Could it be that I am the cruel villain?

"Being able to control that kid is probably a big issue."

"In another seven or eight years, Gu Miyun might be nearing Divinity Transformation, and soul possession requires being at least two Great Realms ahead to be relatively easy. Once time drags on, the elders of the sect are not idle eaters."

"Even at Gu Miyun's current realm, Xuan Xiaozi couldn't control her easily. Nascent Soul and Core Formation sound like just one realm apart, but in terms of divine soul and physical strength, they are worlds apart."

"So him possessing you is... an unavoidable choice?"

He tilted his head.

Although Senior Sister's personality has changed quite a bit now, every time she bluntly speaks words capable of infuriating others, her expression remains very calm.

Which makes it even more aggravating.

The more he listened, the more depressed he became. He truly was out of pure bad luck, inexplicably took a blow for a stranger, and nearly got himself killed in the process.

But!

All of this was worth it in his eyes.

He clearly felt his meridians and limbs swell when waking up, almost as if they were filled to the brim like when refining the Scarlet Pill.

It turns out this is the true overflowing wealth!

"Xiao Xuan's physical body is actually decent, his talent acceptable, and he possesses a rare metal attribute, yet was never previously discovered."

"But this child started cultivating too late, his cultivation technique and resources in hand are in complete disarray. Before the battle you probably felt Xiao Xuan's unstable realm, his body hollowness."

"This was because he bore the remnants of Xuan Xiaozi's blood and divine soul, but Xiao Xuan's physique compared to yours lacks far too much, nearly collapsed, only for Xuan Xiaozi to force him back with experience."

"Yet this achievement is a lifelong stop, with little future in cultivation from here, thus he must make a move in this Nine Peaks tournament."

Sudden realization.

No wonder upon first meeting Xiao Xuan, he felt the other's realm seemed off, like forcibly elevated, and his body frivolous. Himself—more capable—endured.

The seed was planted at the first encounter.

"Constantly collecting broken flesh and divine souls, to Xiao Xuan, this naturally feels like the elders favoring him, providing heaven-defying fortune, heaven-defying creations. In the end, body collapse is merely due to insufficient talent."

"Picking up fortune, reversing fate to alter destiny, only for the close-at-hand fortune to shatter, does not require Xuan Xiaozi's divine soul to merge and control the mind. Such a plummet from hard-won ascent is enough to drive a normal person mad without strong will."

"Understand that these past ten years, he clawed from a common outer sect servant, first becoming a registered disciple, then entered the outer sect, finally the inner sect, and now assists elders to manage the Spiritual Spring."

"His status soared, crossing so many classes in just ten years. Honestly, if his physique were better to withstand Xuan Xiaozi's divine soul and flesh, he might no longer be a mere Inner Sect Disciple."

"Becoming a Direct Disciple wouldn't be impossible."

"If things really turn out this way..."

The youth decisively took over the topic.

"It'd become another snitch tragedy from hundreds of years ago, with the plot identical, precisely time-lined with the Phoenix Heavenly Cave's opening. According to your words, he'd give us another big one."

The woman sighed.

Indeed, as Jiang Feng said, this was a layout long planned, envisioned far ahead, laid decades or even decades in advance.

If Xiao Xuan qualified and bore this incredible fortune, he'd successfully condense a Nascent Soul, giving Purple Cloud Palace a massive surprise within two years in the Phoenix Heavenly Cave.

If unqualified, acting according to original plans, unleashing something big on Gu Miyun, similarly two years later giving Purple Cloud Palace and Master Gu a huge fright in the grotto.

At the worst, sever Swordmaster Peak's legacy, and within two years, cause sect disciples a small scare.

But because someone annoyingly insisted on wandering in Jiang Feng's Dantian, all possible plans and outcomes were utterly ruined.

Curiosity kills the cat.

Now Jiang Feng has earned the undisputed troublemaker title.

"Three years ago you burst onto the scene, then gained fame after the battle in Country Liang. Though somewhat narcissistic, so long as I'm here, with my precedent, you won't be given any growth chance."

"Xuanyin Sect's message quickly arrived, Xuan Yinzi, regardless, is Xuan Mingzi's beloved grandson, not to mention losing two elders, this situation will naturally provoke immediate retaliation."

"Deacon Ma should be Xuan Mingzi's faction's spy."

"Both parties should mutually know each other's identities, allowing him to pass messages to Xuan Xiaozi, holding a magic treasure, the two plotted this turmoil together."

"Afterward, Deacon Ma burnt his divine soul on the spot, and no useful information was found from his broken flesh. No abnormal findings at his residence either."

"Seems he knew taking action would spell soul and body extinction, so left no opportunity for us. Still, the number of spies Xuanyin Sect left through this method remains unknown."

"Two years hence in the Phoenix Heavenly Cave, full of lurking dangers..."

Thinking of this, Liu Tangxi felt an inevitable headache.

No matter how uninvolved she might be, she's the Swordmaster Peak Master, ranked only below one in Purple Cloud Palace's status, with only seniority suppressing her—her speech and actions are without parallel.

Even if now she suddenly roared outside, asking, "Are kings and dukes born?", or claiming "Old Gu oppresses sect disciples, suppresses Swordmaster Peak", "Disciples follow me in overthrowing Old Gu's tyranny" or such.

The Mountain Gate's nearly ten thousand disciples might see thousands following her to revolt.

Though it's mere metaphor, her social standing truly is fearsome, besides!

If she roared like this, nothing might even happen.

Gu Yuanshan might just blink, perhaps even conveniently resign, granting Sect Master position to the niece, claiming he's unworthy due to age, urging young leadership in advancing the sect.

Then off he goes.

The truth is, people at their realm no longer care for mundane fame or wealth, and being late in life holds little terror. Gu Yuanshan has seen through these already.

Nowadays, Liu Tangxi is also a mentor—her mindset has greatly changed, from carefree once to considering junior brothers' and sisters' futures, contemplating disciples' comprehensive development.

Ultimately, she merely seems cold.

Not truly cold.

"Maybe I shouldn't go after all."

After much deliberating, Mr. Jiang managed to blurt this.

"What is this about, are we cultivating or undercover? Espionage? Air of conspiracy? Or a romantic decline history?"

"I feel no peace anywhere now. What are all these demons and monsters? In two years will I meet another big one? Backstab again?"

Grumbling incessantly.

As for Junior Brother's desire to shirk and give up, Liu Tangxi rarely showed slight helplessness, mimicking the hand spread posture.

"It's up to you, Junior Brother. If unwilling, I won't force."

Massaging his aching brow.

He genuinely found himself in a bind, joking aside—it was inevitable, the grotto visit.

Seemingly understanding Junior Brother's mood, Liu Tangxi didn't linger on the topic but spoke up, "Nine Peaks tournament will pause for a few days; if my guess is correct, it should resume tomorrow."

"After the next match tournament your win is considered, given your injuries, you'll skip, continuing after roughly three days."

Seeing her junior brother still showing little interest, Liu Tangxi had no choice but to drop the big news.

"The Sect Master allows you to choose a magic treasure from the Treasure Pavilion as compensation, also as his apology..."

"I'm going now!"