Refuse to trample on the pride of heaven

Inside the cave, it was deathly silent, like an eternal night, with only the suppressed breathing and heartbeats of the group breaking the heavy atmosphere.

The deep cave entrance resembled a gaping maw, and the countless loyal bones outside silently testified to the tragedy of a hundred years ago.

The message transmitted by Qu Yanhui through the puppet revealed an even deeper and more tragic truth, bloodily dissecting it before everyone.

He... had already discovered the secrets of this place?!

Doubts swirled in everyone's minds, like a thick fog shrouding the river.

Qu Yan Hui is a person who betrayed the Kui Sect, has a bad reputation, is entangled with the Demon Clan, and acts erratically and unpredictably. He is no longer the same as before.

How could he possibly know the location of this divine sword, which is crucial to the survival of this world and whose whereabouts are uncertain even to the higher-ups of the immortal sects?

And why...why choose this moment, this method, to warn and guide them?

Could it be because of Master Qingxuan from Puppet City, who once raised him?

However, this thought was quickly suppressed by reality.

Even with the reason that he is Qingxuan Daoist, Qu Yanhui is no longer the boy who suffered all kinds of contempt in the Kui Sect but still retained some sincerity.

After betraying the "Kui Sect," which was founded on puppetry, he not only did not disappear, but instead rose rapidly in the cultivation world with his amazing and unpredictable puppetry skills, combined with demonic arts he had cultivated from an unknown source.

His actions were all shocking and infamous, enough to stop even a child from crying.

He acts eccentrically, sometimes righteous and sometimes wicked, and most of the time he completely disregards etiquette and rules, acting solely on his own likes and dislikes.

To test his newly crafted puppets, he slaughtered three major cultivation families in one night, killing hundreds of men, women, and children. Their souls were extracted and their bones refined, turning them into members of his puppet army. Their mournful cries echoed over the mansion for three days.

He once orchestrated a demonic tide in the southern border region over the ownership of an ancient puppeteer's cave, using others to kill and causing the loss of elites from three medium-sized sects. The cave eventually fell into his hands, and the jade slip that supposedly recorded forbidden puppetry techniques also became his possession.

There are even rumors that he made a deal with the demons, exchanging the essence and flesh of human cultivators for rare demonic iron unique to the demons, which can be used to strengthen puppets... His cruelty and cunning have already created an insurmountable chasm between him and the righteous immortal sects.

How much regard would a person with blood on his hands, acting solely on his own whims, and almost indistinguishable from a "demon," have for past friendships? Would he risk everything to help Master Qingxuan and the Wenxian Sect because of their long-faded ties?

That sounds more like a weak and feeble joke.

This is truly unbelievable.

Interests? He doesn't seem to lack any.

Fear? He didn't care at all about being wanted by the Kui Sect or being used by the Demon Clan.

What exactly is the reason?

Inside the cave, everyone's thoughts raced, and their gazes turned to the lark puppet that was transmitting their voices, as if trying to see through this cold creation to the true face of its master.

Just as everyone's minds raced with doubt and uncertainty, the more exquisitely crafted lark puppet hovering in the air once again emitted Qu Yanhui's unique voice, tinged with mockery and coldness, as if it could pierce through the void and see the changing expressions on their faces:

"Hmph." A cold snort, like an ice bead falling to the ground.

"I only did this because you... took care of that old man. Don't be presumptuous and think that I've changed my mind and am thinking of our old friendship."

The "old man" he was referring to was naturally Master Qingxuan.

This statement confirmed some of the people's guesses, and it was indeed related to Daoist Qingxuan.

Gu Jinzhi blinked, forcing a slightly strange smile on his face, trying to break the overly tense atmosphere, and said, "Hey, you're actually quite a good person... you seem to know how to repay kindness, not like the rumored person... who would betray the sect and harm fellow disciples."

This statement, though seemingly a joke, actually carries a hint of cautious probing.

After all, the fact that someone could guide you through this desperate situation because of a past relationship seems completely different from the rumored image of a cold-blooded, ruthless, and murderous fellow disciples.

"Murturing fellow disciples?"

The voice from the lark puppet suddenly rose in pitch, carrying a sharp mockery, as if it had heard the most absurd joke in the world.

The coldness and ferocity in that voice sent chills down one's spine, even through the puppet. "You... also believe that I did that?"

The atmosphere instantly became tense again.

Qu Yanhui's voice was mocking, her tone light and airy, yet it carried a sharp sarcasm that had been touched on a sensitive spot, as well as deep-seated resentment and pain accumulated over the years.

"Yes, everyone in the Kui Sect believes this, and most people in the world think so too! It's 'reasonable' for a helpless, lonely coffin-headed coffin to do such a heinous thing, isn't it?"

That old incident certainly caused quite a stir back then.

Although the Kui Sect is not a behemoth like the Wenxian Sect or the Lingxiao Sect, it is still a leader in the art of puppetry.

His direct disciples were killed and their treasures were stolen. The only surviving inner disciple identified Qu Yanhui as the murderer, claiming that he witnessed Qu Yanhui kill someone in a fit of rage over a puppet, and that another inner disciple who tried to mediate was also implicated.

This incident caused a great uproar at the time, and Kui Zong issued a wide-ranging warrant for his arrest, wishing he could carve the crime of "murdering a fellow disciple and betraying the sect" onto Qu Yan Hui's forehead.

Everyone felt that if the evidence wasn't seemingly "conclusive," why would the Kui Sect go to such lengths, even going so far as to request the assistance of several top sects to issue an arrest warrant?

With conclusive evidence and witness testimony, Qu Yanhui was found guilty of "fleeing from justice," injuring fellow disciples and betraying the sect, thus gaining a notorious reputation. His infamy only grew stronger after he later joined the demon race.

Gu Jinzhi's lips moved, but he didn't reply.

He wasn't involved and only heard about it back then, so it was indeed difficult for him to distinguish the truth from the falsehood.

Such is the nature of the world: public opinion can melt metal, and accumulated slander can destroy even the strongest bones.

Even the slightest problem is like an indelible stain, leading to preconceived notions.

Qu Yanhui looked through the puppet's cold eyes at the various silent expressions of the crowd, a deep, unyielding mockery and sorrow flashing in her eyes: "Most people are foolish, only willing to believe the 'truth' they want to believe, never caring whether maggots and filth are hidden beneath that appearance. It's nothing more than three men making a tiger, and many mouths melting metal."

Just then, Lu Wensheng, who had been deep in thought, slowly spoke, his voice clear and steady, breaking the oppressive silence like a clear spring flowing into a murky swamp.

The sound was clear, crisp, and distinct.

"I think you were framed."

Upon hearing this, not only did Qu Yanhui fall silent, but even Lu Wensheng's companions turned their heads in surprise.

Lu Wensheng continued, "I had heard about it briefly in Kuicheng at the time. After I left, I felt that there was something strange about the matter, so I privately looked up all the scattered records and rumors about the case that I could find."