Step Three

"What's the situation? What exactly is the problem? Was someone poisoned, or was there an issue with the pills themselves?"

Qiu Huahui, the Valley Master of Zhican Valley, asked the alchemist in charge of investigating the incident.

The alchemist's expression was grave as he replied, "What we know so far is that someone has poisoned them. I discovered that among the retrieved pills, several had incorrect medicinal properties. Although they look identical to the normal pills, they are actually poison pills."

"Which type of pill was compromised?" Qiu Huahui pressed.

"Every type of pill we distributed has a corresponding poisoned version. Every single type was affected," the alchemist sighed. "The poisoner planned this meticulously and came prepared."

"Every type was affected?" Qiu Huahui's face darkened.

But the bad news didn't end there. The alchemist observed her expression but continued, "Valley Master, whoever crafted these poison pills has extremely advanced pill-crafting skills.

"They infiltrated the valley, first learned what pills we were distributing, then created the corresponding poison pills. They crafted them in an incredibly short time.

"Moreover, the poison pills are incredibly complex. I can't understand them. I can only identify which pills are problematic, but I don't know why they're poisonous. I couldn't recreate these poison pills if I tried."

"You're the valley's most skilled poison alchemist, and even you don't understand this poison?" Qiu Huahui looked as if she'd seen a ghost. "Is there anyone in the Land of Immortal Legacy who's better at crafting poisons than you?"

Not only was there someone better, but they were far, far superior.

"The poison's properties are strange. While it targets the physical body, it simultaneously causes cultivators to lose their spiritual power as it corrupts their flesh. And the medicinal properties that cause the flesh to decay actually come from ingredients that should strengthen and benefit the body."

The alchemist described the poison pills to Qiu Huahui in detail, his eyes gleaming slightly as he disregarded her reaction,

"The person who created this poison has an understanding of toxins far beyond mine. Their research into the relationship between spiritual power and physical form also far exceeds current understanding. This must be the work of a great and knowledgeable poison master..."

His tone was full of admiration, treating this unseen alchemist almost like an idol he longed to meet and get an autograph from.

But he wouldn't get the chance to meet his idol - instead, he could see Qiu Huahui's murderous glare right now.

"This isn't ordinary poison if even you can't recreate it," Qiu Huahui glared at the alchemist and asked, "So how did it end up in the hands of outer sect disciples?"

"Valley Master!"

The alchemist's expression turned serious as he replied, "Pills undergo strict inspection before storage, and stored pills cannot be compromised. After storage, the storage room is completely sealed off and no unauthorized personnel can approach, so problems couldn't arise there either.

"The issue must have occurred after the pills left storage."

Qiu Huahui nodded and began giving orders: "Detain everyone involved in removing pills from storage, transportation, and distribution. Question them one by one..."

"No need!" At this moment, the elder in charge of pill transportation entered and bowed to Qiu Huahui. "We know how the poisoning was done."

Qiu Huahui looked at him.

"The outer sect executive disciple Wen Le..." the elder sighed, "was replaced by an impostor."

"Where is Wen Le? Bring him to me!"

"When we found Wen Le, he was already dead," the elder sighed. "Died from poison."

"It seems we didn't completely clear out those Dao Sword Sect cultivators who infiltrated Zhican Valley..." Sun Yicheng hurriedly walked in from outside and said to the elder, "This was done by an outsider. The poisoner is still within Zhican Valley - go find them quickly!"

Hearing this, the elder shot Sun Yicheng a grateful look before bowing to Qiu Huahui: "Valley Master, I'll go search for the poisoner right away."

He was responsible for the pills, and if this wasn't handled well, he might have to pay with his life. Elder Sun's words had given him a way out.

Qiu Huahui remained silent, tacitly approving. The elder then took his leave.

Sun Yicheng gave the alchemist a look, and he also excused himself.

"What other bad news is there?" Qiu Huahui asked with a sigh, seeing Sun Yicheng's actions.

"The poisoner has extremely high pill-crafting skills and is likely from the Dao Sword Sect. The culprit should be clear - it must be Qin Ran," Sun Yicheng said.

