Players: All NPCs in the Sect Are Moles

"Wait, Senior Brother, this... Where is this coming from? Are we not hiding anymore? Are we just going to show our hand to everyone in the city? And... Senior Brother, what’s with all these tracks?"

"Good question. These are the race tracks."

"Hasn’t your family already found out you’re a Cultivator? And didn’t those people outside just see you flying on your sword like an Immortal? Since the cat’s out of the bag, we might as well go all in." Lin Qingfeng thumped his chest. "Besides, you’re from this town. As your Senior Brother, I have to help you make a grand showing, right?"

"Today, you, as the creator of this architectural marvel, will host a ’Heaven-Ascending Marathon’ for our Guixi Sect here in Anhe City."

"The first person to run from the city gate along the race tracks to the top of the tower will win a prize."

Lin Qingfeng pointed to several faintly glowing objects on the tower’s spire.

"The prizes include: a luminous gemstone, three Cultivation manuals, and... our Guixi Sect will grant the winner one reasonable request... Hmm, let’s also add a Lifespan Extension Pill. The top five finishers will also receive pills, Spirit Stones, and copper coins of varying value, as well as commemorative banners for placing in the top five of the first Anhe City Heaven-Ascending Marathon."

Su Ling’er finally understood.

’Senior Brother just wants to have fun. His playful impulse led him to build this monstrously wasteful thing, and now he doesn’t want to reveal his identity, so he’s pushing me, his junior sister, out to be the one to stick her neck out. So this is what the ’Holy Daughter’ title is for?’

Still, she felt a little dazed. After all, if they were traditional Demon Cultivators or Evil Cultivators, they would have turned Anhe City into a sea of blood by now, not stood here enthusiastically listing off race prizes.

This caused the suspicion she’d had back in the corridors of the Su Mansion to surface once more, becoming even clearer than before.

’Maybe... he really isn’t some bloodthirsty fiend?’

Su Ling’er suppressed her stray thoughts and asked, "Senior Brother, so... does this competition have any rules?"

"The rules are simple," Lin Qingfeng replied. "No using Spiritual Power, and no using Inner Strength. Everyone must rely solely on their own physical stamina to run."

"Friendship first, competition second, after all."

"The race will be held this afternoon. That gives them half a day to prepare."

’I can also use this opportunity to see if there are any promising candidates with special traits in Anhe City. If I find someone suitable, I can recruit them directly into the sect. Killing two birds with one stone! Bwahahaha!’

He then pointed down below, giving her a look that said, ’It’s all you now.’ "You, as the host of this competition, go announce the rules."

"Oh, right. As you can see, the track has obstacles like rings to jump through and tunnels to crawl through. I also added some runes for a speed boost and some bounce pads. But the bouncing... it probably... won’t make anyone fall off."

Su Ling’er: "Huh? Probably?"

"Don’t you trust me?" Lin Qingfeng spread his hands. "Besides, aren’t there buffer platforms down below? And even if that safety measure isn’t enough, you’ll be down there, won’t you? If someone falls, you can just use Sword Control to catch them, can’t you?"

Su Ling’er put a hand to her forehead.

’Of course. My job is just to clean up Senior Brother’s messes... I’ll probably end up flying all over the place under the race track, catching people.’

For some reason, upon reaching this conclusion, she felt a sense of exasperated exhaustion rather than the terror of a life-or-death situation.

The feeling was novel, allowing her to relax for a moment. But the relaxation was fleeting, and she immediately became wary again.

The disciples in the sect could be energetically joking around one moment, only to fall into a lifeless stupor the next, their eyes completely vacant. Even Senior Brother was like that sometimes.

This eerie phenomenon was a constant reminder of how terrifying the sect was. ’I can’t call attention to it. After all, if I break some taboo set by the fiend behind this demonic sect, will I instantly become one of them?’

’Stripped of my mind, turned into a flesh-and-blood puppet that only knows how to obey orders?’

’No, I can’t take that risk.’

Seeing her hesitation, Lin Qingfeng leaned in closer and whispered, "By the way, doesn’t your family do business in the city? For an event this big, if you wanted to set up a betting pool on who’ll take first place, you could probably make a killing."

Su Ling’er: "..."

’Wait a minute... How are you so practiced at this?! You even thought of setting up a betting pool?! And isn’t it a bit shady for the host to be running the betting? Whatever. I’ll just do as Senior Brother says.’

Su Ling’er took a deep breath, guiding her Wooden Sword to descend slowly from the high platform.

