"Cheng Zui, I'm talking to you, do you hear me?
What is that look in your eyes? How dare you!"
Seeing the way Cheng Zui looked at him, Huoshenxian was filled with rage.
"Everyone, my name is Cheng Zui, and I am Huoshenxian's disciple.
I can vouch for him, he is indeed Huoshenxian.
However, he is also a demonic cultivator.
And not just any ordinary demonic cultivator, for he is a Celestial Demon.
Furthermore, he has another name, Qinglan!"
Cheng Zui seemed to have used up all his strength to utter these words.
After speaking, his body swayed precariously, and he was held up by Zhu Ji beside him.
Silence fell upon the scene after Cheng Zui finished speaking.
It was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.
The sect leaders, along with Fairy Jinwu, turned into statues.
A single thought echoed in their minds: this is impossible.
During the great celestial-demonic war at Tiandu Mountain, Qinglan and the Celestial Demon perished together.
It was impossible for them to be the same person appearing together.
And for these two to be the same as Huoshenxian, it was simply unbelievable.
Everyone suspected Cheng Zui was a madman.
However, from Huoshenxian's words, it was clear that Cheng Zui indeed had a connection with him.
It was just that what he said was too incredible to believe.
"He is not lying. This person is Huoshenxian, the Celestial Demon, and Qinglan."
Seeing the disbelief on everyone's faces, Ji Shiyou spoke up.
Yet, it did not fully convince them, and their faces remained filled with inquiry.
"How much more do you know?"
Huoshenxian stared at Cheng Zui, his eyes blazing with ferocity, as if he had transformed into someone else.
"We also know that the Sect Master of the Heavenly Dao Sect and Yong Gaoya, the former Grand Elder of Jinwu Palace, are spies planted in the immortal sects by your Demonic Valley."
Cheng Zui's previous words seemed to have drained all his spirit and energy.
Seeing this, Zhu Ji stepped forward to accuse.
He Lianluo and Yong Gaoya's expressions turned panicked, and they both looked at Huoshenxian.
Everyone immediately noticed the anomaly and thought to themselves.
Could Huoshenxian truly be the Celestial Demon and Qinglan?
But such a bizarre turn of events still made them disbelieve.
They couldn't help but look at Huoshenxian, wanting to hear his explanation.
To their surprise, Huoshenxian neither explained nor denied.
After hearing Zhu Ji's words, he burst into laughter.
"Very good, it seems you know quite a lot.
However, there is something crucial that he still doesn't know.
Otherwise, he wouldn't be here.
He would have fled long ago and wouldn't be looking at me with such disappointment."
After hearing Zhu Ji's words, Huoshenxian's expression relaxed.
After laughing, he looked at Cheng Zui with a sinister smile.
He had been worried that Cheng Zui might have discovered something he shouldn't have, which could ruin his grand plan. But from Zhu Ji's response, he knew that the crucial matter had not been exposed, and he felt relieved.
"You don't need to guess anymore. What he said is true.
I am the Celestial Demon, I am Huoshenxian, and Qinglan is also me.
My original intention today was to kill this tree demon and snatch the treasure.
I didn't expect my identity to be exposed. If I had known, it would have been much simpler.
I would have just attacked directly and taken the treasure by force.
But it's also good this way. With all the sect leaders gathered here,
If I kill you all today, the demonic cause will be half accomplished.
Life, ah, is full of variables.
You happily came for a feast, unaware that you would die here?"
The Celestial Demon had not intended to act, as the time was not right.
Therefore, he came to Jinwu Palace using the identity of Huoshenxian.
However, if he had appeared at Jinwu Palace without any reason,
and killed Mingyue to seize the treasure, even with the identity of Huoshenxian,
it would have been abrupt and unconvincing to everyone.
He happened to encounter Jun Shuxue, who was consumed by despair and seeking revenge, at the foot of the mountain.
So, he led Jun Shuxue to Yong Gaoya, who was lurking in Jinwu Palace, waiting for an opportunity.
