Dawn's light was faint, dispelling the final darkness of the forest. Qingxu Temple, Enforcement Hall side hall.
This place was not where ordinary disciples could tread. The hall's light was deliberately kept dim, the walls made of hard Qinggang Stone, carved with runes that isolated aura and sound. The air carried a faint sandalwood scent that could calm one's spirit, yet also could not conceal that chilling solemnity and coldness originating from duty.
The five Shadow Snake Pavilion members captured from the black market stronghold were each confined in specially-made stone chairs, their spiritual energy sealed, their appearances disheveled, their faces retaining fear and unwillingness. They lowered their heads, not daring to look straight ahead.
Seated at the main seat was the solemn-faced Enforcement Elder. Third Senior Sister Liu Yun and Senior Brother Mu Qingfeng stood on both sides, their auras heavy and condensed. Tang Xiaoqi stood slightly behind—this was his first time participating in sect-level interrogation. His heart was filled with curiosity and a kind of inexplicable heaviness. He looked at those prisoners, recalling the night battlefield, then thinking of the Xu Lan Manor's tragic case, his dislike for the Shadow Snake Pavilion deepened, but he also understood that the moment required extracting valuable information from these people.
The Enforcement Elder did not speak immediately. He only slowly swept his gaze across the five prisoners with those eyes that seemed able to pierce through hearts—the invisible pressure causing their bodies to tremble slightly. After a long while, he spoke heavily, his voice not loud yet carrying indubitable authority: "You have become cultivators yet joined the demonic path, serving as the Shadow Snake Pavilion's lackeys, causing chaos everywhere. Do you know your crime?"
One prisoner, seemingly the eldest, thin and gaunt, raised his head, lips moving as if to argue, but under the Enforcement Elder's sharp gaze, eventually slumped dejectedly, his voice hoarse: "...I acknowledge my crime."
"Since you know your crime, you should earn merit through service." The Enforcement Elder's tone unchanged. "Tell me everything you know about the Shadow Snake Pavilion's movements, purposes, especially the reasons for their recent large-scale collection of Yin Sha items and living beings. If there is concealment or nonsense, under sect rules, soul destruction is not an idle threat."
These final words carried a grim chill, making several prisoners shiver. Qingxu Temple's treatment of demonic spies was never merciful.
The gaunt man's expression flickered with more struggle. He looked at his companions on left and right, seeing they were also ashen-faced, knowing continued resistance meant only death. He took a deep breath, seemingly making up his mind: "Elder, please understand... we, at the black market stronghold, were mainly responsible for receiving and transporting some... some special materials."
"Specify what materials and where they were being sent?" Liu Yun coldly pressed.
"Mainly... mainly some ore containing Yin Sha qi, like Yin Sha Stone, Ming Iron Ore, some... bones stained with grudge qi, and... and living soul essences... especially souls of mortals or low-level demon beasts born under triple-yin dates..." The gaunt man's voice grew lower, carrying a hint of unnoticeable fear.
"Soul essences?" Mu Qingfeng's brow furrowed tightly. "What would the Shadow Snake Pavilion need these for? Refining evil demonic artifacts?"
"Not... not entirely." Another young prisoner with a pale face couldn't help interjecting, seemingly unable to bear the pressure, eager to perform. "Small one... small one once heard an upper envoy who came to receive materials casually mention that these things were essentials for the 'Holy Sect's''Ten Thousand Souls Returning to the Void' ceremony..."
"Ten Thousand Souls Returning to the Void?" The Enforcement Elder's eyes flashed sharply. "Speak in detail! What is this Ten Thousand Souls Returning to the Void? Where is the ceremony held?"
The young prisoner trembled under the Elder's gaze, stuttering: "Specifically... specifically small one really doesn't know! That upper envoy only casually mentioned it, saying this was one of the sect's highest secrets, concerning whether the 'Holy Lord' could descend... The location was even more strictly guarded. Small one only heard it might be in a place of extreme Yin, requiring massive amounts of Yin Sha and soul power gathered..."
"Holy Lord? Descending?" Liu Yun caught the key phrase, her tone growing colder. "What is the origin of your so-called 'Holy Lord'?"
The prisoners looked at each other. Finally the gaunt man said laboriously: "Elder, our rank is low, mere peripheral members, with no access to core secrets. We only know the 'Holy Lord' is a supreme being, all in the Shadow Snake Pavilion obey His commands. It is said... it is said He possesses powers to penetrate heaven and earth, coming to purify this defiled world..." His words even carried a hard-to-describe fanaticism, but it was quickly suppressed by fear.
"Purify the world? Through plundering living beings and gathering Yin Sha?" Mu Qingfeng coldly snorted. "Ridiculous!"
