Chapter 457: The First Mole Has Already Exposed Themselves

Chapter 457: The First Traitor Has Already Revealed Himself

Zi Yuan Da Xue held a gift box in her hands, her expression brimming with eager anticipation.

“Which Celestial Venerable shall we visit first?”

In the Black Demon Abyss, dozens of Yang God Celestial Venerables had also come to the Demon Pass to take command.

Finding the traitor was no simple task.

“Black Sword,” Qi Yuan decided after some deliberation. “Among the Yang God Celestial Venerables in the Demon Pass, he holds the highest status. If he received us so warmly, would the other Venerables dare refuse to see us?”

“Makes sense. We’re carrying such precious eggs in our hands—those Yang God Celestial Venerables won’t turn us away,” Zi Yuan Da Xue added.

Of course, given their status, especially that of the Blood Robe, these Yang God Celestial Venerables would not refuse an audience unless there were special circumstances.

“Let’s go see Black Sword!” Zi Yuan Da Xue said boisterously.

Zi Yuan Xiao Lu, like a little follower, walked silently behind the two without a word.

In truth, she was curious: what special method did Senior Brother Blood Robe have to find the traitor?

The traitor was hidden deep, so deep that even the old ancestor couldn’t uncover them. How would Blood Robe find them?

She was puzzled, unable to fathom it.

About a hundred breaths later.

In the great hall, Black Sword, clad in a white robe, held the ice egg in his hand, a strange look in his eyes.

“This egg… I accept it. Your visit to me… surely it’s not just to offer the egg?” Black Sword sat upright on his throne, his voice drawn out.

Since comprehending the Supreme Principle, he seemed shrouded in a layer of mist, impossible to see through.

Looking at him, one felt the vastness of the stars.

Zi Yuan Xiao Lu lowered her head, not daring to speak.

Even Zi Yuan Da Xue had shed her carefree demeanor, appearing very subdued.

Only Qi Yuan remained unchanged from before.

“It’s like this: last time we were ambushed, I want to meet all the Yang Gods and see who the traitor is,” Qi Yuan said earnestly.

Black Sword’s gaze did not waver: “This matter runs deep. Wait in peace; I will see justice done for you.”

Now, Black Sword, having comprehended the Supreme Principle, was a different man.

In the past, when he suppressed his aura, the younger prodigies of his generation only felt his strength.

Now, even with suppression, that vast aura made it impossible to look directly at him, as if facing a god enthroned in a divine kingdom.

Black Sword’s meaning was clear: he would investigate this matter.

But just then, Qi Yuan’s voice suddenly rang out.

“Black Sword… are you the traitor?”

Qi Yuan looked at Black Sword and asked seriously.

Zi Yuan Xiao Lu was stunned.

Even Zi Yuan Da Xue blinked, staring at Qi Yuan.

They hadn’t expected Qi Yuan to ask such a question.

Clearly, the question also surprised Black Sword slightly.

Still, he answered calmly: “No.”

Hearing this, Qi Yuan continued: “Were you involved in my last ambush?”

“No.”

“If I go out now, will you leak my whereabouts?”

“No.”

“Do you wish to harm me?”

“No.”

One dared to ask, the other dared to answer.

Qi Yuan looked at Black Sword and said slowly: “Thank you for telling me.”

Black Sword gazed at Qi Yuan, his eyes deep: “The Black Demon Abyss is one entity. Senior Zi Yuan Zu and the Abyss Lord have a misunderstanding. I wish to resolve it. Please convey these words to Zi Yuan Zu.”

Even though Black Sword suppressed his might, his every word made Zi Yuan Xiao Lu and Zi Yuan Da Xue feel fear.

Such was the terror of a strong one.

Even if kind, even if he restrained his presence.

Standing there, he still exuded an endless pressure.

“Alright.” Qi Yuan led Zi Yuan Da Xue and Xiao Lu away.

