Heaven, Earth, Me Chapter 1546. Visit to a Demonic Sect.

"...What did you say? Repeat it for me."

The person kneeling before Sterila responded with gravity. "The top cultivators of the [Double Sword Peak Sect] have been completely wiped out. Once this devastating news became public knowledge, their neighboring adversaries, the Demonic Sect, seized the opportunity to strike, delivering the final blow. By the time any reinforcements could arrive, the [Double Sword Peak Sect] was nothing more than a field of fallen bodies."

Sterila, recognized as one of the leading figures within the righteous faction, found herself momentarily stunned by the preposterous report. The Double Sword Peak was no minor or obscure organization; it was a sect firmly established within the world's top fifty. Yet, she was now hearing that it had been uprooted in a single day.

"Who was responsible?"

"...It is whispered that the perpetrator was the Crystal Blood Witch."

The informant spoke with noticeable caution, fully aware that this particular individual had been a persistent nuisance to Sterila for an extended period. Simply mentioning her name was enough to displease the formidable woman.

Sterila's reaction, however, defied expectation. "That... doesn't seem right. I concede that the Crystal Blood Witch is formidable. However, she lacks the power to obliterate an entire sect so swiftly and without leaving a distinct trace. Her typical modus operandi leaves behind a scorched earth and scattered crystal fragments."

***

While Sterila grappled with this new disquiet, Yasenia and Angel continued their journey towards their next objective. Yasenia had certainly detected the movements of the Demonic Sect but paid them little mind. The reason for her indifference was remarkably straightforward.

Angel remarked softly, "That particular demonic sect nearly succeeded in pilfering one of my treasured artifacts."

Yasenia offered a smile. "That's of no consequence. Let's proceed to plunder their treasury instead. Furthermore, they just recently ransacked that... that..." Yasenia paused, blinking as she murmured to herself, "Two Sword Mountain Sect?"

Andrea, standing nearby, corrected her with a suppressed chuckle. "Double Sword Peak Sect, dear. That is their actual name."

Yasenia merely shrugged, tightening her hold on Angel with the casual gesture. "Whatever the name, they're gone now. They could be called Two Tomb Peaks for all I care."

Thus, their group discreetly shadowed the demonic cultivators who had come to loot, eventually arriving at a secluded, hidden valley. Yasenia hummed a light tune, her gaze filled with curiosity. "Do the demonic sects in this realm typically reside in seclusion?"

Angel nodded in confirmation. "Indeed. While Demonic Sects possess considerable strength, they are too fragmented to openly claim territory. Should any of them dare to reveal themselves, the forces of righteousness would descend upon them like a swarm of eager moths drawn to a flame."

"Is that so?" Yasenia inquired, a hint of confusion in her voice. "Then, why do they not employ that tactic to lure and annihilate the righteous cultivators? Surely, they possess the most effective bait for such a scheme."

Angel blinked, then blinked again. She tilted her head adorably to the side, a puzzled expression on her face. "Right, why don't they do that?"

Tatyana provided the answer for them. "It is likely they have never conceived of such a strategy, and even if they had, there is probably no demonic sect selfless enough to willingly serve as bait."

Yasenia hummed, still harboring a slight sense of disbelief and sensing a subtle undercurrent of conspiracy. Nonetheless, Tatyana's explanation was quite sound, so she did not dwell on the matter further. Ultimately, it was not her concern.

"In any case, we have arrived. Let us politely 'knock' on their door."

With that, Yasenia's group materialized abruptly at the entrance of the sect, concealed within the misty depths of the valley. Their sudden appearance sent a jolt of alarm through the nearby guards, many of whom immediately adopted a defensive posture.

Disregarding any immediate threats, Yasenia spoke with effortless grace. "Anna, Eve, lead us to the treasury."

***

Within the primary structure of the sect, a gathering of individuals clad in robes that perfectly embodied the archetype of cliched demonic cultivators were conversing. Among them was a woman exuding a dangerous yet captivating allure, a man enshrouded in bandages, a somber elderly gentleman, and a tall, middle-aged man possessing an undeniable touch of demonic charisma.

The woman let out a chuckle as she tallied the spoils of their recent raid. "With such an abundance of corpses and treasures, our [Four Claw Demon Sect] is practically secured for several decades, even if we were to cease all further resource acquisition."

