Ex-Wife is a Big Villainess

Luxian Peak, located to the south of the Ten Thousand Mountains.

The layout of this place formed a hexagonal crystal system, forged with six sky-reaching jade pillars. It faced the Greedy Wolf to the north and suppressed the Heavenly Mansion to the south, locking and imprisoning trillions of Demon Energy in the Seven Killings Formation.

It was said that the first Alliance Hierarch of the Demon Clan had once slain six Ascended Immortals here. His fame was resounding through the eight desolations, and he could command the universe.

The Sky Demon Sect was established right here.

All eight major forces of the Demon Clan were based within the Ten Thousand Mountains.

Beyond that, there were a few other scattered minor powers.

The Sky Demon Sect, by adopting human forms, had profound foundations. It was the strongest in comprehensive strength among the other branches of the Demon Clan and was also the thorn in the side that the court most wanted to remove.

The very first Alliance Hierarch of the Demon Clan hailed from the Sky Demon Sect.

Even though today the Demon Alliance was fragmented and no longer had the momentum of competing for the Central Plains like in the past, the Sky Demon Sect still held the leading position within the Demon Clan, securely seated in the highest rank.

However, in recent years, as Ms. Qiu stepped back, the newly appointed Sect Master Qu Hongling was unable to win over the people, undoubtedly giving other powers within the Demon Clan an opportunity to vie for leadership.

Especially more than half a year ago, this madwoman inexplicably ran to the Thousand Beasts Forest and slaughtered wantonly, turning allies who were on good terms on a daily basis into sworn enemies; not to mention outsiders watching the joke.

Even within the Sky Demon Sect, there were many complaints about this young Sect Master.

If it were not for Ms. Qiu backing her, it was likely that the elders would have long ousted Qu Hongling from the position of Sect Master.

In the sky, a sharp cry pierced the heavens.

A bird resembling a hawk or falcon suddenly burst through the clouds, like a lightning striking down from the peaks, and landed firmly on the arm of a middle-aged man.

The middle-aged man had slanted eyebrows that extended into his temples. His long, flowing beard fluttered freely, and he carried himself with a remarkable and extraordinary bearing. He was Shen Shengyuan, one of the four great protectors of the Sky Demon Sect.

Ranked sixth among the top ten experts of the Demon Clan, it was said he had reached the Sanctum Ascension Realm.

Within the Sect, he was also firmly among the top three.

Only second to Ms. Qiu and the Great Protector.

Like human cultivators, the Demon Clan's classification of the martial path was also divided into three grades and four realms.

However, the difference between the Demon Clan and the Human Clan was that, at the initial stage, the Demon Clan's cultivation progressed much faster than that of human cultivators, and they were slightly superior at the same realm, thanks to their physical constitution.

This was also why many human cultivators were willing to absorb Demon Energy, choosing to cultivate in a half-human, half-demon manner.

But there were also drawbacks.

That was the extremely slow breakthrough of upper limits, easily leading to stagnation.

Once one entered the "Sanctum Ascension Realm", moving further forward required several times the effort and opportunity compared to human cultivators.

Even the Heavenly Tribulation they had to endure after Ascension was several times that of humans.

Shen Shengyuan took off a bamboo tube tied to the leg of the hawk, and pulled out a strip of paper. After a brief glance, he walked to the edge of a cliff.

A young girl stood quietly on the precipice.

Her red garment was as radiant as the dawn.

It was as if all the spirit and charm of heaven and earth were encapsulated in that single hue, stealing the color from the mountains and rivers.

"Sect Master, the traitor Xi'er has fled into the Capital of the Da Zhou Dynasty," Shen Shengyuan said, his eyes complex as he gazed at the slender and solitary figure of the girl. "According to our intelligence, the person who dealt with Xi'er has reneged on their agreement, not only taking away the Demon Energy but also nearly killing Xi'er. Should we continue the pursuit?"

As an elder of the Sky Demon Sect, he didn't quite believe the girl in front of him could secure her position as Sect Master.

Let alone expect her to lead the Sky Demon Sect to restore its former glorious splendor.

But he understood Ms. Qiu's painstaking efforts.