As soon as they left, Zi Yuan Da Xue breathed a sigh of relief: “Comprehending the Supreme Principle is something else. Before, when I saw Senior Brother Black Sword, I never felt this heart-pounding dread. Now, seeing him… I can’t help but be afraid.”

Zi Yuan Xiao Lu agreed: “That palpitation feels like when I first stepped into cultivation and saw the stars.”

“Is it that scary? I didn’t feel it,” Qi Yuan said, not sharing the sentiment. “It seems you don’t truly believe in equality from the bottom of your hearts.”

Soon, Qi Yuan understood the core of the matter.

“It’s because you’re too heaven-defying!” Zi Yuan Da Xue recalled Qi Yuan’s earlier move and couldn’t help saying.

Who looks for a traitor by asking him directly to his face?

And what did asking Black Sword mean?

Everyone knew Black Sword was the future leader of the Black Demon Abyss.

Why would the emperor rebel?

“Cultivation is inherently defying heaven; a few heaven-defying ones are normal,” Qi Yuan replied seriously.

“You’re heaven-defying, but without comprehending the Supreme Principle, you’re indeed inferior to Black Sword,” Zi Yuan Da Xue said.

Hearing this, Qi Yuan looked dejected: “Black Sword averages one Supreme Principle; I average… well, roughly zero. I really am inferior to Black Sword!”

He had over four thousand Divine Infants within him.

He had only comprehended two principles in total—the average was truly moving.

And that was including the Wushi Shengmu who had gone to another universe.

Otherwise, the data would be even more moving.

“Recognizing the gap between you and Black Sword—there’s still hope for you!” Zi Yuan Da Xue, growing hungry as she spoke, ate the mushroom in her mouth raw, chatting as she chewed.

“Actually, if I comprehend 4,751 more Supreme Principles, my average would exceed one, and I’d surpass Black Sword,” Qi Yuan mused seriously. “But without the Wall of Principles, comprehending 4,751 Supreme Principles is too hard.”

Zi Yuan Xiao Lu stood silently aside, not daring to speak.

Zi Yuan Da Xue chuckled: “So many Supreme Principles—won’t you give me one?”

Qi Yuan fell into deep thought.

To be honest, the well at home has returned.

The walls at home, however, remain vanished.

But he had no grudge with the Zhili Lun Dao Society; if he were to... seize it by force, that would be improper.

Moreover, he had no formidable grandfather who could simply demand it.

So, he had to rely on wisdom.

"Tell me, since both I and the Zhili Lun Dao Society reside in the Sixth Heaven, does that count as cohabitation?"

"Huh?"

"Now that my relationship with the Zhili Lun Dao Society has broken down and we live apart, can half of the Wall of Zhili be given to me?"

"You think too much!"

...

Within the Demon Pass.

Fengshuai Tianzun narrowed his eyes, a hint of curiosity stirring within him.

"What exactly does Blood Robe intend by this move?"

Just moments ago, he had received word that Blood Robe, carrying the egg laid by Ice Sword, was visiting every Yang God Celestial Venerable, inquiring about the matter of the spy.

Originally, Fengshuai Tianzun had thought it better to avoid trouble and not meet him.

But Black Sword had already received him, and the other Yang Gods had all answered Blood Robe's questions.

If he refused to meet, would that not make him seem guilty?

"Could this be a case of beating the grass to startle the snake?" Fengshuai Tianzun pondered.

He naturally did not believe that a few questions from Blood Robe could expose his own problems.

There might be some scheme from Ziyuan Ancestor behind this; he had to be cautious.

"I pay my respects to Fengshuai Tianzun!"

Outside the great hall, Qi Yuan's clear voice rang out.

Fengshuai Tianzun sat on the main seat, his expression amiable: "The three of you have arrived; please, take your seats."

"This is the egg of Ice Sword, a gift for Fengshuai Tianzun."

Qi Yuan directly handed the gift box to Fengshuai Tianzun.

Fengshuai Tianzun was about to exchange pleasantries when he heard Qi Yuan speak.