Then, step by step, he guided the thoughts of the sect leaders, framing Mingyue.
This way, he could achieve his goal without lifting a finger.
However, there was still one tricky matter.
There were two disciples in Jinwu Palace escorting Jun Shuxue back.
With these two present, Jun Shuxue could not frame Mingyue and Ji Shiyou.
Coincidentally, at the foot of the mountain, Huoshenxian met He Lianluo, who had come to avenge his son and the White Tiger Envoy.
So, he instructed him to kill these two disciples first upon reaching the mountain,
to pave the way for Jun Shuxue's unreasonable accusations and create an opportunity for his own appearance.
After his appearance, he used Huoshenxian's reputation among the immortal sects to constantly stir up trouble.
In the end, not only Fairy Jinwu and Mingyue, but also Nong Qing and the other two, were turned into public enemies of the immortal sects.
However, all his efforts were thwarted by Ji Shiyou and the timely arrival of Cheng Zui and Zhu Ji.
This was what he often referred to as a variable, but he remained unfazed.
He decided to use this opportunity to launch his plan ahead of schedule.
He would kill all the sect leaders here, so he directly admitted his identity.
As soon as his words were spoken, everyone's expressions changed drastically.
But as sect leaders, they reacted immediately.
They activated their magical artifacts and attacked the three, Huoshenxian, with them.
"A rabble, overestimating yourselves."
Watching the multicolored sword energies and the beams of light from various magical artifacts fly towards him.
Huoshenxian sneered, extended his right hand, and a black sphere of light appeared.
Then, with a casual toss, all the magical artifacts in their hands
were absorbed by the black sphere of light and exploded in mid-air.
The violent explosion razed the grand hall where the ceremony was being held to the ground.
As the magical artifacts were linked to their masters' minds, the sect leaders with lower cultivation levels were immediately backlashed by their artifacts.
The Valley Master of Divine Doctor Valley, for instance, spat blood, collapsed to the ground, and lost the ability to fight.
The unluckiest were Jun Shuxue and the Azure Dragon Envoy, and a few others.
They were directly crushed under the ruins of the collapsed palace and met their demise.
Huoshenxian defeated them all in one move, incapacitating almost all the sect leaders.
Only a dozen or so were able to stand.
However, they were all seriously injured and were merely holding on.
The only ones unharmed were Ji Shiyou and Fairy Jinwu.
As well as Mingyue, Zhu Ji, and Cheng Zui, who were not affected by the explosion.
Ji Shiyou and Fairy Jinwu were unharmed
because they had not attacked earlier, and coupled with their high cultivation.
When they sensed the explosion, they had already covered themselves in Jinwu Fire, prepared for defense.
Mingyue, relying on her miraculous senses, had perceived the danger as soon as the sphere of light appeared.
She and Zhu Ji had partnered for hundreds of years and were telepathic.
They needed no words, just a glance.
Zhu Ji, with one in each hand, pulled Mingyue and Cheng Zui, and used the Earth Evasion technique.
Ji Shiyou was about to protect Mingyue when he saw the three.
Holding hands, they escaped the palace grounds and appeared in the plaza.
However, the three of them, Mingyue and Zhu Ji with their lower cultivation,
and Cheng Zui, who was severely injured, could not offer much help even if they were not affected by the explosion.
Being able to protect themselves was already a good outcome.
"Star Shift, it seems he truly is the Celestial Demon."
The explosion shattered the human skin mask on Ling Ge's face, revealing his original handsome features.
His and Fan Ye and Nong Qing's weapons were not absorbed, but they still suffered considerable internal injuries.
In the great celestial-demonic war two hundred years ago, they had fought against the Celestial Demon and recognized the sphere of light.
It was the Celestial Demon's signature demonic art, Star Shift.
"Isn't that obvious? He admitted it himself.
However, judging by his cultivation, he seems much stronger than two hundred years ago.
Even with Jinwu, we might not be his match.
Moreover, he has He Lianluo and Yong Gaoya as his helpers."
Nong Qing's face was filled with worry.