The Enforcement Elder raised his hand to stop Mu Qingfeng, continuing to ask: "Besides collecting materials, what other unusual movements does the Shadow Snake Pavilion have recently? Personnel deployment? Contact with other forces?"
The gaunt man labored to recall: "Personnel movements... seemed more frequent than usual, especially several Golden Core guardian elders, rarely seen recently, all reportedly preparing for the ceremony. Regarding other forces... small one vaguely heard the Pavilion seemed to be trying to contact some reclusive ancient demonic families. What specific families, small one has no idea."
The interrogation lasted nearly an hour. The five prisoners, under the Enforcement Elder's pressure and the successive questioning by Liu Yun and Mu Qingfeng, intermittently revealed much information. Although mostly fragmentary and limited by their rank from accessing the most core secrets, piecing these fragments together, a vague yet unsettling outline gradually emerged—
Behind the Shadow Snake Pavilion seemed to stand a terrifying existence called the "Holy Lord." They were meticulously preparing a massive ritual or formation called "Ten Thousand Souls Returning to the Void." This ritual required countless Yin Sha qi and living souls as fuel. The purpose was most likely to welcome or awaken that "Holy Lord." For this, they not only frantically collected resources but were also actively contacting other demonic path forces.
When a prisoner, in extreme fear, mentioned "It is said if the ceremony succeeds, it can reverse Yin and Yang, devour the vital energy of ten thousand li, converting it into the Holy Lord's descending tribute," the temperature in the entire side hall seemed to plummet several degrees.
Xiaoqi, standing in the rear, listening to these hair-raising details, his fists unconsciously tightened. Devouring ten thousand li of vital energy? This reminded him involuntarily of the Xu Lan Manor's destruction. Was that terrifying act of devouring all vital energy a rehearsal for this so-called "ceremony"? The Shadow Snake Pavilion, and their "Holy Lord" behind them, their ambitions far exceeded his previous imagination. This was no longer merely personal enmity, but a huge conspiracy concerning the survival of countless living beings.
The interrogation concluded. The five prisoners were taken away under strict guard. Only the Enforcement Elder, Liu Yun, Mu Qingfeng, and Xiaoqi remained in the side hall.
"What do you all think?" The Enforcement Elder looked at Liu Yun and Mu Qingfeng, his expression grave.
Liu Yun spoke first, her tone decisive: "Though the intelligence is fragmentary, the direction is clear. The Shadow Snake Pavilion's ambitions are enormous. This 'Ten Thousand Souls Returning to the Void' ceremony must be stopped! Otherwise the consequences are unthinkable."
Mu Qingfeng nodded in agreement: "Indeed. And they're contacting other demonic families, indicating the Shadow Snake Pavilion's own strength may be insufficient for the ceremony, or they're expanding their forces. Either way, it poses a huge threat to our righteous path. We must quickly report this to the Temple Master and the Alliance."
The Enforcement Elder deliberated for a moment, his gaze turning to the silent Xiaoqi: "Xiaoqi, your mind is delicate, and you have old scores to settle with the Shadow Snake Pavilion. What are your thoughts?"
Xiaoqi took a deep breath, stepping forward, expressing his inner worries and associations: "Elder, Senior Brother, Senior Sister, when I heard 'devouring ten thousand li of vital energy,' I thought of Xu Lan Manor... When the manor was destroyed, could it have also been related to this evil method of plundering vital energy? If so, this ceremony is probably more evil and urgent than we imagined. We must quickly find the ceremony's location and stop them!"
The Enforcement Elder nodded approvingly: "It's good that you can draw inferences. The Xu Lan Manor case has been under covert investigation by the Temple Master and Alliance, and indeed some clues related to the Shadow Snake Pavilion's evil methods have been found. Now it seems everything can be connected."
He stood, his expression solemn: "This matter concerns great significance, no longer merely our Qingxu Temple's affair. Liu Yun, Mu Qingfeng, immediately come with me to see the Temple Master and report in detail. All intelligence must be immediately shared with the Righteous Alliance."
"Yes!" Liu Yun and Mu Qingfeng responded in unison.
"Xiaoqi," the Enforcement Elder looked at him again, "you performed admirably in this mission. There may be more uses for you later. Go rest for now, diligently cultivate, and be on standby."
"Disciple understands!" Xiaoqi bowed.
Exiting the Enforcement Hall side hall, the sky was already bright. Xiaoqi looked up at the azure sky, yet his heart was covered with a shadow. The Shadow Snake Pavilion's shadow was vaster and deeper than he had imagined. A storm sweeping across the world seemed to be brewing. And he, bearing the Purification Origin, was destined to be drawn into this storm's center. He touched the jade pendant in his chest, feeling its gentle warmth, his gaze regaining firmness.
No matter what lies ahead, he would never retreat.