132: Chapter 132 Returning to the Sect, Undercurrents Surge

On the return journey, they moved as fast as lightning.

Zhao Ruoan's speed was several times faster than on the outward journey.

Having resolved the trouble with the Blood Fiend Sect and obtained a monumental Opportunity, his mood should have been joyful.

But the moment he thought of the "mole" learned from Li Jiuyou's memory, his heart felt heavy, and not a trace of lightness remained.

"Shadow... Ice Marrow Jade..."

Zhao Ruoan repeatedly chewed over these two key clues in his heart.

As the leader of the Righteous Path in Cang Prefecture, the Qingxuan Sect had stood unshaken for ten thousand years, yet a traitor capable of directly connecting with the upper echelons of the Blood Fiend Sect was hidden within the Sect.

This matter was by no means trivial; if handled improperly, it could even shake the Foundation of the entire Sect.

Return directly to the Sect and spill everything to Sect Master Master Xuanyang?

Zhao Ruoan instantly rejected this thought.

It was too reckless.

First, he lacked any substantive evidence.

He could hardly state outright that he had used the Soul Searching Technique on the Young Sect Master of the Blood Fiend Sect and peeked into the secret from the other's Divine Soul.

The Soul Searching Technique was inherently a forbidden art of the Demonic Path.

Once exposed, he would bring monstrous trouble upon himself.

Even if the Sect Master and Revered Master believed him, the Elders of other factions within the Sect would inevitably harbor suspicions.

In the eyes of the world, a Disciple proficient in the Soul Searching Technique was no different from a Demonic Path fiend.

Secondly, the mole codenamed "Shadow" could communicate with the upper echelons of the Blood Fiend Sect, so their status must not be low.

Rashly accusing the upper echelons of the Sect without any evidence would only alert the enemy, causing the other party to hide deeper or even frame him in return.

By then, he, a Genius Disciple who had just risen to fame, would likely become a scapegoat in the Sect's factional struggles.

"It seems this matter cannot be rushed."

Zhao Ruoan already had a plan in mind; he had to deliberate over a long period.

The safest method was to first inform Revered Master Yun Qinghan of all the secrets.

Revered Master was the Reincarnation of an Immortal Emperor, knowledgeable and exceptionally brilliant.

Letting her decide the disposal plan was the most appropriate course of action.

At the same time, taking "Ice Marrow Jade" as his sole Breakthrough point, he would investigate in secret, quietly awaiting the Opportunity to obtain ironclad evidence, eradicate the mole in one fell swoop, and eliminate future troubles once and for all.

Having figured everything out, Zhao Ruoan's chaotic state of mind completely calmed down.

He slowed down his escape speed, no longer rushing on his journey, and took the Opportunity to sort through all his gains from this trip to the Black Wind Mountain Range.

The storage rings of Li Jiuyou and several Golden Core old demons piled up, and their wealth could be described as astronomical.

There were hundreds of thousands of High-Grade Spirit Stones alone, not to mention a dazzling and countless array of rare Medicinal Pills, Artifact Refining Materials, Demonic Path Magic Treasures, and Cultivation Technique Jade Slips.

Zhao Ruoan picked out a batch of Medicinal Pills suited for Qiuyin and Xiamo's cultivation realms, along with two defensive Magic Treasures with excellent protective capabilities, and casually tossed them to the two women.

"Take them. Go back and Cultivate well; don't embarrass me."

"Ah? Young Revered Master, this... this is too precious!"

Holding the spiritual light-flowing Magic Treasures and Medicinal Pills in their hands, Qiuyin and Xiamo were completely stunned.

These were supreme treasures that Golden Core Cultivators dreamed of; to them, it was no different from an Opportunity falling from the heavens.

"Cut the nonsense. Take them since I'm giving them to you."

Zhao Ruoan's tone carried a hint of impatience.

"If your strength is greater, you can save me some trouble in the future."

"Yes! Thank you, Young Revered Master!"

The two women hurriedly put away the treasures, their gratitude and adoration growing even stronger.

The Young Revered Master had always been harsh-mouthed and soft-hearted; though he looked cold, he was genuinely generous and considerate toward them.

Without a word along the way, galloping for several days, the Qingxuan Sect's mountain gate, stretching for tens of thousands of li and shrouded in Immortal Qi, finally came into view in the distance.

Returning to the familiar territory of the Sect, Zhao Ruoan's heart completely settled.