"Qin Ran?" Qiu Huahui frowned, "That little thief who keeps surviving our attempts to kill him?"

"Sigh! Who did the poisoning doesn't matter anymore. Qin Ran is hiding in the valley, and given how complex the situation is here, we probably won't find him anytime soon.

"The urgent matter is that we can't maintain stability in the valley anymore!" Sun Yicheng said worriedly,

"There was already tension and frequent conflicts between core disciples and outer sect disciples, and now with this poisoned pill incident...

"The sects of those disciples who died from poison want an explanation; some sects with ulterior motives want to profit from this and stir up trouble; other sects want to take this opportunity to leave..."

Qiu Huahui massaged her temples, feeling that Zhican Valley was now like a tangled mess, with chaos everywhere. She didn't know where to begin sorting it out.

"If they want an explanation, give them one; those who want to leave, let them leave and face the consequences," she told Sun Yicheng wearily. "Just stabilize the situation in the valley as quickly as possible."

"Valley Master..." Sun Yicheng called to Qiu Huahui, then sighed, "I don't think anyone can handle the valley's situation now. Whether it's giving explanations, letting people leave, or finding the poisoner - none of these are the key points. The situation is too chaotic, there's no way to reconcile all the conflicts!"

"What do you mean?" Qiu Huahui looked at Sun Yicheng and asked, "Not reconcile? Let them cause chaos in the valley?"

"Valley Master, what was our original goal?" Sun Yicheng asked Qiu Huahui.

Without waiting for her answer, he continued: "Our goal was to eliminate the Dao Sword Sect and Boundless Sword Sect! We gathered these sects here to reduce our casualties and make things easier."

He continued analyzing for Qiu Huahui, "We weren't trying to recruit these outer sect cultivators as Zhican Valley disciples, we just wanted to use them for battle.

"We were always planning to lead them into battle, so why not just take them there directly?!

"When internal conflicts can't be resolved, then establish a powerful external enemy. We already have designated enemies, so why not make use of them?"

"You're saying we should ignore this mess in the valley," Qiu Huahui understood. "Take them directly to attack the Dao Sword Sect, without any more schemes or plans?"

"Exactly!" Sun Yicheng nodded, "We didn't anticipate managing outer sect disciples would be this difficult... Since we can't manage them, can't proceed according to plan, taking them to the Dao Sword Sect means we don't have to manage them anymore. We don't need to care about their survival.

"When mortals siege cities, the attacking side always drives masses of refugees to assault the city. If we can't use them as elite troops, we'll use them as cannon fodder!"

"Good!" Qiu Huahui nodded - this was their only option now.

But since it wasn't core disciples dying, why worry about it so much?

"Moreover..." Sun Yicheng smiled, "Valley Master, we have powerful reinforcements."

"You mean?"

"The Boundless Sword Sect!!" Sun Yicheng said, "I know they're not the ones hunting small sects in the Hengduan Mountains, but... I can pretend not to know that! In this war, no one in the Hengduan Mountains can remain neutral!"

Leng Ya left his meditation chamber and found Wu Lan, approaching to pay his respects: "Elder Wu!"

Wu Lan looked at Leng Ya and scolded, "Didn't I tell you to meditate and calm your mind?! If your mind isn't calm, you're not allowed to end meditation! Don't you understand?"

"Elder..." Leng Ya said, "I'm afraid I cannot calm my mind anymore."

"What do you mean?!" Wu Lan frowned.

"Surely Elder knows about the chaos in Zhican Valley right now?" Leng Ya asked.

At these words, Wu Lan immediately narrowed his eyes and asked in a deep voice: "How did you learn about the chaos in Zhican Valley?"

Leng Ya didn't answer but smiled and said, "Elder, a tremendous opportunity is right before our eyes. Instead of caring about how to make the Celestial Sword Sect great and become the premier sword sect in the Land of Immortal Legacy, you're asking me why I'm concerned about the chaos in Zhican Valley. How foolish of you!"