"No more idle talk; let us get straight to the point!" "Have you ever thought of harming me?" Qi Yuan asked directly.

Fengshuai Tianzun's expression was kind: "In the Black Demon Abyss, one of the elders I most admire is Ancestor Ziyuan.

You are his most cherished bloodline; how could I ever think of harming you?"

Qi Yuan blinked.

His nose had grown a little longer.

This meant that the other party was... a spy?

He suddenly became interested.

Having questioned over a dozen Yang God Celestial Venerables, he had finally found the spy.

Indeed, this task required too much skill.

Even with Qi Yuan's clever mind, it took this long to uncover the spy.

"Fengshuai Tianzun, stop hiding. You lied to me; you clearly want to harm me!" Qi Yuan said earnestly.

The spy had already revealed himself; one of them was Fengshuai Tianzun.

Fengshuai Tianzun's expression did not change.

But Ziyuan Daxue and Ziyuan Xiaolu were startled.

"Blood Robe, you jest. How could I harm you?" Fengshuai Tianzun said cheerfully, though a flicker of doubt arose in his heart.

"Last time I was in danger, did you have any part in it?" Qi Yuan asked again.

"No." Fengshuai Tianzun continued to deny.

His nose was still growing longer.

"Does your ancestor want to be a spy?" Qi Yuan asked once more.

Fengshuai Tianzun hailed from Yinhun Heaven, whose strength ranked among the top three in the Black Demon Abyss.

"No. How can such matters be spoken of lightly?" Fengshuai Tianzun flicked his sleeve, seeming somewhat displeased.

Beside him, Ziyuan Xiaolu blinked.

It was already absurd that Blood Robe directly asked other Yang God Celestial Venerables if they were spies.

Here, when Fengshuai Tianzun answered no, he directly insisted that the other was one.

"Alas, your acting is too good," Qi Yuan remarked.

Fengshuai Tianzun wore a smile on his face but not in his heart; he even wanted to crush Qi Yuan to death.

"By the way, I plan to ambush... Huizeng Tianzun. I have told only you about this. You won't leak it, will you?" Qi Yuan stared at Fengshuai Tianzun.

Fengshuai Tianzun's expression shifted repeatedly: "Blood Robe, I have tolerated you repeatedly out of respect for your youth. What do you mean by these words?"

"Don't change the subject. In one month, I will go to assassinate Huizeng of Ghost Imperial Heaven. You won't leak this news, will you?" Qi Yuan looked at Fengshuai Tianzun.

"No." Fengshuai Tianzun's face turned grim. "Show the guests out."

Clearly, he did not wish to speak further with Qi Yuan.

"I know you are anxious, but don't be." Qi Yuan chuckled. "In one month, if anything goes wrong with my ambush on Huizeng Tianzun, I will hold you responsible."

After saying this, Qi Yuan left with Ziyuan Xiaolu and Ziyuan Daxue.

In the empty great hall, only Fengshuai Tianzun remained.

"How did he discover me?"

"Was he bluffing, or something else?"

"In one month, he will assassinate Huizeng... I..."

"Now... could Ziyuan Ancestor be watching me?"

Fengshuai Tianzun's thoughts ran wild; he dared not make any move.

He was somewhat bewildered, feeling that today's events were particularly unreasonable.

If Ziyuan Ancestor had discovered he was a spy, why would he send Blood Robe to tell him?

Shouldn't he have pretended not to know and then devised a scheme?

If Blood Robe was bluffing, why didn't he bluff others?

No matter how he thought about it, this matter seemed unreasonable.

He didn't even dare to take out the communication jade slip to contact those above.

He felt that things were too strange, too illogical.

Who would act like this?

He sat atop the clouds, not daring to make any rash move.

On the other side, Qi Yuan and the other two left, and Ziyuan Xiaolu asked anxiously.

"Is this Wind-Decay Heavenly Venerable a problem? Blood-Robe Senior Brother, how did you know?"

