Chapter 387 - 225: Qing Dai Went to Jail 2
"Besides, there are clearly people here from other factions. With so many spies around, this Ancient Sect can’t be so incompetent that they haven’t noticed a thing.
"So, we have to be extremely careful. There could be traps everywhere."
Jiang Man understood.
Something was definitely off. Those three had invited him, and they certainly didn’t have his best interests at heart.
’They probably see me as a stepping stone.’
’Someone to trample over to complete their mission.’
’I can wait and see how things turn out for them first.’
After returning to his quarters, Jiang Man first wrote a letter to Ji Meng.
He wrote about his Cultivation, nothing of any real substance.
He added that he’d looked over her previous letters again, mentioning how beautiful Miss Ji Meng’s handwriting was.
Then, he resumed his Cultivation.
The next day, a reply came from Ji Meng.
She mentioned that she had gone to see Young Master Ji Hao that day, and the matter concerning the Evil God was still being negotiated.
She then brought up Yu Wanyi, saying she and Qing Dai had recently gone to set a fire.
Both of them were caught.
They were now in the Law Enforcement Hall’s prison.
Jiang Man: "..."
’He couldn’t understand those two at all.’
He was, however, surprised that there was still no resolution regarding the Evil God.
’It seems to be quite serious.’
’If things don’t work out, I’ll have to give up for now.’
’But once I get back, I can just call a new meeting.’
Outside the Sect’s territory, he couldn’t receive their reports, let alone participate in meetings.
His access was restricted by region.
Jiang Man put it out of his mind and began to cultivate.
His progress was much slower this time. It was a Simple Skill, after all, not a Top-grade Skill.
Fortunately, his Cultivation and Physical Body had already advanced. The seamless integration with his Golden Core Physical Body, in particular, sped up his Cultivation.
In the end, he managed to accumulate ten percent in seven days.
「Thirty-five days later, at the end of April.」
His Spirit Gourd was fifty percent full.
Another five days passed. It was May first.
The Spirit Gourd was about to reach sixty percent.
But on that day, the three of them knocked on his door.
Jiang Man let out a heavy sigh. He had no choice but to put his training on hold.
’It’ll take at least another month to fill the Spirit Gourd, and the breakthrough will take fifteen days at a minimum.’
’No sense in rushing it.’
’First, I’ll see if I can find a Divine Object.’
’Just a touch to unlock a new Talent.’
’Things have been a bit rushed lately. That Unparalleled Celestial Pride Fate Chart is persistent; it’s really breathing down my neck.’
CREAK!
When he opened the door, Jiang Man saw the three of them.
"It’s time to set off. By the way, we’ve already submitted your research task for you, so you don’t have to worry about it," the stout man said.
Jiang Man nodded. "You’re very thoughtful, Brother. Let’s set off now."
The three of them let out a sigh of relief.
’Good. No unexpected problems.’
’Everything we did before was worth it.’
As for what would ultimately happen to this Ah Niu, they couldn’t care less. As long as they could reach the deeper parts, they’d just have to let him make a little sacrifice.
Soon, the four of them arrived at the Sect’s rear mountain.
The entrance for the task was before a cave.
Two guards stood watch, and the surrounding Array was particularly conspicuous.
A single glance was enough to tell that this was no ordinary place.
’This must be an important location.’
"This is our Task Token," the stout man said, presenting a Token to the guard.
The two guards were middle-aged men. Only after confirming their identities did they let the group pass.
"You’ll be told the specifics of the task once you’re there. It’s extremely tough inside, so you can still back out now," one of the guards continued. "There are three paths inside. Don’t take the wrong one."
Hearing this, the woman asked curiously, "Three paths? Which one are we supposed to take?"
"Weren’t you told in your task briefing?" the guard asked.
The stout man’s group shook their heads.
"Then we can’t say," the guard said calmly. "You can try it for yourselves. Take the wrong path, and you might just be eliminated."
The three fell silent for a moment. Finally, the stout man took out ten Spirit Stones. "Of course you can’t say, Brother. But I was wondering... which path do most people take?"
After taking the Spirit Stones, the two guards exchanged a glance.
"A lot of people take Path A," the guard said casually.
The three finally let out a sigh of relief.
Upon entering the mountain cave, they found themselves in a massive cavern.
Three wide paths—A, B, and C—appeared before them.
Jiang Man frowned. ’Three paths, and we have to explore them ourselves?’
’This doesn’t feel like a task at all.’
’It’s more like we’re infiltrating on an adventure.’
’It’s just like Zhuo Qingcheng said. The Lingyue Sect has probably been aware of this for a long time.’
’Are these three seemingly getting closer to their objective, but in reality just walking straight into a trap?’
’Have they not realized it?’
Jiang Man thought back: they needed another person, and they’d just bribed the guard with Spirit Stones.
Perhaps their attention was diverted by other things.
’Are they too close to the situation to see clearly?’
