After Becoming a High-Risk Master, I Flipped the Script Chapter 150

What Mo Xuanli meant was that no one could control him but he would also never misuse his strength.

If someone still objected to such an upright declaration, it could only mean they were the ones harboring bad intentions.

As soon as he finished speaking, silence fell over the hall. Everyone glanced around, waiting for someone to find a reason, any reason, to argue back. But no one could find a single word.

Gu Baiqing stared blankly at Mo Xuanli, astonished. He hadn’t expected his disciple to come up with something like that. Since the others had tried to brandish moral superiority, Mo Xuanli had countered with morality itself, a brilliant move. But still…

“Hall Master Zong,” Gu Baiqing said icily, “will this suffice?”

Zong Lei’s expression stiffened, he hadn’t expected to be turned around so neatly.

“If even this won’t do, then I suppose you intend to hand the demons an opportunity, hm?” Fu Zhiyi said with a light laugh.

“Reasonable,” Jingcheng added.

“Disciple Mo’s heart is aligned with the righteous path,” said the abbot of Wuxiang Temple, nodding.

With that, many others voiced agreement. After all, it wasn’t as though they’d gain control over the power themselves; better to leave it “neutral” than let Zixiao Sect alone hold it.

Zong Lei finally forced out a smile. “Disciple Mo has thought this through well. It was my own short-sightedness. Let’s proceed as you propose, if anyone has further concerns, speak now.”

He looked around the room, but seeing no one with another idea, he could only concede.

“Disciple Mo, you may make your oath.”

Mo Xuanli raised his hand, slicing open his palm. Just as he was about to speak, Gu Baiqing caught his wrist.

“Repeat after me,” Gu Baiqing said.

Mo Xuanli gave him a puzzled look, but the others found nothing odd about it, of course a master would want to ensure precision in such a matter.

Gu Baiqing spoke clearly: “The power of the merfolk’s alliance may only be used in battles between immortals and demons, during beast uprisings, mortal calamities, or in the merfolk’s self-defense.”

He had slightly altered Mo Xuanli’s intended wording, not by much, but the meaning was different in subtle ways.

Mo Xuanli obediently repeated his master’s phrasing, never questioning its nuance.

Fu Zhiyi, the most perceptive among them, frowned slightly. That new version had far more loopholes. “Only for battles between immortals and demons”—well, what if Mo Xuanli himself were to lose control one day and fall into demonic corruption, like Fairy Ruiyao once did? Then by that logic, he could still use the merfolk’s power to fight the cultivators! Didn’t that mean this power ultimately stayed in Mo Xuanli’s hands that no matter which side he stood on, it would protect him? His original wording ‘only for the righteous path, never for demons’ had actually been safer.

Of course, Fu Zhiyi wasn’t about to expose his junior brother on the spot. That would only make it seem as though Fourth Brother harbored selfish motives, valuing Mo Xuanli’s safety over the balance between good and evil. That would ruin his reputation.

He only sighed inwardly, thinking his junior brother lacked cunning. Still, he trusted Mo Xuanli, such a well-behaved disciple would surely cause no trouble. After all, he’d already earned great merit in the fight against the demon race.

Soon, light from the blood oath surrounded them, sealing the vow. Many people finally relaxed.

Yet someone still muttered, “But that true dragon’s power shouldn’t be underestimated either.”

“That’s too much,” Fu Zhiyi snapped for once. “The contract beast is his own, interfering in that is openly making an enemy of Zixiao Sect.”

The speaker, from a minor sect, fell silent immediately.

Zong Lei, surprisingly, added, “A true dragon is still a spirit beast. Since it has a contract, it’s no one else’s concern. Rest assured, Disciple Mo, there will be no dispute on that point.”

Gu Baiqing gave him a strange look. What, this guy suddenly cares about appearances now? Trying to curry favor with Mo Xuanli?

Zong Lei said, “Good. Then this matter ends here. Disciple Mo, I hope you’ll maintain your integrity in the future, true dragon by your side or merfolk at your back, use your strength righteously and uphold justice.”

Mo Xuanli bowed respectfully. “Yes, this disciple will remember your teaching.”

