Indeed.
Yun Ze had guessed that the old man was about to propose taking him as a disciple!
From a conventional perspective, finding a patron and eliminating an enemy at the same time seemed like a win-win situation with no downsides.
However... even if he were to take a master, it wouldn't be now.
"Elder Ji, may I ask you something?"
Yun Ze did not agree immediately but instead asked a question.
"Ask away."
"Have you... heard of the Blood Refining Great Method?"
By asking this question, Yun Ze had already prepared for a desperate gamble!
He had to verify the extent of this man's relationship with Chen Xiao and whether Chen Xiao's actions in Weishan Prefecture were all connected to him!
Only by confirming these points could he proceed with peace of mind.
If this matter was unrelated to the other party, then it would be cause for celebration. Yun Ze would simply expose Chen Xiao's deeds, and the matter would be concluded.
Chen Xiao would surely die, and he would join the Guiwu Sword Sect to continue his path to immortality!
But if the other party was involved...
Then he would be prepared!
This was the seventh level of the high platform, only two levels away from the ninth level where Yu Xian resided.
As long as the other party didn't dare to kill him immediately, he could inform Yu Xian at once. This way, if a confrontation ensued, it would be out in the open!
He refused to believe that the Guiwu Sword Sect would protect someone who practiced demonic arts as a righteous cultivator!
Elder Ji's expression remained unchanged. He simply gripped Yun Ze's shoulder and pressed him urgently, "You're saying that the person who killed your parents practiced the Blood Refining Great Method?
This is a demonic art! Where did you learn of it?"
Yun Ze had not expected Elder Ji's reaction to be so intense. He felt as though his shoulder was about to be crushed!
Elder Ji's state was too peculiar.
If he said he heard it from Chen Xiao, even if they didn't silence him, they would likely act directly, preventing him from speaking!
He couldn't tell the truth about this matter!
"A senior told me. He was also the one who guided me onto the path of cultivation."
"Elder Ji, is there a problem?"
Yun Ze naturally shifted the blame to the senior Xiao.
"Who is this senior you speak of? What is his name? Does he belong to any sect?"
Elder Ji asked three questions in rapid succession and thrust a bronze mirror towards Yun Ze!
Blinded by the sudden glare of the mirror, Yun Ze's mind went blank, and his mouth uncontrollably blurted out the name.
"Xiao Han Shi."
"Well said, Xiao Han Shi!"
The bronze mirror was withdrawn. Elder Ji frowned, looking at Yun Ze, and sighed, "Alas... child, you have been deceived!"
"Ah?"
Yun Ze paused, unable to comprehend for a moment.
The grip on Yun Ze's shoulder loosened slightly, and Elder Ji shook his head and sighed, "This Xiao Han Shi is a demonic cultivator! You cannot believe a single word he says!
He told you that your parents were harmed by someone practicing the Blood Refining Great Method, so it must have been his doing! All to make you trust him!
I also know what you're referring to. Chen Xiao told me when he returned.
Yun Ze... Yun Ze...
I wondered why your name sounded so familiar. It turns out I've heard of you before!
Chen Xiao told me everything when he returned from his mission."
"What!"
Yun Ze's heart trembled instantly!
"The matter, in fact, unfolded like this..."
Elder Ji spoke calmly, as if recounting a story, and began from the beginning: "Chen Xiao, as an outer disciple participating in this Ascension Assembly, was tasked with searching for seedlings with spiritual roots in the vicinity of the Tangshan Dynasty.
As you know, the sect cannot become powerful by only accepting rogue cultivators. Therefore, we periodically send outer disciples to search for seedlings with spiritual roots, and then bring them back to the sect for careful guidance.
When he arrived at Hanshan Village, he discovered that the entire village was filled with resentment. Thus, he went to the Weishan Prefecture yamen to search for clues, hoping to find any traces and continue his investigation to see who was responsible.
Unexpectedly, during his search, he learned of your family's situation. Later, he was discovered by Xiao Han Shi. He burned his vital essence and consumed ten years of his lifespan to escape from Xiao Han Shi and find me.
However, I am no match for that demonic cultivator, nor do I dare to act rashly. I reported it to the Immortal Prefecture, and the Immortal Prefecture then sent an envoy to investigate. Afterward, they discovered that someone was practicing the Blood Refining Great Method and had been killed.
You can verify this matter with the Immortal Prefecture."
Hearing Elder Ji's description, it was completely different from Yun Ze's experience!
Before Yun Ze could fully process it, Elder Ji spoke again.
"Think carefully, when you first encountered the person practicing the Blood Refining Great Method, who helped you? Who was present throughout the entire process? And who killed that person?
Was it not Xiao Han Shi?"
No, I was the first to make contact, and I killed him myself! Senior Xiao only arrived later.
This was a discrepancy in information!
Both Yu Xian and Elder Ji assumed that the one who killed He Lai Chao was a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage or above, which led to these questions.
Yun Ze nodded along, feigning understanding, though he didn't believe a word of it!
Even without the information gap, he had seen the demonic artifact hanging from Chen Xiao's waist with his own eyes!
Could that thing possibly be fake?
"That's right!"
A glint flashed in Elder Ji's eyes, and he asked again, "Think carefully again, did he... also take something from you? For example, your family's heirloom Immortal Jade?"
Ridiculous!
Truly ridiculous!
Regardless of whether Senior Xiao was a demonic cultivator or not, upon hearing the words "Immortal Jade," Yun Ze finally understood.
The person behind Chen Xiao was this Elder Ji!
Chen Xiao, an outer disciple at the ninth level of Qi Refining, was not busy cultivating to reach Foundation Establishment or collecting spirit stones, but instead went searching for Immortal Jade. He was definitely acting under someone's orders!
Wait!
Elder Ji couldn't be lying about Senior Xiao being a demonic cultivator. But if Senior Xiao was a demonic cultivator, why would he tell me his name?
Wouldn't that expose his whereabouts?
Unless... he already knew I would encounter these things, and revealing his name was actually meant to be a diversion at a crucial moment?
Now that Elder Ji suspected the Immortal Jade had fallen into Senior Xiao's hands, if he agreed, the suspicion of him possessing the Immortal Jade would be completely cleared!
Following Elder Ji's logic, he would merely be a pitiable person who had been deceived, and he could smoothly enter the Guiwu Sword Sect.
Without the Immortal Jade, only his sword cultivation aptitude!
At that point, he could enter the Guiwu Sword Sect with a clean slate!
Looking at it this way...
Senior Xiao's instructions for him to cultivate in Wanqing Lake back then, and his repeated warnings not to reveal the Immortal Jade, were all for this day!
Yun Ze couldn't help but gasp.
Such a scheme was unfathomably deep!
"Yes!"
Yun Ze nodded heavily, "When I shattered the Immortal Jade, he appeared. He said that the Immortal Jade was something passed down to my family. After taking it, he agreed to help me get revenge and guided me onto the path of cultivation!"
"Foolish! What a pity! How tragic!"
Elder Ji sighed three times and then lightly patted Yun Ze's shoulder again, "Poor child, after you join my tutelage, you will no longer be bullied."
"Kowtow, swear an oath, and become my disciple."
Yun Ze's expression couldn't help but darken.
This old man, does his mind only revolve around taking disciples?
No!
He absolutely could not recognize a thief as his father!
If he became a disciple and swore an oath, how could he get revenge in the future?
His eyes darted, and he instantly thought of a good way to join the sect without becoming a disciple!