Liu Yi extended his hands, their skin now unnaturally smooth, resembling a woman's delicate fingers.

"So what? Even if you've guessed everything, so what?

It's true Di Nü Feng is stronger than me, but she can't kill me unless I choose a fight to the death.

If I want to run, she can't stop me.

I could flee to Mount Shushan—she couldn't do anything. I could go to Tian Sha Hall—still nothing she could do."

Di Nü Feng: "..."

"So... so you're really the deputy leader?"

Liu Yi couldn't help but laugh. "Di Nü Feng, sometimes I genuinely envy you. No wonder you're happier than anyone else."

"What do you mean? Envious of my beauty?"

Liu Yi nodded. "I envy your simple, unadorned intelligence—completely free of worries."

Di Nü Feng couldn't tell if this was an insult or a compliment.

Liu Yi ignored her further, as if every word exchanged wasted his precious time.

"What I'm more curious about is who you are. Are you the sect leader's informant?"

Liu Yi seemed puzzled.

"But from what I know, my sect leader senior brother isn't exactly... intellectually gifted. Sometimes I can't even tell him apart from Di Nü Feng."

That was definitely an insult, Di Nü Feng thought darkly.

"Then are you the deputy sect leader? Is that it?"

"How about we make a deal?"

The voice came from Di Nü Feng's communication stone.

"What kind of deal?" Liu Yi's interest was piqued.

"Kill yourself. It'll preserve dignity—for Mount Shushan and for you."

Hearing the calm tone, Liu Yi burst into laughter as if hearing the world's greatest joke.

Kill myself?

Why should I?

I'm now the leader of Tian Sha Hall. While others practice skin-changing arts, I've mastered bone transformation.

A Great Tribulation cultivator. Master of Little Bamboo Peak at Mount Shushan.

My disciples, represented by Su Wan, are among the finest of Mount Shushan's younger generation.

I've endured so long precisely to stop being a stray dog.

I'm about to obtain everything I've ever dreamed of—including the person I love.

After this, no one can threaten me again!!

His master—

The previous sect leader he schemed to kill—had stored all records of his past in Tian Sha Hall's treasury of former leaders.

So when he learned that silly phoenix had replaced him as sect leader,

Liu Yi worried his identity might be exposed.

Fortunately, his fears proved unnecessary.

But with all his records in that treasury, exposure would mean utter ruin—reputation destroyed, cultivation lost.

All his efforts would vanish into nothingness.

Thus, Liu Yi gradually built his own faction within Tian Sha Hall.

Allied with the old emperor to besiege Di Nü Feng.

Once he became sect leader, he immediately went to the treasury to destroy every record of his past.

Now, no one in this world would ever know his true identity.

This was why Liu Yi acted so brazenly.

Such was his Great Dao.

As the saying goes: Painting a tiger's skin is easy;

capturing its bones is hard!

The same applies to transformation arts—no matter how much you change,

Your true form remains.

But Liu Yi could achieve it.

Just as his master once said: From now on, you are no longer yourself. You can be anyone.

This was transformation art far superior to Li Xuanxiao's.

With ever-shifting Dao Bones within him, Liu Yi feared no exposure.

The voice from the communication stone continued, "You misunderstand. You are indeed flawless."

Against Liu Yi, Li Xuanxiao couldn't secretly mobilize Mount Shushan to besiege him.

Nor could he force out Liu Yi's Myriad Soul Banner like he did with the old emperor.

Because Liu Yi's Dao techniques were orthodox Mount Shushan methods.

Di Nü Feng was stronger, but defeating Liu Yi wouldn't be easy.

If Liu Yi chose to flee, Di Nü Feng couldn't stop him...

"Your identity is flawless unless you expose it yourself. Except... Wang Yushu."

Hearing that name, Liu Yi's heart clenched.

"I can't touch you—but I can touch her."

Liu Yi's fists tightened. "What are you planning?" he demanded coldly.

"I lack evidence against you, but not against Wang Yushu.

You've done well, but overplayed your hand. No one knows the deputy leader's identity.

This creates another consequence: if everyone believes someone is Tian Sha Hall's deputy leader,

Even if you later reveal yourself elsewhere, people will assume it's misdirection.

I can have Di Nü Feng, as Tian Sha Hall's leader, forge records about the deputy leader.

Wang Yushu joined the sect with you—the timeline matches.

The world believes Tian Sha Hall's deputy leader is a woman. She's your perfect scapegoat.

When Lingxu personally ordered the mission to eliminate Tian Sha Hall's deputy leader,

The leaked information made him suspect all seven peak masters.

Guess who he'll suspect when presented with these forged records about the deputy leader?

Do you know what mission Wang Yushu is currently on?

I suspect she's already encountered one of your Four Guardian Vajras—Blood Prison Vajra.

Oddly, this mission was assigned by the sect leader.

Why would she coincidentally meet Blood Prison Vajra there? Tian Sha Hall's movements are notoriously secretive."

"So what?!" Liu Yi's expression darkened completely.

"Mount Shushan's Great Bamboo Peak scripture repository will be robbed. Someone will attempt to sabotage Mount Shushan's sword formation. Li Xuanxiao—keeper of the Demon Suppression Tower's key—will be attacked. Their goal may even be to open the Demon Suppression Tower... All this will happen soon."

Liu Yi remained silent for a long moment. "I don't believe you have such capability!!"

Li Xuanxiao sneered. "Besieging Liu Qiushui, destroying Wushang City, freely mobilizing Mount Shushan's Great Tribulation experts..."

These were publicly known feats.

Then, one shocking Mount Shushan secret after another poured forth like beans from a split bamboo tube.

Secrets only peak masters should know.

Not just about Mount Shushan's sword formations,

But also hidden locations of various grand formations' cores and their operational details—

Core secrets of Mount Shushan.

With each revelation,

Liu Yi's face grew paler.

Finally, genuine terror surfaced in his expression, as if beholding something truly monstrous.

"Who are you?!"

Liu Yi finally couldn't contain his shock, shouting hoarsely.

He couldn't comprehend how this person knew Mount Shushan's secrets better than a peak master like himself!

Li Xuanxiao ignored the question, adding calmly:

"Even if you clear Wang Yushu's name, it doesn't matter. This time I could send her away from Mount Shushan.

Next time? Who knows what she might encounter on the road."