Chapter 43: He Misjudged People

“Who are you? How dare you intrude into the royal manor without an invitation?” The guards at the entrance attempted to stop the group, but a sharp swing of Mo Qingchen’s sword sent them flying.

With swift strides, he entered the courtyard, his expression frosty, and pointed his sword at Master Wang, who stood atop the high platform.

“Guardian of the formation, unlock the core and open the next level,” he commanded coldly.

Qin Xixue’s eyes were determined. With the mysterious elder aiding her and Mo Qingchen, who had just broken through to the mid-Golden Core stage, protecting her along the way, this small illusionary realm could not stop her!

“Such arrogance for someone seeking a favor. That is no way to ask for help,” Master Wang’s face darkened as he coldly addressed the crowd. “Today is a day of great joy for my daughter and son, and I’ve specially prepared this banquet. Yet these strangers barged in, showing no respect to my family or the esteemed guests here!”

He turned to the gathered Taoists, monks, and cultivators, his eyes gleaming with a hidden smile. “If any of you can help ensure the wedding proceeds smoothly, whatever you desire, I will provide.”

The attendees from Tianyan Sect exchanged glances, sensing his unspoken meaning—Master Wang was provoking them to eliminate each other.

“We are righteous cultivators; how can we turn on each other just because of your words?” Mo Qingchen spoke impatiently, disgusted by such sinister schemes. Without hesitation, he drew his sword and charged at Master Wang, his blade gleaming with chilling light.

Qin Xixue bit her lip, realising the gravity of the situation. Many guests at the banquet were cultivators, and over ten of them were at the Golden Core stage or higher. Even with Mo Qingchen’s strength, they were at a clear disadvantage.

“We’ll help you!”

A group of cultivators from Myriad Sword Sect and Beast taming Sect rushed forward.

Master Wang sneered. “Good, you’ve all stepped into my trap.”

He cast a spell, and a high-level formation appeared on the ground, ensnaring everyone—clearly a pre-set trap, waiting for them to fall into it.

Shen Rufei and his group, who had been hiding their presence, initially planned to investigate cautiously. But seeing Tianyan Sect storming in had ruined their plan. Now that Tianyan Sect was struggling, as fellow disciples from the Eight Great Immortal Sects, they felt compelled to act. Before Chu Sang could stop them, they too were trapped in the formation, creating the perfect scenario for Master Wang—a “trap to catch them all.”

“This man is a Nascent Soul stage cultivator!” Lin Qi’s sword struck the formation, only to be rebounded instantly. He stared in disbelief. “Wasn’t Master Wang supposed to be an ordinary mortal?”

In the crowd, Tantai Ming’s hand hovered over his sword hilt, but he held back when Chu Sang placed her hand over his, signalling him to remain quiet.

“This Master Wang has hidden his true strength well. A Nascent Soul stage cultivator…” Mu Chihuai remarked to their group. “This situation is even more dangerous than we anticipated.”

Chu Sang pondered. “He is indeed just an ordinary mortal without spiritual roots. The rumours about him are likely true, but there are many dark paths in this world. If he couldn’t seek immortality through cultivation, he could have found other ways.”

Meanwhile, cracks began to appear on the ground inside the formation.

Beneath them lay an ancient tomb, gaping like a beast’s maw, waiting for them to fall into it.

Qin Xixue had never been in such a dire situation before. Hiding behind Mo Qingchen, she clutched his sleeve nervously. “Senior Brother, we…”

“Don’t be afraid. I’ve been tasked with bringing you all back safely, and I won’t fail.”

Mo Qingchen gently released her hand, and stood at the front of the Tianyan Sect disciples. A surge of sword energy flowed from his hand, crashing into the formation, creating a faint crack.

It worked!

But the ground was splitting open too quickly. Even if he could break the formation, it was uncertain how long it would take.

If only there were someone outside the formation…

Trying to break the formation from within was a slow process. If someone were assisting from the outside, there might still be hope.

But they had all fallen into the trap. It was too late now.

Unless…

As Qin Xixue hesitated, she noticed Ge Xiang retreating toward them. The space was shrinking, unable to hold so many people. If they didn’t break the formation soon, someone would be sacrificed.

A calculating look flashed in her eyes. Quietly, she stepped toward Ge Xiang.

The ground trembled violently, causing weaker disciples to stagger.

“Be careful!” Qin Xixue called out in a sweet voice, lunging forward and pushing Ge Xiang into the pit.

Caught off guard, Ge Xiang, already unsteady, had no time to react. She was swallowed by the abyss in an instant.

“Junior Sister!” Shen Rufei and another senior sister’s faces paled, but they were too far away to help. It all happened in a heartbeat.

“What is your Tianyan Sect trying to do?” shouted Beast taming Sect’s second senior sister, Lu Yue, as she prepared to fight. “If you want a brawl, just say so!”

Even the always-gentle Shen Rufei couldn’t hide his anger. “Our sects have always stood together. We rushed to your aid, disrupting our plans. Yet this is how you repay us?”

“What an eye-opener!” His smile was cold, with no hint of warmth.

Mo Qingchen turned back, witnessing the scene just as it unfolded. He moved to intervene but was too late.

“What are you doing?” he asked Qin Xixue coldly.

Qin Xixue, taken aback by his harsh tone, tearfully protested, “I didn’t mean it! It was an accident. The situation was too tense, and I lost control…”

“A half-step Golden Core cultivator who can’t even stand straight? Is your left leg lame or your right?” Lu Yue scoffed. “I thought you were a genius, reaching half-step Golden Core at sixteen. But you can’t even keep your balance. What a joke.”

