Because of Ancestor Qi Hui's decisive action, the Qi family, which had seemed calm on the surface, finally struck on the fifth night, when the sky was dark and moonless. They moved against the cultivators who'd been lurking around Qi Shan.
Since Ancestor Qi Hui took action personally this time, the captured cultivators were searched directly through soul interrogation, no questioning needed. The Qi family patriarch stood to the side, both furious and shaken. His most promising great-granddaughter had fallen because of these people.
After the soul search, Ancestor Qi Hui's expression grew grim. He destroyed the captives on the spot, then sent a sound transmission to the patriarch beside him.
"Qi Yao was also involved. But she was manipulated because of her jealousy of Shan'er. Handle it yourself."
Then he flickered away, returning to his seclusion.
The Qi patriarch's face turned pale. It took all his willpower not to lose control right there. He waved for others to handle the aftermath, then returned alone to the council hall. He sat without expression on the high seat. Only when dawn broke did he finally speak to his subordinates.
"Summon Qi Yao."
Moments later, Qi Yao arrived at the council hall. Her heart was uneasy. Ever since last night, she'd felt restless. Even lighting calming incense hadn't helped. Now that the patriarch had called her, she could only compose herself carefully before entering.
"Yao'er greets Great-Grandfather."
She wore a blue Daoist robe, her features refined but her figure a bit frail. Since her spiritual roots weren't suited for artifact refinement, she'd taken the path of spell cultivation, specializing in talisman crafting.
"Kneel."
The Qi patriarch spoke coldly.
Qi Yao trembled. With a heavy thud, she dropped to her knees, her face paling. She already knew her secret might've been exposed.
Without another word, the patriarch tossed her a memory jade.
"See for yourself."
Qi Yao's hand shook as she took it. Finally, she infused her divine sense. When she saw the full process of Qi Shan's death, her eyes widened in horror.
"How could this be? They promised me—"
"What did they promise you?"
The patriarch's voice was like thunder.
"Great-Grandfather, spare me! They only said they'd ruin Qi Shan's talent so she could never refine artifacts again, making her less than me."
"Stupid!"
The Qi patriarch roared, cutting her off.
"Just because of jealousy, you colluded with outsiders to scheme against your own sister! And those outsiders were insects! Do you realize what you've done? You've thrown the Qi family into peril, branded us traitors to the entire Lingyun Continent!"
"I…"
Qi Yao clenched the jade, but her strength drained away. She collapsed onto the floor.
"Qi Yao betrayed her clan, schemed against Qi Shan and caused her death, disregarded the family entirely. From this moment, you're expelled from the Qi family, and all clan resources are revoked."
Hearing the patriarch's judgment, she actually breathed in relief. At least she'd survive. She could reclaim what was hers someday. Her faint change of expression didn't escape the Divine Soul stage patriarch. His heart grew cold. To think his clan had raised such a venomous snake. Any lingering reluctance vanished.
"Thank you, Patriarch. Qi Yao accepts the punishment and will leave immediately."
She rose, bowed, and hid her resentment well. She'd already reached late Nascent Soul. Once she advanced to Divine Transformation, she'd rise again. By then, the Qi family would beg her to return.
But the next instant, crushing pressure pinned her in place. Panic filled her eyes as she looked up.
"Patriarch, I'll leave the clan! I won't take anything with me!"
The patriarch's face was icy. He raised a hand and flicked a cluster of pale flame straight into her dantian.
"Ahhh!"
The burning agony made Qi Yao scream. Her dantian dissolved bit by bit. Her face twisted as she shrieked,
"Why are you doing this to me?"
"Your cultivation was raised with the clan's resources. Naturally, I'll take it back. You envied Shan'er, but did you ever consider the clan's kindness? With your triple-root aptitude, you've already reached half-step Divine Transformation at five hundred years old. What right do you have to complain?"
"No…"
"Shan'er was a single fire root, a genius fit for artifact refinement. She worked hard, her talent unmatched. She could've become a master refiner and carried our family forward. And you? You abused your sister's trust and let a blood insect possess her, making her suffer worse than death!"
Fury surged in his chest. He raised his hand and dragged her closer. As her cultivation crumbled from the destroyed dantian, he pressed his palm to her head and began a soul search.
Qi Yao's terrified gaze dimmed. Her youth withered in moments, until she became a withered crone barely clinging to breath.
When the soul search ended, the patriarch's disappointment was complete. Not only had she framed her sister, she'd colluded with insect collaborators. Worse, besides the ones slain last night, three more infiltrators still lurked inside the Qi family.
"You're not worthy of the Qi name."
This time, his pale flame consumed her completely, body and soul erased.
He immediately went to report to Ancestor Qi Hui, relaying all he'd uncovered.
"Before they realize, surround the other three. Do it in secret, don't alert anyone nearby. No questions, soul search directly. Report to me at once. If our Qi family can't handle it, I'll take it to Purple Sky Sect. Shan'er's death won't be in vain."
"Yes, Ancestor!"
The patriarch accepted the order and moved to capture the other infiltrators.
Because of the Qi family's decisive actions, the human cultivator faction that had willingly become insect collaborators within Purple Sky Sect's territory was torn open like a festering wound. With lightning speed, Purple Sky Sect and allied clans purged more than half of them.
When Wang Ping realized something was wrong and ordered the remaining infiltrators to retreat, few survived.
"Bi Shu's still alive! Mo Yue, it must've been her!"
Wang Ping's rage shattered the jade table beside her into dust, but nothing could hide their devastating loss. Their arrangements across Purple Sky Sect's territory had been nearly wiped out. She didn't dare act recklessly again. If she tried to call the rest back, they'd all be wiped out.
Meanwhile, Bi Shu's group pressed on. Soon, the second and third blood insects were dragged out. Even the ever-patient Zi Qing Zhēnzūn darkened at the sight. The insects had treated Purple Sky Sect like their rear base!
With the Qi family's example, Zi Qing Zhēnzūn immediately sent word to the two remaining clans. Their responses were the same: no mercy for traitors. They killed the infiltrators on the spot.
Only long after Bi Shu's group had left Purple Sky Sect did Zi Qing Zhēnzūn announce the purge to the whole sect, spreading the news across its territory.
Ordinary cultivators who learned the truth were shocked. The insect race had infiltrated this deeply? There was no room for complacency. Cultivation was already hard, and no one wanted to end up as cannon fodder.
By then, Jian Dan had already escorted Bi Shu's group to the Beast Taming Sect's territory, where senior cultivators awaited them.
"Now that the Purple Sky Sect incident is out, news of Bi Shu's survival will surely reach Wang Ping and her backers. You'll need to be even more careful."
"Yes, Zūnshàng!"
Jian Dan smiled at Bi Shu.
"You did well this time."
Then, a palm-sized obsidian token appeared before her.