The three people, as if having been through a near-death experience, were quite surprised upon hearing the words.

The bald elder pointed to Ju Shihong, "You come back to the Refining Heaven Sect with me."

"Huh?" Ju Shihong, drenched in sweat and about to get up, was taken aback and immediately rejected instinctively, "No, no, you were kidnapped from the Refining Heaven Sect, and now the Refining Heaven Sect must already know I'm the mole."

The bald elder said, "I am the one involved; you are a mole only if I say so. If I say you aren't, then you aren't. You could claim to have been coerced when I was taken. I need someone who can directly communicate with your lineage, and I also need someone to assist me."

Ju Shihong was stunned. In that light, returning didn't seem entirely impossible.

Gong Yuanzhi and another exchanged puzzled glances.

After the three of them got up, Gong Yuanzhi patted his head, still somewhat uncomfortable, and questioned in amazement, "What did you do to us?"

The bald elder said indifferently, "Does the Demon Path nowadays not even know the 'Heart Binding Spell'? If I completely disappear, you all die too. Those who follow me prosper, those who oppose me perish, and those who harbor two minds with me, die!"

Gong Yuanzhi and the others were shocked and frightened, each wanting to speak but hesitating.

A fellow companion had been killed by a single word, making them too scared to argue.

Moreover, a ripple blurred around the bald elder, and a garment flew out from under the cloak, swirling with the illusionary ripple before landing and transforming into Zhener's original appearance.

As for the bald elder himself, he had rolled his eyes and sat down on the ground, head lowered, drooling from the mouth.

"Is he…" Gong Yuanzhi pointed and asked, "Okay?"

Zhener spoke with a normal woman's voice, "His skills in spiritual sense manipulation were quite formidable, so he stubbornly resisted. I had to hit hard, and now his intelligence is damaged, and his mind should be abnormal."

As if to verify her words, the drooling, white-bearded bald elder began chuckling foolishly, holding up one finger and saying, "One."

Then he raised another finger and chuckled, "Two, it's one, has two…"

Gong Yuanzhi immediately had a toothache, lamenting, "He just mastered the 'Search God Technique', ready to rely on it for great usefulness, and now…" shaking his head, unable to express his reproach.

Zhener said, "My return is your greatest reliance now. Go back and tell your leader, Situ Gu's deadline is approaching, there's no need to delay and create trouble. I won't meet with him for now. Let him come to see me once matters settle down."

With that, she floated gently down the mountain, her skirt fluttering like flying flowers, and it seemed as if muttered words drifted into the ears of the three behind her, "The Lord cannot easily perish and will return sooner or later. We should regroup and restore the great cause of the Demon Path, awaiting the Lord's return…"

Before long, she and Ju Shihong were sitting together in a carriage, heading towards the central hub of the Xun Gate in Beijulu Royal City.

On the carriage, Zhener inquired Ju Shihong about the specific situation within the Refining Heaven Sect to better handle the sect's hierarchy upon her return.

It turned out that she would be quite adept in handling it upon her return, as she had been strictly watched by Situ Gu within the Refining Heaven Sect, rarely leaving to interact with people from other sects, and she seemed to act quite willfully in front of Situ Gu, so it seemed acceptable if she appeared to know nothing upon her return.

The only awkward topic was her relationship with Shi Chun, which Ju Shihong was somewhat hesitant to discuss.

"What are you trying to hide?" Zhener coldly questioned.

Ju Shihong felt a bit speechless but figured since the other party was indifferent, he had nothing to hide, so he immediately disclosed, "According to what was gathered from the Two Hills area, your original form often screamed about wanting to find Shi Chun, to have Shi Chun's child… Also, information brought from the Divine Fire Domain suggests your original form often hugged and kissed Shi Chun intimately."

After speaking, he went silent, having said all he intended.

Zhener also fell silent, not too surprised by the affair between her original form and a man upon leaving the Divine Fire Domain, as it was a part of her escape plan.

