The Demon with Holy Radiance

Her aura struck Yang An as deeply inauthentic.

It was a well-known fact that this world was a mess, filled with all sorts of people. Everyone was mired in filth, and even Innate Flesh Mushrooms were no exception. No lotus could bloom from such a vast swamp of muck.

Rather than believe White Bird was a Fairy with an otherworldly aura, Yang An was more inclined to think it was some kind of disguise.

To Yang An’s surprise, White Bird’s Cultivation Level was no weaker than Broken Hand’s; she was also at the Middle Stage of Corpse Transformation, nearing the Late Stage.

After a wait of several days, all the members had finally arrived. Once they had all been introduced, Yang An called a gathering.

Everyone already had a clear understanding of the hierarchy within the Scripture Defector Association.

Why was Yang An the one to summon them? Setting all else aside, the very fact that none of them could discern his Cultivation Level was reason enough.

As for why the Workshop Master had gathered them, aside from needing to leave that dangerous place beyond the continent as soon as possible, the true reason was to be announced only after everyone was assembled.

To them, the Workshop Master had helped them break through the limitations of being an Innate Flesh Mushroom. This was tantamount to each of them owing him their life, so his position in their hearts was lofty and unshakeable.

Naturally, whatever the Workshop Master said was law.

If the Scripture Defector Association were a Sect, the Workshop Master would be the Sect Leader with absolute authority. Although that title had now passed to Yang An, the Workshop Master’s word still carried far more weight.

They were inside a dilapidated Daoist temple deep in a mountain forest. It was an old ruin; even the surrounding paths were overgrown with weeds, a clear sign that no one had been there for a very long time.

A group of Demon Fiends had originally occupied the temple, but after Yang An took it over, he slaughtered them all and cleaned the place out. It now served as the Scripture Defector Association’s meeting hall.

"He Tou, I think you owe us an explanation as to why there’s an outsider here."

After gathering everyone, Yang An was simply waiting for the Workshop Master to arrive and make his announcement. He wasn’t entirely sure of the meeting’s purpose himself, but he was certain it had something to do with the Central Continent.

Once everyone was present, Broken Hand was the first to speak, and all eyes turned in unison to Wen Yin.

When they had first arrived, they had all assumed Wen Yin was Yang An’s handmaiden. But now that he had brought her to participate in their council, they understood her place in his eyes was anything but ordinary.

Wen Yin’s Cultivation Level hadn’t even reached the Late Stage of Visceral Stone, and she wasn’t a member of the Scripture Defector Association. Her presence here naturally made her the first subject that demanded an explanation from Yang An.

Hearing Broken Hand address Yang An, Wen Yin looked at him from the corner of her eye. ’He Tou...’ An idea seemed to have struck her.

Then, hearing the rest of Broken Hand’s sentence, she couldn’t help but wonder why her Senior Brother had brought her to a meeting with all these strangers.

’I can’t see through any of their Cultivation Levels, and they all have such extraordinary auras. Senior Brother obviously knew them from before. Was it inappropriate to bring me, an outsider, here?’

’If this causes dissatisfaction among the others, I’ll feel terribly guilty.’

"Wen Yin is my junior sister," Yang An said slowly, his eyes landing on Broken Hand. "Although she isn’t a member of our Scripture Defector Association, she is very important to me and is trustworthy. I am keeping her by my side as there are some things I need her to do. At the same time, it would be for the best if you could all offer her some guidance."

The man’s tone had been far too aggressive.

Yang An already had a poor impression of him, and now here he was, sticking his neck out.

He had intended to explain from the start, but Broken Hand just had to be the one to make trouble. ’Looks like he’s a real thorn in the side,’ Yang An thought. ’He needs to be taught a lesson.’

"At the end of the day, she’s just an outsider. If she is to take part in our Scripture Defector Association’s council, I believe we must first ask for the Workshop Master’s opinion. What do all you fellow Daoists think?"

Broken Hand avoided Yang An’s gaze, instead sweeping his eyes over the others to gauge their opinions.

But before anyone else could respond, the group heard a muffled THUD.

By the time they reacted, Broken Hand’s body was already flying backward, smashing a large hole through the already dilapidated wall of the Daoist temple.