Yunxi's words were not only directed at Wei Yunqing but also at other Nascent Soul cultivators harboring similar thoughts. In such a desperate situation, there would always be someone clinging to the belief that they were special, that they would be spared. Unfortunately, that kind of mindset was the easiest to exploit.
Although Yun Chen Fózǐ had already explained their dire predicament, who among them would willingly face death if they could live? Yunxi had chosen to expose this openly, shattering any illusions of surviving alone. They were already pieces on the board, with no chance of withdrawing halfway.
Wei Yunqing was visibly shaken by Yunxi's tangible threat. Her eyes turned crimson once more, glaring at Yunxi with fury as spiritual energy surged around her. She looked ready to lunge at any moment.
Yunxi let out a cold snort, ready to strike and destroy her dantian. However, Han Lian, unable to watch any longer, flicked her fingers, sending a water orb at Wei Yunqing. The orb burst over Wei Yunqing's head, drenching her with icy water so cold it bit into her bones. Wei Yunqing let out a sharp cry, her mind clearing in an instant.
"Amitabha. Wei Daoyou, you are being influenced by the evil souls here!"
Yun Chen Fózǐ intoned a Buddha's name, flicking a prayer bead toward Wei Yunqing. The bead radiated a soft, soothing glow, calming the fury clouding Wei Yunqing's mind in an instant.
Wei Yunqing collapsed to the ground, clutching the prayer bead tightly. When she looked up, she saw Yunxi staring at her with a faint smile, fingers curling into a fist.
Her face went pale at once. The red haze drained entirely from her eyes, and the sensation of bones cracking seemed to return. Terrified, she lowered her head immediately. How had she dared to glare at Yunxi, that blood-soaked reaper? She almost wanted to applaud her past self for such reckless courage.
The surrounding Nascent Soul cultivators silently observed this scene, each mentally warning themselves not to be swayed by the evil souls. Wei Yunqing's earlier state had been clearly abnormal. A Nascent Soul early-stage cultivator daring to provoke a Nascent Soul late-stage cultivator, especially when her life was already in the latter's hands, was sheer madness.
Her bloodshot eyes, stripped of reason, were an ominous sign of deviation. This place was capable of easily stirring heart demons within cultivators. Any one of them could be next.
Once Wei Yunqing regained clarity and stayed quiet, the entire hall fell silent. Moments later, a cultivator from Huaxian Gate who had finished examining the sealing talismans sat cross-legged before Yunxi. With a polite cupped-fist salute, he introduced himself:
"I am Xian Feng of Huaxian Gate. Earlier, I heard Ran Xi Daoyou mention that the Shanhe Scroll has fallen under the control of evil cultivators. May I ask what evidence you have? If convenient, please share your findings with us so we may deliberate together. We cannot sit here and wait for death."
Yunxi looked at the middle-aged man in white robes, whose smiling face carried a hint of cunning like a smiling tiger. She returned the salute with equal courtesy and spoke openly for all to hear:
"Before attending the Five Region Grand Tournament, Haoran Sect captured an evil cultivator. Upon soul-searching, we learned that the evil cultivators intended to strike during the tournament, aiming to slaughter its elite participants.
As for their exact methods or movements, the captured cultivator was too low-ranked to know. While our sect tried to trace their network for further intelligence, the evil cultivators vanished without a trace.
Our Ancestor then sent word to all sects and clans across the Five Regions. Though the warning lacked precision, it was better to be cautious than unprepared.
You all witnessed what happened. To mislead us, the evil cultivators poisoned a disciple of Kunmo Sect during the Foundation Establishment matches and tried to pin the blame on Haoran Sect.
Fortunately, Senior Xiang Sizi Zūnzhě of the Western Region Loose Cultivator Alliance intervened, neutralizing the poison and foiling their plan. Kunmo Sect's Xun Kun Daoyou can confirm this."
At this, Yunxi turned to Xun Kun, who nodded cooperatively.
"That evil cultivator who infiltrated the Southern Region's temporary station was captured by us," Xun Kun confirmed. "He was taken by your sect's Xianyu Hall for interrogation. However, they shared nothing of what they uncovered."
Xian Feng nodded slightly. "I've heard rumors of this incident. These facts confirm the evil cultivators' intent to target the Five Region elites, and Haoran Sect's warning was indeed accurate. But how, Ran Xi Daoyou, did you deduce that the Shanhe Scroll has been compromised?"
That was what Xian Feng truly wanted to know.
Yunxi spread her hands casually. "I had no idea beforehand. I only realized it after being sucked in here. When I first saw your sect's Shanhe Scroll, I paid close attention and confirmed it was a Mystic-grade treasure. Clearly, Huaxian Gate brought it to showcase strength. Otherwise, a simple shadow wall could have sufficed for the tournament displays.
Had I truly noticed its corruption earlier, I would have sounded the alarm. But tell me, even if I had claimed your sect's scroll was tainted, would you have believed me?
As for proof, being trapped in here is evidence enough. You all saw the Divine Transformation Zūnzhěs' reactions when we were pulled in. Even they couldn't stop it, nor save a single Nascent Soul participant. Do you really think they are mere ornaments, or that they would abandon us deliberately?"
Her final rhetorical question plunged every Nascent Soul cultivator present into deep thought.
What she didn't reveal was that she had felt a faint sense of wrongness the very first day the Shanhe Scroll appeared. She had stared at the golden scroll for a long time, only for that feeling to vanish moments later. Believing it a trick of her mind, she hadn't mentioned it to anyone. Never had she imagined the evil cultivators would use it to lay a trap, targeting the Nascent Soul elites like a beast opening its jaws.
Xian Feng Zhēnjūn rubbed his fingers thoughtfully, reviewing every detail in his memory in search of clues.
This time, Yunxi posed the question:
"Xian Feng Daoyou, does your sect's Shanhe Scroll have a master?"
Xian Feng shook his head. "No. It is Huaxian Gate's sect-guarding treasure and has never been bound by anyone."
"Ah, that explains it. Tell me, if an Out-of-Body cultivator forcibly bonded with the scroll, would your Ancestor notice?"
Xian Feng's smile faded into a serious expression. "If a mystic treasure is forcefully bonded, Ancestor would certainly sense it… unless—"
"Unless your sect harbors someone aiding the evil cultivators from within."
Xian Feng didn't want to admit it, but it was the most logical conclusion. He answered stiffly: "Perhaps… though it could also mean the scroll was tampered with during activation."
Yunxi shrugged indifferently. "It doesn't matter now. We've already fallen into their trap, ending up in this cursed place. What I want to know is, how does such a place exist within the Shanhe Scroll?"
Huan Die twirled her silk fan, raising a brow. "Xian Feng Daoyou, did you know this space existed within the scroll?"
Xian Feng shook his head helplessly. He truly didn't.
Just then, space rippled again, and another group of Nascent Soul cultivators was transported inside. Yunxi immediately spotted Lin Keyang and Zhang Lingrui among them. As they appeared, gray mist began spreading once more throughout the grand hall, and the triumphant laughter of evil souls echoed in everyone's ears.