"Master, you don't even recognize me anymore? If I'm not your disciple, then who could I be?" Chen Chen smiled.
Aura.
Appearance.
They were indeed identical.
But Qin Ping knew that this wasn't Chen Chen.
If the child he had personally raised became like this, then everything he had done all these years would be nothing but a complete joke.
Chen Chen's smile grew even brighter, "Master, why say such foolish things? People change. Don't you know that?"
Qin Ping trembled slightly and asked softly, "Then… is he still alive?"
Chen Chen looked at him, his smile slowly fading.
He expressionlessly said, "It seems that living longer really does have its advantages. You are sharper than I expected."
Qin Ping only repeated, "Is he… still alive?"
Chen Chen suddenly laughed, "Of course he's still alive."
Qin Ping, however, didn't relax, he continued staring at "Chen Chen".
In situations like this, being alive often meant something far worse than death.
"Chen Chen" smiled faintly, "If I want to perfectly transform into him, I must regularly devour his essence and soul. Don't worry, I won't let him die before everything is finished. But if too much of his essence is drained, he might become insane? An idiot? Anyways, that's none of my concern."
"Chen Chen's" voice was eerie, clearly wanting to provoke Qin Ping.
Qin Ping took a deep breath and said calmly, "So what exactly do you want? If you take action openly, you won't escape the notice of the Demon-Destroying Alliance. In the end, you will still face death!"
At the mention of the Demon-Destroying Alliance, "Chen Chen's" expression changed, he sneered, "The Demon Lord has already returned! Do you really think we are scared of the Demon-Destroying Alliance? Just wait and see, you ignorant humans will all become food for us demons."
Qin Ping narrowed his eyes, his expression growing serious.
The Demon Lord had actually already returned?
Previously, the combined forces of the four holy lands had only barely managed to lure the Demon Lord into a trap.
Although he escaped that time, he had suffered severe injuries and should've gone into hiding to recover.
It hadn't been that long, how had he already returned?
Was the Demon Lord's power truly this terrifying?
Seeing Qin Ping's wary expression, "Chen Chen" grew satisfied. His voice turned strange and ambiguous, "You could say you were destined for this calamity. We didn't originally plan to take action so soon. If we had hidden for a few more years, our strength would've grown significantly, and launching an attack would've been even easier. But what could we do when the Demon Lord gave us the order?"
Qin Ping's expression changed slightly, "What does the Demon Lord want? Canglan Kingdom is just a small nation, why would he fixate on it?!"
"Canglan Kingdom may be small, but unfortunately, someone remarkable had actually appeared in this remote place." As the demon spoke, his words carried hints of mocking. "I might as well tell you directly, you know this person too. She offended the Demon Lord. Now, the Demon Lord wants her dead."
Qin Ping's pupils contracted sharply.
A name instantly surfaced in his mind.
Their target was actually….!
Qin Ping suddenly produced a sharp dagger.
"Chen Chen" laughed, "Oh? You're quite well prepared, hiding a weapon in advance? What, you want to kill me?"
His eyes were full of disdain.
Not to mention the fact that Qin Ping couldn't use spiritual power right now.
Even if he could, being severely injured from the ambush, how could he possibly harm him?
Just as he finished speaking.
His pupils suddenly shrank.
Qin Ping had no intention of attacking him at all. He instead stabbed the dagger directly into his own dantian!
"National Preceptor!"
The crowd cried out in shock.
Even "Chen Chen" had a face full of disbelief.
Had Qin Ping gone mad?
Suddenly killing himself mid-conversation!
"Chen Chen" sneered, then immediately manipulated spiritual power to force Qin Ping's mouth open and flicked a pill inside.
Qin Ping's expression changed as he tried to spit it out.
But under the control of "Chen Chen's" spiritual power, he was forced to swallow it down.
In the next instant, the wound on his body healed at a visible speed.
Instead of being relieved, Qin Ping was furious. He tried to strike himself again. But this time, "Chen Chen" was prepared. A burst of spiritual power pulled the dagger away.
"Chen Chen" looked at Qin Ping's dark expression and sneered, "Qin Ping, you will only die when I allow it! And right now, I don't want you dead!"
Qin Ping's face darkened, and he suddenly began cursing loudly, "You demons, although you wear human forms, you lack humanity; although you possess intelligence, you lack reason! You are worse than mindless beasts, yet you dare dream of enslaving the human race, what a laughable delusion…"
He ranted endlessly.
"Chen Chen's" expression changed, but he merely sneered, "Trying to provoke me into killing you? Qin Ping, stop dreaming. I already said I don't want you dead yet."
Qin Ping instantly clenched his teeth.
"Chen Chen" laughed, "Qin Ping, oh, Qin Ping, you are really clever. You must've already guessed. The one the Demon Lord wants to kill… is Yun Jin."
Qin Ping said nothing.
But "Chen Chen" continued eagerly, "Recently, you've been persuading dynasty cultivators to join Wushuang Sect. Thinking about it, you've worked so hard, Yun Jin must've given you considerable benefits, no?"
Qin Ping only coldly laughed in disdain.
"Chen Chen" didn't mind, he continued saying, "Wushuang Sect was once unrivaled, but now it's nothing more than an empty shell. Yun Jin wants to rebuild it quickly, so she would need support. Dynasty cultivators, a group long rejected by the sects, is her perfect choice."
"Chen Chen" said lightly, "Therefore, you are very important to her. I've heard that the entrance to Wushuang Sect is extremely well hidden. Outsiders cannot enter at all. Even if they force their way in, a single thought from Yun Jin can expel them. If she remains inside, she'll be nearly impossible to deal with. And if she absorbs all of Wushuang Sect's inheritance, in a thousand years, humanity may produce another unparalleled powerhouse. But… what if we lure her out?"
Qin Ping said coldly, "Yun Jin is not a fool. Why would she leave Wushuang Sect so recklessly?"
"Chen Chen" smiled, "The Demon Lord has given the order, we must eliminate Yun Jin. Even if he is not personally here, we, as his subordinates, must carry it out. The Demon Lord said that although Yun Jin appears arrogant and lawless, she is actually loyal and principled. Tell me, now that you and these people behind you have fallen into my hands because of her… do you think she will come to save you?"
Qin Ping's complexion changed.
He had already guessed "Chen Chen's" purpose of keeping him alive, but hearing it spoken aloud still made his heart tremble!
A flicker of worry appeared in his eyes.
The trap had already been set.
Yun Jin must not come!
Their lives didn't matter, somewhere deep within, his Qi Luck told him that Yun Jin's fate was tied to the future of this entire world!
If anything happened to her, he would bear an unforgivable sin!