How could this be possible?
At that moment, the one who was most shaken was not the senior sister or Huang Ling'er — it was Wen Yuan himself.
He stared, dumbfounded, as one after another of the demonic sect disciples emerged from the forest. His face was filled with disbelief.
All of these people… were brought back by Wen Shan?
How did he do it?
He and Wen Shan were both scholars of the same rank. Yet why was it that Wen Shan could return triumphantly with prisoners, while he himself had barely escaped with his life?
Recalling the agony of his recent encounter, Wen Yuan's expression twisted with bitterness.
He could not help but speak out:"Senior Sister, this—this can't be! I had only just stepped into the demonic sect's territory, hadn't even gone deep, when I was discovered by a patrolling demonic cultivator. Without a word, he struck at me — every move aimed to kill! If I hadn't reacted quickly and risked my life to flee, I'd have already—"
He didn't finish, but everyone present understood what he meant.
Not only had Wen Yuan failed his mission, but he had nearly lost his life.
Yet Wen Shan, who had left even later than he did, returned safe and sound — and with so many demonic cultivators in tow?
How could the gap between them possibly be so vast?
Unless… Wen Shan's methods were questionable.
But before Wen Yuan could voice such thoughts aloud, Senior Sister merely shook her head, her tone sharp and decisive:
"Your lack of ability does not mean others share your weakness."
"He not only brought back demonic cultivators — he brought back many. From what I see, even compared to my own record back then, the number he has gathered is not far behind. This proves that his ability is not only above yours, but may even rival my own."
"Someone like him is beyond your understanding. Since that's the case, speak less — and save yourself the embarrassment."
Wen Yuan flushed red with shame and lowered his head.
She was right.
The fact was plain: he had brought back no one, and nearly died in the process, saved only by Senior Sister's timely intervention.
Meanwhile, Wen Shan hadn't even appeared yet — and already, proof of his success was standing before them.
Senior Sister seemed satisfied, standing gracefully at the front with a faint smile, awaiting Wen Shan's arrival.
But soon, that smile stiffened.
Because the flow of demonic cultivators emerging from the forest… did not stop.
The seventh, the eighth, the ninth…
More and more of them appeared.
Each one held a small wooden carving, engraved with the mountain mark that Senior Sister herself had given Wen Shan.
And each carried the unmistakable aura of Xuan Jue cultivation — proof that they were true demonic cultivators.
What's more, all of them had willingly agreed to abandon the demonic path and join the righteous sect.
Even Huang Ling'er was wide-eyed in disbelief. She leaned close to Senior Sister and whispered, puzzled, "Senior Sister, where in the world did Wen Shan find so many demonic cultivators? Did he stumble upon some kind of demonic enclave?"
"But that can't be right! Every demonic cultivator is bound to their master by life and death. If their master discovers they've fled, they're killed instantly. How could so many have made it here alive?"
Senior Sister shook her head slightly — even she didn't understand.
If Wen Shan had been undercover in the demonic sect for a long time, perhaps this could make sense.
But he had only just become a righteous cultivator — all ties with the demonic sect were already severed. How could he possibly, in one day, bring out so many people?
What shocked her even more was that the numbers were still rising.
Now there were nine.
If one more appeared, it would match her record. If two more… it would surpass it.
At that thought, Huang Ling'er began to feel a strange excitement.
After all, since the day she entered the sect, she had never once seen her Senior Sister lose.
No matter what the competition — alchemy, swordplay, spellcraft — as long as it was among peers, Senior Sister was always first.
It was no surprise. She possessed the legendary Dao-Seeking Sacred Physique, her cultivation speed leagues beyond anyone else's. No one in her generation could ever catch up.
Once, Senior Sister had even declared that if anyone could defeat her in a duel of equal realms, she would take that person as her Dao Companion.
To have her as a Dao Companion — that was every man in the Qingwen Pavilion's ultimate dream.
Strict as she was, her unmatched grace and beauty made her unattainably alluring.
But no one had ever been able to fulfill that condition.
No one — until now, perhaps.
If an eleventh demonic cultivator appeared… if Wen Shan truly brought back more than Senior Sister ever had…
Then even if it wasn't an official duel, the outcome was clear — Wen Shan would have won.
What would Senior Sister do then?
The thought made Huang Ling'er's heart race with mischievous anticipation.
But unlike her, Senior Sister's brows furrowed. She stood silently, her gaze fixed on the forest's edge.
With her spiritual sense, she had already detected that more people were coming — more than one, in fact.
Yes, she already knew exactly how many Wen Shan had brought back.
And the reason for her frown was simple — disbelief.
Because she could hardly accept that someone had truly surpassed her.
It was a scenario she had never once imagined.
So when it unfolded before her eyes, she didn't know how to react — only to stand still, quietly watching.
Moments later, the tenth emerged. Then Liu Shier, and finally — Wen Shan himself.
A group of demonic cultivators stood in a neat line, too nervous to even breathe loudly.
After all, not only had they witnessed "the lesson" from last night, but before them now stood a crowd of righteous cultivators whose cultivation levels they couldn't even begin to sense.
How could they not tremble?
They were wicked, yes — but not foolish.
If they dared misbehave here, they could forget about leaving the demonic path alive.
Finally, Wen Shan stepped past the others and approached Senior Sister.
He bowed deeply and said, voice calm and respectful:
"Wen Shan has returned with eleven demonic sect disciples, all willing to forsake darkness and join the righteous path."
"Senior Sister — have I passed the trial?"