Yun Jin's sudden words stunned Lin Ya. He had assumed she didn't understand the gravity of the situation and had just opened his mouth to speak.
But Zhao Wujie had already responded with a calm tone. "Lin Ya, even your own disciple has reservations about this person tainted with demonic qi. Why are you still standing in the way? Though rare, when someone carries such corruption, they become a calamity not only to our Tianxing Sect, but to the entire cultivation world. If they rise too far, it may be too late to stop them. Other than Yun Jin, I'm sure there are many harboring doubts. To ease everyone's concerns, this test must proceed."
Master Gu Jinghong nodded. "Master is right. If someone truly harbors demonic qi, this is the perfect time to expose them. If not, we can all rest easy."
Lin Ya glanced at the other peak lords.
Some looked like they wanted to speak, yet held their tongues. Others wore open expressions of schadenfreude.
Clearly, they all knew who this was targeting.
But so what?
Right now, Yun Jin didn't hold enough weight for anyone to challenge Zhao Wujie on her behalf.
Lin Ya's heart sank.
Several disciples near Yue Zhao looked uneasy as well, their expressions tinged with anxiety. Only Yue Zhao himself watched Yun Jin closely. She looked completely unfazed, which gave him an odd feeling. Given her personality... would she really let herself suffer quietly?
She had only been in the sect a few days, and already offended the entire leadership of the sect's main branch. But throughout every confrontation so far, she had never once come out on the losing side. Could it be... that she was already prepared for this?
Yue Zhao couldn't help glancing over at her again.
Yun Jin looked genuinely anxious. "Senior Brother Gu is absolutely right! If this person with demonic qi is allowed to grow, they'll become a scourge to the cultivation world! Such a person must be rooted out early. If it were up to me, I wouldn't just drive them out of the sect. I'd strip their flesh from their bones, toss them into a pill furnace, and burn them to ashes. Then, I'd cast those ashes into the Abyssal Sea, just to make sure they couldn't stain this pure world a moment longer!"
Gu Jinghong almost laughed out loud.
He cast Yun Jin a mocking look.
Hearing Yue Zhao describe this girl, he had expected some clever schemer. But she was a complete fool. Senior Brother may have suffered under her tricks because he lacked finesse, but now that it was his turn to deal with her, he would make her understand what it meant to offend the sect's ruling line.
Gu Jinghong masked the contempt in his eyes and smiled. "Yun Jin is right. If someone is found guilty of carrying demonic qi, we'll follow her suggestion. Toss them into the Abyssal Sea—utterly erased from this world."
"Mhm, mhm," Yun Jin nodded earnestly. "Then let's bring out the spirit beasts already! Just thinking about that terrifying person lurking among us makes me tremble."
A trace of an imperceptible smile played at Zhao Wujie's lips. He said, "Senior Ling, I'll trouble you to bring out a few frenzied spirit beasts. Let's see what we're dealing with."
"Very well," Ling Fei replied, turning and heading back into the Spirit Beast Pavilion.
Ye Danxia, watching Yun Jin act so worried and frightened, quickly lowered her head. If she didn't, she might laugh out loud and ruin everything. She couldn't wait to see Yun Jin's expression once the beasts revealed the truth. It would be a marvelous sight. Ye Danxia carefully suppressed the malicious grin tugging at her lips.
"Yun Jin, oh Yun Jin..."
"Even if you survive today, you'll leave here flayed."
Every humiliation she had endured these past days—she would repay them all at once.
Before long, Ling Fei returned, leading five spirit beasts. One was at the Foundation Establishment stage, while the others were Qi Refining level.
For some reason, these spirit beasts were unusually agitated. Their pupils glowed red with strange light, and they thrashed and roared constantly. If not for their lower cultivation, they would have been far more difficult to restrain.
As Ling Fei approached the square, the beasts became more restless, howling louder the closer they got.
Gu Jinghong's expression turned grave. "Senior Ling's spirit beasts are usually extremely docile. They haven't shown aggression in years. Their behavior today... something must be very wrong."
"Second Senior Brother, we should start the test now. This is getting a bit scary," Ye Danxia said with false urgency.
She could hardly wait.
"Exactly!" Yun Jin chimed in. "I can barely sleep at night just thinking that such a wicked person might be hiding among us. We must find them!"
Zhao Wujie's eyes narrowed slightly. "Senior Ling, begin. Remove their restraints and observe their reaction."
Ling Fei nodded.
These were just low-level spirit beasts. Even if they lost control, he could easily subdue them. There was no other choice if they hoped to expose the person with demonic qi. He briefly considered releasing them one at a time.
But Gu Jinghong quickly interjected, "Let them all loose at once! If only one beast reacts, it may be inconclusive. But if they all charge the same person, we'll have our answer."
"Agreed. Do it," Zhao Wujie said.
Ling Fei did not object.
He reached out and gently patted each spirit beast on the head. Around each beast's neck was a golden collar—the taming ring that kept them in check. With a soft tap, all five rings fell away. Immediately, their eyes darkened, glowing crimson like blood.
Their agitation intensified. The Foundation Establishment beast turned its head and scanned the crowd of low-stage disciples. It could sense it. That maddening presence... it was here.
Somewhere nearby!
Who?!
The crazed appearance of the spirit beasts was genuinely frightening. Several Qi Refining disciples shrank back under their gaze. Though the beasts were weak, so were they. If one of them accidentally charged into the crowd, injuries were almost guaranteed. And the idea of someone tainted with demonic qi… it was terrifying.
None of them thought it was truly them.
But still, a strange guilt stirred in their hearts.
What if it was me?
As tension blanketed the square—
Suddenly.
The Foundation Establishment beast froze. It had found its target. With a snarl, it twisted its head in a specific direction. Then, with a thunderous roar, it charged. The four Qi Refining beasts followed suit.
Chaos erupted in the square.
And only Ye Danxia stood there, smiling triumphantly.
The beasts were charging directly at Yun Jin.
Soon, she would be exposed as the one corrupted by demonic qi.
Let's see what excuse she has then.
As for herself, well… Ye Danxia would simply offer a few kind words of comfort. Out of sympathy, of course.