"D*mn it, how did the sect end up ?"
An Jing slightly furrowed his brows, already cursing in his heart: "The Round Silk Peak and Shihui Peak are definitely not clean."
Seeing An Jing’s expression, Yan Gui True Lord also reacted: [There’s more? Not just me, not just two peaks?]
[How could it be this bad? When did the Heavenly Demon accomplish this? The aftermath of the Frost Calamity is far more severe than I thought?]
An Jing did not respond, but Yan Gui True Lord sighed, fully understanding the current situation: [I think, even if it’s the same demonic contamination, the circumstances must be vastly different]
True Lord pondered: [I was corrupted because of my conflict with the Taiming Sect. Their Ghost God contained Demonic Qi, and they manipulated the Heavenly Demon as a servant—researching the Demonic Qi extensively]
[But who else could have a situation like mine?]
An Jing had hesitated originally, but he somewhat understood that Yan Gui True Lord should be an ally, at least half. So, he thought for a moment and said frankly, "Currently, I’m suspecting Round Silk Peak and Shihui Peak, though the specific reasons are unclear."
Intelligence is only meaningful when shared. Upon hearing An Jing’s suspicions, Yan Gui True Lord suddenly understood: [Fu Jing and Yulun? Now I understand]
[Fu Jing True Lord is very aged and suffered incurable injuries for the sect in earlier years. If he has Demonic Qi, he might have used Heavenly Demon techniques to extend his life!]
[And Yulun True Lord is simple—the answer is the Great Void. The Heavenly Demon’s research on the Path of Void far surpasses ours. If he studied void techniques, being contaminated by the Heavenly Demon is highly probable, especially since he previously studied Fate Patterns, often needing to enter the Netherworld in search of Ghosts. He might have been sabotaged by the Taiming Sect, just like me!]
Upon hearing this name, An Jing’s expression became more solemn. He suddenly realized he had found the internal traitors from the Heavenly Demon side, the Shangxuan Sect side, and even the Da Chen or Tianyi Demon Sect sides, but not from the Taiming Sect.
He had originally suspected that [used to fight against the Taiming Sect in the Netherworld and seize talisman-making materials] Yan Gui True Lord was the Taiming Sect spy—their losses were merely a bitter charade. But now he thought, the Taiming Sect wouldn’t be foolish enough to use such an obvious trick.
But now it seems... Yulun True Lord is more likely!
Moreover, if Yulun True Lord has indeed been corrupted by the Heavenly Demon...
"Could it be a blessing in disguise?"
An Jing considered this possibility and his expression eased slightly: "Fu Jing True Lord is a veteran True Lord, unlikely to be easily seized by the Heavenly Demon. He must be collaborating with the Heavenly Demon—so the one that Ye Po True Lord mentioned being unknowingly seized by the Heavenly Demon could very likely be Yulun True Lord, this internal traitor collaborating with the Taiming Sect?"
"The Heavenly Demon corrupting the internal traitor is not a bad thing indeed!"
At this moment, the internal situation of the sect became roughly clear.
In the Bright Mirror Sect’s Eight Peaks, the completely loyal True Lords are:
Chenyin of Dawn Brightness Peak.
Ye Po of Star Dawn Peak.
Somewhat unclear but likely loyal True Lords are:
Xiyi of Jinghuang Peak. Mainly because the actual situation is unknown; he is the oldest True Lord and may fall at any time, with no life extension methods proving effective. He probably doesn’t have the time to do anything.
Yan Gui of Chuyao Peak. The person is good, but was corrupted by Demonic Qi.
The remaining four are:
Universal Brightness of Rising Light Peak. Associated with Da Chen or Tianyi Demon Sect.
Fu Jing of Shihui Peak. Likely collaborating with the Heavenly Demon.
Yulun of Round Silk Peak. Possibly collaborating with the Taiming Sect but corrupted by the Heavenly Demon, likely unaware himself.
Shadow of Weichen Peak. Collaborating with the Shangxuan Sect.
However, even among the traitor True Lords, there are priorities.
Universal Brightness True Lord collaborating with Da Chen and Tianyi Demon Sect isn’t a significant error; if anything, it’s like Mingguang Dust, who also did it, and An Jing possibly would too—only taking benefits from Tianyi Demon Sect, only accepting the sweets. Whereas Mingguang Dust’s collaboration with King Jing was established as they were both part of the same Endless Heavens squad.
Similarly, Shadow True Lord collaborating with Shangxuan Sect would be understood by everyone: It’s long been said that being a traitor for Da Chen or Shangxuan, such Heavenly Ancestor sects, is not so bad. At least, they’re generous and fair. It’s hard to comprehend being a traitor for the Taiming Sect and Heavenly Demon, figuring out what they’re after.
Moreover, he lost his disciple—in reasoning, it’s unacceptable, but emotionally understandable.
So, the primary targets actually are [Mou Yunying’s Grandmaster Fu Jing True Lord] and [Zuo Tiannan’s Grandmaster Yulun True Lord].
Indeed, they are the two most heavily contaminated by Demonic Qi.
From An Jing’s current observations, Zuo Tiannan might seem a bit flashy, but doesn’t appear aware of this matter... contrast this with Mou Yunying, as the Bright Mirror Sect’s previous True Transmission first disciple, inheriting the Shihui Peak True Transmission, having a constitution sensitive to Demonic Qi and being a premier seed with exceptional talent and emotional intelligence—could he really be oblivious to his Grandmaster’s abnormality?
Setting this contemplation aside for now, An Jing raised his head and said to the also pensive Yan Gui True Lord: "I roughly understand the situation. May I ask how True Lord is faring currently?"
Yan Gui True Lord scratched his cheek and laughed, looking somewhat like a young man, no wonder he could nurture a disciple like Luo Qinghui: [Currently, I am a completely separated ’Mirror Self Divine Power,’ unable to return, and incapable of contacting my main body]
[Because my main body has a heavier Demon Heart, deeply corrupted. I separated during my clearest state; thus, I can communicate with you more, but my main body, likely covered in Demon Suppression Talismans, is in a pseudo-death or pseudo-sleep state]
[No matter, during my separation, I locked my main body. My main body accepted it, so even if he later regrets it due to deeper demonization, he can’t undo it. Since we are one entity, my main body cooperates when clear, even highly demonized can’t resist]
[All you need to do is notify Chenyin True Lord, have him lead a team to suppress and purify me. My main body knows it’s our plan]
An Jing watched the ’Mirror Self’ before him and suddenly understood: "I see... if your ’main body’ is completely demonized, then..."
Mirror Self True Lord said: [Destroy the main body and purify me—mirror inside mirror outside, both are me—ultimate insurance]
[However, if the main body remains the best outcome, my Mirror Self not yet fully achieved Divine Skill. If reabsorbed, Manifesting Holy realm is attainable, future Pure Yang position might be hopeless]
Not just the Divine Skill combat technique, a self-backup, a new life, another me in the mirror.
An Jing understood why [Mirror Self] is the fundamental Divine Skill of the Bright Mirror Sect, surpassing even ’Dutian Creation Divine Mirror’ as the sect-suppressing Great Divine Power.
"Alright." An Jing took a deep breath and agreed: "So now, True Lord, are you still residing in the talisman?"
[Yes] Yan Gui True Lord replied: [The talisman can only be unsealed in the Great Void, designed specifically for you]
[After all, anyone in this world may silently be possessed by the Heavenly Demon, except Divine Mandate. If Divine Mandate demonizes, heaven cries, blood rains, earth shakes, thunderclouds sea-like, myriad calamities arrive]
[Thought through, though An Jing you just returned to the sect, you are the most reliable]