Chapter 59: Demonic Sect Infighting
“Look here!” Xu Xiaoyan whispered, a triumphant note in her voice.
Shi Hao quickly joined her. She had found a hidden compartment.
It was beneath a stone table against the wall. He didn’t know how she had found it, let alone opened it so quickly.
He was increasingly convinced… she was a born thief!
Inside the compartment were several immortal ingredients: a brocade box containing nine Blazing Sky Leaves, and two jade boxes, one containing a blue, bamboo shoot-shaped crystal, and the other a translucent, glowing fruit.
Xu Xiaoyan whispered, “Blue Frost Moon Essence Shoot and Illusory Sea Spirit Fruit.”
Shi Hao’s heart skipped a beat… Illusory Sea Spirit Fruit was one of the four immortal ingredients he needed.
He looked at Xu Xiaoyan and asked, “Did you plan to come here looking for immortal ingredients all along?”
He recalled that she had proposed this “big heist” right after he mentioned needing ingredients for his next breakthrough.
And a Chongxian Sect temple was indeed the most likely place to find them.
Xu Xiaoyan waved her hand dismissively and giggled, “Just lucky, I guess. Who knew you’d be so fortunate?”
She pocketed the three boxes, “You can keep the Illusory Sea Spirit Fruit. I’ll sell the Blue Frost Moon Essence Shoot and the Blazing Sky Leaves at the next Red Hill Gathering. As agreed, we’ll split the profits after deducting the cost of your fruit.”
Shi Hao smiled, “Alright.” Then he asked, “How are we getting out of here?”
The Night Wanderer Talisman’s effect had worn off. And even if it hadn’t, carrying such a large crate undetected would be impossible.
Xu Xiaoyan said, “We’ll leave the same way we came in. Let’s go!”
They each grabbed one side of the crate and carried it out.
Outside, under the moonlight, a voice from the watchtower shouted, “Who’s there?”
The sudden shout alerted the other patrolling Daoists.
Shi Hao and Xu Xiaoyan leaped onto the roof. Soon, they were surrounded.
Xu Xiaoyan, undeterred, smiled, “Thanks for the gifts! We’ll be going now!” She flicked her wrist, and a brick-shaped magical weapon appeared in her hand.
She threw the brick forward. Shi Hao saw a grey path open up before them.
Xu Xiaoyan said, “Quickly!”
They jumped forward, carrying the crate, disappearing before the astonished Daoists’ eyes.
Soon, alerted by the commotion, the Perfected One of the Mystic Capital, the abbot, Zhuo Mulan, and others arrived.
The abbot demanded, “What happened?”
A disciple said, “Two thieves stole something from the alchemy hall.”
The abbot’s expression changed. He rushed into the brightly lit alchemy hall with his disciples.
Moments later, he emerged. The Perfected One of the Mystic Capital asked, “What was stolen?”
The abbot said, “A whole crate of Minor Restoration Pills meant for the army tomorrow, a Blue Frost Moon Essence Shoot, an Illusory Sea Spirit Fruit, and nine Blazing Sky Leaves… They were well-hidden.”
The Perfected One of the Mystic Capital turned to the patrolling disciples, “What did the thieves look like?”
A disciple replied, “Both wore masks, a man and a woman. The woman was petite, with a flower in her hair…”
Zhuo Mulan said, “It seems it’s that female thief from Ming Kun Monastery again.”
The Perfected One of the Mystic Capital asked, “And the man?”
The disciple said, “He had a high forehead, but I couldn’t see anything else.”
The Perfected One of the Mystic Capital snorted angrily, “Carrying such a large crate, they can’t be far. Search the surrounding area, and inform the Six Gates. Set up checkpoints. Do they really think our Chongxian Sect is so easy to bully?”
The abbot shouted, “What are you waiting for?! Go!”
The disciples hurried off. Du Yuejiao arrived, “Master, what happened?”
Zhuo Mulan whispered, “It’s that female thief again. We couldn’t catch her last time, and now she’s come here to steal!”
Du Yuejiao, her voice sharp with anger, gritted her teeth, “How dare she! I’ll catch her and skin her alive!”
Shi Hao and Xu Xiaoyan drove the carriage through the forest.
Xu Xiaoyan, clearly having planned their escape route, didn’t waste any time, whipping the horses and urging them forward.
Shi Hao asked, “What kind of magical weapon was that? It transported us instantly.”
He and Xu Xiaoyan had jumped forward, carrying the crate, and then suddenly found themselves outside the monastery walls.
Xu Xiaoyan chuckled, “The Void Traversing Brick. The divine crystal inside is the ‘Path Opener.’”
Shi Hao said, impressed, “With these two magical weapons, you’re practically invincible as a thief.”
They continued traveling until daybreak, far from Jing’an Monastery.
Although dawn had broken, the forest was shrouded in mist.
Tombstones dotted the landscape, creating an eerie atmosphere.
