The warm pavilion bathed in abundant sunlight.

Wu Wang sat by the bed, listening attentively to Ji Mo as he detailed the ambush from where he lay.

"...The situation was extremely chaotic. The assailants from the Ten Evils Hall overwhelmingly outnumbered us. My fellow Daoists risked burning their Primordial Spirits to temporarily hold off the enemy, while reinforcements were already rushing to our aid.

In a brief stalemate, several Heavenly Immortals from the opposing side joined forces to tear a breach in our defense Formation.

It was then that Yang Wudi stepped forward.

He erupted from within the crowd, surging ahead of the other fiends to penetrate the gap. He even flung off his head covering, and his slick, shiny head slammed ruthlessly into my chest.

The momentum he carried made me think for a moment that Wudi was about to kill me, and I was knocked unconscious by the blow.

After that, Wudi must have deliberately feigned an opening, allowing an expert by my side to send him flying, and the breach was closed..."

As Ji Mo narrated, Wu Wang stood up and paced back and forth by the bed.

He asked, "What is the true extent of your injuries?"

"They initially looked quite severe; I vomited a lot of blood. But it's all internal damage to the Dao body; the Nascent Soul wasn't heavily damaged."

Ji Mo said, "I was worried the Ten Evils Hall might have spies secretly watching. So, to protect Wudi and prevent his exposure, I continued to feign unconsciousness, pretending my Dao foundation was damaged and I had suffered grave injuries."

Wu Wang laughed, "You're quite convincing at feigning injuries."

Ji Mo's face was pale as he laughed ruefully. "When you're out here making your way and your cultivation isn't that high, you always need a skill or two to fall back on."

"Let me think about how to help Wudi cover this up, at the very least so he won't be suspected by the Ten Evils Hall..."

After pondering for a moment, Wu Wang had an idea. He discussed it briefly with Ji Mo, and then they finalized the plan.

Wu Wang took out a Jade Talisman for recording. After careful consideration, he inscribed a line of small characters:

[Young Master Ji Mo of the Ji Family was gravely injured in an ambush. His condition rapidly deteriorated. Fortunately, the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion provided the 'Resurrection Pill of the Ninth Turn,' personally refined by the Human Emperor, which saved his life. However, half of his Dao foundation is destroyed, limiting him to the True Immortal Realm at most.]

Wu Wang left for a while and personally handed this Jade Talisman to the Xiao Jian Daoist.

This Sword Immortal had been taking orders from Liu Baiyi in the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion for many years and knew exactly how to spread the news.

"Wuwang Palace Lord!"

Le Yao called out to Wu Wang, urgency evident in her eyes.

"How is he doing?"

"Sister-in-law, you need not worry," Wu Wang said earnestly. "I will do my utmost to ensure all of Young Master Ji's... *components* are functioning normally!"

Le Yao's eyes showed a hint of hesitation as she said, "It's not that I don't trust you, sir, but... a grandmaster from my sect who excels in the Dao of Elixirs has just arrived. May he take a look at my husband?"

"Give this to that senior."

Wu Wang took out a jar of Healing Pills refined by the revered Elder Shen Nong. "If he believes he has an elixir more potent than this, he may certainly come forward..."

As he spoke, Wu Wang gave it some thought. Now, Le Yao is the person closest to Brother Ji; I'm an outsider, after all. Letting Le Yao know that Brother Ji was feigning injury wouldn't jeopardize Yang Wudi's safety, and it would also save Le Yao from unnecessary worry.

Wu Wang said, "If Sister-in-law is still worried, you may join me in treating Brother Ji."

"Thank you, Wuwang Palace Lord!"

Le Yao handed the Healing Pills to a Heavenly Immortal Realm cultivator of the Demon Path behind her and hurried forward, lifting her skirt, joining Wu Wang as they entered the Barrier set up by the Grand Elder.

「After a moment.」

This demon fairy, who had grown even more radiant since her marriage, was utterly astounded to see Ji Mo sitting up straight on the bed, his previously pale complexion now flushed with health.

