The eldest brother naturally knew what happened during the day.
A slight thought was enough for him to realize that the dwarf harbored no good intentions.
He had originally wanted no part in this petty competition between fellow disciples—but when his eyes landed on that pouch of silver shards, they refused to move away.
Rubbing his palms together, Senior Brother said, "I can accompany you, but if you all…"
Gao Yang quickly interjected, "Senior Brother, rest assured. If any conflict arises, you can simply stand by and watch."
Senior Brother's tension melted away at once. He took the pouch with a satisfied nod. "Very well, I'll go with you this time."
After leaving Senior Brother's house, Gao Yang said, "Senior Brother, wait a moment. There's one more person I want to invite."
Senior Brother, in great spirits from his newfound wealth, chuckled. "Go ahead. I'll be right here."
Gao Yang walked to Twelfth Sister's room and knocked on the door.
Twelfth Sister opened it, her gaze narrowing the instant she saw the markings on Gao Yang's face. "You've begun practicing Daoist arts?"
Gao Yang smiled admiringly. "Sharp eyes, Senior Sister. I'm heading to see Sixth Brother and I'm uncertain of the outcome—I'd like to ask for your support."
Twelfth Sister tilted her head and smirked. "Fine, but what's my reward?"
Gao Yang replied smoothly, "Whatever you desire, if I ever come across it, no matter the price, I'll get it for you."
She snorted. "Something even I can't obtain, and you can?"
Gao Yang smiled meaningfully. "Maybe I can't—but Master can."
Twelfth Sister pondered for a moment before agreeing. "Deal. You owe me a favor, and you'll also help me ask Master for a Foundation Pill."
Gao Yang nodded decisively. "Agreed."
She turned toward the door. "Let's go."
"Wait," Gao Yang said. "I need to prepare something first."
Rolling up his sleeve, he extended his arm. "Senior Sister, may I borrow your blade? I need a little blood."
Without hesitation, Twelfth Sister swung her giant saber—taller than she was—as if it were a child's toy.
Before Gao Yang could even feel pain, a deep wound opened across his forearm, the white of bone gleaming beneath.
"Damn it!"
Blood streamed down, and Gao Yang hissed through clenched teeth. The pain was one thing—but the waste of blood stung far worse.
He quickly stripped off his upper garments and used his own blood to retrace the Seven Fiends Sigil across his body.
But before he could finish, something eerie happened—the scorched markings began to drink in the blood on their own, the crimson veins spreading and pulsing across his skin.
The blackened demon tattoo seemed to come alive, glowing red like hot iron.
Twelfth Sister watched in silence, thoughtful.
She pointed to several places on his body. "Here… here… and there—the flow of Qi is slow. You must've been inexperienced when you drew it the first time. Still, it's no small feat to succeed at all. No wonder Master favors you."
Her expression turned strange—a mix of resignation and envy flickered across her face.
Gao Yang suddenly sensed a killing intent radiating from her.
A cold gust swept through the room.
In the next instant, Senior Brother appeared behind him, face grave.
"Twelfth!" he barked.
The murderous aura evaporated like tidewater, replaced by Twelfth Sister's faint, innocent smile. "Senior Brother."
Gao Yang could feel the tension in Senior Brother's body, taut and ready to strike.
Twelfth Sister's appearance shifted eerily—her half-rotted face knitting itself together before his eyes, fresh skin blooming until she looked delicate and breathtaking.
"Let's go," she said calmly.
Senior Brother stepped forward, positioning himself at Gao Yang's side. "For the sake of the silver, don't stray too far from me."
Even Senior Brother's wary stance made Gao Yang wonder—what had truly happened to Twelfth Sister?
Sensing his doubts, Senior Brother explained quietly, "Her talent once rivaled yours. But something went wrong during her Foundation Building. Even Master couldn't help. Keep your distance from her—otherwise, you might die without even realizing it. I don't want to find a corpse in your room one day."
Gao Yang nodded uncertainly and edged closer to Senior Brother, his skin brushing the man's, feeling the hardness of bone beneath.
When he returned to his quarters and pushed open the door, Xiao Man rushed up to him.
Gao Yang said coldly, "Xiao Man, come with me to see Sixth Brother."
She glanced nervously between the seemingly kind Senior Brother and the icy Twelfth Sister. The air around them pressed down like a weight, and she dared not speak.
The four of them passed through the main hall and arrived at the dwarf's quarters.
Gao Yang stepped forward and knocked on the door.
This matter—he would settle it himself.
If he relied on Senior Brother and Twelfth Sister to subdue the dwarf, he'd owe two favors and still solve nothing.
The dwarf would only bide his time, waiting for a chance to strike back.
You can be a thief for a thousand days, but you can't guard against one for a thousand—better to end it once and for all. Gao Yang knew the risk but was willing to take it.
At the sound of the knock, the dwarf's servant, Little Earthworm, opened the door.
He crawled on knees and elbows, dragging himself across the floor.
Looking up at the four figures towering over him, he spoke in a shrill, strangled voice. "What business do three young immortals have with my master?"
Gao Yang was ready for confrontation.
He kicked out—thud!—his foot crashing into Little Earthworm's face. "You're just a servant. How dare you question me? Tell your master to come out and speak for himself!"
Half of the servant's face caved in, one eye bulging grotesquely as blood dripped down, painting the floor crimson.
Even Gao Yang was startled—he hadn't even activated the Seven Fiends, yet his strength had grown so monstrous.
It seemed the sigil was far more potent than he'd realized—its blood-fed power was strengthening his body with every beat of his heart.
He stepped into the dwarf's quarters.
The stench inside was nauseating. Broken jars and strange containers cluttered the floor, crawling with worms.
"Thirteen! What's the meaning of this?" The dwarf crawled out from the pile of insects, his bluish face twisted in fury. "Are you courting death?"
"Xiao Man, come here."
Trembling, Xiao Man stepped to Gao Yang's side.
Gao Yang gave her a gentle shove forward. "Didn't you say you wanted her as a test subject tonight? I've brought her myself, Sixth Brother. I'm quite the obedient junior, aren't I?"
The commotion had already drawn the attention of every disciple and servant in the Azure Mountain Sect.
Second Brother pushed open his window and leaned lazily on the sill, uncorking a wine gourd shaped like a human head. He took a long drink and chuckled. "Heh… things are getting interesting."
An elderly woman—eighty years old at least—hobbled past his bed with a cane, her voice as sweet and youthful as a maiden's. "This must be the first time in the sect's history that a junior challenges his senior, no?"
The drunken Second Brother laughed carelessly, reeking of wine. "That old Sixth always bullied the new ones. Last time he went after Twelfth Sister—she hacked down two of his servants within a month, and he didn't even dare to fart in protest. Guess he hasn't learned his lesson."
His eyes gleamed coldly as he sneered. "If Master hadn't forbidden killing, that Foundation Building failure would've been cut down by my sword long ago."