338: Chapter 338: Sending the Daughter

Spring departs and autumn arrives, three years pass in the blink of an eye.

The sandstorms in the Northern Territory are lighter than in previous years, as if even the wind is testing the waters by restraining its edge.

On the peak of the Supreme Dao Palace, morning mist swirls, and golden sunlight pierces through the clouds, spilling onto the newly built halls.

The new Disciples who stood out in the Immortal Ascension Assembly have gradually integrated into the system of the Righteous Path.

Zhou Han practices his sword every morning in the Sword Intent Forest.

His progress is rapid, so fast that even Ling Jianxin feels astonished.

Half a year ago, he was still a Loose Cultivator at the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment; now, his cultivation vaguely shows signs of a Breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage.

Elder Qingyang says he is a late bloomer, his years of accumulation slowly releasing.

The ring on his left ring finger remains warm, as if that old man is silently watching his every move.

Lin Xue has been assigned to the Enforcement Hall.

Her eyes, as cold as blades, make many senior Disciples detour around her.

Someone once saw her standing alone under the moonlight, gripping that short blade in her hand, her gaze falling on the ground as if looking at a non-existent person.

No one knows what she is thinking, and no one dares to ask.

Shi Gandang was spotted by an old Deacon who has lived in seclusion for many years and was taken away to study Formations.

That old Deacon said he is actually better suited for setting up Formations, and his talent and foundation were being wasted.

When Shi Gandang squats on the ground drawing Formation diagrams with pebbles, he occasionally stops to touch his Dantian.

That Seal is still there, like a dormant beast, and sometimes he can feel it moving.

The Righteous Path is recovering its Origin Qi, and the reconstruction work of each Sect is proceeding in an orderly manner.

The destroyed mountain gates have been re-erected, new Disciples are training, old Disciples are passing on techniques, and everything is in good order.

Meanwhile, on the Demonic Path side, they are also accumulating strength.

The poisonous mist of the Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons is thicker than before, the mountain gate of the Eternal Night Demon Sect has been raised by three zhang, and the patrolling Disciples have been replaced with more elite personnel.

Under the iron fist of Xiao Ran, the Six Great Demonic Sects have rarely unified their pace, no longer engaging in internal strife.

Fairy Hehuan brought Ye Wuyin back to the Valley of a Hundred Flowers, Blood Butcher took Man Shan as a Disciple, and Sect Master You Ming Zi brought Fuyou into the Nether Hall.

Those Geniuses who survived the Demon Refining Conference are growing rapidly in their respective fields.

The sky over the Northern Territory has been unusually calm for three years.

But this calmness feels like the suppression before a storm.

It is like a dark river; calm and waveless on the surface, but with undercurrents surging beneath.

Supreme Dao Palace, Li Changsheng's study.

The night is deep, and the candle flames flicker.

Li Changsheng sits behind his desk with a file spread out before him, but he is not reading it.

He is thinking about one person: Su Qinghan.

For the past half year, Su Qinghan has barely spoken to him.

Every time they meet, she always keeps her head down and walks away hurriedly.

Li Changsheng knows the reason; during the war between the Righteous and Demonic Paths, she watched with her own eyes as Xiao Ran slaughtered so many Righteous Path Disciples and watched the Supreme Dao Palace being besieged.

And she herself had an indescribable relationship with that great Devil Head.

She cannot hate Xiao Ran, but she also cannot forgive herself.

She has locked herself in a cage of contradiction, unable to come out, and not letting anyone else in.

Li Changsheng sighs and closes the file.

He contacts Xiao Ran through the Soul Link: "Is it peaceful on your side recently?"

Xiao Ran's voice carries a hint of laziness: "Peaceful? It's so peaceful I'm about to grow mold."

"The old fogies of the Six Great Demonic Sects have been brought to heel by me; not a single one dares to even make a peep."

"I'm even thinking of finding something to do."

Li Changsheng is silent for a moment: "I'll send someone to you."

Xiao Ran's voice immediately perks up: "Who?"

Li Changsheng: "Su Qinghan."

"Haven't you always been thinking about her?"

Li Changsheng knows that Su Qinghan's appearance and personality are exactly what Xiao Ran has a fetish for.

That is why he has always been unable to forget her.

