Did it ruin the Holy Ancestor's grand plan?

At the same time.

Deep within the bamboo forest.

Inside a cleverly designed small building, Ji Chan'er sat cross-legged, still in the Void Realm, with gusts ofcold wind (Yin Wind) swirling around her body, dark shadows rippling, emitting waves of strange and ominous fluctuations that made her figure blurry, like a ghost.

Because she was Cultivating, Ji Chan'er shed her disguise, revealing a stunningly beautiful and enchanting face.

At this moment, she wore a light purple long dress, her graceful and slender body faintly visible, with light makeup and a seductive blush, jade bones and icy skin. She looked like a blooming purple Datura flower, full of fatal allure.

Compared to the ordinary-looking “Zhen Yuyan” of everyday life, the difference was like heaven and earth.

Suddenly, she opened her eyes, and a terrifying, dark glow flashed in her deep, black beautiful eyes, like the vast, dark night.

Someone has arrived!

She first frowned, then flicked her sleeve, and the Void Realm in front of her rippled like water, reflecting the scene outside the small building.

After seeing the person, Ji Chan'er's expression relaxed slightly. She waved her hand, removing the Formation Restriction outside, and said indifferently:

“Come in.”

Creak—

The door was gently pushed open, and a figure shrouded in a black cloak walked in from the darkness outside the door.

“Your Subordinate greets True Disciple Ji.”

Upon seeing Ji Chan'er inside the room, the figure quickly lowered his hood and respectfully knelt to salute.

The newcomer was tall and thin, with a dignified appearance, none other than Yin Qingyuan, Elder of the Dao Entry Pavilion of Falling Cloud Valley.

“Why are you here? Didn't I tell you to lie low and not come looking for me unless necessary?”

Ji Chan'er's expression was cold, her tone carrying a hint of disdain.

Although the woman in front of him was as beautiful as a flower and enchantingly alluring, Yin Qingyuan dared not show the slightest disrespect. He didn't even dare to raise his head and said cautiously:

“Reporting to True Disciple Ji, your Subordinate has followed your instructions to Cultivate influence and collect intelligence within Falling Cloud Valley, and has already achieved some results.”

“However, recently, your Subordinate has constantly been ostracized and targeted by some rivals within the Sect, causing everything to go unfavorably and my prestige to plummet.”

“It's fine for your Subordinate to suffer some hidden losses, but if it ruins the Yin Sha Sect's grand plan, then even death would not absolve me of ten thousand crimes...”

Hearing this, Ji Chan'er immediately saw through his thoughts and couldn't help but sneer inwardly.

Ruining the Yin Sha Sect's grand plan?

Do you even qualify?

If it truly came to relying on an old traitor like you, then the dignified Baleful Yin Sect might as well disband on the spot!

“So, you mean you want me to stand up for you?”

Ji Chan'er raised an eyebrow, looking at Yin Qingyuan with a half-smile.

Yin Qingyuan trembled and quickly said:

“Originally, I dared not trouble True Disciple Ji to personally act, but your Subordinate is now isolated and powerless in Falling Cloud Valley, and I hope you can lend a helping hand.”

“Alright,” Ji Chan'er's eyes flashed with a barely perceptible contempt. After a moment of silence, she slowly said, “I can help you resolve those troubles, but I am currently at a critical juncture in Cultivating a Yin Sha Sect Cultivation Technique, and it will take another three months to achieve Major Achievement.”

“During this period, you must keep a low profile and not cause me any trouble. Three months later, I will personally clear all obstacles for you, and I can even seize the opportunity to kill Bai Qingwu and elevate you to the position of Sect Head of Falling Cloud Valley.”

Upon hearing this, Yin Qingyuan's face immediately showed an expression of wild joy. He had chosen to defect to the Baleful Yin Sect precisely to usurp the position of Sect Head, and now he finally had a chance to achieve his wish. How could he not be excited and thrilled!

