Chapter 3
This Really Is a Demonic Sect!
???
What… what is she even talking about?
Lin Qingfeng stared blankly, face full of question marks — the perfect image of “a grandpa on the subway looking at his phone.”
What just happened?
What did I even do?
All I did was see her standing there like a wooden post and pat her on the shoulder!
And she’s the one reacting like this?
I should be the one asking what on earth is wrong with you!
Meanwhile, Su Ling’er’s heart was a stormy sea.
This devil’s movement technique is terrifyingly strange!
She hadn’t even noticed when he got close!
That wasn’t a mere touch just now — it had to be some sinister, unrecognizable dark art!
He must have planted some kind of mark on me… or maybe cursed me with a vile restriction!
To think — I just stepped into the gates of this demonic sect, and already I’ve been subjected to… something unspeakable!
Righteous indignation and grief welled up in her heart; her nose tingled, and her eyes turned red.
I came this far carrying the hopes of my sect, to uphold justice and the light — and this is how I’m treated?!
Lin Qingfeng looked at the red-clad girl in front of him, her eyes glistening with tears, and felt a pounding headache coming on.
Stay calm. Must stay calm.
This is a mission!
Recruiting disciples is an official sect task!
For contribution points, for sect upgrades, for a ticket to the “Demon-Subduing Ceremony,” and — most importantly — to venture into the outside world…
I have to endure!
He took a deep breath and forced a stiff smile onto his face.
“Junior Sister, please don’t misunderstand.
I called you several times, but you didn’t respond. I thought you were feeling unwell, so I just patted you lightly.”
Su Ling’er stared at him, utterly unconvinced.
Nonsense!
That’s the most obvious lie I’ve ever heard!
Didn’t respond? Please — you clearly used some sinister art to dull my senses, then crept up on me!
How horrifying…
Absolutely horrifying!
This entire sect reeks of evil!
She subconsciously stepped back again, widening the distance between them.
Watching her recoil like that made Lin Qingfeng grit his teeth inwardly.
What the hell is wrong with you? Fine. I’ll endure this too!
Su Ling’er, seeing his “gentle” expression, kept reminding herself internally:
He’s a demonic cultivator.
I’m an undercover agent.
I must endure!
The two of them stood a few paces apart, locked in silent psychological warfare.
Lin Qingfeng had already cursed the game’s NPC designer thousands of times in his heart.
What, is the program lagging again?
Why are you just standing there, staring at me?
It’s just a beginner tutorial quest — does it really need this much loading time?!
Forget it!
For contribution points, for the future of the sect… as the senior brother, I’ll take the initiative!
He cleared his throat, swallowed his irritation, and put on another polite smile.
“The Sect Master asked me to take you to Elder Qian in the Administrative Hall to handle your entry procedures.
Come with me. From today onward, I’m your senior brother — Lin Qingfeng.”
Su Ling’er instinctively nodded.
She watched Lin Qingfeng’s back as he turned to lead the way, and that back gradually overlapped with the image of a “Demon King of the Abyss” from her storybooks, making her shiver involuntarily.
But she kept reminding herself —
Don’t back down.
Not yet.
For the Sect Master’s promise.
For the chance to cleanse and refine my body.
For the Foundation Establishment path.
And above all — to uphold Heaven’s justice!
Su Ling’er, today you’ll infiltrate this pit of demons, even if it costs you everything!
Lin Qingfeng walked ahead; Su Ling’er followed behind, head slightly lowered, carefully keeping what she believed was a “safe distance.”
Her mind raced.
No, I can’t stay this passive!
I came here to gather intel — I need to take the initiative and get him talking!
This “senior brother” may be strange, but he doesn’t seem overly guarded against me. This might be my chance!
She secretly cheered herself on, then raised her head, trying to sound like an innocent new disciple — curious and naïve.
“Se—Senior Brother…”
Even saying the words made her skin crawl.
Calling a demonic cultivator senior brother… what a nauseating feeling.
Lin Qingfeng stopped and turned around.
“Hmm? What is it, Junior Sister?”
“It’s just… um…”
Su Ling’er pointed first toward the mountain gate, then at the vibrant spiritual plants underfoot.
“Why is there such a big difference between inside and outside the gate?”
“Oh, that?”
The question made Lin Qingfeng relax immediately.
Finally — a normal question! The NPC’s not bugged anymore.
He’d been terrified she’d ask something like “What is the Dao?” — then he’d have to make something up on the spot.
“Well, you see, Junior Sister, the world outside the gate belongs to Heaven and Earth — but not to our sect’s domain.
Simply put, the sect’s buff (which NPCs interpret as ‘blessing’) doesn’t extend out there.
Also, treasures of Heaven and Earth belong to the virtuous.
If we left them outside the sect’s borders, others could covet and harvest them — wouldn’t that mean handing our sect’s fortune away for free?
So of course, we bring everything within the sect’s protected zone.
That way, all resources belong to us — and they even get the sect’s buff bonus.
It’s a pity our sect’s level (rank) is still too low. Otherwise, I’d love to enclose the entire Luohé Peak!
When that day comes, not a single opportunity will be wasted.
Remember this — every drop counts toward the ocean; to claim all fortune for oneself is the foundation of any lasting sect.
You still have much to learn, Junior Sister!”
Lin Qingfeng finished his spiel — a half-remembered quote he’d picked up from the game forums — and looked at her proudly.
Su Ling’er listened, completely baffled.
Blessing? Rank?
A demonic sect talking about this stuff?
But as she followed the thread of his words, their hidden meanings twisted into something terrifying in her mind.
When he said “blessing,” he must have meant the area affected by their dark arts!
When he said “giving to outsiders,” he meant when righteous cultivators discover and take away their stolen treasures!
So… they used evil magic to seize all the life and vitality from the outside world, trapping it here to feed on!
That way, all the benefits stay with them — while being further nourished by their sinister power!
He lamented their “low rank” because he wanted their dark arts to grow strong enough to drain the entire mountain into a wasteland!
And that last line…
That every advantage, every drop of fortune, must be seized and kept from outsiders — that’s nothing less than a demonic creed of greed and domination!
This really is a demonic sect!
A den of wolves who’ve carved tyranny and avarice into their very bones!
And she, a poor, helpless righteous cultivator, is about to become one of them!
[Real World]
[News Archive]
The ultra-immersive game Ashes of Heaven (《烬天》), powered by the Divine Thought engine, officially launched its open beta.
Concurrent online players exceeded one hundred million, breaking every record in entertainment history.
Time Magazine’s “Person of the Year” cover was, for the first time ever, awarded to an in-game character — Qian Buyu — with the caption:
“A new era has dawned, rising upon the clouds of the virtual world.”
