Free Web NovelChapter 1376: Chapter 850: Special Approval by the Immortal Emperor
As the Vice Hall Master of the Heaven Observation Hall, Dugu Ming had dealt with countless people, seen all kinds of Sect Affairs Officers, and interrogated no small number of Upper-level Cultivators.
In the eyes of quite a few Cultivators in the Wanfa Sect, the Heaven Observation Hall he belonged to was basically the Bankruptcy Hall, chasing down Sect Affairs Officers everywhere, and wherever they went, Cultivators invariably ended up losing everything.
Within the entire Wanfa Sect, no one knew how many people feared him, dreaded him, nor how many people hated him, loathed him, wishing they could send him off to reincarnate as soon as possible.
But Dugu Ming didn’t care about any of that, because he didn’t care what other Cultivators thought; he was loyal only to the Ten Thousand Laws Immortal Emperor alone.
In Dugu Ming’s eyes, only the Ten Thousand Laws Immortal Emperor was worthy of being the sole Immortal Emperor of the Ten Great Sects, and only the Ten Thousand Laws Immortal Emperor... was the one who could lead Kunxu’s future.
So Dugu Ming had already resolved to be a Lone Minister, and if in the future he achieved Ascension to Immortality, he would be a Lonely Immortal; his Taoist Inheritance would forever exist to support and elevate the Taoist Inheritance of the Ten Thousand Laws Immortal Emperor.
And when Dugu Ming received the Ten Thousand Laws Immortal Emperor’s decree and was sent to make contact with Zhang Yu, he couldn’t help feeling surprised.
Although Dugu Ming knew that with the might of the Ten Thousand Laws Immortal Emperor, he could at any moment obtain information from the lower levels of Kunxu and communicate with anyone in Kunxu up or down at any time.
But all along, the Ten Thousand Laws Immortal Emperor had rarely directly interfered with the middle and lower levels, simply because doing so was inefficient and yielded poor returns.
After all, on the Immortal Path, each difference of one realm in cultivation meant a world of difference in ability; rather than expend energy interfering with large numbers of mid- and low-level people, it was better to control a few high-level ones to grasp the overall situation.
"This Zhang Yu... actually makes the Immortal Emperor value him to this extent? Even sending me to negotiate with him?"
"And even planning to give him that kind of reward..."
Thinking of that unprecedented reward, a trace of jealousy flashed unconsciously in Dugu Ming’s gaze toward Zhang Yu; it wasn’t that his cultivation was lacking or his Dao Heart unsteady, it was simply that even he couldn’t help but feel envious of that reward.
Dugu Ming said blandly, "This time you stopped the Heaven Collapse and saved the Old Graveyard; the Immortal Emperor is very satisfied."
Hearing this, Zhang Yu’s heart tightened as he thought to himself, "So he really is someone sent by the Immortal Emperor?"
Dugu Ming then continued, "The Immortal Emperor asked me to ask you—at the source of the Heaven Collapse, was there anything suspicious?"
Zhang Yu’s heart stirred; sure enough, just as he had expected, the other party was here to ask him for that piece of incriminating evidence.
Just then, Zhan Xian reminded him, "Probe him a bit more, confirm his identity once again."
Although in Zhan Xian’s view, the identity of Vice Hall Master of the Heaven Observation Hall was eight or nine parts likely to mean he was sent by the Ten Thousand Laws Immortal Emperor, given how serious the matter was, he really couldn’t feel at ease without confirming repeatedly.
If a copy of the evidence in their hands was cheated away, not only might the Immortal Emperor’s reward they had in hand vanish, their capabilities would also be greatly underestimated by the Immortal Emperor.
So Zhang Yu said, "I wonder if Vice Hall Master Dugu has any means to prove your identity? Given how serious this matter is, I hope Upper Cultivator can understand."
Dugu Ming took no offense at Zhang Yu’s cautiousness; he even felt a trace of appreciation.
As Vice Hall Master of the Heaven Observation Hall, he had seen too many methods in sect struggles. Some Cultivators with profound cultivation could sever even the Law Realm, dared to impersonate Immortals, and even had the gall to destroy Small Realms.
For the sake of cultivation, power, and strength, one could only say they left no means unused.
In Dugu Ming’s view, on this Immortal Path, constant care and caution were essential conditions for climbing upward.
Yet many Sect Affairs Officers, especially those in the middle and lower tiers, were often too easily dazzled; once they met an Upper-level Cultivator two or three levels above them, they would believe whatever the other party said, listen to whatever they were told. In Dugu Ming’s eyes, these behaviors all pointed to an insufficient Dao Heart.
So upon hearing Zhang Yu’s words, Dugu Ming said coolly, "What’s this? You don’t want that unprecedented reward of yours anymore?"
Zhang Yu’s heart jolted at these words; he knew then that the other party’s identity was beyond doubt.
After all, this "unprecedented reward" had only ever been mentioned to him by the Ten Thousand Laws Immortal Emperor back then; if even this could be known by a fraud, then Zhang Yu could only accept being fooled.
"Many thanks, Vice Hall Master Dugu." As Zhang Yu spoke, he transmitted the spatial data he had collected over to the other party.
"This is the spatial fluctuation data I recorded when I was repairing the spatial fissures of the Old Graveyard..."
Without needing much explanation from Zhang Yu, with just a slight scan, Dugu Ming already understood the value of this data.
With this, he could directly track down the Cultivator who had caused this Heaven Collapse.
And in Dugu Ming’s view, the Cultivator who caused this Heaven Collapse was ninety-nine percent certain to have come from the Innate Dao, from the Artifact Spirit Sect.
From what Dugu Ming knew, the Immortal Emperor had long wanted to suppress the Artifact Spirit Sect within the Wanfa Sect; if not for concerns over the several Immortal Venerables backing the Artifact Spirit Sect and the Artifact Spirit supporters in the Outer Sect, their Heaven Observation Hall would have taken action long ago.
Dugu Ming knew that the Immortal Emperor’s intention to suppress the Artifact Spirit Sect was not simply to put them down, nor was it for some "Heaven Collapse" in the name of upholding justice.
Behind all struggles lay the allocation of interests, and what the Artifact Spirit Sect was currently handing over to the Ten Thousand Laws Immortal Emperor... was not enough!
In Dugu Ming’s eyes, if they couldn’t seize more interests, obtain more Immortal Dao Resources, and control more Taoist Inheritances, how could the Ten Thousand Laws Immortal Emperor become the foremost Immortal Emperor in the future? How could he lead Kunxu?
"And with this, it’s as good as having ripped open a crack, securing a measure of initiative."
Thinking this, joy rose in Dugu Ming’s heart as he looked at Zhang Yu and said, "Good! You’ve done very well. Aside from me, have you shown this data to anyone else?"
Seeing Zhang Yu shake his head, Dugu Ming nodded slightly and said, "Do you know what kind of reward the Immortal Emperor had me bring you?"
