As soon as these words were spoken, everyone turned their gaze towards Xu Muhai.

Xu Muhai felt a pang of panic in his heart. Looking at Luo Xiaochuan’s smiling eyes, Xu Muhai knew that Luo Xiaochuan was not referring to Li Hengsheng, but Zhou Jun, right?

“I am responsible.”

Xu Muhai stepped forward: “My third disciple, Zhou Jun, is a member of the Longevity Sect. He even poisoned the tea a few days ago, almost killing someone. This is my negligence. If the Sect Leader wants to punish me, I have nothing to say.”

Upon hearing this, the other Peak Masters were also shocked and looked at Xu Muhai.

“Is Xue Ye Zhou Jun?”

“Is he your third disciple?”

For a moment, the other Peak Masters couldn’t help but ask.

They had investigated all night and didn’t find anything on the Peak of Ten Thousand Slaughters. Their self-investigation also turned up nothing. It turned out that the culprit was Xu Muhai’s disciple.

Even Li Jinsong was somewhat taken aback.

It was Zhou Jun…

Li Jinsong couldn’t help but think that if Xue Ye was Zhou Jun, then the most heartbroken person now should be Li Hengsheng, right?

After all, the relationship between Li Hengsheng and Zhou Jun could be said to be the best.

Li Hengsheng had always treated Zhou Jun like an elder brother.

Li Jinsong knew this.

“Where is Zhou Jun?” At this time, Wu Wenying stepped forward, his face stern. As the Peak Master of the Law Enforcement Peak, traitors like Zhou Jun should be handed over to them for punishment.

“He ran away.”

Xu Muhai said indifferently: “We didn’t discover it in time, and he escaped. I only found out later.”

“He ran away?” Wu Wenying frowned: “How long has he been gone, our Law Enforcement Peak…”

“Alright.”

Before Wu Wenying could finish speaking, Luo Xiaochuan waved his hand and said: “Let it go, it doesn’t matter. He’s just a minor character. Wu Peak Master, just ignore it.”

“Yes.” Wu Wenying was somewhat surprised by this, but he didn’t say anything more and stepped back.

“This is not your fault.” Luo Xiaochuan said to Xu Muhai.

All thirty-six Peak Masters had gone to Dao Yuan Peak for a meeting.

Li Hengsheng returned to Qingyu Mountain and continued his cultivation.

However, no matter how he cultivated today, Li Hengsheng could not calm his mind.

The matters in his heart were too heavy, making Li Hengsheng feel somewhat suffocated.

Li Hengsheng felt that his life was filled with too many mysteries. Now that he had everything, he felt that he was more at ease when he was at the Peak of Ten Thousand Slaughters.

It was past noon.

Xu Kui came to Li Hengsheng’s room to call him for lunch, but Li Hengsheng was not in the mood to eat.

However, after a while, Xu Kui came again.

“Uncle Xu, I have no appetite.” Li Hengsheng said to Xu Kui.

“The master is here.” Xu Kui looked at Li Hengsheng: “He’s already waiting outside.”

“Master is here?” Li Hengsheng stood up and walked out to see that Xu Muhai was already waiting in the courtyard.

“Come with me.”

Xu Muhai saw Li Hengsheng come out and said solemnly.

“Where to?” Li Hengsheng was somewhat curious.

“The Sect Leader wants to see you.” Xu Muhai also looked at Li Hengsheng strangely. After the meeting with the thirty-six Peak Masters, Luo Xiaochuan actually asked to see Li Hengsheng by name.

This really made Xu Muhai puzzled.

In his many years in the Dao Mountain Ancient Land, Xu Muhai was very clear about Luo Xiaochuan’s style. There had been many talented disciples in the Dao Mountain Ancient Land over the years, but Luo Xiaochuan had never asked to see a disciple alone. The matters of disciples’ cultivation were basically managed by the elder group.

What Luo Xiaochuan really controlled were the major matters in the daily life of the Dao Mountain Ancient Land.

However, today’s events were so unusual.

“Is it because I let Zhou Jun go, so the Sect Leader wants to deal with me?” Li Hengsheng looked at Xu Muhai with some suspicion.

“The Sect Leader is not that idle.” Xu Muhai shook his head: “I don’t know what he wants you for, but don’t worry, the Sect Leader is a good person, he won’t trouble a child like you.”

Li Hengsheng nodded thoughtfully.

This was Li Hengsheng’s first visit to Dao Yuan Peak.

