His brows were tightly furrowed, as if he was contemplating something.
Clearly, something unusual had happened in the capital.
Judging by the aura on the person who had attacked him earlier, he was undoubtedly using orthodox techniques.
However.
Over the years, Qin Ping had killed many evil cultivators from Blood Dao Sect. He could faintly recognize that these techniques carried traces of Blood Dao Sect's secret techniques.
Blood Dao Sect techniques but without any demonic aura?
How was that possible?
It was utterly baffling.
The one leading this betrayal was the ruler of Canglan Kingdom: Chen Chen.
But Chen Chen, the current ruler, was a disciple personally taught by Qin Ping.
He knew his disciple's character better than anyone.
Chen Chen was clearly a benevolent ruler with a compassionate heart.
Why would he suddenly commit such acts?
This completely contradicted everything Qin Ping knew.
Unless…
Chen Chen was no longer the same Chen Chen!
Either his sea of consciousness had been affected, or… he had been completely replaced!
If his sea of consciousness was affected, then such an undetectable method of control was far too terrifying.
If it was the latter…
Two words surfaced in Qin Ping's mind.
Illusion Demon.
Within the Demon Clan, the Illusion Demon lineage specialized in transformation.
A high-level Illusion Demon could impersonate Chen Chen flawlessly.
But, appearances could be disguised.
What about aura?
They were actually able to conceal it completely without a trace.
The demons!
Had they mastered some method of hiding their aura?
If that were true, it would be too terrifying.
They had remained completely unaware all these years.
If the demons had mastered such a method and had been operating in secret for years…
Then, how many demonic cultivators and demons were now hidden within Canglan Kingdom?
And his disciple, where exactly was he now?
Qin Ping didn't dare to think further.
"Search this place carefully."
Qin Ping raised his head.
They could already hear the voices of the traitors, they were directly above them.
Everyone's expressions turned grave.
Their only hope now was that the formation concealing them would prevent detection.
But.
That hope was quickly shattered.
Not long after, a voice filled with delight rang out.
"There are unusual fluctuations here, there must be a formation."
"Oh? A formation?" Chen Chen's eerie voice could be heard. "Then what are you waiting for? Break it with full force."
A tremendous impact struck, the formation outside was under nonstop assault.
Silence fell among them.
Despair crept into their hearts.
They had hidden for days, but there was nowhere left to hide.
This time, they probably wouldn't leave this place alive.
"National Preceptor Qin, we'll follow your lead. Tell us, what should we do?"
"What else is there to do? Even if I'm gravely injured, I'll fight them to the death. Isn't it just dying, I accept it!"
"That's right! Fight to the death!"
Qin Ping remained silent.
He closed his eyes, trying to sense even a trace of fate.
But this time.
No matter how he tried, fate seemed veiled in mist, completely beyond perception.
Qin Ping let out a quiet sigh.
He had been too greedy.
Heaven had already favored him greatly.
How could it guide him every time?
A trace of worry flickered in his eyes.
If this had been planned for a long time, then what was revealed now was likely only the tip of the iceberg.
This situation was a bit troublesome.
Setting aside their own lives, there were still countless civilians in the capital.
If these demonic cultivators continued like this unchecked, disaster would soon spread across all of Canglan Kingdom, and perhaps even further.
These people acted without revealing any aura.
Even the Demon-Destroying Alliance would find it difficult to detect them in time and send reinforcements.
This time, they truly had no help coming.
Qin Ping sighed softly.
He originally thought that everything had been nearly settled. By following the rise of Wushuang Sect, they could break through their own limits and better realize their goal of saving the world.
But now...
It's seems like that wouldn't happen anymore.
He had failed Yun Jin and couldn't keep his promise.
He had already lived long enough, he didn't fear death. But before he died, he had to warn the outside world.
Otherwise, if these demonic cultivators were allowed to remain hidden, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Qin Ping's expression grew calm, a decision had already formed in his heart.
He turned to look at the others and said slowly, "Today, there is no way for us to live."
His voice was steady.
The others were momentarily stunned, but their expressions gradually became calm as well.
Yes, there was no way to survive.
"Today, we do not seek life, we seek death," Qin Ping said.
He looked at them. No one avoided his gaze, there was only unwavering determination.
Qin Ping felt both gratified, and at the same time, sorrowful.
In this world, countless cultivators came from mortal origins.
They had parents, siblings, and loved ones.
But.
Among the masses, those with a spirit root were always few and far between.
Many cultivators, at the beginning of their journey, still retained human emotions.
They would care for their families.
But gradually, cultivation knew no time.
Their mortal emotions would slowly fade over the long decades.
Once those they cared about entered the cycle of reincarnation, their feelings would grow even more indifferent.
Some even went to extremes.
There was a widely spread belief that cultivators should sever all emotions.
Once this idea gained traction, some extremists would even deliberately cut off familial and romantic ties.
In the most extreme cases, there were even those who killed their own loved ones.
Most were not so extreme, but the mainstream belief remained. Once on the path of cultivation, one shouldn't interfere with the mortal world.
If the mortal world was peaceful, such an approach might be understandable. After all, interference from cultivators could disrupt ordinary life.
But.
In the past hundred years, the demons had secretly supported demonic cultivators.
The four holy lands and many sect cultivators claimed that they wouldn't interfere in mortal affairs.
But, the demonic cultivators and demons didn't think the same way.
They hid in the shadows, committing countless massacres, stirring endless chaos.
The Demon-Destroying Alliance worked hard to capture them, yes, but most cultivators still maintained a lofty, detached attitude.
There was once an entire village that had been slaughtered.
A dynasty cultivator happened to be there. He, in order to protect the village, ultimately died in battle.
By the time Qin Ping and his group arrived, it was already too late.
The village was reduced to ashes, and the demonic cultivators had already fled.
But that dynasty cultivator had hidden a recording stone at the cost of his life.
It was also because of this that they saw what had happened.
The demonic cultivators of the Blood Dao Sect had infiltrated the village and used a ritual to drain all the villagers' blood to refine an artifact.
Such actions were typical of demonic cultivators, so although they felt grief, they weren't surprised.
But in that recording, Qin Ping saw something else.
As the massacre unfolded, a group of sect cultivators passed overhead.
At the time, those cultivators' reactions were to completely avoid the scene, they didn't even dare to approach and take a look.
Qin Ping could understand that they wanted to protect themselves.
But why.
Why didn't they even send a message or call for reinforcements afterward?
Qin Ping didn't want to say that their choice was wrong.
He only knew that he would never make that choice.
The people beside him would also never make that choice.
A person, must never forget their roots.
This was Qin Ping's Dao.