"You're not Leng Ya!" Wu Lan raised his hand, materializing a sword that he pointed at Leng Ya. "Who are you?"

"For the Celestial Sword Sect of Yan Han Country, what difference does it make whether we destroy the Dao Sword Sect or Zhican Valley?" Facing Wu Lan's sword, Leng Ya remained fearless and even smiled as he persuaded,

"Elder, in Zhican Valley, every inch of soil is spiritual earth, and every inch grows spiritual herbs. Every building is constructed with spiritual wood, and within each building lie countless medicinal pills. Zhican Valley is the wealthiest sect in the Land of Immortal Legacy, with endless supplies of pills, magical artifacts, and cultivation techniques.

"Elder, you've entered a treasure mountain yet refuse to claim its riches. Instead, you choose to wag your tail like a dog, begging for scraps from your masters, letting them drive you like a horse to attack another powerful enemy?"

"Swoosh!"

Wu Lan thrust his sword into Leng Ya's chest, shouting: "You insolent fool! How dare you try to corrupt my dao heart?!"

"Elder, right now Zhican Valley is like a powder keg. It only needs a single spark to explode," Leng Ya continued persuading, completely ignoring the sword piercing his chest.

"Why shouldn't the Celestial Sword Sect be the one to raise the banner? With one call to arms, we could take Zhican Valley and seize their countless treasures. Why bother risking our lives fighting the Dao Sword Sect?

"If the Celestial Sword Sect wishes to become the premier sword sect, there are ways other than suppressing the Boundless Sword Sect - we can surpass them. With Zhican Valley's wealth in our hands, how could we not exceed the Boundless Sword Sect?"

Wu Lan pulled out his sword and grabbed Leng Ya's throat. With bloodshot eyes fixed on him, he asked through gritted teeth: "Do you understand what you're saying?"

"Everyone is here for profit. No one truly cares whether we attack Zhican Valley, the Dao Sword Sect, or the Boundless Sword Sect. You know how the cultivation world works, don't you? They'll attack whoever offers the greatest benefit. Zhican Valley has invited wolves into their home - it would be a shame if these wolves didn't act."

Though struggling to breathe and bleeding from seven orifices, Leng Ya still smiled calmly and said, "Besides, you know how Zhican Valley has been treating everyone lately. If you were to raise the banner now, wouldn't you like to know how many would follow?"

Wu Lan gripped Leng Ya's throat, staring intently into his eyes for a long while before finally letting out a sigh and releasing him.

He turned to face the greenery outside the window and asked, "Such skill at manipulation, such deep calculations! This has been your scheme since the sect hunting began, hasn't it? The hunting, the poisoning, stirring up chaos - it was all you. Are you from the Dao Sword Sect?!"

"No..." Leng Ya firmly shook his head.

Indeed, he wasn't. From the very beginning, since Zhican Valley's pill plot against the Dao Sword Sect, he had been the one secretly manipulating events.

The current chaos in Zhican Valley, the turmoil among the three sects of the Hengduan Mountains, the disorder in the Land of Immortal Legacy - he had orchestrated it all.

He replied to Wu Lan: "I'm just a humble disciple of the Celestial Sword Sect. How could I possibly scheme such things?"

"Our Celestial Sword Sect couldn't possibly have someone like you," Wu Lan shook his head.

"Elder, we must act quickly..." Leng Ya wiped the blood from his face and reminded him, "Don't let Zhican Valley's people realize what's happening."

Wu Lan sighed and sheathed his sword.

Then his expression darkened, and with a movement, he flew out of the room.

Soon, someone shouted in the skies above Zhican Valley: "Debts must be repaid, lives must be answered for! Zhican Valley must give us an explanation!"

Others quickly joined in: "Zhican Valley's poisoned pills have chilled our hearts!"

"Heaven knows, these poison pills must be destroyed!"

"Seven died today, who knows how many will die tomorrow."

Three factions responded.

Once someone takes the first step, and the second, third, and fourth follow, many more will join.

Before long, righteous people demanding answers from Zhican Valley filled the skies above!