Ziyuan Daxue also looked at Qi Yuan, her face full of curiosity and oddness.

"My smart organ told me," Qi Yuan said seriously.

"He's not really a problem, is he?" Ziyuan Xiaolu hesitated. "Blood-Robe Senior Brother, since you found he's a problem, why did you tell him?"

"I told him because I wanted to," Qi Yuan said indifferently.

His supreme principle was Absolute Adaptation, and also Do as One Pleases.

To make these two supreme principles more stable and to engrave them deeper, Qi Yuan's actions needed to align with the true essence of the supreme principles.

This way, he could master them faster.

So, he told him because he wanted to.

"This..." Ziyuan Xiaolu was somewhat worried.

If he hadn't told, he could observe in secret and lay plans.

If he told, the situation would have many uncertainties.

Qi Yuan touched Ziyuan Xiaolu's tender pink horns and smiled: "We're already cultivating immortality, yet you're still scheming and plotting—it's exhausting.

In this world, the only thing that matters is strength.

Only with great strength can you earn the right to survive.

Scheming and plotting are nothing but fleeting clouds."

Qi Yuan cared the least about schemes and plots.

The greatest scheme or plot was nothing more than... Ghost Imperial Heaven and Black Demon Abyss joining forces, with the Great Principles secretly hunting Qi Yuan.

But since Qi Yuan dared to come to Black Demon Abyss and dared to enter the game, he had already made the worst-case scenario in his heart.

He had long been prepared to be an enemy of all Great Principles.

So, he didn't care about any schemes or plots at all.

Cultivating immortality is hard, but actually very simple.

Seeing through the surface to the essence, it's just three steps: first, kill the enemy; second, plunder resources; third, feast.

"In a month, Blood-Robe Senior Brother, are you going to hunt Huizeng Heavenly Venerable?" Ziyuan Xiaolu asked again.

"I don't know," Qi Yuan shook his head, his expression turning serious.

"The most remarkable thing about a truly great plan is that even the planner doesn't know what will happen next. Hunting a Yang God... it depends on fate."

"..." Ziyuan Xiaolu was speechless.

This great plan was too great.

It might as well not be made!

After all, no one knows what to do next.

"Come on, let's go see if there are any other traitors among the Yang Gods," Qi Yuan said seriously, holding the Ice Egg in his hand.

Ziyuan Xiaolu looked at Qi Yuan and said weakly: "Blood-Robe Senior Brother, when dealing with Yang Gods, don't act rashly... you need to find some Heavenly Venerables to help."

For some reason, she felt that Blood-Robe Senior Brother really dared to hunt a Yang God.

"Don't worry, I'm confident in my heart."

"Senior Brother... don't put too much pressure on yourself. Cultivation... also needs a balance of tension and relaxation." Ziyuan Xiaolu looked at Qi Yuan with concern.

She felt that Blood-Robe Senior Brother might have seen the Black Sword comprehend the supreme principle and become anxious, under too much pressure.

This also caused him to do things that seemed baffling.

"Hmm..." Qi Yuan paused slightly. "What you said makes some sense. I've been too busy lately. Ah... I think I need to play a game to relax."

Qi Yuan muttered to himself.

Ever since he stepped into the world of immortality, he had always been busy.

All kinds of crises and threats hung over his head.

Black Mountain Sect, Bright Palace, Great Calamity, Taihuang Palace...

Only in games could he find a moment of leisure.

Especially on Arch Star, spending a honeymoon with Goldfinch, Ning Tao, and Xiao Jia—that was one of the rare times Qi Yuan gave himself a break.

The rest of the time, his heartstrings were always taut, never able to stop.

"Why don't you join me for a delicious mushroom hotpot, and we'll invite Ice Sword too.

We've given away so many of his eggs to others, we should thank him properly," Ziyuan Daxue said from the side.

Qi Yuan nodded: "Makes sense."

(The chapter ends)