Shen Qingfeng led several disciples of Shaolin forward, cupping his fists in greeting.
"Sect Leader Shen, what urgent matter is it?" Seeing him approach with a grave expression, Mu Heng frowned and feigned ignorance.
Shen Qingfeng looked anxious, his face somber. He wanted to state his business quickly, pursing his lips, he said, "Commander Mu, for some unknown reason, the outer examinees have suddenly started killing each other. Will you not manage the order?"
The four Sun Moon Divine Lanterns were now in the hands of his Shaolin sect. If the commotion continued, it might escalate and reach the ears of Emperor Qingbai. If that happened, how could the Sun Moon Divine Lanterns fall into his hands?
Ye Ziling almost burst into laughter upon hearing the old man's words, a hint of mockery appearing in her eyes. She wanted to see how long this old man could maintain his pretense.
"Oh? What has happened?" Mu Heng's eyebrows knit. He glanced around and saw several Shaolin disciples covered in bloodstains, looking disheveled. He asked feigning ignorance.
Shen Qingfeng was not a fool. Emperor Qingbai had been searching for the Sun Moon Divine Lanterns for a long time. Once news of the divine lanterns reached the Heavenly Realm, the matter would be thoroughly investigated.
At that time, his Shaolin sect's private possession of the Heaven-Suppressing magical artifact would also be known. Now, they could only persuade Jiuling Palace to quickly seal the news and manage the martial examination order. Otherwise, if it reached the Heavenly Realm, the lives of all his sect disciples would be in danger.
Ye Ziling composed herself, a faint smile curving her lips.
Shen Qingfeng's expression hardened, and he asked Mu Heng, "Commander, have you heard of Heaven-Suppressing magical artifacts?"
"I know a little."
Shen Qingfeng sighed. "The martial examination disciples are suffering heavy casualties in their pursuit of the divine lanterns. If we don't stop the losses promptly and the news reaches the Heavenly Realm, Commander Mu, surely you don't want the Heavenly Emperor to blame you?"
Ye Ziling understood Shen Qingfeng's threat. Her gaze turned cold, her eyes curving slightly. She immediately guessed his intentions, and a mocking smile touched her lips. "Sect Leader Shen, you're not suggesting that our Jiuling Palace should seal the news, are you?"
Shen Qingfeng was direct. "Miss Ye is wise. I am merely concerned for the greater good. Jiuling Palace is a great immortal sect. If it stains its image by mishandling this matter, it will be detrimental. If we seal the news, you are well, I am well, everyone is well!"
Ye Ziling raised an eyebrow, a thought flashing through her eyes.
Seal the news?
It suited her perfectly. This way, Qingbai wouldn't be able to track the whereabouts of the Sun Moon Divine Lanterns. She could also use this time to repair her primordial spirit, let these hypocrites harm each other, and seize this opportunity to profit from the demon core. Why wouldn't she?
Ye Ziling signaled Mu Heng, who immediately understood. He glanced indifferently at Shen Qingfeng and said with a dry laugh, "Sect Leader Shen has thought of everything. However, this commander has a condition."
When Shen Qingfeng heard that there was a possibility, he immediately perked up and made a gesture of invitation. "Please speak."
"Transfer half of the immortal examination slots to our Jiuling Palace disciples. How about that?" Mu Heng said word by word, a shrewd glint in his deep eyes. He had grasped Shen Qingfeng's thoughts clearly.
He didn't believe that in the face of the Heaven-Suppressing magical artifact, this old man could resist. This way, Jiuling Palace's immortal examination success rate would soar, which was simply wonderful!
The curve of Ye Ziling's lips deepened. For a few worthless shards of colored glass, she could gain so much. It was like trading a green bean for a pot of mixed grain porridge—a sure profit with no loss.
In front of the Sun Moon Divine Lanterns, Shen Qingfeng wouldn't care about the immortal examination success rate. As long as he had the Heaven-Suppressing magical artifact, his sect could cultivate into immortals through their own strength. Why rely on the immortal examination to advance? At that time, he would build the most outstanding immortal academy in the three realms!
"Deal!"
The transaction between the two parties was exceptionally pleasant.
The next day, Ye Ziling indeed felt her wrist loosen. The contract vine wrapped around her wrist had finally been unbound.
It's just that the red mark made her feel a bit uncomfortable.
On such a great occasion, how could she not repair her primordial spirit? She impatiently walked out of her room and headed towards her inner chambers.
Ye Ziling closed the door and meditated on the bed. As she took out the demon core to condense it, a warmth surged in her throat, and she unexpectedly spat out a mouthful of blood.
She frowned and calmly checked her pulse.
Fortunately, her primordial spirit wasn't shattered. She was poisoned.
Her gaze dimmed considerably, and she closed her eyes, taking a deep breath.
But she hadn't touched any poisonous substances during this time. How could she be poisoned? Moreover, she seemed unfamiliar with this poison.
How ridiculous! As the Saintess of the Holy Medicine Clan, how many poisons in the world did she not recognize? She didn't even know what poison she had been afflicted with.
