Chapter 53 His Intentions Are Unforgivable!

Chapter 53: His Intentions Are Despicable! Truly Despicable!...

On this day, dozens of sect and clan leaders gathered at Ethereal Peak. By now, quite some time had passed since Que Zizhen received the message.

Pei Tianhe could no longer find any excuse to delay and had promised Que Zizhen would definitely attend, leading to the current situation.

Que Zizhen arrived late.

It wasn’t that the Jade Mountain Immortal Lord was putting on airs; it was entirely because the Demon Lord was being particularly difficult, insisting on inspecting his sea of consciousness to see if the inner demon was there.

Que Zizhen lowered his gaze and asked with disappointment, "You want to see him?"

Yuan Qichen almost thought he had been controlled by the inner demon again.

Yuan Qichen entered alongside Que Zizhen.

Dozens of prominent figures from the three continents and four regions stood up—not to welcome them, but out of sheer shock.

Since when could the Demon Lord swagger about so openly in Tianshu Palace?

Yuan Qichen stepped forward first and took the seat prepared for Que Zizhen. He leaned back naturally, crossing his left leg over his right, and said with complete composure, "No need for such courtesy. Everyone, please sit."

Acting like a host, he left the others unsure whether to sit or remain standing.

The expressions on everyone’s faces were quite a spectacle, but Que Zizhen had already taken a seat next to Yuan Qichen.

Pei Tianhe stepped in to smooth things over: "Everyone, please remain calm. As mentioned before, the key figure who can resolve this issue is none other than Demon Lord Yuan Qichen."

"Preposterous!" Ji Jianping slammed the table and stood up.

Not only were they perplexed, but several elders participating in the discussion were also confused.

Sheng Yiming, who was also present today, gripped the arms of his wheelchair so tightly that his knuckles turned white. Struggling to maintain his composure, he said, "Elder Brother, why didn’t you give us any hint about this?"

Other sect leaders and clan heads began to voice their concerns.

"This matter originated with the demonic clan—how can we be sure it has nothing to do with him?"

"Even if it has nothing to do with him, which of us here doesn’t have some grievance with Yuan Qichen? Why would he be so kind as to help us?"

"That’s a valid point."

...

Yuan Qichen tapped the table with his knuckles.

"Do people from the Southern and Northern Regions always talk badly about people to their faces?"

He knew he should have told Xi Yue not to pick up such habits.

Those with thinner skins sat back down in shame, not daring to lift their heads.

Those with thicker skins wanted to retort but found themselves tongue-tied.

Pei Tianhe kept a slight smile: "It’s better to resolve grievances than to perpetuate them. Your reservations about cooperation stem from the old Tang family case, where the Demon Lord was deemed too bloodthirsty and contrary to heavenly principles. But what if there’s more to the story?"

Everyone exchanged uneasy glances.

But if the Tang family incident wasn’t actually Yuan Qichen’s doing...

"Hey, hey, hey, when did I ever agree to cooperate?" Yuan Qichen complained.

Well, he was still the same arrogant Yuan Qichen, after all!

Pei Tianhe had a different perspective: "Since our goals align, why not cooperate? Humans once viewed demonic beings as a scourge, but now we keep to our own territories, don’t we?"

"Goals align? You also want to kill Bian Xiu?"

Yuan Qichen glanced at Que Zizhen, who was sitting quietly like a mascot, showing no signs of having dropped two cultivation realms.

When did this guy coordinate things with Old Man Pei?

"Who is Bian Xiu?" a clan head below whispered.

Yuan Qichen laughed mockingly: "So you’ve been putting on this whole show without even knowing who’s been scheming against you?"

Ji Jianping, with his fiery temper, was the first to jump up again, his face alternating between red and white: "Yuan Qichen, don’t push your luck!"

At that moment, Que Zizhen, who had remained silent since entering, finally spoke: "Everyone gathered here at Tianshu Palace today must have already conducted thorough investigations within your own sects and clans. The Yu family incident is still fresh in our minds. To avoid a repeat of such tragedy, it would be best for everyone to calm down and speak rationally."

Yuan Qichen suddenly understood and gloated, "So even the renowned righteous sects have people so desperate for shortcuts they’d practice demonic arts."

No one responded.

Whether it was the internal investigations or the current discussions at Tianshu Palace, everything had been conducted under false pretenses, all to avoid tarnishing the reputation of the Various Immortal Sects.

And of all people, Yuan Qichen had to find out.

Now the embarrassment had spread all the way to the Nine Nether Realm.

Everyone looked away, wishing they could find a hole to crawl into.

Some wanted to assign blame, but since the one spreading the demonic arts was someone else, they feared provoking Yuan Qichen into overturning the table and ending the discussion altogether.

After a period of silence, one person finally set aside their pride and humbly asked, "Might I ask where these demonic arts actually originated?"

A good question, but Yuan Qichen wasn’t going to answer.

In the end, it was the usually reticent Que Zizhen who came to the rescue, said succinctly, "Bian Xiu."

That sect leader: "..."

If they knew who Bian Xiu was, would they have been mocked by Yuan Qichen?

So they were back to square one.

Everyone looked expectantly at Que Zizhen, who in turn looked pleadingly at Yuan Qichen.

Fine, fine.

Yuan Qichen relented.

"Alright, I’ll be merciful today and enlighten you, so you don’t try to pin this on me later."

"Does the Demon Lord mean to say the Tang family massacre wasn’t your doing?" Sheng Yiming suddenly interjected.

He clearly thought Yuan Qichen was just being slick with his words.

Yuan Qichen shot a cold look, his eyes suddenly turning icy. Though initially uninterested in clearing his name, he now felt an urge to unveil the truth.

And today’s timing couldn’t be more perfect.

