The mountain housing the Myriad Souls Sect looked extraordinarily eerie from the outside.
The dense gray mist, the pitch-black earth, and the endless wails of ghosts mixed with the sounds of shambling corpses made it seem as though it had emerged straight from a nightmare.
Even experienced cultivators would instinctively feel a chill upon approaching it.
Yet the moment Chen Xuan stepped through the mountain’s boundary, every one of those unsettling phenomena disappeared.
The gray mist faded away as though it had never existed. The barren black earth transformed into lush grasslands dotted with colorful flowers that swayed gently in the breeze.
The mournful cries of ghosts vanished completely, replaced by the songs of birds and the rustling of leaves.
For a brief moment, Chen Xuan wondered whether he had entered the wrong place.
At the very least, nothing before him resembled the infamous Myriad Souls Sect.
Of course, the thought only lasted for an instant before he shook his head.
He had visited the Myriad Souls Sect before and knew that its true appearance had never been as horrifying as the rumors suggested.
At least, not on the surface.
’Luan Yi has always loved beautiful things.’
’Back then, the Myriad Souls Sect looked no different from any other demonic sect. But after she became Sect Master, she gradually changed everything.’
Recalling Luan Yi’s obsession with beauty, Chen Xuan instinctively rubbed his cheek.
He strongly suspected that this peculiar preference of hers was precisely why she had become interested in him in the first place.
’Sure enough... men have to protect themselves,’ he sighed.
’Being too handsome and outstanding is a burden as well.’
Although countless thoughts flashed through Chen Xuan’s mind, his footsteps never slowed.
Dressed in black robes with a silver mask covering his face, he blended perfectly with the image of an ordinary Myriad Souls Sect disciple.
Along the way, he encountered several patrols composed of the sect’s disciples.
Most were at the Foundation Establishment realm, while a handful had reached Core Formation.
Fortunately, after Chen Xuan casually presented the identity token of a Myriad Souls Sect disciple, they simply glanced at it before allowing him to pass.
There was not even the slightest suspicion in their expressions.
On the surface, their inspection seemed almost careless.
In reality, however, it made perfect sense.
In the minds of the Myriad Souls Sect’s disciples, no one would ever dare infiltrate their sect.
The fate of those who had attempted such a thing in the past had long spread throughout the Tianxuan Domain.
Unless someone possessed particularly strange hobbies and wished to have their soul refined beneath fire for eternity, no sane cultivator would willingly set foot here.
Before long, Chen Xuan left the mountain’s outer region behind and entered the true Myriad Souls Sect.
Immediately, thousands of magnificent buildings came into view.
Wrapped in faint spiritual mist that shimmered beneath the sunlight, their architecture was elegant enough to leave even modern architects speechless.
Despite belonging to a demonic sect, the entire place radiated an immortal elegance.
Even Chen Xuan had to admit that the Jade Pure Sect—including his own Yin Yang Peak—fell short in comparison.
Of course, he merely glanced around before continuing inward.
Disciples continuously passed through the wide streets.
Contrary to what outsiders imagined, none of them emitted bloodthirsty auras or behaved like blood-crazed lunatics.
Instead, they floated leisurely a few inches above the ground, conversing with one another and carrying on with their daily lives much like righteous cultivators.
’It’s no wonder so many demonic cultivators dream of joining the Myriad Souls Sect.’
’Compared to the rest of the demonic path, this place is simply a paradise.’
The peaceful atmosphere was enough to make one forget they were standing within the territory of the most mysterious demonic sect in the Tianxuan Domain.
Unfortunately, this peace was bound not to last for long.
Not long after entering the sect, Chen Xuan quietly singled out a lone male disciple walking through a secluded path.
With a swift strike, he knocked the man unconscious.
He then stored him inside the Seven Trials Tower for the time being before taking his robes, identity token, and other belongings.
The next moment, Chen Xuan’s face began to shift.
His bones subtly rearranged themselves. His body became slightly shorter, while his facial features gradually transformed.
Within moments, the handsome young man had become an entirely ordinary disciple with short black hair and unremarkable features.
Looking down at himself, Chen Xuan nodded in satisfaction. Even so, he was not finished.
With another thought, he activated the Origin Concealment Technique.
His aura immediately began to change at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Among cultivators, appearance alone had little meaning. Even a Qi Refining cultivator could alter their appearance through simple techniques.
Changing from man to woman—or the reverse—was hardly anything of note.
Because of this, experienced cultivators judged identities primarily through one’s aura rather than one’s face.
And now... Chen Xuan’s aura was identical to that of the disciple he had just replaced.
Even if that disciple’s closest friends or family members stood before him, they would never realize that someone else had silently taken his place.
’This identity will make moving around much easier,’ Chen Xuan thought as he raised his head toward the inner sect.
His gaze seemed to pierce through countless palaces before settling upon the secluded residence belonging to the Sect Master.
’Unfortunately... the Myriad Souls Chrysanthemum is personally cultivated by Luan Yi.’
’If I want to obtain it, I’ll have to find a way into her residence.’
Naturally, an ordinary disciple lacked the qualifications to enter such a place. At best, this identity could serve as a stepping stone.
Just as that thought crossed his mind, Chen Xuan noticed a streak of light leave Luan Yi’s residence and slowly fly toward the outside of the sect.
It was a young woman.
With long black hair and dark eyes, her appearance and bearing bore several similarities to Luan Yi herself.
Chen Xuan recognized her immediately. She was Luan Yi’s only personal disciple.
The moment he saw her, an idea quietly formed in his mind.