The bell announcing the end of the first assessment match echoed across the training grounds.

  When Lin Chen stepped down from the arena, the surrounding gazes had completely changed.

  Respect, wariness, curiosity, calculation.

  Those disciples who had believed he was certain to die now fell silent, their eyes flickering. Several Outer Sect elders conversed in low voices, casting occasional scrutinizing looks. Zhao Hu and Zhao Long had long since disappeareddoubtlessly off arranging subsequent killing moves.

  But Lin Chen’s mind was elsewhere.

  What kept replaying in his thoughts was that wisp of black aura inside the claw gauntlets.

  Cold, rotten, full of malice.

  Of the same origin and substance as the Netherworld Demonic Qi lingering in the jade slip from the waterfall cave.

  “Zhang Kuang’s Blood Claw Technique has already been contaminated by demonic qi what about the other two experts? Are the men Zhao Wuji arranged also”

  A chill gradually grew in Lin Chen’s heart.

  If even external hires had been corroded by demonic arts, how many within the Azure Cloud Sect had already fallen?

  He decided to investigate immediately.

  Returning to his residence, Lin Chen closed his door and meditated for half a shichen, restoring his condition to peak. Then he changed into an inconspicuous gray robe and quietly left.

  Zhang Kuang had been carried by Law Enforcement Hall disciples to the Medical Hall for treatment; disciples guarded along the way. Lin Chen followed from afar, Stellar Eye activated, observing the surroundings.

  The Medical Hall lay in the eastern part of the Outer Secta three?story wooden building suffused with the scent of herbs. Zhang Kuang was placed in room Bing on the second floor, with two Law Enforcement Hall disciples standing guard outside.

  Lin Chen circled to the back of the Medical Hall, found a secluded corner, and leaped up onto the second?floor eaves. His aura converged like stone; stellar power enveloped his whole body, merging with the night.

  Peering through a crack in the eaves, he looked down into room Bing. Candlelight flickered dimly.

  Zhang Kuang lay on a bed, face as pale as paper, chest wrapped in bandages that still seeped blood. An old Medical Hall elder was taking his pulse, brow deeply furrowed.

  “Meridians sealed by water?attribute spiritual power, blood?poison backlash, heart meridian damaged what ruthless methods.” The elder shook his head, “Even if he survives, his cultivation will be mostly ruined.”

  Lin Chen’s gaze fell on Zhang Kuang’s right hand.

  Though bandaged, the fingertips still coiled with an extremely faint black aurabarely perceptible, yet unable to escape the Stellar Eye.

  The demonic qi had not dissipated.

  It was devouring Zhang Kuang’s remaining vitality, while simultaneously trying to establish a connection with some distant existence.

  “I must extract a sample of the demonic qi.”

  Lin Chen’s mind raced. He took a blank jade slip from his Star Pattern spacethis one, obtained from Chu Xinghe’s cave, was made of special material capable of storing energy.

  Channeling stellar power, he carved a miniature sealing array on the slip’s surface. Then, using his finger as a brush, he traced an invisible stellar radiance through the air; it silently drifted through the tile gap toward Zhang Kuang’s fingertips.

  The moment the stellar radiance touched the black aura, the demonic qi suddenly became agitated!

  As if possessing awareness, it attempted to resist. But the stellar radiance contained natural chaotic power that inherently countered demonic qi. In a single breath, it peeled off a minuscule strand of black energy and drew it into the jade slip.

  The sealing array lit up, imprisoning the demonic qi.

  The whole process occurred without a sound; the Medical Hall elder noticed nothing.

  Lin Chen retrieved the jade slip and was about to leave when he suddenly sensed two powerful auras approaching in the distance.

  Spiritual Light Realm!

  He immediately lowered his posture; Stellar Eye turned toward the source of the auras.

  On the small path outside the Medical Hall, two black?robed figures walked slowly. One was tall and broad?shouldered, carrying a long blade on his back; the other was slender as bamboo, hands tucked into sleeves. Both wore bronze masks, their auras cold, obscure, and murkyof the same origin as the demonic qi on Zhang Kuang, yet ten times thicker.