With his emotions stirred, Yin Qingyuan repeatedly kowtowed in thanks:

“Understood, True Disciple Ji, please rest assured. Your Subordinate will dedicate myself to the Yin Sha Sect until death!”

Ji Chan'er waved her hand:

“You may go back. I will contact you once I am ready.”

“Yes, yes, yes, your Subordinate takes his leave.”

After another round of profuse thanks, Yin Qingyuan finally stood up and quietly exited the room.

After Yin Qingyuan left, Ji Chan'er's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, and a chilling arc formed on her infinitely lovely lips. She murmured:

“It seems Master was right. The False Dao is full of insatiable fools, so easy to manipulate.”

“You don't even consider, how could the Yin Sha Sect possibly care about a minor force like Falling Cloud Valley, and go to such lengths to support you as some idiotic Valley Master.”

As she spoke, Ji Chan'er sneered, her gaze shifting to the window outside the small building:

“In three months, that phantom star grass will be fully mature, reaching ten thousand years. At that time, it can be used as the main ingredient to refine a furnace of Nine Refinements Illusion Divine Pill.”

“After consuming it, my Thousand Illusions Heavenly Demon Body will reach Major Achievement, and the Saintess position will be within reach. These three years of hard work will not have been in vain.”

“At that time, I will show some mercy and eliminate both you and your foolish son, which can also be considered ridding Falling Cloud Valley of a menace.”

Thinking of this, Ji Chan'er couldn't help but reveal a charming, faint smile, then closed her eyes again and continued to Cultivate... Time flew by, and in a blink of an eye, another half month passed.

Just as dawn broke, the Outer Sect was bustling with noise and excitement.

Today was the annual Outer Sect Grand Competition. Not only were many Outer Sect Disciples eager to compete for a good ranking, but also many Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters from the Inner Sect specifically came to watch the excitement and, incidentally, to examine the rising stars of the Sect.

Although Falling Cloud Valley's glory was no more, having fallen to a medium-small Sect, it still had two thousand Disciples. Besides the more than three hundred Utility Disciples, there were over a thousand Outer Sect Disciples. These Disciples gathered in a huge open space, looking like a sea of people, shoulder to shoulder.

In the middle of the crowd were the Disciples who had signed up for this Grand Competition, numbering two to three hundred.

The vast majority of these people were Outer Sect Disciples, with the lowest cultivation at Qi Refining Seventh Layer. In such an occasion, a few individuals wearing Utility Disciple attire stood out conspicuously.

“Look quickly, that guy is the new Disciple who received the [Perfect Heart-Nature] evaluation in this year's entrance examination. What was his name again, Qi something...”

“Hmph, no matter how much you say, he's just a Four Spiritual Roots good-for-nothing. What's the use of a good Heart-Nature? As a Utility Disciple, he doesn't work properly and even presumes to participate in the Outer Sect Grand Competition. Has he gone mad?”

“Look, there's another Utility Disciple next to him. These two boys probably won't even pass the first round of screening and will lose face terribly... Haha...”

“They're probably just trying to make up the numbers. They should take a good look at themselves and see where they stand.”

Facing the various taunts and ridicule from around him, Qi Yuan's expression remained calm and unmoved.

In contrast, Lin Zhen, next to him, had a flushed face and his fists clenched, making cracking sounds.

“Let me handle these trash.”

Suddenly, Qi Yuan turned his head and smiled slightly at Lin Zhen, then stepped towards the group of people who were shouting the loudest.

“Brat, who did you just call trash?”

Before he could get close, a fierce-looking male cultivator jumped out from the group, his face full of rage as he questioned.

Qi Yuan glanced at him indifferently, shook his head, and said:

“Don't misunderstand, I'm not just targeting you. I'm saying... everyone present here is trash.”

As these words came out, the air in the arena suddenly became stagnant. The entire group instantly stopped their clamor, their gazes at Qi Yuan filled with intense fury.