The Scum Is A

Yunxiao Inn.

"What the hell?!" everyone exclaimed when they heard what Ho Yue said. "These disgusting Corrupt Parasites actually not only can hypnotize people but there is also someone controlling them?!" they said.

Ho Yue. "…" no need to add 'disgusting' though it is true that they are, thank you. He thought before he nodded in affirmation. "Yeah. This is what Ting-er said." He told them as he looked at Ho Ting who is wolfing down his foods as if he has been starved for years.

Everyone, especially the Shanliangde Sect. "…" we still can't believe that he is elder Ho's nephew, and this sight of him acting like a hungry ghost increases our disbelief. They all thought as they looked at Ho Ting who surprisingly has a big appetite.

Ho Ting ignored their gazes. After a while, he seemed like he is done with his food so he wiped off the grease of his lips using a table napkin before he turned to them. "What my uncle said is true." He spoke. "I really felt that I was hypnotized when I saw that sword. Then, I felt like I heard a voice telling me to pick it up and I really picked it up." He explained. "I lost control of my body at that time. I forgot it because I was controlled and only remembered it recently because I continue to eat the magic pills for body, mind and spirit nourishment." He told them.

They all nodded in understanding.

"Thank you." Ho Yue told Cheng Sheng.

"You are welcome." Cheng Sheng answered. "Even if Ho Ting isn't related to any of you, I just can't watch someone and not do anything as their body turns cold, can I?" he asked.

Everyone smiled, obviously agreeing to what he said. Then, they remembered in the past how Cheng Sheng nitpicked in every matter and would charge them for it, no matter how small. Now, he became different. But this difference is him becoming better. Better in personality, and now his cultivation is expected to be better than it was before because his body is being rebuilt.

Although they don't know what will be the result, they all are hoping for Cheng Sheng to become stronger.

"None of you were mentally and spiritually attacked by the Corrupt Parasites, have you, after you caught the degenerate spirit servants?" Cheng Sheng asked as he looked at Xi Ming, Xi Xing, Shu Mu and Xiao Le who returned.

Xi Ming smiled. "No." he answered. "We never lowered our guards, if not, we have become more vigilant, especially of Gong Xiang's timely reminder." He explained.

Shu Mu nodded in agreement. "The Chen patriarch, former sect leader Wu, elder Fei and elder Xi are the most vigilant among all of us since they are guarding the gates of Zhongyang." He said.

Everyone understand this. As soon as the enemies enter the Zhongyang, the entire Zhongyang might crumble. If they could, they shouldn't even let the enemies come closer to Zhongyang or, if it is possible, the enemies can give up and just leave their land.

But, the enemies came prepared and are like playing with them, which made them even more uncomfortable for they lack their understanding of their enemies the most. Although there is Ho Yue, he can't provide them with everything the enemy have since he and Ho Ting have interacted with the enemies in the past before they fled after Ho Ting's parents were killed.

Things should have changed now for over many years. Thus, Ho Yue could only tell them what he already knows of the enemies based on his knowledge and understanding of them in the past.

"Continue practice the Three Harmonious Forms Manual." Zheng Fu Gong spoke. "Even if we can't attack them right now for we don't know where exactly are they, we still could at least defend ourselves." He said. "And that, we should never fail to do so.' He looked at them.

"Yes!" they answered.

…

The participants inside the special space naturally do not know the undercurrents in Zhongyang since not only their sect leaders and elders hid the matter from them, they also are currently focused with the competition, for what they came to in Zhongyang.

Wu Tie, as well as Jin Yu, who has almost been forgotten by the audience aside from his father and fellow disciples, is currently fishing with Jin Yu by the river. They had just finished killing a wave of demons and they were very exhausted, not to mention Jin Yu who can't expose himself that he is different from the other participants – from the humans. Thus, he had to maintain the image of being an irregular type of rogue cultivator.

"I have consumed all of our magic pills and potions." Jin Yu spoke and looked at Wu Tie with a guilty expression.

