Chapter 103: Situation Escalates, Righteous Vs Demonic Factions

The Cloud Piercer descended through thinning clouds at the sect boarding area.

Yu Liang stood on the top deck balcony as the ship settled into the northern docking bay of the Sect’s territory.

Before stepping onto the official road, he slipped back into his private room. The attendant had already left to handle disembarkation paperwork. Yu Liang pulled out the plain gray outer sect robe he had put in the system inventory at the end of the mission and changed quickly. The luxurious travel clothes vanished into the storage ring. No one on the busy dock noticed as how come such rich person changed because hundreds of returning disciples were doing the same, swapping their clothes or travel cloaks for the simple uniforms, so he just blended in perfectly.

Yu Liang walked along the familiar stone path toward the Outer Sect Mission Hall. Disciples moved in and out as usual, coming and going in steady streams. He had one thing to do first that is to submit the completion report for the extended mission that had kept him away.

It was a simple process. Just a stamp and a signature, that’s it.

But the moment he stepped inside, he noticed something was different. The usual chatter in the hall seemed a little quieter than before.

Groups of disciples were gathered around the central pillars instead of the usual mission boards. They were talking among themselves.

"...they finally admitted it. The Passion Sect has been feeding materials to at least four smaller sects for years. Crimson Fire Sect was the first one to be exposed."

"Exposed? They got wiped clean. Elders and the Sect Master died overnight. The disciples who stayed behind are swearing they were being framed, but the evidence was everywhere like soul jars, ledgers with names, even that spy’s token linking straight to Passion Sect’s elders."

A disciple near counter shook his head.

"Righteous elders from the Three Major Sects are already investigating the northern border. They say Passion Sect’s been expanding their blood rituals again. If they find one more connection, it won’t be small missions anymore. It’ll be a full purge."

Blood rituals were a branch of forbidden cultivation that treated blood as a medium for spiritual power. By combining blood essence with formations, souls, or special techniques, cultivators could achieve effects that ordinary cultivation methods could not. The stronger the blood essence and the greater the sacrifice, the more powerful the ritual but the methods involved were usually considered taboo by orthodox sects.

For an evil sect, the defining characteristic could simply be that they don’t care about the source of the blood. They might use captured cultivators, enemies, demonic beasts or even their own disciples depending on the ritual.

Another voice, a younger, cut in. "My cousin’s patrol ran into one of their scouts last week. The guy tried to bribe his way out with cultivation boosting pills but they killed him on the spot and brought the head back. The Mission hall also gave a generous amount of reward."

While listening to all this Yu Liang kept his expression neutral and moved toward the submission counter.

He reached the counter, handed over his mission jade slip, and received the quick stamp confirming his extended leave was now closed. The clerk barely looked up as he was also too busy whispering to the disciple beside him about "Passion Sect spies hiding in merchant caravans."

Yu Liang turned toward the main notice boards instead of leaving. The usual requests for spirit herb gathering and beast hunts were still there, but they had been pushed to the sides. A new section dominated the center with bright red borders and bold script.

Passion Sect Elimination.

He scanned the few first.

Mission 47: Eliminate Passion Sect Outer Disciple Scout

Location: Jade City outskirts.

Target: Qi Condensation 8th layer or higher, confirmed blood mark technique user.

Reward: 80,000 low grade spiritual stones + contribution points.

Proof of kill required - head or intact storage ring.

Mission 52: Raid Suspected by Passion Sect on Supply Caravan

Location: Northern trade road near Black Pine Ridge.

Target: Caravan guarded by 3–5 Foundation Establishment Realm escorts.

Reward: 900,000 low grade spiritual stones + contribution points.

Requirement: Team of 8 or more at Foundation Establishment Realm minimum.

Mission 59: Hunt Fallen Passion Sect Elder

Location: Misty Gorge caves (coordinates will be given )

Target: Mid Stage Core Formation Realm, specializes in soul corroding arts.

Reward: 500,000 mid grade spiritual stones + one Tier 4 Mid Grade Defensive Treasure.

Requirement: Group of 5+ Foundation Establishment Realm with one Core Formation Realm disciple or a single Peak Stage Core Formation Realm disciple.

Extreme caution advised as target may have sacrificial subordinates.

There were more. Dozens of them. Some offered group bonuses for capturing prisoners alive, while others promised extra contribution points for any evidence linking the higher ranking elders of the Passion Sect.

The board was crowded with disciples copying the details onto jade slips. Some were discussing which team to join, while others were arguing over who had the best way to counter the Passion Sect’s soul techniques.

Yu Liang stood still, reading each one of them carefully. The scale surprised even him. Months ago this section had not existed. Now it dominated the entire hall.

Of course the situation had escalated exactly like this because of him.

What started as a small struggle had suddenly turned into evidence of a much larger demonic network.

Righteous elders had arrived at the ruins, confirmed the blood rituals, traced the fake links and demanded action. The Passion Sect had denied everything, of course, but that only made people more suspicious.

Soon, smaller righteous sects began sending their disciples on "scouting" missions, which quickly turned into hunts. The Cloudwater Sect wasn’t about to stay behind when contribution points and prestige were involved, so the Mission Hall was soon flooded with suppression and elimination missions.

Yu Liang smiled. He just wanted to protect his people and send a message. He did expected fire to spread but not this far or this fast. Standing here in the familiar gray robe, surrounded by disciples who had no idea one of their own Outer Sect’s brother had lit the spark.

The Passion Sect was no longer a big threat. It was now the sect’s active enemy, with missions posted openly and rewards high enough to draw even cautious cultivators. And he didn’t plan to hide his wealth now as he has enough assurances.

He folded his hands behind his back and kept reading the remaining notices, committing the important ones to memory.

Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind. ’It seems Mei Hua won’t have to wait much longer.’