Free Web NovelChapter 196: Chapter 189: [Qiankun One Line Tie]
"What do you think?"
"I think we can!" Su Ling’er said, her face alight with excitement.
But what she got in return was a direct refusal from Lin Qingfeng!
"Absolutely not!!!"
’This thing contains so much of my blood, sweat, and tears!’
’I spent forever conceptualizing and editing it!!!’
’So you weren’t actually praising me just now, were you? Damn it!’
’Besides, even if it doesn’t work, it’s still my masterpiece. We’re using it for a good long while before we talk about anything else!’
"This is to establish your authority! When the new disciples join and witness your divine might, they will understand the sect’s profound foundation and act with reverence in the future."
"The profound meaning within... capiche?"
’I don’t get it!’
’All I know is that I was utterly humiliated today, and everyone’s definitely going to think I’ve fallen to the dark side!’
However, Su Ling’er had a second thought. This was, after all, a demonic sect.
’Corrupting’ a living person into an Evil Cultivator and presenting this ’irrefutable proof’ of rapid power-ups would indeed be fatally attractive to those budding Evil Cultivators with twisted minds who craved power.
So, she could only nod in resignation and, under her Senior Brother’s "gratified" gaze, turn and walk toward the sect gate.
...
Outside the sect gate, Ye Longtao’s figure finally appeared on that silent, dead land.
He stopped, his gaze sweeping over the barren gravel beneath his feet, his brow furrowed slightly.
The scene from the dark chamber before his departure surfaced in his mind once more.
"Longtao,"
"Those outer sect members we sent out earlier have sent something back."
Ye Longtao’s heart tightened.
"Those outer sect disciples..."
"Longtao,"
Xuanyuan’s voice was calm and placid, betraying no emotion.
"There’s some news about the Guixi Sect."
Ye Longtao’s heart tightened.
He already knew that the sect had sent these outer sect disciples to investigate.
In his eyes, they were nothing more than scouting pawns, utterly insignificant.
"Those outer sect disciples... their Dao hearts are ultimately insufficient. They are small vessels, incapable of shouldering great responsibility."
Xuanyuan spoke slowly, his tone not one of criticism, but of a calm statement of fact.
"However, the Great Dao is fifty, and heaven’s calculus is forty-nine. All things in existence have their use.
Though they failed in their task, and even became trapped, unable to extricate themselves from the power offered by that den of demons, they have nonetheless helped Qingxu Temple probe the depths of the path ahead."
Xuanyuan then revealed that the life tablets of the latter fourteen were completely intact.
"The weak will of the outer sect disciples proves that this is a task perhaps suited for Inner Sect Disciples like you. And among the Inner Sect Disciples, you are the only one I trust."
"This task might be one that only you can accomplish."
Hearing this, a flash of justified arrogance appeared in Ye Longtao’s eyes.
’It was only natural that a bunch of outer sect rabble who couldn’t even grasp the basics of the Immortal Dao would fail.’
’The Sect Leader’s constant penny-pinching is what caused these weak-willed disciples to fall into that den of demons, one by one.’
He sneered inwardly.
’Still, it should be their honor to do menial chores for Inner Sect Disciples like me.’
’If the sect didn’t need servants to handle menial tasks, I’d have long ago advised the Sect Leader to dismiss all these common mortals who foolishly dream of Cultivation.’
’If your aptitude isn’t good enough, you should accept reality and return to the dust where you belong.’
"That Guixi Sect... what it holds within far exceeds this master’s imagination."
Xuanyuan’s voice pulled him back from his thoughts.
"If we do not ascertain the truth of this sect soon, it will become a grave threat in the future. Now, this burden can only fall upon your shoulders."
He passed a Jade Talisman to Ye Longtao. It glowed with a flowing light and felt warm and smooth to the touch.
"This item is called the Qiankun One Line Tie. It is a rare treasure this master chanced upon in my early years. It is a pair of two; as long as they are within a thousand li, they can instantly transmit messages, ignoring any restriction.
This talisman can only be activated by a Cultivator at Foundation Establishment or above. Even if interrupted, it will self-destruct, but it can still clearly transmit back what is seen and heard in that final moment.