"No problem. We can just buy again." Wu Tie coolly spoke with an indifferent expression. Then, he caught a fish.

Jin Yu's face flushed in shame. "Thank you." He told him as he took the fish and skillfully cleaned it before he started the fire.

"You are working for me. In exchange, I'll provide for you." Wu Tie calmly said as he sat on the side and watched Jin Yu start the fire.

Jin Yu smiled, and the hearts of the women in the audience watching swooned when they saw his handsome face.

"AAAAAH!!! Participant Jin Yu! I will provide for you! Come to my arms! Serve me instead!" they squealed.

The cultivators present. "…" these women are very brave to say these shameless words just for someone handsome. They thought.

"Sheng." Fei Yin called as they all sat on their seats when they returned in the afternoon to resume watching the competition.

"Yes?" Cheng Sheng called.

"This Jin Yu…" Fei Yin muttered.

Cheng Sheng smiled. "No need for da shixiong to say it." He told him, indicating that he knows that Fei Yin noticed Jin Yu's unusualness. "He is Wu Tie's person." He added.

"Oh. I thought he is an enemy." Fei Yin said.

After all, he noticed that although Jin Yu is weaker than xiao Bao and xiao Ling, Jin Yu is already strong being a spirit servant. And xiao Bao and xiao Ling are sword spirits in the first place so it is natural for them to be strong.

Not to mention that Jin Yu looked more human than xiao Bao and xiao Ling, since Jin Yu is flexible and knows how to adapt to the changes around him and copy the humans' actions. To say, Jin Yu is formidable in his own way.

"Who did you say an enemy?" Fan Wen asked on the side when they heard Fei Yin's voice.

"Jin Yu." Fei Yin answered.

"Why did you think he might be an enemy?" Jing Cheng asked when the other sects heard their conversation.

"First, he is a rogue cultivator so we don't know his origin." Fei Yin answered. "Of course, if we will think like this, then we will look like we are prejudiced against the rogue cultivators. Thus, my second reason is that he is sword skills are unusual." He explained.

"I see. You have a point." They said.

"But, it turns out that he is actually the friend of sect leader Wu's eldest son." Fei Yin said.

"That's right." They nodded.

"Speaking of rogue cultivators, what do you think about Qi Lan?" Feng Mo asked.

He is worried because they don't know who are their enemies since the enemies are good in hiding. Qi Lan's background is unknown and his two disciples Zhu Xi and Wen Yan, including the other disciples of the Xinfaxian Sect, are close with Qi Lan. If Qi Lan is also an enemy… he felt his heart aching for his disciples who would definitely feel disappointed.

"Qi Lan is one of the noteworthy rogue cultivators in this year's competition." Kang Ce answered. "Not to mention that he is the benefactor of the son of sect leader He, he also knows how to make friends with others." He said.

Feng Mo secretly sighed in relief.

"What is disappointing is this Ke Lu." Guo Cheng frowned.

Everyone nodded in agreement when they recalled how Ke Lu used the Qian brothers as meat shields to buy time for himself to escape from the demons. He even tried to harm Qian Meng again after.

"He is disgusting." Tang Yun said.

"He is." Qian Lin agreed. After all, the children in their family almost died because of Ke Lu so he hates him very much. He and Qian Tian have already planned to teach Ke Lu a lesson after the competition.

…

Ke Lu, who doesn't know everyone despise him, secretly laughed as he looked at the back of the disciple he tricked like Qian Meng before. But, unlike Qian Meng, this disciple is alone thus no one will save him like how Qian Jue and the others saved Qian Meng from him hands.

Thinking of Su Yi, he looked at his hand wrapped in bandage and his anger flared up. Since he can't avenge himself yet, he decided to vent his anger on this disciple. It is this disciple's bad luck to be a disciple like Su Yi. If he is just a rogue cultivator, Ke Lu might still let him off easier.. But, the rogue cultivators are as vigilant as him thus his gaze landed on this lone disciple.