  Netherworld Palace operatives!

  They dared appear directly inside the Azure Cloud Sect?!

  Lin Chen held his breath, watching as the two entered the Medical Hall.

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  A moment later, the door to room Bing was pushed open.

  Seeing the black?robed men, the Medical Hall elder’s face changed drastically; he hastily bowed and stepped aside. The two Law Enforcement Hall disciples actually turned a blind eye, letting them enter.

  “Trash.” The tall black?robed man glanced at Zhang Kuang, voice hoarse, “Couldn’t even finish off a mere Condensation Stage Level 5 kid.”

  The slender black?robed man placed a hand on Zhang Kuang’s forehead; black demonic qi surged from his palm, drilling into the body.

  Zhang Kuang’s body convulsed violently; dark patterns spread beneath his skin; his eyes snapped wide openpupils already turned completely black!

  “Soul search.” The slender man said coldly.

  Countless fragmented scenes surfaced in those ink?black pupils: Lin Chen’s movement techniques, fist techniques, the details of his breakthrough during battle, the characteristics of water?attribute stellar radiance

  All combat intelligence was forcibly extracted by the demonic qi.

  After several breaths, the soul search ended.

  Zhang Kuang’s pupils returned to normal, but his vitality was utterly extinguishednow an empty husk.

  “Chaos Stellar Body water attribute counters blood poison interesting.” The tall black?robed man mused, “Notify Zhao Wujithe second match must change personnel. Use ‘Poison Elder.’”

  “Poison Elder is waiting at the outskirts of the forbidden area.” The slender man nodded, “But this kid has Stellar Eye; he might sense the source of the demonic qi. We need to arrange misdirection beforehand.”

  “No matter. That ‘thing’ deep in the forbidden area just happens to need fresh blood?food.”

  As the two conversed, Lin Chen’s heart surged with towering waves.

  Poison Elder? Forbidden area? That thing?

  Did his father’s disappearance years ago also have something to do with that “thing” deep in the forbidden area?

  He forcibly suppressed his emotions and continued listening.

  But the two said no more; they turned and left the Medical Hall, heading straight for the back mountain.

  Lin Chen waited until they were far away before quietly dropping to the ground.

  He took out the jade slip sealing the demonic qi and examined it closely.

  The black energy slowly rotated inside the sealing array, sometimes coalescing into a ferocious ghost?face, sometimes dispersing into black mist. With every rotation, it faintly resonated with a certain location in the back mountain.

  The source of the demonic qi was indeed in the forbidden area.

  But the forbidden area was strictly prohibited for disciplesviolators faced immediate execution. Why had his father frequented it years ago? What had he discovered? And why did he vanish?

  Lin Chen knew that alone, he could hardly uncover the truth.

  He needed someone who understood the inside story.

  The Library Pavilion.

  The Azure Cloud Sect’s Library Pavilion collected texts from across the world; records of past secrets all resided there. The Pavilion Master, “Book Elder,” though not highly cultivated, was erudite and upright; perhaps he knew something.

  Lin Chen stored the jade slip and walked briskly toward the Library Pavilion.

  The Library Pavilion stood in the western part of the Outer Secta seven?story stone pagoda, ancient and solemn. It was already afternoon, and few disciples were inside.

  Lin Chen directly ascended to the third floor, where Book Elder was organizing old texts.

  Book Elder appeared about seventy, with sparse white hair, slightly hunched back, yet eyes clear as mirrors. Seeing Lin Chen arrive, he gave a slight nod: “Lin boy, you performed well in today’s assessment.”

  “You flatter me, Book Elder.” Lin Chen bowed, lowering his voice, “This junior has a matter to ask about.”

  Book Elder put down the scroll in his hand, cast a sound?insulation barrier: “Speak.”

  Lin Chen took out the jade slip, partially released the seal, revealing that wisp of black aura.

  Book Elder’s gaze touched the demonic qi; his face changed abruptly!

  He grabbed the jade slip, examined it closely, fingers trembling slightly.