She quickly went over to steady Ji Mo, using her body as a backrest for her husband while exclaiming in admiration, "Is this elixir truly so miraculous? Thank you, Wuwang Palace Lord, for your life-saving help!"

Wu Wang smiled casually. "Brother Ji, didn't you say that Sister-in-law is decisive and quite wise, often capable of handling things on her own?"

Ji Mo took Le Yao's tender hand and gently caressed it, saying warmly, "Yao'er is merely flustered with worry. It's just like when you were unconscious, Brother Wuwang, Fairy Ling also lost her composure. I'm really okay, Yao'er. I had to pretend to be seriously injured before... Ah, wait, that's not right! Why 'Sister-in-law'? I'm quite a few years your senior, Brother Wuwang."

"Brother Ji, do we really need to evaluate our friendship by age?"

Wu Wang lifted the hem of his robe and sat down elegantly on a wooden chair in the room, smiling. "We're as close as siblings. Our affection is even more sincere than that between father and son."

"Get out!" Ji Mo laughed and scolded. "So, you learned how to take advantage of people during your long seclusion, Brother Wuwang?"

"I was just trying to save Le Yao from embarrassment and lighten the mood with a few jokes. Le Yao, there's no need for such formalities. Don't call me 'Palace Lord'; 'Brother' is fine."

Le Yao softly said, "Brother Wuwang."

"Well... alright then." Ji Mo's face was a picture of resignation.

Wu Wang said in all seriousness, "Let's talk business first. In your opinion, what exactly caused the dispute between the Sun Demolition Sect and the Heaven Fire Sect?"

Le Yao did not answer but gazed affectionately at Ji Mo.

Ji Mo sighed. "Years of accumulated resentment, I suppose. Every major sect has several adversaries, and the Sun Demolition Sect is no exception."

Wu Wang asked, "During this process, didn't you suspect that the Ten Evils Hall might have been fanning the flames?"

"More than suspected!" Ji Mo said. "I even arranged for a large number of experts to secretly tail and observe any suspicious individuals, but in the end, we couldn't find any trace or clue."

Le Yao nodded slightly from the side.

Wu Wang asked another question, "In recent years within the Sun Demolition Sect, has there been anyone with strange behavior? Or perhaps someone who was originally obscure but suddenly became very active?"

Ji Mo looked at Le Yao, who shook her head slightly.

Ji Mo said with a smile, "Yao'er, just speak up. Brother Wuwang is not an outsider; we don't have so many rules. Our family doesn't have such a rule forbidding you from speaking!"

"It's not really about any rules." Le Yao glanced at Wu Wang and then quickly looked away, murmuring, "For some reason, seeing this brother again today, I feel that this brother is somewhat... somewhat intimidating."

Intimidating?

Wu Wang took out a bronze mirror and carefully inspected himself a few times. He had a handsome, righteous-looking face with clear eyebrows and fine eyes. While he wouldn't dare say he possessed 'both talent and beauty,' he certainly belonged to the 'rely on his looks to get by' club.

How could I be intimidating!

Le Yao whispered, "Please don't take it to heart, Brother. I've been somewhat perceptive since I was young. It must be because Brother's hidden strength is too profound, making me feel rather apprehensive. Let's get back to the matters within the sect."

When she mentioned this topic, her gaze became sharp, and her aura much more imposing.

Le Yao continued, "We didn't just suspect that the Ten Evils Hall was taking covert action. Before this, the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion had issued a warning to all sects to be on guard against the Evil God Qiong Qi's malign activities. We, of course, didn't take it lightly. My father and I questioned each of the elders, sect members, and Disciples who initially clashed with those Immortal Sects. We even used the Sun Demon Heart-Purifying Method, but we found no flaws in their hearts. The sect is stable overall, and we've also investigated members who have become more active in recent years."

Wu Wang laughed. "Your sect operates with such prudence. That's somewhat at odds with the reputation I've heard."

Le Yao said, "My father used to say that the higher your position, the heavier your burdens, and the more cautiously you must tread, as if on thin ice."

She paused, glanced at Ji Mo, and said with a smile, "My husband often reminds us of this as well."

