Troublemaker’s Guide to Immortality

"Aiya, why is that spirit beast charging straight at me?" Yun Jin cried out dramatically.

Ye Danxia's smile deepened, becoming almost unreadable. Very soon, Yun Jin would realize that something was wrong. But by then, it would already be too late.

"Run!" Yun Jin shouted, over-the-top as always, before darting off like a startled rabbit.

Ye Danxia's smirk only grew more profound.

Run all you want. Those spirit beasts have already locked onto you. No matter where you flee, they'll chase you to the ends of the realm.

When that happens, it will only confirm Yun Jin as the one tainted by demonic qi. Ye Danxia folded her arms leisurely, awaiting the spectacle.

"Danxia, run!" Yun Jin suddenly screamed from the distance.

Ye Danxia sneered, unbothered.

As if they were coming for her? How laughable. The beasts would follow Yun Jin. There was nothing to fear.

But then—

Shrill screams rang out.

Ye Danxia froze, her pupils shrinking violently.

The Blazing Flame Tiger, a Foundation Establishment-stage spirit beast, had closed in. It opened its bloodstained maw and lunged straight for her.

A look of panic twisted Ye Danxia's face.

Impossible! Why was it coming for her? Something wasn't right!

She desperately tried to dodge, but it was already too late. The tiger sank its fangs deep into her shoulder.

"AAAAAHHHH—!"

Ye Danxia's shrill cry pierced the air.

"Junior Sister!" Gu Jinghong's face turned pale.

What's happening? Have the spirit beasts gone mad?

Why are they attacking Danxia?

Gu Jinghong rushed forward to save her.

But Yue Zhao blocked his path.

"Senior Brother Gu, from the looks of it, Ye Danxia may very well be the one tainted by demonic qi. A person like that… is she really worth saving?"

Gu Jinghong's face darkened. He instinctively looked to Zhao Wuji.

Zhao Wuji's expression was grim.

He hadn't involved himself in the details of the plan. Gu Jinghong had always succeeded with these underhanded tactics. Why had things gone wrong this time?

Zhao Wuji's voice was cold. "Save her first. Perhaps there's been a mistake. The spirit beasts may have targeted the wrong person."

"Master Zhao, I must disagree," Lin Ya said with a lift of his brow, his eyes gleaming with sharp delight. "Spirit beasts are extremely sensitive to the presence of demonic qi. How could they possibly make a mistake? This Ye Danxia must be hiding something. If you ask me, we should let the beasts take a closer look."

Zhao Wuji's lips parted to retort.

But Elder Ling Fei furrowed his brow and spoke up. "These spirit beasts were raised by me. Even in a berserk state, they won't kill. At most, the disciple will suffer a few wounds. There's no harm in observing a little longer."

Ling Fei, who had a deep bond with the sect-protecting beast in the Unity realm, held considerable sway within the Tianxing Sect. He had never feared Zhao Wuji's authority.

He had agreed to use the spirit beasts to test for demonic qi not out of loyalty to the sect leader but because he truly believed there might be a hidden threat.

And now that the results were pointing to someone, he would see the test through to the end.

"AAAAAH! LET GO—!"

Ye Danxia was dragged to the ground, several beasts pouncing and tearing into her. Her screams echoed across the peak, shaking heaven and earth.

Yun Jin winced and instinctively covered her eyes, then peeked through her fingers.

"Furious spirit beasts... so scary... so scary..." she whispered to herself. "I'm just a little girl, please don't give me nightmares..."

Gu Jinghong struggled against Yue Zhao's restraint, his anxiety mounting. "Elder Ling Fei! The idea of 'demonic qi' is merely recorded in ancient texts. There's no proof it truly exists! What if we're wrong? What if we're letting Junior Sister suffer for nothing?"

Zhao Wuji's heart ached as he watched Ye Danxia writhe in pain. He had taken a liking to her from the moment she joined the sect, even before discovering her heavenly spiritual roots.

Since her induction, she had been sweet and obedient, always calling him 'Master' with affection. His previous five male disciples had never shown such charm.

Now, seeing her covered in blood, screaming in torment—

Zhao Wuji gritted his teeth, throwing caution aside. With a wave of his sleeve, he struck the beasts. Fresh wounds opened across their bodies, yet they refused to back off, still caught in their rage.

"Master Zhao!" Ling Fei's face darkened. He stepped forward to protest.

But Zhao Wuji struck again, this time with greater force.

The beasts were sent flying.

The Blazing Flame Tiger let out a final cry before collapsing into unconsciousness.

The rest writhed on the ground, their pain evident.

Ling Fei rushed forward, quickly administering pills and soothing them with spiritual energy. But their cries were too piteous. In the end, he had no choice but to force them into sleep with tranquilizing medicine.

Gu Jinghong immediately ran to lift Ye Danxia.

Her body was covered in bite wounds, torn and bloody.

How could this be?

Gu Jinghong's heart twisted in pain, as if the injuries were his own.

After summoning disciples from the Beast Pavilion to carry the creatures away, Ling Fei rose with a thunderous expression.

"Master Zhao!" he barked. "I told you to wait until their madness passed before taking action! You were the one who demanded the test! I only released their restraints because you insisted. Now they've found their target, and you turn on them?"

His beard trembled with rage. To Ling Fei, spirit beasts were more than companions. They were family, far dearer than most humans. This injustice—this betrayal of their trust—infuriated him.

Zhao Wuji, scolded before everyone, felt his dignity fray. He forced himself to reply, "Elder Ling Fei, we still don't know why the beasts went berserk. Danxia is kindhearted and filial. She couldn't possibly be tainted by demonic qi. Besides, she has heavenly spiritual roots. If she matures, she could one day join the Four Great Holy Lands. That would bring honor to the sect!"

"That makes it worse," Lin Ya snapped coldly. "If a person with heavenly roots carries demonic qi, she's all the more dangerous. Let her grow unchecked, and she could bring catastrophe. Such a threat should be snuffed out before it blooms."

His words stirred unease among the other peak lords. Had the beasts accused Yun Jin, they might suspect a setup. But Ye Danxia? Who in the Tianxing Sect could manipulate the sect leader's own faction?

That left only one possibility—

Could Ye Danxia truly be the one marked by demon?

If so, she could not be allowed to remain. Ye Danxia's expression twisted in fear. She clung to Gu Jinghong's sleeve.

"Second Senior Brother, it's not me! I swear I'm not tainted! The real one is Yun Jin, it's Yun Jin!"

She was terrified.

She couldn't understand how it had come to this.

Those damn spirit beasts. Why had they turned on her?

They should have chased Yun Jin. It should be Yun Jin lying in the dirt, bleeding and broken.

Not her.