260: change of weather

Ye Hao narrowed his eyes slightly, his fingertips lightly tapping the tabletop.

His visit to Steward Song this time was merely a guess based on clues.

When he left the Demon Suppressing Tower that day, the scale he saw was identical to the one he had seen when disembarking from the ferry.

Furthermore.

The few Half-human, Half-demon beings he encountered at Suifeng Ridge in Flame Continent had low Realms and couldn't even fly on swords. If all Half-human, Half-demon beings escaped from the Demon Suppressing Tower, how could they cross the vast sea to reach the Flame Continent?

There was only one answer!

Someone must have been helping them in secret.

Thus, Ye Hao came today specifically to "bluff" Steward Song, not expecting to actually confirm his suspicions... Two days later!

An even more sensational piece of news spread through the Rain God Continent, sweeping through every gathering place of Cultivators like a thunderclap rolling across a sea of clouds.

Thousands of Sects, Cultivation Families, and Cultivators from other continents who had come for experience were all disgusted by the news, their curses nearly overturning the sky of the Rain God Continent. Whether it was the bustling markets, the Sect gates hidden deep in the mountains, or the tea stalls and taverns along the mountain roads, everyone was heatedly discussing this appalling matter.

"No way?"

In a tea stall, a Cultivator in green robes suddenly raised his voice as he set down his teacup:

"The Chusheng Sect is a well-known Sect in the Rain God Continent; how could they do something so heinous? Who exactly is spreading these rumors?"

A Cultivator in black at the next table sneered and put down his wine bowl: "Hah, Fellow Daoist, are you that poorly informed? Yesterday, the Tianque Sect joined forces with the Five Elders Gate and led people to their door to investigate the truth!"

"Exactly!"

A nearby Cultivator immediately chimed in:

"I heard the Chusheng Sect abducted thousands of commoners from the foot of the mountains just to refine evil pills! Those people were tortured beyond recognition, each turning into Half-human, Half-demon beings, unable to live or die. Just thinking about it makes my skin crawl!"

The green-robed Cultivator's face turned pale instantly, his lips trembling: "But... but can we conclude it was the Chusheng Sect's doing based just on that?"

"What else?"

The black-robed Cultivator slapped the table,

"Given the status of the Tianque Sect and the Five Elders Gate, would they easily mobilize such a force without solid clues? The key is that after they arrived, the Chusheng Sect closed its doors and refused to see guests, not even showing their faces. Doesn't that explain everything? They clearly have a guilty conscience!"

"And I heard that the Chusheng Sect's Third Elder seems to have defected, taking a significant portion of the Sect's resources with him."

The surrounding Cultivators nodded one after another, the discussion becoming more intense.

Some cursed the Chusheng Sect for losing their humanity and being unworthy of being Cultivators; some worried about the safety of the commoners near their own Sects; and some Cultivators from other continents were full of lingering fear, glad they hadn't run into such an evil Sect.

Disgust and anger intertwined, making the name "Chusheng Sect" an overnight pariah that everyone in the Rain God Continent wanted to strike down.

Inside the Arena Stage near the Demon Suppressing Pagoda.

The spectators around were also chatting and discussing.

"Damn! A while ago when I went into the mountains to pick Spirit Medicine, I ran into a monster with a human face and a sheep's body. It looked sinister, so I killed it! Now the more I think about it, the more something feels off.

Could that thing have been an innocent person who escaped from the Chusheng Sect?"

Someone beat their chest and stomped their feet, full of indignation:

"Animals! That group of bastards from the Chusheng Sect, hiding under the skin of the Righteous Path, will be struck by lightning sooner or later."

"When will the Tianque Sect move to besiege the Chusheng Sect? I've long found those dogs eyesores. Even if I have to risk half my life, I'll go and give them a few kicks!"

"Fellow Daoist, do Half-human, Half-demon beings really exist? If I kill them, can I dig out a monster core? If they can be used to refine medicine for leveling up, I'll have to try my hand next time I see one!"