He did not return directly to Qinghan Peak, but instead led the two women to the Sect's Mission Hall first.

The mission assigned by the Sect had successfully concluded, so naturally, they had to report back according to the rules.

The Mission Hall was bustling with people coming and going in an endless stream, either accepting Sect missions, submitting errands, or exchanging rewards.

The moment the three of Zhao Ruoan stepped into the hall, the surrounding commotion suddenly came to a halt.

Countless gazes focused uniformly on them, mixed with curiosity, awe, jealousy, and subtle malice.

"It's Zhao Ruoan! He's back!"

"He went to the Black Wind Mountain Range to investigate the missing Disciples. Why did he return so quickly?"

"Looking at his unhurt appearance, could the mission have failed?"

"Hard to say. The Black Wind Mountain Range is currently a dragon's pool and tiger's den, infested with Blood Fiend Sect fiends.

Even with his exceptional Genius talent, going alone would make it difficult to accomplish anything."

The surrounding Disciples discussed animatedly, making continuous speculations.

Turning a blind eye to the surrounding gossip, Zhao Ruoan walked straight up to the deacon Elder in charge of assigning and verifying missions.

This Elder had white hair and beard, and his cultivation was firmly at the Middle Stage of the Golden Core.

Seeing Zhao Ruoan return, a flash of surprise crossed his turbid eyes.

"Zhao Ruoan? You've returned so quickly? Is there any clue to this mission?"

"Fortunately, I did not fail my mission."

Zhao Ruoan handed out his identity Jade Slip, his voice calm and steady: "Reporting to Elder, this Disciple has verified that all five missing Senior Brother peers have been killed."

"What?!"

The deacon Elder's expression changed abruptly.

"Did you find the culprit's trace?"

"It was done by the Blood Fiend Sect fiends."

Zhao Ruoan slowly recounted: "This Disciple found the remains of various Senior Brothers in the outer periphery of the Black Wind Mountain Range, and at the same time discovered a large number of Blood Fiend Sect activity traces."

"Blood Fiend Sect!"

The deacon Elder's complexion was livid, and anger surged.

"These Demonic Path scumbags are growing increasingly unbridled!"

He let out a long sigh, suppressing his anger: "Since the truth has been investigated, it is considered a Perfection completion of the mission.

You've worked hard this time; this is your mission reward..."

The Elder was about to settle the reward when he was interrupted by Zhao Ruoan.

"Elder, the matter is not yet over."

"Hmm?"

The deacon Elder's face showed doubt.

The corners of Zhao Ruoan's lips curled into a cold arc: "This Disciple tracked along the clues left behind by the Blood Fiend Sect and found one of their secret strongholds."

The deacon Elder's heart tightened, and he quickly pursued, "And then?"

"This Disciple made a move and executed all the Blood Fiend Sect fiends within the stronghold, avenging the murdered fellow Disciples."

Zhao Ruoan's words were light, falling into the silent hall, yet they were like a sudden clap of thunder, shocking the entire place into dead silence.

The Disciples throughout the hall were dumbfounded, completely unable to believe it.

Single-handedly overturning a secret stronghold of the Blood Fiend Sect?

This was simply a fantasy!

The deacon Elder's pupils shrank abruptly as he stared fixedly at Zhao Ruoan, his tone trembling: "You... what you said is true? Based on you alone?"

"Absolutely true."

With a wave of his hand, Zhao Ruoan poured out a pile of blood-colored tokens from the sumeru ring, neatly stacking them on the table.

On the tokens, ferocious skull patterns were striking and eerie—they were precisely the exclusive identity tokens of Blood Fiend Sect Disciples.

"These are the identity tokens of the fiends and can serve as proof."

The deacon Elder hurriedly picked up one and probed it with his Divine Sense for verification, his heart shaking violently.

The token's design was authentic, and its aura was sinister and evil—it was definitely not forged.

Several of them even belonged to Demonic Path Cultivators at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment!

He could no longer maintain his composure, raising his eyes to look at Zhao Ruoan as if sizing up a Prodigy.

Single-handedly destroying the Blood Fiend Sect stronghold and slaying dozens of Demonic Path Cultivators!

This youth's Genius and Heart-Nature were simply terrifying!

All the Disciples in the hall gasped inwardly.

Those who had previously secretly speculated that Zhao Ruoan's mission had failed now felt a burning sensation on their faces, filled with shame and awe.

Where was this a mission failure? It was clearly over-completing the Sect errand by a hundredfold!