The End of the Immortal Path

Something over there seemed to be lighting up the area.

The stone was also pointing in that direction.

However, he didn’t rush over, choosing to first follow the direction indicated by the stone.

「A moment later.」

He was surprised to discover a ruined palace.

"Much better than a dilapidated temple," Jiang Man couldn’t help but remark.

However, upon observing the area, he saw no signs of candlelight or anything similar.

In other words, no Evil God was residing here.

"Ling Hua Envoy?" an ethereal voice called out.

Jiang Man peered into the depths and saw a figure clad in a black Immortal Skirt sitting within.

He could only see her long hair cascading down, obscuring her face.

Unlike the black-robed figures who used robes to hide their appearance, this person’s concealment was due to her own power.

In other words, she was stronger than the black-robed figures by more than just a small margin.

Furthermore, the fact that she dared to venture into the mist made her even more impressive.

Even he didn’t dare to enter this place carelessly.

"A subordinate of the mysterious Immortal Spirit?" Jiang Man asked.

Tantai Xue frowned, her gaze fixed on Jiang Man.

At first, she had thought the Ling Hua Envoy was just an ordinary person—especially given his status as a pauper, which made her subconsciously look down on him.

But when she saw the mists roil and a man who seemed to radiate light approach, she froze.

So bold, so confident, positively glowing.

Then it hit her—she had been played again.

When she thought he was an expert, he told her he was just a pauper.

When she thought he was a pauper, he appeared before her, revealing himself to be an expert.

This left Tantai Xue filled with alarm and uncertainty.

She was unable to determine just what kind of person stood before her.

In an instant, her sense of superiority began to crumble.

Especially that unfathomable feathered robe.

She had never seen anything like it.

The feathered robe even obstructed her vision, preventing her from seeing his true face.

’I thought that with the hidden power of this palace, I could see through any concealment he had.’

’It seems his Immortal Spirit must have granted him sufficient power.’

’But as long as I can communicate with the Ling Hua Immortal Spirit, I can replace this man and become the Ling Hua Immortal Spirit’s Envoy.’

’After all, only I can bring the Ling Hua Immortal Spirit sufficient benefits.’

After composing herself, Tantai Xue finally spoke. "I had intended to test your strength, but upon seeing you, I realize such a test would be meaningless.

"I am willing to cooperate with you in good faith.

"To help you awaken the Ling Hua Immortal Spirit as quickly as possible."

"Since this is a collaboration, what do we need to do?" Jiang Man did not move any closer.

’The power gap between us is simply too great. Getting any closer would be far too dangerous.’

’I probably wouldn’t even be able to escape.’

"We need Immortal Spirit Power," Tantai Xue said.

’Immortal Spirit Power is common, yet precious.’

’If he feels the sting of the cost, he won’t overthink it.’

Jiang Man fell silent for a moment. "Does it have to be paid now?"

Tantai Xue asked curiously, "When would you like to pay?"

"How about we wait for the Immortal Spirit to awaken and have her pay then?" Jiang Man asked.

’I don’t have any, so of course I can’t pay.’

Tantai Xue fell silent for a moment. ’So he’s still just a pauper after all.’

’He’s not even willing to part with that.’

"In that case, I can change my request," Tantai Xue said.

’Even though his proposal is actually acceptable to me...’

’...I can’t seem too agreeable.’

’It would look too suspicious.’

Jiang Man asked curiously, "And what is that?"

"I’ve heard that the followers of your Ling Hua Immortal Spirit are mostly Student Cultivators from within the Sects," Tantai Xue said, looking at him. "I want to know: who is currently the strongest person within the Wuyun Sect, the Celestial Water Sect, and the Evergreen Sect?

"If you can answer this question for me, we will carry out the rest of the awakening plan free of charge."

At this, Jiang Man fell silent for a moment.

Seeing his hesitation, Tantai Xue continued, "You can go back and investigate properly. In the meantime, our initial awakening plan can proceed.

"Of course, if you ultimately fail to discover who is strongest, or if your answer is wrong, then you will have to pay with Immortal Spirit Power.

"Failing that, you’ll have to pay me with a large amount of Spiritual Source."

’I need to consider the impact on myself if I give her the name,’ Jiang Man thought.

’I only found out by chance from a report.’

’I’m not worried about my true identity being discovered.’

’After all, with the Sect backing me, there’s nothing to worry about.’

’But if my Zui Fusheng identity were to be implicated, that would be troublesome.’

