Within the Dao Court, soldiers and cultivators were preparing, the sound of armor and clothing rustling as they moved in groups, heading out of the courtyard in a hurry.

Chu Hanjin and Yue Lin concealed themselves behind a wall, exchanging a glance, “What’s going on?”

“We need to figure it out,” Yue Lin said.

The two of them trailed behind the Six Sects’ group, hiding their movements while contemplating the situation. To understand someone’s motive, one must weigh the potential outcomes of their actions. Chu Hanjin mused, “Just now, he shifted the blame for the deaths in Yushui City onto me. What are the consequences?”

Yue Lin responded, “The benefit is that he resolves the siege of Yushui City, gaining favor from Xing Jiangxin and the Six Sects. The downside…”

Chu Hanjin continued, “It’s strange. Mu Lianchun’s original intention was to stir up conflict using Yushui City’s unrest, to fan the flames of war. Why did he now extinguish that fire himself?”

“Right, his actions are contradictory,” Yue Lin’s mind flashed with a thought, “That suggests this new course of action must bring him greater benefit than causing turmoil in Yushui City.”

Exactly.

Mu Lianchun’s ultimate goal was to incite infighting within the Six Sects, the demon clans, and even between immortals and demons, so he could reap the rewards. Triggering a large-scale war would be the best way to achieve that. Yet, he had chosen to suppress the conflict for now.

What could be more beneficial to him than a riot in Yushui City?

Yue Lin spoke again, “If you ask me, the war is inevitable. It’s just that the excuse might change.”

Chu Hanjin understood as well and nodded, “Let’s follow them and see.”

A giant shadow loomed overhead, and even the air felt thick and stifling. The cultivators of the Six Sects were flying on their swords in large numbers, a grand and powerful display of force. Yet they were rushing toward a lie, and Chu Hanjin had a growing sense of unease.

Soon, they reached the mountain Mu Lianchun had mentioned. Sixteen li southeast, the towering mountain range stretched for miles, split by a massive peak, its end lost to sight. From the forest, a faint black mist seeped out, signaling that this was no good or pure land, but rather a treacherous, desolate wilderness.

Such mountains were undeveloped, without paved roads or human footpaths. Left untouched, they formed a natural system that could swallow those who entered. Ordinary people who ventured in would either fall prey to poisonous plants and insects, be attacked by wild beasts, or succumb to the poisonous miasma within the woods.

Xing Jiangxin gave orders, “We’ll split up and search, just like before.”

Fu Yin Jun disagreed, “Wait. Sect Leader Xing, you know that Yue Lin is a violent Demon Lord who slaughtered his own family, and Chu Hanjin’s cultivation is nothing to scoff at either. Even Master Mu is wary of them. If we split up and encounter them together, wouldn’t we be walking into a trap?”

His words expressed a concern shared by many. Splitting up increased the risk of being picked off individually, while searching as a group was less efficient.

Xing Jiangxin frowned, “Do you think I fear those two youngsters?”

His pride and arrogance, compounded by his advanced age, made him deaf to such concerns.

Mu Lianchun interjected, “Of course not. Sect Leader Xing’s cultivation is unparalleled. It’s just that we younger ones still rely on your protection.”

Flattered by this, Xing Jiangxin nodded, “Very well, we’ll proceed together.”

As the group entered the forest, Chu Hanjin and Yue Lin exchanged glances, “Could Mu Lianchun be planning to kill the Six Sects’ members?”

Yue Lin shook his head, “Not likely. He couldn’t do it alone.”

But Mu Lianchun’s actions certainly indicated that something big was in the works.

Xing Jiangxin was accompanied by his puppet, while Fu Yin Jun had his shadow hound by his side, both searching for any trace of Chu Hanjin and Yue Lin. Lying in wait, Chu Hanjin eventually seized the opportunity to capture a lone cultivator, forcing him to reveal the tracking spell.

The cultivator’s eyes glazed over briefly before regaining clarity. He then returned to the group as if nothing had happened.

Through this cultivator’s eyes, Chu Hanjin and Yue Lin could observe the conversations taking place within the group, even from a considerable distance.

