258: It was I who harmed my master.

"Revered Master, what did you mean by those words earlier?" During their flight through the air, Lin Xiuqin could no longer suppress the doubt in her heart and couldn't help but ask.

Chu Haotian's Qi fluctuations paused slightly upon hearing this, and he said indifferently, "The ten thousand demon blood quenching pool exists in all Eighteen Demon Suppressing Towers. They are nurtured by collecting the essence blood of various Yao Races and combining them with various Heaven And Earth Treasures. However, the attitude of each Sect toward it, and their purpose for using it, vary greatly."

"In our Tianque Sect, it is merely an Opportunity used to assist Disciples in tempering their bodies; there is nothing wrong with it. But in the case of the other two major Sects, that might not be the case."

He paused, his gaze drifting toward the distant, mist-shrouded mountains. "The current cultivation base of those two young friends might not be worth the effort for those people to plot against, but the person hidden behind them is a different story. That is the existence truly worthy of a calculating person's effort to lay a trap."

"The person behind them?"

Zhao Jingchen's heart stirred, and he quickly followed up, "Revered Master, are you referring to Young Master Ye and the others' Revered Master?"

Chu Haotian shook his head gently.

Zhao Jingchen was suddenly struck by a realization: the Dao Seeking Sect!

Lin Xiuqin also furrowed her delicate brows, her eyes full of confusion. She still didn't understand what her Revered Master was hinting at. Could there really be some major figure hidden behind Ye Hao and the other?

Chu Haotian did not directly answer their questions, only letting out a soft sigh.

"Ever since Daoist Zhenyue defected from the Sect, the entire situation in the Rain God Continent has become chaotic. Every major Sect and every faction—which one of them isn't playing their own little games, secretly plotting for their own interests? It looks calm on the surface, but undercurrents have long been surging."

"If that's the case, Revered Master, why didn't you just warn Young Master Ye and his companion clearly instead of speaking in riddles?" Lin Xiuqin was still somewhat unwilling to let it go and asked again.

Chu Haotian turned to look at her, his gaze solemn. "Xiuqin, you must remember, some things cannot be said too plainly."

"Once you say too much, it is equivalent to proactively taking on the Karma of the matter. When that happens, trouble will find its way to your door incessantly. If it weren't for the fact that those two young friends have outstanding talent and are truly exceptional, plus the fact that you and Jing Chen indeed owe them a life-saving debt, I wouldn't have offered even that one warning."

...On the other side!

Ye Hao and Li Pingan returned to the inn in Yunxi City and went to their respective rooms to rest.

As soon as he entered, Ye Hao sat cross-legged without hesitation and began to Cultivate. Feeling his cultivation base slowly accumulate, his brow relaxed.

In his mind, he began to organize the words Chu Haotian had said before leaving!

There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world; the more precious the Opportunity, the greater the risk that usually accompanies it.

What risk could there be with the ten thousand demon blood quenching pool?

Back at the third Demon Suppressing Tower, Zhao Jingchen had mentioned a few things. The essence blood of ten thousand demons contains the violent aura and residual will of countless Yao Races. Those with weak Divine Souls can easily have their minds corroded and become mad demons who only know how to slaughter. Even with a firm Divine Soul, it takes immense willpower to persevere.

But he always felt that the risk Chu Haotian warned about was definitely not just this. Since that Tianque Sect Elder went out of his way to mention it, there must be a deeper crisis hidden within.

While Ye Hao was deep in thought, the inn door was suddenly knocked on gently. The 'dong dong dong' sound interrupted his train of thought.

"Come in!"

The door was pushed open cautiously, and Su Yue walked into the room with light steps, her face carrying a hint of apology.

"Young Master Ye!"

Ye Hao looked up at her and asked in confusion, "Miss Su, is there something the matter?"

Su Yue said softly, "Young Master Ye, I've been asking around the inn these past few days, but I haven't been able to find any clues regarding my Revered Master. I've come this time to bid you farewell. I plan to check other towns; perhaps there will be news there."

She bowed slightly, her tone sincere. "You saved my life before, Young Master, and I have always kept that kindness in my heart. Once I find my Revered Master, I will definitely find a way to repay you."

Hearing this, Ye Hao understood; she was here to say goodbye.