Deep in a remote cave, water droplets condensed on the damp rock walls, and the dim firelight cast distorted shadows.

A grey-robed Cultivator stumbled in, his hem stained with grass and mud, his face full of uncontrollable ecstasy:

"Great news! The Chusheng Sect's evil deeds have finally been exposed!"

Dozens of Half-human, Half-demon beings were huddled in the cave!

Some had bodies covered in fine animal fur with hooked claws on their fingertips; some had deer ears on their necks and clear vertical pupils; others trailed half a furry fox tail behind them, their speech accompanied by slight animal cries.

"I believe it won't be long before those animals are completely wiped out by the Immortal Masters of the Tianque Sect!"

A man with a missing arm and eagle feathers on his shoulder suddenly looked up:

"Really? Will the Immortal Masters really help us kill those bastards?"

"Bullshit Immortal Masters!"

In a corner, a burly man with a face full of scars and bear-like armor on his arms spat,

"None of those people who cultivate immortality are any good!"

As soon as he said it, the man seemed to realize something and quickly slapped himself.

The grey-robed Cultivator was about to speak, but the man hurriedly waved his hand, looking embarrassed: "Immortal Master Chen, I didn't mean you... Sigh, my mouth just can't say anything good."

His face showed embarrassment:

"Immortal Master Chen, I didn't mean you... Sigh, my mouth just can't say anything good."

The grey-robed Cultivator waved his hand, his expression bitter:

"Big Brother Zeng is right. In the Cultivation World, there really aren't many truly good people."

"Alright, it's a good thing after all. Let's eat first." The speaker was a woman who looked like a farmwife, her face covered in small fish scales.

Beside her, a young girl covered in green scales curled up, her crimson snake tongue occasionally flicking out.

Her voice carried a sob: "Mother, can we still change back to our original appearance?"

She reached out to pull at the green scales on her face, trying to rip them off, tears sliding down her chin,

"I don't want to be a monster... I don't want to be a monster..."

...In the attic of the Demon Suppressing Tower!

Upon the attic of the Demon Suppressing Tower, Daoist Yuan Che stood leaning against the railing, his gaze piercing through the clouds toward the heart of the Rain God Continent, murmuring:

"At the Fourth Level of Martial Dao, to cross Realms and kill an Soul Emergence Stage Elder, this Little Friend Li truly has impressive methods."

The Elder beside him agreed: "It is indeed unexpected. Watching his matches on the Arena Stage before, I thought I already held him in high regard.

I didn't expect him to still be hiding such shocking strength."

"Now, throughout the Rain God Continent, the Chusheng Sect's evil deeds have been exposed, and they have been abandoned by everyone."

The Elder changed the subject, sighing:

"I suspect it won't be long before the Chusheng Sect has no place left in the Rain God Continent. I just don't know if other forces will take the opportunity to rise and stir up trouble after its downfall."

"The sky is changing in the Rain God Continent."

Daoist Yuan Che couldn't help but chuckle twice upon hearing this.

"Changing... it really is changing, and it's about time it did."

He paused, his gaze darkening!

"After all these years, the stagnant waters of the Rain God Continent should have been cleared out long ago!"

The Elder looked at his lonely profile, sighed softly, and asked tentatively:

"Tower Master, are you still troubled by what happened to Lord Xuanxu all those years ago?"

Daoist Yuan Che's aura condensed slightly, but he didn't respond directly, merely waving his hand:

"It's nothing. You may leave."

"In a few days, it will be the day for the Disciples of the Dao Seeking Sect and the people from the Heaven Palace Pavilion to enter the ten thousand demon blood quenching pool."

He added, "At that time, be sure to make proper arrangements and receive them well. There must not be the slightest mistake!"

"Yes, your subordinate obeys!"

The Elder bowed, turned, and quietly withdrew.