Madam, please ascend.

Chapter 433 The Real and Fake Feng Mo
The Celestial Master's Mansion was shrouded in mist, a rare sight to see such a lively atmosphere.

Zhang Guo, along with his closed-door disciples, exchanged pleasantries with the sect leaders. Jiang Miaojin bowed gracefully and received a lot of praise.

Qiu Haoran of Tian Shu Academy exclaimed, "What a wonderful female disciple! She's so well-behaved and never makes me angry. My Ziwei has rarely given me any trouble these past few years; she's achieved Dao on her own through practice."

This sounds a bit strange; it seems like a compliment, but upon closer inspection, it sounds more like showing off.

In contrast, Fuyao Zongdao Cheng was much more sincere: "Yes, my disciple Su Qing also had a strange encounter recently. She is well-versed in the art of herbs, so she might get along well with your little disciple."

Jiang Miaojin thought to herself, "We can't talk to each other. She is the eldest princess of the Great Xia Dynasty, and I am the princess consort of Xian. I have been overshadowed by her since childhood."

The people of the channel laughed along without saying a word. Since the death of Song Guanglin of the Qinglian Sect, the sect had become much more low-key.

Abbot Huiming of Fusheng Temple couldn't get a word in edgewise, since his Chuzu Temple had already established its own independent sect and there were no female disciples left.

It was rare to see these righteous giants gathered together. Although the Celestial Master's Mansion was a mixed bag, nothing out of the ordinary happened.

Once all the guests from the foot of the mountain had ascended, a disciple struck the morning bell several times.

The old Celestial Master Zhang Guo slowly stood up, and the old rocking chair made a slight creaking sound.

He rarely changed out of his faded old Taoist robe, and with a knowing and slightly amused smile on his face, he slowly swept his gaze over the guests, pausing briefly among the people from Burial Sword Valley.

However, in the end, the focus returned to the equally captivating and beautiful figure—the closed-door disciple, Jiang Miaojin.

"Ahem." The old master cleared his throat. His voice was not loud, but it easily drowned out all the noise in the room and resounded in the ears of every guest.

He casually performed a traditional Chinese bow, his tone relaxed, as if he were greeting an old neighbor:

"Fellow Daoists, you've all worked hard. As people get old, all we crave is a lively atmosphere. It's rare for you all to grace us with your presence."

He paused, his gaze seemingly gentle yet all-knowing, causing many cultivators with guilty consciences to instinctively avoid his eyes.

Zhang Guo's smile deepened slightly, and he said leisurely, "I'm really a little embarrassed to have brought so many 'generous gifts'."

He emphasized the words "generous gift".

After hearing this, Qiu Haoran couldn't help but say, "Over the years, the Righteous Qi Sect has made many contributions to subduing demons and monsters in the human world. There's no need for you to be so polite, Celestial Master."

Some people secretly rolled their eyes, thinking that the teachers of Tian Shu Academy were also lying people. Which eye of yours saw the Old Master being polite?

The old master chuckled and said, "Why don't I take on a disciple first, and then we can talk?"

The crowd agreed, saying, "Please, Celestial Master, accept me as your disciple."

Jiang Miaojin served tea according to etiquette, kneeling and kowtowing three times and nine times. The old Celestial Master gently patted the top of his disciple's head, with a smile on his face and a relieved expression.

He said softly, "Once you join the Righteous Qi Sect, you're all family. Everyone in the sect is a brother or sister. I don't expect you to be very harmonious, but when you're arguing or having disagreements, stay away from me and don't disturb my peace."

Zhuque raised an eyebrow slightly. She had thought the old Celestial Master was an old-fashioned person, but now it seemed he was quite a clever one.

Nangong Zhuozhuo whispered to Ye Nianyi, "How come it's different from the stories? The righteous old immortal should be more serious and speak in a more refined manner."

The old master continued, "Our Righteous Qi Sect adheres to the principle of 'righteousness' in all our conduct, meticulously following every stroke of the pen, and never taking a wrong turn. If you stray from the right path, remember to turn back, and there is still hope."

His words seemed to be addressed to Jiang Miaojin, but also to the guests in the audience.

Or perhaps it was aimed at the half-hidden figure behind Suzaku.

After the old master finished rambling on with a bunch of "nonsense" and made some complaints, he finally accepted the tea that Jiang Miaojin offered and drank it all in one gulp.

Zhang Guo knew best that the apprenticeship ceremony was just a pretense; he had long since drunk countless cups of tea brewed by his junior apprentice.

This cup of tea is now being drunk for all cultivators in the world to see.

It is also hoped that those people will take care of Jiang Miaojin out of consideration for the righteous sect.

The apprenticeship ceremony looked joyous, but Jiang Miaojin couldn't help but tear up, sensing a hint of entrusting her child to someone else.

Just as the apprenticeship ceremony was about to be completed, a discordant voice suddenly rang out.

"Old Celestial Master, I have prepared a special gift for you. After listening to your earnest teachings to the disciples of the Righteous Qi Sect, I feel that presenting this gift at this moment is the perfect opportunity."

