Xie An glanced at him from the corner of his eye.

The woman chuckled, one hand propping up her forehead, sighed, and said, “I’m so sad, I can’t even compare to a man.”

Xie Shuci consoled, “Miss, you don’t need to compare yourself to him. I can assure you, besides him, there’s definitely no one in the cultivation world who looks better than you.”

The woman gracefully walked up to Xie Shuci, her fair index finger pointing at his chin. She gently lifted it, her breath smelling like orchids, “Young Daoist, I feel an instant connection with you. Why not cultivate with me? I will definitely take good care of you.”

After speaking, she blew a breath filled with a floral scent towards Xie Shuci.

Xie Shuci’s cheeks turned hot and the base of his neck reddened instantly. This was an elder from the Hehuan Sect! They all cultivate through the use of furnaces…

Xie An frowned, looking displeased. He grabbed Xie Shuci’s wrist and pulled him closer.

“Elder Ye, this is the Helian Clan, not your Hehuan Sect. Please restrain yourself!”

Helian Zhu probably was used to being arrogant, as he openly ridiculed the elder of the Hehuan Sect in front of everyone.

As expected, as soon as these words were spoken, the faces of the other elders from the Hehuan Sect turned grim, and their gazes toward Helian Zhu became increasingly unfriendly.

“Zhu’er, don’t go too far,” Patriarch Helian lightly reproached.

Helian Zhu was probably a spoiled child, gifted and arrogant. He coldly snorted in response to the reprimand, holding his sword, and stood back behind Patriarch Helian.

Elder Ye didn’t pay much attention to it. Qiu Tong smiled at Helian Zhu and said, “Young Daoist, don’t be angry. It’s all my fault.”

Helian Zhu was momentarily stunned by her gaze, then quickly turned his head to the side, his ears quietly turning red.

“Pretending to be serious,” Xie Shuci murmured.

Upon hearing this, Chu Wenfeng sneered, “Your drool is almost dripping out, yet you have the nerve to accuse others of pretending?”

Xie An’s expression turned cold, and he released Xie Shuci’s hand.

Xie Shuxi glared at Chu Wenfeng, “Nonsense. When someone sees a beautiful flower, don’t they take a longer look?”

Elder Ye returned to her original spot, and someone else asked.

“Changxuan, how is it?”

Ye Changxuan smiled and said, “Fellow Daoist Fengming probably misunderstood. That young man’s golden core is completely destroyed and his spiritual veins are also completely shattered. He couldn’t have killed our sect disciple with a single strike.”

Deng Fengming was taken aback, looking unbelievably at Xie An. “How is that possible?”

Ye Changxuan’s lips slightly curved, her smile somewhat cold, “Daoist Fengming, are you doubting me?”

Deng Fengming’s face turned serious, “I wouldn’t dare.”

Xie Shuci, however, was somewhat puzzled, “How does she know?”

Chu Guiyi explained, “Some cultivators have deep spiritual insights, and their spiritual energy has become a part of their bodies. Maybe she used her spiritual energy to investigate Young Master Xie An just now.”

Deng Fengming clenched his teeth. If circumstances allowed, he would have revealed Xiao Xun’s identity to everyone. However, Xiao Xun knew the secrets of the Xiaoyao Sect. No one could know he was still alive.

After thinking for a moment, he stood up and bowed to Patriarch Helian, “Master Helian, I wonder if I can borrow the Subduing Dragon Formation from your mansion?”

The Subduing Dragon Formation was a type of magic weapon formation that harnessed the power of yin and yang to manipulate space. Among the 3,800 formations, it was one of the few auspicious ones.

Patriarch Helian furrowed his brows lightly, “Why?”

Deng Fengming said, “Elder, I cannot disclose the reason, but please trust the Xiaoyao Sect and trust me. I will definitely find the murderer and provide an explanation to the Hehuan Sect.”

He had brought up the name of the Xiaoyao Sect, making it impossible for Patriarch Helian to refuse.

Several years ago, Xiaoyao Sect had relocated its main branch to the Floating Tower Realm and could even rival the Four Great Immortal Sects. While the Helian Clan had a chance to enter the top ten in the next Sect Selection, they didn’t want to make enemies in advance within the Floating Tower Realm. Hence, Patriarch Helian reluctantly agreed to Deng Fengming’s request.

Patriarch Helian led the group to an open space surrounded by scattered stones. It seemed to be an irregular formation.

