Chapter 217 (Part 1): This Is Pure Self-Righteousness

“They’re putting up quite a fight, but unfortunately their strength just isn’t there.”

Tossing the last cultivator who had tried to flee casually onto the ground, Night turned and surveyed her surroundings.

Seeing that the area had fallen completely silent, she nodded with satisfaction.

This way, this entire region belonged to her now.

“News came from the exit point—the others are still fighting there. It doesn’t look like either side will claim victory anytime soon.”

A demonic cultivator quietly approached Night and reported in a hushed voice.

“That’s a good thing. The more fiercely they fight, the less anyone will pay attention to us. Once we’ve cleared out everyone on the outside, we’ll go deal with the rest of them.”

This news delighted Night. The more intense the fighting on the other side, the smoother her progress here.

Those two sides would cripple each other, and when she seized the perfect moment to descend like a heavenly god, she would easily claim victory in battle.

She felt as though her luck had suddenly turned. In the past, she was always running into all sorts of troublesome situations, but this time was different.

Every action she took went so smoothly, as if some immortal were aiding her.

Could it be that even heaven itself was protecting her, wanting to help her achieve great things?

Night’s confidence was nearly overflowing. She felt utterly invincible right now—within this secret realm, there was not a single enemy who could stand in her way.

“Shijie, it’s bad! That mechanism only has one use left!”

Just as she was about to make her grand move, a panicked voice came from the other side.

The demonic cultivator she had sent to inspect the surrounding area flew over and delivered news that would shake everyone present.

After the exit point had been activated once, the mechanism that powered the transmission array seemed to have suffered irreversible damage.

Judging by its condition, the demonic cultivator believed it could likely only be used one more time.

In other words, this secret realm now only had one chance left to leave!

This was absolutely not good news.

“Only one use left? Do you all think this is some scheme by Wanhuagu?” Night furrowed her brow in thought for a moment, though she personally didn’t feel this setup affected her much.

“This is definitely a scheme by Wanhuagu—they want to force us to slaughter each other within the secret realm until the very last moment!” Someone immediately chimed in.

Some shared that view, while others held different opinions. The latter felt that even if this were Wanhuagu’s design, it was hardly a big deal.

After all, they had already planned to sweep the entire map to search for the secret realm’s treasures.

How many exits the realm had was none of their concern.

Using a realm that was doomed anyway to make money while testing new weapons, and using the cultivators inside as free test subjects—this was all entirely in line with Wanhuagu’s style.

Perfectly normal. This was the Wanhuagu everyone knew and loved!

“If they didn’t pull some trick to screw us over, would they even be Wanhuagu? Just stay alert.” The other Tianmomen cultivators comforted their disgruntled companions.

It wasn’t like Wanhuagu had forced them to come in here.

They had entered of their own volition, and if they got ambushed and tried to blame Wanhuagu for it, people would think they couldn’t take a loss.

Though the demonic path didn’t care much about their reputations, as a major demonic sect, being willing to accept a loss was still necessary when dealing with other sects of the same level.

You screw me over today, I’ll screw you over tomorrow—that was all perfectly reasonable. No need to get all worked up about it.

“Right. After this, I’ll go settle the score with Wanhuagu. I’ll make sure they cough up plenty to compensate me!”

…

“Wow, Linglong, did you hear that? She wants to settle the score with me!”

Watching the resolute expression on Night’s face, Hua Jian giggled aloud.

Come on, did she really think she could get one over on me, Hua Jian?

What sneak attack? What clever tricks? Those are all just your wild imaginations.

We of Wanhuagu haven’t arranged anything inside the secret realm.

If you don’t believe me, go ask our two Ling Emperor shijies.

Even if Night somehow managed to pry information out of Wanhuagu’s lower-level disciples, she would never learn the truth about those plant monsters.

After all, those things were entirely Hua Jian’s own creation—they had nothing whatsoever to do with Wanhuagu.

And the Wanhuagu cultivators who had worked in the secret realm wouldn’t have the slightest idea where those monsters came from.

“If I were her, I’d come after you too. Those things are incredibly unsettling.” This time, Linglong actually agreed with Night’s sentiment.

The surprise Hua Jian had prepared was far too surprising. How was anyone supposed to handle that?

Thank goodness Tianmomen was a demonic sect that didn’t really care about the lives of its disciples.

If the cultivators being devoured by Hua Jian’s little surprises had been disciples of the Saint Sect, Hua Jian would be completely done for.

The first cultivator had been eaten bite by bite, in the most bloody and cruel manner possible—literally!

And the second one had it even worse. He endured unimaginably painful torment before his own sect members burned him to ashes with flames.

If something like that happened to Saint Sect cultivators, they would fight Hua Jian to the death over it.

A mere demand for compensation wouldn’t even begin to resolve things.

“Stop studying all these underhanded tricks and learn some proper spirit techniques instead!”