Xiao Ran is quiet for a few breaths on the other end, then a very soft exhale comes through: "Is she willing to come?"

Li Changsheng: "She doesn't know it's my arrangement; I will make her think she is going undercover."

Xiao Ran is silent again, this time for a long while.

"You are... pushing her into a pit of fire, aren't you?"

Li Changsheng smiles: "A pit of fire? Do you think it's a pit of fire?"

Xiao Ran does not answer.

Li Changsheng does not wait for his answer: "I will arrange for her to depart in a few days, prepare yourself."

He severs the link.

The next morning, Su Qinghan is summoned to Li Changsheng's study.

She is wearing the standard white Daoist robe of the Supreme Dao Palace, her expression cold and distant, showing no emotion.

But Li Changsheng notices that the corners of her eyes are slightly red, as if she hasn't slept well.

"Senior Sister Qinghan, sit."

Li Changsheng points to the chair opposite.

Su Qinghan sits down without speaking.

Li Changsheng doesn't beat around the bush: "Senior Sister, I would like to ask you for a favor."

Su Qinghan looks up at him.

Li Changsheng takes a file from his desk and pushes it toward Su Qinghan.

"This is information intercepted by the Intelligence Hall recently; things haven't been very peaceful on the Demonic Path side lately."

Su Qinghan takes the file and flips through a few pages.

It records the movements of the various Demonic Path Sects over the last few months; several small Sects have had internal strife, and many people have died.

But these are not considered abnormal in the Demonic Path, and Su Qinghan cannot see anything particularly worth noting.

Li Changsheng sees the doubt in her eyes and continues: "On the surface, these are just small frictions."

"But I received news that Xiao Ran has been secretly mobilizing troops recently, seemingly planning some major move."

He lowers his voice a little.

"I want to send someone to the Demonic Path to investigate, to investigate deeply, preferably someone who can get close to the core."

Su Qinghan closes the file: "You want me to go?"

Li Changsheng looks at her without denying it: "You are the most suitable candidate; your cultivation is sufficient, your adaptability is strong, and besides..."

"Right now, you are the most suitable person I have."

Su Qinghan's fingers tighten slightly.

Seeing this, Li Changsheng knows that Su Qinghan is already tempted.

Thus, he prepares to use a tactic of playing hard to get.

"Senior Sister, if you are not willing, I will not force you."

Su Qinghan does not answer immediately.

She stands up and walks to the window, looking at the distant mountains.

The morning light falls on her face, bright and dim.

What is she thinking?

She is thinking about that time on the Ancient Battlefield, thinking about that night in the underground palace.

Thinking about the time during the Immortal-Demon war when he stood on the head of the Nine-Headed Snake Emperor, looking coldly at the people on the city wall.

Does Su Qinghan hate him?

She also wants to know the answer.

But what she hates most is actually herself, hating herself for being unable to hate him.

Every time she hears someone cursing that Devil Head Xiao Ran, an indescribable emotion surges in her heart, as if someone had twisted her heart.

This is a Heart Demon.

A Heart Demon still needs a heart cure.

Thinking of this, Su Qinghan turns around and looks at Li Changsheng: "I will go."

Li Changsheng is slightly taken aback: "Are you sure?"

Su Qinghan nods: "I am sure, but I have one condition."

Li Changsheng: "Go ahead."

Su Qinghan says: "I need an identity, an identity that won't be easily seen through."

Li Changsheng doesn't even think about it.

"I have already considered this."

"The Hehuan Sect has a Saintess named Liu Qingyan, who died at the hands of the Righteous Path many years ago."

"But the Hehuan Sect does not know she is dead; this identity is a blank slate."

"Taking on her identity to infiltrate the Demonic Path is the safest plan."

Su Qinghan: "What about Liu Qingyan's cultivation characteristics and Cultivation Technique?"

Li Changsheng: "We have some information on the Hehuan Sect in our hands; you can imitate it well enough."

"Besides, Liu Qingyan was low-key during her lifetime, and not many people knew her."

Su Qinghan thinks for a moment: "Okay."

She turns and walks towards the door, stopping when she reaches it: "Who else knows about this matter?"

Li Changsheng: "Only you and me."

Su Qinghan does not turn back: "That's good."

She pushes the door open and leaves.