The entire Dao Yuan Peak was very beautiful, but Li Hengsheng was not in the mood to appreciate the scenery. From a distance, he saw a bamboo forest. The bamboo forest looked simple, but if you carefully felt it, you could find that this bamboo forest contained countless changes, as if there were endless formations hidden here.

Passing through the bamboo forest, he saw a huge waterfall cascading down from the sky, which was very spectacular.

Before Li Hengsheng could ask Xu Muhai anything, he saw the waterfall split in the middle, with the water flowing to both sides, as if a curtain had been lifted.

Such a miracle greatly shocked Li Hengsheng.

What kind of power was this?

It could easily split the waterfall.

And the water was still flowing.

“Muhai, you wait outside, let the child come in by himself.” Luo Xiaochuan’s voice came from inside.

“Yes.” Xu Muhai nodded.

At this moment, a waterfall suddenly flew out, transforming into a long bridge, appearing directly in front of Li Hengsheng!Such a method left Li Hengsheng deeply shaken. He stepped onto the bridge over the waterfall, and the bridge promptly transported him into the cave behind the waterfall.

Li Hengsheng had assumed that the cave would be barren, filled with strange rocks or damp and humid. However, to his surprise, behind the waterfall was a small paradise!

Birds chirped and flowers bloomed, the scenery was beautiful, and sunlight even shone down.

“A secret realm?” Li Hengsheng exclaimed in surprise.

The surroundings were picturesque and surprisingly warm, completely different from the outside temperature. By a small river in the distance, Luo Xiaochuan was wiping his Heavenly Staff.

“Come and sit,” Luo Xiaochuan said without looking at Li Hengsheng.

Li Hengsheng walked towards Luo Xiaochuan. From a distance, Luo Xiaochuan seemed like an ordinary person, but the closer Li Hengsheng got, the more he could feel a mysterious power circulating around Luo Xiaochuan.

It was a feeling that Li Hengsheng found familiar.

It was similar to what he had felt from the immortals in the “Zhaoshan Gazing at Immortals” painting, but not quite the same.

Complex and mysterious.

Luo Xiaochuan was like a puzzle, deep and unfathomable.

“Sect Leader,” Li Hengsheng greeted respectfully.

“Sit down,” Luo Xiaochuan said.

Looking around, Li Hengsheng saw no chairs, so he sat on the ground like Luo Xiaochuan.

“Sect Leader, did you summon me for something?” Li Hengsheng asked proactively.

“Do you remember how you entered the Dao Mountain Ancient Land?” Luo Xiaochuan asked a question that caught Li Hengsheng off guard.

“I entered through a trial.”

Li Hengsheng remembered coming to the Dao Mountain Ancient Land with a group of people to participate in the test. However, his qualifications were too poor, and he barely met the standards.

But in the end, Li Hengsheng still entered the Peak of Ten Thousand Slaughters and became a menial worker.

Originally, there were only ten spots for menial disciples. Li Hengsheng had no chance, but then the outer sect elder suddenly said that the Peak of Ten Thousand Slaughters needed more workers, so the quota was increased to twelve. Thus, Li Hengsheng was lucky enough to enter the Peak of Ten Thousand Slaughters.

Hearing Li Hengsheng’s answer, Luo Xiaochuan chuckled.

“I let you in. With your test results, how could you have entered the Peak of Ten Thousand Slaughters?” Luo Xiaochuan said with a smile.

“What?”

Li Hengsheng was somewhat surprised.

Did Luo Xiaochuan pull strings for him?

Thinking back, the events of that time did seem strange, but Li Hengsheng couldn’t understand why.

“Why?”

He was just an ordinary person. Why would Luo Xiaochuan let him in?

“Why is no longer important,” Luo Xiaochuan didn’t answer, but said, “You let Xue Ye from the Longevity Sect go, didn’t you?”

“I know I was wrong,” Li Hengsheng quickly stood up.

“Sit down, sit down.”

Luo Xiaochuan raised his hand to calm him.

“I’m not blaming you. Some people are destined not to die at this time. Even if you didn’t let him go, he would have found another way to leave,” Luo Xiaochuan stared at his Heavenly Staff and said, “The fate of a person’s life is already predetermined and hard to change. With your current power, you can’t alter his life or death.”

Li Hengsheng was somewhat confused by these words.

