Quickly, let the real Zheng Zhaoling come to see me

North Jambu Continent, Fragrant Ancient Town.

Black Crow Lord Zhao Xuan walked through the bustling streets, his gaze fixed on the temples shrouded in swirling, vividly colored incense smoke, his expression heavy with gravity.

Rumors had spread across the Southern Jambu Continent about the appearance of monstrous creatures, and the Buddhist cultivators of the Great Thunderclap Temple were actively hunting demonic beings.

Though the Evil Spirit Sect could agitate rogue cultivators, they could not openly challenge the Great Thunderclap Temple, so the so-called "Nation Refining Scheme" would never target the Southern Jambu Continent.

The Western Oxen Continent was much the same—it was the heartland of the Buddhist sects. Any operation launched there would yield initial success but never a clean escape.

The Eastern Sacred Dragon Continent had been purged clean by the Xiaoyun Hall, and the crackdown was still ongoing. Demonic cultivators were only fleeing outward; none dared to enter.

Thus, the only remaining choice was the Northern Jambu Continent.

Moreover, the Northern Jambu Continent possessed a unique advantage over other regions—the locals worshipped mountain and wild spirits that had successfully taken human form.

These spirits, who cultivated by absorbing twisted human desires, were laughably weak. They were easy to assimilate and submit to, and even easier to supplant.

Mortals could never truly see through the nature of the entities enshrined on the altars.

All it took was a story, a shifting trend, a few displays of miracles, and the promise of effortless gain—a lie no one would ever expose.

Through such means, the Nation Refining Scheme could be prepared in utter silence.

The conditions on the Northern Jambu Continent were simply too perfect to pass up.

Zhao Xuan was now studying how to select a nation on this continent—one small enough, preferably isolated and closed off from the world.

The task itself was simple, but carrying it out with peace of mind was far from easy.

What Xu Si had demonstrated to Zhao Xuan remained insufficient—the mere display of blood energy wasn't enough.

After all, even a villain could stand with the righteous and betray their own kind.

Zhao Xuan halted mid-step, turning his gaze back. The Evil Spirit Sect's deputy leader, known as Evil Spirit, was approaching from the side of the street.

He had come from a great distance but now stood shoulder to shoulder with Zhao Xuan, having seemingly taken only a few small steps.

Evil Spirit was cloaked in a black robe. A withered hand emerged from beneath it, and a calm, gentle voice spoke from within the hood:

"I've verified it. No issues. The identity and incidents are all genuine."

Zhao Xuan let out a breath of relief. He knew that the deputy leader before him was not human, and he was also aware that the organization behind Evil Spirit possessed formidable intelligence-gathering capabilities.

If the Evil Spirit Sect's internal information had turned up nothing suspect, and if the deputy leader's background had also checked out clean, then at least some thirty percent trust could be granted.

Zhao Xuan nodded. An old woman carrying dark red sandalwood brushed past his side, and he glanced at her absently before speaking in a somewhat careless tone:

"If the blood energy of an entire nation could be condensed, it might just solve the problem you all have been scraping and begging for."

"That is true," Evil Spirit agreed with a nod.

Zhao Xuan turned his head again, curiosity creeping into his voice:

"Then, from what you're saying, you also wish to see this scheme succeed?"

Evil Spirit raised his hood slightly, revealing his smooth jawline:

"Of course. The higher-ups have given us full support. We are simply to see this matter through."

Hearing this, Zhao Xuan's trust rose to fifty percent. If there was backing from above, that meant real profit was at stake. He let out a soft sigh:

"Too bad the first big fruit must be taken by someone else. If he doesn't get what he wants, he'll never hand over the secret art to us."

Evil Spirit chuckled at this:

"After all these years, you still love probing for information. I can only say I don't know. What the higher-ups intend to do, I am also unaware.

"All I can tell you is this: if we obtain the secret art, your share will be there too. We simply won't go out of our way to assist you beyond that.

"Throughout the years, our cooperation has held because we are willing to share the spoils, aren't we?

"The Evil Spirit Sect is vast. There's no need for internal strife over something that can be replicated."

These words nudged Zhao Xuan's trust to sixty percent. He put on a solemn expression and replied:

"That sounds too formal between us. I have never harbored such thoughts."

Before Evil Spirit could respond, Zhao Xuan smoothly changed the subject:

"While you were off investigating, I have already drawn up a plan. This Northern Jambu Continent is truly an ideal place—faith fills the air, making it extremely easy for us to blend in."

Evil Spirit stopped walking, turning to look at the dust-laden temple behind them. His tone grew cautious:

"Don't underestimate the Northern Jambu Continent. If it were truly that simple, this place would have long been swarming with demonic cultivators.

"Those wild spirits wearing the robes of gods have banded together, forming an ironclad alliance over a thousand years. Their unspoken rules are more binding than heaven itself.

"If that weren't the case, the culture of shrines wouldn't have endured here for a millennium.

"Short-term gains are possible, but to truly control a nation—you're facing those wild spirits who will stop at nothing for their interests. They have their rules, their stakes, and they won't cooperate with outsiders for a fleeting gain.

"We are the invaders here, easily cast out and remembered grudgingly for a thousand years.

"Once that happens, getting back in will be ten thousand times harder."

Zhao Xuan also stopped. His eyes fixed on the same temple shrouded in smoke.

Northern Jambu Continent, Cloud Dream Marsh.

Cui Hao paused, lifting his head to look at the plaque hanging high above. His tone carried a wave of nostalgia:

"It truly is one time and another. Never did I think I'd see myself coming back here one day. On the path here, we've seen those thriving hamlets, and it made me realize—everything we did back then had meaning."

Standing beside him, Zheng Zhaoling sneered dismissively:

"You can say that now, but once we step inside, you'd better shut your mouth. Better not bring up those old deeds. Yunze wanted nothing less than to burn you at the stake back in the day."

Cui Hao put on a defiant face: "Oh yeah? It wouldn't dare! Doesn't it know who my master is?"

Zheng Zhaoling strode forward, her tone mocking:

"You dare say that in front of Yunze?"

Cui Hao hurried to catch up, full of bravado:

"Sure do! With Lady Zhaoling watching over me, why would I fear some God of Yunze?"

Zheng Zhaoling rolled her eyes before steering the conversation to business:

"So, can you tell me now why your master sent you to the Northern Jambu Continent first?"

"You want the truth?"

"You asking for a thrashing?"

"The truth is, even I don't know. I follow my master's orders exactly. But wasn't there a rumor that Yun Li was cultivating here? Maybe Yun Li has dismantled the Cloud Dream Marsh, and my master doesn't have enough cash to pay the damages, so he's roping in the core disciple of the Cloud Dream Pavilion to foot the bill?"

"If that's true, don't count on me for compensation. You can stay here as a deposit for Yunze."

"Oh, come on! After all our cooperation, is there not a shred of goodwill between us?"

"Of course there is—goodwill for punching you in the face right now. Want some natural rouge for your cheeks?"

"That sounds suspiciously like you want to hit me."

"As expected of Cui Hao, sharp as ever. I'll give you a choice: left cheek or right cheek."

"You're not the person you used to be! Bring back the real Zheng Zhaoling!"

Zheng Zhaoling did not stop walking. She just let out a cold snort.

This version of herself was the true one.