Chapter 145: The World Is Crawling with Demonic Cultivators!

Chen Huai’an noticed a new [Severe Fortune Loss] debuff on his status panel, but he had no time to care.

As the Heavenly Divination progress bar filled, more and more red dots began appearing on the map—so many that they became a dense, suffocating cluster.

These were the so-called nearly extinct demonic cultivators?

This wasn’t extinction.

This was practically open-world random mobs!

A quick glance revealed that aside from Holy Lands and the Void Abyss, nearly every righteous sect had demonic cultivators scattered across their territory.

And the worst part?

There was one red dot inside the Sword Pavilion.

As the progress bar continued, the number of red dots kept refreshing across the map.

Chen Huai’an’s expression darkened as he glanced at Su Qinian—who was staring up at the sky with a dumb smile, completely unaware of anything.

Goddammit.

He had actually thought the Sword Pavilion was pure and righteous, standing on unshakable moral ground.

But in reality?

The enemy was already inside their gates, and this clueless Pavilion Master didn’t even know it!

At last, Heavenly Divination completed.

Chen Huai’an stared at the massive swarm of red dots covering the map, sucking in a sharp breath.

Righteous sects forming an unbreakable alliance against demonic cultivators?

Yeah, right.

Cangyun Realm was basically a damn wasp nest!

How the hell were they supposed to slaughter that many demonic cultivators?

And once they struck one location, the others would immediately relocate.

There was no way he could afford to waste his daily Heavenly Divination just to track these guys.

The phenomenon atop Luoxia Peak faded.

After his initial shock, Su Qinian had already crafted a dramatic, eloquent speech in his mind.

Taking a deep breath, he cupped his fists toward the void above Li Qingran’s head and enthusiastically praised:

“Limitless Virtue! Patriarch, you are truly a SWORD MAN! Too SWORD!”

In the Sword Pavilion, praising a sword cultivator’s strength meant praising their sword.

For example:

“Wow! You truly are one with your sword!”

“Excellent! You have reached the pinnacle of the sword!”

“Your swordplay is beyond reach!”

“Alas! My sword is nothing compared to yours!”

But for someone of the Patriarch’s level, Su Qinian felt that no flowery language could do justice.

So he simply declared:

"Sword Man."

The highest, purest praise a sword cultivator could receive.

Chen Huai’an’s eyes narrowed.

[I used Heavenly Divination to help you, and instead of gratitude, you’re insulting me?!]

“Patriarch, no! I would never!” Su Qinian’s face was filled with innocence and injustice.

He took a step back and respectfully bowed again, earnestly explaining:

“I was merely praising your swordsmanship! You are truly sword itself, I meant nothing else!”

Chen Huai’an: “???”

Li Qingran: “……”

“Pavilion Master Su, you should really stop talking.”

Li Qingran had spent enough time in the Sword Pavilion to understand its unique language quirks.

But her Master hadn’t been here in ages.

It was normal for him to be unaware.

If Su Qinian kept going, she was genuinely afraid her Master might slice Luoxia Peak in half.

“Qingran, how could I not say more?” Su Qinian stroked his beard and shook his head.

“The Patriarch’s divine abilities are beyond comprehension. Clearly, he was dissatisfied with my wording! Today, I must properly honor our Grand Sword Man!”

[Enough! SHUT UP!]

Chen Huai’an understood Su Qinian wasn’t actually insulting him.

But the way he said it was just…

It made misunderstandings unavoidable.

Su Qinian obediently closed his mouth, staring at Li Qingran’s head in confusion, unsure why the mysterious Patriarch was so annoyed.

Taking a deep breath, Chen Huai’an continued:

[I have already divined the locations of most demonic cultivators. And yet, you still thought they were extinct? Hah! Cangyun Realm is practically infested with them!]

[Some are gathered in strongholds, others are scattered across the land—hidden like stars in the sky. There are even countless demonic cultivators inside your righteous sects!]

“Patriarch, you must be joking.”

Su Qinian’s disbelief only grew.

Wasn’t this impossible?

If there were that many demonic cultivators, why hadn’t any of them become a major threat over the past few years?

[You don’t believe me?]

Chen Huai’an chuckled coldly.

Su Qinian didn’t dare say he didn’t believe, so he simply lowered his head and waited for more proof.

[Very well. Your own Sword Pavilion—right here on Luoxia Peak—has a demonic cultivator. I will find them for you!]

Ignoring Su Qinian’s shock, Chen Huai’an zoomed in on the red dot within the Sword Pavilion.

He enlarged the map again and again, refining the image down to the individual plants and buildings on Luoxia Peak.

There.

A cave dwelling on the mountainside.

A sword cultivator was sitting inside, meditating.

But apart from sword energy, there was also a faint trace of demonic energy emanating from his body.

Ordinarily, this disciple probably hid his aura well.

But inside his own cave, there was no reason to expect a satellite-level scan to expose him.

With the target confirmed, Chen Huai’an transmitted:

[There is a cave halfway up Luoxia Peak, marked by a peach tree at the entrance. The wooden plaque reads ‘157.’ Bring the disciple inside to me. Whether he is a demonic cultivator or not will be clear once you interrogate him.]

“Wooden plaque 157… Wooden plaque 157…”

Su Qinian muttered, recalling the cave’s owner.

A square-faced, kind-looking disciple.

A quiet, polite, diligent member of the Xuanwu Peak division.

Not the most talented, but personally vetted by Su Qinian when he joined the sect.

He was always respectful to his fellow disciples, hardworking in cultivation, and fulfilled his sect duties without fail.

Someone like him was a demonic cultivator?

Su Qinian had a million questions in his mind.

But since the Patriarch had spoken, he had no choice but to bow and say:

“Understood. I will bring him in. However—if he is not a demonic cultivator, I would humbly request that you grant him a small opportunity as compensation.”

Su Qinian always tried to treat his disciples fairly.

He understood how devastating it would be for an innocent disciple to be falsely accused of being a demonic cultivator.

He wasn’t arrogant enough to challenge the Patriarch, but he still wanted to fight for fairness.

Other sect leaders wouldn’t dare to ask for such a thing from a powerful Patriarch.

But Su Qinian?

He would.

He wanted every Sword Pavilion disciple to leave their sect with dignity and return with pride.

In Cangyun Realm, even the weakest creatures struggled to survive.

He was just a slightly bigger ant among them.

That was all.

[Fine! Excellent!]

Chen Huai’an wasn’t offended by the request.

In fact, he now respected Su Qinian a little more.

[If that disciple is not a demonic cultivator… then I will personally take him as my disciple and train him myself!]