The three figures disappeared into the night.
As the night deepened, the streets of the Imperial City became increasingly deserted. Jiang Wen and the others followed a secluded alleyway back to the You residence.
"Is it safe here? This is just an ordinary folk residence; there might be some risks," Yu Shiqie said, warily surveying their surroundings.
Hearing this, Jiang Wen smiled and said, "This is where we're staying in the Imperial City. The owner is a kind-hearted person. You can rest assured."
Pushing open the door, Chang Nian greeted them with a smile, "Esteemed guests, you've returned."
"Please trouble Brother Chang to prepare another room," Jiang Wen instructed. "Also, what's been happening in the city recently?"
Upon hearing this, Chang Nian welcomed everyone inside, then lowered his voice, "I've heard some things about the God-Worshipping Society. It's said that they recently built an altar outside the city, heavily guarded day and night. I heard..."
He looked around, "Every night, the sound of infants crying can be heard."
Jiang Wen frowned. The God-Worshipping Society's activities were likely extensive. True Person Changchun had also mentioned the God-Worshipping Society, so it seemed that what they were doing was urgent.
With this thought, Jiang Wen asked Chang Nian again, "Do you know what they're doing?"
Chang Nian shook his head. "I'm not too sure. Such places aren't for people like us to go. However..."
He looked around, hesitant to speak.
"Speak," Jiang Wen said in a deep voice.
"I heard from the beggars nearby that the night before last, a young beggar accidentally saw the people from the God-Worshipping Society carrying several large boxes into the altar. Those boxes..." Chang Nian swallowed. "Were moving, and supposedly, there was the sound of babies crying."
Hearing this, Li Xiangyue couldn't help but gasp. "Are you saying—"
"That's enough about this matter," Jiang Wen interrupted. "Please trouble Brother Chang to prepare some food. We'll talk more later."
After Chang Nian left, Jiang Wen spoke, "The matter of the God-Worshipping Society is likely more troublesome than we imagined. The Imperial Palace isn't urgent; this God-Worshipping Society is the priority. If I'm not mistaken, the God-Worshipping Society is preparing to sacrifice infants to do something heinous again."
"Benefactor, what should we do?" Bai Jing asked.
Jiang Wen pondered for a moment. "Tomorrow, I'll go to Drunken Immortal Restaurant to find Su Mu and see if I can gather more information. Yu Shiqie, continue to send people to monitor the movements of the God-Worshipping Society. Bai Jing..."
He looked at Bai Jing. "You secretly protect the families with infants. If you discover the people from the God-Worshipping Society forcibly taking them, protect the children first."
"Understood," the two replied in unison.
After finishing his instructions, Jiang Wen stroked his sleeve. The branches trembled, as if a woman was responding.
The next morning, Jiang Wen arrived at the Drunken Immortal Restaurant alone. As soon as he entered, he heard a familiar voice from upstairs, "Daoist Priest Jiang, long time no see."
Looking up, he saw Su Mu leaning on the railing on the second floor, waving at him.
Going upstairs, Su Mu led him into a private room. Wine and dishes were already laid out on the table, obviously prepared in advance.
"Moreover," Su Mu continued, "these infants were all born in yin years, yin months, and yin days."
"Are they practicing evil arts?" Jiang Wen immediately thought of one possibility.
Su Mu shook his head. "It's more terrifying than that. I suspect..." He hesitated.
"Go on."
"I suspect they're refining 'Human Pills'." Su Mu's voice was almost inaudible.
Human Pills. Jiang Wen's heart shook.
Although he had never seen them, he had seen them in the *Scripture of Sacrifices*. He had kept that strange secret art for a long time, but rarely read it.
It was said that it was a heaven-defying pill-refining method created by cultivators ten thousand years ago, using infants as materials to refine immortality elixirs. It was said that someone had tried it thousands of years ago, resulting in divine wrath and the destruction of thousands of miles of mountains and rivers overnight.
If they were really practicing such evil pills, there would likely be a great disaster in the Imperial City. Thinking of this, Jiang Wen asked solemnly, "Is there any evidence of this?"
