A sharp glint flashed through Xie Zhaolin's eyes. She motioned for Mo Yan to lean closer, then whispered a few instructions.
When he finished listening, his eyes widened slightly, and hesitation clouded his face. "Master, is this really possible? Won't the risk be too great?"
Her lips curved with quiet amusement. "It's precisely because the risk is so high that the chances of success are greater. The other side would never expect us to take this path. The more unexpected it is, the more it'll catch them off guard."
He fell silent, thinking it over, then finally nodded. "I understand. But… it'll take a few days to prepare."
"That's fine," she said with a slight nod. "Be cautious, and make sure there are no mistakes."
No one expected that over the next few nights, Elder Chou would start coming over every day, not even bothering with messenger disciples anymore. It was as if, after being exposed by the Sect Master, she'd simply stopped pretending. She came and went as she pleased, treating the place like her own peak.
Her goal was also crystal clear—she came for Mo Yan. Every time, her attitude carried a strange, ambiguous edge.
Xie Zhaolin grew more and more vigilant. Even now, she couldn't figure out why Elder Chou was showing up so often. If it was just for appearances, there was no need to push it this far. But she knew one thing for sure: she had to accelerate the plan. If Elder Chou finished her arrangements and made the first move, they'd only fall into a passive position.
"Mo Yan," she asked through their contract, "how's the preparation?"
"One more day," he replied. "Everything's moving according to plan."
The waiting felt painfully long, but patience was her greatest weapon.
When night fell again, Mo Yan returned silently. His expression was mixed with both heaviness and relief. He bowed low. "Master, just as you predicted. He's told me everything he knows."
Xie Zhaolin's response was calm. She only tapped her fingers against the table. "Speak."
The result didn't surprise her. In the Cultivation Realm, there are no eternal enemies, only eternal interests. The other side's choice to cooperate simply meant they'd realized it was more profitable to join hands than fight against her.
The intelligence Mo Yan brought back resolved many doubts—why Elder Chou could so easily mobilize sect resources to erase traces, and why her every move carried that indescribable sense of strangeness.
Sitting at the desk, Xie Zhaolin tapped her fingers idly. She still didn't fully understand the connection between the Sect Master and Elder Chou, but she had to admit, Elder Chou knew exactly how to squeeze every drop of value out of herself.
Unlike Zhou Zhilán, who plotted step by step, Elder Chou's methods were far more direct and absolute—using every resource at her disposal, even herself, to the fullest extent.
"She really knows how to maximize her worth," Xie Zhaolin murmured. "She doesn't care if the method is conventional, only if the result works."
Such an approach was like a double-edged sword—swift in cutting through obstacles, yet just as likely to cut her down in the end. For a moment, regret flickered in her eyes, but calm quickly returned. Elder Chou might've had better options, but she'd already chosen this path. There was no turning back.
Xie Zhaolin respected such determination, but admiration never stopped her from striking when the time came. Elder Chou wanted to replace Alchemy Peak, but there was no way she'd let it happen so easily—not now.
"When will she act?" she asked Mo Yan, her tone cool.
"Within two days," he answered seriously. "She's already made all the preparations. She's just waiting for the right moment."
Her lips curved upward.
"Good. Let her prepare. We'll follow the original plan."
On the surface, Mo Yan still had to play along, ensuring the elders wouldn't interfere. But in secret, they'd be ready to counter the instant Elder Chou moved.
The goal wasn't to stop her, but to control the outcome.
Mo Yan understood and nodded. He'd arrange things so they could support her move, but also flip the board whenever necessary. After he left, Xie Zhaolin stood by the window, gazing into the night. Elder Chou might be clever at using resources, but this time, she'd overplayed her hand.
Two days later, Qingxi Sect erupted in turmoil.
Several disciples suddenly showed signs of qi deviation, some of them even inner disciples of Alchemy Peak. The matter quickly drew the elders' attention, and the Law Enforcement Hall launched an immediate investigation.
The results were shocking—all those who'd lost control had taken Alchemy Peak's recent batch of Clear Heart Pills.
The Law Enforcement elder presented the report with a grim face. "These Clear Heart Pills were mixed with Heart-Corroding Grass. At first, it calms the mind, but once the medicinal power builds up, it backfires, driving the user into madness."
All evidence pointed to Elder Wei, who hadn't been seen in days.
Alchemy Peak disciples confirmed that before his closed-door retreat, Elder Wei personally supervised the refining of this batch of pills.
"No wonder Elder Wei hasn't shown his face lately," one elder said coldly. "He planned this from the start!"
The Sect Master's expression darkened. He immediately ordered Alchemy Peak sealed and a full investigation launched.
At that moment, Xie Zhaolin sat calmly by her window, listening to Mo Yan's report. The timing wasn't right yet. Moving now would only startle the snake.
Mo Yan stood stiffly at her side, anxious but silent. He knew by now that every decision she made had meaning behind it.
Her gaze drifted toward Alchemy Peak. Elder Qiu had endured for years, waiting for this chance to seize power. And Elder Chou's elaborate setup was also aimed at this exact moment.
All she needed to do was wait. Let them fight to the death. When both sides were bloodied, that would be her time to strike.
Over the next two days, Alchemy Peak descended into chaos.
Elder Wei vanished as if off the face of the earth. No matter how hard the Law Enforcement Hall searched, they found nothing. In the meantime, Elder Qiu stepped forward to temporarily manage the peak. Even worse, the Law Enforcement Hall discovered that the pills distributed to other peaks also contained trace amounts of Heart Corroding Grass.
The revelation sent the sect into an uproar.
Every elder checked their own supplies, suspicion spreading like wildfire.
Rumors exploded: some said Elder Wei wanted to control the entire sect, some claimed it was internal strife within Alchemy Peak, while others whispered about enemy infiltration.
Amidst the chaos, Elder Chou finally made her move.