Chapter 421 : Demonic Sect’s Secret Plot
Chapter 421: Demonic Sect’s Secret Plot
“Step!”
“Step!”
“Step!”
Zhi Ling paced elegantly, stirring up waves of nearly imperceptible spatial ripples. It was as though she were strolling through another world as she silently followed behind Mo Li.
This was no simple spatial escape art, but rather Zhi Ling’s exquisite application of the Seven-Tailed Violet Fox Clan’s innate Mystical Ability 【Violet Net Heavenly Barrier】.
She could activate the Mystical Ability and use her tails to carve out seven layers of spatial barriers, isolating all things and forming a realm unto itself, folding her own existence into a space that was closely adjacent to this world yet clearly separate from it.
Using such a Mystical Ability to conceal herself, let alone following a Foundation Establishment cultivator, even if she followed an early-stage Nascent Soul True Monarch, she would not leave the slightest trace to be detected.
Of course, Zhi Ling’s current cultivation was only at the Third-Realm Beast General level, so naturally, she would never underestimate the existence of a True Monarch.
The fact that a Nascent Soul True Monarch could not detect traces of the Violet Net Heavenly Barrier did not mean that a Nascent Soul True Monarch’s Divine Sense and spiritual perception were insufficiently keen.
Quite the opposite. Even without detecting anything at all, a True Monarch whose cultivation had transcended the ordinary could still sense through an inexplicable intuition that they were being watched, thereby gradually discovering that something was amiss.
“Ying?”
Zhi Ling tilted her little head, unable to understand why Beiwu wanted her to follow a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Wouldn’t it be easier to just capture her and interrogate her directly?
‘Watch carefully and don’t mess around!’
Hearing Chen Beiwu’s thought, Zhi Ling jolted upright and quickly followed Mo Li.
……
Cloudridge Market, Dispatch Office.
Mo Li took a deep breath, tightly gripped the Conscription Order jade slip in her hand, passed the identity verification, and walked inside.
The cultivators coming and going within the office hurried about, most wearing expressions of exhaustion or irritation. No one spared a second glance at the plainly dressed Foundation Establishment cultivator wearing a veil.
Following the information in the jade slip, Mo Li entered the Grade-A Conscription Room.
The room was cramped, containing only a table and a chair. Seated there was a middle-aged cultivator dressed in Mirror Moon Sect Daoist robes, with an amiable face and an outwardly righteous appearance.
“State your name.”
Hearing the door open, Zhou Tianyu lowered his head and leisurely flipped through the register in his hands without even raising his eyelids.
“Greetings, Deacon.”
Mo Li respectfully bowed and presented the Conscription Order with both hands：“This humble cultivator is Mo Li. I have come to report in accordance with the Mirror Moon Sect’s Conscription Order.”
Zhou Tianyu raised his eyelids, glanced at the Conscription Order jade slip, then looked Mo Li up and down, paying particular attention to the longsword whose spiritual radiance was so faint that it could not even be considered a Second-Tier Spiritual Artifact.
‘Another pauper!’
While shaking his head inwardly, Zhou Tianyu unhurriedly took the jade slip and lightly tapped his fingertips against the tabletop.
Whatever. Being poor was not entirely without advantages. At the very least, there would be no future trouble when he squeezed someone like this, nor did he have to worry about offending a cultivator with some background whom he should not offend.
Mo Li was still a Foundation Establishment cultivator, after all. No matter how poor she was, her wealth would still surpass those ant-like ordinary Qi Refining cultivators. He should be able to squeeze at least a little profit out of her.
Of course, there was also the possibility that she was deliberately concealing her capabilities and pretending to be poor.
But that did not matter. He only needed to pressure her a little to find out whether she was truly poor or merely pretending.
“Oh, so you’re a cultivator from the Azure Gold Sect.” Zhou Tianyu drawled, his tone indifferent：“Why are you alone? The Conscription Order clearly states that the Azure Gold Sect must provide eighteen people, including two Foundation Establishment cultivators and sixteen Late-Stage Qi Refining cultivators. Where are they now?”
Mo Li’s heart tightened, and she lowered her head：“Deacon, the cultivators of my sect encountered an attack by the Demonic Sect while responding to the conscription. All my fellow disciples unfortunately perished. Only this humble cultivator escaped by chance and was rescued by cultivators of the Upper Sect. The Upper Sect’s Judicial Hall also has records of this matter.”
“Oh, you encountered a Demonic Disaster, and they all died?”