The bandaged man spoke in a gravelly tone. "These numerous corpses will serve to cultivate an army of Corpse Puppets capable of overwhelming the surrounding Misty Valley. We can then utilize them to acquire even more resources, thereby exponentially increasing our Corpse Puppet numbers."

However, their discussion was abruptly interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps, and someone burst through the main entrance. "Supreme Elders, Sect Master! Intruders are assaulting our sect!"

"What?" The woman exclaimed in astonishment, and the other three immediately extended their spiritual senses, their gazes directed outwards. They were utterly bewildered by the scene unfolding before them.

A contingent of approximately 300 women was proceeding through the sect's thoroughfares as if they owned the place. Any individual who dared to voice a protest was instantly eliminated by one of the women dressed in maid uniforms.

The handsome middle-aged man rose to his feet and declared, "Follow me."

The other three readily assented. "Yes, Sect Master."

In a flash, the four of them closed the distance, appearing directly before them. Xyrona, before the quartet could utter a word, inquired with irritation, "Why are you all hovering above my Young Miss? Do you deem yourselves worthy of looking down upon her?"

Before the four could even process her words, a sense of impending danger struck them from behind. Unbeknownst to them, the four maids, Xyrona included, had somehow positioned themselves directly overhead and were now launching downward strikes.

BOOM!

Four figures plummeted like shooting stars, crashing violently into the ground. Anna, with a casual wave of her hand, erected a barrier to contain the ensuing shockwave and dust. She chided them, "Must you be so savage? Do you wish to stain the Young Miss’s attire? I shall administer your punishment later."

Xyrona landed beside the other three maids, sheepishly rubbing her cheek. "My apologies, Head Maid. Given their status as peak powerhouses, I may have exerted a touch more force than necessary. I shall exercise better control over my strength henceforth."

Meanwhile, hidden from view, the three Supreme Elders and the Sect Master were gripped by sheer terror. 'What monstrous beings are these!?'

The Sect Master rose, dusting off his robes in an attempt to maintain composure. Yet, inwardly, he was fighting desperately to suppress a mouthful of blood. "We harbor no ill will towards each other, do we?" he ventured.

Yasenia, cradling Angel and planting a kiss on her daughter’s delicate cheek, replied without looking up, "Inquire with my wife if any enmity exists. Should she declare none, I shall gladly depart."

Glancing at the blonde woman nestled in Yasenia’s embrace, the alluring woman gasped in astonishment, "You... the Crystal Blood Witch!?"

This revelation caused even the man concealed by bandages to lose his stoic facade. This particular woman, whose power often brushed against the demonic, was well-known to them. They also recalled a past encounter where, several years prior, they had clashed with her over a treasure and emerged defeated.

The woman's expression grew somber. "Our past conflict stemmed from a dispute over a treasure. Surely, you won't cling to such a petty grievance, will you?"

Angel, her usually gentle and wide blue eyes now holding a gaze devoid of emotion, looked over. "A dispute? Did I not claim the treasure first? Were you not the one who ambushed me? Had my strength waned, the flowers atop my tomb would now be fully bloomed... that is, assuming the bandaged man permitted my corpse any semblance of peace, which I highly doubt."

Yasenia needed no further explanation. Raising her head with an ice-cold glare, she stated casually, "My initial intention was to acquire their treasures, but I was unaware of these... particular circumstances. Apprehend all individuals involved in that past incident and put them to death." Her tone then softened as she looked down, nuzzling Angel's cheek. "You simply point, my treasure. Anyone you indicate shall meet their end."

Angel nuzzled back, her eyes narrowing slightly. Then, her small hand lifted, indicating an elder standing nearby. Doriel moved like a phantom, appearing behind the elder and precisely striking his vital pressure points.

Angel's finger then shifted, pointing towards a woman. The woman's face drained of color. "W-Wait! I did not participate in the attack!"

However, her desperate pleas went unheard as another maid swiftly apprehended her and unceremoniously dumped her before Yasenia, like a helpless stray.

The Sect Master spoke with gravitas, "I remain ignorant of your identities. However, this is entirely unnecessary. If you cease your actions now, we will permit you to depart."