The speaker was Huangfu Song, who was leading a red-haired, green-beaked mythical beast behind him, carrying a cage that was completely covered by a black cloth.

Zhang Guo sensed something and looked at the cage. Instantly, a turbulent undercurrent swept through the Celestial Master's Mansion, and the atmosphere became tense.

"Oh? I wonder what's inside?"

Huangfu Song was in no hurry to reveal the answer, and asked, "Just now the old Celestial Master said that the disciples of the Righteous Qi Sect must act uprightly. I wonder how they should be punished if they go astray?"

Zhang Guo replied, "Punishment naturally varies in severity. A minor punishment might be a beating, while a major punishment could result in the loss of cultivation and expulsion from the sect."

"I see. Please don't think I'm being long-winded, Celestial Master. I have another question. If a disciple commits multiple sins at the same time, wouldn't he be punished for all of them?"

"Then we need to see what mistake he made." The old master suddenly looked Huangfu Song up and down carefully, and asked curiously, "Who are you? You look unfamiliar."

After joining the Futian Pavilion, Huangfusong rarely appeared in public, so naturally not many people knew him.

He said, "I heard that a major incident has recently occurred in the Righteous Qi Sect. Disciple Feng Mo committed the crime of murdering his master and has since disappeared without a trace. Is this true?"

Everyone in the room pricked up their ears, thinking that there was going to be a good show.

Jiang Miaojin glanced lightly in the direction of Zhuque and the others, thinking to herself, 'You, Yun Yi, you said a long time ago that there would be a show to watch at the Righteous Qi Sect. Did you foresee this day would come?'

Now, of the three Grand Masters of the Righteous Qi Sect, only Yuan Lingguan remains. He is a lazy man who has been detached from worldly affairs for many years and hides in the background without saying a word.

Instead, Yuan Duoqing pushed her way out from the group of disciples and said loudly, "Senior Brother Feng is upright and honest. Our Righteous Qi Sect absolutely does not believe that he would commit such a heinous crime."

Chu Qiaoqiao echoed, "Even if this is true, there must be some hidden story. The Righteous Qi Sect must investigate before a conviction can be made."

Huangfu Song laughed and said, "These two quick-witted juniors have indeed left Feng Mo a way out."

He then changed the subject: "Unfortunately, he killed more than just Jiang Hongye. After becoming possessed by a demon, his personality changed drastically, and he committed countless atrocities. In my opinion, many of the guests here today are victims, all waiting for the Old Master to give them justice."

Upon hearing this, many people immediately joined in, shouting, "We beg the Celestial Master to uphold justice for us!"

"We beg the Celestial Master to uphold justice for us!"

Some people who didn't understand the situation also shouted a few words.

Zhuque sneered: "Look at the faces of these people, they are even more 'demonic' than the Demonic Sect."

Whether Feng Mo had indiscriminately killed innocent people was clear to everyone in the Burial Sword Valley, but they remained silent and waited to see what would happen.

Yun Yi had long suspected the "thing" inside the cage, and he wouldn't feel at ease until he saw it with his own eyes. The crowd's voices grew louder and louder, and the old Celestial Master said helplessly, "If Feng Mo has truly committed numerous crimes, the Righteous Qi Sect will not tolerate it."

Yuan Duoqing sighed, "Old Celestial Master!"

He wanted to say something more, but Chu Qiaoqiao covered his mouth.

Seeing this, Huangfu Song became even more pleased and laughed, "It's good to have such words from the Celestial Master... Please accept this generous gift, Celestial Master."

After saying that, he suddenly removed the black cloth covering the cage, instantly revealing the figure inside.

Inside the cage, light suddenly flooded in, outlining a haggard silhouette.

His Taoist robe, still vaguely recognizable as being in the style of the Zhengqi Sect, was soaked in blood and grime. His wrists and ankles were bound by dark shackles covered with runes, which were constantly draining his vital energy.

He lowered his head, his messy, dirty long hair falling down like withered grass, covering most of his face.

Even so, the entire Righteous Qi Sect still recognized his appearance.

Yuan Duoqing couldn't help but shout, "Senior Brother? What have you done to Senior Brother!"

He wanted to rush forward regardless of everything to see how his senior brother had ended up like this, but the old celestial master casually froze him in place. As a result, the other eager disciples also suppressed their anger and stopped going forward.

Feng Mo, imprisoned in a cage, was covered in wounds, some with fresh scabs and others with old scars. His appearance had also changed, resembling an ancient ferocious beast, clearly showing that he had fallen into demonic possession.

When the light irritated his eyes, his body twitched slightly, then he slowly raised his head and looked straight at the old master he respected most.

Huangfu Song removed the cage, shrinking it to the size of a palm and putting it into his sleeve. Upon seeing Feng Mo regain his freedom, those around him quickly stepped back, making way for him.

He said, "This person went mad and indiscriminately killed innocent people. It took me a lot of effort to subdue him. He truly deserves to be the senior disciple of the Righteous Qi Sect. His skills are superb."

Zhang Guo's face turned ashen. Looking at the fake Feng Mo in front of him, his mood suddenly soured.