Why were you spending all day every day researching those creepy spots and shady techniques?

Wouldn’t it be better to practice some conventional spear arts or movement techniques?

In response to Linglong’s demand, Hua Jian claimed she was learning normal spirit techniques too—she just couldn’t use them right now because she was hiding her identity.

Besides, these clever tricks didn’t require any research at all. The moment her mind turned, inspiration just kept flowing out one after another without stopping.

“I can master both at the same time, you know.” Hua Jian raised both hands, indicating that these things weren’t underhanded tricks but rather very practical abilities.

“Besides, if I can send these little ones—who cost me nothing to lose—to do dangerous things in my place, why wouldn’t I?”

Hua Jian’s thinking was simple: never risk yourself if you don’t have to.

No matter how strong she was, no matter how good she was in one-on-one combat, it was still better to send fearless soldiers to wear the enemy down.

Going out personally always carried the risk of things going wrong. But sending these little ones? Even if things went wrong, it didn’t matter.

“I think you’ve just been biased by what they look like now, thinking of them as monsters.”

Hua Jian argued with conviction that Linglong was a shallow lookist who simply looked down on the plants’ appearance.

“Once I carefully refine their bodies and make them as beautiful as real humans, let’s see if you still say that!”

Bodies as beautiful as real humans, but inside—immortal puppets that were actually monsters?

Linglong imagined that scene and felt that everything Hua Jian was doing was leading her further down the wrong path.

“I’m also researching whether I can let other people besides me control these puppets. If I can succeed…”

Linglong quickly pressed her tail against Hua Jian’s lips. Enough, enough—please stop, grandma. You’re going way too far with every word you say!

If this got out, Hua Jian would immediately become the number one threat in the eyes of the Right Path.

A girl this young already learning such bad things—when she grew up, what would she be capable of?

This woman must not be allowed to live long. She absolutely had to be nipped in the bud, or else she’d throw the entire world into chaos!

Yeah, the Tiandao Sect would probably come marching in with slogans to crusade against Hua Jian.

“Some things are better kept in your heart. Even if you do them, don’t let anyone know, got it?” Linglong blocked Hua Jian’s mouth and instructed with the utmost seriousness.

“I’m not stupid. Of course I’d do things like that in secret—no one else is going to find out.” Hua Jian chuckled twice.

It was precisely because she trusted Linglong that she was telling her this.

Just so you know, this secret wasn’t even known to Xia Nong and Huaxin Ruirui.

And in Hua Jian’s plans, those two little followers of hers were going to be the first batch of test subjects. The results she created were also intended for those two children to use.

That way, she wouldn’t have to worry about someone attacking the people around her to threaten her.

After all, both little followers’ bodies could be discarded at will. Do whatever you want with them—I’ll just extract their soulforce and forge new bodies for them.

She felt that she really did need to stay by Hua Jian’s side to watch this girl, or else Hua Jian would absolutely go all the way down the path of utter degeneracy and become the person who had walked the farthest down that road.

When future generations spoke of Hua Jian, they probably wouldn’t say anything good either. They’d just curse her for never doing a good thing in her life.

“What are you raising your hand for? I didn’t say anything wrong!” Seeing the raised hand, Hua Jian knew exactly what Linglong was thinking.

Before Linglong could strike, she did a backflip out of Linglong’s attack range and asked with a aggrieved expression.

She had genuinely received feedback from the players just now, you know!

This wasn’t her own idea—the players thought the map was too easy and it could be made a bit harder.

“Don’t you feel shameless saying things like that?”

“Where’s the shamelessness? I didn’t say anything wrong, you heard it too.”

“Then what about what other people think?”

“I can’t hear what they’re saying anyway. Did you hear anything?” Hua Jian tapped her chin, putting on an innocent expression as pure as a little white flower.

Baby doesn’t understand~ Baby only heard the compliments from her good friend Lady Night~

As for what anyone else thought—well, they couldn’t leave reviews anyway, so wasn’t that the same as a default positive rating?

With such a high approval rating, wasn’t that just encouraging Hua Jian to keep up the good work and reach even greater heights?

“You…” Linglong lowered her hand and let out a helpless sigh. Faced with Hua Jian’s attitude, she felt at a loss for how to deal with her.

Although everything Hua Jian said and did was utterly deplorable, just as Hua Jian had said earlier—she was tricking bad people.

When it came to tricking bad people, wasn’t it only natural for her to do deplorable things? Did the bad people really not deserve what they got? Did she have to give them a clean, painless death?

That made no sense. In this matter, Hua Jian was the one holding the moral high ground.

She was using her intellect and passion for mischief to stir up infighting among the demonic path. No one could say she was wrong.

“My dear Longlong, don’t you know me by now? My body lives in the demon camp, but my heart is with you. I’m not going to turn into a real villain.”