On this journey, you must..."
Xuanyuan trailed off mid-sentence. Looking at the Jade Talisman, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret.
’A treasure like this, gone after one use. Not to mention I’m sending out an Inner Sect Disciple of my Qingxu Temple...’
’True, this disciple’s character is a bit lacking, but he’s still an Inner Sect Disciple who’s already reached Foundation Establishment.’
’He’ll have to be silenced in the future anyway.’
’If this one dies, it won’t be a total loss for Qingxu Temple’s development.’
"...Longtao,"
He collected his thoughts, his expression becoming incredibly solemn.
"This master saved you from the jaws of a demon beast when you were a child. I have always regarded you as my own son.
This mission is both a perilous trial for you and the greatest opportunity on your path of cultivation!"
He clapped Ye Longtao on the shoulder and said in a deep voice, "After you succeed, the position of Direct Disciple will be yours!
This master will even bring you the partial scroll of the Primordial Dao Scripture from the main sect for you to comprehend!
This journey is not just for the righteousness of the sect, but also for your own brilliant immortal path to the Golden Core Dao!
Go! Prove to everyone that you are the one truly chosen by destiny!"
Ye Longtao’s palm tightly clenched the Qiankun One Line Tie, a hundred emotions swirling in his heart.
Whether it was to repay the Sect Leader for saving his life and nurturing him, or for the Direct Disciple position that was now within his grasp...
He had to succeed on this journey!
Xuanyuan watched the fierce fighting spirit ignite in Ye Longtao’s eyes, but his own heart was ice-cold.
’Just as I thought. His character is poor, but that makes him easy to control.’
He suddenly thought of Dong Changsheng.
That outer sect disciple’s Cultivation was low and his mind was crooked, but his bewitching words had a strange effectiveness, cutting straight to the heart.
"Destiny," "the strong," "opportunity"...
’These words,’ he thought, ’certainly tug at the disciples’ heartstrings more easily than empty talk of "the sect’s great cause."’
’That’s just how people’s hearts are.’
’Blind loyalty is still loyalty.’
’As long as it makes them serve the sect willingly, what difference does it make how they’re motivated?’
’After this is over, perhaps... I should find a suitable disciple to pass this method to. I could promote it among the outer sect, the inner sect, and even the Direct Disciples.’
’I don’t want to see Qingxu Temple fall into decline on my watch...’
’But who on earth taught that boy such manipulative arts?’
...
「Meanwhile.」
In the An Nan Dynasty, far to the south of the Daqian Dynasty.
The capital city, the National Preceptor’s residence.
In a magnificent, gilded hall filled with swirling sandalwood smoke, Zhou Wenqiang was reclining on a throne draped in tiger skin. He had a beautiful, gossamer-clad woman in each arm, enjoying the sweet fruits they fed him.
They did this for no other reason than to get closer to this living embodiment of success.
Having gone back to his old trade, Zhou Wenqiang’s luck seemed to have recovered somewhat now that his unfilial apprentice was no longer around causing trouble.
He had somehow managed a meteoric rise in the An Nan Dynasty, truly attaining the position of National Preceptor, "second to one, and above ten thousand."
It wasn’t just some empty title.
’This is the life!’
"ACHOO—!"
Zhou Wenqiang suddenly let out a loud, unexpected sneeze, startling the beautiful women in his arms and making their faces pale.
He rubbed his nose, a flicker of inexplicable irritation and unease passing through his mind.
’What’s going on?’
’Is someone talking about me?’
’As long as it’s not that damn apprentice of mine, I’m fine.’
...
「At the Guixi Sect’s gate.」
Ye Longtao lifted his head, his gaze sweeping over everything before him.
Outside the gate, the vegetation was withered and decayed, heavy with an aura of death. Not a trace of life could be felt.
Inside the gate, however, auspicious clouds swirled and Spiritual Qi suffused the air, like an Immortal Realm.
’A demonic, heretical sect, just as I thought!’
Then, his attention was drawn to the scene on the celestial screen within the sect...
