Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
[You can take it that way.] The system blinked then continued, [And I detected that it is only a supplementary system, its main program is not on this plane. The version of its main program should be newer than mine, so I did not succeed in invading it.]
“What?!” Lonemoon was shocked. “There’s still a main program behind that system?”
[Yes!] System replied with certainty.
Lonemoon felt that he was getting a lot of information at a go and took some time to straighten them out. “Which means… the primary soul that this 001 invaded to take away is actually meant for the main program behind it, whereas ‘Shu Yi’ was prepared for itself, when the soul that it is initially swallowing has become ineffective, it will eat her up too!”
In that case, this system was really wasting nothing. First sweet-talk the host to complete missions in every world to cheat others of their primary souls, then eat her up after it’s done making use of her.
No wonder Lonemoon always felt that something was off previously, Shen Ying was right, if the target of all these so-called systems were souls, why would they solely let their hosts off, they were souls too. Could it be that there were differences in tastes between the souls, and they minded that hosts were tasteless?
For such a simple logic, Shu Yi seemed to be completely unaware and even trusted the 001 system wholeheartedly, constantly working hard to help it complete the so-called missions and even thought she was being self-righteous. However, she did not know that she was merely a grain reserve.
For a while, he didn’t even know whether to pity Shu Yi or not.
“It was such a big stir earlier, could the opposite party have sensed the parenting system?” Lonemoon recalled and glanced at the blue little cube.
“No.” Shen Ying answered. “I’d already deleted all its traces earlier, it won’t be able to find anything.”
That’s great! However, it seems like the plan to kick the opposing system out in advance using the parenting system wouldn’t work now, they still had to wait till it leaves this plane to strike.
As of now Shu Yi has already stealthily sealed demonic Qi in Zuo Shuming’s body, it wouldn’t be long before she strikes, they just needed to wait.
——————
Lonemoon’s guess was right, it really did not take long, in just two days’ time, Shu Yi’s side started to take action. For the past two days, the sect was on lockdown, they searched everyone but still could not find who it was who killed Elder Yin and no one found any traces of a fiendish cultivator either. Everyone was beginning to suspect that the culprit might have left Gui Yi Sect long ago.
Early morning, Lonemoon and Zuo Shuming were separately summoned to the Great Hall, there were a dozen of Golden Core and Foundation Establishment disciples there, everyone looked rather familiar, Shu Yi was amongst them too. In the hall, only Sect Master Yu Luan and several Elders that ran affairs were present.
“Continue the sect competition?” Zuo Shuming glanced at the sect master with slight surprise. “Wasn’t it canceled already? Why is it suddenly being continued now?”
“It can be resumed even after being canceled!” Shu Yi who arrived slightly before them said out loud. “The sect competition is Gui Yi Sect’s grand event held once a decade. We still don’t have an outcome now, isn’t it very normal to continue the competition?”
Lonemoon’s eyes narrowed as he looked towards Yu Luan. “Sect Master, the culprit that murdered Elder Yin has yet to be found, if we continue the competition, I’m afraid we’d be giving culprit another opportunity to strike.”
Yu Luan frowned, it wasn’t like he didn’t understand that, but…
Zuo Shuming also nodded in agreement. “Brother Lonemoon is right, there is an order of priority for everything, I think it’d be better if we forget about this competition.”
“Disciple-Nephew Zuo makes it sound so easy.” Shu Yi sneered coldly and said, “You are part of nameless peak and have a Soul Formation Supremacy guiding you, of course you’re not anxious. But there are so many disciples in the sect who are just looking forward to make their mark, they worked hard on cultivating for ten years for this moment, it’s even harder especially for some outer sect disciples. If you just cancel the competition on a whim, wouldn’t everyone’s hard work go to waste, and the disciples will be bitterly disappointed in the sect.”
Once she finished, the other disciples all nodded in agreement.
“But…” Zuo Shuming still wanted to say something.
Yet Shu Yi cut him off directly, “As long as we do not open the sect gates, continuing the competition and tracing the culprit isn’t conflicting.” With that said, she even intentionally glanced at Zuo Shuming. “Besides, the competition has already progressed to the finals, it wouldn’t take much time at all. Or… Disciple-Nephew Zuo is afraid of losing, that’s why you don’t dare to continue with the competition?”
