PID Chapter 36.3

Chu Jinglan transmitted his voice to Xiao Mo: “I opened something good.”

 

He described the two items he had found, and Xiao Mo clapped his hands in approval: “Those are definitely great finds. Keep the Heart-Guard Mirror for yourself. As for the jade—how big is it? We can make some protective or offensive magical artifacts for you and the kids.”

 

Xiao Mo set down a storage pouch and continued: “Later, we’ll find a crafting shop in Lin’an City. With our current resources, we have more than enough money to make some basic magical artifacts.”

 

He spoke so naturally, yet he didn’t include himself in the plan at all.

 

Hearing this, Chu Jinglan’s fingertips curled slightly. For a moment, he didn’t respond. It wasn’t until Xiao Mo had already called the children over to sit down and start opening storage pouches that Chu Jinglan slowly sat beside him and said softly: “I plan to make a flute first.”

 

Xiao Mo had just opened a pouch when he heard this and instinctively turned his head to look at Chu Jinglan.

 

Chu Jinglan added: “The flute will be for you.”

 

Xiao Mo froze, clutching the pouch in his hand. That feather-light sensation brushed against his heart again—not heavy but so noticeable it was almost overwhelming. He even felt like turning into black mist and fleeing—but at the same time, it was oddly comforting.

 

Xiao Mo muttered awkwardly: “Uh… thanks…”

 

“The leftover material will be used for other artifacts,” Chu Jinglan interrupted his thanks. “Everyone will get something—you don’t need to thank me.”

 

Xiao Mo blinked: “Ah, alright then.”

 

The tingling feeling that had made him want to retreat melted away, transforming into a warm current that flowed comfortably through him. Without realizing it, it brought a faint smile to Xiao Mo’s lips.

 

He picked up another pouch from the ground and stuffed it into Chu Jinglan’s hands: “Since your luck is so good, open this one—maybe you’ll find another treasure!”

 

Xiao Mo’s cool fingers brushed against Chu Jinglan’s as he handed over the pouch. Chu Jinglan held the storage pouch and lowered his gaze: “Mm.”

 

[Ding! Mental attack successful, points +30!]

 

The five of them sat in a circle with the pouches placed in the center. This way, no one around them could tell how many pouches they had collected in total. Xiao Mo decided they’d open these first before taking out the ones stored in his storage—otherwise, piling them up like a small mountain might attract unwanted attention.

 

Wealth shouldn’t be flaunted—best to keep things low-key.

 

As their group happily opened storage pouches together, tension erupted within Huanjian Sect’s team on the mountain.

 

Someone blocked Chu Jiao’s sword with a magical artifact and shouted incredulously: “Are you crazy? Was this really necessary, Chu Jiao?!”

 

The spiritual treasure rain from the great sects contained too many items for any of them to include top-tier treasures. For sects like Huanjian Sect—neither at the very top nor struggling below—it wasn’t worth fighting over. Still, everyone liked to join in for fun, grabbing one or two pouches just to see if they’d get lucky and find something of decent quality.

 

It was mostly symbolic—if someone happened to open something good, they’d be teased lightly about their luck with jokes and laughter.

 

Some people didn’t even bother catching light beams—they just watched others open their pouches. No one expected that among their own members, there would be actual conflict over a single storage pouch.

 

The one who struck first was Chu Jiao.

 

A Huanjian Sect disciple had waited until most of the spiritual treasure rain had fallen before flying up leisurely to grab one pouch—hoping to catch some good fortune late in the game. He hadn’t noticed that Chu Jiao had already set his sights on that particular pouch. When his movements turned out faster than Chu Jiao’s, he hadn’t expected Chu Jiao to draw his sword and swing at him!

 

The disciple reacted quickly and used a magical artifact to deflect the attack. His angry shout echoed among their fellow disciples nearby as both men landed on the ground. Seeing them both wielding weapons, those around them were left confused by what had happened.

 

Mu Jian and Dai Zisheng frowned as they stepped forward. “What’s going on?”

 

The Huanjian Sect disciple who had been attacked couldn’t swallow his anger and exclaimed, “Young Master, Senior Brother Mu, Chu Jiao actually drew his sword on me over a storage pouch! Seriously, if he wanted it so badly, couldn’t he just use his mouth to ask? I was just trying to grab one randomly, and he attacked me without a word!”