Instead of rushing to defend himself, Yuan Qichen methodically laid out the origin of the secret art: "Power-boosting cultivation methods have existed since ancient times. Both the northern and southern realms have elixirs that allow temporary breakthroughs, though their effects are short-lived. The demonic arts are numerous, but they follow similar principles—borrowing power or burning through life force. Bian Xiu’s Heart Devouring Art was likely obtained from the karmic realm of an ancient demon. For a short time, it shows no signs, undetectable even to human cultivators."

This was precisely why the Various Immortal Sects had gathered at Tianshu Palace.

They couldn’t identify all those who had practiced the art.

If not eradicated completely, the Heart Devouring Art would eventually spread like a plague or become a tool for personal gain.

Otherwise, a great clan or sect could fall overnight.

The Yu family was the prime example.

Pei Tianhe jumped in, "Undetectable in the short term, but what about long-term effects?"

"Long-term..." Yuan Qichen smiled, though his eyes stayed cold, and he deliberately glanced at Sheng Yiming. "Those practitioners will eventually lose their sanity from hunger, devour anyone they see for nourishment until their *dantian* bursts."

*Boom!*

Yuan Qichen made an exploding gesture with his hands.

"Total hell, just like the Tang family back then."

Sheng Yiming sneered. If he weren't in a wheelchair, he might have stood up in fury. "Is the Demon Lord using this as an excuse to clear his name? No matter how you twist your words, multiple witnesses saw who pierced the Tang family patriarch’s chest—Que Zizhen was there too."

Mentioning Que Zizhen brought up old grudges in Yuan Qichen, letting a wisp of demonic energy slip out unintentionally. His old wounds had healed, but even this slight release gave many there flashbacks to the nightmare of hunting him.

The guy was impossible to kill.

And they had to guard against being killed by him in return.

Que Zizhen promptly put a hand on his arm, and Yuan Qichen reluctantly reined in the demonic energy.

To onlookers, it looked like Que Zizhen had suppressed the demonic aura.

"Back then, it wasn’t just me—many here witnessed it. Think back carefully: was the Tang patriarch not covered in demonic energy, showing signs of transforming into a demon?"

Que Zizhen had dreamed about that night a hundred times, every detail crystal clear, requiring no effort to recall. Yet he patiently gave them time to slowly remember and confirm his words.

"It's a lot like what happened to Yu Xinze."

"I recall the Tang patriarch’s right arm seemed demonically transformed, though at the time we thought it was... faked."

"In that case, the child was right behind him..."

Yuan Qichen had clearly been standing in front of the child back then—killing him would have been effortless. If he intended to wipe out the family, why spare a single child?

To wait for him to grow up and seek revenge?

One by one, doubts started popping up from their memories.

The evidence they had once firmly believed in was starting to fall apart.

Yuan Qichen, seemingly oblivious to their shifting expressions, said with a grin, "That’s the situation. Believe the truth or not, as you wish. But now that you know who’s behind it, don’t go easy on that Bian guy if you see him."

We'd been looking all over the demon realm with no luck—perhaps he’d fled here.

"If you kill him, more power to you. If you can’t, you can always come begging to me for help."

If they asked sincerely, he’d be more than happy to assist in killing Bian Xiu.

Sheng Yiming didn’t believe a word, his eyes narrowed dangerously, but Pei Tianhe rested a hand on his shoulder, stopping him.

"Now, every sect has uncovered some practitioners of the Heart Devouring Art. The Tang family’s annihilation was likely him testing the art’s effects on humans. His ambitions run deep."

Pei Tianhe’s words made everyone's blood run cold.

If Yu Xinze hadn’t been exposed, arousing Jade Mountain Immortal Lord’s suspicion, who secretly had Master Pei warn them to investigate, another Tang family tragedy would've been next.

"He's pure evil! Absolutely vicious!"

The crowd were all cursing him.

In comparison, even the arrogant Yuan Qichen was looking pretty good by comparison. At least there was still the Jade Mountain Immortal Lord keeping a leash on him...

Wait, what the hell was Yuan Qichen up to now?!

While they were vehemently denouncing Bian Xiu, Que Zizhen’s hand, which had been placed on Yuan Qichen’s wrist to soothe him, was now turned palm-up. Yuan Qichen was reading Que Zizhen’s palm like some street psychic.

"You have the lines of a long life, darling. It’s just a pity..."

"A pity what?" Que Zizhen played along straight-faced.

"A pity you’re destined to have no daughters, only one hell-raising son."

Que Zizhen chuckled. "You sure about that reading?"

"Dead on!"

Pei Tianhe had no words.

With the child already grown, how could it not be accurate?

Seeing the Various Immortal Sects’ expressions grow increasingly strange, Pei Tianhe quickly cleared his throat loudly. "Those who practice the Heart Devouring Art are tough to spot before reaching their limit. Does the Demon Lord have any effective methods?"

"Ask me?" Yuan Qichen drawled. "Simple—just hit 'em with some demonic energy."

As for where to find demonic energy, that was their problem.

After obtaining the answers they sought, the members of the Various Immortal Sects began to take their leave. Though the Lingdao Academy competition was still ongoing and they wouldn’t depart immediately since they were "invited," notifying their sects or families to conduct urgent investigations was imperative.

Yuan Qichen wanted to return to Qingjing Peak to check on Que Zizhen’s inner demon, but Que Zizhen said he had matters to discuss with his master and asked Yuan Qichen to go ahead first.

The Huangting Heart-Protecting Mirror.

He really intended to ask.

Yuan Qichen didn't dare hope, but a flicker of anticipation rose anyway.

What if?

Unless absolutely necessary, he didn’t want to resort to that final step.

He also happened to want to find this person.