A week later, in Donghua City.

Lu Wanzhen hurried along the streets, the current situation being difficult, and life was hard for everyone in Donghua City.

The cultivators from Central City had almost completely usurped the power structure of the entire Donghua City, arbitrarily detaining people and looting throughout, stirring chaos and filling the city with a haze of smog and miasma.

Lu Wanzhen's days hadn't been easy lately, either. Since Dao School had suspended classes, her student stipends had been delayed for a long time, and she had to scrounge for food outside the school to survive.

But her situation was already considered fortunate. Thinking of Jing Xiu, Xia Li, and Lin Muqing, she couldn't help but sigh.

"I wonder how they are doing now."

A few weeks ago, Lu Wanzhen and others like Jing Xiu were detained together by the celestial cultivators. After days and nights of interrogation and fatigue bombardment, Lu Wanzhen was released without any clear problems.

Xia Li was also released afterward, but Jing Xiu and Lin Muqing were still under house arrest, with no telling when they would be freed.

She heard that Jing Xiu's parents had been running around trying to find a way. But whenever Lu Wanzhen thought about the fact that celestial cultivators were behind their capture, she knew their efforts were likely in vain.

"Maybe they'll be detained for five years, or even ten. After so many years of confinement, their cultivation careers would be almost completely ruined."

"And even those of us who've been released are probably just bait."

Lately, Lu Wanzhen had a nagging intuition of being watched. And all of this was because of one person.

"Zhou... Bai..."

At the thought of Zhou Bai, a hint of hatred emerged in Lu Wanzhen's eyes, a feeling of betrayal welling up in her heart.

Returning to her house and opening the door, Lu Wanzhen's expression changed abruptly. A strange smell filled the air, and her instincts sent warnings.

But in the next moment, the caution on her face turned to surprise as she spoke in a complex tone, "Where on earth have you been?"

Before Lu Wanzhen, Qian Wangsun slowly emerged from the shadows, looking at her with a wry smile: "I'm sorry."

Lu Wanzhen stared at Qian Wangsun and said, "I've been asking around for news about you. They all said you vanished in Central City, possibly killed by the Heavenly Demon."

"I wanted to go to Central City to look for you, but then the celestial forces arrived and locked down the entire city."

Lu Wanzhen pursed her lips, "These days, I have been wondering every day what happened to you, whether you really died in Central City."

She gazed deeply at Qian Wangsun, "Where have you been? Why is there no news at all? Why didn't you come back to Donghua City? Couldn't you... at least have sent a message back?"

Qian Wangsun fell silent for a moment before saying, "I'm sorry, I can't say."

Lu Wanzhen: "Can't say?" A flicker of worry passed through her eyes as her Primordial Spirit power began to emanate from her, "Have you betrayed humankind?"

Remembering his relationship with Zhou Bai, Lu Wanzhen felt bad suspicions arising within her.

Qian Wangsun shook his head, his eyes meeting Lu Wanzhen's, "Rest assured, no matter what, I would never betray humankind."

Their gazes met, Primordial Spirit power subtly clashed, as it had countless times before during sparring sessions in the special training class building.

As fellow cultivators of the Gong Tu, Lu Wanzhen immediately sensed the sincerity and emotion in the other's eyes.

"You didn't betray us, so why did you disappear?" Lu Wanzhen asked in confusion, "Could it be... a mission from the sect?"

Sensing the difficulty in Qian Wangsun's eyes, she shook her head, "Never mind. If you can't say it, then don't. As long as you're okay, that's what matters. How about the injuries you sustained at the Luo Tian discourse? Are you alright now?"

Qian Wangsun shook his head, "I'm fine. You..." He opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he did not speak.

"What is it?" Lu Wanzhen asked, puzzled.

Qian Wangsun clenched his teeth and finally said, "Take care of yourself. I have things to attend to and must go."

Lu Wanzhen took a step forward and couldn't help but say, "Won't you stay for a bit longer? There's so much I want to talk to you about."

A struggle flashed across Qian Wangsun's face, and with a sigh, he said, "Forget about me." The next moment, his figure had dissolved into the darkness of the night.

Moments later, Qian Wangsun lightly leapt onto the rooftop of a tall building, gazing at the familiar city before him, a look of bewilderment in his eyes.

San Mei followed closely and said, "The Forbidden Land is far from where she lives. She should be safe."

Qian Wangsun said faintly, "You're worried that I'll have Lu Wanzhen go into hiding and accidentally spill the beans, which is why you followed me, isn't it?"

San Mei said, "Lu Wanzhen was intentionally released by them as bait. Helping you divert the surveillance to allow for this meeting was already a bit risky. Any further action would only serve to startle the enemy, revealing our position, something we can't afford."

Looking at the silent Qian Wangsun, San Mei sighed, "Family, lovers, close friends... these are human weaknesses. Every year, we have comrades who defect from the Sky Flipping Sect because of family reasons. It's human nature; many can sacrifice themselves but can't bear to sacrifice their family."

"But to be frank, in our line of work, one must be prepared for the possibility of one's family being destroyed at any moment. Enemies won't spare them just because they are your family; they will target weaknesses and strike mercilessly."

Qian Wangsun asked coldly, "What about your family? Have they been taken into the Sky Flipping Sect's base?"

San Mei replied, "My parents...didn't quite understand my choice. I wanted to take them with me, but on the very night I planned to, my father reported me. In the ensuing chaos, they were killed by heavenly cultivators."

Seeing the slight shift in Qian Wangsun's expression, San Mei said, "My story is nothing, the Sect Hierarch became the commander of the great retreat of the Kunlun thirty years ago, you should know his family is no ordinary one."

"What do you mean?" asked Qian Wangsun.

"The Li Family is considered one of the distinguished families within Central City's mortal population, with several members who were cultivators of the seventh or even eighth realms, all serving in the Thunder Department."

"There have been traitors among the awakened before, which led to the Heavens discovering the identity of the Sect Hierarch. Not long after, the Li Family was used to threaten the Sect Hierarch, but how could that man possibly compromise."

"In the end, over a hundred members of the Li Family, from top to bottom, including the servants, were all executed without exception."

Qian Wangsun's gaze sharpened, listening to San Mei's indifferent words, yet he felt a visceral sensation hit him. He questioned himself if he could ever reach the extent of Li Xiuzhu if such a thing happened to him.

However, Qian Wangsun didn't doubt San Mei's words too much, for in his eyes, Li Xiuzhu was indeed the kind of person who wouldn't change his resolve even if you threatened to kill his entire family.

Without such a will, one could not have created a martial art like the Great Sky Flipping Fist Intent.

Qian Wangsun murmured, "In his eyes, is there no one who cannot be sacrificed as long as the goal is achieved?"

San Mei patted Qian Wangsun's shoulder, "Get ready. The Sect Hierarch has decided, we make our move tomorrow, Jiaojiao might not hold out much longer."