Chapter 117: How to deal with the Albigensians Sect that has joined the evil path

“I… I will take the Gu parasite!”

“I am willing to serve the great Velmorian Sect!”

One after another, the remaining two Level 3 elders of Albigensians Sect, along with the sect’s deacons and elders, finally collapsed under the weight of fear.

To submit to the demonic path, to swallow the Gu parasite, meant at least a chance at survival.

To refuse?

The Level 2 elder who had been refined alive was proof of what awaited them.

“Good!”

“Serve well, and when our sect takes dominion over Aragon State, those who prove their worth may be granted freedom once more.”

Elder Withered Wood’s tone was calm, almost indifferent.

With a lazy flick of his sleeve, he scattered a handful of dark, bead-like Gu parasites before the remaining elders and deacons.

This time, no one dared resist.

One by one, they silently swallowed the parasites, sealing their fate.

Standing beside Withered Wood, Elder Severus remained expressionless.

He held no illusions about the so-called “promise of freedom.”

It was nothing more than an empty deception.

Among the demonic sects, only those who willingly submitted, or those who wielded power great enough to demand respect, could ever claim autonomy.

For those who fell under the grasp of an overlord, their fate was enslavement—forever bound to another’s will.

Just as Withered Wood could easily implant Gu parasites and slave seals upon the righteous sect cultivators, he had no such authority over the other Level 4 elders of the demonic path.

Even among the demonic factions, there was a system—a balance.

If absolute tyranny existed, the weaker cultivators would eventually flee en masse to the righteous sects.

To maintain dominance, even demonic sects had to allow some level of freedom—a system of controlled exploitation rather than reckless oppression.

This was the balance between the righteous and the demonic paths.

If either side gained complete control, the weaker cultivators and mortals would suffer even greater atrocities.

Elder Severus understood this well.

But none of it mattered anymore.

What mattered was staying alive.

If he could survive, he could find a way to break free from Withered Wood’s control.

And he had a plan.

Elder Severus had long since cultivated a Transformation Technique—a method that allowed him to transfer his cultivation into a chosen vessel before seizing their body entirely.

For years, he had been secretly grooming a disciple— Master Fred, nurturing him toward Level 2 Perfection.

Once Elder Severus broke through to Level 4, he had intended to infuse his entire cultivation into Fred’s body, ultimately taking over his physical vessel.

Ordinarily, body possession led to severe cultivation loss, and a cultivator could only attempt it once in a lifetime.

But with the Transformation Technique, every successful body transfer would allow him to advance by an entire minor realm—or even two.

If he successfully possessed Fred, his current body would be discarded—along with the Gu parasite’s influence.

And once reborn, he would not just be free from Withered Wood’s control—he would likely ascend to mid or late Level 4 realm.

At that level, he would no longer have to fear Withered Wood.

The thought filled him with dark satisfaction.

It was a risk.

But one worth taking.

And so, for now… he would endure.

In truth, Elder Severus had asked for Albigensians Sect’s new refuge in Velmora State not only to preserve the sect’s legacy—

But also to ensure Young Master Fred’s survival.

With the Velmorian Sect’s intervention, Aragon State would soon be thrown into chaos.

Young Master Fred’s cultivation was weak.

Leaving him in Aragon State was too dangerous—too many uncertainties.

Elder Severus had to ensure Fred’s survival.

Because Fred’s body… was his future body.

With Albigensians Sect now fully subdued, Elder Withered Wood did not linger.

Instead, he handed Elder Severus additional Gu parasites, instructing him to control the returning high-level cultivators once they arrived.

Anyone who had escaped today’s purge would soon be brought under the same leash.

As Withered Wood and Elder Severus conversed, among the ranks of lower-level disciples, a certain De Molinos family elder stood deep in thought.

Beside him, a young boy named De Molinos Noah, recently accepted into Albigensians Sect, clutched his hand tightly.

Though merely a mortal, this De Molinos family elder had served Simon for many years, overseeing the family’s affairs.

His keen instincts told him one thing—

This was a disaster.

He understood the nature of demonic sects.

And he knew—staying in Albigensians Sect any longer was not an option.

Holding tightly onto the young Noah, he began formulating a plan.

If an opportunity arose, he had to escape with the boy.

If that proved impossible, he would stay behind and hide their presence, quietly sending Noah away at the first chance.

No matter what—this place was no longer safe.

And more than that—

He had to warn the De Molinos family.

Albigensians Sect, the dominant force of Pyrenees County, had surrendered to the demonic path.

Its entire leadership had been enslaved.

This was a tremor that could shake all of Aragon State.

But escaping was easier said than done.

The higher-ups of Albigensians Sect were not fools.

The moment Elder Withered Wood departed, Elder Severus sealed the sect’s formations, issuing a strict decree—

From this day forward, no disciple may leave the sect.

In normal times, only outer disciples and servant disciples were restricted from leaving.

Once a disciple advanced to the inner sect, they were granted free passage in and out of the sect grounds.

But now—

No one was allowed to leave.

And that was a terrible sign.

It meant Elder Severus was desperate to keep the sect’s surrender a secret.

For now, Albigensians Sect would remain hidden within the righteous faction—

A dormant chess piece, waiting to strike when the time was right.

Withered Wood needed them in place.

And when the moment came—

Albigensians Sect would be the knife stabbing the righteous path in the back.

“There must be a way.”

The De Molinos family remained composed, even as whispers of fear spread among the disciples.

He was not afraid of death.

A mortal surviving in a world of cultivators—he had long since accepted the fragility of his own existence.

There was only one thing he had to do.

Get Noah out.

And—

Warn the De Molinos family.

Noah possessed spirit roots.

He had the potential to one day reach the pinnacle of the immortal path.

If he remained in Albigensians Sect, he would eventually become cannon fodder for the sect’s schemes.

While chaos stirred within Albigensians Sect, far away—

In Hyolled County, along the Luo River Basin—

Dylan marched with Carl, leading a vast army of cultivators and mortals—a vanguard force of hundreds of thousands.

Wherever the army passed, banners fluttered, and war drums thundered across the land.

The storm of war had begun.