’Hardly anyone knows about my Zui Fusheng identity.’

’And it’s the identity I created to kill Meng Qiewei.’

’Exposing it would be very dangerous.’

’Then again,’ Jiang Man mused, ’I’ve already been detained by the Law Enforcement Hall before.’

’And with Mr. Ji’s backing, it’s plausible that I’d know such things.’

’If she’s powerful enough to investigate everyone, then there’s nothing I can do about it anyway.’

With that decided, Jiang Man looked at her and said, "There’s no need to wait. I can tell you right now."

Tantai Xue was taken aback.

She hadn’t expected him to provide an answer so quickly.

"I will verify your answer. If you are wrong, I won’t tell you why," said Tantai Xue.

Jiang Man nodded.

"Well then, tell me, who is the strongest?" Tantai Xue asked, her interest piqued.

She was very curious which Sect Leader or Supreme Elder the Envoy before her would name.

’I know basically all of them.’

’And I have a good grasp of their strength.’

’If he names someone I find reasonably acceptable, I might as well count him as correct.’

Jiang Man said calmly, "True Master Tai Hua."

Huh?

Tantai Xue froze, completely taken aback.

’True Master Tai Hua? I’ve never heard that name before.’

’Is there such a person in the Three Major Sects?’

"Tell me his identity," Tantai Xue said softly.

Jiang Man shook his head. "That comes at a different price. You can go and investigate him now. See if he’s the strongest. If you can’t even find that out, then there’s no need for us to cooperate.

"At this rate, I doubt you’d be able to awaken the Immortal Spirit."

After saying his piece, Jiang Man contacted his real body and vanished on the spot.

Tantai Xue watched him leave, stunned.

For a moment, she couldn’t process what had just happened.

’How did the tables turn so suddenly?’

’I was supposed to be testing his worth to decide if I should cooperate, but now he’s testing my worth to decide if *he* wants to cooperate?’

Still, she genuinely had no idea who True Master Tai Hua was.

’Did he just make someone up to prevent me from participating in the Immortal Spirit’s awakening?’

’A convenient excuse to refuse me?’

Then, Tantai Xue’s figure vanished.

In a lavish inn, she slowly opened her eyes.

She felt a little drained.

’This Envoy is not easy to deal with.’

"How did it go?" a voice asked from the Token before her.

Tantai Xue frowned. "Not very well."

She then recounted what had happened.

"I asked him to name the strongest person, thinking he’d mention someone I knew. But he named someone I’ve never heard of and even said that if I couldn’t find out who he was, I wasn’t qualified to work with him." Tantai Xue let out a laugh that was more exasperation than amusement.

"It’s possible he only knows weaker people, which is why you’ve never heard of them," the Spiritual Tablet said, first offering some comfort. "What was the name he gave?"

"True Master Tai Hua." Tantai Xue’s brow furrowed. "I truly have never heard that name."

The Spiritual Tablet, however, seemed to freeze upon hearing the name. Its voice then rose sharply. "Who?"

"True Master Tai Hua," Tantai Xue repeated, slightly taken aback by the reaction.

Then she asked, "Senior, you know of him?"

The Spiritual Tablet was silent for a moment before saying, "An expert from the Dao Yi Immortal Sect who presides over the Zhenyue Bureau and Dinghai Hall.

"If he is truly here, the Three Major Sects combined would be no match for him.

"Simply knowing that name is enough to prove this Envoy is no simple character."

"Then... is this True Master Tai Hua really here?" Tantai Xue asked.

The voice from the Spiritual Tablet was low. "Do you dare investigate?"

"If he is truly an expert of that caliber, then of course I wouldn’t dare," Tantai Xue said.

"That Envoy was likely betting on the fact that you wouldn’t dare to check," the voice from the Spiritual Tablet said.

Tantai Xue sighed. "Aren’t the followers of the Ling Hua Immortal Spirit supposed to be a bunch of useless paupers, unable to break through and trapped by their own Heart Spirits?

"How did such an outlier appear among them?

"Could he have learned the name somewhere by chance and is just deliberately messing with us?"

’That’s a strong possibility, but it comes back to the same problem.’

’I don’t dare to check.’

’In our second clash, I’ve lost again.’

’I’ve spent years building my network and gathering vast amounts of intelligence.’

’And he shattered it all with a single name.’

’The world isn’t supposed to work like this.’

’All my hard work has led to nothing.’