Jiang Hao had appraised many things with his daily divine ability. Big things like houses and mountains to small things like flowers and trees, he'd tried appraising them all.
But he'd never tried appraising a person.
In his mind, people couldn't be appraised.
Yet, the current situation left him confused, so an appraisal couldn't hurt.
When the divine ability was activated, invisible symbols flashed across his eyes, then projected onto the figure of his senior sister in front of him.
In a mere instant, information was fed back from the divine ability, imprinting itself in his mind.
'It works.' Jiang Hao was pleased and quickly checked the feedback.
But as soon as he saw it, a chill went through his heart, sensing immense danger.
[Yun Ruo: Early Foundation Establishment, inner sect disciple of the Falling Sunset Sect, undercover in the Heavenly Sound Sect to investigate the whereabouts of the Heavenly Fragrance Dao Flower. Her cover is close to being blown, so she urgently needs a scapegoat. Seeing that you don't act like a Demonic Sect disciple, she targeted you as a suitable substitute. She is currently using enchantment techniques on you, trying to muddle your mind, making you willingly become a scapegoat. If she fails, she'll silence you.]
How vicious, Jiang Hao thought warily. Acting unlike a demonic disciple would get him killed.
At this moment, the jade pendant was right in front of him—taking it meant dying in her place, while not taking it meant facing her deadly trap.
The former was a certain death, and the latter meant confronting someone with years of Foundation Establishment experience, which wouldn't easily end in his favor.
Jiang Hao's mind raced as he pretended to reach for the jade pendant. Just as he was about to touch it, he suddenly looked behind Yun Ruo in shock and called out:
"Mas-master?"
Hearing this, Fairy Yun Ruo was startled, quickly turning around to look behind, a spirit sword appearing in her hand.
More than that, she locked onto Jiang Hao with a powerful aura, ready to use him as a shield in case of emergency.
The jade pendant was already out; whoever died first would lose it to the other.
"Uncle Jiang Hao is the traitor, he..." Yun Ruo wanted to play the wicked first to make a complaint and then move in for the kill but froze in surprise.
Because there was no one behind her.
Oh no... when she realized, it was too late.
To her right, a dagger came stabbing in faster than she could react.
Thud!
In mere moments, Jiang Hao had the dagger in Yun Ruo's neck.
It was a lethal strike right on the mark.
He knew he couldn't win in a head-on fight, so he used surprise to make up for the difference.
He didn't intend to harm anyone, but he also didn't target anyone on purpose.
He simply wanted to survive.
Since the enemy wanted him dead, he would show no mercy.
Bang!
As the dagger pierced in, Yun Ruo reacted by casting a spell to push Jiang Hao away.
"You..."
Her shock at Jiang Hao's decisiveness was palpable.
From the days they spent together, she'd noticed Jiang Hao's kind nature. She thought he was a naïve newcomer who would soon perish in the Heavenly Sound Sect. She hadn't expected that beneath his kind exterior lay such ruthlessness.
Despite Yun Ruo's astonishment, Jiang Hao remained silent, drawing his spirit sword for another strike.
The enemy was gravely injured, strength reduced, yet still far from death.
For a time, the clashes of swords and blades, with sparks flying, filled the air.
Boom!
Yun Ruo couldn't withstand her injuries, and was knocked into the courtyard. She landed on the ground, clutching her neck, looking at Jiang Hao approaching in terror. In panic, she said:
"Junior Brother, you can't kill me. The Heavenly Joy Pavilion Master values me highly; he's been watching me closely. If you kill me, you'll make him an enemy."
Jiang Hao ignored her words, moving in to deliver the final blow with his spirit sword.
"I'm still a disciple of Falling Sunset Sect, admired by Senior Brothers. If I die by your hand, they won't spare you—it's skin and bones for you..."
Slash!
With one final stroke, all was quiet.
Thud~
Thud~
For safety's sake, he struck a few more times.
Gazing at the now-dead senior sister, Jiang Hao felt a bit uneasy.
He wasn't accustomed to such things.
But in the Demonic Sect, even discomfort had to be endured.
The cultivation world wasn't forgiving; it wouldn't wait for him to adapt.
Standing there for a while to ensure she wouldn't revive or fight back, Jiang Hao finally moved away.
He had to find the Master of Broken Hearts Cliff.
The one he had sworn as his master upon joining.
Not being a True Disciple, he could only learn from his master's occasional lectures shared with other disciples.
Most of the cultivation relied on his own efforts.
Initially, he didn't want to report the incident. But the more he kept quiet, the more it seemed like he was guilty.
Especially given that the other side was already under suspicion. If he was seen as an accomplice, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Soon, Jiang Hao brought someone to the courtyard.
"You did this?" A middle-aged man looked down at the lifeless Yun Ruo, asking softly.
His face was grim, with cold features marked by time and experience.
He was the master of Broken Hearts Cliff, Ku Wuchang.
"Yes, disciple did." Jiang Hao bowed his head, answering.
"Tell me what happened." Ku Wuchang commanded, staring intently at Jiang Hao.
"This is what happened..." Jiang Hao recounted the event, concluding with:
"I initially tried to restrain Senior Sister, but then she went all out, so I did as well, and it ended like this..."
With his usual stern demeanor, Ku Wuchang said:
"When did you reach Foundation Establishment?"
"Last month," Jiang Hao responded nervously.
"That's why you chose to ambush her?"
"Yes."
"You no longer need to worry about this. If other issues arise, the Law Enforcement Hall will contact you. Cooperate with them." With that, Ku Wuchang took Yun Ruo's body and left.
Watching them leave, Jiang Hao breathed a sigh of relief.
"I wonder how the Heavenly Joy Pavilion will react. As for the Falling Sunset Sect, it's best I remain inside.
"In ten or a hundred years, they should forget about Senior Sister Yun Ruo.
"And even if they don't, by then, I will have grown stronger."