Xing Jiangxin, holding his sword, looked toward the valley ahead, where layers of mist were rising, “Be careful, everyone. Inhaling too much of this miasma will poison you. You can use breath control to neutralize the toxins.”

Everyone nodded in agreement. Chu Hanjin felt a warmth in the stomach of the controlled cultivator as he channeled spiritual energy to purify the air.

“We’ve set up a barrier outside the mountain. If they try to break through it, we’ll hear it. I doubt they’d recklessly charge out, so we just need to search within the mountain,” Mu Lianchun said.

Fu Yin Jun’s shadow hound sniffed the air, drooling and pacing anxiously. As the mist thickened and the cold wind grew damp, a shadow flitted through the forest ahead, like someone hurrying by. The shadow hound suddenly began barking madly.

Fu Yin Jun pressed down on the hound’s head and asked, “What is it?”

The hound continued its low growls, as if indicating someone was nearby.

The shadow hound had seen Chu Hanjin before, and Fu Yin Jun communicated with it in a low voice before gripping his sword tighter, “It’s caught Chu Hanjin’s scent, to the left, but…”

At that moment, the other shadow hound began barking loudly as well.

Fu Yin Jun said, “Yue Lin’s scent is on the other side. They’re not together.”

Mu Lianchun suggested, “In that case, we should split up and search.”

Fu Yin Jun hesitated, “Splitting up might be risky. Why don’t we capture Chu Hanjin first and then go after Yue Lin?”

Mu Lianchun paused for a second, then nodded, “That makes sense. But I’m worried Chu Hanjin, being wounded and traveling with a child, might be using this as a diversion to let the other one escape.”

“That’s a fair point.”

After a brief discussion, Mu Lianchun proposed, “Let’s divide into two groups—one to capture Chu Hanjin, the other to capture Yue Lin.”

Fu Yin Jun agreed, “Neither of them could take on an entire sect alone. Splitting into two teams should be more than enough. How should we divide ourselves?”

The group exchanged uncertain glances.

Xing Jiangxin, confident as ever, said, “I’ll go with the Yin-Yang Sect’s two lords. The rest of you form the other group.”

“This…” Liu Ming seemed to have objections.

Why did Xing Jiangxin want to pair up with Fu Yin Jun and Lord Bao Yang? The reason was simple.

Fu Yin Jun’s shadow hounds had an excellent sense of smell, making it much easier to track people. By following them, Xing Jiangxin would have a much better chance of capturing Chu Hanjin and Yue Lin and claiming credit for the victory.

Xing Jiangxin wanted to take that credit for himself. Though the others hesitated, they couldn’t argue with his logic, “Very well, let’s do that.”

Mu Lianchun bowed, “Be careful, everyone.”

With that, the group split into two teams.

The lone cultivator controlled by Chu Hanjin followed Xing Jiangxin’s group as they headed into the thick mist. The mist was so dense that you could barely see your hand in front of your face. Fu Yin Jun, clad in white, tightened his grip on the leash of his shadow hound, “Sect Leader Xing, mist like this often hides traps. Be cautious.”

Xing Jiangxin chuckled, “Fu Yin Jun, just worry about yourself and Lord Bao Yang. Don’t concern yourself with me.” Behind him, his giant puppet stomped forward, its eyes gleaming as it scanned the surroundings.

“Very well, I’ll say no more,” Fu Yin Jun replied with a smile, falling silent.

Behind him, Lord Bao Yang, dressed in black, wore gauntlets of black iron. His eyes were sharp, constantly on alert, as he followed a step or two behind Fu Yin Jun. The Yin-Yang Sect practiced dual cultivation, meaning one acted as the eyes of the other.

As the mist thickened, obscuring everything, Xing Jiangxin grew suspicious, “Fu Yin, what’s wrong with your dog? Has it lost the scent?”

Fu Yin Jun patted the hound’s head and communicated with it briefly, “The scent has suddenly disappeared.”

Xing Jiangxin clicked his tongue in annoyance.

With visibility so poor in the mist, moving forward was risky. Xing Jiangxin signaled to his giant puppet, which stepped forward, drawing its enormous sword and slicing through the mist in an attempt to clear it.

But the mist quickly closed in again, like flowing water, leaving only a pale gray void.

