"Good. From now on, all the gemstones mined from there must be delivered into my Master's hands."
"Yes!"
Lu Ziqian watched his subordinate depart, then withdrew his gaze and strode outward.
At the western sea border
A woman in a veiled hat, her face and figure hidden beneath a layer of blue gauze, slipped soundlessly between jagged stone peaks, her form dissolving into threads of mist.
"Stop! The newcomer—take off your veil and let us take a look!"
A red-haired, red-eyed demon called out.
The woman's fingers twitched slightly within her sleeve, but her expression remained calm as she halted.
With deliberate slowness, she lifted her veil, revealing a delicate, youthful face.
"Is this enough?"
The patrolling demons exchanged glances and nodded. "State your identity. The Demon General has ordered us to seek out the sect master of Piao Miao Sect. We must be sure you are not her."
The woman lightly shifted her veil to the side, her bright eyes steady on their expressions as she studied them in return.
"I was placed in Shiyan City of the Eastern Wilderness under the command of the Demon Sovereign. My name is Shi Qing. This is my identification demon stone."
From her waist she produced a strangely-shaped stone and handed it over.
The leader turned it over several times, examining it.
The woman lowered her gaze, her hands hidden in her sleeves restless with suppressed energy.
"All right. No problem. Hurry along then!"
The leader returned the stone.
For a heartbeat the woman was stunned, then swiftly accepted the stone back, bowing in thanks. Not lingering a moment more, she sped away once the demons waved her through. When she had put distance between them, she glanced back, lips curling in derision.
"Idiots. As if they'd ever guess I would willingly walk into the Western Sea Demon Cavern!"
With that, the disguise melted from her face, revealing her true countenance.
Beneath her right eye rested a tear-shaped beauty mark, her stunning features alluring and sharp, the faintly swaying gauze accentuating her graceful form.
She was none other than the sect master of Piao Miao Sect, Li Guiyi.
With effortless composure, Li Guiyi entered the Western Sea, heading straight for the Demonic Cavern.
Behind her, the patrol demons began muttering among themselves.
"Do you think that woman was actually the sect master of Piao Miao Sect?"
The leader smirked. "I'd wager she's eight or nine parts likely to be Li Guiyi herself!"
"Why? Did her demon stone look fake? Won't she suspect something if we just let her go?"
"Relax. That identification stone checked out. But the Demon General already warned us that given Li Guiyi's cultivation, she'd likely arrive here within the next two days. She nearly made a move on us just now, though she thought I didn't notice. Hmph. You didn't see it, but I was ready all along, just as the Demon General instructed!"
"Wow, the Demon General is brilliant!"
"Heh, it's not just the Demon General. His Master is the truly remarkable one! A brother of mine in Youyan Gate sent word—apparently that Master came down from the Spirit Realm, maybe even tied to the Immortal Realm!"
"That powerful? No wonder the Demon Sovereign himself couldn't last a single exchange against her!"
"Exactly. All the brothers who were there said the Demon Sovereign's defeat was so miserable they could hardly bear to watch. After following him for so many years, they were ashamed!"
"Which is why throwing in our lot with the Demon General to rebuild the demon clan is the smartest choice we've ever made! That sect master of Piao Miao Sect? By tomorrow you'll hear she's been captured, mark my words!"
The demons shook their heads, watching Li Guiyi's distant figure vanish, their eyes full of pity.
Everyone knew—anyone who faced the Demon General's Master never met a good end.
Meanwhile
Li Guiyi's path remained smooth and unchallenged. She strode proudly to the entrance of the Demonic Cavern. Gazing at the desolate silence surrounding it, a wave of emotions stirred within her chest.
"Li Luoqi truly was pitiful. To raise subordinates for so many years, only to be betrayed at the end. And the treasures of this cavern—if he were still alive, knowing they had been nourishing the very founder of my Piaomiao Sect, wouldn't he go mad with rage?"
Li Guiyi chuckled to herself.
"Li Luoqi was a fool, and those he trained even greater fools. Once I awaken the Ancestor, this Western Sea shall become the new Piaomiao Sect!"
Inside the great hall
All eyes were fixed upon the crystal, every word Li Guiyi uttered clearly heard. Their expressions were complicated.
From beginning to end, the only fool was her.
Yao Ranran glanced at Lu Ziqian. His face was tranquil, untouched by Li Guiyi's declarations.
Sensing her gaze, Lu Ziqian turned with a gentle smile.
"With Master here, even if I am a fool, it does not matter."
Yao Ranran blinked, already knowing what he was about to say.
"Master sees through all things. Everything falls within your grasp. Only now, after sect master Li escaped and rushed here to the Demon Cavern, have I realized the true reason Master brought me in such haste to seek these treasures."
With admiration, Lu Ziqian sighed. "It turns out Master's heart was never on worldly baubles, but always on the Eastern Wilderness!"
Yao Ranran: "…"
Well… in truth, she had only been after the worldly baubles!
Lu Ziqian, unable to hear her thoughts, continued to gaze at her with reverent admiration.
Yao Ranran's mouth twitched, and she turned her eyes back toward the crystal.
There, Li Guiyi—after murmuring to herself for some time—suddenly spat out a radiant pearl, glowing with hazy brilliance.
"Go, lead me to Ancestor Mu Xin!"
She flung the pearl skyward. Like a fallen star, it shimmered and flew deeper into the cavern.
Yao Ranran studied the guiding pearl, then glanced at Lu Ziqian.
"Disciple, that pearl seems to be pointing… at you."
Lu Ziqian stiffened. "Is that so?"
The demons nearby all nodded in unison, their eyes filled with curiosity.
None of them yet knew that Mu Xin's remnant soul had already attached itself to him.
"So then, if Sect Master Li follows that guiding pearl here, she'll be walking straight into our trap?"
Lu Ziqian realized instantly.
Yao Ranran nodded. "Exactly. I thought she'd head for the underground palace, but this is fine too."
Lu Ziqian's eyes stayed on the crystal. "So easily caught. Then Sect Master Yun need not worry about the Eastern Wilderness!"
"Yes… ah!" Yao Ranran gave him a strange look.
In truth, she did not believe Yun Dehe could possibly be at ease in the Eastern Wilderness. Given Lu Ziqian's unique constitution, after spending time with him, Yun Dehe was probably already lying flat in bed!
Setting that aside, Li Guiyi's luck had truly run dry.
She stumbled unwarily into an illusion formation, was led into the Infernal Flame Prison, and before she could react, searing fire scalded her red and tattered her robes.
Then, from hidden slits in the stone walls, a thousand piercing heart-arrows launched forth. Though she managed to evade the fatal shots, a massive cage crashed down, spirit binding chains winding around her in an instant.
Li Guiyi's eyes widened in shock at the sudden onslaught.