Spirit Sword Peak occupied a remote position within the Qingyang Divine Palace — Yang Kai had deliberately chosen it as such, never expecting it to become the very vulnerability Gong Yue would exploit.
Along the way, streaks of light flew in from every corner of the Divine Palace, converging into the group. Every Elder of the Emperor Realm who wasn't away on business or in secluded cultivation had gathered. Vice Palace Master Qiu Ran had come as well. After exchanging greetings with Chen Wenhao and Feng Ming, he turned to Gao Xueting and asked, "What's going on?"
He had read the situation on their faces and vaguely sensed that something major was afoot — otherwise Gao Xueting would never have charged into the Divine Palace with two Elders from other sects. Besides, as far as he knew, these people should have been in the Southern Marshes.
The last time Yang Kai had sent word back, he had given a rough account of what happened in the Southern Marshes, so Qiu Ran knew at least a little.
"Gong Yue is on Spirit Sword Peak!" Gao Xueting replied.
"What?" Qiu Ran's face drained of color. "Gong Yue? Which Gong Yue?" He could hardly believe it and half suspected Gao Xueting had made some mistake.
"The same Gong Yue Senior Brother Yang mentioned before — the former Patriarch of the Gong Family in Heavenly River Valley!"
"How could Gong Yue be on Spirit Sword Peak?" Qiu Ran turned to look at You Kun, who had always been responsible for the sect's defenses and formation maintenance. If Gong Yue had infiltrated the Divine Palace and made it onto Spirit Sword Peak, that meant You Kun had failed in his duties.
You Kun was drenched in cold sweat. "I have no idea. I never received any suspicious reports."
Yang Kai said, "Gong Yue is a master of the Dao of formations. If he truly intended to sneak into any sect, he would always find a way. The Divine Palace has been peaceful all along — the sect-protecting grand formation hasn't been fully activated, leaving gaps in the defenses. It's perfectly normal for him to slip through. What we need to figure out now is why he came to the Divine Palace, and why he's on my Spirit Sword Peak!"
"Exactly. Gong Yue's behavior is extremely suspicious, and we don't know what state he's in. Everyone must exercise extreme caution when we encounter him," Chen Wenhao agreed with a nod.
Qiu Ran nodded faintly as well, stroking his long beard in contemplation.
You Kun shot Yang Kai a grateful glance, his hatred toward Gong Yue burning inside him.
"There's one thing you all need to know — demonic thoughts are insidious and difficult to guard against. You must absolutely fortify your minds and leave no opening for them to exploit," Gao Xuetable said with grave earnestness. The Qingyang Divine Palace Elders all nodded, secretly activating their soul-securing arts to reinforce the defenses of their spiritual seas.
After about half the time it took to finish a cup of tea, the group finally arrived atop Spirit Sword Peak.
The peak was largely the same as when Yang Kai had last left it — the peak's formation had been fully opened, and there was only one anomaly. A figure sat cross-legged on the clearing at the summit, perfectly motionless, as though dead.
Beside the figure, a small beast coated entirely in pitch-black fur lay sprawled, looking thoroughly content, its short tail flicking back and forth now and then. When the group approached, it merely raised its eyes to glance at them before doing nothing further.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…
Nearly ten Emperor Realm masters spread out, encircling Spirit Sword Peak so tightly that not even a drop of water could pass through.
Gong Yue slowly opened his eyes. His gaze swept the crowd before settling firmly on Yang Kai. Those pitch-black eyes sent a tremor through anyone seeing them for the first time — they seemed like bottomless voids capable of swallowing everything. Everyone hastily circulated their power to resist.
"You've arrived." Gong Yue spoke softly, as though he barely had the strength, unable even to raise his voice.
"Should we address you as Gong Yue, or should we address you by some other name?" Feng Ming sneered. Judging by Gong Yue's current state, he couldn't tell whether the man had lost himself, whether that demonic thought had seized control of his body. He didn't even know if a demonic thought could possess someone in the first place.
Gong Yue was certainly a fine specimen for study, but that was something that couldn't be done right now.
"I am Gong Yue. The Gong Yue of the Gong Family." Gong Yue answered.
Feng Ming threw his head back and laughed. "You still have the nerve to mention the Gong Family? After this, the Gong Family's reputation will be utterly destroyed, and you will be the eternal sinner of the Gong Clan."
Gong Yue said, "Is it a crime to pursue power? If so, then everyone here is a criminal."
Feng Ming snorted coldly, "The Great Dao has three thousand paths. They vary in width, yet you've wandered into the wilderness. What kind of power are you even pursuing?"
Gong Yue replied calmly, "Master one and you master them all. The Great Dao is a road, but is the wilderness not a road? All paths lead to the same destination."
"Nonsense!" Feng Ming was so furious his beard bristled.
Gong Yue declared with haughty pride, "If the wilderness has no road, then I shall tread one into existence."
"You don't have the ability for that."
Gong Yue chuckled softly. "Alone, I naturally cannot. But more and more people will follow me."
Chen Wenhao sighed. "Brother Gong, you've truly fallen to demonic corruption!"
He and Gong Yue had some degree of friendship. Before coming here, he had even wondered whether he might find an opportunity to lend Gong Yue a hand. But the moment he saw the man with his own eyes, he knew it was impossible. Gong Yue had not been possessed — or rather, the demonic thought perhaps didn't even have the power to seize someone's body.