Xing Jiangxin remarked, “There’s probably a formation here. Do it again!”

The giant puppet sheathed its sword, crouched down, and channeled spiritual energy into the ground, causing golden lines to appear briefly before the flames in its hands were extinguished.

“It’s definitely a formation,” Xing Jiangxin said.

Fu Yin Jun frowned, “The mist won’t clear, and there’s a formation beneath us. Perhaps we should retreat for now, or at least try to dispel the mist—”

Xing Jiangxin interrupted, excited by the prospect of a fight, “If we’re inside the formation, that means we’re close to those demonic scoundrels! Chu Hanjin is seriously injured and burdened with a child. We can’t let this opportunity slip away. What are we waiting for?”

Fu Yin Jun and Lord Bao Yang exchanged glances. Though they weren’t entirely on board with Xing Jiangxin’s eagerness, they didn’t argue, “Still…”

Fu Yin Jun had once been close with Chu Hanjin during their time as fellow disciples, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. While Xing Jiangxin was eager to claim credit, Fu Yin Jun, always meticulous, was thinking through all the possibilities.

But Xing Jiangxin, seeing their hesitation, snapped, “Yin-Yang cultivators—have you both grown soft like women? Where’s your fighting spirit?”

Lord Bao Yang’s eyes flashed with cold fury, his gaze sharp as ice.

Even from a distance, Chu Hanjin’s heart skipped a beat when he heard this. Something was wrong.

Those words hit a sore spot. Many who didn’t understand the dual cultivation of the Yin-Yang Sect often used malicious insults, comparing one partner to a woman and the other to a man. If both were men, one would be derisively called neither man nor woman, implicitly mocking them as eunuchs.

This was a grave insult to the Yin-Yang Sect, and Xing Jiangxin had blurted it out without a second thought. Lord Bao Yang’s displeasure was obvious, and Fu Yin Jun’s expression grew colder.

“You could have shared your concerns without resorting to insults, Sect Leader Xing,” Fu Yin Jun said icily, “If you insist on moving forward, we’ll follow. But I’ve already warned you—whatever happens next is on you.”

Xing Jiangxin snorted, “Just have your hound find the right path. You don’t need to do anything else, nor will you be held responsible for whatever happens.”

The tension between them was palpable as they continued forward. Not long after, Fu Yin Jun’s shadow hound barked again.

Seeing the direction the hound was pointing, Xing Jiangxin gestured to his giant puppet. The puppet dashed ahead, dispersing the mist with a single strike, revealing a shadowy figure retreating in the distance.

“Chu Hanjin!” Xing Jiangxin shouted.

Without waiting to confirm, he chased after the figure, blinded by his desire for glory, “Sect Leader Xing, be careful—” Fu Yin Jun called, but it was too late.

Suddenly, the ground beneath them flared with golden light, and a fierce wind surged, striking Xing Jiangxin from behind. Though it was only a minor spell formation, Xing Jiangxin dismissed it with a wave of his hand, thinking it wouldn’t trouble him. But as his sleeve was caught, the golden threads transformed into a net, trapping him inside.

Furious, Xing Jiangxin roared, “What is this?!”

As he frantically examined the spell, he realized that its structure didn’t match any recorded formations he knew. It wasn’t a curse, but its exact nature was unclear.

Xing Jiangxin channeled his spiritual energy, trying to break free, but the net only grew stronger, like vines absorbing nutrients, expanding and thickening into a golden cage that encased him.

Fu Yin Jun sighed, muttering under his breath, “I warned you…”

But he still stepped forward, “Sect Leader Xing, I’ll assist you.”

Just as he moved, Lord Bao Yang stepped in, “It’s dangerous up ahead. Stay here; I’ll handle it.”

In a flash, Lord Bao Yang was at Xing Jiangxin’s side. The giant puppet, seeing its master trapped, circled the golden cage in agitation, trying to tear it apart with brute force. But the more spiritual energy it poured into the cage, the stronger it became.

Coldly, Lord Bao Yang commanded, “Move aside.”

The first step to unraveling a formation was to understand its structure, discerning the flow of spiritual energy within it.

