Sect action, Qin Shuhan in danger

The faint pressure emanating from behind the city wall made even him, a Cultivator in the Late Void Return Stage, feel a sense of dread.

"The Yao Race came prepared this time," Dao Lord Ling Xu stated in a deep voice, his words reaching the ears of every Cultivator present.

"This wall cannot be breached with our current strength. A rash attack would likely lead to disaster.

I order a retreat to the Ancient Immortal Sect ruins. We will rely on the remaining terrain to construct a defensive line, then plan our next move!"

Once the order was issued, no one objected.

Everyone understood that attempting to forcefully charge against such a massive undertaking by the Yao Race was akin to hitting a rock with an egg.

Thousands of streaks of light shone again, rapidly retreating like an ebbing tide.

Returning to the Ancient Immortal Sect plaza, Dao Lord Ling Xu quickly organized all the reinforcements.

"Disciples of all Sects, heed my order! Use the remaining Ancient Immortal Sect mountain gate as the core, gather local materials, set up Formations, and build defensive fortifications!"

"Fellow Daoists proficient in Earth and Metal Dao arts, accompany our Sect's Formation Masters to outline the defensive Formation base!"

"As for the rest, clear the battlefield, collect the remains of our Human Race warriors, incinerate them collectively, and erect monuments in their memory!

The corpses of the Yao Race shall be dealt with uniformly!"

As the orders were issued one after another, everyone quickly mobilized.

Some Cultivators channeled the earth veins, raising thick earthen walls one after another.

Dozens of Formation Masters joined forces, using the Ancient Immortal Sect's remaining Sect-Protecting Grand Formation as a foundation, and began repairs.

A makeshift defensive line stretching for hundreds of miles was rapidly rising from the ground.

During this time, Chen Yuan observed from the side.

Seeing that the defense construction was proceeding smoothly and that the Yao Race showed no signs of attacking soon, he knew this place was temporarily safe.

He quietly found Yan Ran, who was meditating to recover, and transmitted a few instructions. The gist was that his mission here was complete, he needed to return to the Sect to report, and she should rest assured and recover here while assisting Dao Lord Ling Xu in stabilizing the defensive line.

Although weak, Yan Ran still nodded solemnly, indicating she understood.

She then took out a few fourth-tier Medicinal Pills and handed them to Chen Yuan, asking him to pass them on to Shen Ling.

"Take good care of Linger. If the defensive line ever breaks, I hope you can take her away from here." Yan Ran's words were filled with concern for Shen Ling.

"Rest assured! If that day truly comes, I won't let Shen Ling suffer any harm."

Afterward, Chen Yuan did not Linger.

His figure flickered, and he quietly left the Ancient Immortal Sect.

He activated the Star Escape Art, concentrating starlight beneath his feet, and sped toward the Xuantian Sect.

He had arrived silently, and left without anyone noticing.

Several days later, Chen Yuan successfully returned to the Xuantian Sect.

He first went to see his Revered Master, Leng Youmeng, and briefly informed her of the current situation in the Far North Land.

Hearing that the Legacy of the Far North Land had been severed, Leng Youmeng remained silent for a long time.

Just as Chen Yuan returned to the Sect, the urgent message from Dao Lord Ling Xu—stating that "Lian Qing and Lian Jie are Yao Race spies" and that "the Yao Race may have infiltrated Kyushu on a large scale"—had already arrived in the hands of Sect Master Song Yuanji via a special Jade Pendant.

Inside the Xuantian Hall, Sect Master Song Yuanji held the communication Jade Slip, his expression grave.

"The Yao Race dares to do this? Then what about our Great Thousand Domain? Over all these years, have Yao Race members been hiding their identities and infiltrating our Xuantian Sect?" His eyes flashed with cold light, and he immediately issued a Sect Master's Edict:

"Order the Law Enforcement Hall and the Sky Patrol Division! Effective immediately, launch a joint operation to thoroughly investigate all cities and affiliated forces under the Sect's jurisdiction!"

"Activate the Semi-Sacred Supreme Treasure, the 'soul-illuminating demon mirror,' to screen all Outer Sect Disciples, Inner Sect Disciples, Deacons, and Guest Elders!"

"Anyone found to be a Yao Race spy or colluding with the Yao Race, regardless of their status, shall be executed immediately without pardon!"

The next day, the morning light faintly appeared.

In the central plaza of the Xuantian Sect, everything was silent.

