Chapter 55: The Sect’s Secret
In a valley veiled in ethereal mist, a massive pool of water shimmered at its heart.
This immortal pool, known as the Golden Luo Pool, was renowned as one of the most spiritually abundant locations in the world.
The Heavenly Net Sect was built upon this very pool.
The entire sect floated above the immortal waters, perpetually enveloped in a dense mist formed from the concentrated spiritual energy, lending it an air of mystery and otherworldliness.
Deep within the Heavenly Net Sect, a portly middle-aged man lay comfortably on a chair, surrounded by a variety of fruits.
He had just picked up a grape when a loud and clear voice startled him from behind. “Dad! Where’s Mom? I need to talk to her!”
The man nearly choked on his grape, coughing violently before managing to sputter out:
“Cough, cough… I say, daughter, can’t you be a little more ladylike? Stop being so loud and boisterous all the time.”
Luo Qiaoqiao, her red dress swirling around her, glared at him with her hands on her hips. “Do you have a problem with that?”
The man quickly shrank back. “N-no, of course not.”
…Sigh. I, Luo Daxian, the mighty Sect Master of the Heavenly Net Sect, am reduced to such a pitiful state in front of my own daughter.
Although he might be even more pathetic in front of his wife.
As Luo Daxian sighed to himself, Luo Qiaoqiao, having failed to find her mother, returned and grabbed his beard. “Dad, since Mom’s not here, I have something to ask you.”
“Hey, hey, hey… Let go of my beard! We can talk like civilized people!”
Luo Daxian winced. “What is it you want to ask?”
“Have you ever heard of a sect called Changli Palace?”
Upon hearing those words, Luo Dàxiān’s playful demeanor vanished, replaced by a grave expression. His voice turned serious. “Where did you hear that name?”
“Oh, never mind that. Just tell me about it.”
Seeing her father’s reaction, Luo Qiaoqiao knew she had hit the right spot. She settled beside him, picking at the fruits as she waited for the story.
Luo Daxian asked cautiously, “Can I… not talk about this?”
“No! Otherwise, I’ll tell Mom! Last time, you said you were going to the Ten Thousand Fragrance Pavilion for business, but you actually went to—”
“Alright, alright, I’ll tell you.”
“…This matter has nothing to do with our Heavenly Net Sect. I don’t want you involved.” Luo Daxian sighed deeply.
“Strictly speaking, it’s a private matter of the Mist Spirit Sect.”
A private matter that could bring disgrace upon the entire Mist Spirit Sect.
Luo Qiaoqiao tilted her head curiously.
***
Mist Spirit Sect, Scripture Hall.
This was the hall where the Mist Spirit Sect’s main branch stored its vast collection of scriptures and ancient texts, encompassing thousands of years of knowledge and tradition.
Shen Shuanglian was the only person in the spacious hall, pacing back and forth, aimlessly browsing through scrolls and books.
She had deliberately chosen a time when all the other disciples were practicing to come to the Scripture Hall alone.
She was searching for information about Changli Palace.
While looking through the catalog, Shen Shuanglian noticed something strange. Changli Palace was just an ordinary small sect, yet all information related to it was restricted to elders.
As the chief disciple and a Boundless Realm cultivator, Shen Shuanglian also had elder privileges. But she had never heard of these restricted materials before.
This time, she had chosen a time when no one else was around to secretly access them.
“Changli Palace…” Shen Shuanglian opened a book, her brows furrowing slightly.
“Yin Changli… a disgrace to the Heavenly Dao?”
These terms were completely unfamiliar to Shen Shuanglian.
As she continued reading, her frown deepened, and a subtle change came over her expression.
At that moment, a gentle voice spoke from behind her:
“Shen Shuanglian? What brings you to the Scripture Hall today?”
Shen Shuanglian quickly flipped to a different page and turned around, bowing respectfully. “Master Changwen.”
The man before her, a scholarly-looking middle-aged man with a gentle demeanor, was the elder in charge of the Scripture Hall. He was known for his kind and amiable personality and was well-respected among the disciples.
“Why is our chief disciple suddenly interested in studying?”
“Ah… I’ve recently encountered a bottleneck in my cultivation, so I thought I’d browse through some books to relax. Perhaps I’ll gain some insight.”
“That’s good. Cultivation requires a balance of work and rest.”
Elder Changwen said with a smile, “What kind of books are you looking for?”
“Nothing specific, I’m just browsing.”
Shen Shuanglian hesitated for a moment, deciding not to mention Changli Palace. She said politely, “I’ve already gained a lot today. I won’t disturb you any longer, Master. I’ll take my leave.”
“Alright, come visit me again when you have time.”
Elder Changwen watched Shen Shuanglian leave with a gentle smile, then narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.
After a moment, he sent a silent voice transmission, “…Shen Shuanglian might be onto something.”
“Sect Master, what are you going to do about your disciple?”
Meanwhile, in the main hall of the Mist Spirit Sect, a figure shrouded in shadows sighed softly and spoke:
“There’s no need to rush. She hasn’t uncovered the truth yet.”
“But… find an opportunity to send her away.”
He pondered for a moment, then took out a token and inscribed a command on it with his spiritual energy.
It was the Sect Master’s token, used to issue sect missions.
After completing this task, the figure said softly, “Qingying.”
Instantly, a black shadow knelt on one knee, and a cold voice replied, “Sect Master.”
“Follow Shen Shuanglian. If she continues to investigate anything related to Changli Palace…”
The figure hesitated for a moment.
His beloved disciple. To kill or not to kill.
Killing her would be a pity. After all, the Mist Spirit Sect might not see another prodigy like Shen Shuanglian for generations.
But if he didn’t…
After a long silence, he finally said, “…Kill everyone who comes into contact with her.”
“Yes.”
Qingying replied coldly, her figure flickering and disappearing.
***
Shen Shuanglian didn’t immediately leave after exiting the Scripture Hall. She glanced back at the hall with a hint of regret.
…It was a pity she couldn’t finish reading everything. But she had learned enough to understand the general situation.
She should go find him. Tell him what she had discovered.
Shen Shuanglian found a reason to see Chen Yin, and a smile unconsciously appeared on her lips.
But the next moment, the disciple token at her waist suddenly lit up.
…A sect mission? Shen Shuanglian picked up the token with a puzzled expression.
Why would there be a sect mission issued at a time like this?
She activated the token, and a message inscribed with spiritual energy appeared in the air. The words on it made Shen Shuanglian frown slightly.
Sect Master’s Mission: Order chief disciple Shen Shuanglian to immediately depart for Xianyun Province.
Eliminate the demonic cultivators causing chaos in the region.
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