Chapter 146: Your Investigation Doesn’t Count—Let Me Do It!

After some time, Su Qinian brought the Xuanwu Peak disciple to the summit of Luoxia Peak.

Chen Huai’an finally got a clear look at him.

How to describe it…

He looked like a taller version of Wu Dalang.

Even though he had no idea why he was summoned here, his face carried an endearing, dopey innocence.

“Junior Sister, the view up here is amazing,” Tu Xinghe cupped his hands toward Li Qingran, scanning the mountaintop scenery with a hint of admiration.

Li Qingran might be the youngest disciple of the Sword Pavilion, but she undoubtedly received the best treatment.

Not just because of her exceptional talent, but also because she had an incredibly powerful master.

Truly enviable.

Chen Huai’an also felt that Tu Xinghe didn’t seem like a demonic cultivator at first glance.

Didn’t look like one.

Didn’t act like one.

Even his demonic aura was completely suppressed, making it understandable why Su Qinian never noticed anything unusual.

“Tu Xinghe, do you know why I brought you to the summit of Luoxia Peak?”

“Replying to the Pavilion Master, this disciple does not know.”

Su Qinian turned around, fixing Tu Xinghe with a sharp glare.

“Have you ever practiced demonic arts?”

Tu Xinghe flinched, his face full of shock.

His complexion turned pale.

“P-Pavilion Master… I… I don’t understand what you mean… Ever since I joined the Sword Pavilion, I have only learned the orthodox techniques of our sect. I have never come into contact with any demonic cultivation methods!”

“Would you dare to extend your hand and allow me to investigate?”

“This disciple obeys.”

Tu Xinghe stretched out his hand.

Su Qinian placed two fingers on his wrist, sending his Spiritual Qi and Spiritual Sense inside to examine him.

After a moment, he found nothing.

“Patriarch.”

He turned toward the empty space above Li Qingran’s head and bowed, his meaning clear.

[Hmph! Your investigation doesn’t count—let me do it!]

A cold snort echoed from the void.

Both Su Qinian and Tu Xinghe felt their hearts tighten.

One was scared.

The other was also scared.

But after that brief response, silence.

Li Qingran looked up, confused.

Did Master get busy with something again?

Or… did he fall asleep?

Little did she know, Chen Huai’an was currently staring blankly at his phone screen.

—

[Recharge ¥6 to obtain a Demon-Exposing Mirror to reveal Tu Xinghe’s identity.]

[Recharge ¥66 to obtain a Grand Purity Talisman to expose Tu Xinghe’s identity.]

[Recharge ¥666 to instantly extract and refine the demonic energy within Tu Xinghe, revealing his identity.]

Three options.

And he couldn’t select any of them.

Because he was broke.

Not only broke, but also 68,000 in debt.

This game had finally revealed its true malicious nature.

Absolutely unplayable.

But everyone on Luoxia Peak was waiting for him.

He couldn’t just do nothing—he had already boasted about exposing the demonic cultivator.

If he didn’t handle this well, his Sword Pavilion Patriarch status was going to lose all credibility.

At that point, what kind of look would Li Qingran give him?

A look that said:

Useless trash?!

Faced with the looming threat of becoming a nobody, Chen Huai’an’s mind spun rapidly.

Then, a thought struck him—

The Thunderfire Talismans!

These stored lightning infused with the righteous power of heaven and earth.

They weren’t as powerful as the Heavenly Tribulation Lightning, but they originated from the same divine force.

The higher the talisman’s grade, the more potent its holy energy, making it an instant trigger for any evil aura—like demonic energy.

If demonic energy wasn’t evil, then how did his Thunderfire Talisman obliterate that human-faced spider demon back then?

This realization gave Chen Huai’an a plan.

He activated the Transmission Talisman and spoke to Li Qingran:

[Qingran, take out the Supreme-Grade Thunderfire Talisman I gave you and place it on the table!]

Li Qingran immediately obeyed.

Su Qinian stared at the talisman, still confused.

Tu Xinghe also didn’t understand what was about to happen, but a sense of unease crept into his heart.

[This Thunderfire Talisman was personally refined by me to suit Qingran’s needs. It doesn’t require Spiritual Qi to activate and can automatically detect demonic energy, monster aura, killing intent, and more. All you need to do is touch it—if you have no demonic energy, it won’t react.]

So Master crafted this talisman specifically for her convenience?

Li Qingran’s ears twitched slightly, a warm feeling blooming in her heart.

Her lips curved into a soft, gentle smile.

Master was always so thoughtful toward her.

She had made up her mind.

From now on, whenever Master needed tea sachets, she would use his favorite fabric!

Su Qinian casually brushed his hand over the talisman.

Nothing happened.

Safe.

Of course, the Patriarch could intentionally trigger the talisman during Tu Xinghe’s turn.

But as the Sword Pavilion’s Patriarch, he had no reason to resort to deception.

Su Qinian trusted this completely.

He turned to Tu Xinghe and ordered:

“Touch the talisman. This is merely a routine inspection—every disciple in the Sword Pavilion will go through this. This is not a personal accusation… If you are innocent, the Patriarch will even grant you an opportunity.”

Tu Xinghe’s face turned even paler.

He knew exactly whether he had cultivated demonic arts.

Just looking at the talisman, he could already feel its holy lightning locking onto him.

He forced himself to step forward.

He stretched out his hand.

Before he could even touch the talisman—

CRACK!

Electric arcs flashed along the surface of the talisman.

If he actually made contact, he would be incinerated by divine lightning on the spot.

THUD.

Tu Xinghe collapsed onto his knees.

Su Qinian’s heart skipped a beat, but his shock was quickly replaced by rage.

He pointed at Tu Xinghe and bellowed:

“You! Wretched beast! You truly practiced demonic arts?!”

“Patriarch… Pavilion Master… This disciple is guilty and deserves death.”

Tu Xinghe repeatedly kowtowed toward the void and Su Qinian, his tears streaming down.

“This disciple… has always been mediocre. Every time I compared myself to my fellow disciples, I felt worthless… Then, one day while hunting demons, I met a female cultivator. I fell in love… I thought we would become Dao Companions… But as we left the mountains, a Golden Core monster attacked. She sacrificed herself… to let me escape…”

As he spoke, Tu Xinghe sobbed uncontrollably.

“So because of this, you felt weak… and turned to demonic cultivation?”

Su Qinian’s voice was like frost.

“Yes.”

Tu Xinghe rolled up his sleeves, revealing countless scars across his arms.

He laughed bitterly.

“Righteous cultivation requires talent and strong foundations. But I wanted power quickly—not just for myself, but so I wouldn’t lose anyone else. So I turned to demonic arts. They didn’t require talent. All I had to do was refine my own blood and Qi…”

He lifted his gaze, his eyes manic.

“Pavilion Master… There is no such thing as an evil technique—only evil intentions! As long as I stay true to my heart, is it truly wrong? Demonic arts work! In just one month, I made tremendous progress! If the price is just a bit of blood…”

“SHUT UP!”

Su Qinian kicked Tu Xinghe over and furiously roared:

“You fool! You call this a small price? Do you know what happens next?!”

But before Tu Xinghe could end his own life…

A voice thundered from the void.

[STOP!]

A fragrance brushed past.

Tu Xinghe’s hands suddenly felt empty.

He opened his eyes.

Li Qingran stood before him.

And she had taken his sword.

—

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