That’s exactly what Lord Bao Yang did. But as soon as his fingertips touched the golden net, vines swiftly crept up his arm, growing rapidly and wrapping around him. In the blink of an eye, he too was trapped in a similar golden cage.

Simultaneously, the vines turned from solid wood to soft, white tendrils, swaying gently as if alive.

“What is this?”

Impatient, Lord Bao Yang pulled a dagger from behind him and sliced through one of the vines. But instead of sap, bright red blood gushed from the cut.

At the same moment, a pained cry echoed—Xing Jiangxin’s scream.

His left arm had been severed, falling to the ground, blood spurting out. The vines’ writhing movements matched the twitching of the severed limb exactly.

Seeing this, Chu Hanjin suddenly understood.

This formation was the Twin Life Curse!

The amount of spiritual energy in the world is fixed—what is gained by one must be lost by another. Many years ago, in the Yuanshan Sect, there was a pair of senior brothers deeply bonded. When the elder brother was gravely injured on a mission and on the verge of death, the younger brother, unwilling to see him die, created this formation to transfer his own life to his senior.

The younger brother wove the golden net with spiritual materials, linking his life force with his senior’s. Using the net as a medium, he funneled his flesh, blood, and spiritual energy to his senior. By the time the elder brother woke from his coma, his younger brother had already withered away, reduced to a pile of blood-stained bones.

Though this was a touching story of devotion, unscrupulous individuals later twisted the technique, enslaving other cultivators to transfer life energy to themselves, committing heinous acts. The Yuanshan Sect eventually destroyed the records of this forbidden technique, ensuring it was lost to the world.

But now, someone had recreated it.

However, it wasn’t a perfect copy. The golden net exchanged life for life—only one of the two trapped could survive.

Cold sweat ran down Chu Hanjin’s back.

…Such a cruel plan.

Utterly vicious.

The Twin Life Curse originated from the Yuanshan Sect. With Mu Lianchun replicating this forbidden technique, they would naturally suspect Chu Hanjin. Now, with both men trapped, one life must be sacrificed…

And the chosen victims, by a cruel twist of fate, were none other than Xing Jiangxin and the two lords of the Yin-Yang Sect!

Everyone knew that Fu Yin and Bao Yang, while warriors and partners in battle, were also a couple in private, sharing a deep bond that had connected them ever since they were selected as a pair in their youth. Their relationship, both in life and death, was inseparable.

Now, if Fu Yin wanted Lord Bao Yang to live, he would have to kill Xing Jiangxin. And the consequences of killing Xing Jiangxin? The Six Sects would inevitably erupt into war, with countless casualties.

Conversely, if Xing Jiangxin acted first, killing Lord Bao Yang to save himself, what would Fu Yin do as he watched his beloved die before his eyes? Overcome with vengeance, the Yin-Yang Sect would surely wage war against the Rongku Sect, leading to rivers of blood.

This was a death trap.

Chu Hanjin finally understood why Mu Lianchun had abandoned the conflict in Yushui City to curry favor with Xing Jiangxin—he had already found a more deadly plan!

The situation was dire. If Xing Jiangxin and the Yin-Yang lords could calm down and discuss things rationally, there might still be a way out. But at that moment, the situation was far from calm—

Seeing its master’s severed arm, Xing Jiangxin’s giant puppet went berserk, howling in fury. Desperate to save its master, the puppet grabbed the golden cage’s vines and yanked them with all its might—

But with that single pull, Lord Bao Yang collapsed to the ground, vomiting blood. His face turned deathly pale, and his veins shattered.

Fu Yin’s expression darkened, “Stop!!!!”

He leaped forward, transforming his fan into a bow, the string taut as thousands of arrows shot forth, shredding the puppet’s hands. Blood splattered everywhere as he approached the golden cage.

“What are you doing!” Fu Yin was furious.

Xing Jiangxin, delirious with pain, shouted back, “What are you doing? He severed my arm, and now you’re attacking my puppet! Are you trying to kill all of us from the Rongku Sect, then kill me, so no one will ever know?”