“Please wait a moment,” Deng Fengming said with a cupped fist.

He then, along with several disciples from the Xiaoyao Sect, rearranged the formation made of the scattered stones on the ground.

Others looked on in confusion, deeply frowning, curious about Deng Fengming’s intentions. “What is he doing?” Xie Shuci asked curiously.

Chu Guiyi solemnly said, “He probably wants to alter the Subduing Dragon formation.”

“Change the formation?”

Deng Fengming and his fellow disciples busied themselves for a while before he returned to Patriarch Helian, “Patriarch, please activate the Subduing Dragon Formation.”

Patriarch Helian hesitated and nodded. Stepping forward, he formed hand seals and a strand of white spiritual power connected to the center of the formation. Suddenly, a tremor was felt under everyone’s feet, as if something was about to emerge from the ground.

Everyone held their breath, and the surroundings fell silent.

With the surge of spiritual power and the strong winds blowing, a magical artifact radiating golden light slowly rose from the ground.

Patriarch Helian’s expression turned solemn. With a flick of two fingers, the artifact moved downwards, and a golden light connected the ground’s stone formation. One stone connected to another, emitting a dazzling white light.

“What is this?”

“What kind of formation is this?”

Deng Fengming had altered the stone formation. The moment the formation was connected, what appeared was not the legendary auspicious Subduing Dragon formation.

“What is this formation? Has the Subduing Dragon formation been completely reversed?”

“The auspicious formation has been reversed…”

Xie Shuci vaguely sensed a chilling aura from the formation, and he was astonished to discover that the once-white light on the ground had turned into a pitch-black mist. Within the mist, there seemed to be constantly surging strands resembling threads of blood.

Xie Shuci involuntarily grabbed onto Xie An’s clothes. He felt an ominous presence from the formation as if it was shrouded in death, sending shivers down his spine.

The faces of the other cultivators changed drastically, and they looked at Deng Fengming with accusatory eyes, questioning, “What have you done?”

Deng Fengming remained calm and composed, addressing the group, “Please remain calm and patient for a moment.”

As he looked up toward Xie An, he found Xie An’s lips curling into a sinister smile amid the backdrop of the black mist.

“What is this… it’s so terrifying.”

Xie Shuci had never felt the presence of death so deeply. His face turned pale, and he clung tightly to Xie An, seeking comfort from his warmth.

The wind around them grew stronger, almost forcing Xie Shuci to squint. He struggled to look at Xie An, but his vision was obstructed by the black mist, making it difficult to see clearly.

Xie An’s pupils resembled bottomless black holes, deep and mysterious, filled with various dangerous and horrifying elements.

At that moment, Xie Shuci felt as though his heart had been grasped tightly. The distance between him and Xie An seemed to grow instantly as if he had never truly been close to this person.

In that instant, Xie Shuci felt fear, a pure fear directed at Xie An.

He pushed against Xie An’s shoulders, wanting to distance himself from him. His internal fear made him instinctively want to get away from Xie An.

However, at that very moment, Xie An lowered his gaze, with one hand he gripped Xie Shuci’s waist firmly, and forcefully pulled him into his embrace.

He knew Xie Shuci was scared, for reasons unknown to him, yet he held onto Xie Shuci.

The bells hanging from both their waists entwined together and jingled crisply as they moved with the gusty wind.

Xie An gently caressed Xie Shuci’s back and rested his chin on top of his head. His expression was inexplicably calm, and within that calmness, there was a hint of contemplation.

“Little Blind?” Xie Shuci whispered against his shoulder.

It seemed that only through this way could he find some solace.

Xie An’s hand rested on the back of his neck, and he tapped twice, as if in response.

Xie Shuci immediately let out a sigh of relief. Little Blind was still Little Blind.

“What’s going on?” Xie Shuci turned to Chu Wenfeng and Chu Guiyi, asking.

Chu Guiyi had also been affected by the malevolent energy, his brows furrowing tightly. Shaking his head in response, he indicated that he didn’t know either.

Xie An took one of Shuci’s hands and wrote on his palm, “Subduing Demon Formation.”

“Subduing Demon Formation?” Xie Shuci whispered.

His voice reached Chu Guiyi’s ears, and his expression turned somber. He looked incredulous as he explained, “The Subduing Demon Formation and the Subduing Dragon Formation are two extremes. The former represents evil, while the latter represents auspiciousness. The former gathers the evil energy of heaven and earth, while the latter gathers the auspicious energy. If this is indeed the Subduing Demon Formation, is Deng Fengming trying to force the culprit to reveal themselves?”