His face was as pale as paper, his cheekbones were high and hollow, and he looked so haggard that he was almost unrecognizable. His lips were cracked and bloodless, and his eyes were cloudy; where was his former radiance?

If my Feng Mo really became possessed by a demon, wouldn't he really be ruined like this?

As he pondered this, the old master's eyes filled with tears.

Yunyi had initially thought the old master's acting was subpar, but he never expected the old master to deliver such an extraordinary performance today, making everyone applaud and cheer.

However, he was even happier that he had guessed the Futian Pavilion's plan correctly.

In the eyes of the world, the appearance of the fake Feng Mo undoubtedly confirmed those accusations.

The Righteous Qi Sect actually produced such a demon; this gift is truly... substantial!

Huangfu Song no longer needed to say anything; the world would judge Feng Mo. Whether it was a mistake he had made or some old grievances, he could take the blame for it all.

The Righteous Qi Sect is large and powerful, so it's not that they can't afford to pay compensation. More importantly, the Righteous Qi Sect's reputation will plummet from this point on.

When people mention the Righteous Qi Sect again, they don't talk about how "great, glorious, and righteous" they were in exorcising demons and monsters, but rather about how they cultivated the demon Feng Mo.

Fortune is an intangible thing in the world, full of hidden mysteries. When everyone begins to doubt the Righteous Qi Sect, this immortal land will no longer be able to maintain its ethereal and otherworldly appearance.

Its pristine whiteness is compromised once it is stained with even a speck of dust.

Many people from the Overturning Heaven Pavilion came to the Celestial Master's Mansion. They secretly stirred things up, all wanting to see how this good show would end.

That fake "Feng Mo" was actually Lord Tianlang using his Ascension Realm cultivation as a cover. Even if the Old Celestial Master wanted to see through it at a glance, it would be quite difficult.

The climax of the play will come when he gets close enough to Zhang Guo.

Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. Just as the scene was completely silent, a stunningly beautiful woman in red gracefully walked out.

She looked alluring, yet with a touch of innocent charm that made it impossible to look away.

Zhuque smiled charmingly and said, "I haven't yet asked who this person is."

Huangfu Song was naturally pleased that someone brought up this matter, as it was a perfect opportunity for him to chime in. He replied, "Naturally, it is Feng Mo of the Righteous Qi Sect."

"What?! This person is actually Feng Mo?"

"This fairy is unaware that after he became a demon, he killed his own martial uncle, and then went mad and could not extricate himself, killing countless innocent people along the way."

"No, no, that's not what I meant."

Huangfu Song frowned: "Hmm?"

Zhuque activated the golden thread between her fingers, pulling out Yun Yi, who was hiding behind her and wearing a bamboo hat, and laughed, "You say he is Feng Mo, then who is this one?"

There was an uproar in the field.

Zhang Guo could see through Yun Yi's disguise at a glance, and he wouldn't believe Huangfu Song's endless lies either. At this moment, he could only chuckle to himself, thinking to himself that Yun Yi was truly a slippery character.

As Zhuque removed Yunyi's bamboo hat, revealing his true face, the Celestial Master's Mansion erupted in chaos.

The disciples of the Righteous Qi Sect were the most excited, and for a moment they couldn't tell which one was their senior brother.

Chu Qiaoqiao looked troubled and said softly, "Why are there two Senior Brother Fengs? Which one should we save later?"

Yuan Duoqing gritted her teeth and said, "How about... we save them all?"

"Are you out of your mind? Why are you trying to save a fake one? Even though Senior Sister Tingni and the others are willing to help, do you think saving someone is so simple?"

It was difficult to distinguish between the two Feng Mos, and even their own people were confused.

Huangfu Song's face was extremely ugly. "Who are you, and why did you create a fake Feng Mo?"

Zhuque scoffed, "You say I'm fake, but I say you're the fake one."

After saying that, she suddenly seemed to realize something: "Perhaps we are both real. Yours is 'Feng Mo of the Righteous Qi Sect,' and mine is 'Feng Mo of the Burial Sword Valley.'"

Nangong Zhuozhuo whispered, "Everyone knows that Feng Mo killed Jiang Hongye that day and then fled to the Demon Sect's Burial Sword Valley for protection. But if you ask me, the Feng Mo in Burial Sword Valley is the real one."

Ye Nianyi chimed in, "That makes sense, that makes sense. When Feng Mo said he had entered the demonic path, he meant he had joined the Demonic Sect. Could this expert have misunderstood the word 'entered the demonic path' and mistakenly thought that Feng Mo had suffered a qi deviation?"

When it comes to the ability to interpret words precisely, these two girls who love reading storybooks are absolutely masters.

Huangfu Song was in a state of utter confusion. According to the intelligence from Futian Pavilion, Feng Mo had been hiding in Burial Sword Valley after killing Jiang Hongye.

Moreover, he has already been working for the Demonic Sect and even helped Yun Yi set up a trap at Jue Tian Cliff. How could he possibly return to the Righteous Qi Sect to die now?!
(End of this chapter)