"AAAAAAHHH!" Jie Mei screamed in pain not only because she was stabbed, but also because of the pure qi emanating from Cheng Sheng's sword that touched her flesh. "AAAAAAAHHH!" she screamed and slowly turned to see her leg slowly burning.

"That's - !" everyone exclaimed when they saw a large burn on her leg aside from the burn Cheng Sheng's sword caused.

"The Cleansing Stone did not lie. She's really not a demonic cultivator." Cheng Sheng said as he withdrew his sword.

"Then, why did you…" Xi Ming said.

"Why did I still ditch her?" Cheng Sheng said and turned to him. "I didn't lie. I really find her annoying, that's why." He answered and frowned before he kicked Jie Mei's mouth. "You're noisy. I'm still talking." He told her.

Everyone looked at him in horror. "Cheng Sheng!" one of them called. "Don't you care about what happened to Jie Mei?!" he asked.

"Let me look for my care." Cheng Sheng said and looked around before he paused. "Unfortunately, I dropped it outside the secret realm." He answered.

"Cheng Sheng!" another disciple said as he glared at him.

"You called me?" Cheng Sheng said as he raised his brows. "Really, now. If she should've just did her all, she should've reached our group. However, she easily gave up." He said.

"She's a woman-" someone said.

"Just because she's a woman that gives her the right to be protected?" Cheng Sheng said and his gaze turned sharp. "So I should just let our strength be slowly consumed just to protect her?" he scoffed. "A woman who acts delicate doesn't have a place in the third stage." he said, his tone harsh. "Everyone who have passed the second stage should have their mentality completely adjusted and become more stable since the third stage is ten times more dangerous than the second stage." He explained. "It is stipulated in the rules, thus everybody knows that. Yet, she dared to enter the third stage but then gives up after? Is she playing around or what?" He said and frowned. Dislike can be completely seen in his elegant face.

Everyone gaped at him.

"I've already said this. There are only two reasons why one should approach you." He said as he raised his finger. "One, they're asking for your help." He said as a shadow crept behind him. "And two - " he said as the shadow raised its claw.

" - you'll be the one asking for help." A voice said as the shadow was kicked and its back hit the tree.

Everyone saw someone has appeared behind Cheng Sheng. He was wearing black clothes and was wrapped from head to feet. "The Alliance's disciple?" They said.

"No - " the 'Alliance's disciple' said. " - it's 'Shu Mu'." He said as he removed his mask.

Everyone was shocked to see Shu Mu's face. He disguised as an Alliance's disciple!

"Shu Mu! You were disqualified since you've lost! What are you doing in the third stage?!" Kang Ce, who had regained his consciousness, asked as he glared at Shu Mu.

Shu Mu rolled his eyes at him. "Can't you see? I am currently the Alliance's disciple." He said and smirked as he carelessly threw his mask.

"Don't you dare lie!" Kang Ce said as he pushed Xiao Le while he rose from the ground.

Shu Mu frowned as he looked at Kang Ce like he was looking at an idiot. Ah. He is. He thought. "You all know Cheng Sheng is being targeted by the demonic cultivators. The competition can't stop for him, nor he can't be removed from the competition since it would be unfair to him. Thus, the Alliance sent me - " he explained and smiled as he looked at them. " - someone who, after he lost in the second stage, is disqualified to enter the third stage, thus won't affect the competition after he disguised as one of the Alliance's disciple to protect Cheng Sheng." He told them as he grinned.

Outside the secret realm, Lei Ling was surprised of Shu Mu's sudden appearance. "His entrance looked cool!" He exclaimed.

You Rou's eyes are shining. Meanwhile, Lei Qing smiled. "This is the first time he looked cool." She said and laughed while You Rou giggled.

"Elder Zheng, he…" the sect leaders said and looked at Zheng Fu Gong whose expression didn't change. However, the other four elders are as shocked as them. They clearly weren't informed about this arrangement, too.

"It is as Shu Mu said." Zheng Fu Gong said. "He won't affect the competition, since he dutifully does his tasks and didn't violate any rules." He explained before he paused. "We need someone strong and is familiar with Cheng Sheng to secretly protect him." He added.

The sect leaders fell silent. Zheng Fu Gong has a point. If it was someone unfamiliar to Cheng Sheng, they might just leave Cheng Sheng and save their self.