Zhou Tianyu leaned slightly backward against his chair, his fingers gently tapping the tabletop：“That makes things difficult. The Conscription Order requires the Azure Gold Sect to have ‘all cultivators present’. Yet only you have arrived. The shortage is far too great. It’s difficult for this deacon to handle.”
Hearing the implication behind his words, a chill rose in Mo Li’s heart.
This damned world!
Before the Three-Realm War began, a Foundation Establishment cultivator backed by the Azure Gold Sect could be considered a figure of some standing. Even an Upper Sect deacon would maintain outward respect and would not casually provoke one, lest the Upper Sect punish them.
But during wartime, the status of Foundation Establishment cultivators had greatly declined.
In some remote regions, even market masters who had previously been peak Foundation Establishment cultivators had been replaced by Golden Core True Persons of the Mirror Moon Sect, ensuring the Mirror Moon Sect’s ruling position and preventing subordinate cultivator factions from outwardly obeying while secretly resisting and evading Conscription Orders.
With Golden Core True Persons backing them, Mirror Moon Sect deacons who had once treated Foundation Establishment cultivators as equals had grown increasingly greedy, even using the Three-Realm War as an opportunity to brazenly demand bribes from Foundation Establishment cultivators.
“This humble cultivator also understands that this matter places Deacon in a difficult position. Could Deacon perhaps make an exception and register me first, and later…” Mo Li forced herself to say.
“Later?”
Zhou Tianyu sneered and interrupted her：“How can frontline warfare wait until later? The fighting is tense right now. The Azure Gold Sect is seventeen people short. Who will fill that shortage, and who will bear the responsibility?”
After saying this, Zhou Tianyu picked up his brush. The tip hovered in midair as though he intended to make an entry in the register, yet he never put it down.
Immediately afterward, he sighed, set down the brush, and changed his tone：“However, rules are rigid while people are flexible. With war and chaos everywhere, I can understand the difficulties faced by the Azure Gold Sect’s cultivators. But some matters still have to be handled properly and reconciled with those above. If anything happens, I’ll at least be able to shoulder some of the responsibility.”
Hearing this, Mo Li’s heart sank.
She was not ignorant of worldly ways. For this deacon to phrase things so explicitly meant that he was openly soliciting a bribe.
If she spent some Spirit Stones to grease the wheels, this matter might pass without incident, and she might even receive a safer conscription assignment.
The problem was that, in order to survive the previous Demonic Disaster, she had already taken out every Spirit Stone she possessed to bribe cultivators of the Judicial Hall. Otherwise, she might already have joined her fellow disciples as another name on the Demonic Disaster’s list of casualties.
After hesitating for a moment, Mo Li took two jade slips from her Storage Pouch.
Then she placed the entire Storage Pouch on the table：“This humble cultivator possesses nothing of value, only some ordinary exotic herbs gathered along the journey to answer the conscription. I hope Deacon will show mercy and make an exception.”
Zhou Tianyu’s Divine Sense stirred and probed the jade slips in Mo Li’s hands.
For a Foundation Establishment cultivator to value them so highly, perhaps these two jade slips recorded some obscure but practical Cultivation Methods.
《Alchemy Manual》
《Overview of the Earth Proliferation Territory of the Nine Territories of the Southern Wastes》
The corner of Zhou Tianyu’s eye twitched, and he was utterly speechless inside.
Things this worthless were actually worth treasuring so much?
There really were all kinds of Foundation Establishment cultivators these days!
But whatever. Any Foundation Establishment cultivator who could provide some profit was his customer.
“Don’t worry……” Zhou Tianyu smiled.
He was halfway through speaking when his Divine Sense probed the Storage Pouch, and his expression abruptly darkened.
There were no Spirit Stones and no Spiritual Herbs, only some ordinary exotic herbs!
Good grief. A dignified Foundation Establishment cultivator could not even produce a single Second-Tier Spiritual Herb.
Trying to bribe him with this garbage—how was that any different from insulting him?
Zhou Tianyu impatiently tossed the Storage Pouch back. Fury surged in his heart as he raised his hand and pointed a finger at Mo Li.
“Crack!”
Mo Li had no time to react. She had never expected Zhou Tianyu to dare attack inside the Dispatch Office and could only watch helplessly as the jade slips in her hands shattered with a bang, turning into fragments of broken jade that trickled through the gaps between her fingers and scattered across the floor.
Seeing this, Mo Li froze where she stood, her eyes fixed solely on the shattered jade slips.
These two jade slips were worthless, yet she regarded them as Supreme Treasures.