Ji Mo turned to meet her gaze, his eyes full of tenderness. They looked at each other, their eyes growing hazy as they felt an irresistible pull.

AHEM! COUGH, COUGH! Wu Wang almost coughed his throat out!

Ji Mo and Le Yao both blushed, averting their eyes, but she then held on to Ji Mo even more tightly.

Wu Wang, looking out the window at the moving figures, spoke softly, "Since Brother Ji has not brought up the matter of the Sun Demolition Sect to me, I won't interfere much, and I believe you can handle it yourselves. My visit this time is to deal with this Ten Evils Hall. This is not an enemy that any single sect can confront alone. Although they may not have many Transcendent Realm masters, they possess methods to summon incarnations of Evil Gods. Eradicating the Ten Evils Hall is currently the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion's top priority."

He paused and looked at Ji Mo with a smile. "If Brother Ji feels the problem is too thorny, just call out to me at any time; helping the Sun Demolition Sect this once can be my wedding gift to you both."

Ji Mo said, "Then I won't say 'thank you'."

"You two can continue being lovey-dovey." Wu Wang swept his robe's hem and stood up. "I'm going to go stir things up a bit."

Ji Mo immediately signaled Le Yao to move aside. He then lay flat on the bed, took a deep breath making his face turn deathly pale, his breathing becoming very faint.

Le Yao looked at him in surprise, unable to help but admire, "Husband, are you always this good at acting?"

This, this...

Instantly, cold sweat beaded on Ji Mo's forehead! If my wife asked where I learned such acting skills, I certainly couldn't say it was from years of putting on acts with the courtesans in the pleasure houses...

"Husband, you've truly been wronged," Le Yao said, her eyes full of compassion as she spoke softly. "You are typically so upright and unyielding. To think you'd have to humble yourself like this today, feigning illness to deceive a formidable enemy... Yao'er doesn't know what I can do to share your burden."

Ji Mo said gently, "For the stability of the Human Domain, these sacrifices of mine are insignificant."

BANG!

Wu Wang, about to exit, forgot to pull open the door and bumped his head against the doorframe.

"Nothing, nothing! Carry on! Uh... may you soon be blessed with a noble son! And have both sons and daughters!"

Wu Wang bolted out the door, fearing that if he stayed a few more breaths longer, he'd be unable to resist using the Yan Emperor's Command flame to put an end to their nauseating display!

Turning around, he put the wooden door back in place, stepped out of the Barrier laid down by the Grand Elder, and Wu Wang's expression instantly transformed.

His expression was as calm as still water, his eyes held a glint of severity, and his hands were clasped tightly behind his back.

Ahead, the Grand Elder and Xiao Jian Daoist stood to his left and right. The head of the local Benevolent Emperor Pavilion branch, several deacons, and a host of Benevolent Emperor Pavilion experts were lined up.

"The meeting shall commence in the front hall."

Aside from the three Transcendents, all the Immortals acknowledged the command in unison. The envoys from the Sun Demolition Sect who witnessed this were also secretly alarmed.

...

During the meeting, Wu Wang, as the acting Hall Master of the Punishment Hall, flew into a thunderous rage. He found some pretext to furiously berate the head of the local branch and the experts from the Sun Demolition Sect.

「Half a day later.」

Tens of thousands of Immortal Soldiers from near the Main Hall of the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion were mobilized and dispatched to the branch where Wu Wang was, awaiting his orders.

Benevolent Emperor Pavilion branches everywhere began strict patrols, and the notoriety of the Ten Evils Hall surged dramatically.

Various sects responded to the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion's call, searching for traces of Ten Evils Hall fiends within a radius of hundreds of miles around their own sect gates.

At this moment, Wu Wang faintly felt that he was sitting in the position of a chess player in a game. Although the chessboard's size was still unclear and the opponent was still shrouded in mist, both sides had already made their first move.

His opponent had launched a surprise attack, attempting to fish in troubled waters.

Wu Wang immediately retaliated in kind, deciding to rattle the mountain to scare the tiger.

He chose two of the Ten Evils Hall hideouts that Yang Wudi had previously found. He then directly mobilized a large number of Immortal Soldiers to encircle and suppress them completely in one night.