She took out a handkerchief, wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, and tried to recall everything that had happened in the past few days. A cold glint flashed in her eyes.
That night in Jiuling Palace, on the day Shen Yan arrived, the sandalwood incense in her chambers had been replaced.
If her guess was correct, she had saved a white-eyed wolf.
"Come in!" Mu Heng pushed the door open and kicked a fair-skinned youth into the room, then waved his sleeve to close the door.
He stepped forward and delivered another fierce kick to the youth's slender waist, forcing the youth to kneel on the ground.
"You're here?" Ye Ziling lay on her side on the couch, raising her eyelids to look down at Shen Yan. Her gaze was filled with frost, and the surrounding air instantly became chillingly eerie.
At this moment, Shen Yan realized the purpose of being brought back from afar by Mu Heng. His clear and innocent phoenix eyes gradually filled with determination. His five fingers, hidden in his sleeves, clenched tightly, a stark contrast to his previous docile demeanor.
Blood stained the corner of the youth's mouth, indicating he had been disciplined by Mu Heng beforehand. He looked up at her and smiled ferociously. As he smiled, he resembled a baring-toothed little wolf, playfully asking, "What business does the Palace Master have with me?"
Shen Yan looked up, meeting Ye Ziling's gaze. He was no longer the frail figure he once was, but glared at her through gritted teeth, mocking her.
"What? Little thing, did you put a蛊 (gu poison) on me?" Ye Ziling smiled leisurely again, flicking her skirt and walking beside him. She lifted his chin with one hand, taking in all the hatred in his eyes.
This brat had approached her disguised as a Miao person from the beginning, only to poison her with a 蛊.
If she wasn't mistaken, he was also responsible for locking the external mechanisms that time.
The youth turned his gaze away, laughing wildly. "...Ye Ziling, did you ever imagine when you massacred my Lingxian Manor that one day you too would be poisoned and die a terrible death!"
Ye Ziling stared into his eyes, a hint of surprise flashing within them. She roughly released the youth's chin.
Shen Yan gritted his teeth and struggled to support himself from the ground, his throat hoarse as he roared, "I want all the disciples of Lingxian Manor to accompany me in death!"
Ye Ziling's eyes shimmered as she looked down at the wild youth on the ground. She suddenly understood.
She wondered why he looked so familiar. It turned out he was the child she had let go when she massacred Lingxian Manor that day. She looked him up and down, still smiling coldly.
He's grown so much? Only a few months have passed, and he's grown from ten to eighteen? Did he consume some evil medicine?
Ye Ziling had not been ruthless towards the child when she passed through Lingxian Manor. The sword she had thrust had narrowly missed his vital points, only causing him to fall unconscious for a while, not killing him.
Mu Heng listened from the side. Although surprised, he had also investigated beforehand and confirmed that this person was the young boy who was only ten years old at the time.
This brat had been given a youth-retaining pill by Chang Qing, with the intention of confusing Ye Ziling. They had guessed that she would definitely not be ruthless towards a child.
Who would have thought that Chang Qing's guess was correct? He was certain that Ye Ziling would not harm a child.
"Little thing, tell me, what 蛊 poison did you give me?"
Ye Ziling's wrist slowly coiled around his slender white neck and suddenly pressed him to the ground. Like a caught prey, he was firmly held by her demonic hand.
Shen Yan sneered, his laugh chilling. "...Ye Ziling, do you regret letting me go back then? The 蛊 poison on you is incurable in this world. If you kill me, do you believe you will die tomorrow?"
Ye Ziling detested being threatened the most. Her phoenix eyes turned cold, and the strength on her wrist only increased as she laughed wantonly, "Just my life?"
She was somewhat surprised, her lips curving. "Is this all you're capable of?"
Shen Yan slumped to the ground, a hint of shock flashing in his eyes. He had expected her to panic like any normal person, but he never expected this demoness to show no fear at all!
Ye Ziling released his neck and flicked her sleeve, stepping on his right palm. The pain made the youth groan.
"I massacred your entire Lingxian Manor, and you only want my life?" Ye Ziling ground her heel, seeing the youth bite his lip from the pain, and smiled. "If I were you, I would slaughter all the disciples of Jiuling Palace and hang their corpses on the sign of Lingxian Manor!"
Her toes shifted, and a strange glint shot from her eyes. Her exquisite face was chillingly beautiful. "But it seems you won't have this opportunity."
"You... Aren't you afraid of dying if you kill me?" Shen Yan had heard that this demoness was incredibly powerful and had immense demonic energy. He was unwilling to accept that she would die on the spot.
Ye Ziling saw the fear in the youth's eyes and chuckled. "Kill you? I've killed more people than you've eaten meals. Killing you will only add a few drops of blood."
With that, she waved to Mu Heng, "Take him back to the underground palace and subject him to torture."
She was still hoping this brat could develop an antidote for her. How could she possibly let him die?
Mu Heng stepped forward respectfully, bound the youth tightly, and ordered several disciples to secretly escort him to Jiuling Palace.