’I’m only so vigilant because I had Zhuo Qingcheng’s warning and was the last to join.’
’But I might also just be overly cautious.’
"Let’s go," the stout man said.
And with that, he headed toward Path B.
Jiang Man was taken aback. "Aren’t we taking Path A?"
"Most people take Path A, but most people who take this task fail. That’s why we should take Path B," the stout man explained.
Jiang Man was lost, but he followed them anyway.
The moment they entered Cave B, the auras of the other three transformed—becoming sharp, incisive, and powerful.
’Golden Core?’
The stout man then took out a Compass, making calculations as he walked.
Whenever they reached an opening, he would immediately choose a path he had determined.
After several turns, he stopped before a stone wall. "This is it."
The other two didn’t hesitate. They took out two Talismans and affixed them to the wall.
Then, one of them struck it with a palm, channeling an Attracting Skill.
BOOM!
A powerful force boomed.
But the Talismans instantly enveloped the force, causing it to dissipate.
A new path appeared behind the opening.
The three of them immediately pulled Jiang Man inside.
After many more twists and turns,
they stopped before another cavern.
"We should be clear. We’re no longer under their surveillance," the stout man said, sighing in relief.
’I’ve completely misjudged them,’ Jiang Man thought. ’They’re actually quite capable.’
’And they’ve been clear-headed this whole time.’
Just then, the refined-looking man turned to Jiang Man. "You wanted a Spirit Sword, didn’t you?"
Jiang Man nodded. "Isn’t that the reward for the task?"
The refined-looking man gave a dry laugh. "Two thousand in Spiritual Source, and I can send you to complete your task right now. I won’t go back on my word."
Jiang Man did a quick calculation. ’I’d still be losing seven hundred.’
’But paying some Spiritual Source to get my hands on the item isn’t a problem. If they wanted to kill me to silence me, they could have done it much more easily.’
"One thousand five hundred," he tried to haggle.
"Done," the refined-looking man agreed with a nod.
Jiang Man: "..."
’He suddenly felt like he’d been completely ripped off.’
After Jiang Man handed over the one thousand five hundred, the stout man pointed to a path on the left. "Just head down that way. You’ll find the Spirit Swords you’re looking for."
"Alright." Jiang Man agreed without hesitation.
’These three are still locked in a struggle with the Lingyue Sect.’
’I’ll wait and see how things turn out for them.’
’As for now, I’ll go see what these Spirit Swords are like.’
With that, Jiang Man turned and walked toward the entrance.
As Jiang Man entered, the Compass flickered. The stout man immediately said, "It’s open. We’ll take the opposite path."
Meanwhile, Jiang Man cautiously stepped into a new cavern.
The moment he entered, he saw rows upon rows of Spirit Swords, each one plunged into the ground.
When he looked up, he saw a mountain standing in the vast cavern, its peak covered with countless embedded Spirit Swords.
There were more than the eye could see.
’A Sword Tomb?’
Jiang Man was stunned.
’Did those three really give me such a lavish gift?’
But before he could do anything, three Foundation Establishment cultivators surrounded him.
"Who goes there?" The three held Spirit Swords, looking ready to attack at any moment.
Jiang Man answered truthfully, "I’m here to complete a task. I got separated from my companions."
The three looked skeptical. Just then, a middle-aged man walked over.
He stared at Jiang Man and asked, "The pest control task?"
Jiang Man nodded.
"Do you have an Identity Token?" the middle-aged man asked.
"Yes." Jiang Man took out his Token.
After a moment, the middle-aged man said, "The Sword Tomb has certain beetles that corrode the Spirit Swords. Your task is to eliminate them.
"In your free time, you can try to pull out one of the Spirit Swords. Any one you manage to pull out is your reward."
’So there really is a reward,’ Jiang Man mused.
"You can start your task now. In addition, you must submit a minimum of twenty beetle carcasses each day," the middle-aged man said.
Jiang Man nodded. He then noticed quite a few other people here. He didn’t know how they had ended up here, but their Cultivation levels didn’t seem low.
Without delay, Jiang Man gripped the nearest Spirit Sword at the edge of the field.
He began to commune with the Celestial Mirror Hundred Books.
The book opened to its final page.
The page read: "Trash tainted with Sword Intent."
Jiang Man stared at the words on the page, somewhat astonished.
’Sword Intent?’
’What kind of Sword Intent?’
’The description is vague, which means the Sword Intent itself must be something I can record.’
’I’ve come to the right place.’
’It’s just...’
Jiang Man glanced around. Foundation Establishment cultivators stood guard everywhere, and the aura of an Array covered the entire area.
The people working here were all listless. They bore injuries, and their power was clearly suppressed.
’Looks like this place is a prison, and those people were brought here to serve a sentence.’
’They’re most likely spies. If those three hadn’t escaped, they probably would have ended up here as well.’
But Jiang Man wasn’t worried. With so many swords here, he was bound to touch a true Divine Object eventually.