“Of course not!” Zuo Shuming subconsciously refuted.
“That’s great then!” Shu Yi showed a determined expression, as if she really purely wanted to check out her own abilities. “We are people who practicing cultivation, we shouldn’t fear any challenges in the first place. So what if there’s really a fiendish cultivator? If he dares to appear, we won’t be afraid of battling him too!”
“Well said!” Once his voice fell, a figure dressed in black suddenly appeared in the Great Hall, a trace of Soul Formation phase suppression surrounding him, his eyes fixed on Shu Yi and he nodded contentedly, “My disciple indeed, you ought to have such an understanding.”
“Master!” Shu Yi was delighted, this was the Tian Ji who hadn’t showed himself for a long time after being humiliated by Yi Qing. In a few years time, his cultivation seemed to have improved again.
“Greetings Uncle-Master Tian Ji!” Yu Luan’s face stiffened, looking like he had recalled something. A hint of resignation flashed across his face and he went forward with the other Elders behind him to bow, the other disciples also followed.
“Mm.” Tian Ji responded coldly, his gaze sweeping past Lonemoon and Zuo Shuming in the crowd and his expression froze for a moment, as if he was reminded of something, he shifted his eyes away immediately and looked towards Yu Luan. “Weren’t we continuing with the competition? Why hasn’t it started? For the past few days I was in seclusion and could not participate, now that I’m out this time, I’m going to watch and see who dares to bully my disciple!”
With that said, he even intentionally, or unintentionally released a hint of suppression towards Lonemoon and Zuo Shuming. Lonemoon was prepared long before, before his suppression swept over, it was dissipated, the two had no reaction at all. Tian Ji frowned but wasn’t bothered and thought that the two were carrying some artifact that could resist his suppression.
On the other hand, Yu Luan’s expression became slightly upset, Tian Ji’s words made it seemed like the competition wasn’t fair just because he wasn’t present the previous time.
Yet his position was more senior, he could only sigh and step forward. “Reporting to Uncle-Master, I was about to inform these disciples about this matter, a little more preparations need to be done, the official competition probably has to wait till tomorrow…”
“Why is there a need to wait till tomorrow.” Tian Ji cut him off. “It is just a competition, it’s still early in the day, we’ll just proceed with it in the afternoon.” With that said, he didn’t wait for a reply and pulled Shu Yi who stood at the side and said, “Little Yi follow Master back to the peak, I’m going to observe your cultivation situation for this period of time.”
“Yes, Master!”
Then, the two left.
“Uncle-Master….” Yu Luan gave chase like he wanted to say something, but in just two steps out, they’d already disappear, he could only give up with a sigh. Turning back, he glanced at the Elders who looked equally miserable and revealed a bitter smile.
He also disapproved of continuing the competition. Sure, the competition was an opportunity for the outer sect disciples to perform and it wasn’t that no dark horses have emerged. But previously, the competition was already at the finals, those left behind were the elite disciples of each peak. Those who were supposed to have performed had done so, even if there were any dark horses, everyone had seen them too, it actually didn’t really matter who the champion was.
That was why they did not think much of it when the competition was halted earlier, instead, looking into the matters of the fiendish cultivator was more important. Yet here came one who took it so seriously, Uncle-Master Tian Ji had just came out of seclusion, heard of this and insisted on continuing the competition to get a winner and they couldn’t do anything about it. Wasn’t this causing more trouble for them?
Yu Luan sighed and could only give the disciples some instructions and told everyone to go prepare for the continued competition in the afternoon.
Lonemoon glanced at Zuo Shuming who was completely unaware, his eyes narrowed, finally figured out Shu Yi’s plans.
Seems like she doesn’t only want to make Zuo Shuming a fiendish cultivator, she even wants him to ‘reveal his true colors’ with everyone watching. She’d calculated the time, to make Zuo Shuming’s demonic Qi erupt during the competition. This way, even if Yi Qing was a Soul Formation Supremacy, he wouldn’t be able to defend Zuo Shuming in public, otherwise, he would be siding with a fiendish cultivator. He had to admit that this was a ruthless move.
But this Tian Ji…
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