No one was foolish enough to believe her—how could a half-step Golden Core cultivator make such a simple mistake?

It was clearly intentional.

Qin Xixue, teary-eyed and trembling, insisted, “How can you slander me like this? I really didn’t mean it…”

She reached for Mo Qingchen’s sleeve, hoping for his support.

But he stepped back, his gaze cold. “Apologise to them.”

He couldn’t understand it. With Qin Xixue’s strength, she shouldn’t have made such an error. Even though he didn’t want to think ill of her, a strange feeling began to rise in his heart. Was it just his imagination, or was the Qin Xixue before him different from the gentle, understanding junior sister he remembered?

Back in Tianyan Sect, when Chu Sang distanced herself after her spiritual root was damaged, Qin Xixue had been there for him, even saving him several times. He had felt a special connection with her. But now, in hindsight, something seemed off. Why was she always there in moments of danger? It all seemed… too convenient, almost deliberate.

Qin Xixue’s face paled further, biting her lip in disbelief at Mo Qingchen’s words. Why wasn’t he defending her? She had just stumbled…

“I’m sorry,” she finally muttered, biting her lip so hard it nearly bled.

“Stop pretending. If anything happens to our junior sister, I’ll be the first to kill you!” Lu Yue snapped.

Qin Xixue staggered back, fear flashing in her eyes as she clenched her fists, scratching at her palms.

Just then, Qiu Xiude spoke up. “Junior Sister, don’t worry. I’ll protect you! No one will hurt you while I’m here.” Then, turning to Lu Yue and her group, he sneered, “The world of cultivation is survival of the fittest. It’s either you die or I live. She wasn’t strong enough and fell. Who can you blame for that?”

“Besides, look, the ground is cracking more slowly now. Although we sacrificed one person from your sect, it saved so many of us. Even if she died, it was worth it!”

His words only fanned the flames, deepening the conflict between the two sects.

Qin Xixue cursed him inwardly—this brainless fool was going to get her killed!

Lu Yue’s group was ready to fight when a female voice interrupted, “You’re right. So—”

“You get down there.”

A scream echoed, and Qiu Xiude disappeared into the pit.

Chu Sang dusted off her hands. “Finally, some peace and quiet. He was so noisy.”

“Chu Sang! How did you get in here?” Lin Qi exclaimed, surprised they weren’t completely wiped out.

Mo Qingchen was equally surprised, sensing a shift in the atmosphere. “The formation…”

The formation was broken.

While they had been trapped, Chu Sang had been working outside, waiting for the right moment to strike. Now, the formation was undone.

Mo Qingchen’s thoughts were complicated—he hadn’t expected her to save them.

After devouring two cultivators, the ground ceased cracking and returned to normal, without a trace of the earlier destruction.

“I didn’t expect a few fish to slip through the net,” Master Wang remarked from above. “Today is my children’s day of joy. Why must you keep disrupting it? As a lonely old man who has lost his children, my only wish is to see this wedding through tonight.”

“If you wish to leave, you may do so now. I won’t stop you,” he said, gesturing toward the exit.

Mu Chihuai crossed his arms disdainfully. “You talk so righteously, but why don’t you show us the way out first?”

“If I’m not mistaken, once the ceremony is completed tonight, I’m afraid we’ll truly have no way of returning,” Chu Sang said, staring directly at the slightly changing expression of Master Wang. “Spending a fortune to hold this grand ghost wedding for your deceased children, Master Wang, you’ve certainly gone to great lengths. You truly loved your children deeply.”

She smiled lightly, her tone casual as she continued, “If that’s the case, why did you kill them with your own hands back then?”

The hall erupted in shocked murmurs. Master Wang could no longer maintain his composure and angrily slammed the table, shouting, “How dare you! What nonsense are you spouting?”

“Whether I’m talking nonsense or not, I believe Master Wang knows better than I do,” Chu Sang looked at him straight in the eye, smiling. “The young master and miss of the Wang family didn’t die accidentally. You killed them with your own hands.”

“Even your six previous wives who died were all killed by you.”

“The evil cultivation method you practice involves devouring others’ essence and blood to extend your own lifespan, and the blood of those closest to you is the most potent.”

“Your own children naturally became your best targets.”

“But when they died, their resentment was too strong, greatly diminishing their quality. Someone must have told you about using resentment to counter resentment, attempting to appease their spirits through this ghost marriage.”

“…Haha, you’ve guessed well, indeed quite clever,” Master Wang’s expression was surprisingly calm, a strange smile curling his lips. “However, knowing too much may not necessarily be a good thing.”

“Mo Qingchen, if you want to take your junior brothers and sisters out together, cooperate with us,” Chu Sang transmitted softly. She was unwilling to have too much involvement with the Tianyan Sect people, but Mo Qingchen was, after all, the male lead, with combat power far beyond ordinary cultivators. His Golden Core middle stage strength was already faintly able to keep up with the pressure of the Golden Core late stage.

“At the same time, keep an eye on your little junior sister. Don’t let her make any trouble.”

She looked meaningfully at Qin Xixue.

Qin Xixue was displeased. “Second senior sister, what do you mean by that?”

“What do I mean? You know very well in your heart.”

Chu Sang’s initial thought was to stay away from the male and female leads and live quietly, but she unexpectedly stumbled into the Lingqing Sect. Her senior brothers and sisters would all die tragically at the hands of this little junior sister in the future.

She couldn’t avoid it, nor did she want to. Her attitude towards Qin Xixue was no longer indifferent, but rather tinged with annoyance.

If possible, she’d rather never see her again.

For eternity..