There was no other reason. These two jade slips were the only two keepsakes the Immortal Master had left her.
But now, her keepsakes were shattered!
“Good, good, good. Since you don’t understand the rules, then we’ll handle everything strictly according to the rules.
Because the Azure Gold Sect failed to dispatch the required number of cultivators in response to the sect’s conscription, according to the Dispatch Office’s regulations, you are required to accept a Grade-A urgent mission. Within forty-eight double-hours, you must cooperate with sect cultivators to transport pills and supplies to Blackstone Gorge.”
Sensing the turbulent emotions that Mo Li could barely suppress, the corners of Zhou Tianyu’s mouth rose into a delighted smile.
This was the consequence of daring to insult him with First-Tier exotic herbs.
“The mission has been issued. Leave.”
Zhou Tianyu pulled out a black jade slip and tossed it before Mo Li, too lazy to spare another glance at this pauper from whom he could not squeeze even the slightest profit.
Mo Li said nothing. She bent down and picked up the jade slip along with the shattered jade fragments on the floor, while killing intent instinctively rose within her heart.
She understood the existence of bribery and had grown accustomed to the cruelty of this world.
Even though Deacon Zhou had continually solicited a bribe, she had merely harbored resentment toward him. It was nowhere near hatred.
But of all the things he should never have done, he should never have touched her only keepsakes.
Without looking at Zhou Tianyu, Mo Li rose and walked out of the Conscription Room.
In her heart, he was already a dead man. She only hated that her cultivation was insufficient and that she could not take his wretched life on the spot.
Seeing this, Zhi Ling, who had remained hidden in the shadows all along, yawned and disappeared after Mo Li.
As expected, compared to following a Foundation Establishment cultivator, she much preferred staying beside Beiwu.
At the same time, on the third floor of Jade-Rinsing Pavilion, inside a superior private room.
Chen Beiwu’s gaze turned slightly cold.
Golden Egg and Xuele exchanged glances, not knowing why their master had become angry over a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
“Woof.”
Iron Egg raised his head and looked toward the Dispatch Office, flames igniting within his pupils.
He did not care about the Mirror Moon Sect or the Dispatch Office.
Iron Egg knew only one thing：whoever dared make his master unhappy, he would make them completely turn to ash beneath the Crimson Nirvana Flame.
‘Killing him would be simple. It would only take a thought. What matters is the faction behind Zhou Tianyu.’ Chen Beiwu slightly raised his eyelids and transmitted his thoughts：“Spare his life. I’ll soon know exactly who is targeting the Beast-Taming Lineage.”
Apart from this, Chen Beiwu had another thought that he did not voice.
Mo Li had once formed a karmic connection with him, and her fate was quite good. Although it had not reached the level of the Auspicious Fortune Scarlet Dragon, her excellent temperament was more valuable. She understood gratitude and was worth nurturing. Perhaps he could accept her as a personal disciple.
If so, Zhou Tianyu’s life could also be left for Mo Li to settle herself!
Hearing this, the flames in Iron Egg’s eyes slowly dissipated.
He would never defy his master’s wishes.
“Let’s go. I’ve already found the source of that Demon Seed’s aura.”
Chen Beiwu smiled and disappeared from the private room together with Golden Egg and the others.
……
Cloudridge Market, War Hall.
A secret chamber.
“I’ve warned you several times. Don’t leave any traces behind. Once the sect discovers this, things will become very difficult for me.” A thin, gray-haired middle-aged cultivator said coldly.
“It wasn’t easy to find such an excellent seedling suitable for cultivating the Blood Marrow Demon-Planting Great Art. With just a little tempering, she’ll become an excellent Golden Marrow General. It would be a pity to let her slip away.”
Within the shadows before the middle-aged cultivator, a mass of blood suddenly appeared, then immediately formed into a burly man.
If a Mirror Moon Sect cultivator were here, they would recognize the burly man at a glance. He was none other than the powerhouse ranked tenth on the Mirror Moon Bounty Ranking, the cultivator bearing the honorific Blood Marrow True Monarch.
“Things have been very tense recently. You should know how important this plan is!”
The middle-aged cultivator voluntarily stepped back. He had never expected a Demonic Cultivator who acted without restraint to suddenly become cautious; he merely wanted to use this opportunity to warn him and express his dissatisfaction.
“With this True Monarch here, what could possibly go wrong.”
Blood Marrow True Monarch said dismissively：“You, on the other hand, should find yourself somewhere else to go in advance. Once the matter is exposed, unless you flee to another territory, you will undoubtedly die.”
