The false Black Bat King laughed, but the sound was forced. “Is that so? If you truly have one, then bring it out. I also want to see how long your lies can stand.” The archers above the cliff immediately raised their bows toward Rong Tian. Arrowheads flashed beneath the moonlight, but Rong Tian did not even look at them. His gaze remained fixed on the impostor, as though hundreds of archers were no more than dry grass unworthy of notice. “You want to know?” Rong Tian asked calmly. “Very well.” Without waiting for another response, a flute appeared in his hand. He raised it to his lips and played a strange, chaotic sequence of notes. The melody rose and fell without a pattern ordinary ears could understand. It sounded wrong, almost unpleasant, yet the pressure hidden within it made everyone’s skin crawl. The impostor

The battlefield remained still after the false Black Bat King escaped. White smoke drifted away under the desert wind, revealing the scale of the destruction left behind. The stone arena was stained with blood. Broken arrows, shattered weapons, and bodies covered the sand beneath the cliff. The surviving Taoist cultivators emerged slowly from behind rocks and broken walls. Some supported the wounded, while others simply stood and stared at the black-robed figure still hovering above them. No one dared approach Rong Tian. They had witnessed his zombie army destroy the archers and had seen him force the other Black Bat King to retreat. To them, the question of which one was real had almost answered itself. The one who remained in the sky held the greater authority. Whispers gradually spread through the crowd. “That must be the real Black Bat King.”<

The next morning, Rong Tian left his residence with the intention of gathering information about the imperial family’s burial grounds. The air in Biratama City felt fresh, but his body was not truly light. The internal injury caused by the duel still left a faint pain in his chest, like a small ember that had not completely gone out. That day happened to be the Dragon Boat Festival, so the entire city appeared far more lively than usual. The main streets were filled with people moving toward the coast. Food merchants shouted to attract customers, while children ran through the crowd carrying colorful ribbons that fluttered in the sea breeze. From the distance came the sound of drums used for the boat races. It mixed with laughter, chairs scraping against stone, and merchants calling over one another. The smell of rice cakes, hot tea, grilled fish, and charcoal smoke blended

Qi Yu stopped on the stone steps. The confidence on her face did not disappear, but her eyes immediately turned toward the source of the insult. Rong Tian followed her gaze without changing expression. Several people in the cultivators’ viewing section had already turned to watch. The woman who had spoken sat beneath a shaded pavilion. Her posture looked elegant, and the people around her were dressed like members of respected families and righteous sects. The sweetness of her voice did not match the contempt in her words. She clearly intended for everyone nearby to hear. The people seated around her exchanged glances. Some smiled openly, while others lowered their teacups and waited for the confrontation to continue. Qi Yu released Rong Tian’s arm. Her fingers moved toward the hilt of her sword again. Rong Tian noticed the movement and remained s

Qi Yu slowly released Rong Tian’s hand and stepped forward. The sea breeze moved through her hair, while every eye in the viewing area turned toward her. The drums, the merchants, and the other sounds of the festival suddenly felt unimportant. The entire beach seemed to be waiting for what would happen on this small social stage. “How amusing,” Qi Yu said, raising her voice slightly while keeping every word clear. “People standing beneath silk canopies always believe their mouths have become more sacred.” Zhao Hua frowned. She might have expected Qi Yu to respond with ordinary curses, but the black faction disciple did not intend to give her such simple satisfaction. Qi Yu smiled faintly before continuing. “Yes, I come from a black faction. At least we are honest about our filth, while you people are rotten and still wrap yourselves in incense.