The divine skill, Daily Appraisal, had been used by Jiang Hao on countless objects—ranging from massive mountains to tiny flowers. However, he had never tried it on a person.

In his understanding, people were beyond the scope of appraisal. But given the current circumstances, he decided to give it a try. After all, it couldn’t hurt.

When he activated the skill, invisible runes flickered across his eyes, capturing his senior sister's figure within their glow.

In the blink of an eye, a surge of information was transmitted into his mind.

"Effective," Jiang Hao thought, feeling a spark of hope. He immediately examined the feedback.

But as soon as he began reading, a chill ran down his spine.

[Cloud Yue]: Early Foundation Establishment stage. Inner disciple of the Falling Mist Sect. A spy infiltrating Tianyin Sect to search for the whereabouts of the Celestial Fragrance Flower.With her identity on the verge of exposure, she urgently needs a scapegoat. Observing that you lack the demeanor of a demonic sect disciple, she has targeted you as the ideal candidate.Currently employing charm techniques to manipulate your mind, she aims to make you willingly take the fall. Should that fail, she intends to silence you.

Jiang Hao remained outwardly calm but inwardly cursed."Because I don’t act like a typical demonic sect disciple, I’m marked for death?"

Before him, the jade pendant was still extended. If he accepted it, he would become her scapegoat; if he refused, she would eliminate him.

The former was certain death, while the latter would pit him against an experienced Foundation Establishment cultivator with numerous tricks up her sleeve. A direct confrontation offered slim odds of survival.

As his mind raced, Jiang Hao pretended to reach for the pendant. Just as his fingers were about to touch it, he suddenly widened his eyes and exclaimed in shock:"Master?!"

Startled, Cloud Yue spun around, a spiritual sword materializing in her hand.

Not only that, her aura locked onto Jiang Hao, clearly intending to use him as a human shield. The pendant was already out; the first person to die would bear the blame.

"Master, Jiang Hao is the traitor! He—"

As Cloud Yue prepared to falsely accuse him and strike, she froze mid-sentence.

There was no one behind her.

Realizing she’d been tricked, her heart sank.

Before she could react, a dagger struck with lightning speed from her side.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Squelch!

In an instant, the blade pierced her neck.

Jiang Hao’s sneak attack aimed to kill her outright in a single blow.

He knew he couldn’t win a head-on fight, so he relied on an ambush to bridge the gap.

He didn’t wish to harm others unnecessarily. But if someone sought his life, he wouldn’t hesitate to retaliate.

Bang!

Despite her injuries, Cloud Yue instinctively unleashed a counterattack, forcing Jiang Hao to retreat.

"You…"

Her voice trembled with shock.

She had misjudged him entirely. From their interactions, she’d thought him naive, a kind-hearted rookie doomed to perish in a demonic sect. She never imagined that beneath his gentle exterior lay such ruthless decisiveness.

Jiang Hao offered no response. Drawing his spiritual sword, he advanced to finish the job.

Cloud Yue, gravely wounded, could only feebly resist.

Blades clashed in a flurry of sparks, and after a brief but intense exchange, she was sent flying into the courtyard.

Collapsing on the ground, she clutched her neck and stared at Jiang Hao in terror. Desperation filled her voice:"Junior Brother, you can’t kill me! The Pavilion Master of Heavenly Joy has his eyes on me. If you kill me, he’ll seek revenge!"

Jiang Hao ignored her pleas. He stepped forward and delivered a decisive slash.

"I’m also a Falling Mist Sect disciple! My senior brothers adore me! If I die by your hand, they’ll flay you alive—"

Shing!

A final strike ended her words.

All fell silent.

Thud… Thud…

For good measure, Jiang Hao stabbed a few more times, ensuring she was truly dead.

Standing over her lifeless body, he felt a pang of discomfort.

Killing didn’t come naturally to him. But in the demonic sect, discomfort was a luxury he couldn’t afford.

The cultivation world didn’t offer time to adapt; survival demanded swift action.

After standing in silence for some time, he confirmed there were no traps or signs of revival. Finally, he stepped out to report the incident to the master of Broken Emotions Cliff—his own mentor.

Since he wasn’t a core disciple, his contact with his master was limited to occasional lectures shared with other disciples. Most of his cultivation was self-taught.

Initially, he hadn’t intended to report the matter. But hiding it would only make him look suspicious—especially since Cloud Yue’s actions had already drawn attention. If he was deemed an accomplice, the consequences would be dire.

Soon after, Jiang Hao returned to his courtyard, accompanied by a stern middle-aged man with a weathered face and cold, piercing eyes.

This was Ku Wu Chang, the master of Broken Emotions Cliff.

"You killed her?" Ku Wu Chang asked, his voice calm but icy.

"Yes, Master," Jiang Hao replied with a bow.

"Explain what happened."

Jiang Hao recounted the events, omitting only the appraisal skill. He concluded:"I originally planned to subdue her, but when she resisted, I had no choice but to defend myself."

Ku Wu Chang’s expression remained inscrutable."When did you reach the Foundation Establishment stage?"

"Last month," Jiang Hao answered nervously.

"So you resorted to a sneak attack?"

"Yes."

"This matter is no longer your concern. If the Enforcement Hall has questions, cooperate with their investigation."

With that, Ku Wu Chang picked up Cloud Yue’s body and left.

Watching his master depart, Jiang Hao let out a sigh of relief.

"I wonder how the Heavenly Joy Pavilion will react. As for the Falling Mist Sect… I’ll just avoid leaving the sect for now.

Ten or a hundred years should be enough for them to forget Cloud Yue ever existed.

And if they don’t… by then, I’ll be strong enough to handle it."