In Lu Ziqian's view, those two were already doomed, no different from fish laid on the chopping board. Hao Yiqin had no reason to waste his effort weaving illusions.
After all, killing them was as easy as turning over his hand.
He said this with honest conviction, believing the two truly could not tell illusion from reality.
Little did he realize, his words left Xiao Fengyi and Lin Fang red-faced and thoroughly embarrassed.
"Senior Brother, I'll faint first…" Lin Fang could no longer face the situation.
The moment she recalled the foolish words she had spouted in front of Yao Ranran, she wished she could dig a hole on the spot and crawl back to Miao Yun Sect's cave residence to play dead.
Xiao Fengyi watched Lin Fang collapse into unconsciousness, then glanced at Lu Ziqian's doubtful eyes. His lips twitched, knowing it was far too late to pretend fainting now.
"May I ask Daoyou how you are addressed?" he forced a smile toward Lu Ziqian.
Lu Ziqian answered honestly, "I am Lu Ziqian, little disciple of Fairy Yao Ranran."
Xiao Fengyi managed a strained grin. "Lu Daoyou, would it be possible to speak with Fairy Yao Ranran? Our Miao Yun Sect has more than just supreme-grade spirit stones… we also possess treasures the Eastern Wilderness has never seen. If possible, I still wish to…"
He stopped abruptly, because Lu Ziqian had already pulled out the piles of treasures Yao Ranran had given him earlier, setting them directly before his eyes.
"Oh right, I forgot to mention—this spirit brush was personally forged by my master for me. It is already an eighth-rank spiritual treasure. Perhaps next time, Master will be able to refine an immortal artifact."
Lu Ziqian cradled the brush in both hands with deep reverence, his heart full of gratitude.
Xiao Fengyi: "...I have nothing more to say."
For the first time, he felt Miao Yun Sect was truly poor.
They could not even compare to the wealth of a loose cultivator.
Xiao Fengyi fell silent. Lu Ziqian's concern quickly shifted back to Yao Ranran's safety, his gaze locking on Hao Yiqin.
"Have you all finished speaking?" Hao Yiqin's voice cut through, his excitement barely restrained. "Keeping you two from Miao Yun Sect alive had some use at least. You managed to bait out the supreme-grade spirit vein!"
His eyes gleamed with ecstasy, as though he could already see the people of Wuxiang Sect groveling at his feet, even the so-called Number One Sword of the world, Shen Yuefu, debasing himself to lick his boots.
Yao Ranran could not follow his delusions, but Yun Dehe suddenly burst out, "Hao Yiqin, you're mistaken! If anyone deserves thanks, it's me! I was the one who invited Fairy Ranran here!"
Yao Ranran silently turned to him. Was this Yun Sect Master focusing on the wrong point again?
Lu Ziqian stepped forward politely, cupping his hands. "Sect Master Hao, a supreme-grade spirit vein is a violet dragon, not a fish."
Yao Ranran fell into silence.
So it was her mistake—why did she ever think Yun Dehe was the one missing the point? With Lu Ziqian around, it was clear he simply did not care about what the point even was.
Hao Yiqin's brows knitted tightly. He swept his sleeve in anger. "Of course I know it is a violet dragon! I don't need you to tell me that. And Yun Dehe, you dragged things out so long just to bring her here—did you think I didn't see your little tricks earlier?"
Yun Dehe: "...Fairy Ranran, hurry and kill him! Righteous and demonic never coexist. The only reason he's spouting so many words is to stall for time!"
Xiao Fengyi and the still-pretending-to-faint Lin Fang: "…"
Hao Yiqin sneered, "I don't need to delay. The disciples of You Yan Sect have already been dispatched. Once I swallow the other two demonic sects, next will be Yun Gu Sect, Suohong Tower, and Piao Miao Sect!"
He spread his arms wide and threw his head back in mad laughter, eyes blazing with unshakable arrogance.
Lu Ziqian's voice was calm. "Unfortunately for Sect Master Hao, you encountered my master."
"The Eastern Wilderness belongs to my master. When you took away Youyan Sect's disciples, the demonic forces I planted inside had already acted. They have seized your sect by now.
Most likely, the plaque of Youyan Sect has already been replaced with Biliu Sect." He spoke in the gentlest tone, yet with the most domineering words.
Yao Ranran could not help giving him a higher look. How had she never noticed before that her disciple could play the pretentious act so well?
Hao Yiqin's smile turned cold. "So you are a demonic traitor. No wonder disciples in Youyan Sect kept dying—it was you secretly murdering them!"
Lu Ziqian shook his head. "It wasn't me."
Yun Dehe asked, "Then who was it?"
Lu Ziqian turned respectfully to Yao Ranran, bowing deeply. "All thanks to Master's hand, I was able to stand firm within Youyan Sect."
The words had barely left his lips when every eye snapped to Yao Ranran in shock.
Yao Ranran: "…"
When it came to dragging one's master into grudges, this little disciple was second to none.Since when had she ever killed people in secret within Youyan Sect?!
Her mind a blur, she met Hao Yiqin's gaze, finding his hatred already twice as heavy.
As for Xiao Fengyi, Lin Fang, and the spectator Yun Dehe, their awe of her only deepened.
Yao Ranran sat as if on needles. With a swift motion she drew the Nine Lotus Ring. "Enough talk. Hao Yiqin, let us settle this with a duel!"
She had to stop Lu Ziqian now—who knew what he might spout next?
A flash of regret crossed Xiao Fengyi's eyes. He had rarely been so curious about a woman, yet could only glimpse the tip of the iceberg.
Yun Dehe's face tightened. "Fairy, be careful! Hao Yiqin just used a vile art to drain the cultivation of Miao Yun Sect's Tianshan Ancestor. His body is filled with demonic qi, his power at its peak. Beware his sinister tricks!"
Lu Ziqian laid a hand gently on his shoulder. "Sect Master Yun, do not worry. All of this…"
"…was within Fairy Ranran's expectations?" Yun Dehe guessed quickly, not even waiting for him to finish.
Lu Ziqian nodded with a smile. "Sect Master Yun is correct. Master surely foresaw it all."
Even Lin Fang, who had been faking unconsciousness, could not resist climbing to her feet. She desperately wanted to see just what sort of woman could inspire such unshakable worship from a disciple.
Xiao Fengyi's heart was full of doubt. "How could anyone predict the future? What Lu Daoyou claims is far too exaggerated!"
Before the last syllable of "exaggerated" had faded, Yao Ranran had already charged forth.
"Hao Yiqin, all the treasures of Youyan Sect belong to me!"
Yun Dehe stroked his beard in a daze. "The Fairy's battle cry… truly awe-inspiring."
Lu Ziqian added with a smile, "I think so too."
Xiao Fengyi and Lin Fang: "…" Forget about us living or dying, just keep pamper her!
Hao Yiqin sneered, "Come then. The gates of Youyan Sect will always remain open for you!"
What he feared least was a reckless opponent.
Nine Yin Fiend Blood Beads, each forged from the lives of countless cultivators and mortals across a dozen cities. Within each bead boiled endless resentment, fury, and despair. Together they formed a miasma of bloodlust, thick with hatred enough to shake both men and gods.
That bloodlust congealed into a scarlet mist, seeping silently around him, corrupting the spiritual qi of heaven and earth, eroding everything it touched. No fleshly body could withstand the devouring corrosion of those evil pearls.
"Come, come! My embrace will always welcome you!"
"Hahahaha! Hahahaha!"
His manic laughter rolled across the battlefield in all directions.