He confessed his love for his master in his later years, and his cheat ability finally arrived.

Lu Changsheng's eyes suddenly narrowed.

Murong Yan, an inner sect elder, has always been aloof and high-ranking, and there are few people in the entire sect who can catch her eye.

Now you're going to be fighting demons alongside an old outsider?

Or perhaps she has ulterior motives.

Either she's been eyeing him for a long time.

Why did she choose me?

Lu Changsheng asked in a low voice.

Mo Rou simply shook her head; naturally, she couldn't possibly know such a thing. Lu Changsheng's heart sank.

Imprisoned Dragon Pool!

Did she sense something?

But the Enforcement Hall did not take any action.

Unless she also knew that she possessed the Taiyin Dew Fruit, or... the aura of the Devouring Cauldron was exposed?

Just now.

"Tap, tap, tap."

Three soft knocks sounded on the door.

The sound was like ice beads falling on jade.

It was incredibly crisp.

A cold, clear female voice came from outside the door. The voice was devoid of any emotion, yet it was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

"Lu Changsheng, open the gate. The sect's decree has arrived."

Mo Rou's face turned pale.

"Why...why did she come in person?"

"Murong Yan?"

Lu Changsheng was taken aback. He quickly raised his hand to signal her to be quiet, then straightened his robes, stepped forward slowly, and opened the door.

Upon opening the door, a figure in white stood before it.

The woman was tall and slender, wearing a moon-white long dress embroidered with silver cloud patterns, with a cold jade short sword hanging at her waist, and her black hair was tied into a high bun, adorned with an ice crystal phoenix hairpin.

Her face was as beautiful as frost, and her eyes were as cold as blades.

He had no followers behind him, standing alone, yet he seemed as if a thousand troops were pressing in.

"Lu Changsheng, starting today, come with me to Black Wind Ridge to wipe out the Earth-Splitting Demon Ape and its horde of demons."

Murong Yan didn't utter a single unnecessary word.

Lu Changsheng said with some helplessness:

"Elder, my cultivation is too low to be competent. Besides, I have not accepted this task."

"I am Elder Zhang of the sect. It's a small matter that I specifically requested a disciple to accompany me. What, do you have a problem with that?"

Although Murong Yan's lips were slightly upturned, there was no trace of a smile in her eyes.

Lu Changsheng froze.

What is this woman trying to do?

She's taken a liking to me?

Before Lu Changsheng could reply.

Murong Yan waved her hand slightly and said:

"Alright, we shall meet at the mountain gate tomorrow; there must be no delays."

After saying that, she turned and left.

Dressed in white, she moved gracefully, like snow falling on a cold river.

We'll wait until she's completely gone.

Lu Changsheng finally breathed a sigh of relief.

His first reaction was to ask about the Devouring Heaven Cauldron.

"Old Tun, can you beat this woman?"

"Disaster!"

Old Tun's answer was extremely concise.

"Is there absolutely no possibility?"

"Are you talking about the bed?"

"..."

Silence, a deathly silence.

What to do? If it's a blessing in disguise, it's a curse; if it's a curse, you can't escape it.

He turned and went inside, first dismissing the two women.

Then he fed the Devouring Heaven Cauldron with the tens of thousands of spirit stones he had recently acquired.

"Old Tun, try your best to recover as much strength as possible."

"Even a slight increase in the chances of winning is good!"

Inside the dantian, the Devouring Heaven Cauldron hummed.

A phantom image of the cauldron appeared, and light surged out like a tide, engulfing all the spirit stones within it.

The spirit stone instantly transformed into pure spiritual energy within the cauldron, part of which nourished the cracks in the cauldron's body, and part of which replenished Lu Changsheng's meridians.

The spiritual energy flowed like a trickle into the sea, and Lu Changsheng's meridians swelled slightly, but he didn't gain much.

Moreover, he has no time to focus on cultivation right now.

Murong Yan's sudden appearance was too sudden.

