The following days were tense for Lin Yuan. He continued cultivating in his quiet chamber, the Thunderfire Dragon Scripture enhancing his thunder and fire affinities. With each cycle of his cultivation, his spiritual power grew denser, the refined essence of thunder and fire merging into his qi, empowering his body and senses.
But while his strength grew, his mind remained sharp, constantly aware of the looming threat of Elder Mu's treachery. He had to be cautious. One wrong move could expose him and Xia Zhi to deadly danger.
Xia Zhi, as promised, began observing the sect discreetly. Her natural talent, combined with her early golden core cultivation, made her an ideal spy. She was neither too eye-catching nor too insignificant—just enough to blend into the sect's bustling life.
One evening, as Lin Yuan was meditating, a gentle knock echoed on his door.
"Lin Yuan, it's me," Xia Zhi's voice called out softly.
He stood, letting her in. Her expression was serious.
"I've been watching Elder Mu. He's become more cautious lately, rarely leaving his quarters. But I did see something suspicious," Xia Zhi whispered, leaning closer.
"What did you see?" Lin Yuan asked, his gaze sharp.
"Two outer disciples—ones I don't recognize—entered his courtyard late at night. They didn't wear any identifying robes, but I caught a glimpse of their faces. They aren't part of the sect, I'm certain," Xia Zhi said.
Lin Yuan's mind raced. "So he's bringing in outsiders directly. This is more serious than I thought."
Xia Zhi nodded. "But without proof, we can't accuse him."
"Leave that to me. I'll handle the investigation from here. You've done enough, Xia Zhi. Be careful not to draw attention to yourself," Lin Yuan advised.
"What will you do?" she asked, worry in her voice.
"I need to confirm his activities directly. There's a place I suspect he might be using—a hidden cave outside the sect. I will investigate it tonight."
"Alone?" Xia Zhi's voice carried a hint of concern.
Lin Yuan smiled calmly. "Don't worry. I have ways to protect myself."
As night fell, Lin Yuan wrapped himself in a dark cloak, his figure blending with the shadows. His steps were silent as he left the sect's grounds, his senses sharp and alert. The moon hung low in the sky, a silver crescent casting a pale glow over the mountain paths.
Following the winding trails, Lin Yuan made his way to the concealed cave he had discovered days earlier—a place he suspected was connected to Elder Mu's schemes. As he approached, his sharp senses picked up faint traces of demonic qi lingering in the air.
"So, this is the place…" he whispered to himself, his expression darkening.
Carefully, he activated the Thunderfire Dragon Scripture within him, his body subtly shrouded in a faint glow of thunder and fire. With each step, he ensured his presence was masked, his aura restrained to avoid detection.
The cave's entrance was narrow, hidden behind a dense thicket. But as Lin Yuan pressed forward, he noticed faint traces of a formation—a barrier meant to conceal the cave from ordinary eyes.
"Such a crude formation… Whoever set this was in a hurry," Lin Yuan muttered, his fingers tracing the faint glowing runes. With a subtle manipulation of his own qi, he found a weak point and slipped through.
Inside, the cave was dark and damp, the air heavy with the stench of decaying vegetation and something else—something foul. Lin Yuan's eyes adjusted quickly, and his senses detected movement deeper within.
Following the faint echoes, he found a small chamber, where two figures in dark robes knelt before a glowing altar. Dark, ominous energy pulsed from the altar's core, and Lin Yuan recognized it immediately—demonic energy.
"Continue the offering. Elder Mu has promised to bring more disciples soon," one of the robed figures whispered, his voice twisted with malice.
Lin Yuan's eyes narrowed. So it was true. Elder Mu was not just working with outsiders—he was directly involved with demonic cultivators.
He gripped his palm, feeling the surge of thunder and fire within him. He could storm in now, but it would be reckless. He needed to know more.
Carefully, he stepped back, making his way out of the cave.
Lin Yuan's heart raced as he returned to the sect. The darkness of the night seemed to cling to him, but his resolve was firm. He had confirmed his worst fears—Elder Mu was a traitor, collaborating with demonic cultivators to harm the Broken Sky Sect. But now came the real challenge—exposing this truth without placing himself or Xia Zhi in danger.
For the next few days, Lin Yuan observed carefully. He maintained his low profile, his presence as a mere outer disciple ensuring that no one paid him much attention. But beneath that facade, his mind was a storm of calculations. He knew he couldn't confront Elder Mu directly—an elder of the sect was far beyond his current strength. However, he had a plan.
Xia Zhi had continued her quiet observations. Though she had reached the early Golden Core stage, she maintained the appearance of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, her aura perfectly concealed. She met Lin Yuan in secret, her expression serious.