  “Netherworld Demonic Qi and ‘living demonic qi’!” Book Elder’s voice tightened, “Where did you obtain this?”

  “On Zhang Kuang’s claw gauntlets.” Lin Chen answered truthfully, “His Blood Claw Technique had already been contaminated by demonic qi.”

  Book Elder fell silent a long while, then sighed heavily.

  “The Netherworld Palace’s infiltration has finally reached this stage.”

  “Book Elder, what exactly does the Netherworld Palace want?” Lin Chen asked.

  “The Chaos Rift.” Book Elder said slowly, “In ancient times, extradimensional chaos beings once invaded this realm; they were jointly sealed by the Nine Great Sacred Sects. The core of the seal is the ‘Stellar Tower.’”

  “The Netherworld Palace worships chaos; they believe only by releasing the chaos beings can the world return to ‘origin.’ They need the Stellar Tower keyand the key is said to be related to the Star Moon Sect’s Saintess.”

  Lin Chen’s heart shook.

  This matched the information in his father’s projection.

  “How many within the Azure Cloud Sect have already turned to the Netherworld Palace?” He asked the most critical question.

  Book Elder shook his head: “I don’t know. But one thing is certainthe Zhao Wuji faction is deeply embroiled. The Sect Master’s attitude remains ambiguous.”

  He looked at Lin Chen, eyes complex.

  “Lin boy, your father disappeared years ago precisely because he was investigating this matter.”

  “What?!” Lin Chen’s pupils contracted sharply.

  Book Elder said slowly: “Ten years ago, Lin Xiaotian displayed astonishing talent in the Outer Sect Grand Competition, attracting the Sect Master’s personal attention. But he soon discovered traces of demonic qi inside the sect and began secretly investigating.”

  “He entered the forbidden area multiple times, searching for evidence. The last time, he left with a fragment of a star?stelethen vanished without a trace.”

  “The sect’s official explanation was ‘defection’but I know he must have discovered something and was forced into hiding or perhaps imprisoned.”

  Lin Chen clenched his fists.

  His father was indeed framed.

  “Book Elder, what exactly lies deep in the forbidden area?”

  “I don’t know.” Book Elder smiled bitterly, “The forbidden area seals an ancient battlefieldand also seals some terrifying existence. Successive Sect Masters have strictly forbidden disciples from approaching; violators are executed without exception.”

  “But the Netherworld Palace seems intent on awakening ‘that thing.’”

  He paused, growing serious: “Lin boy, you’re in great danger now. Zhao Wuji absolutely will not let you go; the Netherworld Palace will also regard you as a threat.”

  “For the next two assessment matches, they will certainly send even stronger assassins.”

  Lin Chen nodded: “I understand.”

  “This strand of demonic qidon’t disclose it for now.” Book Elder handed the jade slip back to Lin Chen, “I’ll investigate covertly; if I find any clues, I’ll notify you.”

  “Also be careful of Liu Ruyan, that girl.”

  Lin Chen started: “Senior Sister Liu?”

  “Her father also died years ago while investigating demonic qi.” Book Elder said quietly, “But now she seems rather close to Zhao Long.”

  Lin Chen’s heart sank.

  Liu Ruyan had secretly aided him last night; today she was cozy with Zhao Long?

  Was it an act? Or

  “Alright, you should return.” Book Elder dispersed the barrier, “Rememberdo not act rashly before you possess sufficient strength.”

  Lin Chen bowed and took his leave.

  When he stepped out of the Library Pavilion, the setting sun cast a bloody hue over the Azure Cloud Sect.

  He raised his head and gazed toward the back mountain.

  The silhouette of the forbidden area loomed faintly in the twilight, like a crouching giant beast.

  The source of the demonic qi lay there.

  The truth of his father’s disappearance lay there.

  And also that terrifying existence that needed “fresh blood?food.”

  Lin Chen took a deep breath and tightened his grip on the jade slip.

  The second assessment match was about to begin.

  And this time, the opponent would no longer be a puppet like Zhang Kuang, corrupted by demonic qi.

  But a true Netherworld Palace assassin

  Poison Elder.