C5 The Four Great Elders Gathered Together!.

Jiang Su straightened his clothes once more, using his spiritual force to dry the damp patches left by the lake water.

After attending to his attire, he turned to gaze upon the Spirit Gathering Lake. It remained a pale shade of green, yet the waters were eerily still, as if life had abandoned them, leaving behind a hushed silence.

Had he really drained all the spiritual energy from the lake?

Cast aside by the Royal Family of Tianqi, he found himself in the Carefree Sect, labeled as useless. Despite his efforts, he could never channel Qi into his body, and his attempts at cultivation had always failed.

But he was well-read.

The books spoke of a Spirit Gathering Lake on the grounds of the First Devil Sect, a reservoir of spiritual energy amassed over years, providing a rich source for the sect's elders and distinguished disciples to enhance their cultivation.

Could this be that very lake?

Had he, in mere hours, sapped the lake of its spiritual energy?

Now, if he wished to master one of the ten great devil techniques, the Shadowless Step, he'd need to seek out a new source of energy as potent as the Spirit Gathering Lake.

Scanning the surroundings, Jiang Su's eyes settled on a dense forest behind the mountain, brimming with spiritual energy.

You have successfully triggered a hidden sign-in mission.

Your mission is now active.

[Sign-in location: The entrance to the ancient dense forest behind the Devil Sect.]

Time limit: 10 minutes.

Reward: Immortal Level Sword Manual "Man and Sword as One," Immortal Level Medical Book "Miracle Working."

A spark of excitement flashed in Jiang Su's eyes.

This was the perilous terrain of the Devil Sect, where the spiritual energy was undoubtedly profound.

Meanwhile, in the Conference Hall of the First Devil Sect, the demons were locked in heated debate.

"What is this madness? I emerge from a lengthy retreat to find that the Female Ruler has defied the Royal Family of Tianqi and brought Jiang Su back to the Devil Sect. Jiang Su, the cultivator who has achieved nothing. And you three did nothing to stop her. You are unworthy of the title of elder."

A grave elder in a black robe furiously stroked his long, graying beard, his hands quivering with rage.

That man is nothing but a waste. How could the Empress possibly be interested in him?

How does a waste deserve to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Empress?

This elder is none other than the leader of the First Devil Sect's Four Great Elders, the Nascent Infant Stage powerhouse, Elder Chiu Yue from the Devil Domain.

He is a loyal follower of the Empress, a venerable founder of the First Devil Sect, and one of her most trusted confidants.

"How could such a waste ever be fit to be the Empress's consort?"

After Elder Chiu Yue's remarks, a loud voice of dissent echoed through the room.

The voice belonged to Elder Tianxin of the Devil Sect, Bai Yih.

He was a man of unremarkable looks, yet he possessed exceptional cultivation. Merely middle-aged in appearance, his cultivation had already reached the Nascent Infant Stage, which is why he was among the Devil Sect's Four Great Elders.

Seated not far from the screen in the Conference Hall was a woman of stunning beauty, draped in a red gossamer gown.

She sat with her legs elegantly crossed, her long, fair legs partially exposed as she adjusted the light fabric, seemingly in an attempt to modestly cover them.

Upon hearing Bai Yih's comment, Su Wuyou arched an eyebrow, twirling a lock of hair around her slender finger, and let out a soft laugh.

"The Empress may have gone to seek out Jiang Su alone, but how could she ever marry a waste? She's been betrothed to him since birth, and she's surrounded him with so many protectors. All because he possesses a face of unmatched beauty."

She finished her statement with a pointed gaze lingering on Bai Yih's face for a few seconds.

Bai Yih's anger flared. He realized Su Wuyou was taunting him, his looks paling in comparison to Jiang Su, and he could only watch as the Empress and Jiang Su remained inseparably close.

How could a waste be graced with such otherworldly beauty?

If he truly possessed such transcendent allure, he would have been renowned far and wide.

Even if he did have a face that defied the heavens, he's still a waste, at the mercy of others.