In an instant, both of their faces turned deathly pale.
"Could this be the fabled ghostly feast set by a demon before it claims a human life?"
"Could it be that we've eaten these things just now?"
At this moment, the other guards also noticed this.
"Master Taoist."
The Sixth Princess turned her gaze to Xu Taiping once again, seeking confirmation.
General Chu and Cao Qianhu were also looking at Xu Taiping with tense faces.
"Yes, you were all under the illusion of a fox spirit when you first ascended the mountain. To lift the illusion without harming you, I had no choice but to wait for the fox spirit to show itself."
Xu Taiping nodded.
"Where is the fox spirit now?"
The Sixth Princess pressed on.
"Dead. Without its death, how could your illusions be dispelled?"
Xu Taiping replied.
Hearing this, the Sixth Princess immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
"Master Taoist, that ghostly food… did we all eat it?"
Cao Qianhu pointed to the dishes of "leftover cold food" on the ground and asked Xu Taiping nervously.
The Sixth Princess hadn't noticed at first, but now, hearing Cao Qianhu's words, her face turned ashen, and she almost vomited.
"Master Taoist, I…"
The Sixth Princess also looked at Xu Taiping with a nervous expression.
"Everyone except you and me has eaten it."
Xu Taiping stated indifferently.
Upon hearing this, the Burial Mound erupted with sounds of retching.
As everyone vomited, they recalled the scenes of feasting under the illusion, and the sounds of retching grew louder.
The Sixth Princess also remembered that she had wanted to try the dish of Luxurious Fragrant Jade Pins but was called over by Xu Taiping to try his roasted lamb instead.
"Thank you, Master Taoist!"
The Sixth Princess, filled with fear, thanked Xu Taiping gratefully.
"No need for thanks, it's my duty."
Xu Taiping shook his head.
"Master Taoist, what was that dish of Luxurious Fragrant Jade Pins made of?"
The Sixth Princess asked Xu Taiping, still frightened.
"That."
Xu Taiping pointed to the remaining half plate of cockroaches.
"Ugh!"
The Sixth Princess took one look and immediately vomited on the spot.
"Clap, clap, clap!"
Just then, applause suddenly echoed under the moonlit Burial Mound.
"What a clever strategy of waiting for the hare."
A white-robed young man with a long sword on his back walked out from the bottom of the Burial Mound.
"Who are you?!"
Seeing a stranger suddenly appear, General Chu and Cao Qianhu, disregarding the filth at the corners of their mouths, all picked up their weapons and became alert.
"I am Huang Que, a disciple of the Xiaoyao Sect from Mount Xianxia, the 'sparrow' in the saying 'the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the sparrow behind.'"
（Proofreader：In Chinese, 黄雀（Huang Que）means yellow sparrow）
The white-robed young man ignored the group and gave Xu Taiping a respectful bow.
Xiaoyao Sect?
A hint of surprise flashed in Xu Taiping's eyes.
In his memory, the Xiaoyao Sect of Mount Xianxia was the second-ranked major sect among the Nine Prefectures, while his Qingxuan Sect was only seventh.
"Xu Taiping of Qingxuan Sect greets the fellow disciple from Xiaoyao Sect."
Xu Taiping also returned the bow.
The aura of pure spirit on the other's body was undoubtedly that of a disciple from a cultivating sect.
"Ah, a fellow from Qingxuan Sect, my apologies."
Huang Que gave Xu Taiping a faint smile.
"May I ask, fellow Huang Que, why are you here?"
Xu Taiping asked cautiously.
"Not to hide from fellow Taiping, besides being a disciple of Xiaoyao Sect, I am also an enforcer for the Immortal Law Division outside the mountain, responsible for monitoring the actions of disciples in the mortal world. Yesterday, I sensed your presence in Blood Spider Valley and followed you here."
Huang Que answered with a smile.
"How can you prove it?"
Xu Taiping naturally wouldn't take Huang Que's word for it.
Huang Que smiled, then pulled out a book from his sleeve and declared loudly:
"Qingxuan Sect's Xu Taiping, who is he?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the pages of the book in his hand began to flip rapidly on their own, stopping after a moment.
Then, he took out a brush and gently traced a line on the page.
With a "buzz," a golden light flew out from the book, eventually forming golden characters that hovered above it.
Xu Taiping looked closely and saw that the text was indeed the story of his life in Qingxuan Sect.
"Xu Taiping of Qingxuan Sect, with mere mortal bones, not only defeated a host of Outer Disciples in the Seventh Peak selection but also bested Ye Xuan, the top young disciple of Qingxuan Sect, to become an official Disciple of the Seventh Peak."
Huang Que read out the lines of text.
"The Record of Merits and Demerits of the Immortal Law Division?"
Xu Taiping asked, somewhat surprised.
The enforcers of the Immortal Law Division each held a Record of Merits and Demerits, documenting the lives of most cultivators in the Nine Prefectures.
"Now you must believe me, right?"
Huang Que smiled again at Xu Taiping.
"My apologies."
Xu Taiping first bowed, then asked:
"Fellow Huang Que, you've made a special appearance to meet me, what advice do you have?"
During his time recuperating, he had learned from his Senior Brother Qingxiao about the Immortal Law Division, knowing that their enforcers usually lurked in the shadows and rarely showed themselves.
Now that Huang Que had made a special appearance, he must have something important to say.
"Fellow Taiping, are you on your way to the Wrathful Fist Manor?"
Huang Que asked with a smile.
"Yes."
Xu Taiping nodded.
"Is it to fight on behalf of the Sixth Princess of the White Tree Kingdom in the life-and-death arena?"
Huang Que continued.
"Yes."
Xu Taiping nodded again.
"May I persuade you to reconsider?"
Huang Que asked.
"Go ahead."
Xu Taiping looked at him calmly.
"The master of Wrathful Fist Manor, Fan Qi, is now a martial arts grandmaster. Without using your cultivation techniques, you stand no chance against him. But if you use spells against Fan Qi in the life-and-death arena while outside the mountain, according to the rules of the Immortal Law Division, you will be immediately summoned back to Qingxuan and forbidden to leave the mountain for three years. So, I advise you, fellow Taiping, to give up your journey to Wrathful Fist Manor and abandon this mission."
Huang Que spoke earnestly.
"If I compete with Fan Qi in the life-and-death arena as a martial cultivator, would that break the rules of the Immortal Law Division?"
Xu Taiping didn't answer but instead sought confirmation from Huang Que.
"No."
Huang Que shook his head but then frowned and added:
"But you will die at Wrathful Fist Manor."
Xu Taiping fell silent for a moment, then shook his head:
"I won't."
Under Huang Que's puzzled gaze, he added:
"When it comes to a matter of life and death, I know well what's more important: breaking the rules of the Immortal Law Division or losing my life."
Proofreader & Editor: Lotas