Chapter 94: To Kill or Not to Kill

“Yes, I heard that Yu Heng killed several demons. When our fellow disciples arrived, they saw him fighting the demons, so there’s no mistake.” Feng Hanxiao’s words stirred doubt in Ji Jiuxuan’s heart. She had seen the Violet Temptation Pill with her own eyes, and there was nothing false about it.

Yu Heng had also been handled by Shadow, whom she trusted. There were far too many suspicious points in this matter.

This man was cunning and treacherous; now that he’d returned, things would not be so simple.

She had originally intended to ask the system, but no matter how she called, it hadn’t responded.

Thinking of Shadow, she finally asked, “Sui Yi, can you see if there’s anything wrong with Yu Heng?”

In the void of the ring, Sui Yi observed the situation outside and couldn’t help but frown.

“He’s hidden it well. The demonic aura on him is completely concealed.” Shadow’s deep voice made Ji Jiuxuan, a lover of voices, slightly entranced. “The effect of the Violet Temptation Pill is undeniable. If it had no effect, then the only possibility is that this person was already possessed, concealing all his aura so that no one could discover it.”

The Violet Temptation Pill had no effect on demons. If that was truly the case, then Yu Heng was terrifying indeed.

He had managed to evade the detection of all the elders, to the extent that the Yu family patriarch was willing to resign from his position as an elder of the Xuan Heaven Sect for him, and the entire Yu family was willing to offend other factions in the sect for his sake.

“How is he hiding it?” She had never heard of anyone in this world who could so expertly conceal demonic cultivation, eluding every probe. This made him all the more extraordinary.

“Yu Heng’s apparent cultivation is lower than the junior uncle’s. If he’s hiding it, what is his true cultivation?”

Shadow did not tell Ji Jiuxuan. There really was someone in this world who could hide demonic cultivation so thoroughly, a person of formidable power, whose tragedies of the past were also connected to him.

These memories surfaced the moment he touched the formation while excavating the rear mountain. Previously, when dealing with Yu Heng, he hadn’t cared due to his lack of memory, but now, from Yu Heng’s presence, he vaguely sensed someone’s aura.

He was still alive!

Yu Heng was taken away by the Yu family. The rumors about Nie Xingyuan wanting to harm Yu Heng were quelled.

Returning to the Xuan Heng Courtyard, Ji Jiuxuan again tried to contact the system, but still received no response.

Anxious, but helpless, she searched herself from head to toe, yet could not find where the system was.

Hesitating, she considered asking Sui Yi, but eventually gave up. The system had sometimes disappeared before—perhaps it would reappear in a few days?

In her mind flashed the look Yu Heng had given her today. Now, what was most urgent was to improve her cultivation and master the Heavenly Pivot Shadow technique, or else, if trouble truly came, it would be disastrous.

Night deepened. With Shadow’s help, Ji Jiuxuan set up the Star Array, combining the power of night’s stars and moon to begin her cultivation.

Each morning, she attended the Learning Hall with her master, practiced sword in the afternoon, and spent her evenings studying the Heavenly Pivot Shadow.

Days passed in this manner, and Yu Heng’s return caused not a ripple, eerily quiet.

Ji Jiuxuan decided to seek out the junior uncle for answers.

Upon arriving at the Refining Star Pavilion, she noticed the solemn atmosphere.

Sensing Ji Jiuxuan’s presence, Nie Xingyuan did not try to hide things from her.

She entered, and when she saw Qu Liang’s corpse, she was startled.

“He’s dead!”

Having calmed herself, Ji Jiuxuan dared to look at the corpse formed by condensed spiritual power.

“Fatally wounded by demons, his core shattered.” Nie Xingyuan spoke bluntly. After these recent events, he felt there was no need to hide things from the young girl. If she had prior experience, she would not be so helpless when facing similar situations in the future.

He recalled how she had hesitated on the dueling platform, dragging her feet—an absolute taboo in a life-and-death battle.

Henceforth, honing Ah Jiu’s courage was paramount.

The corpse was pale, a deathly hue, black demonic energy leaking from his wounds, a huge gash at the dantian, blood still seeping from it.

This was the scene recorded by the projection stone after Qu Liang’s death.

Ji Jiuxuan was certain now that Qu Liang’s death had something to do with Yu Heng.

Seeing her serious expression, Nie Xingyuan revealed all he knew. “The body was found in Ancient Fallen Forest. The surroundings were thoroughly investigated, and there was no sign of demons.”

“Did you find any clues, Uncle?” Otherwise, he wouldn’t have recorded it and studied it alone.

“Qu Liang was not supposed to go to Ancient Fallen Forest today. He sent a message at dawn, saying he noticed something odd about Yu Heng.”

Ji Jiuxuan was surprised. “So this has something to do with Yu Heng?”

She was actually already quite certain, and as Shadow had said, the only reason the Violet Temptation Pill might fail was if Yu Heng was already possessed.

“There are no traces of him acting.” That was why he had specially recorded it, hoping to find clues.

No evidence. That meant it wasn’t necessarily Yu Heng, but Ji Jiuxuan still shared her discoveries with Nie Xingyuan.

“I know about this. Don’t worry, leave it to me. Ah Jiu, remember, do not take risks lightly.” He wanted to train Ah Jiu, but did not wish her to be recklessly dragged into danger.

“Uncle, I understand.”

On her way back, the image of Qu Liang’s former self flashed through her mind, and recalling his death, Yu Heng’s dark eyes returned to her memory.

She could not sit and wait for death.

“System, are you there?”

She expected silence once more, but after a sword’s cry, the system’s voice sounded, “What is it?”

At last, the worry she’d been carrying eased. “Where have you been these days? I called and you never answered.”

Thinking of the sword’s cry, Ji Jiuxuan couldn’t help but ask, “Is it related to the Azure Fallen Sword?”

“I slept for a few days. I’ll tell you about it later. What did you want to ask?”

The mysterious system—Ji Jiuxuan was used to its frequent refusal to answer.

“Given the current situation, can I still hunt the Phoenix Feather Sovereign Bird?”

She had grown familiar with the Heavenly Pivot Shadow technique by now, and could use it without difficulty. If not for Yu Heng, capturing a Phoenix Feather Sovereign Bird for soup or barbecue would be no problem. But now, things were more complicated.

“It’s possible. Go at night.”

Ji Jiuxuan was stunned. She glanced at the time: the sun was high, it was noon.

“No problem with Yu Heng? Also, System, do you know what’s going on with Yu Heng?”

With this ticking time bomb present, she could never be at ease.

“He is currently in a weakened period. You might even gravely injure him tonight, but you should be fully prepared.” Actually, if the one in the ring’s space went, success would be guaranteed, but it didn’t mention this, fearing any slip would expose that person.

“Just injure him? Not kill him?”

If it was only an injury, there would be many risks.

“Yes.” The system merely gave a reminder; ultimately, the decision rested with Ji Jiuxuan. “Whether you go or not, whether you roast the Phoenix Feather Sovereign Bird, it’s all up to you—you decide whether to act.”

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(End of chapter)