But the twists involved are something Kou Yifang will never understand.

No matter how hard he tries, he can’t comprehend why Duan Shouzuo found his way here? It shouldn’t be this way.

At this moment, he only has one feeling: his heart is shattered!

Duan Xiyang glanced indifferently with a bit of disappointment, saying: "As expected, it’s you, Kou Yifang, the Sect Hierarch of the Heavenly God Sect. You didn’t guess wrong after all."

Kou Yifang was stunned.

Who?

Who guessed right?

However, the next moment, he saw another person walking through the door.

With a lean and somewhat handsome visage, he wore a calm smile on his face, exuding the aura of a mature and successful middle-aged man.

Kou Yifang’s eyes widened, his throat made hissing sounds, his eyeballs almost bulging out: "Yin! Yin Shen Palace!!"

With a friendly smile, Yin Shen Palace said: "Brother Kou, you didn’t see wrong, it’s me. It’s you and me meeting again. Truly, life is full of unexpected reunions."

Kou Yifang was dumbfounded, immediately followed by intense hatred, jealousy, and unwillingness rushing through his heart.

At this moment, Kou Yifang almost forgot all fear and rationality seemed to disappear, as he suddenly jumped up, screaming in a hoarse voice: "Yin Shen Palace!!!"

Yin Shen Palace gave a faint smile: "Don’t exert yourself so much, Brother Kou. With the Chief present here, shouting won’t do any good."

He squinted and said: "Even if the upper echelon of Guardians came, it would still be useless."

This statement woke Kou Yifang up.

With a puff, he knelt again, and with a raspy voice: "Chief..."

The call of ’Chief’ was truly stirring.

Duan Xiyang turned around, sat on a chair, and said indifferently: "You chat with him."

Interrogating Kou Yifang about such matters holds no interest for Duan Xiyang. What good is interrogating such small fry? Only that lowly Yan Nan still wants him alive...

In my approach, I would have already finished and gone to sleep.

Yin Shen Palace respectfully agreed: "Yes, Chief."

Kou Yifang cried out while kneeling: "Chief, I am wronged..."

Sitting on the chair, Duan Xiyang flicked his hand, a gust of wind flew out, and Kou Yifang’s body deflated like a punctured balloon, instantly withering.

Even his facial disguise could not be maintained, immediately reverting to his true appearance.

His Dantian was locked by Duan Xiyang.

Even the one in ten billion chance of going down with Yin Shen Palace together dissipated instantly – indeed, in front of Duan Xiyang, there was less than a one in ten billion chance.

Kou Yifang’s face was filled with despair.

Yin Shen Palace crouched in front of him, saying: "Brother Kou, actually I know what you think. How about this, I speak and you listen, if you don’t object, I’ll assume you concede. How does that sound?"

Kou Yifang looked at Yin Shen Palace with a face full of despair and suddenly pleaded: "Brother Yin, how about I join Yixin Sect and serve as your deputy?"

Yin Shen Palace sighed: "I truly wish I could agree, but unfortunately, Brother Kou, it’s no longer up to me."

Kou Yifang burst into rage, screaming: "You scoundrel, you just want me dead!"

"I truly don’t."

With sympathy, Yin Shen Palace said: "Because I know someday, Brother Kou, you will cause your own demise."

Kou Yifang was speechless.

Yin Shen Palace knew Duan Xiyang was interested in matters beyond just this incident.

Softly said: "Brother Kou, actually, I understand quite well that among the Five Sects of Southeast and their hierarchs, only you, Brother Kou, endure the toughest plight, struggling from the bottom without any backing, connections, or even a sect, hence always drifting. Thus, you are the most anxious and desperate."

"I still vividly remember our long conversation when we joined the Cultivating Gu to Become a God Plan." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"Therefore, Brother Kou, you, despite being more diligent than anyone else, are actually more cautious than anyone because you can’t afford to offend anyone."

Upon hearing this, Kou Yifang’s expression became pensive.

Thinking back to those years, he couldn’t help but sigh with a bewildered gaze.

"So, all these years, you have fought relentlessly but never gave up on finding a higher path. However, after years of searching, you finally understood that the true substantial upper echelons would never care about someone like you—a sect master with uncertain prospects—as everyone can see your capabilities and martial future would only lead you to become the Heavenly God Sect Master at most. At best, you might reach Southeast Headquarters or some regional headquarters, to hold a position like Deputy Chief, which would be your limit."

Kou Yifang’s face turned ashen: "Brother Yin is raising me too high, I merely switch positions within the Heavenly God Sect, maybe hold a sinecure at some regional headquarters, Deputy Chief positions are out of my reach."

"Hence, you started seeking out those reclusive Senior Demons, only to find that only an unconscious Senior Mengmo could accept you. Actually, there was Senior Sun Wutian, but Senior Sun is unconscious, has no direct descendants, so no one welcomed you, forcing you to join the Nightmare Guards."

"Yes."

"But since you joined, you needed to contribute to Senior Mengmo’s recovery."

"Yes."

"Your tenure as the Heavenly God Sect Master lasted because the high rankers have been your loyal direct descendants developed over the years; some even share your bloodline, making it hard for others to intervene, not that it couldn’t be substituted."

"Yes."

"But now, with the Baiyun State’s upper echelon completely wiped out, the Heavenly God Sect framework remains, yet you lost that power, facing criminal charges, and the sect is doomed not to be yours. Even if Senior Mengmo reappears, his Nightmare Guards are all dead, he would blame you, rendering your path in the sect insurmountable."

"Yes."

"But you remain unwilling, believing you have worked harder and contributed more than any of us, yet finding yourself in the most miserable state, knowing that my sub branch is crucial to me and the Main Sect, you intended to destroy it."