Su Mu smiled bitterly. "If there were evidence, the Supreme Divinity Palace would have taken action long ago. The problem is—" He pointed to the sky, "Someone above is protecting them."
Jiang Wen understood what he meant. Who else could make the Supreme Divinity Palace wary other than the Holy Son of this Great Qian?
"What do you plan to do?" Su Mu asked.
Jiang Wen pondered for a moment. "I need to enter the altar to investigate."
Su Mu frowned. "That's too dangerous. The God-Worshipping Society is now full of Illumination Realm experts, with Dao Palace True Persons guarding it. If you go, it's likely to be more dangerous than safe."
"Naturally, I can't be reckless, so I need your help," Jiang Wen interrupted him. "The Supreme Divinity Palace is the orthodox cultivation sect in the world, and it must inspect the various immortal sects every year. Since that's the case, the establishment of this altar by the God-Worshipping Society is also among them."
Su Mu held his teacup, lost in thought. "Are you saying—"
"That's right, enter the altar under the guise of inspection," Jiang Wen said with a smile. "That way, they definitely won't dare to stop us."
Su Mu thought for a moment and nodded. "Alright, if it's like that, it's not impossible. However, the God-Worshipping Society also has countermeasures, so Daoist Priest, please make thorough preparations. I'll go back and make arrangements now. Three days later, we'll go to the God-Worshipping Society under the guise of inspection."
No mistake, one song, one first, one inside, one capacity, one in one look!
The two discussed some details, and Jiang Wen then bid farewell and left.
Returning to the You residence, he told Bai Jing and Yu Shiqie the plan.
"Daoist Priest, isn't this too risky?" Bai Jing said worriedly. "What if we're discovered..."
"Holy Maiden, there's no need to worry. Even Dao Palace True Persons can't stop us. However, I still need you to provide support from the outside," Jiang Wen explained. "If the situation isn't right, just save the children first."
Yu Shiqie nodded. "I will arrange for people to provide support from the periphery."
"Also," Jiang Wen looked at Bai Jing, "Continue to monitor the families with infants. I suspect the God-Worshipping Society will take action again soon."
Bai Jing replied, "This servant understands."
Three days later, Jiang Wen wore a white robe.
He posed as a disciple of the Supreme Divinity Palace, following Su Mu on the left and right.
A group of several people were all disciples of the Supreme Divinity Palace. Each held magical artifacts and had cold expressions.
Arriving outside the city, they soon reached the altar of the God-Worshipping Society.
Looking from afar, the altar soared into the clouds, heavily guarded on all sides. Su Mu displayed the Supreme Divinity Palace token, and the disciples of the God-Worshipping Society dared not stop them, but had to keep a close eye on them and let them pass.
Entering the altar, Jiang Wen immediately felt a cold aura. A faint smell of blood permeated the air, making one nauseous.
"Special Envoy Su, this way, please," a person claiming to be a God-Worshipping Society Outer Envoy led the way.
Jiang Wen followed behind, secretly observing his surroundings. Suddenly, he heard a faint cry.
"Wait," Su Mu suddenly stopped, his eyes coldly staring at the God-Worshipping Society members. "What's over there?"
The Outer Envoy's expression changed slightly. "That is..."
Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Wen had already strode over. Pushing open a hidden door, the scene before him made his expression turn ugly.
Dozens of infants were locked in iron cages, some already on the verge of death. Various magical artifacts were scattered on the ground, and the walls were covered with strange runes.
"Stop!" the Outer Envoy shouted sharply.
Jiang Wen turned around and saw dozens of God-Worshipping Society cultivators surrounding them.
"We are cultivators from the Supreme Divinity Palace. What do you want to do?" Su Mu surveyed the God-Worshipping Society cultivators and snorted coldly.
"Special Envoy Su, please don't be offended. I just want to explain something," the God-Worshipping Society Outer Envoy stroked his beard and sighed.
"Oh? Then I'll listen to the Outer Envoy's wise words," Su Mu said with a smile.