Inside the secret realm, Cheng Sheng turned to Shu Mu. "Good job holding back all these times." He said and patted Shu Mu's shoulder. Shu Mu just rolled his eyes at him.

"Cheng Sheng, that doesn't explain why Jie Mei turned to a demonic cultivator!" someone said, returning the topic at hand.

"Ah. That?" Cheng Sheng said and pointed Jie Mei's leg. "Because she wanted to." He answered.

"WHAT?!" they said. "Who would want to become a demonic cultivator – ?" they asked.

"Her." Cheng Sheng answered. "That burn on her leg is the Cleansing Stone's effect to the demonic qi poison she's hiding in her shoes." He lazily explained. "That disgusting smell… can you imagine how nauseous I felt as she stuck to me?" he asked and frowned as he turned to glare at Jie Mei who, suddenly, flashed behind him.

"Look out!" they all said. She's so fast! They exclaimed in their mind.

However, before she could reach him, Yu Sheng and Shu Mu moved and kicked her away. "UGH! AGH!" she cried as her body hit the trees and countless trees broke and fell inside the forest.

Everyone was shocked. Shu Mu… he's also this strong?! They thought. Qian Lin was also dumbfounded. "He…" he said.

Shu Mu turned and saw Qian Lin. He apologetically smiled at him before he and Yu Sheng rushed to find Jie Mei. "He changed." Jing Hei said as he stood beside Qian Lin.

"He was poisoned." Sun Yi said.

"Poisoned?!" Jing Hei and Qian Lin were shocked while Jing Bai and Zheng Yi silently listened on the side. Jing Cheng and Jing Kang were still unconscious.

"Yes." Sun Yi answered and explained to them about Shu Mu's condition before.

"That's - !" they exclaimed. "Who would be this sinister…?" they asked.

Suddenly, a loud noise was heard in the forest as Shu Mu and Yu Sheng appeared on top of the trees, their body in mid-air. Then, the two drawn their sword and boarded it before they flew in the air.

"He's really amazing…" Qian Lin said and smiled as he watched Shu Mu fought against Jie Mei together with Yu Sheng.

"Ah Lin…" Jing Hei called.

Qian Lin laughed. "I only admire him the same way as my elder brother." He explained. Shu Mu, truthfully speaking, is similar to Qian Tian – both in strength and personality. That's why he was disappointed Shu Mu actually hated him.

Cheng Sheng covered his ears when a cacophonous noise came out of Jie Mei's throat. "Tch!" he clicked his tongue and looked at the others also covering their ears.

"WAAAH!!!" they cried as they covered their ears the best they could.

"WOAH!" Shu Mu exclaimed as he and Yu Sheng fell off their sword when they were caught off-guard from Jie Mei's noise attack. "Oww…" he cried when his back hit the ground. "HA – " he gasped when Jie Mei suddenly appeared on top of him. His eyes widened in shock.

BANG! Before Jie Mei could claw Shu Mu, Fei Yin, Chen Han, Xi Ming and Tang Zhe appeared and pulled Shu Mu away. A large pit appeared where Shu Mu fell earlier.

"You okay?" Cheng Sheng said as he patted Shu Mu's shoulder.

"… I'm weaker than Yu Sheng, so she came after me?!" Shu Mu reacted.

"Soft persimmons should be picked first." Cheng Sheng said as they watched the four eldest disciples attacked Jie Mei from all sides. "I knew it. They're just testing her strength earlier, thus they poorly fought against her." he sighed as he watched the four suppressing Jie Mei.

"Cheng-shidi!" Li Tian, Feng Mo and Sun Yi called while Xiao Le ran behind them, following them in low spirits after Kang Ce pushed him earlier.

"The monsters and walking corpses are all killed." Guo Cheng said.

"Let the wounded stay inside the cave. The Healing Array is still in effect. They'll recover faster if they'll stay there." Cheng Sheng said.

"Yes." Guo Cheng answered before they went back to take care of the injured. Even if the Huakai Sect disciples are all fine, but they still helped taking care of the injured Wu Xi, Jing Cheng, Jing Bai, the Alliance disciple with Kang Ce, Kang Ce, and Xiong Si. Xi Xing and Gong Xian also have few wounds thus they were resting.