"She shouldn't know..."

Unable to come up with a solution, Lu Changsheng stopped paying attention and focused solely on frantically refining pills and talismans.

These things will always come in handy.

……

The next morning.

Outside the mountain gate, clouds and mist swirl around.

Murong Yan was already standing on the back of the Azure Phoenix. She was dressed in white, her expression indifferent, as if nothing could interest her.

Lu Changsheng walked slowly, dressed in a coarse outer disciple's robe, and holding a cane. He looked just like an ordinary old man, posing no threat whatsoever.

"They're here."

Murong Yan said calmly, her gaze sweeping over him.

But strangely, when the object touched his dantian, it paused almost imperceptibly for half a breath.

Lu Changsheng felt a chill run down his spine.

She's investigating!

Fortunately, he had already used the power of the Devouring Heaven Cauldron to conceal his aura to the extreme, so it was impossible for anyone to see through it.

In order to dispel Murong Yan's attention.

Lu Changsheng bowed and said:

"Disciple Lu Changsheng greets Elder Murong."

"Go to the Azure Phoenix."

Murong Yan spoke concisely and to the point, without wasting words.

Lu Changsheng did as he was told and jumped up.

In an instant, the blue phoenix spread its wings, soared into the sky, and headed straight for Black Wind Ridge.

High in the sky, the wind howled fiercely.

Murong Yan suddenly spoke up: "Do you know why the sect sent you and me on this mission?"

Lu Changsheng slowly shook his head: "This disciple does not know."

Murong Yan's tone was unusually calm.

"Three days ago, the ley lines of Black Wind Ridge showed unusual activity, and a cultivator discovered the entrance to an ancient ruin at the bottom of the ridge. That ruin is suspected to be the former site of the 'Xuanming Sect'."

Upon hearing this, Lu Changsheng's heart skipped a beat!

The Xuanming Sect was an ancient, evil sect known for its corpse refining, poison manipulation, and soul control.

It was wiped out by the Righteous Alliance a thousand years ago, and its lineage has been broken for a long time.

The Taiyin Dew Fruit, Soul-Devouring Vine, and Taiyin Poisonous Spider... are all commonly used items by the Xuanming lineage!

All of this was told to him by the Devouring Heaven Cauldron.

"The elder has suspicions..."

Murong Yan glanced at him sideways, then chuckled softly, "What do you think?"

Lu Changsheng was too lazy to guess.

He simply gave up.

"This disciple is dull-witted and dares not presume to make any predictions."

Murong Yan remained silent.

But Lu Changsheng clearly felt a faint chill that was always locked on the back of his neck.

That was a killing intent formed from divine consciousness.

It seems this woman really has ill intentions.

The blue phoenix flew swiftly for half a day, and Black Wind Ridge came into view in the distance.

"Go down."

Murong Yan said.

The two landed.

She took out an ice crystal talisman and inserted it into the ground to examine it.

In an instant, a chilling aura rose from within a ten-mile radius, and silver array patterns condensed directly on the ground.

Huh? She actually set up a sealing formation in advance!

Under Lu Changsheng's surprised gaze.

Murong Yan explained:

"This formation can isolate the energy between the inside and outside, so no outsider can know what is happening in the mountains."

"Therefore, it is also to prevent any fish from slipping through the net."

Lu Changsheng sneered inwardly.

"Who exactly is this being defended against?"

But he still feigned fear and said:

"Elder, if there truly are remnants of the Xuanming sect, I fear..."

"You just need to follow behind me. If you behave well, I can recommend you to the inner sect after we return. You can choose any cultivation method you like."

Lu Changsheng nodded slowly: "Thank you for your kindness, Elder."

What exactly is this guy up to?

The two stepped into Black Wind Ridge.

The forest was deathly silent; not even the chirping of insects could be heard.

They walked for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

Without warning, a deafening roar came from the valley ahead!

Boom!

The earth cracked open.