He couldn't help but recall the scene he had witnessed inside the Demon Suppressing Tower.

Those Half-human, Half-demon beings who had been branded with Slave Seals... Ye Hao's pupils suddenly constricted as he realized the truth.

"Miss Su, actually, I happen to know some news regarding your Revered Master."

"Really?"

Su Yue looked up instantly, her previously dim expression suddenly brightening as she quickly pressed, "Young Master Ye, do you know where my Revered Master is? Is she alright?"

But before she could get an answer, Ye Hao poured cold water on her with a heavy tone: "The situation is not very optimistic. You might need to be psychologically prepared."

"Not very optimistic?"

The smile on Su Yue's face froze instantly, her delicate brows furrowing tightly, her voice trembling. "Young Master Ye, did... did something happen to my Revered Master? Is her life in danger?"

The young girl grew more panicked as she spoke, her eyes gradually misting over as large teardrops welled up.

Before long, she looked as if she were about to burst into tears. "It's all my fault, it's all my fault! It was I who harmed Revered Master."

Seeing her so self-reproachful, Ye Hao could only offer a word of comfort: "Don't be anxious yet. Your Revered Master shouldn't be in any life-threatening danger, but her experience... is somewhat tragic."

He took a deep breath, knowing that some things couldn't be hidden forever. Rather than letting Su Yue search aimlessly, it was better to tell her the truth directly.

"Your Revered Master... was turned into a Half-human, Half-demon being by someone using an evil pill."

BOOM—

These words exploded in Su Yue's mind like a thunderclap. Her entire body froze, and her gaze instantly became hollow, as if she had lost all her strength.

She didn't even know how she got back to her room; only Ye Hao's words repeated constantly in her head:

"Your Revered Master was turned into a Half-human, Half-demon being by someone using an evil pill... a Half-human, Half-demon being..."

As the night deepened!

Su Yue was at a familiar hill, sitting cross-legged on the ground and counting the Spirit Medicine she had gathered.

Looking at the basket full of rare medicinal herbs, a smile appeared on the young girl's face. These herbs would be enough for Revered Master to use for a long time. Revered Master would surely be very happy to see them.

"Little girl, I wonder if there are any villages nearby?"

Su Yue turned her head sharply to see a middle-aged man with a warm face standing behind her at some point, wearing a simple cloth robe.

"Who are you?" Su Yue asked warily.

The man smiled, his tone kind. "Looking at you, little girl, I should address you as a Fellow Daoist. To be honest, I am a Loose Cultivator from the west. This is my first time in this area, and I'm not clear on the local power divisions. I'm looking for a place to rest."

As he spoke, he took out ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones from his Storage Pouch and held them out to Su Yue. "I wonder if Fellow Daoist could tell me a thing or two? Is there any village nearby where one can rest for a while, preferably one that has no connection to any Sect forces?"

Looking at the ten Spirit Stones, Su Yue's heart stirred, thinking of giving them to her Revered Master.

After a moment of thought, she took the Spirit Stones and said, "You haven't reached the Inedia Realm yet, so you must be hungry, right? As for a village, there's one about fifteen kilometers to the east. It doesn't belong to any faction, and my Revered Master is also in the village. After I gather herbs for another... half an hour, I'll take you there."

As soon as she finished speaking, she saw the man turn into a streak of light and instantly disappear into the horizon.

An hour later, when Su Yue returned to the village after gathering herbs, she saw only a sea of fire.

The firelight of the village was particularly piercing in the twilight, casting long shadows on the ground like ghosts.

Above the village, that middle-aged man was holding an unconscious woman—it was her Revered Master!

He tossed the woman casually into an unfolding scroll. The scroll snapped shut instantly and turned into a streak of light, racing toward the distance.

"Revered Master!"

Su Yue let out a heart-wrenching cry and suddenly woke up from her bed. She was gasping for air, her forehead covered in cold sweat, and her heart was still pounding violently.

The room was pitch black, with only the faint moonlight filtering in through the window.

Su Yue sat on the bed and remained silent for a long time. Finally, tears could no longer be held back and rolled down. She covered her face with the quilt, suppressing her sobs, and choked out over and over again:

"It was I who harmed Revered Master, it was I who harmed Revered Master!"