Players: All NPCs in the Sect Are Moles

Beneath a blood-red sky.

In the distance, a web of light woven from sword glints and magic clashed madly with the countless beast hordes surging from fissures in the earth, the roars and explosions endless.

The mangled remains and blood of the beasts flew everywhere; the demon beast side of the battle was exceptionally brutal.

Yet, at the edge of this clamorous battlefield, Lin Qingfeng appeared remarkably composed. He stood before a massive black iron chest.

"Not bad, Shi Gandang. Looks like the craftsmanship of your Artifact Refining Pavilion has improved again recently."

His gaze fell upon the open chest, where a suit of dark red armor lay.

The armor’s lines were fluid yet ferocious, with sharp, barbed bone spikes at the shoulders, elbows, and knees.

Its surface was engraved with complex array inscriptions, exuding a savage aura.

Shi Gandang’s voice was filled with pride:

"Of course!

First Senior Brother, I forged this myself. How could it be anything but the best?

I guarantee that after Junior Sister puts it on, she won’t die at your hands, hahaha!"

Lin Qingfeng reached out a finger and gently tapped the armor’s chestplate, producing a dull, heavy, and solid CLANG.

"Good, good. As long as Junior Sister doesn’t die, that’s all that matters."

As he spoke, he took out a glittering stack of talismans from his storage pouch.

Golden Radiance Talismans, Exorcism Talismans, Water Element Protection Talismans...

He slapped them all over the armor’s inner lining without a second thought.

’This way, Junior Sister probably won’t be killed by the impact, nor will she be... flung to death by me.’

’Sigh, I really am such a good senior brother, always thinking of my junior sister.’

...

Meanwhile, on the main front of the battlefield, the situation changed in a flash!

The Heaven-Devouring Frost Flame Wolf, having broken free from its partial restraints, locked its demonic eyes on Su Ling’er as the Demon Power around its body suddenly erupted!

Its massive claw seemed to carry world-destroying momentum as it swiped toward her!

’It’s over...’

’It’s over, it’s over, it’s over.’

...

Su Ling’er wailed internally, ’Is my path of Cultivation going to end here?’

’This disciple is useless! Mr. Qian, this disciple will go on ahead!’

’No, wait, he’s already gone on ahead, so I should be taking a step after him.’

The Supreme Heart-Clearing Soul-Stabilizing Skill allowed the junior sister to remain clear-headed enough to correct her own dramatic thoughts even at a time like this.

Just as she was about to close her eyes in despair, she was horrified to find her body tilting backward at an unbelievable angle.

Then, she skimmed perilously close to the ground, allowing the deadly wolf claw to pass just an inch above the tip of her nose with a vicious howl of wind!

’???’

’I... I dodged it?’

’Is this still me?’

Su Ling’er was in disbelief.

’I’m just at the peak of Qi Refining, but I’ve become this strong?!’

Immediately after, amid the Heaven-Devouring Frost Flame Wolf’s successive attacks of ice spikes, her body continuously dodged and weaved.

She could always, at the very last second before an attack landed, evade it with the smallest possible movement.

’I... Am I really this strong?!’

’I feel terrifyingly strong right now!’

’Could it be? In this life-or-death moment, my hidden potential has been unlocked?’

’Am I a one-in-a-million combat genius?!’

’My talent wasn’t in Cultivation, it was in combat!’

’My body is making the perfect moves on its own, even before I can react!’

’Hahahaha!’

’I, a mere peak Qi Refining cultivator, can toy with a Core Formation greater demon beast in the palm of my hand!’

’A Four-Element Pseudo Spirit Root? No hope of reaching Foundation Establishment in this lifetime? That’s all a load of nonsense!’

’I, Su Ling’er, am about to achieve enlightenment right here and prove my supreme immortal path!’

Just as she was indulging in the wonderful delusion of being a "peerless prodigy," her body suddenly flew backward out of her control!

She stared blankly at the scenery rushing past her.

’Wh-What’s happening now?’

’What attack am I dodging this time?’

BANG!

With a tremendous crash, she slammed straight into the giant black iron chest, and her vision was instantly plunged into darkness.

When she regained consciousness, she found herself looking out through the visor slit of a helmet.

Right in front of her was her First Senior Brother’s gentle, smiling face.