Tens of thousands of Outer Sect Disciples, Inner Sect Disciples, Deacons, Guest Elders, and even Elders from various peaks had gathered here by order, standing solemnly in sequence, in absolute silence.

An invisible pressure weighed on everyone's hearts.

On the high platform in front of the plaza, Sect Master Song Yuanji sat in the main seat, his expression calm, possessing dignity without anger.

Beside him, Core Elder Yuan Zhougang stood solemnly. In his hands, he held an ancient bronze mirror, precisely the Semi-Sacred Artifact, the 'soul-illuminating demon mirror,' one of the Xuantian Sect's foundational treasures!

Arcane runes were carved onto the mirror's body, and its surface was hazy, as if reflecting the Underworld.

This mirror could reflect the Origin soul of any creature without needing to be activated. Since the souls of the Yao Race differ significantly from the Human Race, they could not hide under this mirror.

"Silence!"

Yuan Zhougang's voice boomed like a great bell, echoing over the plaza, "By order of the Sect Master, today we use the soul-illuminating demon mirror to screen everyone in the Sect and investigate the Yao Race remnants!"

"Anyone illuminated by the mirror light must open their mind and soul and must not resist in the slightest! Those who disobey will be treated as spies and executed without mercy!"

After his words fell, the plaza became so quiet that a pin drop could be heard. All the Disciples held their breath.

Yuan Zhougang said no more, holding the 'soul-illuminating demon mirror' as majestic spiritual power poured into it.

"Buzz—!"

The mirror body trembled slightly, and a clear, hazy light shot out from the mirror surface, instantly enveloping the neatly arranged square Formation of Disciples below.

As the mirror light swept past, most Disciples showed no anomalies; their soul light was pure, indicating genuine Human Race Origin.

However, when the mirror light swept over a group of Outer Sect Disciples in the southwest corner, an unexpected change occurred!

"Roar—!"

A fierce roar suddenly rang out!

Two Outer Sect Elders standing in the queue suddenly had their skin tear open the moment the mirror light touched them. Thick fur burst out of their bodies, their heads twisted and deformed, instantly revealing the characteristics of Yao Beasts: one with a wolf head and one with a leopard head!

The violent Demonic Qi could no longer be suppressed and erupted with a boom!

They had been exposed by the 'soul-illuminating demon mirror'!

"They really are Yao Race spies!" Killing intent surged in Elder Yuan Zhougang's eyes.

On the high platform, Sect Master Song Yuanji, who had been meditating with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them, and cold light flashed like lightning in his pupils.

He didn't even stand up; he simply raised his right hand from afar and lightly pressed down in the air toward the two Yao Cultivators who had revealed their forms and were about to attack and injure others.

"Puff! Puff!"

Two soft sounds, like crushing two ants.

The two Yao Race Elders, who possessed Early Soul Transformation Stage cultivation and had been lurking for unknown years, couldn't even utter a final word. Their bodies instantly burst apart under the invisible immense force, transforming into two clouds of blood mist, and their Demonic Souls within were instantly ground into powder and dissipated between heaven and earth.

From revelation to annihilation, it happened in the blink of an eye.

The plaza was completely silent.

All the Disciples were awed by this lightning-fast method, feeling reverence and a surge of lingering fear.

There really were Yao Race spies lurking right beside them!

Yuan Zhougang's expression was grim. He continued to activate the 'soul-illuminating demon mirror,' and the clear mirror light swept over everyone remaining without pause.

No further anomalies occurred during the subsequent inspection.

When the mirror light swept over the last Utility Disciple, Yuan Zhougang put away the treasure mirror, turned, and bowed to Sect Master Song Yuanji:

"Reporting to the Sect Master, a total of 78,921 individuals across the Inner and Outer Sect have all been checked."

"Aside from the two Yao Race spies who have been executed, the rest are all of the Human Race, with no abnormalities in their souls."

Sect Master Song Yuanji nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the standing Sect members below. He said solemnly, "You have all seen it."

"The Yao Race's desire to destroy us is relentless; they will stop at nothing!"

"Today's inspection was solely to eliminate internal threats! I hope you all take this as a warning, diligently cultivate, guard your hearts, and prepare for the coming war!"

"We respectfully obey the Sect Master's instruction!" Tens of thousands of people responded in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.

Two days later, Leng Youmeng found Chen Yuan.

"Qin Shuhan is in trouble!"