In the heat of the moment, all formalities were forgotten. Fu Yin, seething with rage, retorted, “When did I ever say I wanted to kill you? Your life is worth something, but Bao Yang’s life isn’t? Even your puppet knows how to protect its master. Why wouldn’t I protect mine? You knew the golden net was linked to flesh and blood, but you let the puppet hurt him. If anything happens to him, the Yin-Yang Sect won’t let this go!”

“And you think the Rongku Sect will let it go if I die?”

Poisonous.

Absolutely poisonous.

Things were playing out exactly as Mu Lianchun and Bai Gu had hoped.

If one of them died, this battle would be unavoidable.

Chu Hanjin couldn’t stand by any longer. He withdrew from the controlled cultivator’s mind, his feet barely touching the ground as he dashed toward the source of the conflict.

The forest was thick with mist. By the time he arrived, Fu Yin had smashed one of Xing Jiangxin’s puppet’s shoulders, and Xing Jiangxin, in a fit of rage, was raising his remaining arm to cut through the golden net. Fu Yin, seeing this, flashed a look of fury as a gleam of malice flickered in his eyes. Thousands of arrows were aimed at Xing Jiangxin—

He was ready to kill Xing Jiangxin.

Just in the nick of time—

“Stop!”

Chu Hanjin’s sword flew forward, colliding with Fu Yin’s bow, sparking blue flames as the two forces clashed, forcing Fu Yin back several steps.

Xing Jiangxin used the brief respite to reach for the golden net, but a rope came out of nowhere, binding his hand. Furious, he turned to see Yue Lin standing casually behind him, his black robes immaculate, “Lord Yue Zhao has ordered you to stop. Can’t you hear him?”

Yue Lin finished speaking and stepped behind Chu Hanjin.

Xing Jiangxin’s mouth twitched, a complex mix of emotions flooding his face as he almost laughed, “You… you two…”

His lips quivered, speechless with rage.

After a long moment, he turned to Chu Hanjin, “Have you come to claim my life?”

Fu Yin’s arrow tip also shifted, aiming at Chu Hanjin.

Chu Hanjin stood still, his white shoes on the ground, dispersing the mist. His hair billowed in the wind, and his eyes were calm as still water, “I didn’t come to kill anyone. I came to save you.”

Xing Jiangxin’s eyes bulged with anger, “Save me? You’re the one who trapped me and Lord Bao Yang in this golden net, forcing us to fight. Now you’ve come to kill me, haven’t you?”

“Sect Leader Xing,” Chu Hanjin said calmly, enunciating every word, “I’ll say it again: I didn’t come to kill. I came to save.”

Xing Jiangxin laughed bitterly, clutching his severed arm, his voice filled with anger, “You say you came to save, but this Twin Life Curse is a forbidden technique of your Yuanshan Sect. Who else could have accessed the forbidden books of your sect except you?”

His voice rang with righteous indignation, but Chu Hanjin didn’t get angry. He just looked at him calmly, “Sect Leader Xing, you make a valid point. So let’s think—who else could it be?”

A heavy silence fell over the group.

Fu Yin, calmer now, asked, “Chu Hanjin, standing with the murderous demon Yue Lin behind you, the evidence of your crimes is undeniable. You even dare to pin the blame on your senior brother, Mu Lianchun, who has always treated you well. Have you thought about how much pain your actions have caused him?”

Chu Hanjin’s lips moved slightly.

He looked at Fu Yin with clear, serene eyes, “You truly are my senior brother’s best friend. But the fact remains—he’s willing to risk your partner’s life to satisfy his own desires. Why are you still defending him?”

“Chu Hanjin.”

Fu Yin couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

Not only disbelief but also a deep sense of disappointment.

“I don’t resent you all for not believing me,” Chu Hanjin said, “But you’ve all been deceived. I’ll confront my senior brother myself and clear my name.”

He approached the golden cage, “The Twin Life Curse isn’t as terrifying as you think. It doesn’t harm anyone by nature. As long as both of you stay still, we can find a way to break the formation and release you. But my senior brother used such a harmless technique to nearly provoke a deadly fight between you two, throwing the Six Sects into chaos. Shouldn’t you reflect on that?”

Wasn’t it all because they were too afraid to die?

Xing Jiangxin shook his head, “Who are you to lecture me on reflection?”