Several elders of the Hehuan Sect recognized the Subduing Demon Formation, and their expressions turned extremely serious. The Subduing Demon Formation could absorb the evil energy from cultivators, and since the culprit had killed twelve disciples of the Hehuan Sect, their evil energy would still be lingering on their bodies. It was likely they would be exposed under this formation.

Deng Fengming fixed his gaze on Xie An, waiting for any evil energy to emerge. Once it did, he and the others could work together to kill him, leaving him no chance to resist.

At that moment, Xie An stood quietly beside Xie Shuci. Perhaps he sensed Deng Fengming’s gaze. He raised his head slightly and smiled at Deng Fengming.

Deng Fengming’s heart trembled, feeling a sense of panic. He worried that he might have miscalculated something.

As the Subduing Demon Formation took shape, Deng Fengming looked back at Xie An. However, Xie An’s expression remained unchanged, showing no signs of being affected.

As everyone’s attention was focused on the Subduing Demon Formation, Patriarch Helian’s expression suddenly changed. He turned around and struck Helian Zhu with a palm, almost sending him out of the formation.

Helian Zhu was caught off guard and crashed into something hard, landing on the ground with a loud thud.

Kneeling on the ground, he coughed up a mouthful of blood and looked at Patriarch Helian in confusion, “Patriarch, why…”

Others were taken aback by this sudden turn of events.

The Patriarch Helian’s face was exceedingly grim. Ignoring the bewildered gazes of the others, he pointed at Helian Zhu and ordered, “Go back!”

“What’s going on?”

“Why is the Patriarch Helian doing this?”

The Demon Subduing Formation on the ground continued to expand. Deng Fengming looked at Xie An, then at the unflinching expression on his face. He turned his gaze towards Patriarch Helian, whose face had turned even worse. Suddenly, a ludicrous thought emerged in his mind: Xiao Xun did this deliberately!

Deliberately luring him to Luofang City, deliberately revealing himself, deliberately coming to the Helian Clan, deliberately making him open the Subduing Demon Formation, which could only be activated by a Xiaoyao Sect disciple!

Could it be that all of this was intentional?

If that was the case, what was his purpose?

Could it be—?

Deng Fengming’s gaze shifted abruptly to Helian Zhu.

Helian Zhu was seriously affected by that palm. He wanted to leave as instructed by the Patriarch but he was unable to stand after trying several times. His limbs felt weak, his chest felt suffocated and the evil energy from the Subduing Demon Formation wrapped around him like maggots on bones, draining his strength. He struggled to stand by pushing off the ground with his legs, but all his attempts ended in failure.

As the Subduing Demon Formation spread beneath his feet, Patriarch Helian’s eyes were open wide. Gathering spiritual power in his palm, he leaped towards Helian Zhu.

Everyone present could see it; this strike from Patriarch Helian was meant to take his life!

Xie Shuci’s heart tightened, “Watch out, Helian Zhu!”

Completely unaware of what was happening, Helian Zhu stared blankly at the Patriarch, who had once been kind and considerate toward him, but now looked fierce and intent on taking his life.

What’s happening?

Patriarch… I… I’m Zhu’er…

“Watch out!”

Xie Shuci’s voice penetrated the silent space and reached Helian Zhu’s ears.

In a daze, he thought, isn’t this that annoying alchemy cultivator?

Helian Zhu’s mind was already becoming chaotic. The spiritual energy within him felt like flies buzzing around, unable to find an exit, colliding with his organs and bones, as if trying to crush him into a pulp.

“Patriarch…” he murmured lifelessly.

“Buzz!”

The sound of a spear piercing came from a distance. The Red Tassel Cloud Piercing Spear tore through the void, unstoppable like a thunderbolt. Just in the nick of time, it intercepted Patriarch Helian’s deadly strike.

Helian Zhu struggled to open his eyes and saw the Red Tassel Cloud Piercing Spear blocking the blow for him. He whispered in confusion, “Senior Brother…”

Meanwhile, the Subduing Demon Formation closed around Helian Zhu.

A few strands of black mist emanated from his forehead, gradually merging into the formation’s core.

Even though Xie Shuci didn’t understand what was happening, he couldn’t help but gasp when he saw this scene.