 

Chu Jiao had spent the entire night tormented by the swirling darkness in his heart. The Clear Heart Sutra had initially helped a little, but the more he recited it, the more agitated he became. The frustration in his heart could no longer be suppressed—he just wanted to vent it all out and stop feeling so stifled.

 

His bloodshot eyes glinted with malice as he sneered: “You would’ve let me have it? Weren’t you the one gossiping behind my back yesterday, saying I’m not a good person and that you’d stay far away from me in the future?”

 

Talking behind someone’s back is hardly virtuous, but the disciple who had been slashed at wasn’t about to back down. “And what of it? Are you not?”

 

Mu Jian’s brows furrowed deeply. “You’re both at fault. You shouldn’t have spoken ill of your fellow disciple behind his back. And Chu Jiao, drawing your sword was even worse. Both of you—”

 

“Are going to be punished together?” Chu Jiao interrupted with a mocking laugh. “Mu Jian, are you being fair or biased? I only acted because I couldn’t stand their idle gossip—what wrong is there in that?”

 

Chu Jiao’s sword trembled slightly in his hand as his killing intent surged forward. Mu Jian’s expression darkened completely. “Chu Jiao, are you seriously harboring murderous intent?”

 

Chu Jiao glared at the other disciple, his index finger unconsciously scraping against the hilt of his sword, producing a grating sound. Endure… endure… endure—why should I endure? Why should I swallow this humiliation?

 

Dai Zisheng hadn’t drawn his sword yet, but his hand was already resting on its hilt as he warned in a low voice: “Chu Jiao, think carefully about what you’re doing.”

 

Seeing Dai Zisheng’s face only fueled Chu Jiao’s rage further. Was Dai Zisheng’s cultivation talent so remarkable? No! It was simply because he was born as the young master of Huanjian Sect. What Chu Jiao had to fight tooth and nail for came naturally to him. The positions Chu Jiao struggled for could never compare to Dai Zisheng’s.

 

The jealousy burning within him grew fiercer and fiercer, threatening to consume him entirely.

 

Down at the base of the mountain, Xiao Mo’s dark lashes fluttered slightly as he sensed something. Tilting his head, he looked toward the mountain and said: “It’s about to ignite.”

 

Xiao Mo extended his divine sense upward and stopped at a point where it wouldn’t be detected by Huanjian Sect’s Nascent Soul cultivators. Observing what was happening, he asked Chu Jinglan: “Want me to give you a live commentary?”

 

Live commentary, as Xiao Mo put it, seemed to be shorthand for providing real-time updates. Chu Jinglan interpreted Xiao Mo’s phrasing as he calmly continued opening storage pouches. “No need. Just let me know if he dies.”

 

A faint crimson flickered in Xiao Mo’s pitch-black eyes as he replied: “Alright.”

 

Xiao Mo “watched” as Chu Jiao erupted into a tirade against Dai Zisheng.

 

“What now? Trying to intimidate me? Dai Zisheng, you’re nothing but someone born lucky! Without your title as Huanjian Sect’s young master, you’re nothing! I’ve fought tooth and nail for every step I’ve taken to get here—and now I have to be ordered around by some brat like you? Why? What makes you worthy?”

 

“Chu Jiao!” Mu Jian suddenly drew his sword. “Have you gone mad?!”

 

Among the Nascent Soul cultivators accompanying Huanjian Sect, one furrowed his brows, sensing that something was off with Chu Jiao’s behavior. He grabbed a nearby disciple and asked, “Is he always like this?”

 

The disciple, who had been bullied by Chu Jiao in the past, casually replied: “Yes, he’s always had a bad temper.”

 

Still, the Nascent Soul cultivator wasn’t convinced. If he’s always had this temper, why has he managed to restrain himself until now? Why is he losing control here of all places—publicly challenging the young master in front of so many people? Unless he no longer wants to stay in Huanjian Sect.

 

Mu Jian was furious, but Dai Zisheng sneered at Chu Jiao: “Well, what can I say? I was simply born into the Dai family—I’m Dai Zisheng. Jealous?”

 

Chu Jiao was so enraged his teeth were practically grinding to dust.

