Players: All NPCs in the Sect Are Moles

’I knew it. To you, "don’t cause trouble" is basically the same as a fart!’

Su Ling’er’s knees went weak, and she had to grab the doorframe to keep herself from collapsing. She could just imagine it: right now, everyone in Anhe City was staring up at her home. From this day forward, the Su Mansion was going to be the most "famous" landmark in town.

If that storyteller Mu Ling were here, he’d probably spin the tale like this: "It is said that in Anhe City, an Immortal took lodging with the Su Family. Overnight, a magnificent jade tower erupted from the earth, and a celestial ladder descended from the clouds..."

’How is this keeping a low profile? This is the very definition of making a scene!’

But as she stared at the pillar that seemed to pierce the heavens, she felt more than just helplessness; she felt a profound, bone-deep shock.

’To create such a miracle overnight, so silently... Is-is this Senior Brother’s true power?’

’No! I have to find him right now and get some answers!’

’If I don’t figure out what on earth he’s trying to do...!’

Su Ling’er could worry about the consequences later. Circulating the Spiritual Power in her Dantian, she summoned her wooden sword from its sheath. With a light tap of her foot, she shot into the air, riding the sword as an azure streak of light. She soared straight for the top of the colossal pillar that pierced the heavens.

As Su Ling’er ascended, she saw the wilderness outside the city... or what was left of it. Now she knew where the raw materials had come from.

Her sudden flight sent the already buzzing crowd outside the Su Mansion into a complete frenzy.

On the street in front of the Su Mansion, all the townsfolk who were gazing upward saw the streak of light from the sword as it shot toward the heavens.

"An Immortal! It’s an Immortal!"

"The Su Family... An Immortal just flew out of the Su Family’s home!"

"Could it be? Did their family produce an Immortal?!"

Within the crowd, Zhao Decang, the City Lord of Anhe City, and his advisor, Mr. Zhang, also witnessed the scene. They exchanged a look, and each saw the same horror reflected in the other’s eyes.

Zhao Decang’s heart sank.

’They’re here. The Immortals are here.’

’To create such a spectacle overnight... This level of heaven-rending power is far beyond anything the Immortal Masters from the Celestial Furnace Sect, who were previously stationed here, could ever hope to achieve. And it seems my own good days are numbered.’

His mind raced. ’The Su Mansion... Who from the Su Mansion left to pursue Cultivation?’

A name surfaced from the corners of his memory.

The Su Family’s eldest daughter, Su Ling’er.

’But I remember her going to Qingxu Temple, didn’t she? Besides... that Su Ling’er had a Pseudo Spirit Root, meaning her aptitude was dreadful. How could she possibly be capable of Sword Flight? From his many years of serving the Immortal Masters of the Celestial Furnace Sect, he knew that Sword Flight required a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivation!’

’Could it be... the Su Family came across some heaven-sent opportunity and was chosen by the Celestial Furnace Sect?’

He then recalled an urgent report from his men: overnight, entire forests and mountainsides of rock outside the city had vanished into thin air, leaving the ground as bare as if it had been licked clean by a dog.

’To move mountains and stone overnight, creating such a spectacle without disturbing a single soul in the city... It seems this Su Ling’er is no longer the person she once was.’

Zhao Decang said to his advisor, "Mr. Zhang, do you see? The sky over Anhe City... it’s about to change, isn’t it?"

"You are right, my lord."

"Relay my orders. Go to the storerooms at once and prepare a set of our finest gifts. No, prepare three sets! Furthermore, inform every major family in the city that from this day on, the Su Family is to be considered the preeminent family of Anhe City!"

"Anyone who has had past grievances with the Su Family is to find a way to resolve them on their own. From now on, anyone who dares to show the Su Family the slightest disrespect is making an enemy of me, City Lord Zhao Decang!"

Mr. Zhang quickly replied, "Yes, my lord! I’ll see to it at once!"

Zhao Decang’s mind spun with possibilities.

’Since Su Ling’er is an Immortal who hails from Anhe City, she must still have some ties to her home. If I play my part well and show enough deference, she might be willing to turn a blind eye to some of my past... activities. And if I could firmly hitch my wagon to her star...’

