Han Li turned his head and greeted the handsome young man with the same courtesy:
"Sixth Senior Brother, you came as well! I'm sorry to trouble you over my affairs."
Wu Xuan gave a faint "Mm" and said nothing.
Han Li smiled without showing any unusual expression, but he knew full well that ever since the Dong Xuan'er incident, this sixth senior brother hadn't been too fond of him.
Still, Han Li didn't care much about the man. A straightforward villain was far easier to deal with than a hypocrite.
But he still caught a flash of shock in the other's eyes!
After all, the last time Han Li had met him, he had still been at the early stage of Foundation Establishment. Now, after such a brief period of separation, Han Li had already advanced to the middle stage. How could Wu Xuan, who was still lingering at the early stage, not feel both surprise and envy?
"Please, senior brothers, come in. I'll go brew a pot of fine tea!" Han Li ushered the four of them into the room with a smile, then turned to leave.
"What's the rush with tea? Why don't you tell us what kind of experts the Black Fiend Religion actually has? I've been itching to have a real fight with some Foundation Establishment cultivators for ages. It's a pity that when I stayed by Master's side, he would never let me freely slay demonic cultivators like he did with Eighth Junior Brother. Otherwise, maybe I could have advanced my realm through combat just like Brother Han!" Song Meng couldn't hold back his curiosity after sitting down with the others, blurting out impatiently.
This fourth senior brother was normally extremely cold toward people, but the moment anything involving fighting and killing came up, he was like a changed person—excited and full of vigor.
"Nonsense! Have you ever heard of anyone advancing their realm just by fighting people? The most important thing is one's own cultivation. Junior Brother Han's rapid progress was because he had thoroughly cultivated through bitter training day after day, and advancement came naturally as a result." Third Senior Brother Liu Jing's face tightened upon hearing Song Meng's words, and he spoke in a slightly reproachful tone.
Hearing this, Han Li was quite surprised.
He hadn't expected Third Senior Brother to be so blunt. He had thought that with Song Meng's temperament, he would immediately jump up to argue back.
But what left Han Li dumbfounded was that Song Meng simply gave a sheepish laugh and fell silent.
Just as Han Li was marveling inwardly, Third Senior Brother suddenly turned to him and said amiably:
"We've learned some things from Master, but after all this time, the information has surely changed! I hope Junior Brother Han can fill us in on the details."
"Yes, I'm curious too! Who exactly are these heretics? They dare to kidnap so many cultivators—their nerve is absolutely outrageous!"
Seventh Senior Sister Zhong Weiniang didn't look much older than Han Li. She had a fair, round face, and when she smiled, two shallow dimples appeared, making her quite endearing.
But Han Li knew in his heart that this Senior Sister Zhong was a genuine cultivation genius. He had heard she had successfully established her Foundation at only sixteen, and now she was just a single step away from the middle stage. She was deeply favored by Li Huayuan and his wife.
Han Li sighed as he thought about this, then spoke slowly:
"Senior Sister Zhong may not know this, but the Black Fiend Religion kidnapped so many people. The majority are actually used for blood sacrifice to refine their cultivation, while a minority are coerced into becoming accomplices. They are a group of heretical cultivators who operate in the shadows, so naturally their nerve is extraordinary. Moreover, after so many years of development, they now have quite a few Foundation Establishment experts in their ranks. They're extremely dangerous."
"Blood sacrifice! You mean that evil technique where they drain other cultivators' blood essence and cultivation to boost their own?" Wu Xuan's stern expression cracked upon hearing this, and he spoke with visible emotion.
Song Meng and the others similarly showed looks of shock.
"Eighth Junior Brother, please tell me you're mistaken! Is it really that kind of bloody technique?" Liu Jing's refined face was suddenly covered with a layer of killing intent, a faint and terrifying green glow emanating from beneath.
Han Li felt a chill upon seeing this.
He had long heard that although Third Senior Brother's cultivation wasn't the highest among Li Huayuan's disciples, he was born with an innate hatred of evil. He was a notorious Blood-Handed Star among the younger generation of the Seven Sects, and the number of corrupt cultivators who had perished at his hands was beyond counting. This was probably why even a martial fanatic like Song Meng showed him great deference.
"That's right. It's exactly that kind of technique that has been passed down for many years." Han Li naturally had no reason to conceal anything on behalf of the Black Fiend Religion, and he nodded with certainty.
"Junior Brother Han, tell us everything from the beginning." Third Senior Brother Liu Jing spoke to Han Li solemnly.
"It all started when the head of the Qin family and I attended a banquet at Prince Xin's Manor..."
