"Fairy, whatever you plan to do, just give us the order!"
Yun Dehe's expression first showed worry, then quickly shifted to reverence as he looked at Yao Ranran.
Yao Ranran studied this sect master. He truly had none of the usual arrogance of someone in such a position, completely unlike the sect master she had encountered in Wuxiang Sect.
"Fairy Ranran, may we know who exactly is the person you've planted within the demon race?" Zhao Lingyi asked cautiously.
Yao Ranran considered for a moment. Since Lu Ziqian should already be on his way, it was no harm to speak.
"He should now be the Demon Army's Commander-in-Chief."
Yun Dehe and Zhao Lingyi exchanged shocked looks.
"If he is truly the Commander-in-Chief, leading all the demon soldiers, then do we even need to act? With just one command, wouldn't all those demon soldiers follow him?" Zhao Lingyi voiced his doubts in surprise.
Yao Ranran touched her chin. "What you say does make sense, which is exactly why I don't have much of a plan prepared on my side."
Zhao Lingyi: "…"
Yun Dehe: "…"
Zhao Lingyi carefully pressed, "Fairy Ranran, forgive my boldness, but can you truly confirm that this Commander-in-Chief is one of ours?"
"Yes, what if it is a Demon Sovereign's trap? Rising to the position of Commander-in-Chief isn't something a person does without bathing in blood. Such a man, steeped in slaughter, how could he betray the demons and turn back to the righteous path?" Yun Dehe added, his years as sect master making him suspicious.
Yao Ranran understood their concerns. If she had not once lived for several months as Lu Ziqian's neighbor, if his grandmother were not still living in Longyin Village, even she would have suspected that after becoming Commander-in-Chief, he might be tempted by benefits and betray her.
"This much I can guarantee—this is no scheme of Li Luoqi. He simply does not have the ability to sway this Commander. After all, both his master and grandmother are in my hands."
She smiled, soothing their worries with calm confidence.
Yun Dehe was taken aback. "His master and grandmother… are both righteous cultivators?"
Yao Ranran blinked playfully. "His grandmother is a mortal. His master… is me. Do you think that counts as righteous cultivator?"
Yun Dehe almost jumped in shock.
"Fairy Ranran, your methods are truly ingenious!"
To have placed her own disciple so close to the Demon Sovereign himself—what a bold move, and how much blood and risk must have been paid!
Zhao Lingyi was silent for a long moment. "Back then, if Master had not shown me mercy, I too might have become a demon cultivator."
Yao Ranran raised her brows. "So Sect Master Yun once had the same idea as me."
Yun Dehe nodded slightly, though unlike her, he had never been so resolute.
"You mean the Demon Sovereign himself is coming to lead the troops?"
Lu Ziqian's voice was sharp as he questioned the demon soldier before him.
The demon soldier, trembling, answered, "Yes. The Demon Sovereign is arriving soon, and… and it seems he has a woman at his side."
Lu Ziqian's brows furrowed.
"I understand. You may withdraw."
"Yes!" The demon soldier exhaled in relief. The aura of slaughter around the Commander was too heavy, suffocating to endure.
Lu Ziqian adjusted his scholar's robe and walked into the You Yan Gate's grand hall as though nothing weighed on him.
"Demon Sovereign, you have arrived."
He raised his head to the man seated on the throne, then lowered it respectfully.
Li Luoqi's eyes swept over him with scrutiny.
"Hahaha, the 'Scholar Demon', indeed extraordinary!"
Lu Ziqian lifted his gaze, noticing the woman beside Li Luoqi. He glanced briefly, then asked, confused,
"Demon Sovereign, why have you come to You Yan Gate yourself? According to plan, was it not your subordinate's task to await the demon army here?"
Li Luoqi rose from his throne.
"I suspect there is a spy within the demon race. What you were told was not the full plan. You leading the demon army against Yun Gu Sect—I have no concerns. But others, I cannot trust so easily."
Lu Ziqian's face did not change. "May I ask, Demon Sovereign, who you suspect?"
Li Luoqi laughed coldly. "Ming Tian is dead."
Lu Ziqian remained unmoving, expression calm.
"No one knows how he died, but before his end I received a message."
"Hao Yinqin's Yin Fiend Blood Soul Pearl, which he had cultivated for years, has finally been perfected. He has left with You Yan Gate's men, not toward Suohong Tower as expected."
Lu Ziqian's eyes widened slightly. "He went into seclusion?"
Li Luoqi sneered. "Indeed. Bold, isn't he?"
"It is said that with the Yin Fiend Blood Soul Pearl, one's body becomes terrifyingly strong, enough to rival a peak Divine Transformation cultivator. Demon Sovereign, have you located Sect Master Hao's place of seclusion?"
Having lingered long within the demon race, Lu Ziqian had heard whispers of Hao Yinqin's schemes. He himself had once held such a pearl in hand.
Perhaps, even then, Master had already noticed Hao Yinqin's movements.
Li Luoqi smiled coldly. "There is no need to search. Once I spread word of his escape, the other three sects will naturally demand justice for me."
Lu Ziqian instantly understood. So, the idea was simply to let them fight each other while he moved in to seize Yun Gu Sect and Suohong Tower for himself.
"However, Demon Sovereign, rumor says the Yin Luo Sect Master has already arrived at Yun Gu Sect's mountain gates. If we go now, will it not be too late?"
"It will not. That Hei Yangjiu—if he hears that Hao Yinqin has perfected the Yin Fiend Blood Soul Pearl and is charging into Divine Transformation, even if he lay in a bed of beauties, he would leap up at once."
Li Luoqi's smile was sinister and sure.
Lu Ziqian lowered his gaze, a shadow of worry in his eyes.
Unpredictable, this world. Hao Yinqin shared the very same ambition as Li Luoqi—to become the Boss of the Eastern Wilderness, unwilling to form any Four Sect Alliance.
How is Master faring now? Should he slip away and send her a talisman to warn her?
"Li Luoqi, will the You Yan Gate master die?" Pei Xianqiao asked, her brows tightly furrowed.
Li Luoqi smiled gently at her. "Qiao Qiao, do not concern yourself with them. Did you not wish to go with me to Yun Gu Sect? I will take you there at once."
Pei Xianqiao turned her face aside. "I go only to stop you from slaughtering the innocent. This so-called righteous-demon war will only bring endless suffering."
Li Luoqi's gaze softened with false tenderness. "And it is exactly this kindness of yours I adore. If Yun Gu Sect surrenders of their own will, then for your sake I will spare them."
Pei Xianqiao clenched her fists. "Li Luoqi, do you swear to that?"
"My word is iron."
"Good. I will go with you to Yun Gu Sect. I know someone there, Zhao Lingyi. They have sought me for some time. I believe they will accept my proposal."
With the Spirit of Determination in her hand, hailed as the chosen of fate, she could not defeat Li Luoqi now, but she could still lessen this calamity.
Li Luoqi's lips curled. "Zhao Lingyi? I remember him. Yun Dehe's disciple. Perhaps Qiao Qiao truly can sway them. That would save me the trouble of bloodshed."
Pei Xianqiao fixed her eyes on him. "Then let us depart. Yun Gu Sect and Suohong Tower both—neither should be dragged into this slaughter."
"As you wish." Li Luoqi smiled, then turned cold as he looked at Lu Ziqian. "You take part of the troops to watch Suohong Tower. I will lead the rest against Yun Gu Sect."