Chapter 178: The Evil Sect Leader

From a distance, Sect Leader Murong sat elegantly on the altar. Her figure was graceful, like a young maiden of sixteen. Upon closer look, her skin appeared as delicate and smooth as a baby’s. Her proportions were perfect—not too much, not too little—simply stunning. Unfortunately, a thick veil covered her face, revealing only a pair of indifferent eyes. No one knew what breathtaking beauty lay beneath that veil.

“Mu Feng, the Jianning Scholar, pays respects to the Sect Leader!”

Mu Feng bowed respectfully, not daring to take another look at the stunning figure seated above the altar.

“Rise!”

Sect Leader Murong, sitting on the altar, raised her hand slightly in the air. Mu Feng felt a vast, gentle force preventing him from bending even an inch further. After a pause, she continued calmly, “I have already heard about your purpose here.”

Her voice was clear and pleasant…

Sect Leader Murong had a graceful figure, looking like a young maiden of sixteen. Her voice sounded exceptionally melodious, without a trace of age, completely unlike an elderly person.

“Sect Leader, then what do you think…”

Mu Feng felt uneasy as he looked at Sect Leader Murong, who sat calmly on the altar.

Poison Shadow Elder, leaning on her dragon-headed crutch, was powerful, but Mu Feng could at least sense the fluctuations of her energy. However, from Sect Leader Murong seated on the altar, he could detect no energy fluctuations at all. Clearly, it wasn’t that she lacked cultivation; rather, her strength was unfathomable, far beyond what his Mortal Realm perception could grasp.

Just Poison Shadow Elder alone was enough to make anyone surrender. If Sect Leader Murong herself took action, who could possibly stand against her?

Unconsciously, beads of cold sweat formed on Mu Feng’s forehead.

He had traveled far from Jianning City, encountering many experts along the way. Tranquil Recluse, Flying Sky Bat, Yanyulou, Nine-Fingered Black Demon… each one was immensely powerful. But as the saying goes, there is always a higher mountain. In front of the cold and aloof Sect Leader Murong, none of them would likely be a match. Perhaps only Master Kongwu from Puyang Mountain or Ren Pingsheng, Hall Master of the Sword Control Hall from the ruthless Immortal Sword Sect, could put up a fight!

“The Yang Soul Pill—a top-grade pill that only our Poison Sect can refine under the heavens. Just one pill takes a hundred years to produce, capable of bringing the dead back to life.”

Sect Leader Murong remained motionless above, pausing briefly before continuing calmly, “Normally, such a precious top-grade pill is something even the old folks from the Yellow Springs Sect or Yinfeng Sect wouldn’t dare ask for, let alone demand two at once. Ordinary people don’t even need to be mentioned. However, for the sake of my junior sister Feifei, giving you two pills isn’t entirely impossible, but…”

“But what? Sect Leader, if you have any requests, please state them.” Seeing Sect Leader Murong’s attitude soften, Mu Feng’s eyes lit up with hope.

“Hahaha, simple!”

The veiled Sect Leader Murong laughed, looking at Mu Feng with interest as she continued, “The renowned Jianning First Scholar—brave, resourceful, and handsome, truly a talented young man. Young Master Mu, what do you think of my daughter Murong Xue?”

“Good, very good!”

Mu Feng was taken aback and gave a vague reply.

Outwardly, he remained expressionless, but inwardly he was shocked. He hadn’t expected Sect Leader Murong, who secluded herself on the altar, to be so well-informed and quickly uncover his background.

“Hahaha, pretty is pretty, ugly is ugly. How can you describe a girl’s appearance with such ambiguity?”

Sect Leader Murong laughed, seeing right through Mu Feng’s thoughts. She continued, “Young Master Mu, a single Yang Soul Pill is hard to come by, but if you’re truly sincere, not just two, but even three pills are possible. Let the young girl beside you take them back, and you stay here to marry my daughter. You can have the wedding tonight. How about that?”

“What?”

The three below the altar exclaimed in unison.

Mu Feng was completely caught off guard. Jing Wushuang grabbed the corner of his clothes, afraid he would be taken away by another woman in the next moment. The most shocked was the silent Black-clad Woman, Murong Xue, who looked up at her mother in disbelief.

“Mother, I think you’ve been in seclusion for too long. Have you lost your mind? How can you joke like this? Xue’er will not marry! Even if I must marry, no one else can decide for me!”

Murong Xue was both shocked and angry, firmly opposing.

This Xiucai Mu Feng seemed decent—well-learned and not as rigid as other scholars. He was skilled and sharp-witted. But they had only met by chance a few days ago! How could she suddenly marry him?

“Yes, yes, Sect Leader Murong, you really know how to joke.”

Mu Feng chuckled awkwardly, never expecting the lofty Sect Leader Murong to make such an absurd request. He tactfully opposed it, following Murong Xue’s lead.

“Heh, a joke? Xue’er, I am your mother. If I don’t decide your marriage, who will?”

The lofty Sect Leader Murong sneered coldly, scanning Mu Feng up and down before continuing, “Our Poison Sect never takes male disciples, nor do we allow men to reside or linger here. But the lineage must continue, and the bloodline must be passed on. Xue’er, you and Young Master Mu have just met; you don’t know each other and have no feelings. But that’s for the best. After the marriage, once you’re with child, we can simply dress him up nicely and send Young Master Mu on his final journey. Back then, your father was the same—he died painlessly in bed! Men are no good; it’s better for them to die early, to avoid committing more sins!”

“…”

As soon as Sect Leader Murong finished speaking, the three below the altar gasped in unison.

What is cruelty? What is cold-bloodedness?

This is it!

According to Sect Leader Murong’s words, it seemed Murong Xue’s biological father had died at the hands of her own mother, right in bed. Perhaps he died in his sleep, or perhaps after a passionate encounter. The true manner of his death might only be known to the cold-blooded Sect Leader Murong herself.

Indeed, like junior sister, like senior sister!

Looking at the solemn and cold Sect Leader Murong seated on the altar, Mu Feng could no longer laugh. He no longer found it absurd but felt deep fear, reminded of the equally evil Ghost Mother.

These two women came from the same sect, both possessing unfathomable strength and the same wickedness!

“Brother Mu Feng, let’s go! Leave this place immediately!”

Jing Wushuang’s face turned pale. After a fearful glance at Sect Leader Murong above, she made a quick decision.

At this point, the Yang Soul Pills no longer mattered; it was fine if they couldn’t obtain them. For her, the most important thing was whether they could escape from this place. Her own death didn’t matter, but Mu Feng absolutely could not be captured by them!

“Hahaha, leave? Where will you go? Do you think you can still escape?”

Sect Leader Murong laughed. Without any visible movement, the gap in the water curtain suddenly disappeared, and the roaring undercurrents cascaded down relentlessly. Turning to look, Mu Feng’s heart sank.

Just a single drop of water touched his sleeve, and a hole immediately appeared. Clearly, the water contained deadly poison. With the gap gone, who could charge out now?