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Chapter 422 The Demonic Sect's Secret Plot
Chapter 422 The Demonic Sect's Secret Plot
"tread!"
"tread!"
"tread!"
Zhiling strolled gracefully, creating subtle ripples in the space, as if she were walking in another world, silently following behind Mo Li.
This is not a simple spatial escape technique, but rather Zhiling's exquisite use of the Seven-Tailed Purple Fox clan's innate profound ability, [Purple Heavenly Barrier].
She can activate her profound powers and use her tail to draw seven spatial barriers, isolating all things and forming her own world. She folds her own existence into this space that is closely adjacent to, yet clearly distinct from, this world.
Using such profound abilities to conceal herself, she wouldn't be detected by anyone, not even if they were to follow a Foundation Establishment cultivator or a Nascent Soul stage True Monarch.
Of course, Zhiling's cultivation level is only at the third realm of demon general, so she will not underestimate the existence of a true lord.
The fact that a Nascent Soul True Monarch cannot detect the traces of the Purple Luo Heavenly Barrier does not mean that the Nascent Soul True Monarch's divine sense is not sharp enough.
On the contrary, even if a True Monarch with such extraordinary cultivation is completely unaware, he can still sense through some unseen perception that he has been targeted and gradually discover that something is amiss.
"Eek?"
Zhiling tilted her head, not understanding why Beiwu wanted her to follow a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Wouldn't it be better to just take him down and interrogate him directly?
"Keep a close eye on things, and don't do anything reckless!"
Upon hearing Chen Beiwu's thoughts, Zhiling jumped up and quickly followed Mo Li.
Yunlongfang Market, Dispatch Department.
Mo Li took a deep breath, gripped the jade slip of the transfer order in her hand, passed the identity verification, and went inside.
The cultivators coming and going in the palace walked hurriedly, most of them with tired or irritable faces, and no one gave her, a Foundation Establishment cultivator wearing a veil and dressed simply, a second glance.
According to the information on the jade slip, Mo Li entered the Class A conscription room.
The room was cramped, containing only a table and a chair. Seated there sat a man dressed in a Mirror Moon Taoist robe, with a kind face, who appeared to be—
A middle-aged monk with an upright and righteous appearance.
"State your name."
Hearing the door open, Zhou Tianyu lowered his head and slowly flipped through the roster in his hand, without even lifting his eyelids.
"Greetings, Steward."
Mo Li bowed respectfully and presented the summons with both hands: "I, Mo Li, here to report for duty, bearing the summons from the Mirror Moon Sect."
Zhou Tianyu raised his eyelids, glanced at the transfer order jade slip, and then looked Mo Li up and down, especially at the longsword with its weak spiritual light, which couldn't even be called a second-tier spiritual weapon.
"Another penniless wretch!"
Shaking his head inwardly, Zhou Tianyu slowly took the jade slip and lightly tapped the table with his fingertips.
Well, even a poor man isn't without his merits. At least he can handle him without causing any trouble, and he's not afraid of offending cultivators with some backgrounds that he shouldn't offend.
Mo Li is, after all, a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Even if he's poor, his wealth still surpasses that of a mere Qi Refining cultivator, so he can at least squeeze some money out of him.
Of course, the other party may also be deliberately hiding their shortcomings and pretending to be poor.
But it doesn't matter. He can tell whether the other party is genuinely poor or just pretending to be poor by giving them a little nudge.
"Oh, so you're a cultivator from the Azure Gold Sect." Zhou Tianyu drawled, his tone flat. "Why are you the only one? The transfer order clearly states that the Azure Gold Sect must send 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 and said, "Reporting to the steward, our sect's cultivators were attacked by the Demonic Sect on their way to the recruitment ceremony. All of our fellow disciples perished, and only the lower-level cultivators managed to escape and were rescued by the upper-level cultivators. This matter is also recorded in the upper-level sect's Hall of Justice."
"Oh, they all died in the demonic calamity?"