“We have other matters to discuss. You may withdraw for now,” Zong Lei said with a benevolent wave of his hand.

Mo Xuanli didn’t respond to the others, he only looked toward Gu Baiqing.

Gu Baiqing nodded and said, “Go on.”

Only then did Mo Xuanli obediently take his leave.

Gu Baiqing returned to his seat, while Fu Zhiyi dragged over Chu Fei, who had been preparing to slip away, and said to Gu Baiqing, “Since this matter involves the demon clan, I told them about how you’d been accompanying your disciple on his training journey.”

From their earlier discussion, Gu Baiqing could already tell as much. Since his reputation for overprotectiveness was now completely out in the open, there was no use pretending otherwise.

Zong Lei smiled and said, “Elder Luofeng truly has raised a fine disciple, no wonder you’re so protective. You even followed him down the mountain during his training. Still, it’s thanks to your protection; otherwise, after all that’s happened, the boy might not have survived.”

At that, the faces of the people from Chuxue Pavilion and Rufeng Sect turned rather unpleasant.

Then Zong Lei finally turned to the real topic at hand.

They had indeed gathered over the matter of the merfolk clan, but midway, the masters from Wuxiang Temple had brought intelligence from Qian Yue.

The information was so shocking that, at first, everyone doubted it especially since Qian Yue himself hadn’t appeared. But the recent incidents across the cultivation world involving the demon clan did seem connected, and with the rumored arrival of a mysterious race, the matter could no longer be ignored. As a result, the meeting grew larger and larger in scale.

As he spoke, several figures entered the hall, men in white robes and white headcloths.

That look, Gu Baiqing’s pupils shrank in shock.

Fu Zhiyi quietly explained, “Junior Brother, these are from the so-called Hidden Gods Clan. The one in front is their chief, the two behind him are his protectors.”

Gu Baiqing broke into a cold sweat. It hit him belatedly, they must have brushed past Mo Xuanli just now. The Hidden Gods Clan were even better than Wuxiang Temple at identifying demonic energy. Yet, since nothing had happened, it proved that even their keen senses couldn’t detect Mo Xuanli’s current state.

Why? The Hidden Gods Clan wasn’t supposed to appear at this point in time! In the original story, they only emerged after Mo Xuanli had become the Demon Lord, slaughtering countless lives. The clan had joined forces to seriously wound him, but failed and were wiped out instead.

And according to their own doctrine, they only intervened when a threat reached the scale of world destruction. Minor demonic disturbances were beneath their concern.

What on earth was going on with this plot? Clearly, his mission wasn’t for nothing, everything was happening ahead of schedule.

Gu Baiqing felt utterly exhausted.

The Hidden Gods Clan members were received with great respect by Zong Lei, who treated them as if they were demi-gods.

The clan’s people all wore cold, impassive expressions just as the original text described, an innate aloofness that seemed to radiate from their very bones.

No doubt they viewed the assembled cultivators the same way cultivators usually looked down on mortals.

At that moment, Fu Zhiyi leaned over again and whispered in Gu Baiqing’s ear, “Their clan was recently attacked by demons, their home destroyed. They’ve come here to join forces with the cultivation world against the demon clan.”

Gu Baiqing was so stunned he couldn’t even sigh anymore.

“I sent disciples Nan Zhi and Yun Yue to assist them, they were caught up in the attack and came back with them.”

Gu Baiqing froze.

Wait—those two… Li Xiuran and Ji Chuling…. Could it be that when they went out, they were caught in that same demonic assault?

Meanwhile, outside the hall, Mo Xuanli had reached the main square of Taixu Hall when he suddenly sensed someone rushing toward him. He turned at once, ready to defend himself.

A young woman in a pale blue gown was hurrying over, Si Chun. Her face was anxious, but upon seeing Mo Xuanli clearly, she let out a sigh of relief and slowed her steps.

This time, Si Chun wasn’t wearing her veil, and her stunning beauty made passersby stop and steal glances.

“Miss Si,” Mo Xuanli greeted politely.

Si Chun paused, then returned the bow with gentle grace.

“Mo Xuanli, your matter has already spread through the whole Taixu Hall. I imagine many must have made things difficult for you just now.”

