【Moments later, the cries drew the disciples of Yellow Springs View to the scene.】


    When Xiao Yinjian saw Du Butong’s tragic death, his face turned pale. No matter what, Du Butong was still his eldest disciple—how could he die within the sect’s grounds just like that?


    Suddenly, Xiao Yinjian’s expression shifted, and he rushed up the mountain to check on Ye Yu, who was confined. To his surprise, Ye Yu was not only alive and well but had also inexplicably advanced to the Foundation Establishment stage.


    What was going on?


    Perplexed, Xiao Yinjian brought Ye Yu down to examine Du Butong’s corpse.


    “Did you see your senior brother tonight or hear anything?” Xiao Yinjian asked.


    Ye Yu, also surprised to find Du Butong dead, thought to himself, Wasn’t the side effect supposed to just deplete his meridians? How did it end up killing him?


    Quickly gathering his composure, Ye Yu replied, “Yes, Senior Brother visited me earlier, exchanged a few words, and left shortly after. Other than that, I know nothing.”


    Xiao Yinjian frowned. “Even as a demonic sect, we strictly forbid harming fellow disciples! Are you certain it was just a casual chat?”


    “Absolutely!” Ye Yu replied firmly. Honest to heaven, though Du Butong’s death was indirectly related to him, no one would ever be able to link it back to him.


    With a grim expression, Xiao Yinjian ordered, “Old Qian, check the cause of death for Du Butong.”


    A portly, bald man stepped forward, pressing a hand over Du Butong’s chest. A faint glow pulsed, and watching this, Ye Yu nearly laughed out loud.


    Over his two years at Yellow Springs View, he’d come to know the elders well. The man before him was Qian Xingwan, the head of the pill hall. If Du Butong hadn’t lied, the Nine Heavens Creation Pill was concocted by this very man. Who better to determine the cause of death?


    “Our sect master is critically injured. As a prominent disciple of the new generation, you must be present!” Xiao Yinjian insisted.


    Ye Yu was exasperated. If he’s dying, just let him die. What’s the point of watching? Is it going to stop him from dying? And since when does ‘prominent disciple’ include Foundation Establishment stage cultivators?


    Annoyed, Ye Yu entered the main hall, where he saw Qian Xingwan shaking his head beside a bloodied figure. This must be Ma Jintian, whom he’d never met. By the looks of it, the man was indeed on the verge of death.


    “Yinjian... where is Yinjian?” Ma Jintian’s weak voice called.


    For a moment, Ye Yu misheard it as “yin jian” (treacherous), only to realize he was calling for Xiao Yinjian. Well, that name does suit a demonic sect master, he thought to himself.


    Xiao Yinjian approached with reddened eyes. “Sect Master, do you have any last instructions? I will see them through.”


    Ma Jintian pulled a scroll from his storage ring and handed it to him. “This is a forbidden technique I obtained at great cost. Guard it well, and only pass it on to someone suitable. The future of Yellow Springs View depends on it.”


    Xiao Yinjian clutched the technique, his eyes brimming with tears.


    Ye Yu’s eyes lit up. A forbidden technique? These were techniques that required a steep price to use. Now this... this might actually keep me awake!


    In the end, Ma Jintian passed away, and Xiao Yinjian became the new sect master of Yellow Springs View, which meant that Ye Yu’s own position rose as the “chief disciple of the sect master.” A title that sounded grand but had little practical value.


    That very night, Ye Yu went to Xiao Yinjian, eagerly requesting to train with the forbidden technique.


    However, Xiao Yinjian flatly refused, saying sternly, “Don’t even think about it! This forbidden technique is off-limits to you.”


    (Extra chapter sponsored by a generous reader. Thank you for your support!)