Zhou Tianyu leaned back slightly in his chair, tapping his fingers lightly on the table. "This is a difficult situation. The order requires all the Qingjin Sect cultivators to be present, but now only you have come. The shortage of personnel is too great, and this deacon is also in a difficult position."
Sensing the unspoken meaning, a chill ran through Mo Li's heart.
This damn world!
Before the Three Realms War began, Foundation Establishment cultivators, backed by the Azure Gold Sect, were considered figures of moderate importance. The sect elders would maintain a show of respect and not easily provoke them, lest they incur punishment from the sect.
However, during times of war, the status of Foundation Establishment cultivators is greatly diminished.
In some remote areas, the market keepers were even replaced by Golden Core cultivators from the Mirror Moon Sect, in order to ensure the Mirror Moon Sect's dominance and prevent subordinate cultivators from disobeying orders and evading mobilization.
With the backing of a Golden Core cultivator, the Mirror Moon Steward, who used to be able to associate with Foundation Establishment cultivators on equal footing, is now becoming increasingly greedy, even going so far as to use the Three Realms War to extort bribes from Foundation Establishment cultivators.
"I understand this matter has put you in a difficult position, Steward. Could you please be lenient and allow me to record this for now, and then we can discuss it later—"
"Mo Li said, forcing herself to speak."
"In the future?"
Zhou Tianyu scoffed, interrupting her: "The battle on the front lines can't wait. The war is tense right now, and the Azure Gold Sect is short seventeen people. Who will fill that gap? Who will take responsibility?"
After speaking, Zhou Tianyu picked up a brush, the tip hovering in mid-air, as if to write something on the roster, but he hesitated to put it down.
He sighed, put down his brush, and changed the subject, saying, "However, rules are rigid, but people are flexible. In these chaotic times, I can understand the difficulties faced by the Qingjin Sect cultivators, but some things still need to be dealt with. If I can deal with them, I can take responsibility if something goes wrong."
Upon hearing this, Mo Li's heart sank.
She wasn't ignorant of social etiquette; the steward's words were blatantly an admission of bribery.
If she spent some spirit stones to smooth things over, this matter might be resolved peacefully, and she might even receive a safer transfer order.
The problem is that in order to survive the demonic calamity last time, she had already spent all her spirit stones to bribe the cultivators of the Judicial Hall; otherwise, she might have already become part of the death list of the demonic calamity along with her fellow disciples.
After hesitating for a moment, Mo Li took out two jade slips from her storage bag.
She then placed the entire storage bag on the table: "I have nothing of value but some common exotic herbs that I have gathered along the way. I hope you will take pity on me and make an exception."
Zhou Tianyu's divine sense stirred, reaching for the jade slip in Mo Li's hand.
The fact that Foundation Establishment cultivators valued these two jade slips so highly suggests that they might contain some unorthodox and practical cultivation techniques.
Alchemy Secrets
Overview of the Nine Realms of the Southern Wilderness
Zhou Tianyu's eye twitched slightly, feeling rather speechless.
Is something so utterly worthless really worth this much attention?
These days, you can find all sorts of Foundation Establishment cultivators!
But who cares? As long as a Foundation Establishment cultivator can provide him with some profit, he's his customer.
"Don't worry—" Zhou Tianyu smiled.
He was speaking when he probed the storage bag with his divine sense, and then his expression suddenly darkened.
It's neither a spirit stone nor a spirit medicine, just some ordinary exotic herbs!
Good heavens, a Foundation Establishment cultivator can't even produce a second-tier spiritual herb.
How is bribing him with these things any different from insulting him?
Zhou Tianyu impatiently threw the contents back into the storage bag, his anger flaring. He raised his hand and pointed at Mo Li.
"Clatter!"
Mo Li was caught off guard and did not expect Zhou Tianyu to make a move inside the Dispatch Department. She could only watch helplessly as the jade slip in her hand shattered, turning into fragments that slipped through her fingers and scattered on the ground.
Upon seeing this, Mo Li froze on the spot, her eyes fixed on the shattered jade slip.
These two jade slips were worthless, but she regarded them as priceless treasures.
