"This…" they all muttered and looked at each other. Their gazes speaking.

Zheng Fu Gong's expression is heavy. "I'll have someone try to restore that man's face and draw his appearance so we can ask the people if they know about the person." He spoke.

"We'll help." Qie Shi spoke.

Zheng Fu Gong nodded and looked at him with his eyes filled with gratitude. He knows that Qie Shi's network is wide and is growing bigger for the past five years.

"Cheng Sheng." Kang Ce called. "Do you have any idea what are these Eating Worms are?" he asked.

Cheng Sheng turned. "I am guessing that they must be demons." He answered.

"Demons?!" they exclaimed.

Cheng Sheng nodded. "Although they don't look like one, and there is no demonic energy coming from them, but…" he smiled. "Something that can take not only the flesh, but also the vital energy of a living person… what can it be but a demon?" he asked them.

They all fell silent. In their hearts, they agree to what he said. Anything that can harm someone, especially their life, is a demon.

"It is a pity, though." Cheng Sheng spoke as he shook his head in disappointment when he remembered something. "I have yet to see those children worms as well as the father worm from the corpses of their hosts to figure out if they really had a demonic energy in them." He said and then looked at Jing Kang. "Please be careful and look after of your disciples who made contact with the family's corpses, as well as that man's." he told him. "If my guess is right, then the demonic energy that contained by the children worms and the father worm should either have dispersed in air, or, most likely, have entered your disciples' bodies." He said. His voice sounds grave.

Jing Kang nodded. "I will." He answered. His expression solemn. "Thank you." He added.

"Huh? What about Jing Kang?" Lei Ling asked and looked at Jing Kang who is sitting beside him. "He also made contact with those hosts, right?" he asked as he looked at his husband with a worried gaze.

"… if he was affected, do you think I would act like I didn't care?" Cheng Sheng asked back and heaved a sigh as he smiled at Lei Ling. "He has higher cultivation compared with his disciples. The demons, as well as the demonic energy, only target those who have lower cultivation." he explained. "So, he is fine." He told Lei Ling.

His words dispelled the worry in Lei Ling's heart. Lei Ling clutched his chest and sighed in relief before he turned and smiled at Jing Kang, who smiled back at him.

"Cheng Sheng. You be careful, too." Tang Zhe told him. His face is serious.

"That's right." Tang Yun, Guo Cheng and Shan Lu nodded in agreement.

They all know that although Cheng Sheng is very capable, but he is the one who is in the most danger because he now has a low cultivation, which makes him also a target of the demons, and susceptible of demonic energy.

Cheng Sheng nodded. "I will." He answered and smiled, assuring them.

"Right now… what should we do?" Lei Qing asked. "These Eating Worms have now reached the east and the Zhongyang…" she said, feeling worried.

"Have Wu Bai's puppet patrol with the disciples." Jing Rui spoke.

Cheng Sheng looked at him. "Yes." He agreed. "The puppets won't be affected by these worms, so better have them be targeted than the living people." He spoke. "I will also make a tool that will help them detect the changes in the puppet in case the puppets were attacked." He told them.

They all sighed in relief and their eyes are filled with gratitude. "Thank you." Pai Lie spoke.

"This is the least I can do." Cheng Sheng told them.

…

"Cheng Sheng." Zheng Fu Gong called after everyone dispersed to make their preparations and to also send messages to their respective sects. Pai Lie also left with Zheng Yi to have the Alliance's disciples send messages to the various sects to inform them about what happened, and for them to be alert and make their own preparations aside from the Intersect Competition that is about to start.

"Elder Zheng." Cheng Sheng stopped and turned. "What is it?" he asked.

Xie Lan, Fan Wen, Chen Jing, Wu Fan, Wu Yuan, Sun Yi, Chen Han, Li Tian, Feng Mo, Wu Bai, Lei Qing, Lei Ling and You Rou also stopped. Qian Tian left with Qian Shan and Qian Su to inform Qian Lin, who is with Jing Hei, and is on the way to Zhongyang, for them to be careful. Meanwhile, Jing Kang left with Jing Rui, Jing Cheng and Jing Bai for them to tighten the security of Zhongyang together with the Righteous Alliance. Wu Bai will be sending them the puppets as soon as he finishes making them.

Zheng Fu Gong stared at Cheng Sheng for a long time before he took a deep breath. "Five years ago, we were too late to stop the incident during the Intersect Competition. But now…" he smiled. "Thank you." He said.

Now, it isn't too late to prevent the disaster to occur.

Cheng Sheng nodded in understanding. "It is my duty, as a cultivator." He spoke and lowered his head.

Zheng Fu Gong nodded and then left to help Pai Lie strengthen the barrier surrounding the Zhongyang. Right now, almost all the forces of all the sects have gathered in Zhongyang because of the Intersect Competition, thus anyone with ill intent would definitely target the Central Region to create chaos. Fortunately, Zheng Fu Gong, Pai Lie and Su Yuan are still alive and kicking so the Central Region didn't fall during these five years. And now, Jing Rui also has almost all of his strength returned.

"Ah Sheng." Chen Han called. "Now that things have come to this… we can't leave you alone, by yourself." He spoke.

Everyone's expressions changed and they immediately nodded in agreement with Chen Han.

"Xiao Sheng. You have to have an escort with you." Fan Wen told him. His usual gentle face looked stern right now.

Cheng Sheng fell silent. He knows what they feared the most. He is also self-aware that he is the weakest one among them all, even if he has the most knowledgeable of the current situation. "This…" he muttered, feeling reluctant.

He is a selfish person, but also isn't, especially if the ones he cared about will be implicated because of him. He doesn't want to die, now that he finally found Fei Yin, and has seen the hope of saving Fei Yin. But, if his life would be in exchange of others, then thanks, but no. He doesn't want it. Although he isn't a perfect person, but he also doesn't want to show his ugly side to Fei Yin when Fei Yin wakes up and found out that he lived for him in expense of others.

Even though they love each other so much that they can't extricate themselves, but they have principles.

He took a deep breath. "No – " he spoke, but he was suddenly cut off.

"I want to volunteer!" Lei Ling was the first one to speak.

"Me, too!" You Rou said as she raised her hand.

"You can't." Xie Lan spoke. "You have to support your disciples in the competition." He told them, reminding them to cheer for their disciples who will be participating in the Intersect Competition for the first time.

"Oh…" Lei Ling and You Rou muttered as their shoulders sank. They looked disappointed.

"How about we let him come with us to the competition?" Wu Fan spoke. "That way, everyone can guard him." He said.

"Great idea." Chen Jing nodded in agreement. "This way, we can both protect Sheng-er, and also cheer for the disciples." He smiled.

"No." Cheng Sheng spoke.

"Huh?" they all looked at him.

He raised his head and looked at them. His expression serious. "The more the people, the greater the danger." He told them.

Everyone fell silent. That's right. Although there are many of them to protect Cheng Sheng, but there are also many people around them who can find an opportunity to target Cheng Sheng. They can't watch over him always.

"How about I'll stay behind here, in Yunxiao Inn?" Cheng Sheng proposed.

No one spoke.

"The whole inn has a barrier around, which was made by me." Cheng Sheng looked at them. "I won't leave. I won't go anywhere. I will stay here." He told them. "I will have Qie Shi or Sun Rong contact you, or send you a talisman myself in case I want to leave for business." He added.

"… alright." They all finally, reluctantly, agreed. Although Cheng Sheng is a scum, he keeps his words. And he also considers everyone's feelings, so he definitely won't leave.

Then, two days later, the Intersect Competition finally started its first day of the first stage – the elimination stage.