Shi Hao asked, “Where are we?”
Xu Xiaoyan said, “The mass grave of Shu Chong Manor. There used to be a wealthy family here, but they were eradicated by the barbarian court, and their bodies were buried here haphazardly. Later, more and more refugees were buried here, and it became a mass grave.
“There’s a road here that bypasses the main road, and it’s faster. And since it’s a mass grave, it’s often overlooked, so it’s safer.”
Shi Hao said, “Are you sure it’s safe? This place feels… unsettling.”
Xu Xiaoyan chuckled, “Are you afraid of ghosts? We didn’t kill these people. Even if they became ghosts, they wouldn’t bother us… uh.”
The carriage slowed down.
As they passed through the mass grave, the trees thinned, but the surroundings grew darker, despite the rising sun.
Corpses lay scattered on the ground, their deaths recent, judging by the bloodstains, their postures strange and contorted.
“A feud between martial artists?” Xu Xiaoyan muttered, “And a rather large one, it seems.”
She stopped the carriage, jumped down, and examined a corpse. The man, dressed in black, his face contorted in a grimace, clutched a blade in his left hand, his eyes wide open.
She searched his body and found a small, black wooden tag attached to his waist. The tag was blank, but she seemed to recognize it, “Ghost Extreme Sect.”
Shi Hao marveled at her knowledge.
Xu Xiaoyan walked to a nearby tree, its trunk snapped in two, covered in blade marks. A large, disheveled corpse with a thick beard lay beneath it.
Xu Xiaoyan said, “I recognize this one.”
Shi Hao asked, “Who is he?”
Xu Xiaoyan said, “Zhao Pitou, the ‘Disheveled Blade’ of the Black Lotus Realm. An eighth-rank expert. I’ve seen him a couple of times. He’s quite distinctive, so I remember him.”
Shi Hao said, “Black Lotus Realm? One of the three Evil Lotus factions?”
Xu Xiaoyan climbed back onto the carriage, “That’s right. The demonic sects have been relatively peaceful these past few years, until…” She looked at Shi Hao.
Shi Hao, wearing his mask, tried to look innocent, “It wasn’t me.”
Xu Xiaoyan said, “This is bad. I didn’t expect to run into a fight between the Ghost Extreme Sect and the Black Lotus Realm here. Should we go through or turn back?”
Shi Hao pondered, “Is there another way?”
Xu Xiaoyan said, “No, or rather, even if there is, it’s too late to turn back now. Jing’an Monastery must have alerted the Six Gates. The main roads will be blocked.”
Shi Hao said, “I’ve been wondering about something. You said the Evil Lotus Sect split into three factions: the Black Lotus Realm, the Moon Lotus Pavilion, and the Mirror Flower Water Moon Pavilion. And as far as I know, the Evil Lotus Sect obtains its demonic essence from the Night Enchanting Heaven in the Third Heaven of the Demonic Realm, and their advancement rituals are for women.
“Why are there men in the Black Lotus Realm?”
Shi Hao remembered that when he used the demonic ritual taught by Su Mei to obtain the Azure Origin Demonic Source, the female Yin Demon from the Night Enchanting Heaven had said, “It’s usually performed by women,” and “A handsome young man today.”
It seemed he was the first man to use an Evil Lotus Sect ritual to obtain demonic essence from the Night Enchanting Heaven.
Although the Yin Demon might have been lying, since demons were known for their deceptions, Xu Xiaoyan said, “You don’t know much about the demonic sects. When the Night Charm Demonic scriptures were divided, each faction received a portion. The Moon Lotus Pavilion and the Mirror Flower Water Moon Pavilion obtained the largest and most diverse portions, with many techniques for their disciples to cultivate. That’s why these two factions are composed entirely of women.
“The Black Lotus Realm received a smaller portion, but it contained some of the most powerful techniques, only suitable for a select few. Therefore, although the higher-ups of the Black Lotus Realm are all women, they’ve collected various demonic techniques from other sources for their lower-ranking disciples.
“So, the Black Lotus Realm’s techniques are the most diverse. Although the leaders are all women, there are many men among their lower ranks, but their demonic cultivation has nothing to do with the Night Enchanting Heaven. However, this isn’t widely known outside the three Evil Lotus factions.”
Shi Hao said, “I see.” He paused, “What should we do now?”
Xu Xiaoyan said, “Don’t ask me. You’re the man; you decide.”
Shi Hao chuckled, “You were the one who came up with this plan. And now you want me to take charge?”
Xu Xiaoyan said, “Hmph, who’s ‘we’?” Her eyes flickered, “Perhaps they’re already gone. Maybe the fight is over.”
Shi Hao said, “That’s possible.”
Xu Xiaoyan said, “And even if it isn’t, it’s a big forest. We might not run into them.”
Shi Hao said, “That’s true.”
Xu Xiaoyan whipped the horses, “Let’s go! I don’t believe we’re that unlucky!”
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