Mo Xuanli smiled faintly. “Thank you for your concern, it wasn’t too bad.”

Si Chun bit her lip, her gaze uneasy. “Because of my master’s affair… you and your teacher were both in the right, but my sect…” She bowed deeply. “If anyone in my sect has offended you, I apologize on their behalf.”

Recalling the attitude of Chuxue Pavilion earlier, Mo Xuanli immediately understood. “It’s human nature. No harm done. My master and I won’t take it to heart.”

Hearing that, Si Chun knew her sect had indeed wronged them. The more understanding Mo Xuanli was, the more guilty she felt.

“Here, take this.” Si Chun suddenly produced several small porcelain bottles. “These are our Chuxue Pavilion’s secret Tranquil Heart Pills. You understand medicine, so you’ll see they’re good quality. Please take them as a token of apology.”

Mo Xuanli had, of course, heard of the Tranquil Heart Pills. They’d been developed after Ruiyao’s incident of deviation, when Chuxue Pavilion’s medical cultivators began focusing on pills that stabilized the heart during cultivation. In that field, their pills were the best.

Seeing them now, Mo Xuanli’s eyes lit up slightly. These were indeed something he could use but he said, “Thank you for your kindness, but there’s no need for gifts. Our Zixiao Sect also has plenty of such pills.”

Still polite and distant. His composure only made Si Chun feel even more uncomfortable.

Just then, someone swooped down from the sky and slung an arm over Mo Xuanli’s shoulder in a display of easy familiarity.

“Well, well! Looks like as your good brother, I came a step too late, Miss Si Chun beat me to finding you.”

“Jingzhan,” Mo Xuanli greeted, clearly more relaxed with him, a smile flickering on his face.

“Brother, rough day, huh? I told my elder brother to look out for you. Did he?”

Mo Xuanli thought of Jingcheng’s every other sentence being about “Baiqing” and twitched the corner of his mouth. “Really, no need.”

“You brat.” Jingzhan reached out and ruffled Mo Xuanli’s hair before glancing toward Si Chun. “What’s this? Bringing gifts to Brother Xuanli? An apology or maybe something else….”

Watching Jingzhan raise an eyebrow teasingly, Si Chun immediately pulled out a blue-and-white paper umbrella.

Jingzhan ducked behind Mo Xuanli at once, saying, “Let’s be reasonable, it’s just a joke.”

With one more person around, Si Chun immediately turned aloof and cold, addressing Mo Xuanli directly: “Mo Xuanli, we’ve been through hardships together. I consider you a friend, this small gift, you don’t have to refuse it, right?”

Mo Xuanli was momentarily stunned. Jingzhan quickly added, “Xuanli, that’s your mistake. If someone’s your friend, you take the gift openly. Refusing would just make you stingy.”

Mo Xuanli could only take it with resignation but he immediately returned a gift in kind: a pill he had personally developed, naturally beneficial for cultivation.

Si Chun knew he didn’t want to owe anyone, but receiving a pill personally made by Mo Xuanli left her unable to refuse. Occasionally, small glimpses of a young girl’s emotions slipped through.

“What happened in there just now? Your True Dragon and the Merfolk Pact are still intact?” Jingzhan asked curiously.

This wasn’t really a secret, so Mo Xuanli explained briefly.

Jingzhan said, “That’s good. Luckily your master and Zixiao Sect were there, or those people would have stripped you to the bone. By the way, Qingrong hasn’t recovered yet, so let me apologize for him. Right now, Rufeng Sect is in turmoil, their sect leader hasn’t come out, and a lot of people will be targeting you. Since the puppet master issue was exposed, everyone’s pride is hurt. With Rufeng Sect causing a stir, they might be kicked out of the Four Great Sects. Forget about you two even I might get barred from entering Rufeng Sect. But they can’t stop me; I’ll secretly go see Qingrong anyway.”

“How is Brother Xie’s condition?”

“He’s weak, just resting. But since he can see, he doesn’t need me though I’m lonely,” Jingzhan said with a smile. “At the upcoming Sect Conference, if he can come, the Qingrong that can see… would you be scared?”

“I actually want to spar with him.”