What truly surprised her was that it wasn't some major faction that brought this original form out of the Divine Fire Domain, but rather a little person of nomadic status.

In the short term, she hadn't gained much specific information, remaining unsure about Shi Chun's specific details, or how that so-called Land of Exile came to be; everything needed time to slowly understand and digest.

However, the matter of the original form constantly screaming about having Shi Chun's child caught her off guard. Truly meeting Shi Chun made it hard for her to stomach the idea of hugging, kissing, or even procreating with such a trivial person.

She suddenly felt a bit reluctant to meet this Shi Chun, even though she was a bit curious about him.

The carriage stopped outside the central hub of the Xun Gate, and the two got off and appeared, only to be stopped by guards while heading to the Xun Gate entrance to Yan State.

Upon learning they were the disciples abducted during the upheaval at the Refining Heaven Sect, someone immediately went to Yan State to report the news and verify their identities.

Soon after, a group from the Refining Heaven Sect appeared through the Xun Gate, and seeing it was indeed them, naturally took them aside to inquire about the situation.

What was the situation? Kidnapped inexplicably, then released just as strangely, clueless about who the kidnappers were.

As for Ju Shihong, naturally due to the kidnapper's threats on Zhener's life, he had no choice but to surrender. This point had Zhener as a witness...

In the courtyard behind Chao Yue Hall, there was a slightly festive atmosphere with lanterns; the hall master, Dong Wendshu, was someone who cared about etiquette and firmly believed some protocols could be simplified but not abolished.

Among the attendees were several unexpected guests: the City Lord of Dazhi City, Li Xianghong, Wei Mo, and Young Master Nan.

The latter two did not use their original identities, but preparations were made in advance. Following a previous order, once they arrived here they became neighbors with the library.

The process was simple, as buildings destroyed during the Sword Saint and Mo Shiliu's fight were already ordered by Wei Mo to be purchased and rebuilt.

As long as the price wasn't an issue, the original owners would surely sell.

This gesture was neither too large nor too small, but to achieve the intentions of the East Victory Queen, it was naturally nothing significant.

Thus, upon arrival, the two became the new neighbors visiting, only to stumble upon a celebration, and naturally had a drink to celebrate.

As for the City Lord Li Xianghong, she came for a purpose, ordered to find Situ Gu, but unexpectedly came upon Situ Gu taking in a disciple here. What on earth? Taken aback, Situ Gu had taken Dong Wenshu's eldest daughter as his disciple? Why?

Wei Mo and Young Master Nan were equally bewildered.

What baffled them more was that just as the apprenticeship ceremony concluded, Sword Saint Fu Que emerged in the Book Collection Pavilion, asking Dong Wenshu's youngest son, Dong Liangze, if he wanted to become his apprentice, and was actively asking.

Dong Liangze was naturally overjoyed and agreed immediately.

Then Sword Saint Fu Que said, "Why wait for another day when today is as good as any? Since everything is set up for the celebration anyway."

Li Xianghong was so shocked that her jaw nearly dropped, never dreaming that such a bewildering event would occur during her hard-earned visit. She even questioned if she was dreaming.

Even more mysteriously, Dong Wenshu's youngest daughter, Dongliang Ying, when pouring wine for a guest, respectfully called him "Master."

Young Master Nan recognized who this so-called "Master" was, as he had witnessed the Divine Fire Covenant competition.

Li Xianghong, however, was unaware, and since she hadn't dared to monitor the Book Collection Pavilion further, she was confused. She asked and found out it was Li Hongjiu, a leading figure among the new generation in the Cultivation World!

Dong Wenshu's youngest daughter had already apprenticed as a closed-door disciple under the Yanbao Sect Master Li Hongjiu, meaning the Yanbao Sect Master became Dongliang Ying's grandmaster?

What happened to this family all of a sudden?

