The leader of the Earth Sect was indeed the leader of the Earth Sect. With just a few words, she silenced everyone present and earned their sincere admiration.
Chen Xiao could tell that the Ziwei Sect Leader wasn't using her authority to suppress them. The gazes of the crowd showed that they were genuinely convinced by her words.
This woman was truly remarkable, not only captivating in appearance but also in her persuasive speech. Of course, it couldn't be denied that she was speaking the truth.
As Chen Xiao wondered what would happen next, he saw the Ziwei Sect Leader wave her sleeves, and a wave of green light spread out.
Then, the green light enveloped everyone present, except for Chen Xiao. In his sight, they all collapsed and fell unconscious.
"Uh... what is this?"
Chen Xiao was baffled. What was this woman doing?
At that moment, he heard the Ziwei Sect Leader's lazy voice say, "They've all fallen asleep. Now we can finally speak frankly... owner of the sacred relic!"
Chen Xiao was slightly taken aback. As expected, his identity had been guessed by the other party.
In fact, his identity wasn't difficult to guess. The reason others hadn't figured it out was that they had been misled by the Seven Gods, leading them to think in the direction of demonic cultivators.
Therefore, Chen Xiao wasn't surprised. He smiled faintly, glancing at the unconscious figures on the ground, and said, "Heh, the southern region of the Immortal Hidden Realm is led by the Earth Sect, and you are the leader of the Earth Sect. If you treat them like this, aren't you afraid of causing dissatisfaction?"
The Ziwei Sect Leader smiled charmingly and replied, "In fact, when they wake up, they will forget everything. They will only remember suffering a great blow and then falling unconscious... Yes, everything, including your identity and your existence."
Chen Xiao was stunned again. Was this a method to erase human memories?
However, considering her identity, possessing such heaven-defying abilities didn't seem excessive.
"What about Xu Weizhou? How will you explain it? His Dao intent has dispersed. Such a blow would be fatal for a cultivator in the Harmonious Dao realm, wouldn't it? Will he forget too?"
Chen Xiao's perception was incredibly sharp, and he could not miss the fact that Xu Weizhou's Dao intent had dispersed.
"I only said I would conceal your identity, not the identity of the Earth Demon... Elder Xu, although powerful, his defeat at the hands of the Earth Demon is quite reasonable."
The Ziwei Sect Leader's tone was even, and she had thought through all the subsequent issues the moment she learned the truth.
However, Chen Xiao still had one lingering question. He asked provocatively, "Then why are you helping me so much? Could it be that the dignified leader of the Earth Sect has taken a liking to me?"
Chen Xiao looked at the alluring woman opposite him with a challenge, as if he were staring at a ripe peach.
"Yes, I have taken a liking to you. Is there anything wrong with that?"
The Ziwei Sect Leader responded boldly.
This caught Chen Xiao off guard. He awkwardly touched his nose and muttered, "It's no use even if you like me, I already have a wife."
"Having a wife" was naturally just an excuse. He simply felt that this woman had ill intentions.
It made sense. A woman who had lived for at least five hundred years, mature and alluring, saying she liked you... what would you think? When something unusual happens, there must be a reason!
"Hahahaha~~~"
The Ziwei Sect Leader let out a series of charming laughs, her body shaking with mirth, appearing exceptionally lively.
"I won't tease you anymore, little one. So, you've already collected the soul crystal of that Earth Demon, haven't you?"
Even as she said she wouldn't tease him, the Ziwei Sect Leader's tone remained as flirtatious as ever, her eyes captivating and unrestrained, completely lacking the dignity and solemnity of an Earth Sect leader.
Chen Xiao was astonished once again. How did this woman know everything?
That's right, when the Earth Demon was killed by Chen Xiao using the Seven Gods, he hadn't truly died but had transformed into a brick-like soul crystal. Chen Xiao, while everyone else was still reacting, had subtly pocketed the soul crystal and acted as if nothing had happened.
"What, do you want it back?"
Chen Xiao asked warily, "Once something is in my bag, it's difficult to make me give it up!"
"If we wanted that soul crystal, we wouldn't have sealed it here five hundred years ago."
The Ziwei Sect Leader shook her head and said, "The soul crystal of the Earth Demon is yours to do with as you please. Whether you refine it or absorb it, just don't discard it and let it come out to harm people again."
Hearing this, Chen Xiao frowned. "This soul crystal is a heavenly treasure. Why didn't you absorb and refine it? Instead, you sealed it here?"
If Chen Xiao could refine this soul crystal, then the Earth Sect disciples could too. Therefore, Chen Xiao was very confused as to why they had only sealed the Earth Demon's soul crystal, only for him to reappear five hundred years later.
Fortunately, he was here today, otherwise, these people would have all been eaten by the Earth Demon... Of course, if he hadn't been here, the Earth Demon might not have been able to get out.
"We had our scruples, but you don't. That's why we could only seal it here."
The Ziwei Sect Leader offered an explanation, but it was as good as no explanation.
"What scruples?"
Chen Xiao asked.
