fallen on hard times!"

"I don’t know when it started, but nothing has gone right for our Sect anymore!"

Someone couldn’t help but sigh with emotion, a sentiment that resonated with everyone present.

Seeing the distressed looks on everyone’s faces, the Second Elder’s mouth twitched.

’Since when?’

’Obviously, it started when everyone began siding with Gu Qingyuan and giving Song Wanning a hard time.’

’It seems no one who opposes that woman ever comes to a good end.’

’But even though she’s arrogant and prideful, she has strong principles. If they hadn’t gone too far, they wouldn’t have suffered such vicious retaliation.’

’Now that these people are suffering one by one, it’ll probably be Gu Qingyuan’s turn soon.’

’That bastard betrayed Song Wanning. His fate is sure to be the most miserable of all.’

As he was secretly reveling in their misfortune, the Heavenly Inquiry Sect’s Sect Master received another reply.

"Lu Nanfeng was indeed killed by Ye Chuxue. The reason is unknown, but someone witnessed it firsthand and recorded the event with a Memory Stone. I have the Memory Stone now."

"I’ve already transmitted the footage. You can all view it!"

The Communication Talisman immediately trembled and projected an image into mid-air.

They could only see the two people in terrible condition, but they couldn’t hear what they were saying.

They watched as Ye Chuxue, filled with venomous hatred for Lu Nanfeng, not only killed him decisively but also hacked his body to pieces and fed it to demonic beasts.

Ye Chuxue’s frenzied and vicious appearance was so shocking that even the elders felt a chill watching it.

’Just how much must she hate Lu Nanfeng?’

’What on earth did Lu Nanfeng do?’

Countless questions surfaced in their minds, and for a moment, no one spoke.

Memory Stones could not be faked. Ye Chuxue had truly killed Lu Nanfeng.

This was a difficult situation.

Just a few days ago, Gu Qingyuan had told the Sect Master that Ye Chuxue had advanced to the Golden Core realm.

His happiness hadn’t lasted long before this enormous problem was laid before him.

The Sect had already lost Lu Nanfeng. If they had to lose Ye Chuxue as well, wouldn’t that be even worse?

The Sect Master felt like he was about to sprout white hair from all the worry. Why couldn’t a single thing go smoothly?

Suppressing his irritation and helplessness, he replied, "There might be some misunderstanding. I will send a message to Gu Qingyuan and Ye Chuxue right away to investigate the cause."

As if afraid of Song Wanning’s wrath, he quickly added, "Rest assured, if it’s true that Ye Chuxue killed Lu Nanfeng for no reason, I will definitely mete out a severe punishment!"

These words sounded like a promise, but they held a hidden meaning.

’What does "for no reason" mean?’

’Does that mean she can kill him as long as there’s a reason?’

Song Wanning put away the Communication Talisman, a cold light flashing in her eyes.

The Sect’s rules decreed that anyone who harmed a fellow disciple must have their cultivation crippled and be expelled from the Sect.

If the circumstances were severe, it was a life for a life.

’So why has that changed now?’

The Sect Master was favoring Gu Qingyuan and Ye Chuxue as always, still trying to protect them even at a time like this.

But this time, his plans were doomed to fail.

’Will Ye Chuxue tell them the real reason?’

’No, she absolutely will not.’

’Whether for Gu Qingyuan’s sake or her own, she will definitely keep it a secret.’

’She is destined to bear the crime of harming a fellow disciple!’

Meanwhile, the Sect Master of the Heavenly Inquiry Sect received no reply.

"How is it? Can’t you reach Junior Brother Gu or Ye Chuxue?"

"No. I don’t know what those two are doing. I can’t reach either of them!"

The Sect Master sighed helplessly. This position was truly exhausting.

’If it weren’t for the perks, I would have quit long ago!’

"Keep this matter quiet for now. We’ll talk after I’ve figured things out."

He waved his hand, dismissing everyone, then immediately sent a barrage of messages to the pair, demanding an explanation.

...

「In the Demon Palace」

Song Wanning wasn’t idle; she proceeded to tell Bai Yang about the matter.

Bai Yang had just escaped a perilous situation with his life. Upon hearing this thunderbolt of a news, he couldn’t hold it in and spat out a mouthful of blood before collapsing.

Ever since Lu Nanfeng joined the Sect, he had been by his side.

From eating and washing up to cultivating, Bai Yang had invested more in him than even a master would.

He had practically raised Lu Nanfeng with his own hands!

He was like a blood brother to him!

’And now, someone was suddenly telling him Lu Nanfeng was dead?’

’Killed by Ye Chuxue’s hand, no less...’

Something inside Bai Yang shattered.

Although Ye Chuxue wasn’t the same as she used to be, to him, she was still different from a complete stranger.

’How could she possibly have killed Lu Nanfeng?’

"Master... must be joking, right?"

"Or maybe Ye Chuxue angered Master again..."

Bai Yang tried to comfort himself with these lies, refusing to believe that Lu Nanfeng was simply gone.

Everything had been perfectly fine before he left the Sect.

But Song Wanning was twisting the knife, thoughtfully transmitting the footage to him.

His eyes turned bloodshot as he stared fixedly at the two figures in the image.

He watched with his own eyes as the brother he cherished was hacked to pieces, sword strike by sword strike, by the woman he had loved...

He watched as his poor brother was denied even a complete corpse in death, his remains ending up in the mouths of demonic beasts.

Bai Yang’s gaze, like that of a vengeful ghost, fell upon Ye Chuxue.

’So this was Ye Chuxue’s true face—this evil, hideous visage.’

’She had deceived him so completely!!’

In the past, his Master would often accuse Ye Chuxue of being a hypocrite, saying she lacked the courage to admit her actions, that she was shameless enough to seduce her own master...

At the time, he had assumed his Master was simply jealous and deliberately slinging mud.

But when Gu Qingyuan’s affection for his disciple was confirmed, Ye Chuxue’s sanctimonious facade was also exposed.

His Master wasn’t jealous at all. She was just smarter than all of them, having seen through Ye Chuxue’s disguise long ago.

Tears of blood welled in Bai Yang’s eyes, his fingernails digging deep into his palms.

He squeezed his eyes shut. When he opened them again, they were filled with nothing but hatred.

"Ye Chuxue... If I don’t avenge this, I am no man..."

With that, he could hold on no longer and fainted.

...

"Big Sis, that move of yours was brilliant!"

The Golden Small Sword zipped around the room excitedly. "They should just kill each other! It’d be best if they both died horribly! They should all just die!"

"Oh, right, Big Sis, if the male lead goes up against the female lead, who do you think is stronger? Who will the Heavenly Dao choose to let die?"

It laughed with schadenfreude, feeling the urge to roll around on the floor just thinking about the two of them trying to kill each other.

Hearing this, Song Wanning’s lips curled into a smile. "That’s hard to say. It all depends on whether the Heavenly Dao loves its son more, or dotes on its daughter."

She was in a marvelous mood. She picked up a cup of fine wine from the table and took a sip. It hadn’t been easy to get to this point, so now that she had the opportunity, she would naturally see them driven to their doom.

She had to admit, this feeling of not having to get her own hands dirty was just so satisfying.

While she was relaxing, Mo Yuan knocked on the door and then entered the room.

He was dressed in a black Magic Robe, the dragon embroidery on its hem swaying as if in a breeze.

His extraordinarily handsome features were on full display, no longer marred by that hideous scar.