“Sect Leader, I believe that man can conquer nature. We martial artists are meant to defy the heavens, aren’t we?” Li Hengsheng pondered for a moment and said to Luo Xiaochuan.

“Hehe,” Luo Xiaochuan couldn’t help but laugh, “You kid, do you know what heaven is? Do you know what fate is? To resist fate, it’s not as simple as cultivating to defy the heavens and change your destiny. Not to mention you, even your master, even the land immortals, even the Lord of the Cangyuan Realm, if they want to defy the heavens and change their destiny, it’s nothing more than empty talk.”

Li Hengsheng found this somewhat profound and didn’t quite understand.

Luo Xiaochuan didn’t continue on this topic, but said, “Xue Ye should be more than just Zhou Jun, right?”

Upon hearing this, Li Hengsheng’s heart skipped a beat.

Glancing at Li Hengsheng, Luo Xiaochuan continued, “Although I can’t change fate, I can glimpse it. The Longevity Sect has planted two people in my Dao Mountain Ancient Land. Zhou Jun is one, and the other one, only you and I know in the entire Dao Mountain Ancient Land. You want to hide it for her, but it’s futile.”

“Sect Leader, although Zhou Jun told me, I found it very strange, so I wanted to investigate it before…” Li Hengsheng hurriedly said.

“Then I’ll tell you, there’s no need to investigate. She is also one of the Xue Ye,” Luo Xiaochuan said calmly, his eyes fixed on Li Hengsheng as if he could see through Li Hengsheng’s soul.Li Hengsheng slumped to the ground, not wanting to believe, but the look in Luo Xiaochuan’s eyes forced him to.

Li Hengsheng vaguely remembered the words Zhou Jun had whispered in his ear the night before.

“The second person from Xue Ye… is a disciple of the Peak of Ten Thousand Slaughters, named Lu Qiaoqiao.”

These words echoed like a thunderbolt in Li Hengsheng’s ears.

Li Hengsheng’s first reaction was utter disbelief.

Lu Qiaoqiao had been taken away by the Ghost Clan, how could she possibly be a member of the Longevity Sect, how could she possibly be Xue Ye.

Zhou Jun must be talking nonsense!

However, Zhou Jun’s following words plunged Li Hengsheng into doubt.

“Some games have been set up long ago, and you are nothing more than a pawn in them. You think Lu Qiaoqiao was taken away by the Ghost Clan, but you probably didn’t realize that Lu Qiaoqiao was just setting up a game to go to the Long Night Ancient Nation, including the Star Palace, the Yin Tenth Floor, and Yan Dongchen.”

“You were originally an insignificant pawn, but what you didn’t expect was that you later proved yourself to be a key. Xue Ye’s mission was to get your soul. If I hadn’t diluted the poison of the Ghost-Eating Heavenly Ox and the concentration of the Ghost Lord’s blood, you would have died at the hands of Lu Qiaoqiao long ago.”

“Master, what on earth is going on?” Li Hengsheng felt as if his heart was dead, as if his last glimmer of hope had been extinguished.

The two closest people to him were actually trying to kill him.

Even now, Li Hengsheng still couldn’t believe that Lu Qiaoqiao was Xue Ye.

Lu Qiaoqiao was clearly far away in the Long Night Ancient Nation, how could she possibly have contacted Zhou Jun?

How could she arrange for Zhou Jun to do things?

How could Lu Qiaoqiao have her own intelligence, and then make targeted arrangements against him?

Li Hengsheng was completely at a loss.

Seeing Li Hengsheng seemingly on the verge of collapse, Luo Xiaochuan stepped forward, raised his hand, and placed his palm on Li Hengsheng’s forehead. In an instant, a warm current flowed into his body.

This made Li Hengsheng feel as if his emotions had calmed down.

“Life has just begun, and some things will gradually become clear in the future.” Luo Xiaochuan said calmly, “Some people are not as harmless as they seem, and some people who seem fierce actually do you no harm. Your senior brother is leaving Zhenguo Mansion, you should go and fill his vacancy.”

“Huh?” Li Hengsheng was taken aback.

“But to be dispatched to Zhenguo Mansion as an inspector, one needs to have a cultivation level above the innate, right?” Li Hengsheng was somewhat surprised, why suddenly he was asked to go to Zhenguo Mansion?

“Going out for some experience is better than staying in Dao Mountain Ancient Land. This place is not suitable for you for the time being.” Luo Xiaochuan said, “Temporarily leaving here will do you no harm. As for the innate cultivation level, it doesn’t matter. Be careful, and you’ll be fine.”