The Ziwei Sect Leader looked deeply at Chen Xiao. "Haven't you ever suspected the Earth Demon's identity? I think you've already guessed that he's just a wisp of residual soul, right?"
Chen Xiao frowned slightly. "I've thought of a possibility, but I'm not sure, because it's too absurd."
"Feel free to say it."
The Ziwei Sect Leader's beautiful eyes flickered, and she looked at Chen Xiao expectantly.
"The Earth Demon is a wisp of residual soul from the Eternal Immortal Emperor, isn't he?"
Chen Xiao tentatively voiced his guess, though he wasn't certain, even thinking the guess was too far-fetched. The Eternal Immortal Emperor had long since perished. Even if a residual soul existed, it shouldn't be an evil entity like the Earth Demon! However, Chen Xiao just had this feeling...
But in the next moment, his guess was actually confirmed.
The Ziwei Sect Leader sighed softly, as if resigned, and said, "As expected of you, to guess even this. No wonder you always make the right choices."
"I guessed correctly? The Earth Demon is really the Eternal Immortal Emperor?"
Chen Xiao's eyes widened. Although he didn't say the latter part aloud, his shock and surprise were evident on his face.
At this moment, the Ziwei Sect Leader added, "You've guessed the Earth Demon's identity, but not the whole story. Let me explain it to you in detail."
With a demeanor of "let me teach you, sister," the Ziwei Sect Leader made Chen Xiao perk up his ears. He cupped his fists and said, "I am all ears."
"Actually, to be precise, the Earth Demon is not a residual soul of the Eternal Immortal Emperor."
The Ziwei Sect Leader began with this sentence and continued, "But the Earth Demon does have an inextricable connection with the Eternal Immortal Emperor."
"In fact, the Earth Demon is a wisp of stray thoughts left in the mortal world by the Eternal Immortal Emperor before his ascension – greed, anger, ignorance, and delusion. As the Eternal Immortal Emperor's strength grew, this wisp of stray thoughts also became stronger, eventually becoming the Earth Demon and causing havoc."
"That's why the Eternal Immortal Emperor later banished the Earth Demon here."
Hearing this, Chen Xiao was stunned. "Wait, you mean the Immortal Hidden Realm is just the Earth Demon's place of exile?"
The Ziwei Sect Leader nodded. "This realm is the domain space of the Eternal Immortal Emperor. He banished the Earth Demon here to prevent him from harming the mortal world. It was only later that human cultivators moved into this place and renamed it the Immortal Hidden Realm."
Chen Xiao was even more taken aback. "So, you guys actually took over the Earth Demon's territory, which is why the Earth Demon called you despicable people, right?"
The Ziwei Sect Leader's pretty face darkened, and she coughed awkwardly. "Ahem, not entirely."
"Never mind, since I've already told you so much, there's no harm in saying a bit more."
The Ziwei Sect Leader seemed to have a "what the heck" attitude. "Actually, when we first moved into the Immortal Hidden Realm, we didn't intend to seal this local tyrant. We had to rely on him and offer humans as tribute for him to consume."
"Eventually, as our strength grew, the Earth Demon's greed became unbearable for us, so we joined forces to seal him."
"However, the Earth Demon was ultimately born from the Eternal Immortal Emperor. Therefore, as disciples of the Earth Sect, we absolutely cannot absorb and refine his soul crystal."
Chen Xiao was speechless.
No wonder the Earth Demon called all the Earth Sect disciples despicable people. From his perspective, the Earth Sect was purely despicable! When they were weak, they relied on him and even offered humans to him. Once they grew stronger, they rebelled and sealed him! This Earth Sect was truly something...
Chen Xiao couldn't be bothered to comment on this. He was more interested in what the Ziwei Sect Leader said next. "What do you mean by 'as disciples of the Earth Sect, we absolutely cannot absorb and refine his soul crystal'? Did you really treat him like an ancestor?"
"You little brat, your words are so unpleasant!"
The Ziwei Sect Leader chided him. "The Earth Demon is not our ancestor, but the Eternal Immortal Emperor is!"
Hearing this, Chen Xiao was a bit confused. "Do you mean that your Earth Sect are the successors of the Eternal Immortal Emperor?"
"Yes, is that hard to understand?"
The Ziwei Sect Leader retorted. "Otherwise, why do you think the Heaven, Earth, and Human Three Sects became super sects in the Immortal Hidden Realm!"
"I see, no wonder..."
Chen Xiao murmured.
The Ziwei Sect Leader, however, seemed to still have more to say. "Moreover, before we entered the Immortal Hidden Realm, the Heaven, Earth, and Human Three Sects were not independent."
"Before the Eternal Immortal Emperor ascended, he established the Immortal Sect. After his ascension and the transformation into Three Pure Ones, the Immortal Sect was divided into three distinct forces."
"Initially, the three forces only differed in their cultivation philosophies and focus. But as time went on, the three cultivation directions developed and grew stronger. By the time of the heavenly tribulation five hundred years ago, the three forces completely disintegrated due to ideological differences. After entering the Immortal Hidden Realm, they became the Heaven, Earth, and Human Sects!"