The reason is simple: these two jade slips are the only two keepsakes left to her by the Immortal Master.
But now her hopes are shattered!
"Alright, alright, since you don't understand the rules, then we'll follow the rules."
Because the Azure Gold Sect cultivators failed to dispatch enough cultivators to respond to the sect's call-up, according to the dispatching department's rules, you need to accept a top-tier urgent mission: within forty-eight hours, cooperate with the sect's cultivators to transport medicinal supplies to Black Stone Gorge.
Sensing the barely suppressed turmoil in Mo Li's emotions, Zhou Tianyu's lips curled into a smug smile.
This is what happens when someone dares to insult him with a first-tier exotic herb.
"The mission has been assigned. You may proceed."
Zhou Tianyu pulled out a black jade slip and threw it in front of Mo Li, too lazy to even look at this penniless wretch who couldn't squeeze a single drop of profit out of him.
Mo Li remained silent, bending down to pick up the jade slip and the broken jade fragments on the ground, a murderous intent instinctively rising within her.
She understands the existence of bribery and is used to the cruelty of this world.
Even though Steward Zhou kept soliciting bribes, she only felt resentment in her heart, far from hating him.
But what she shouldn't have done was to touch her only hope.
Without glancing at Zhou Tianyu, Mo Li stood up and walked out of the conscription room.
In her heart, the other party was already dead. She only regretted that her cultivation was insufficient to take his dog's life on the spot.
Upon seeing this, Zhiling, who had been hiding in the shadows, yawned and disappeared with Moli.
Sure enough, she preferred staying by Bei Wu's side to following someone who had just reached the Foundation Establishment stage.
Meanwhile, on the third floor of Shuyuxuan, in a superior private room.
Chen Beiwu's eyes turned slightly cold.
Golden Egg and Schiller exchanged a glance, wondering why their master would be angry over a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
"Woof."
Tie Dan raised his head and looked toward the dispatching department, his pupils blazing with fire.
It doesn't care about the Mirror Moon Sect or the Dispatch Department.
Iron Egg only knows one thing: whoever dares to displease its master, it will turn them to ashes under the Crimson Nirvana Fire.
Killing him is simple, it only takes a thought. The important thing is the power behind Zhou Tianyu. Chen Beiwu slightly raised his eyelids and thought, "Spare his life, and I will soon find out who is targeting the Beast Taming lineage."
Besides this, Chen Beiwu had another idea that he didn't say.
Mo Li had a past relationship with him, and his luck was good. Although he hadn't reached the level of the Crimson Dragon of Great Fortune, his good character and gratitude made him worthy of cultivation. Perhaps he could be taken in as a personal disciple.
In this way, Zhou Tianyu's life can also be left to Mo Li to solve!
Upon hearing this, the flames in Tie Dan's eyes slowly dissipated.
It will not disobey its owner's wishes.
"Let's go, I've found the source of that demonic seed's energy."
Chen Beiwu smiled and disappeared into the private room along with Jin Dan and the others.
Yunlong Market, War Hall.
A dark room.
"I've reminded you several times, don't leave any loopholes. If the sect finds out, I'll be in a very difficult position," a thin, gray-haired middle-aged cultivator said coldly.
"It's not easy to find a good seedling suitable for cultivating the Blood Marrow Demon Seed Technique. With a little training, he can become a top-notch Golden Marrow General. It would be a real pity to miss him."
Suddenly, a pool of blood appeared in the shadow in front of the middle-aged cultivator, which then formed into a burly man.
If any cultivators from the Mirror Moon Sect were here, they would recognize at a glance that this burly man was the tenth-ranked expert on the Mirror Moon Bounty List, with the title of Blood Marrow True Monarch.
"Things are getting tense lately, you should be aware of the importance of this plan!"
The middle-aged cultivator took a step back, not expecting the unscrupulous demonic cultivator to restrain himself, but simply using this opportunity to give him a warning and express his dissatisfaction.
"With this True Lord around, what trouble could possibly arise?"
Blood Marrow True Monarch said dismissively, "On the contrary, you should find a new home in advance. Once the truth comes out, unless you go to another realm, you will surely die."