Moreover, having watched the young Sect Master grow up since childhood, Qu Hongling was like a daughter to Shen Shengyuan, and even if he was not optimistic, he would unwaveringly support her from behind.

The girl in red self-mockingly said, "As Sect Master, I have disappointed many people again."

Shen Shengyuan frowned and said solemnly, "The theft of the Netherworld Demon Qi this time is not the Sect Master's fault. It's because Chu Changgong and the others were negligent that the traitor Xi'er succeeded. The fact that the Sect Master didn't punish them, considering the past kindness, is already an extraordinary favor. What rights do they have to criticize and discuss the Sect Master behind her back!?"

"Mr. Shen thinks it's because I'm too merciful, not taking this opportunity to establish authority, right?"

Qu Hongling broke through what the other was thinking with a single sentence.

Shen Shengyuan's face turned red, and he straightforwardly said, "Sect Master, compassion does not command troops, and this isn't the time to dwell on old feelings. If you keep relenting, I'm afraid..."

Qu Hongling smiled, gazing at the vast waterfall cascading into the mountains like a bolt of silk, and said softly:

"I remember a saying in the 'Archive of All Living Beings' written by the divine healer Xu Caomu, 'If the liver is diseased, the eyes cannot see; if the kidneys are diseased, the ears cannot hear. Diseases unseen by the person will surely manifest in ways others can see.'

Mr. Shen, both the eyes and ears of the Sky Demon Sect seem to be blocked. Where do you think the illness lies? And where are the symptoms that can be seen?"

Shen Shengyuan opened his mouth, a shade of gloom surfacing in his eyes.

The viscera of the Sky Demon Sect had rotted.

Even if Ms. Qiu intended to redress it, facing the complicated factional forces within, she could only treat the symptoms, not the root cause.

"Speaking of a woman's kindness..."

Qu Hongling paused briefly, then changed the topic, continuing,

"We haven't fully understood the Netherworld Demon Qi, and those others probably won't make progress anytime soon. But the mole must be removed; we can't let some people take this as a laughing matter!"

At this, the girl's eyes sharply gleamed, revealing a murderous intent.

The fact that her own maidservant had been secretly turned against her certainly made some look down on her as the Sect Master, even taking advantage of this situation to make a big issue out of it.

Like... that Great Protector.

Shen Shengyuan clenched his fist slightly, "I will personally make a trip to the capital."

Qu Hongling remained silent.

Shen Shengyuan knew what she was worried about, and laughed,

"Sect Master, rest assured. While the capital indeed harbors hidden dragons and crouching tigers, and there sits the world's number one, Zhao Wuxiu, they will still need some skill to cut down this tiger serpent."

The path of martial arts, one realm at a time.

Yet every step demanded countless efforts and hardships.

Into the Saintly Ascension Realm, even if you dug up some hidden experts from around the world, there were no more than twenty odd people.

How many would be in the capital?

Shen Shengyuan was absolutely confident that even if discovered by the masters in the capital, he could retreat unharmed.

Shen Shengyuan hesitated for a moment, then looking at the girl's beautiful profile, said softly:

"Sect Master, just now I went to the bamboo garden and talked with the old Sect Master for a while. She said she deeply regrets having forced you to leave that person, claiming it was the biggest mistake of her life."

Seeing that the girl was expressionless, Shen Shengyuan gave a bitter smile:

"We can't blame the old Sect Master entirely. Although I've never met that lad, if it were me, I would have advised you two to part ways as well, given your status..."

"I'll go to the capital with you on this journey; there are some things I want to ask Xi'er in person."

Before Shen Shengyuan could object, Qu Hongling had already turned and left.

Watching the girl's gradually receding figure, Shen Shengyuan sighed deeply, then clenched his fist tightly.

Was the Thousand Beasts Forest really innocent?

Back then, the massacre in Anhe Village, who was it really targeting?

...

Qu Hongling arrived at a secluded cave.

Inside, there were two graves.

Within the graves' coffins were only a few bloodstained garments.

Qu Hongling walked to the left tombstone, crouched down, and gently knocked on the stone, her voice choked, "Jiang, are you there? Hong'er misses you so much."

The girl pressed her cheek against the cold tombstone, tears streaming down her face.