“You’re already at Nascent Soul. You’d crush us.”

“The Sect Conference suppresses cultivation levels for equal footing, right?” Mo Xuanli asked.

“That’s true, but it’s different. Qian Yue that monk brought news back but didn’t return, Li Xiuran was injured, we don’t know if he’ll recover in time for the match. If not, you’ll probably be the strongest. If I face you, I’d surrender immediately; I know your strength well enough.”

After speaking, Jingzhan noticed Mo Xuanli staring at him wide-eyed, he clearly hadn’t known anything yet.

“Li Xiuran is injured?”

So Jingzhan led Mo Xuanli to sit at a stone table near the square and began explaining slowly. Si Chun, having nothing else to do, sat down and joined the conversation.

It was only then that Mo Xuanli learned about the Hidden Gods Clan.

Previously, several of them had been pursued by demons because of the Sword Intent of the God-Slaying Sword inherited by Li Xiuran. They thought they’d be safe once they reached the Hidden Gods Clan, but something, perhaps a deceitful demon, activated the clan’s barrier. Trapped between inside and outside, the clan’s territory was destroyed and suffered heavy casualties. Realizing the demon threat was urgent, they brought their people to Taixu Hall to warn the cultivation world and seek cooperation.

Li Xiuran and his severely injured companions were brought there for centralized treatment.

The intelligence brought by Qian Yue also caused concern, requiring help to understand matters related to the God-Slaying Sword, leading to the collaboration.

“My two senior sisters were involved too!” Mo Xuanli exclaimed.

“Don’t worry, they’re fine. They should be resting on your island. No one was seriously injured, just Li Xiuran was in bad shape,” Si Chun said. “It’s said he single-handedly repelled the pure-blood demons, preventing the situation from worsening.”

Mo Xuanli frowned slightly. “Li Xiuran is on Tianzhao Sect’s island? I’ll go check later.”

“No, he’s on a new island specially opened for the Hidden Gods Clan. They’re watching him closely, wanting to cultivate him properly. I’ll go with you,” Jingzhan interjected, eager to join.

“By the way, why was the Sect Conference moved forward?” Mo Xuanli asked curiously.

“They didn’t say, but I guess it’s to prepare for the demon invasion and boost morale, a sort of mobilization meeting,” Jingzhan explained.

…

“What! To hunt demons?” Gu Baiqing said.

“Yes. The Hidden Gods Clan has begun arranging formations. Once activated, any demons within Taixu Hall will be drawn to the formation. Then we’ll see exactly how many traitors are hiding among us,” Zong Lei explained.

“According to Qian Yue and the captured puppet masters, it’s certain there are many demon spies in our sects. Since they want to break the balance, we must be prepared and eliminate these spies in advance,” Jingcheng added, fiercely opposed to the demon clan.

“So, this Sect Conference must gather all disciples who joined their sects after the last major demon-human war. During the meeting, the Hidden Gods Clan’s formation will activate. Only we know about this; no one else can be told. Everyone has undergone testing and sworn blood oaths, Elder Luofeng returned and it’s the same for him,” Zong Lei said, then gestured politely to the Hidden Gods Clan.

Gu Baiqing’s expression darkened, there was no way to respond, so he had to follow the plan.

This meant he couldn’t tell Mo Xuanli or leave with him until the conference, when the formation activated. The effect on hybrids remained unknown.

Gu Baiqing could only assume the worst-case scenario. The mission was set; he couldn’t take it lightly.

After Gu Baiqing completed the complex tests, the Hidden Gods Clan’s chief thanked him simply because when they had been in Star-Stepping City, they had protected Ji Chuling.

Ji Chuling was the chief’s granddaughter and the future inheritor of the clan’s divine power.

At that point, discussions began about the demon clan’s intentions.

A Hidden Gods Clan member said, “If the junior disciple from Wuxiang Temple was correct, the Spirit Gathering Formation and the God-Slaying Sword fragments are indeed of great use.”

Can’t wait until next week to see more? Want to show your support? Come to my Patreon where you can get 10 or more chapters of After Becoming a High-Risk Master, I Flipped the Script right away ! Or go donate at Paypal or Ko-fi to show your appreciation! :)