But those wolves did not attack; instead, they suppressed their cruel killing intent, gradually moving away as if retreating...

Gu Changhuai and the others were stunned.

The rest looked at each other in dismay.

Yet they still did not dare to act rashly, instead patiently remaining on guard.

However, after thirty minutes, there was not a single trace of presence in the distance, as if all the Demon Cultivators had quietly withdrawn.

The group, who had been prepared for a great battle, couldn't help but feel a pang of confusion.

"Why did these Demon Cultivators suddenly retreat?"

"What happened?"

"Could it be a trap? Do they want us to let our guard down and then strike back when we're relaxed?"

The Golden Core Steward, who wielded dual hammers and had been transferred from another state boundary, speculated in a low voice.

Gu Changhuai pondered for a moment, then shook his head, "They have the numbers; if they really wanted to take us down, they would just do it directly—there's no need for such theatrics."

"Then what are they up to... just toying with us?"

Gu Changhuai and Xia Canonical Official both looked equally perplexed.

After a moment of thought, Gu Changhuai spoke in a low voice:

"Whatever happened, it's a good thing for us. Let's retreat to a safe place before discussing further; we don't want to linger too long in case those Demon Cultivators return."

Summer Canon nodded, then issued orders for the Taoist Court cultivators to retreat.

However, they did not go far, retreating to a small grove twenty miles away, at the city gate, where they confirmed the surroundings were safe before setting up camp for the night.

They stayed there all night.

At dawn the next day, another group of reinforcements arrived to join them.

The two groups merged and returned to the ruins, the site of the Demon Sect's ambush.

They needed to investigate.

Whether there was indeed a large number of Demon Cultivators lurking the night before, what kind of trap they had set, and why they suddenly withdrew...

The Taoist Court cultivators spread out, searching the entire ruins and the nearby desolate mountain thoroughly.

What they found left everyone in a state of shock.

The mountain ground was littered with Demon Cultivator footprints, with remnants of Demonic Qi, Blood Worm traps, dismantled remains of an Evil Formation, vegetation polluted by Demonic Qi, and gradually rotting away...

As far as the eye could see, the devastation covered the whole mountain range.

Even Gu Changhuai and Xia Canonical Official felt a chill in their hearts.

The number of Demon Cultivators was far greater than they had anticipated, including many Golden Core Realm Demon Heads.

This was not a simple ambush but a large-scale "siege" targeting the Taoist Court.

Had they fought last night, it would have been extremely dangerous, and the chances of surviving such a brutal siege by Demon Cultivators were minuscule.

At that moment, everyone felt a strong sense of post-catastrophe fortune, but at the same time developed a stronger sense of doubt.

Why?

Why, having set up an ambush, with everything in place, would they suddenly withdraw?

Demon Cultivators are known to be relentless, and such mercy does not fit their style at all.

Gu Changhuai frowned.

Afterward, everyone searched around once more, but found nothing.

It was as though the Demon Sect had quietly set up the ambush, silently surrounded the Taoist Court cultivators, then just as quietly retreated with no lethal intent.

Came softly, left softly, taking not a single life.

"Why exactly?"

The group was puzzled beyond words.

Gu Changhuai couldn't understand either.

After searching for another two hours, Summer Canon sighed and said, "It's getting late, let's return to the Taoist Court; we can investigate further later."

"Yes." Gu Changhuai nodded.

Then everyone began the journey back home.

The journey was bumpy, yet they all returned safely.

Half a day later, they were back at the Qian Learning State Boundary's Taoist Court.

The mission was over. Though the trip bore no fruit, not losing anyone under such circumstances was a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.

Summer Canon also handed back the sealed storage bags to everyone.

This was the Taoist Court's rule.

For any major mission, to prevent leaks, all Taoist Court cultivators were forbidden to carry any items other than mission-related Spiritual Artifacts and Pills.

Gu Changhuai and Summer Canon only then retrieved their own storage bags.

Still preoccupied with the Demon Sect matter, their minds were muddled with doubts as they only casually inspected the storage bags.

Until they found the Letter Token inside, and saw the message Mo Hua had sent them yesterday:

"Uncle Gu, the 'insider' in the Demon Sect has been exposed."

"Uncle Gu, be wary of the Demon Sect's ambush..."

"Uncle Gu..."

Gu Changhuai felt his scalp tingle for a moment.

This information was sent by Mo Hua yesterday, and judging by the time, it was right before they fell into the Demon Sect's ambush.

Which means, Mo Hua knew in advance!

Mo Hua, who was in the Taixu Gate, without leaving the house, knew about the Demon Sect's large-scale siege plan even earlier than those Department of Ceremonies in the thick of it.

Knew even earlier they were stepping into a fatal killing game.

And he had even warned them in advance, telling them to be careful...

Gu Changhuai's heart was filled with shock and disbelief.

Mo Hua... how did he know?

Gu Changhuai couldn't help but look at Summer Canon, finding him also holding a Letter Token, eyes wide with shock, seemingly having seen a similar transmission from Mo Hua, equally shaken.

"Mo Hua, he..." Summer Canon murmured, looking incredulous.

"Mo Hua knows, does that mean..."

The two of them simultaneously harbored an almost absurd suspicion:

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