Chapter One: Mistaken Entry into the Demonic Sect

When Wen Yue regained consciousness, she felt as if she were lying on a cold floor. She heard faint sounds around her, her head hazy, unsure of what had happened, and dared not move.

“Oh my! How come these few in red clothes still aren’t dead? I thought you had brought these specimens back for me, the Corpse Matron,” an elderly woman’s voice said.

“I thought so too! I heard Red Clothes brought back some fine goods, so I hurried over, but they’re still alive,” a middle-aged man said with some regret.

I’m alive, yet they seem disappointed. Who are these people? Have I entered the Valley of Villains? A bad feeling settled deep in Wen Yue’s heart.

A coarse, grating male voice cut in, “You people! Why get so tangled over such a simple matter? Killing the living is easy, want me to show you how?”

“Corpse Matron, look at this girl here; she’s decent. I’ll unleash my little treasure for a feast. Then Old Hong will come to drain the blood, the Soul Hall Master will collect the souls early, so your little banner won’t be short. Finally, leave the corpse to you, to pair with that awakened Stone Zombie of yours,” the harsh voice went on, distributing tasks without regard.

Several voices praised the plan.

“Old Poison’s the best, always thinking of the elder brother.”

“Old Poison knows how to allocate. Let’s do it like this from now on; nothing goes to waste.”

Heavens! This is even more ruthless. I’m not just going to be left here and forgotten, am I? Wen Yue’s anxiety peaked; her palms sweated as she lay frozen on the floor.

Just then, a young woman spoke up, “Sect Leader, these are the recruits you told me to catch over at Tianluo Mountain. If they wanted materials, wouldn’t they catch them themselves?”

This was like a ray of light from the heavens! Finally, someone was stopping these devils.

But why did it sound like this woman was the one who caught me? Wen Yue’s teeth ached with anger, yet she strangely felt some gratitude toward the woman. Had she lost her mind?

People—comparing them like this—sometimes even the villain who caught you seems almost kind.

Wen Yue listened quietly, unaware of the full situation, still lying there.

The sect leader hadn’t spoken yet, but the coarse voice spoke again, “What? Sect Leader, you sent Red Clothes to catch them? What for?”

A middle-aged man’s voice replied, “We didn’t recruit many new people this year, so I sent Red Clothes to grab a few from Tianluo Mountain.” This must be the sect leader.

So they were caught just to pad the numbers, not to become human roast buns. Wen Yue felt a slight relief.

“Sect Leader, don’t give me that! Don’t bring your righteous sect’s traditions—like discipleship and inheritance—here. I’m telling you, even my own master got fed to my little treasure. What good are traditions?” The coarse voice sneered.

Is this human behavior? Even beasts wouldn’t do such things. Wen Yue listened silently, her heart turning cold. What place had she fallen into? These people were utterly inhuman.

She remembered that she had been testing spiritual roots in the town, and along with two boys, had been identified as having spiritual roots. The Five Elements Sect had taken the three of them on a flying ship to the sect. During the flight, there was a flash of white light, then nothing until she woke here.

“I didn’t mean for you to become disciples, but in such a large sect, there must be some manpower. Certain tasks need doing. I can’t serve all of you myself, can I?” the sect leader said.

“Sect Leader, you’re joking. It’s definitely us serving you, sir!” The coarse voice replied, this time with oily flattery and an unpleasant tone that made Wen Yue’s scalp itch.

“No need to serve me. Red Clothes, take these three downstairs,” the sect leader ordered.

“Alright,” the young woman readily agreed.

“Those playing dead can wake up now, or keep pretending if you want,” the woman said casually.

Of course, cultivators would see through a faint act of fainting. Wen Yue shivered and quickly got up. The two boys did the same.

Looking around, Wen Yue nearly wished she could be reborn again. Apart from one or two people, the hall was filled with men whose faces were overshadowed by dark clouds, their bodies weighed down by sins so heavy not even a flood could wash them clean. The murderers of countless serial killings from past lives would seem gentle and kind by comparison here.

No mistake, this place was the Demonic Sect. On the ship, a cultivator had spoken to the three about the cultivation world, focusing on the Demonic Sect.

He said a cultivator from a righteous sect had turned to the Demonic Sect for martial arts and even became its leader. There was also a beautiful woman in red robes, skilled in agility techniques, who did many errands for the sect. And a Soul Hall Master who looked like a dwarf. All matched perfectly—this had to be the Demonic Sect.

“Follow me,” the woman in red said and started walking. The three hurried after her. These people were ruthless killers; not a second longer did they want to stay. Though Red Clothes was steeped in sin, she still didn’t want them to die just yet.

They walked quietly. The scenery was striking—buildings extravagantly luxurious, yet outside the structures, nature grew wildly, untamed, as if deep in a secluded forest.

Had everyone in the Demonic Sect gone mad?

Red Clothes led them to a somewhat worn courtyard. “You’ll live here from now on. Someone will teach you to cultivate and cook for you. Don’t leave the courtyard unless necessary.”

“If anything happens when you go out, it won’t be surprising. If you die, those in the hall will be very happy. They’ll make full use of your bodies, no waste, you have my word,” she warned.

Wen Yue and the others nodded vigorously, fully believing her.

“Then I’ll leave,” Red Clothes said, satisfied with their response, and left.

As soon as she was gone, a boy plopped down, crying loudly, but then, as if remembering something, covered his mouth. His eyes were red, tears and snot smeared his face, filled with deep terror.

This boy was Liu Changming, dressed finely, clearly from a wealthy background, inexperienced in hardship. His crying was natural. Wen Yue even felt like crying herself, but tears wouldn’t solve anything—better to conserve strength.

Oddly, the other boy from their village, the thin and frail Mu Qingyang, stood expressionless, neither terrified nor panicked. His mental fortitude was rock solid—even Wen Yue, with her two lifetimes of experience, struggled to keep composed.

Wen Yue quietly examined the courtyard. It was an ordinary, large compound, like an ancient quadrangle, unlike the rest of the Demonic Sect’s architecture.

But it was old, the pillars hadn’t been painted in a long time, their paint peeling and blotchy.

“Creak!” The sound of a door opening startled Wen Yue. She didn’t know who was entering.

An elderly man dressed as a scholar came through. Wen Yue’s eyes widened at what she saw.

He radiated a faint golden aura of merit. It was subtle but unmistakable, like the kind of benevolent old man, kind-hearted and helpful, one might see anywhere in her previous life.

Not strange in the old world, nor in this new one—but here, in this den of sin and murder, the Demonic Sect, to see a man of merit was astonishing.

Like an angel born among devils, like a white swan fallen into a pit of coal.

The old man seemed not to notice Liu Changming’s state, giving no extra glance.

“My surname is Zhao. Call me Old Zhao. I’ll teach you cultivation from now on. Follow me; I’ll take you to your new rooms,” he said, then walked ahead without waiting.

Wen Yue and the others hurried to follow Old Zhao.