Not just any cultivator can converse with him on equal footing.
As the head of the Examination Department of the War Affairs Hall in Yunlong Market, Yan Song, although a fake Nascent Soul cultivator, can still unleash strength close to that of a Nascent Soul True Monarch by relying on his special Earth Sword Secret Technique, which is enough to catch the eye of a Blood Marrow True Monarch.
Of course, if it really came down to a fight, Blood Marrow True Lord was confident that he could take his life in three moves.
What truly made Blood Marrow True Monarch wary was the Nascent Soul Peak cultivator behind Yan Song, Mist Sea True Monarch Lin Zimo.
"This is not something you should worry about." Yan Song said calmly, "Even if I betray the sect, I will not join the Blood Fortune Sect and continue to oppose the sect."
He did not want to betray his sect.
But if he wants to reverse the false infant and become a true lord, how can he possibly fight for a chance to defy fate without risking his life?
If he loses the bet, that's fine; he'll accept his fate and die if he wants, at least he'll return his cultivation to the sect. But if he wins the bet and successfully becomes a True Monarch, he can go anywhere in the Nine Realms of the Southern Wilderness except for the Earth Evolution Realm.
"Tsk."
Blood Marrow True Monarch chuckled lightly, his heart filled with disdain.
These hypocrites are a nuisance.
The righteous path is not quite the righteous path; it desires to become a demon but does not completely become one.
With such an mediocre mindset, it's no wonder he failed to attain the Dao and was reduced to a false infant.
Yan Song gave Blood Marrow True Monarch a deep look: "If you hadn't caused such a big commotion at Dragon Break Cliff last time, I wouldn't be so cautious this time, to prevent the news from leaking out."
"There's nothing we can do. The five major sects of the Earthly Realm are just too powerful. If we don't cause some trouble, the front line of Mirror Sky City simply won't be able to hold out."
Blood Marrow True Monarch smacked his lips and complained, "Compared to your Mirror Moon Sect, the cultivators of the Crimson Sun Sect and Azure Spirit Sect are simply trash. I don't know how they managed to dominate the Yellow Transformation Realm."
"Where's the Heavenly Infant Pill?" Yan Song was too lazy to waste words and got down to business.
"Don't worry, it's just a Heavenly Infant Pill. If this plan succeeds, you'll be well rewarded." Blood Marrow True Monarch smiled, his figure disappearing into the shadows.
"call."
Yan Song exhaled a breath of stale air, his expression slightly relaxed.
Although he knew that Blood Marrow True Monarch would never lay a hand on him before the Demonic Sect's plan was completed.
However, when facing a True Monarch Demon Cultivator whose cultivation level far surpasses his own and whose personality is unpredictable, he must be cautious, as any act of weakness could bring about his death.
However, Yan Song and Blood Marrow True Monarch were unaware that their conversation had never escaped Schiller's notice.
The location of the War Hall is three thousand feet underground.
Logically speaking, with the Yunlong Market heavily guarded by restrictions, even a mid-stage Nascent Soul True Monarch would be detected by the array restrictions if he wanted to infiltrate.
However, after Xue Le advanced to the fourth realm demon king, the ever-changing profound abilities of the Five Qi Vine clan were truly too overpowered. They could conceal their aura according to the five elements' mutual generation and restraint, and even ignore some of the fourth-order profound array restrictions, freely entering and exiting.
"Huh?" (Aren't you going to do anything?)
Schiller looked at Chen Beiwu and said in his mind.
"It's just a blood-soaked body; making a hasty move would only alert the enemy," Chen Beiwu shook his head.
Schiller could not fathom destiny.
However, he could know whether the Blood Marrow True Lord had truly descended by observing the flow of fortune.
Of course, this method of differentiation is not without its errors. Some profound and secret techniques, because they are connected to the origin, can also allow the clone to possess a portion of the original body's fortune.
However, Chen Beiwu was certain that the Nascent Soul True Monarch who possessed no trace of fortune was definitely not his true form descending.