The veteran fiends of the Ten Evils Hall who were captured were beheaded and their heads displayed publicly. Those 'new' fiends, captured and transformed by the Ten Evils Hall's Blood Pool, were detained by the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion, which would seek ways to restore them.

Meanwhile, the news that Ji Mo suffered severe injuries that destroyed his Dao foundation—limiting him to only reaching the True Immortal Realm—also spread across the Human Domain.

The Ji Family's matriarch was furious. She went to the Main Hall of the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion to request permission to deploy the hundreds of thousands of Immortal Soldiers loyal to the Ji Family. Their mission would be to hunt down the Ten Evils Hall fiends across the Human Domain.

Pavilion Master Liu, who was in seclusion, personally intervened. After much earnest persuasion, he finally managed to placate the matriarch's fury.

[The Benevolent Emperor Pavilion promised the Ji Family an accounting within three years. They also vowed to eradicate, within ten years, the Ten Evils Hall forces that plotted against the Ji Family's young master.]

Ji Mo's true condition was, of course, known by the Ji Family's matriarch. This was merely a play orchestrated by Wu Wang.

This way, any significant actions the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion took next, and any number of Ten Evils Hall hideouts discovered, would all have a plausible explanation.

「Half a month later.」

In a grand hall of the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion branch, enveloped by Formations.

In front of Wu Wang were piles of Jade Talismans; these were records stored by the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion concerning disputes involving the Sun Demolition Sect over recent years. To make effective judgments, he needed sufficient information and evidence; pure speculation couldn't be relied upon.

Wu Wang had spent half a month reading records and quietly absorbing Divine Power.

Now, Wu Wang held a Jade Talisman, a small smile playing at the corner of his mouth.

Sitting to the side, Xiao Jian Daoist said in a gentle voice, "Have you found a way to track down the Ten Evils Hall's main hall?"

The Grand Elder's eyes were also full of concern.

"The main hall isn't easy to locate," said Wu Wang, "but I have roughly figured out who our opponent is this time."

"Who?"

"Qiong Qi." Wu Wang slowly uttered the name.

The Grand Elder frowned. "Has someone like Xue Kailong been controlled again?"

Wu Wang said, "That cannot be confirmed. Qiong Qi's methods aren't limited to invading others' Primordial Spirits. He only needs to insinuate and incite, and he won't leave any traces. However, the case files still reveal certain irregularities. Under what circumstances would the Heaven Fire Sect treat the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion's commands as worthless paper, with its members solely focused on seeking revenge against the Sun Demolition Sect? This itself is a flaw."

Xiao Jian immediately asked, "Do we need to summon the higher-ups of the Heaven Fire Sect now?"

"Doing so might alert the enemy," Wu Wang said. "Brother Xiao Jian, do you remember what Qiong Qi did last time he plagued the Human Domain?"

"It controlled cultivators' Spiritual Minds, transforming them into puppet Demon Soldiers." Xiao Jian sighed. "Back then, there was no Ten Evils Hall. With his Divine Skills, Qiong Qi caused chaos in a corner of the Human Domain. Thousands of Immortals perished or were injured, and over ten Transcendents were lost. It was for this reason that Qiong Qi was ranked chief among The Ten Great Evil Gods and was hunted by the Human Emperor on several occasions. Wu Wang, now that you mention it, the conflict between the Sun Demolition Sect and the Heaven Fire Sect does indeed bear a striking resemblance to the initial stages of Qiong Qi's previous rampages."

Wu Wang said, "That's why the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion must be firm when it's time to be firm."

The Grand Elder asked, "Sect Master, what should we do next?"

Wu Wang thought carefully for a moment and said slowly, "Next, we'll take three steps, all implemented simultaneously.

First, continue pressuring the Ten Evils Hall. The Benevolent Emperor Pavilion will spread news everywhere, focusing discussions on the Golden Qiong Qi Award. This Evil God, Qiong Qi, has a flaw: he is easily enraged. We'll press on his old wounds, apply a bit of force, and he's sure to retaliate even more fiercely. We aren't afraid of him making grand moves; we're only afraid he'll hide, exercise too much restraint, and then hit us with a sudden, devastating blow."

