Perhaps this is fate

"Blood Butcher True Monarch?"

Zhao Xuan's entire body was hidden within a cyan robe covered in inscriptions, not daring to let even a single finger protrude. This robe was enough to resist the divine sense probing of a Mahayana stage cultivator, making it the most treasured of his treasures.

He recalled and pondered for a moment, then spoke with suspicion:

"I've never heard of that title. Did you investigate it?"

The man who had previously gone to see Chu Xingchen replied humbly:

"That senior claimed to have used that name before. Though he looked young, he likely was far older. Before coming, this subordinate had already ordered people to look into it."

"Those calling themselves Blood Butcher True Monarch recently are just unremarkable Nascent Soul cultivators. But looking back through history, only one Blood Butcher True Monarch existed over eight hundred years ago."

"Records state he once seized power but refused to return it to the Qingxuan Heavenly Sect. He even used that authority to slaughter several cities as blood sacrifices, earning him the infamous name Blood Butcher from the righteous path."

"In the end, he was executed by the Qingxuan Heavenly Sect. Back then, only cultivators at the Unity stage could be called a True Monarch—unlike now, where even Nascent Soul cultivators dare to claim that title. So based on those records, this Blood Butcher True Monarch is highly likely to be that man."

"His name was Xu Si."

"If he was already at the Unity stage eight hundred years ago, and this subordinate saw no signs of age when I met him—unlike one trapped in cultivation for a century—then now… he might even have reached the Mahayana stage."

"The white-robed female cultivator by his side seems equally unfathomable."

"Yet, Sect Leader, they insist on you coming personally before they’ll talk. This matter must be handled with extreme caution."

Zhao Xun listened to the words, his gaze piercing through the cyan ceremonial robe to land on the humble-faced Black Crow deputy envoy, the once-trusted confidant and now Soul Formation stage cultivator, Changping.

His ability to gather and organize information had not diminished over the years.

It had been a long time since they’d met, yet Changping showed no dissatisfaction, willingly taking on danger despite knowing the risks.

The Evil Spirit Sect had grown so large in part because of him. Though his talent was somewhat shallow, it didn’t matter much.

What a pity, though—he was a heretic cultivator. One could never truly trust him and always had to guard against him.

"There’s a meaning behind them holding the Black Crow Direct Order—they’re looking for me. If they only wanted to handle things, they wouldn’t make such noise," Zhao Xuan’s voice turned unusually hoarse and heavy. "If it really is Xu Si, a blood-attribute cultivator who may have entered Mahayana, do you think he’d finish this business so easily?"

"What seemed discourteous to us might actually be him showing us great face."

"A Mahayana blood-attribute cultivator..."

Zhao Xun pondered briefly.

A Mahayana cultivator was terrifying indeed, but not truly beyond his ability to manage.

A demonic cultivator couldn't possibly treat the Eighteen Immortal Sects as mere ornaments, could he?

If he couldn’t handle it himself, Zhao Xuan always had ways to force the Eighteen Immortal Sects to intervene.

Frame-ups and misdirection—those were second nature to him by now.

Zhao Xun gently fingered the jade token Chu Xingchen had given him as an address.

A Mahayana demonic cultivator, silent for who knows how many years, emerging with only one clear purpose: to try crossing into the Tribulation stage.

Zhao Xun looked up at Deputy Envoy Changping:

"Gather more information. Keep a sharp eye on the Eighteen Immortal Sects' movements. Also, collect more details on Xu Si’s past and await my orders."

"In addition, notify Chief Envoy Wang An about this. Ask him to stay vigilant and see if he has any other information."

Changping bowed at the words and said in a gentle tone:

"Understood, Sect Leader. May you be safe."

With that, Changping lowered his head and left.

Zhao Xuan did not immediately set off for the Eight Directions Valley. Instead, he sat for a time, organizing his thoughts before slowly standing.

He naturally couldn’t head straight back to the Eight Directions Valley. Well practiced, he took a winding route, taking care to do good deeds along the way and deliberately leaving traces linking them to the Eight Directions Valley’s master, building evidence.

After several more days, he finally returned to the Eight Directions Valley.

The valley now housed one hundred seventy outer disciples, thirty inner disciples, two personal disciples, and over a dozen elders.

In the remote parts of the Central Continent, it had already become quite influential.

Zhao Xun had long cultivated a first impression among the locals as a powerful cultivator dedicated to goodness and a decisive leader.

No matter how dark his thoughts, once back at the Eight Directions Valley, his face instinctively showed a gentle smile. He shed all pretense of authority, his tone softening with deliberate care.

Zhao Xun nodded at disciples he passed on the path, then walked slowly back to his main hall. Once seated in his place, exhaustion showed plainly on his face.

Any choice that determined the course of one’s life, without the chance to turn back, brought hesitation and mental strain.

If he truly used the method to break through to Mahayana—or even the Tribulation Stage—then this Eight Directions Valley, a small sect built for his future, would certainly be discovered.

Zhao Xuan didn’t fool himself into thinking that, after he participated in a national sacrifice, the Eighteen Immortal Sects would be so incompetent as to never find out about the Eight Directions Valley.

All disciples would learn that their kind and virtuous master was actually the evil leader of the Evil Spirit Sect.

Li Ye’an, on whom he had placed so much hope, would likely collapse.

A teacher who had always taught him to do good turned out to be a complete demonic cultivator.

He had poured over a century of effort into this place.

Making this decision wouldn’t be easy...

"Sect Leader, this disciple has something to report."

Outside the door, Li Ye’an’s voice came through.

Zhao Xun’s cold expression slowly softened. After a brief pause, he spoke with a warm smile:

"Come in."

Li Ye’an entered, performed a bow, and said:

"Disciple has a major matter to report to the Sect Leader."

"What’s so important that it puts that happy look on your face?"

"The Sect Leader will surely be pleased to hear it too." Li Ye’an’s eyes burned with excitement. "The Qingxuan Heavenly Sect, along with other cultivators, launched a surprise strike on the Juxian Pavilion’s surroundings yesterday. The entire Juxian Pavilion was cleansed, and all the demonic cultivators who had gathered there were wiped out."

Zhao Xuan’s smile froze for a moment, but he quickly recovered—he had expected this outcome. It was still within what he could accept.

But Li Ye’an wasn’t finished. His tone grew even more joyful:

"The Qingxuan Heavenly Sect also traced the clues and captured a deputy envoy of the Evil Spirit Sect who was spying. They uprooted a sizable part of the sect’s network."

A bad feeling surged through Zhao Xuan. He asked hastily:

"What was the captured deputy envoy’s name?"

"After investigating, the Qingxuan Heavenly Sect said the deputy’s title was Changping!"

Zhao Xuan’s mind went blank, but he still heard Li Ye’an’s delighted voice continue:

"How laughable—a demonic sect hoping for eternal peace. A pipe dream."

Zhao Xun stared at Li Ye’an, suppressing his emotions to ask calmly:

"How do you know so much detail?"

Li Ye’an smiled peacefully, pride flickering across his face:

"Because I spotted the anomaly in that deputy envoy, and it was I who reported him to the Qingxuan Heavenly Sect!"

"On that day, a disciple of the Xuanqing Heavenly Sect entrusted me to investigate the matter..."

Zhao Xuan could no longer make out what Li Ye'an was saying about mere coincidence. He only felt something stirring within him, something that had already pushed him to make a decision.