"Lin Yuan, have you found a way?" she asked, her silver hair shimmering faintly under the moonlight.
Lin Yuan nodded. "Yes. We need to capture those demonic cultivators I saw in the cave. With them as evidence, we can prove Elder Mu's treachery without direct confrontation."
Xia Zhi's eyes widened. "That's dangerous. How will you do it?"
"I've already set a trap," Lin Yuan whispered. "Tonight, I'll lure them out. I need you to watch from a distance. If anything goes wrong, you must leave immediately."
"I won't leave you behind," Xia Zhi insisted, her tone fierce.
Lin Yuan smiled, a gentle warmth in his gaze. "I won't let anything happen to me. Trust me."
As night fell, Lin Yuan made his way to the outskirts of the sect. He had chosen a secluded forest clearing, a place far enough from the sect to avoid detection, but close enough that the demonic cultivators could be lured in. His Thunderfire Dragon Scripture pulsed within him, his body shrouded in faint flickers of thunder and fire.
With a deliberate cut on his palm, Lin Yuan let his blood drip onto the ground. His blood, infused with the unique thunderfire essence, radiated a faint but enticing aura—one that would draw in anyone sensitive to demonic qi.
It didn't take long. A chilling wind swept through the trees, and two figures cloaked in dark robes appeared, their auras twisted with dark energy.
"Such potent qi… a rare find," one of them whispered, their voice cold.
Lin Yuan's eyes narrowed. "Looking for me?" he called out, his voice calm but laced with a subtle challenge.
The two demonic cultivators laughed. "A mere Foundation Establishment cultivator dares lure us out? Foolish."
But before they could attack, Lin Yuan's figure vanished in a blur. In an instant, he appeared behind them, his palm crackling with thunderfire.
Boom!
The first demonic cultivator was engulfed in searing lightning flames, his scream cut short as his body crumbled to ash. The second roared, his dark qi surging, but Lin Yuan's speed was overwhelming. A second blast of thunderfire struck the demonic cultivator's leg, crippling him instantly.
"I won't kill you," Lin Yuan whispered, his voice like a blade. "Not yet."
Lin Yuan bound the survivor with a special sealing talisman and dragged him out of the cave. But he didn't head directly to the sect leader. That would be foolish. Instead, he used his orb's absorbing power to strip away the demonic cultivator's spiritual energy, leaving him weak and unable to fight back.
Then, under the cover of night, he left the unconscious demonic cultivator near the sect's main hall, along with a sealed letter detailing his crimes and a warning about Elder Mu. Disguising his handwriting, he kept his identity hidden.
The next morning, the sect was in chaos. The captured demonic cultivator was brought before Sect Leader Chen Lan and the Nascent Soul Elders. Elder Mu stood among them, his expression neutral, but Lin Yuan, hidden in the distance, saw the faint twitch in his eyes.
Sect Leader Chen Lan's voice was calm but carried a thunderous pressure. "Demonic cultivators within our Broken Sky Sect? Unforgivable."
The bound demonic cultivator, under a soul-searching technique, cried out, "Elder Mu! He brought us in! He promised us protection in exchange for resources!"
The hall fell into a tense silence. Elder Mu's face darkened. "Nonsense! Lies! This is a plot against me!"
"Elder Mu, do you deny your connection with these demonic cultivators?" Chen Lan's voice was steady, but the aura of his Nascent Soul realm pressed down.
"I have served this sect for decades! This is slander!" Elder Mu's voice was loud, but there was a hint of desperation in his tone.
But then a glowing talisman attached to the demonic cultivator flared, projecting a memory—a hidden meeting between Elder Mu and the demonic cultivators. His face was unmistakable.
Shock spread across the hall. Elder Wu, one of the elders, frowned. "Elder Mu, how do you explain this?"
Elder Mu's face twisted in rage. "You forced me!" With a mad roar, dark energy erupted from his body, his face twisting into a demonic visage. "If I fall, I will take you all with me!"
But Chen Lan's figure blurred. A vast golden palm descended from above, shattering the dark energy. Elder Mu screamed, trying to resist, but Chen Lan's Nascent Soul power was overwhelming.
A blinding light filled the hall, and when it cleared, Elder Mu's twisted body lay lifeless, his soul shattered.
The elders murmured among themselves, a mix of shock and anger. Chen Lan's expression was grim. "Elder Wu, ensure all traces of demonic influence are purged from the sect."
Xia Zhi, who had been quietly watching the commotion, stepped back into the shadows. Her silver hair shimmered under the morning light. A faint smile crossed her lips. "He really did it."
In his quiet courtyard, Lin Yuan sat in meditation, absorbing the spiritual energy he had refined from the demonic cultivator. His expression was calm, but his mind was focused.