Lu Qingsong's gaze finally fixed on him.
"You, come with me."
His voice wasn't loud, but it targeted Fang Xuan directly.
Fang Xuan lowered his head and answered with a "Yes," following Lu Qingsong away from the square.
Several elders seemed to want to say something, but seeing Lu Qingsong's grim expression, they ultimately did not dare to speak.
Lu Qingsong did not walk fast, and he did not take Fang Xuan to the Main Hall or the Enforcement Hall.
Instead, he headed toward the rear of the main peak, into a quiet, secluded corridor.
Fang Xuan followed silently, his right hand hidden in his sleeve, fingers gripping a jade token.
This was his life-saving trump card, capable of instantly contacting a Fang family dao-protector of at least the Transformation Realm.
As long as he crushed it, he could be extracted in an instant.
This was one of his greatest hidden cards.
If Lu Qingsong really intended to ignore his reputation and perform a soul search or kill him, then he would have no choice but to flip the table.
However, looking at Lu Qingsong’s posture, it didn’t seem like he was about to strike immediately?
.......
The corridor wound through the peak, flanked on both sides by meticulously tended spirit plants, shrouded in ethereal immortal mist.
Lu Qingsong suddenly stopped his pace but did not turn around, speaking in a low voice.
"This secret realm trip was exceptionally perilous, resulting in the loss of dozens of the Qingyun Sect's talents... especially my Xuan'er."
Fang Xuan kept his head down and did not respond, his mind rapidly analyzing the situation.
Was he playing the emotional card? Or trying to seize the initiative through intimidation?
"I have reviewed the roster of all disciples who entered the secret realm, as well as their approximate cultivation levels."
Lu Qingsong slowly turned around, his eyes containing the spiritual pressure of a Transformation Realm cultivator as he stared directly at Fang Xuan, as if trying to see through him completely.
However, he did not continue questioning. Instead, he shifted his gaze toward the vast, misty spirit lake beyond the corridor, its surface stretching beyond the horizon.
He was certain it couldn't be Fang Xuan.
Setting aside whether Fang Xuan had the strength, he had repeatedly warned Xuan'er beforehand.
After entering the secret realm, he had to stay far away from Fang Xuan.
Xuan'er had always been most obedient to his words.
Those he had chosen to accompany him were all individuals with clean backgrounds and decent talent. Now that they were all dead, it meant someone else must have entered that place.
He thought through everyone who had entered the secret realm, and only one person was suspicious.
He didn't hide it; since he needed Fang Xuan now, he spoke directly. "Xuan'er's death was at the hands of Grand Elder Wu Qingyuan’s grandson, Wu Hao!"
"That old thing opposed me at every turn back then, trying to block my rise to power! Now his grandson entered the secret realm, also at the Void Core Realm, and he surely carried life-saving and tracking items given by that old fossil."
"He must have secretly shadowed Xuan'er and struck a lethal blow at the final moment to seize the opportunity, taking Xuan'er’s life!"
Fang Xuan: "......."
This direction of shifting the blame was absolutely perfect; he almost wanted to give Lu Qingsong a round of applause.
The grandson of a Grand Elder—this scapegoat was substantial and well-rounded, making him the perfect candidate for the blame.
......
Lu Qingsong’s gaze fell back onto Fang Xuan, and that Transformation Realm spiritual pressure retracted slightly, replaced by a "high expectations for you" posture.
"I need someone to go and confirm it, and then... resolve this hidden threat."
"Fang Xuan, your talent is extraordinary. How could you be willing to stay in a broken place like Sword Peak for your entire life?"
He took a small step forward. "I can support you. Resources, status, cultivation methods... even the future position of the Qingyun Sect's Young Sect Master is not out of reach."
"And that Wu Hao is the only obstacle to you becoming the Young Sect Master."
At this point, Fang Xuan naturally understood his meaning.
The dagger was revealed.
He wanted to use him as a blade to kill the Grand Elder’s grandson, while simultaneously binding him completely to his own chariot.
The promises were quite grand, but unfortunately, they were laced with poison.
If he killed Wu Hao, he would immediately become the sworn enemy of Wu Qingyuan.
When that time came, whether Lu Qingsong would protect him or discard the pawn to save the king was hard to say.
However, this was also a good opportunity to backstab the Qingyun Sect.
.......
Fang Xuan bowed with cupped hands. "The Sect Leader’s favor is something this disciple is deeply grateful for, but... as for my master, Peak Lord Shen, he might..."
Lu Qingsong sneered, his face full of disdain as he said angrily, "Shen Chen? Hmph, a waste who has been stuck in the Golden Core Realm for years, relying only on the shade of his ancestors!"
"If not for his past contributions, the position of Sword Peak's peak lord would have been replaced long ago. What is he to be dissatisfied with my decisions?"
He stared at Fang Xuan, his tone becoming even heavier. "As long as you handle this matter well for me, Shen Chen is not a concern. I will make sure he stays quiet!"
The implication in these words was quite obvious.
Fang Xuan lowered his head at the appropriate moment, appearing as if he had been convinced.
Lu Qingsong said no more, turning to continue walking, leading Fang Xuan through the corridor to a courtyard sealed by layers of restriction barriers at the edge of the spirit lake.
Pushing open the courtyard gate, the spiritual energy inside was so dense it had formed mist, and in the center was a pool constantly gushing with spirit spring water.
Lu Qingsong walked to a stone platform by the pool, took out a small cold jade box, and opened it.
Inside the box lay a pill that was entirely crimson with flowing cloud patterns on its surface, emitting a piercingly fragrant aroma.
Just a single sniff was enough to refresh the spirit and make one's blood slightly restless.
"This is the Crimson Sun Soul-Tempering Pill, a pseudo-heaven-grade pill."
Lu Qingsong pushed the jade box toward Fang Xuan while speaking. "Its effect can cleanse the spirit bone and improve aptitude, having a miraculous effect on yang-attribute cultivation methods, greatly enhancing spiritual energy outbursts and physical strength."
Fang Xuan's gaze narrowed. Pseudo-heaven-grade? This was indeed a significant investment.
Lu Qingsong continued indifferently, "The reason it is considered pseudo-heaven-grade is only because of one side effect."
"The medicinal properties of this pill are extremely yang and fierce. After consumption, the yang fire in the body will be permanently raised to a level far exceeding ordinary people."
"Excessive yang fire will constantly breed desire, making it easy to be distracted by beauty, hindering cultivation, and continuously nourishing inner demons, shaking the dao heart. Many with weak wills have failed here, eventually sinking into desire and finding it difficult to progress in their cultivation."
He paused, observing Fang Xuan's reaction. "Of course, you can choose not to use it. The path of a cultivator lies in purity; discarding mortal desires and focusing on the Great Dao is the true way."
Meanwhile, Fang Xuan listened to these words.
......Side effect? Excessive yang fire? Breeding desire? Inner demons?
How could there be such a good thing?
While increasing combat power, it also increased his... other combat power.
Furthermore, for him, inner demons wouldn't just be nourished—he felt this could help him conquer his inner demons.
If he encountered that inner demon version of his senior sister again, who forced him into grueling sessions seven times a night...
He would directly turn defense into offense.
Forget seven times; even seventy bouts... weren't impossible to challenge.
Dao heart? What was a dao heart? Fang Xuan felt he had reached enlightenment.
To live as a human was to pursue various desires.
The desire for food was his senior sister’s cooking.
The desire for beauty was his senior sister’s legs and face.
The desire for intimacy was getting close to his senior sister...
Therefore, for the sake of a higher pursuit of the Dao, this pill was simply a super supplement tailored specifically for him.
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