Players: All NPCs in the Sect Are Moles

The night grew darker.

Lin Qingfeng stood before the wooden door with his hands clasped behind his back. Seeing that Su Ling'er was no longer fixated on "Pokémon," he breathed a sigh of relief.

But this wasn't enough to stoke the flames.

Fighting spirit alone wasn't enough. There had to be hatred, a reason she absolutely had to win.

If he was going to stir up trouble, he needed a just cause. He had to fan these flames even higher.

He turned around, his gaze traveling over Su Ling'er's shoulder to the moon outside the window.

"Ling'er, do you know who our opponents in this Sword Testing Conference are? The ones we're going to crush underfoot?"

Su Ling'er instinctively straightened her back and said respectfully, "I do not, Senior Brother. Please enlighten me."

Lin Qingfeng didn't answer.

He held up three fingers, tapping them in the air. With each tap, a heavy name materialized.

"Celestial Sword Pavilion."

"Golden Light Temple."

"Profound Talisman Sect."

The moment these three names were spoken, Su Ling'er's expression turned grim.

How could she ever forget?

Even if she were turned to ash, she would remember what those three names represented.

The tragic scenes from that night in Anhe City flooded her memories once more.

Those lofty Nascent Soul Dharma Aspects, their indifferent words... it was as if they were discussing a herd of pigs waiting for slaughter. The people there were worthless in their eyes!

That night, if not for her Senior Brother turning the tide against all odds, Anhe City would have long since become "blood food" for the Ghost Spirit Sect, a living hell on earth.

And these three sects were the powers behind three of the old Nascent Soul monsters from that night!

Su Ling'er's fists, hanging at her sides, clenched tightly.

'So that's how it is.'

She had originally thought this was just an ordinary competition for sect rankings.

She was wrong. Terribly wrong.

For Senior Brother to mention these three names so late at night, in such a grim tone, it couldn't just be for the sake of some empty reputation.

'What Sword Testing Conference?'

'This is clearly a long-overdue reckoning! It's revenge!'

'The righteous path? What is the righteous path?'

She had seen it with her own eyes that night. The so-called prestigious righteous sects, for the sake of the "greater good," were willing to sacrifice an entire city without hesitation. For their own benefit, they would collude with the true demonic sects.

'Since these so-called righteous sects behave unrighteously, then let the Guixi Sect, this supposed "demonic sect," deliver thunderous retribution and excise these tumors festering upon the lands of Yunzhou.'

'Fight evil with evil, kill to end killing! This might even weaken the Guixi Sect—the "demonic sect"—in the process! This must be Senior Brother's true intention!'

Su Ling'er looked up, the confusion in her eyes replaced by two raging infernos.

Lin Qingfeng had been secretly observing the changes in her expression.

Seeing the hatred and resolve erupt in her eyes, he was very satisfied.

'That's more like it.'

'Whether it's a fight or a competition, as long as there's a grudge and a clear line between good and evil, you can defeat your opponent by charging forward while shouting about justice, friendship, and bonds!'

"It seems you've figured it out."

Lin Qingfeng turned, flicking his long sleeves.

"These sects... have been around for a little too long."

"When virtue doesn't match position, disaster is sure to follow. Since they're occupying the latrine... *ahem*, occupying the Spirit Veins and not doing a lick of good, we'll act on heaven's behalf and help them move."

Lin Qingfeng spoke with righteous indignation, but inside, the beads of his abacus were clacking away furiously.

'This isn't just empty talk for show.'

'In the published event rewards, the "Sect Spirit Vein Upgrade" option was dangling before my eyes like a peerless, naked beauty.'

'A Spirit Vein upgrade!'

'How much money would that save me?'

'More importantly, there's the server-wide announcement to show off! That's something money can't buy!!!'

'As for those three sects?'

'Last time in Anhe City, those old bastards died faster than rabbits. I never got the chance to follow the trail back to its source and skin their sects alive, which had been a constant source of regret.'

Every time he thought of the potential treasures hidden within the sects of those old geezers, Lin Qingfeng's heart ached so much he could barely breathe.

'Since this is a competition for the title of the top righteous sect in the Yunzhou Realm, then they can't blame me for acting on heaven's behalf.'

'After the event, I'll take back everything those old geezers own, with interest!'

At this thought, Lin Qingfeng was filled with heroic spirit and waved his hand magnanimously.

"On this trip to Broken Sword Ridge, hold nothing back!"

"Seize their fortune! Steal their opportunities! Annihilate their..."

Halfway through the sentence, Lin Qingfeng suddenly faltered.

'Wait a minute.'

'Doesn't "annihilate their entire sect" sound a bit too much like a final boss villain?'

'Even though the Guixi Sect is positioned as a righteous immortal sect right now, wouldn't killing every last one of them be a bit much? There might be some high-quality disciples among them, right? Better to keep them as Palu! What a waste it would be to kill them.'

'What does the Guixi Sect lack the most right now?'

'High-quality NPCs!'

'Players are useful, but many quests can't be initiated by players alone. These disciples from the prestigious righteous sects are pampered and delicate. If I capture them and put them through some... labor reform, wouldn't that, umm... temper their Dao hearts?!'

'The image is just too beautiful, too satisfying, and too much in line with the character of a righteous immortal sect!'

So, he forced himself to swallow the words "annihilate their entire sect" that were on the tip of his tongue.

"Never mind. Too much killing is harmful to celestial harmony."

"Instead, bring those people back to the sect to undergo your... righteous labor reform!"

Hearing this, Su Ling'er shuddered, her pupils contracting sharply.

'Capture people?'

'Labor reform?'

She had originally thought her Senior Brother's order was to cut the weeds and pull out the roots, to leave no survivors among these Evil Cultivators who were likely rotten to the core.

But now it seemed she had been too superficial.

Simple slaughter was letting them off too easily. A single sword strike, a head rolling on the ground, and in eighteen years they'd be a hero once more.

But Senior Brother's meaning was...

'To capture those disciples and drag them back to the Guixi Sect alive!'

'To have them toil day and night, to be exploited endlessly.'

'To make them experience the suffering of mortals through endless sweat and humiliation, to shatter their ridiculous evil hearts and remold their very souls!'

'This is too merciful!!!'

'This is the true method of walking the righteous path under the guise of the demonic!'

'This is the true measure of Senior Brother's vision!'

Su Ling'er looked at Lin Qingfeng's face, as calm as still water, and the awe in her heart surged like a relentless, torrential river.

'Senior Brother is even willing to give these Evil Cultivators a chance to "turn over a new leaf."'

'What magnanimity! What boldness?'

'Only someone who truly holds righteousness in their heart could devise such a farsighted plan!'

'In comparison, I am laughably naive.'

Su Ling'er felt her soul had once again undergone a sublimation.

She took a deep breath, trying to suppress the slight tremble in her voice from excitement, and bowed deeply to Lin Qingfeng.

"Disciple... understands!"

"Simple slaughter cannot wash away their sins! Only through repentance in suffering can they find redemption!"

"Senior Brother is merciful! I will not fail this mission. I will be sure to bring back every last one of those... promising sprouts to receive your teachings!"𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