“This…”

Before Li Hengsheng could finish speaking, Luo Xiaochuan said, “You can set off tomorrow. But before you leave Minghong Prefecture, you can go back to Changting Town to see your father.”

“Uh.”

Li Hengsheng nodded dumbly.

“Go.” Luo Xiaochuan waved his hand, and Li Hengsheng felt the surroundings change instantly. By the time he came to his senses, he found himself outside the waterfall.

Li Hengsheng was incredibly shocked by this ability.

“What did the master want with you?” Xu Muhai asked when he saw Li Hengsheng come out.

“The master wants me to replace senior brother and go to Zhenguo Mansion as an inspector.” Li Hengsheng didn’t hide anything and told the truth.

“You’re going to be an inspector?” Xu Muhai was taken aback, “You’re only at the late stage of the day after tomorrow, can you handle being an inspector? You should know that Zhenguo Mansion is not a place that can be easily handled. If your strength is not enough, you might be eaten by others.”

“But the master has already told me to go.” Li Hengsheng gave a bitter smile, what could he do?

“Well, since the master said so, there must be a reason for it.” Xu Muhai said helplessly.

“Master, I have a question for you, I hope you can answer me truthfully.” Li Hengsheng looked at Xu Muhai seriously at this time.

“You ask.” Xu Muhai was surprised that Li Hengsheng had something to ask, and it was so serious.

“Why was Lu Qiaoqiao taken away by the Ghost Clan?” Li Hengsheng asked.

After Lu Qiaoqiao was taken away, Li Hengsheng didn’t know why Lu Qiaoqiao was taken away, what the Ghost Clan saw in Lu Qiaoqiao. Now, Li Hengsheng wanted to figure it out.

He decided not to believe Zhou Jun, not to believe Luo Xiaochuan, he wanted to judge for himself whether Lu Qiaoqiao was Xue Ye or not.

“Well.” Xu Muhai sighed lightly, “Because of the Qishan Order.”

“Lu Qiaoqiao accidentally activated the Qishan Order, so the Ghost Clan was eager to take Lu Qiaoqiao away.” Xu Muhai told Li Hengsheng about the Qishan Order.

Li Hengsheng was shocked, “The Qishan Order is that little iron piece?””Why would that small iron piece be in my father’s possession?” Li Hengsheng asked incredulously, “According to what you’ve said, Master, you were the one chasing Yan Dongchen. Yan Dongchen obtained the Qishan Order, but it ended up in my father’s hands? Why?”

Hearing Li Hengsheng’s question, Xu Muhai quickly concocted a story, “Yan Dongchen was gravely injured by me that day, his life hanging by a thread. By the time he escaped to Changting Town, he was already on his last breath. When we found Yan Dongchen’s body, it was at the Changqing Art House, but we didn’t find the Qishan Order on him. I suspect your father must have found Yan Dongchen’s body and took the Qishan Order and the Silver Ticket.”

“Is that so…”

This explanation seemed logically sound to Li Hengsheng.

But something felt off.

According to Zhou Jun, Yan Dongchen was a pawn from the start, and all of this was a scheme set up by the Longevity Sect. It was highly likely that Yan Dongchen wouldn’t have been able to return to the Yinshi Tower after obtaining the Qishan Order. Even if he did, there were still members of the Longevity Sect in the Yinshi Tower.

Members of the Longevity Sect would have secretly handed the Qishan Order to Lu Qiaoqiao, who would then activate it, causing the Ghost Clan to scramble for it.

The goal was to draw out the Long Night Ancient Nation.

So, the Longevity Sect’s real target was the Long Night Ancient Nation.

They hadn’t expected to bring back a spy from the Longevity Sect.

But there was one thing that didn’t make sense. Lu Qiaoqiao was just an ordinary girl, the daughter of the Lu family, and even her cultivation talent was poor. How did she get in touch with the Longevity Sect?

Why would the Longevity Sect take interest in such an ordinary girl?

And what was Lu Qiaoqiao’s purpose in joining the Longevity Sect?

All of this puzzled Li Hengsheng. He felt as if he had fallen into a massive maze.

At this moment, Li Hengsheng wished more than anything for Lu Qiaoqiao to appear before him and explain everything. He wished she could tell him…

That she wasn’t Xue Ye.

That she was still his innocent junior sister Lu…

(End of Chapter)