...

On the ground, a sea of people had long since gathered in front of the Su Mansion.

When the townspeople saw the streak of cyan sword-light descend from the marvel in the sky and finally stop before the Su Mansion, the entire crowd erupted.

"It’s the Immortal from before!"

"She... She flew out from the Su Mansion and now she’s landed back at the Su Mansion! Could that marvel in the sky really have been built by an Immortal from the Su Family?!"

"I think that’s Su Ling’er! When did she become so powerful?"

In the crowd, City Lord Zhao Decang was especially stunned. He hurriedly straightened his robes.

Su Ling’er’s feet touched the ground. Staring at the dense crowd before her, at the countless pairs of eyes filled with awe, curiosity, and greed, she felt a momentary daze.

She remembered that just over three years ago, she was an ordinary person who had to bow to the City Lord.

Now, these same people were looking at her as if gazing up at a goddess.

Of course, this was excluding the horrifying memory of those fanatics from the Dawa Sect worshiping her.

"Everyone..."

She shook her head and tried to speak, but her voice was instantly swallowed by the deafening roar of the crowd.

"Immortal! Please, take me as your disciple!"

"Immortal! My family has a hundred acres of farmland! I will offer it all just for your blessing!"

High above, perched atop the head of the sphinx, Lin Qingfeng frowned at the chaotic scene below.

’This won’t do at all,’ he thought. ’Junior Sister has no presence. How is she supposed to project the dignity of our Guixi Sect’s Holy Daughter?’

He immediately sent a voice transmission to Su Ling’er.

[Lin Qingfeng]: Release your spiritual pressure and make them shut up. Then, announce the rules.

Hearing this, Su Ling’er had no choice but to comply. An immense spiritual pressure, one belonging to a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, instantly radiated out from her, blanketing the entire street.

The crowd, which had been deafening just a moment before, fell instantly silent. Everyone felt an invisible pressure settle over them, and no one dared to utter another word.

’So Miss Su becomes powerful and suddenly she’s too good for the rest of us? Is this like one of those stories where someone makes it big and immediately cuts off all their old friends? Well, not that we were her friends to begin with.’

Su Ling’er cleared her throat and relayed the words Lin Qingfeng had given her.

"I am Su Ling’er, the Holy Daughter of the Guixi Sect. The marvel behind me is a blessing bestowed upon Anhe City by my sect."

"This afternoon, the Guixi Sect will host the first ’Anhe City Heaven-Ascending Run,’ and everyone is welcome to participate."

She went on to explain the rules of the race, the obstacles on the track, and the function of the speed-boost runes and bounce pads.

"...If anyone should lose their footing and fall during the race, I will personally intervene to save them. However, this course may be dangerous. If you are fearful, do not attempt it lightly."

Finally, she announced the prizes.

When the words "luminous gemstone," "three Cultivation manuals," "Lifespan Extension Pill," and "a promise from the Guixi Sect" left her lips, all of Anhe City went into an uproar.

Whether they were wandering martial artists, common townsfolk, or even players, a fire of pure desire burned in their eyes.

Zhao Decang’s heart was also pounding.

’Even though I don’t have a Spirit Root, I still want that luminous gemstone and the Lifespan Extension Pill. Besides, the rules say no Spiritual Power or Inner Strength, just pure physical ability! Add in those game-changing speed runes and obstacles... I might actually have a... okay, I probably don’t have a chance. But that doesn’t stop me from hiring someone who does!’

All sorts of schemes began to brew within the crowd.

Some resolved to keep the news to themselves—one less competitor meant one more glimmer of hope. Others, knowing they stood no chance, decided to spread the news far and wide, preferably to the entire city. If they couldn’t win, they could at least let more people join in and muddy the waters!

...

「Jade Dragon Continent, Biqu Dynasty」

[Rumor Mill]

It is rumored that Emperor Biqiu has become obsessed with longevity in recent years, causing a drastic change in his temperament. In his youth, the emperor was a wise and diligent ruler, but his health has failed in his old age, and he is often plagued by nightmares. The National Preceptor, Xuanchenzi, was said to have vanished for several days before reappearing once more.

A palace attendant has secretly spread word that Xuanchenzi’s power seems to have increased dramatically. On the night of a full moon, he allegedly set up an altar in the palace and drew a streak of otherworldly light into his body. Meanwhile, Emperor Biqiu has grown ever more fixated on the path to eternal life.