Zhao Decang’s heart began to race with excitement.

...

Not far away, at the entrance to the An Mansion, Mr. An also heard the commotion outside. He stepped out of his gates, looked up, and saw the spectacle in the sky and the ascending streak of sword light.

But there was not a trace of interest in his eyes.

’My daughter is dead. Even if an Immortal truly has descended, what does it matter? Should I beg the Immortal to bring my daughter back to life?’ But he knew his family’s means were modest; he had nothing of value that could possibly move an Immortal.

A fleeting, absurd fantasy crossed Mr. An’s mind, only to be immediately drowned by endless grief.

’Impossible...’ He sighed, turned around, and walked back into the mansion, shutting the heavy gates behind him.

"Qinyao... Your father has failed you... If I had known... back then... I never should have agreed to that marriage..."

...

High above, Su Ling’er finally landed on a platform at the base of the pyramid.

She stared at the magnificent structure before her, built entirely of wood and stone, and once again felt a staggering sense of unreality.

Su Ling’er shouted toward the pyramid’s entrance, "Senior Brother! Senior Brother! Are you awake?! What is all this?!"

A moment later, Lin Qingfeng emerged from the pyramid and walked up to Su Ling’er. He spread his arms wide, a "come and praise me" look plastered on his face.

"So? What do you think?"

"How do you like the renovations I made to your family’s guest room?"

Su Ling’er: "..."

Seeing her Senior Brother’s expression, practically begging for praise, Su Ling’er forced herself to swallow the furious questions that were on the tip of her tongue.

She suddenly realized he might genuinely think he’d done a good thing.

’Hold it in! I have to hold it in! I have to treat this as a gift from Senior Brother! Even if this gift is a little... heavy!’

Su Ling’er fell silent for a moment, then raised a hand and rubbed her temples, a headache already forming. "Senior Brother... you call this... ’renovations’?"

Lin Qingfeng seemed completely oblivious to the exasperation in her voice. He nodded proudly. "What else would you call it?!"

Seeing his completely unflappable demeanor, Su Ling’er knew that normal logic was useless. The spark of defiance that had just appeared in her eyes instantly vanished, and her entire expression shifted in a heartbeat.

One second, she looked as if she’d lost the will to live; the next, she was wearing the beatific smile she had been practicing to perfection.

"Senior Brother... this... this is truly... I... I never imagined that mortal power could achieve such a thing!"

"Such a work of creation, the power to move mountains and fill seas... I have only ever heard of such things in ancient myths! The legends speak of mighty beings in antiquity who could raise a city overnight. I always thought it was mere folklore, but I never imagined that today, I would witness you, Senior Brother, recreate such a divine miracle with my own two eyes!"

"Senior Brother, your handiwork is truly like the poem says: ’The great roc soars with the wind in a single day, ascending ninety thousand li in a whirlwind!’ Such spirit... I... I am simply... left breathless in admiration!"

Seeing that her Senior Brother seemed to be enjoying the praise, and coupled with her recently improved impression of him, Su Ling’er breathed a small sigh of relief. Still, she quickly got to the point.

"But, Senior Brother, didn’t we agree? No stirring up trouble, no attracting attention?! What you’ve done has drawn the eyes of the entire city!"

Hearing this, Lin Qingfeng shook his head with a completely straight face.

"What are you talking about, me causing trouble? You’re the one who did this. You, Su Ling’er, Holy Daughter of our Guixi Sect, built this magnificent structure for your hometown overnight. I, as a merchant and a friend, witnessed it with my own eyes! It’s the absolute truth!"

Su Ling’er: "???"

’Wait... how did you end up pinning this on me?! Do I look like I have the power to silently raise a magnificent tower overnight?!’

...

[Real World]

[News Archive]

Players have reported encountering fraudulent quests on the Jade Dragon Continent in the game *Ashen Heaven*. There are also widespread complaints regarding the Biqu Dynasty’s lack of resources and the absence of nearby player-run sects. In response to the "abnormal quest" controversy, the Ashen Heaven Group’s customer service stated that this is an intended feature of certain in-game factions and that players in the Biqu Dynasty may "reincarnate" to choose a different starting location.