Yun Zong said coldly, "That defensive formation was tampered with and doesn't work against demon beasts."

Zhou Yin asked, "Who set up this formation?"

Yun Zong said, "Master Qingxuan of Tianxuan Peak. Master has already gone to find him."

Zhou Yin asked, "What is his relationship with your master?"

Yun Zong was startled for a moment, then said, "He has a good relationship with my master, but he places a bit too much importance on fame and fortune. I heard that when my master obtained the position of sect leader back then, he expressed some dissatisfaction, but that was all. You mean...?"

Zhou Yin smiled slightly. "I mean what you mean. You understand what I'm saying."

His smile could be called strange, but Yun Zong sighed and said indifferently, "Great minds think alike. I also had this thought, but firstly there's no evidence, and secondly, others wouldn't believe it."

With the formation ineffective, if Zhou Yin hadn't intervened, the disciples at the foot of the mountain would have all died. The demon beasts would have sneaked up the mountain unnoticed. Even if they couldn't deal a devastating blow to the sect at that time, it would make others question Qinghe Zhenren's leadership ability, and Shangxuan Sect would inevitably face internal strife.

Yun Zong continued, "Now there are rumors flying outside, all saying that the demon beast clan wants to kill all the humans on Taichu Continent and regain their former power. I've been to Lianyin Immortal Residence and naturally know that those demon beasts have nothing to do with Zhou Chen, but that doesn't mean others know. So it's best if you don't let him appear in front of people. I heard from Master that the major sects are now discussing joining forces to deal with the demon beast clan. No matter how powerful he is, he can't withstand so many people."

"He won't do such a foolish thing at a time like this," Zhou Yin thought. That furball was two-faced. Only he slandered others, how could others frame him? Most likely he was waiting for the mastermind behind the scenes to get impatient and show themselves first.

Zhou Yin asked again, "You have something else on your mind?"

Yun Zong said, "No."

Zhou Yin didn't press further. "Oh."

He turned to walk towards his courtyard.

Yun Zong said, "Wait."

He took out a hairpin and handed it to him.

The hairpin was elegant and pure as snow, extremely exquisite. It was the Poxue hairpin that Yun Zong had bought at the immortals' market that day.

Zhou Yin was puzzled. "???"

Yun Zong: "For you."

Zhou Yin: "I don't wear women's things."

Yun Zong: "Then give it to someone else."

Zhou Yin: "Then I'm giving it back to you."

Yun Zong: "..."

Zhou Yin couldn't be bothered with him. He turned and went back to his room to meditate.

It wasn't until the next day when Huang Wenjun came to see him that he brought up this gossip with great interest.

Huang Wenjun said, "You don't know yet? Didn't Senior Brother Yun show any unusual behavior when he came to find you yesterday? I heard others say how amazing and accomplished he is, how he was a prodigy from a young age, and now has the cultivation of late Core Formation stage. But for a man, he's really too unfortunate. Sigh, I really sympathize with him. His fate is just as rough as mine!"

Zhou Yin: "The corner of your mouth is raised too high, doesn't look much like sympathy."

Huang Wenjun hurriedly touched the corner of his mouth. "...Really? Tsk tsk, let me tell you, I heard that the renowned Fairy Bibo is his fiancée!"

Zhou Yin was confused. "Who is Fairy Bibo?"

Huang Wenjun paused for a moment. "That's not important. The important thing is, that Fairy Bibo is a beautiful lady that every man in the world dreams of, but she was actually betrothed to Senior Brother Yun since childhood. The two of them have a marriage agreement."

Zhou Yin said, "Every man in the world, am I not a man?"

The corner of Huang Wenjun's mouth twitched. "You don't count."

Zhou Yin's indifferent reaction couldn't douse his enthusiasm. "As a result, when Senior Brother Yun was out traveling, that Fairy Bibo actually married someone else. Her new husband is the son of the Tianyan Sect sect leader. Yesterday, Fairy Bibo sent someone to return all the betrothal gifts. Sigh, for a man to be treated like this..."

"Treated like what?" A voice interjected.

"Lost all face!" Huang Wenjun slapped the table and stood up, with a hint of schadenfreude. "If he's a man, he should go snatch that woman back! I heard from my fellow disciples that when Senior Brother returned yesterday, his face looked terrible. He even drowned his sorrows in alcohol. That's what you call dejected..."

"Oh, is that so?"

"Indeed, in my opinion..." His words abruptly stopped as he stiffly turned his head.

Yun Zong gave him an amiable smile.

"Junior Brother Huang, you're quite free, aren't you?"

"No, no..." Huang Wenjun gave a dry laugh.

"Since you're so free, please go to the back mountain and pick a thousand stalks of guiyu grass for me."

Huang Wenjun left dejectedly.

It seemed that too many people had been gossiping about this matter these past few days, and Yun Zong had long become numb to it. "I came to tell you something. Master Qingxuan is dead."

Zhou Yin frowned slightly. "When did this happen?"

Yun Zong sat down on the chair beside him. "This morning."

Zhou Yin said, "Yesterday, your master had just sought him out."

Yun Zong nodded. "After that, Master Qingxuan locked himself in his room, forbidding anyone from disturbing him. Today, when his disciple went to report a matter, he discovered something amiss. Breaking down the door, he found that the master was already dead."

Zhou Yin asked, "Suicide or murder?"

"Murder," Yun Zong replied.

Zhou Yin calmly said, "How could a cultivator of his level die without a sound?"

Yun Zong suddenly revealed a strange expression. "At the time, he was sprawled over the table. On the table, a character was written, covered by his hand. When the disciples of Tianxuan Peak moved the corpse, they discovered that character."

"What was written?" Zhou Yin inquired.

"Heng," Yun Zong answered.

Zhou Yin raised an eyebrow.

Yun Zong explained, "Among the seven peaks of Shangxuan Sect, the Daoist name of Elder Qiu Xianyun from Tianquan Peak is Qingheng."

"And now?" Zhou Yin asked.

"The people of Tianxuan Peak made a scene before the master, demanding justice. Left with no choice, the master has confined Elder Qiu for the time being, pending further action."

Although the seven peaks had always looked to the sect leader for guidance, they governed their own internal affairs. The sect leader never interfered.

With such a major incident suddenly occurring, Tianxuan Peak was left leaderless, undoubtedly throwing them into disarray. This matter carried great implications. Even without leaving his residence, Zhou Yin could imagine the current state of upheaval in Shangxuan Sect.

After a moment of contemplation, Zhou Yin asked, "How many peak masters are currently present among the seven peaks?"

Yun Zong replied, "Aside from the deceased Qingxuan and Qingwei, who led disciples down the mountain to subdue demons, there are five others. However, Qingyuan from Yaoguang Peak has always been immersed in cultivation, spending most of the year in seclusion. Generally, he can't be relied upon for matters."

With Qiu Xianyun confined, that left one fewer.

Zhou Yin said, "Perhaps someone wants to stir up chaos in Shangxuan Sect."

Yun Zong agreed, "Indeed. That's why I've already sent people to strengthen the defenses at the foot of the mountain."

"What do you hope for me to do?" Zhou Yin asked.