At that time, Yun He’s tone was as calm and authoritative as ever.
She only said that the demonic beasts in the Luoxia Mountains were restless with unusual frequency, and there might be a change.
She needed her to go and take charge to calm things down, and “incidentally” asked about some trivial matters she seemed to be investigating recently.
She reminded her that cultivation was the foundation, and she should not let external things disturb her mind and delay the opportunity for Deity Transformation.
Although the words were not explicit, the intent to reprimand and stop her was already clear.
Qin Shuying was furious but had no way to argue.
Yun He was her Honored Teacher, a Transcendent Master, and the Cloud Shadow Sect Leader.
Whether in status, cultivation, or authority, she was far above her.
“She also said that this matter was too big and told me not to look into it.”
“Heh.” A faint, cold laugh escaped her lips.
“The Discipline Hall? What can they find? They’ll just find a scapegoat, close the case hastily, and cover everything up.”
Shen Mo’s mind was in chaos.
Yun He…
That outwardly kind and highly respected Honored Teacher, the nominal protector of the Sixteen Peaks of Cloud Shadow.
A bone-deep, icy chill, along with a despair that came from the confirmation of a long-vague suspicion, welled up in his heart.
“Later,” Qin Shuying continued, “something happened in the Luoxia Mountains. The demonic beasts stirred for no reason, and the timing was just right.”
“Under the Cold Pool, in the residual soul memory fragments of the Legacy Elder who failed his Tribulation Crossing and underwent Semi-demonization, there were also traces of being induced and catalyzed into Inner Demons by advanced Illusion Arts and drugs. The methods… subtly matched some secret techniques of Chaoyun Peak.”
Shen Mo remembered the giant octopus under the Cold Pool.
“I’ve been investigating these things for a long time. Every clue ultimately pointed to her. But every time I got close to the key point, an accident would happen.”
“Do you think all these are coincidences?”
Shen Mo did not answer.
He couldn’t answer.
A huge sense of absurdity and an icy, piercing fear, like invisible giant hands, gripped his throat.
He had always vaguely felt that behind the various misfortunes surrounding him, there seemed to be an invisible hand pushing.
From that visit with the Aphrodisiac Incense, to being cornered by Zhou Yunying at the Marketplace, to the desperate situation in the Luoxia Mountains, and now the ambush by the Corpse Puppet…
So it turned out that the clues had long been subtly pointing at that lofty person he had never dared to truly question.
“Yun He…” Shen Mo finally forced out this name with difficulty.
“It’s her.” Qin Shuying confirmed these two words. A fierce killing intent flickered in her eyes, but what was more prominent was a heaviness like a mountain, a powerlessness.
“Don’t say we have no proof. Even if we had solid evidence now, even if everyone knew she did it.” Qin Shuying said word by word, “With my current cultivation, I still can’t touch her.”
Her words were cruel, but they were the bloody reality.
Her eyes were red.
“Unless—I break through to Deity Transformation.”
This thought, like a tiny spark lit in the darkness, though faint, instantly suppressed her previous emotions, causing her turbulent feelings to gradually cool and settle, transforming into a more determined resolve.
Those three words exploded like three muffled thunders in Shen Mo’s heart.
Deity Transformation.
That was an entirely different realm.
“You…” His voice trembled. “Can you break through?”
Qin Shuying looked at him for a long time.
Then, she reached out and gently stroked his face.
The emotion in her eyes was already different.
There was less of the intense personal emotion directed at him, and more of a scrutiny and consideration.
Shen Mo seemed to be the center of all this vortex, the key, and also… the greatest variable.
“Almost,” she said. “Just a little more. Once I break through to Deity Transformation, the whole truth will come to light.”
Shen Mo’s Adam’s apple bobbed with difficulty.
“Before you have enough power, knowing too much is not necessarily a good thing.”
She slowly raised her eyes, looking at Shen Mo again.
Her tone turned cold, carrying a warning: “What was said today stays between you and me. You must not mention it to anyone else, including Lin Jingzhe.”
“As for you… your Demonic Qi has not been cleared, and your Spirit Soul is damaged. From today on, without my permission, you are not to set foot outside Heavenly Sword Peak even half a step. I will personally expel the Demonic Qi for you and stabilize your foundation.”