Chu Hanjin reached for the golden cage.

Xing Jiangxin shouted, “What are you doing!”

“I’m saving you.”

“I don’t want your help,” Xing Jiangxin said, “The Twin Life Curse links two lives. One must die for the other to live. Right now, Lord Bao Yang and I can at least survive, but if you interfere, we’ll both die!”

Hearing the words “both die,” Fu Yin’s expression darkened. He glanced at Lord Bao Yang and then leaped in front of the cage, “Stop.”

Chu Hanjin said, “Move.”

Xing Jiangxin roared, “You can’t let him! If you let him touch it, we’ll both die!”

Fu Yin, who knew little about the curse, trusted Xing Jiangxin’s claim that at least one life could be spared. But trusting Chu Hanjin meant risking Lord Bao Yang’s uncertain fate. After a brief moment of thought, Fu Yin stood guard over the golden cage, “I can’t let you do this.”

Chu Hanjin sighed, “Fu Yin, you’ve always been intelligent. Why are you being so stubborn now?”

“No need for words,” Fu Yin drew his sword, “Chu Hanjin, if you don’t retreat three steps, you’ll be making an enemy of the Yin-Yang Sect.”

How critical this moment was! Mu Lianchun had used this curse to sow discord between the Rongku Sect and the Yin-Yang Sect. For all Chu Hanjin knew, he might have used the same curse to pit the Mo Fa Sect against the Liu Li Sect. Knowing Mu Lianchun’s tactics, Chu Hanjin was desperate to save the others, but Fu Yin and Xing Jiangxin were standing in his way.

If they delayed any longer, lives would be lost.

And Xing Jiangxin was still shouting, “Right! Don’t let him touch it! Don’t let him touch it—”

The incessant noise.

Chu Hanjin, usually so composed, finally snapped, “Shut up!”

Xing Jiangxin’s face darkened, “What did you say…”

As the most senior member present, Xing Jiangxin was accustomed to respect. He had never been publicly scolded before. His eyes widened in shock as he glared at Chu Hanjin.

To make sure he heard it clearly, Chu Hanjin repeated, “I said, shut up.”

It was as if Xing Jiangxin had been slapped. His chest heaved, his white eyes bulging, staring at Chu Hanjin in disbelief.

“All this time, if it weren’t for the greed and overreach of the Rongku Sect, the Six Sects wouldn’t be in such disarray, constantly on guard against one another, tearing each other apart. My senior brother wouldn’t have harbored so much resentment and fallen from grace.” Chu Hanjin flicked his sleeves and turned away, “You, with your arrogance and selfishness, are no longer worthy of my respect. So, shut up and stop making a fool of yourself.”

“You… you… you’re calling me a fool… you…”

Xing Jiangxin’s face flushed red with anger, certain that Chu Hanjin was berating him, but after several moments, he turned to Fu Yin, as if hoping for him to say something in his defense.

At that moment, Xing Jiangxin, disheveled and missing an arm, looked pitiful. But Fu Yin, his expression cold, didn’t even bother to look at him.

Chu Hanjin’s anger subsided somewhat. As he reached for the golden cage, Fu Yin, determined to stop him, raised his bow and blocked his wrist. Chu Hanjin, no longer in the mood for explanations, channeled his energy into his sleeves, forcing Fu Yin back four or five steps, “Move!!”

With that, he placed his hand on the golden cage.

Fu Yin exclaimed, “You—”

But his words were cut off.

The golden cage emitted a soft glow, its light slowly dimming as the once-aggressive white vines gently curled in on themselves, folding back into buds as if flowers were closing.

Yue Lin crossed his arms and smirked, “Is anyone dead?”

No.

Fu Yin caught the kneeling Lord Bao Yang, gently brushing aside the hair from his face as he lifted his head.

Yue Lin’s gaze remained calm, “Has any one of you actually witnessed him commit any murders, atrocities, or crimes? No. You’ve only heard rumors and made baseless assumptions, jumping to the conclusion that he’s the villain behind everything. The truth is, you never believed him.”

Yue Lin shook his head, then fell silent, following Chu Hanjin’s lead as they swiftly moved toward the other side of the mist.