"Permit me to depart?" Yasenia echoed, a cruel smirk playing on her lips. Her pupils contracted menacingly. "You’ll consider yourselves fortunate if Angel refrains from pointing a finger your way. Therefore, remain quiescent, lest your entire sect suffer the same fate as the Double Sword Peak Sect."

Angel applauded lightly. "Bravo, Yasenia! You pronounced the name correctly!"

"Oh?" Yasenia smiled, bestowing a kiss upon her beloved child. "Did I? How wonderful!"

She then inquired, her gaze gradually lifting to meet the Sect Master's, "So, my treasure. Will your tiny finger indicate him?"

Angel pouted. "He was not involved, so I cannot point at him. However, that bothersome woman over there... I can point at her."

Instantly, the female Supreme Elder felt an icy dread wash over her and attempted to flee as Angel's finger landed upon her. This time, however, it was Anna who sprang into action.

Her form blurred into a streak of light, materializing directly in front of the escaping woman. Then, executing a flawless sequence of martial arts, she seized the alluring woman and slammed her to the ground. Verdant roots erupted from the earth, ensnaring the Level Six Transcendence Realm cultivator before constricting with terrifying force.

CRACK!

"AAAHH!!"

The woman's agonizing scream echoed as every bone and Meridian within her was mercilessly shattered by the brutal sequence of movements. Anna then gently placed the woman on the ground before hoisting her by the scruff of her neck and proceeding towards Yasenia.

The Sect Master had harbored intentions of resistance. Yet, Anna's swift and merciless execution of her task left him no time to react; his muscles had barely tensed before it was all over.

Yasenia reached out and affectionately patted Anna's head. "Exemplary work."

Anna beamed, an expression of pure delight gracing her features, and gracefully returned to stand behind Yasenia. "Are there any others?"

Angel surveyed the surroundings and gave a dismissive shrug. "The others were insignificant. Therefore, this is sufficient."

"It's never enough~," Yasenia chuckled, a chilling undercurrent of killing intent coloring her words. "Everyone who caused you grief over the past decades will meet their demise. Every single one."

With that, Yasenia pressed her foot down upon the alluring woman and inquired, "Speak, who else was involved? Answer me, and I shall grant you your freedom."

The Sect Master's face contorted. "Do not answer her. You know she is deceiving you!"

Yasenia let out a low hum. "It appears the Sect Master has no desire to continue living, does he?"

The man's complexion turned ashen, but fortunately for him, Yasenia did not press the issue. Her gaze drifted downwards, her golden eyes locking with the terror reflected in the broken woman's. "Will you cooperate or not?"

"H-How can I be sure you will truly spare my life?"

Yasenia's lips curled into a cold, predatory smile. "Does it truly matter? Your only recourse is to wager. Or, you could cling to your loyalty to the sect and maintain your silence. Should you choose that path..." Yasenia shifted her foot atop the woman's head, her voice dropping to a devilish whisper. "...I can simply apply a little pressure here, and... *splat*. Your head will explode, and your life will end instantly."

All those who had participated in the past events were now wracked with trembling fear. They understood that escape was impossible, and any attempt to flee before a verdict was reached would be tantamount to an admission of guilt.

Unfortunately for them, as a Supreme Elder of a Demonic Sect, the woman was profoundly self-serving and swiftly betrayed everyone involved.

The maids moved with spectral swiftness, and those who dared to attempt an escape were crushed beneath their feet without the slightest chance of resistance. The Sect Master clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with a mixture of furious indignation and utter helplessness.

Yasenia, unperturbed by the unfolding drama, ruthlessly eliminated everyone the woman identified. Once her grim task was complete, she lifted her foot and stepped back, moving past the woman. "You may live now."

The woman, along with everyone else present, stared in stunned disbelief. Even Feixue and Andrea were taken aback. Andrea approached, a look of bewilderment on her face. "Did you discover a shred of mercy within yourself?"

Yasenia arched an eyebrow as she advanced towards the treasury, drawn by the seductive allure of the precious items within. "Bones shattered, meridians damaged. A beauty whose physique has clearly been honed for Dual Cultivation. Likely the foremost beauty in the land. Most certainly... an ideal vessel for a Demonic Sect that has recently lost numerous formidable powerhouses."

As her words concluded, a wave of horrified realization washed over everyone who had erroneously believed Yasenia had truly spared the woman. They swallowed hard. 'Forgive her? Heh. She received the most brutal punishment of all!'