A giant ape, three zhang tall, pitch black, with hammer-like arms, burst out of the ground.

Its eyes were bloodshot, its fangs were bared, and its body was shrouded in extremely dense black energy.

Upon seeing this, Murong Yan said coldly.

"Step back, and watch how I cut it down!"

Having said that, he drew his sword and stood up!

The jade dagger was drawn from its sheath, and the world suddenly turned cold!

A hundred-foot-long ice blade cleaved down from the sky, aiming straight for the demonic ape's head!

However, the demonic ape neither dodged nor avoided it; instead, it grinned, revealing its gleaming white fangs.

The next instant, its chest suddenly split open!

A dark figure darted out from the crowd, moving with ghostly speed, and rushed straight at Lu Changsheng!

"Be careful!"

Murong Yan exclaimed in alarm, it seemed there was no time to rescue them.

There's no way to withstand it head-on; you simply can't stop yourself.

Therefore, at this point, the only option is to choose between exposing the Taiyin Poison Spider and exposing the Devouring Cauldron.

Helpless, a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

A shadowy figure shot out from within the sleeve.

"hiss!"

The Yin Poison Spider has appeared!

Its eight legs are like spears, and its tail spikes like hooks.

A blast of poisonous mist instantly corroded the dark figure into ash.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a manipulated puppet corpse!

"really……"

Lu Changsheng turned his head and looked coldly at Murong Yan.

"Elder, did you release this demonic ape?"

Murong Yan remained expressionless, seemingly uninterested in Lu Changsheng's ability to summon the Taiyin Poison Spider.

She slowly sheathed her longsword and said:

Three days ago, nine law enforcement disciples went missing at the Imprisoned Dragon Pool.

"Zhao Wushe couldn't find any traces and assumed it was the work of the Taiyin Demon Spider."

"But now I'm certain that you not only killed them, but you also refined their 'souls'."

The air froze instantly upon hearing this!

Lu Changsheng's pupils contracted slightly.

He believed he had concealed these methods flawlessly: the Soul-Capturing Banner extracts souls, the Heaven-Swallowing Cauldron refines spirits…

But how exactly did Murong Yan find out?

Lu Changsheng remained silent.

The Devouring Heaven Cauldron trembled slightly within the dantian, seemingly ready to strike at any moment.

Lu Changsheng gently exhaled a breath of stale air.

"So, the elders are going to hold me accountable?"

"I'm not interested in your business. How about we make a deal?"

"A deal? Elder, you jest. If you give an order, how dare I disobey? Now that you've caught me red-handed, what need is there for a deal?"

Murong Yan frowned slightly.

"Refine one pill for me, and I won't utter a single word about your affairs to the sect."

"Alchemy?"

Lu Changsheng raised an eyebrow, his vigilance undiminished.

"Elder, you jest. This disciple is merely a lowly outer sect disciple who has never even touched a pill furnace, let alone know how to refine pills."

Murong Yan was not angry. She simply stared at him quietly, her gaze as deep as a cold pool, seemingly able to penetrate his skin and see into his soul.

"Lu Changsheng, did you refine the Foundation Establishment Pills that Bai Xue sold? The quality is quite good. I've been waiting for you to reach the Foundation Establishment Realm, and thankfully you didn't keep me waiting too long."

"Helping me will only benefit you; I advise you to think it through carefully before making a decision."

"You should know that by handing you over, I can still obtain the sect's resources. To me, you are nothing more than a useless piece of trash."

It's tasteless to eat, but a pity to throw away.

Lu Changsheng was burning with anger, but he also knew that what this damned woman said was true.

It seems I really don't have many choices.

long silence.

Black Wind Ridge was as silent as a tomb.

Only in the distance, the corpse of the demonic ape slowly turned into a wisp of black smoke and rose up.

He knew that if he refused, he would die here today.

But if you agree...

Who knows if she will keep bothering me in the future?

After much consideration.

"Refining is possible."

"But I have three conditions."