Yet, facts are facts; once Li Xianghong managed to accept them, she knew this family was not to be easily provoked in the Cultivation World. At least from now on, her City Lord Mansion must maintain respect.

Li Hongjiu had also seen Young Master Nan on Li Huo Island, and knew he was close to Shi Chun. Therefore, he occasionally toasted him, acknowledging not to reveal his true identity.

The backyard was lively, while Shi Chun silently watched from the window of the Book Collection Pavilion, smiling coldly and occasionally rubbing his chin as he observed Young Master Nan and Wei Mo at the wedding feast.

He could recognize them despite their minimal disguise, never expecting a Domain Lord Level presence to come personally.

Second Miss Dong Liangyu in the crowd seemed aware and occasionally glanced back towards the window of the Book Collection Pavilion...

Once the various ceremonies concluded and the celebratory drink was consumed, Li Xianghong pulled Situ Gu aside for a conversation.

Seeing the other party disliked small talk, she went straight to the point, saying, "Elder Situ, the Phoenix Clan Leader has asked me to convey a message to you, that your esteemed disciple has safely returned to the Refining Heaven Sect."

Situ Gu was somewhat surprised, and slightly nodded, "Alright, noted."

At present, the Sect may not be aware of him being here; he will confirm this upon returning.

Li Xianghong continued, "Since Elder Situ's beloved disciple has returned safely, the Phoenix Clan Leader requests that you hand over Jiang You'er to us for disposal."

This was not empty talk; the Phoenix Clan also wanted to extract information from Jiang You'er.

Situ Gu calmly replied, "Can't do, she has already committed suicide."

This was Shi Chun's version, simple and direct, and Situ Gu found it apt, not bothering to explain, just saying it like that.

"Dead?" Li Xianghong was taken aback, then quickly changed tone, "If Elder Situ feels I am unqualified to ask, I can inform the clan leader to come over and speak with you personally."

Situ Gu: "Even Feng Xi coming wouldn't make a difference. Truly dead."

"Then..." Li Xianghong tentatively asked, "Where is the body?"

Situ Gu: "Forgot, a snake demon's corpse, takes up space, tossed aside, somewhere along the way, can't recall the exact location, if you want it, search yourself."

With that, unwilling to waste more words, he directly turned and left.

Li Xianghong watched speechlessly, also inevitably (complained internally), finding this person too arrogant; capturing someone from the Phoenix Clan and claiming they died with just 'suicide' as explanation? Who knows if it's true suicide.

But she was indeed helpless, unable and unwilling to do anything to him, so she could only turn to report to the Divine Mountain.

As Situ Gu turned away, he went to the upper floor of the Book Collection Pavilion, directly finding Shi Chun and informing him of Li Xianghong's announcement, saying he needed to rush back to verify if Zhener had returned safely and check on her condition if so.

His intention was to take Shi Chun with him, regarding the newly accepted disciple, it was merely ceremonial, not something to truly invest in.

Unexpectedly, Shi Chun hesitated and said, "Senior, I won't return with you for now, you verify first if Zhener returned safely; the news will soon spread, and I'll surely hear from here."

Just as Situ Gu was about to turn and leave, he turned back with a frown, "You promised to take her away and settle her, or are you going to break your promise?"

Shi Chun waved his hand, "Senior overthinks, dare not break promises to you. The key is I find it inconvenient to leave currently, the Juku State outlets still have nets waiting for me. I can't openly appear at Refining Heaven Sect for now. In short, I'm constrained, and it's not feasible to publicly reveal myself. Senior, please return first, calmly wait a few days, once I handle my matters, I'll go to Refining Heaven Sect to find you."

Situ Gu focused on his eyes for a moment without further words, turned directly to leave.

As even if Shi Chun broke his promise and was unwilling to take Zhener away, he couldn't use Zhener to force him. If not, he'd have to continue dealing with it himself, now the priority was to return to the Sect to confirm the situation immediately.

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