 

Su Baimo, who had been standing behind Dai Zisheng all along, saw the escalating tension and decided to step forward with a storage pouch in hand. “I have an extra storage pouch here. Both Senior Brothers can take it. We’re all fellow disciples—let’s not hurt our harmony. Once we’ve divided the pouches, perhaps we can apologize for any misunderstandings and—”

 

“Su Baimo!” Chu Jiao raised his sword and pointed it at him. “You’re nothing but the useless follower of Chu Jinglan from before! Since when did you think you could lecture me? Apologize? Absolutely not!”

 

The cultivation levels of those involved earlier were somewhat noteworthy, but Su Baimo was merely at Foundation Establishment stage. When he stepped forward to face Chu Jiao, his weak and fragile aura—like someone who could be killed with a single strike—was glaringly obvious. The fury surging through Chu Jiao’s mind overwhelmed him completely, amplifying his rage until it drowned out all reason.

 

The sound of his fingernails scraping against his sword hilt grew louder and louder.

 

And then, in the next moment, the sound stopped.

 

Chu Jiao suddenly swung his sword at Su Baimo!

 

Su Baimo stared wide-eyed as the blade came toward him, utterly horrified. “Ah!”

 

Both Dai Zisheng and Mu Jian moved simultaneously. Mu Jian’s sword technique struck first, deflecting Chu Jiao’s blade with a gust of righteous wind—a gentleman’s sword wielded with grace. Dai Zisheng pulled Su Baimo aside and adjusted his stance before launching a diagonal thrust that complemented Mu Jian’s attack, aiming for Chu Jiao’s blind spot.

 

Although Chu Jiao was at Golden Core stage, he struggled against Mu Jian’s technique and ended up grazed by Dai Zisheng’s attack. Blood spilled from his wound as he narrowly avoided further injury. Touching the blood on himself, his eyes burned red with hatred. “Why didn’t you die back in Stone Creek Cavern?!”

 

Dai Zisheng’s expression darkened completely as rage finally ignited within him. “How do you know about Stone Creek Cavern? Well then—it seems we missed someone during our earlier reckoning! You were part of the Fourth Elder’s plot to overthrow the Dai family!”

 

Chu Jiao’s pupils contracted sharply as he realized what he had just said. Amidst his overwhelming anger, a flicker of terror flashed across his face: Why did I let that slip?

 

No… this shouldn’t have happened…

 

Shouldn’t have happened how?

 

A hint of confusion surfaced in Chu Jiao’s eyes as he recalled drawing his sword against a fellow disciple just moments ago.

 

His hand began trembling as chaos filled his mind: What is happening today? No matter how angry I am, I shouldn’t be acting so foolishly—one thing after another—it doesn’t even feel like me anymore.

 

But then it was as if a voice whispered in his heart: No… this is exactly who you are.

 

Chu Jiao gripped his sword tightly and took two steps back. “I… I…”

 

A Nascent Soul cultivator from Huanjian Sect stepped forward and declared coldly: “Chu Jiao is implicated in Fourth Elder’s conspiracy to harm the young master. His disciple plaque will be confiscated immediately, his cultivation sealed, and he will be placed under supervision until the lectures conclude—after which he will be escorted back to Huanjian Sect for trial.”

 

Xiao Mo sensed this development from afar and frowned slightly: Don’t disappoint me now.

 

Don’t let it end like this, Chu Jiao—do something more! Is this all your malicious thoughts amount to? Do something big enough to end it all!

 

The confusion and fear that had just risen within Chu Jiao dissolved into nothingness under the Nascent Soul cultivator’s icy tone. Rage once again consumed him entirely.

 

In an act of sheer defiance, Chu Jiao turned on his heel and fled—right in front of several Nascent Soul cultivators!

 

“Put me on trial? Don’t even—ah!”

 

The Nascent Soul cultivator didn’t give Chu Jiao a chance to finish. With a single kick, he stomped him into the ground. Chu Jiao coughed up a mouthful of blood as the cultivator said coldly, “Stubborn fool.”

 

As he spoke, the cultivator leaned down slightly, gathering spiritual energy at his fingertips. He intended to probe Chu Jiao’s divine sense to confirm whether he had truly gone mad or if he had been possessed by some kind of malevolent energy.

 

However, when Chu Jiao saw the glowing fingertips approaching, his inner voice screamed wildly: He’s going to kill you! You’re going to die! You’re going to die!

 

No! If I have to die, I’ll take someone down with me!

 

The malicious thoughts took full control of his body. Xiao Mo, observing from afar, parted his lips slightly and whispered in sync with the scene: “Boom.”