His right hand was still held in a forward grasping motion, and a few faint threads of Spiritual Power at his fingertips were slowly dissipating.

"Junior Sister, how do you feel?"

"F-First Senior Brother... what is this...?"

"This is one of the techniques from the ’Thousand Threads’ series I created, called the ’Thousand Threads Puppet Show.’"

Lin Qingfeng explained with a smile,

"That was just a small test of its abilities to help you out of that predicament."

The boundless heroic spirit that had just surged within Su Ling’er instantly shattered into a million pieces.

’What the hell...’

’So it wasn’t that I was some gifted genius, but that I was being controlled like a marionette by this great demon lord the whole time?!’

’But... at least First Senior Brother stepped in.’

’With him here, this Core Formation greater demon beast is surely nothing to be afraid of!’

’I’m finally safe!’

Just as Su Ling’er was about to breathe a sigh of relief, she saw Lin Qingfeng untie the sword from his waist, mutter something, and shove it into the gauntlet of her armor.

"Junior Sister, this is my personal sword, [Hold On]. I’m lending it to you for now."

’Huh????’

Su Ling’er looked at the hilt she was now gripping. ’Isn’t this the murder weapon that stabbed that one senior brother last time?!’

"F-First Senior Brother, what is the meaning of this?"

Lin Qingfeng took a step back, looking at her with a gaze full of both relief and expectation:

"Junior Sister, just now you faced a greater demon beast without your Dao heart wavering. You have the bearing of a great general!

"This ancient fiend before you is a trial bestowed upon you by the Great Dao itself!"

He reached out and slapped her heavily on the armored shoulder, producing a loud CLANG.

"Go! It is up to you to slay this beast!"

"The time has come to prove your worth to the sect, and to the heavens and the earth!"

’Sigh, although I, the controller, will get the lion’s share of the contribution points for the first kill, this is the best way to maximize her point acquisition while still ensuring she survives!’

’Plus, it will let my junior sister experience the thrill of a Qi Refining Stage cultivator slaying a Core Formation greater demon beast, a feat far beyond her level!’

’This will be a great boon to her confidence!’

’I really am such a good senior brother, always thinking of my junior sister!’

Su Ling’er was completely dumbfounded.

’A trial?’

’I’m supposed to slay this Core Formation greater demon beast?’

’Did I hear that right?!’

’First Senior Brother, you’ve got to be kidding me, right?’

’I’m just at the peak of Qi Refining, and you want me to slay a Core Formation greater demon beast?’

’Are you sure I won’t just be picking its teeth?’

’Or are you expecting me to do a sliding tackle and deliver myself right into its mouth?!’

"First Senior Brother! I can’t do it! I’m only in the Qi Refining Stage..."

Before she could finish her sentence, her body was no longer under her control!

Lin Qingfeng’s five fingers suddenly twisted, and he flung his hand forward! 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

He activated the Thousand Threads Puppet Show!

The ground beneath Su Ling’er’s feet shattered as her body, clad in dark red armor, transformed into a streak of light and shot straight toward the Heaven-Devouring Frost Flame Wolf!

’?!’

’!!!!!’

All Su Ling’er could see was the scene before her stretching and blurring as it flew backward. The air boomed violently in her ears, and her heart felt like it was about to leap out of her throat!

’Help me—!’

’First Senior Brother!’

’Aren’t you a Sword Cultivator?!’

’Aren’t Sword Cultivators supposed to be the ones charging at the front with their Sword Control?!’

’Who ever heard of one controlling someone else to go die with their sword?!’

’What kind of Sword Cultivator are you?! Aaaaaahhhhhh!’

Watching the sky-blotting wolf head grow larger and larger in her vision, Su Ling’er’s face was a mask of despair.

’You can’t be serious!!!’

’Why am I charging straight for its face!!!’

’I’m going to die, I’m going to die, I’m going to die—!’

’First Senior Brother!’

’I won’t forgive you even as a ghost—!!!’

Su Ling’er’s vision was instantly filled by a deep throat and a crisscrossing mesh of fangs.

She could even clearly see the churning crimson Demon Power within the wolf’s mouth and the frost crystallizing on its fangs.

A hell of ice and fire was right before her eyes!