Xiao Jian slowly nodded, already starting to write a message on a Jade Talisman.

Wu Wang continued, "The second step depends on Yang Wudi. We need to connect with him and help him locate the exact position of the Fourth Hall. Qiong Qi only uses incarnations to wreak havoc. Capturing his incarnation will merely damage a strand of his Divine Soul. To truly achieve significant results, we must eradicate the main hall of the Ten Evils Hall. This lead concerning Yang Wudi is crucial."

The Grand Elder, looking thoughtful, immediately said, "Let me take charge of this matter. I will consider how to contact Wudi and determine his current location."

Xiao Jian asked, "What's the third step?"

"Luring the snake out of its hole." Wu Wang tapped his fingers on the table, a small habit he had developed in the Northern Wilderness, and said slowly, "Provided we can control the situation, we'll add some fuel to the conflict between the Sun Demolition Sect and the Heaven Fire Sect. This will show the Ten Evils Hall that if they can make these two sects fight, it could trigger a cascade of conflicts between the righteous and demonic paths."

The Grand Elder wondered, "Would the Ten Evils Hall fall for that?"

"Whether the Ten Evils Hall falls for it or not is irrelevant." Wu Wang smiled. "What's most important is whether Qiong Qi will take the bait, whether he'll see this as a good opportunity. This Evil God spent half a year purging spies from within the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion. This alone proves he cares little for human lives, his Divine Children, or the Ten Evils Hall itself. They're all just pawns! Even if it means sacrificing all the elites of the Ten Evils Hall, as long as he can sow chaos in the Human Domain and complete his mission to claim accolades from the Heaven Palace, that's all that matters to him. Qiong Qi couldn't care less about the survival of the Ten Evils Hall."

Xiao Jian and the Grand Elder exchanged a glance, each bowing to accept their orders before turning to summon people outside the hall to send the messages.

Wu Wang flexed his neck, continuing to examine the Jade Talismans, checking if he had overlooked any details.

Rattling the mountain to scare the tiger, goading the enemy, sowing discord, and luring the snake from its hole.

As more pieces appeared on the board, how would the shadowy figure on the other side respond?

What exploitable character flaws does an Evil God like Qiong Qi possess?

Wu Wang pondered these questions while reading through the case records. He glanced at the Crystal Ball hidden in his sleeve, covertly observing the Divine Souls of all the experts in this branch.

The Divine Souls showed no abnormalities; Brother Ji's Divine Soul still possessed that distinctive hue...

Evidently, after suffering such a major loss last time, Qiong Qi has become even more cautious.

「Three more days passed like this.」

Except for the Grand Elder being unable to contact Yang Wudi directly, the other plans Wu Wang had arranged were steadily implemented.

'Qiong Qi Fever' erupted again throughout the Human Domain, with cultivators discussing the many details of the 'Golden Qiong Qi Reward' event over tea or during breaks in their cultivation.

The life-and-death arena duels between the Sun Demolition Sect and the Immortal Sects continued. Both sides broadly distributed 'invitations,' calling upon experts from across the Human Domain to bear witness, rapidly building momentum.

Wu Wang naturally couldn't allow another conflict between Immortals and Demons to erupt. He subtly guided cultivators' discussions, framing the incident as a personal grudge.

But to Wu Wang's surprise, a minor accident caused a slight deviation in his plans.

"Report—"

An Immortal Soldier quickly crossed the grand hall, knelt on one knee, cupped his fists, and shouted, "Reporting to the Hall Master! We've just breached a Ten Evils Hall hideout and captured a group of their fiends! Among them is the bald man who severely injured Young Master Ji Mo!"

CRACK!

The Jade Talisman in Wu Wang's hand shattered instantly. He glared at the Immortal Soldier below.

Captured... Captured? Isn't he our mole? How did he get captured and brought back!

"Ver-... good! Do not kill him. Bring him to me for personal interrogation!"

"Yes!"

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