Not just any cultivator was qualified to converse with him as an equal.
As the Chief Inspector of the Inspection Office under Cloudridge Market’s War Hall, although Yan Song was a False Nascent Soul Cultivator, he could rely on a special Earth Sword Secret Art to unleash strength approaching that of a Nascent Soul True Monarch, barely qualifying him to enter Blood Marrow True Monarch’s eyes.
Of course, if they truly fought, Blood Marrow True Monarch was confident he could take Yan Song’s life within three moves.
What Blood Marrow True Monarch truly dreaded was the peak Nascent Soul cultivator behind Yan Song, Mist Sea True Monarch Lin Zimo.
“That isn’t something you need to worry about.” Yan Song’s expression remained calm：“Even if I betray the sect, I won’t join the Blood Fortune Sect and continue opposing the sect.”
He did not want to betray the sect.
But he wanted to reverse his False Nascent Soul and attain the Dao as a True Monarch. If he was unwilling to risk his wealth and life, how could he fight for an opportunity to defy heaven and change his fate?
If he lost the gamble, then so be it. He would accept his fate. Death would simply be death, and it could be considered returning a lifetime of cultivation to the sect.
But if he won the gamble and successfully attained the Dao as a True Monarch, then among the Nine Territories of the Southern Wastes, aside from the Earth Proliferation Territory, where could he not go?
“Tsk.”
Blood Marrow True Monarch chuckled softly, inwardly filled with contempt.
These hypocrites were truly troublesome.
Their righteous path was not truly righteous, yet when they wanted to enter the demonic path, they refused to become demons completely.
With such a half-hearted temperament, it was no wonder he had failed to attain the Dao as a True Monarch and ended up forging a False Nascent Soul.
Yan Song gave Blood Marrow True Monarch a deep look：“If you people hadn’t caused such a serious disturbance at Broken Dragon Cliff last time, I wouldn’t need to be this cautious now to prevent information from leaking.”
“There’s nothing we can do. Your Earth Proliferation Territory’s Five Great Sects are simply too powerful. If we don’t stir up some trouble, the front line at Mirror-Sky City simply won’t hold.”
Blood Marrow True Monarch smacked his lips and complained：“Compared to your Mirror Moon Sect, the cultivators of the Scarlet Yang Sect and Azure Spirit Sect are simply useless. I have no idea how those two sects managed to dominate the Yellow Evolution Territory.”
“Where’s the Heavenly Nascent Pill?” Yan Song could not be bothered with further nonsense and brought up the real matter.
“Don’t worry. It’s only one Heavenly Nascent Pill. If this plan succeeds, you won’t be shortchanged.” Blood Marrow True Monarch smiled, his figure merging into the shadows and disappearing.
“Phew.”
Yan Song exhaled a breath of turbid air, his expression relaxing slightly.
Although he knew that before the Demonic Sect’s plan was completed, Blood Marrow True Monarch would never make a move against him.
But when facing a True Monarch Demonic Cultivator whose cultivation far surpassed his own and whose temperament was difficult to predict, he had to remain cautious. Any display of weakness could invite fatal disaster.
However, neither Yan Song nor Blood Marrow True Monarch knew that from beginning to end, their entire conversation had never escaped Xuele’s perception.
Three thousand zhang underground beneath the War Hall.
Logically speaking, with the numerous restrictions protecting Cloudridge Market, even a mid-stage Nascent Soul True Monarch attempting to infiltrate would be detected by the formations and restrictions.
Unfortunately for them, after Xuele advanced to a Fourth-Realm Beast King, the Five Qi Vine Clan’s Myriad Transformations Mystical Ability was simply far too extraordinary. She could conceal her aura according to the interactions of the Five Elements, allowing her to partially disregard even Fourth-Tier Mystical Formation restrictions and freely enter and leave.
“Na?”（Not attacking?）
Xuele looked toward Chen Beiwu and transmitted her thoughts.
“Only a blood-body. Acting rashly would only alert the enemy.” Chen Beiwu shook his head.
Xuele could not observe fate.
But he could determine whether Blood Marrow True Monarch’s true body had descended by observing fate.
Of course, this method of distinguishing them was not infallible. Because some Mystical Abilities and Secret Arts shared the same origin, they could also allow an avatar to possess a portion of the true body’s fate.
But Chen Beiwu could be certain that a Nascent Soul True Monarch who possessed not the slightest trace of fate was definitely not present in their true body.