 

Chu Jiao’s eyes widened in fury, turning blood-red as his entire body began trembling violently. The Nascent Soul cultivator realized what Chu Jiao was about to do and froze in disbelief for a moment before quickly drawing his sword and stabbing it through Chu Jiao’s dantian.

 

Chu Jiao let out a scream of agony, but the cultivator didn’t stop there. He dragged the sword upward from the dantian, slicing through Chu Jiao’s internal organs and nearly cutting him in half.

 

Chu Jiao could no longer scream. His throat emitted guttural gasps before his head lolled to the side, eyes wide open as he died.

 

The Nascent Soul cultivator pulled out his blood-stained sword, his expression dark. “He tried to self-destruct.”

 

The surrounding crowd was horrified but quickly relaxed after the initial shock. Thankfully, the cultivator had reacted swiftly.

 

With Chu Jiao dead, his divine sense dissipated. The Nascent Soul cultivator inspected the corpse with a grim face but found no traces of malevolent energy on the body. As for Chu Jiao’s divine sense, it remained an unsolved mystery.

 

However, with the celestial boats still hovering above and Divided Spirit cultivators present within Lin’an Academy, it was impossible for a demonic cultivator to have infiltrated unnoticed.

 

Just as the Lower Realm suppressed cultivation levels, so did the Middle Realm—its highest limit being Divided Spirit peak. A demonic cultivator capable of hiding under the noses of so many powerful beings wouldn’t waste their time on someone as insignificant as Chu Jiao.

 

If not a demonic cultivator, then perhaps… a member of the demon race?

 

After all, Lin’an Academy didn’t exclude demons from attending its lectures.

 

Not far from Huanjian Sect’s group was a small team of five demons. The commotion caused by Huanjian Sect had drawn everyone’s attention, including that of Lin’an Academy disciples who immediately approached. The leader of the demon group was also watching the spectacle unfold with amusement. When he noticed the Nascent Soul cultivator’s scrutinizing gaze, he grinned unabashedly in response.

 

The Nascent Soul cultivator frowned in disgust and turned away as if he had swallowed a fly.

 

The demon leader sat boldly on a rock and remarked casually: “They’re suspicious of us.”

 

Another demon beside him lazily fanned himself and chuckled: “What an entertaining show. If he wasn’t truly insane, then someone clearly set him up.”

 

“Only an Inner Demon could manipulate someone’s mind like that,” said a demon with an exceptionally keen sense of smell. “But for an Inner Demon to kill, they’d need to successfully possess someone and refine a demonic body first.”

 

He sniffed the air and added, “I don’t smell any trace of an Inner Demon nearby.”

 

“Besides, who would willingly let an Inner Demon borrow their body to act?”

 

The demons burst into laughter as if they’d just heard the most ridiculous joke. “Pfft, hahaha! Impossible! It’s never happened before, and it never will. An Inner Demon and its host are natural enemies!”

 

Meanwhile, at the base of the mountain, Xiao Mo—an Inner Demon himself—retracted his divine sense and stretched lazily. He transmitted a message to Chu Jinglan: “He’s dead.”

 

“He tried to self-destruct but got his dantian and inner palace destroyed first.” Xiao Mo rested his chin on his hand. “Not bad for a first attempt—it also gave me some practical experience with the new technique.”

 

It was akin to learning a new skill and leveling up proficiency through practice.

 

Chu Jinglan quietly opened another storage pouch. He didn’t say anything but reached into his storage device and took out Wan Yu’s peach blossom hairpin, gently rubbing it in his palm.

 

The end of the hairpin still bore bloodstains that couldn’t be removed. Until his vengeance was complete, Chu Jinglan had no intention of cleaning them off.

 

It wasn’t over yet.

 

Chu Jinglan held the hairpin tightly for a long time before finally speaking to Xiao Mo: “Thank—”

 

“Shh, stop right there.” Xiao Mo interrupted Chu Jinglan’s thanks.

 

He raised a finger to his lips and smiled faintly at Chu Jinglan while continuing their conversation through voice transmission:

 

[I got some practice; you got your revenge. A win-win. You don’t need to thank me.]

 

Chu Jinglan rubbed the hairpin in his hand again.

 

“Alright,” he replied.

 

Both of them understood what this meant: from now on, between the two of them, there was no need for constant expressions of gratitude.

 

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1 Kofi = 1 Extra Chapter