Li Zongrui left reluctantly, as if he had made some sort of resolution.
Watching Li Zongrui go, Li Qingfeng sighed and said to Ye Qingchen, "Qingchen, thank you for your generosity."
Ye Qingchen shook his head and replied solemnly, "I am well aware of the kindness Master has shown me. I’m someone who clearly distinguishes between gratitude and grudges. If the Young Master realizes his mistake and reforms, I can pretend as if nothing happened. But if he still intends to kill me, I won’t show any mercy."
Li Qingfeng nodded. He understood that if Li Zongrui truly remained unrepentant, it would be reasonable for Ye Qingchen to defend himself. However, speaking too bluntly would make things awkward for both of them.
So, Li Qingfeng changed the subject. "Qingchen, I’ve always had a question. Your cultivation is only at the Seventh Layer of the Martial Master Realm. How did you suddenly erupt with such power at that critical moment, killing the Great Ape Chief—who was at the Third Layer of the Great Martial Master Realm—in a single strike? Even Zong Rui, also at the Third Layer of the Great Martial Master Realm, would have died by your sword if Elder Wuji hadn’t arrived in time!"
Hearing this, Ye Qingchen couldn’t help but frown as fragments of memory began to surface. Indeed, images of him killing Li Susu with one strike, followed by instantly slaying the Great Ape Chief, appeared in his mind. However, the memories were still fragmented. When Ye Qingchen tried to recall the details, a sharp pain flared in his head.
Seeing Ye Qingchen’s bewildered state, Li Qingfeng grew concerned.
After a moment, Ye Qingchen recovered. He shook his head in confusion and said, "Master, to be honest, my memories are a chaotic mess. I can’t recall what happened."
Though he said this, an idea lingered in his heart: the sudden eruption of his strength might somehow be tied to the beautiful woman inside his body.
Li Qingfeng’s brow furrowed slightly. "Qingchen," he said with concern, "I’m only saying this for your own good. Would you allow me to examine you?"
Despite Li Qingfeng’s noble status, investigating someone’s body was a deep invasion of privacy. If Ye Qingchen was unwilling, Li Qingfeng would not press the matter.
Ye Qingchen understood that Li Qingfeng had his best interests at heart, and he too was very curious about the identity of the woman. If Li Qingfeng could investigate and resolve his confusion, that would be ideal.
With that thought, Ye Qingchen nodded and sat down cross-legged.
Li Qingfeng slowly extended his Spiritual Sense and guided it into Ye Qingchen’s body. After probing carefully several times, he could only shake his head helplessly. He hadn’t discovered anything unusual.
Ye Qingchen felt it as well. Li Qingfeng hadn’t even detected his Dual Pupil Martial Soul, only seeing his Seven-Star Willow Wood Martial Soul, let alone the mysterious and beautiful woman.
Li Qingfeng is at the pinnacle of the Martial Spirit Realm, yet even he couldn’t detect her. Just how powerful is the mysterious woman in my body?
Li Qingfeng’s sigh brought Ye Qingchen back to reality. "Qingchen, I didn’t discover any anomalies. It might be because my Vitality Force isn’t strong enough. The one with the strongest Soul Power in our Qingyun Sect is the Pavilion Master of the Alchemy Pavilion. You should go find him. He can help you get to the bottom of this!"
Ye Qingchen nodded. Having something unknown suddenly appear in one’s body would understandably cause concern. Thus, Ye Qingchen was eager to uncover the origin of the mysterious woman inside him.
He bid farewell to Sect Master Li Qingfeng and headed toward the Alchemy Pavilion.
After Ye Qingchen left, Venerable Heize approached Li Qingfeng and asked, "Well? Did you really find nothing?"
Li Qingfeng nodded. "I’m sure you’ve investigated personally as well. We both reached the same conclusion."
Heize frowned slightly. They still couldn’t detect any abnormality in Ye Qingchen. What on earth had the boy been through?
Li Qingfeng mused, "Venerable, do you think it’s possible Ye Qingchen was tainted by a Heart Demon in the Heart Demon Tower? He might not even realize it himself, which could be why we can’t detect anything."
Heize sighed but didn’t speak, and Li Qingfeng continued, "If it really is a Heart Demon, we must quickly find a way to help him eliminate it. Otherwise, when he reaches his full potential, he will be a catastrophe for the Qingyun Sect, not a blessing!"
Heize shook his head and said earnestly, "I don’t think so. I haven’t known Ye Qingchen for long, but his willpower is strong and resolute. He wouldn’t be easily tainted by a Heart Demon. And taking it a step further, even if he were tainted, a kid like him would definitely find a way to overcome it."
Li Qingfeng wanted to say more, but Heize cut him off, his tone serious. "Li Qingfeng, if you want to elevate the Qingyun Sect from a One-Star Sect to a Two-Star Sect, then Ye Qingchen is your best chance! If you fail to seize this opportunity, I’m afraid you will never achieve it in this lifetime."
Li Qingfeng sighed. Heize was right. It had long been his greatest wish to lead the Qingyun Sect to the rank of a Two-Star Sect. Although the Qingyun Sect was currently the undisputed number one sect in the Northern Desolate Country, Li Qingfeng knew this was only true within this small nation. On the scale of the entire continent, the Qingyun Sect was insignificant!
But promoting the sect to a Two-Star Sect was far from easy, and just when Li Qingfeng was at his wits’ end, Ye Qingchen had appeared. Not only had he obtained a Divine-Level Cultivation Technique that no one else could access, but he had also climbed to the unprecedented twelfth layer in the Heart Demon Tower trial!
All of this was proof of Ye Qingchen’s talent, fortuitous opportunities, and character. It was a sign that his future accomplishments would be limitless. Most importantly, Ye Qingchen exhibited not only exceptional talent in cultivation but also an enviable aptitude in Alchemy. Such an all-around disciple would inevitably become the future hope of the Qingyun Sect, which was why Li Qingfeng favored him so much.
However, since emerging from the Heart Demon Tower, Ye Qingchen had been exhibiting various abnormal behaviors, which greatly worried Li Qingfeng. If he had truly been possessed by a Heart Demon and later descended into madness, then all of Li Qingfeng’s painstaking efforts would be ruined.
Therefore, Li Qingfeng could only hope that Ye Qingchen would be able to overcome the Heart Demon, just as the Venerable had said. Or perhaps, the Pavilion Master of the Alchemy Pavilion could help find some answers.