98: Chapter 98 Tianji Village

Inside the mist-shrouded Sect Master's Hall of the Xuantian Sect.

Li Xuan stood by the window with his hands behind his back, gazing at the distant rolling mountain ranges, a touch of solemnity etched between his brows.

News of the disciples' fall in Tianji Village had already reached the sect; this was no small matter.

Orders were quickly dispatched to the five main peaks.

Chen Zilong, a disciple of Purple Bamboo Peak, was designated as the leader for this mission, as his cultivation had reached the Nascent Soul Early Stage, making him a standout among his peers.

There wasn't much emotion in his eyes; he simply gave a slight nod to show he accepted the command.

The selected personnel from each peak gathered one after another, totaling about twenty people including Chen Zilong.

However, what surprised Chen Zilong the most was that the names of Ye Xishui and Tu Shan Xiaoxiao appeared prominently on the list.

Ye Xishui was as cold as snow, dressed in plain white robes that seemed untainted by the mortal world.

Just by standing there quietly, she possessed an unquestionable aura.

When Chen Zilong tried to dissuade her by citing the mission's danger, she merely raised her clear yet indifferent eyes, parted her vermilion lips, and spoke in a crisp voice filled with irrefutable determination:

“My mind is made up.”

Under the sunlight, her porcelain-like skin seemed to shimmer, and her long eyelashes cast faint shadows, adding to her aloof beauty.

On the other side, Tu Shan Xiaoxiao was smiling beautifully, her eyes bright and expressive.

She wore a pale pink dress with exquisite fox patterns embroidered on the hem, which swayed gently with her movements.

She leaned closer to Chen Zilong, her large, lively eyes blinking with a hint of cunning and naivety:

“Senior Brother, how could such an interesting thing happen without me? Don't worry, I promise not to cause any trouble!”

Her breath was like orchids and her voice was soft and sweet, making it difficult to find the heart to refuse her.

Looking at the two junior sisters before him—distinct in style yet equally stunning—Chen Zilong couldn't help but feel a sense of helplessness.

According to the plot of the “book” in his memory, this so-called “Fate Usurpation” Instance wasn't supposed to feature either of them.

That damned author had originally arranged this scene clearly to force a closer relationship between Ye Wushuang and Lu Bingyun...

Thinking of this, Chen Zilong was momentarily speechless.

What puzzled him even more was that the protagonist, Ye Wushuang, was actually absent from this mission!

“The protagonist is gone... then whose fate is the final boss of this Instance intending to usurp?” Chen Zilong's brows furrowed slightly.

Doubts filled his mind; it seemed the plot had deviated from its original track from the very beginning.

He shook his head, momentarily suppressing these chaotic thoughts, and took a deep breath of the crisp mountain air.

Since he couldn't figure it out, he could only take it one step at a time and adapt to circumstances.

A few days later, a massive spirit boat soared from the Xuantian Sect's gate, carrying everyone through the clouds as it sped toward Tianji Village.

Outside the spirit boat, a sea of clouds churned over magnificent mountains and rivers; inside, the group either meditated to regulate their breathing or conversed in low voices.

Ye Xishui spent most of her time leaning against the railing alone, gazing into the distance. Her cold profile, illuminated by the clouds, was breathtakingly beautiful yet carried a sense of distance that warned others not to approach.

Occasionally, the wind would blow the hair at her temples, and she would reach out with her long, jade-like fingers to gently tuck it behind her ear with utmost elegance.

Tu Shan Xiaoxiao was much more lively, occasionally looking at the sea of clouds with curiosity.

At other times, she would lean in close to Chen Zilong, asking all sorts of questions with a radiant smile.

That bright smile seemed capable of dispelling all gloom.

Her every move was full of spirited charm, like a naive little fox curious about everything.

Lu Bingyun appeared quiet and dignified. She would occasionally exchange a few words with Chen Zilong about the mission, her tone gentle and her reasoning clear.

Her lovely face always bore a faint expression of contemplation, and her gaze was as calm as water.

After several days of flight, the spirit boat landed at the edge of a somewhat desolate mountain range.

Everyone disembarked and traveled on foot for a day's journey.

The surrounding scenery gradually became more barren, and the spiritual energy grew noticeably thinner.

Finally, as the sun set and twilight descended, the group arrived at their destination—Tianji Village.

A fair number of people had already gathered at the village entrance; judging by their attire, they were all cultivators from various sects.

What made Chen Zilong's gaze sharpen was that there were quite a few people from the Demonic Path among them, identifiable by their cold auras and revealing clothing!

He steadied himself, stepped out from the crowd, and gave a cupped-hand salute, his voice spreading calmly yet clearly:

“I am Chen Zilong of the Xuantian Sect's Purple Bamboo Peak. Might I ask if you fellow Daoists have gathered here because your disciples also unfortunately perished near Tianji Village?”

As soon as he finished speaking, a female cultivator with a slender figure and rather bold, revealing clothing swayed her snake-like waist and stepped forward gracefully.

She had a charming appearance, and her shifting gaze carried an inherent romantic allure. She let out a soft laugh, covering her mouth, and said:

“Fellow Daoist Chen, greetings. I am Jin Mei, a disciple of the Hehuan Sect. You are correct; some time ago, disciples from my Hehuan Sect also accepted an exorcism mission for this mortal village, but unexpectedly... not a single one survived.”

As she spoke, her gaze drifted over Chen Zilong with a hint of flirtatiousness.

Just then, a male disciple wearing cyan Daoist robes—clearly from the Qingyun Sect—snorted coldly and sneered with a face full of disdain:

“What a joke! You demonic heretics, having the heart to exorcise demons for mortals? In my view, it's clear you scoundrels acted in secret and harmed our fellow disciples of the Righteous Path!”

These words were like lighting a fuse.

The disciples who considered themselves part of the Righteous Path chimed in one after another, their words filled with righteous indignation.

Not to be outdone, the demonic disciples immediately retorted, accusing the Righteous Path of hypocrisy and failing to distinguish right from wrong.

In an instant, the village entrance became incredibly noisy; both sides were at each other's throats, and insults filled the air.

Watching this chaotic scene, Chen Zilong couldn't help but rub his brow, feeling a wave of helplessness.

What time was this? With demons right in front of them, these people actually had the mind to argue over the differences between righteous and demonic?

Tu Shan Xiaoxiao quietly moved behind Chen Zilong, gently tugged on his sleeve, looked up with her exquisite and flawless face, and whispered:

“Senior Brother, they're arguing so fiercely. Should we... help out?”

Her large eyes held a hint of worry and inquiry.

Chen Zilong turned his head slightly, and seeing Tu Shan Xiaoxiao's innocent yet concerned expression, he simply shook his head gently and whispered:

“Pay them no mind. Let's just wait and see.”

His gaze was steady, signaling her not to get involved in this pointless conflict.