Han Li recounted the events that had unfolded that day at Prince Xin's Manor, naturally glossing over anything that touched upon his own secrets.
But what Han Li hadn't expected was that this Third Senior Brother was not easy to deceive. He interrupted Han Li's account several times, pressing for details on unclear points, nearly catching Han Li off guard more than once and leaving him drenched in cold sweat.
For the first time, Han Li felt that spinning lies was truly no easy task.
By the time Liu Jing had finished questioning everything, the other three listening nearby had grown pale.
A mere Black Fiend Religion actually had four so-called Foundation Establishment Blood Guards, not to mention several Hall Masters of comparable cultivation and a Sect Leader of unfathomable power. The few of them alone would never be able to handle the enemy!
What made matters worse was that the enemy's lair was actually inside the imperial palace of the Yue Capital—a forbidden zone for disciples of the Seven Sects!
"Third Senior Brother, shouldn't we report to Master first and then call for some people from the sect? I'm afraid the few of us alone won't be enough to capture the Black Fiend Religion's Sect Leader." Wu Xuan hesitated before speaking.
Clearly, he didn't want to violate the Seven Sects' prohibition, nor did he have confidence in their side's strength.
"What's this? Is Sixth Junior Brother feeling a bit cowardly?" Liu Jing's two sword-like brows shot upward upon hearing Wu Xuan's words, and he spoke with displeasure.
"Of course not! I just think this approach might be more prudent. According to Junior Brother Han, these people won't be fleeing anytime soon, so it would be more appropriate to ask for Master's opinion." Wu Xuan naturally wasn't about to admit this in front of everyone and hurried to defend himself.
"Oh! Good then—this was just me overthinking it! But don't worry about the higher-ups, Junior Brother Wu. When I was coming here, Master privately instructed me that near the Yue Capital, in Nanwu City, several of Senior Uncle Huiming's disciples are handling some sect matters. If we run into trouble, we can seek their help. Given Master and Senior Uncle Huiming's friendship, they will certainly lend a hand."
"As for whether breaking into the imperial palace would violate the Seven Sects' prohibition—now that we know the palace has become a nest of filth and corruption, how could Liu Jing simply stand by and do nothing? Everyone, just follow my lead. If the higher-ups take issue with it, I, Liu Jing, will bear the full responsibility!" Liu Jing spoke with a frost-covered expression.
Everyone present exchanged stunned looks, and Seventh Senior Sister Zhong Weiniang's eyes shimmered with adoration—it was clear she had long been smitten with this Third Senior Brother!
"Good! Since Third Senior Brother has put it that way, I certainly won't miss this show. I'll fight alongside you, Senior Brother!" Song Meng seemed to have been stung by Liu Jing's words, and spoke with heroic fervor.
"I won't leave your side either, Senior Brother! I'll storm the imperial palace with you!" Zhong Weiniang came to her senses and echoed rapidly.
Liu Jing smiled warmly at these two's words, thanked them, then turned to Han Li and Wu Xuan:
"I wonder what the two of you plan to do. If you feel this plan isn't appropriate and don't wish to join this battle, Senior Brother certainly won't force you!"
As soon as these words left his mouth, Han Li was still weighing the pros and cons when Wu Xuan's face flickered between red and white for a moment before he gritted his teeth and said:
"Unless Master personally gives his permission, I will knowingly violate the prohibition. If Senior Brother truly intends to break into the imperial palace on his own, I will not participate. We must report to Master first!"
The reasoning he put forward was indeed quite compelling!
"What are you—" Hearing this, Zhong Weiniang stood up in fury, about to say something, but Liu Jing pulled her back.
"Sixth Junior Brother has a point. Charging into the imperial palace alongside me is indeed a thankless task. His withdrawal is something we shouldn't blame him for!" The Third Senior Brother spoke with remarkable calm.
"What about you, Junior Brother Han? Don't tell me you're going to follow this coward's example? You're a middle-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator—you can't be that timid, can you?" Zhong Weiniang, desperate to recruit Han Li as a powerful ally for her beloved, resorted to such a crude goading tactic that Han Li nearly rolled his eyes upon hearing it.
Han Li didn't respond immediately. He lowered his head in thought.
Third Senior Brother Liu Jing was remarkably considerate and didn't press Han Li with a single word, simply sitting quietly and waiting for his decision.
"Fine, I'll go. This whole affair was started by me in the first place—it wouldn't be right for me not to go. Besides, I'm quite eager to see this mysterious leader of the Black Fiend Religion for myself!" After a long moment, Han Li raised his head, broke into a smile, and spoke softly.