Chapter 391 - 227: Identity Exposed
Atop the main peak of the Lingyue Sect.
The Sect Leader gazed into the distance. Looking at the mountain range that was slowly recovering, he couldn’t help but sigh. "Over three hundred years ago, a cataclysmic event occurred here. It was truly terrifying.
"Although this place has recovered somewhat, it’s still barely habitable.
"I truly hope that a day like that never comes again."
"Sect Leader, you worry too much. It won’t happen again. Besides, the Lingyue Sect will surely grow stronger and stronger under your leadership," Elder Luo said.
The Sect Leader turned around and said with a sigh, "I’ve been feeling uneasy lately, as if some misfortune is about to occur. I fear there’s danger among the people who have come this time."
Elder Luo poured the Sect Leader a cup of tea, fell silent for a moment, and then said, "The only one I can’t see through is that Ah Niu.
"I feel like there’s something wrong with him, yet his behavior doesn’t suggest he’s a problem."
"Do you plan to test him further, Elder Luo?" the Sect Leader asked as he sat down.
"The Young Sect Leader has already gone," Elder Luo said with a helpless tone.
The Sect Leader was quiet for a moment before saying, "That’s fine. At least we’ll be able to test him. But I just can’t shake this feeling of unease.
"I’m afraid it’s not just this Ah Niu. The three who escaped before are likely to be a problem as well."
"They’ll just use an Array to get deeper inside, maybe cause a bit of a disturbance, but the final outcome will be the same." Elder Luo picked up his teacup and paused for a long time before suddenly adding, "My only fear is that while they’re causing a disturbance, others might take the opportunity to act. It seems we need to add more people in the shadows.
"They are from a rival Sect, after all. We can’t let our guard down now just because things have gone smoothly the past few times."
The Sect Leader nodded. "Your concerns are valid, Elder Luo. We must tighten the watch. I just don’t know if the test at the Sword Tomb will reveal anything else.
"You can’t see through this Ah Niu, Elder Luo, so I can’t rest easy."
Their opponent was a Sect, a true behemoth.
Facing such a behemoth, they had to be careful with every step.
The slightest misstep would lead to their utter annihilation, and by then, it would be too late for regrets.
But they had no choice but to walk this path. The risks were indeed great, but the rewards were irresistibly so.
The Sect Leader took a sip of his tea and quietly waited for the results of the test.
He figured it wouldn’t be long before he had an answer.
Only when this matter was over could he finally be at ease.
* * *
「Sword Tomb.」
After Jiang Man finished his beetle-extermination task, he would return to his resting place and start reading.
The Wuyun Sect spy, who had already been discovered, was put in confinement because he had reported her.
And there were still three other Wuyun Sect spies here.
He had offended one of them, and the remaining three would likely jump at the chance for revenge.
These people had been discovered long ago, so they certainly weren’t afraid of being exposed again.
Therefore, to successfully draw the Iron Sword, he needed to read faster.
As his understanding of Array Patterns grew, he gradually began to comprehend parts of the Array here.
He could even occasionally add a few Array Patterns of his own.
What he planned to do wasn’t anything major; he just wanted to use the Array’s power to create a barrier that suppressed one’s Realm.
It wouldn’t need to last long—the time it takes for an incense stick to burn would be enough.
It would suppress everyone to the Middle Stage of Golden Core.
At the same Realm, no one here was his match.
This way, even if he encountered an expert whose Realm was too high, he could at least try to escape.
But thirteen books were clearly not enough.
That evening, Lin Fei returned to rest.
He was a bit surprised to see Jiang Man. "Didn’t you go to draw the sword? Why are you back so early?"
"I didn’t go today," Jiang Man replied casually, his eyes still on his book.
"Why? Did you give up?" Lin Fei asked, leaning back.
Jiang Man shook his head and explained without looking up, "I just reported a spy. She has three accomplices, so if I go to draw the sword now, they’ll likely interfere and try to get revenge."
Lin Fei was stunned. "You’re actually worried about that?"
Jiang Man turned to look at Lin Fei. "When you report someone, aren’t you afraid of retaliation?"
"Of course I only report the weak ones. What was the Cultivation of the person you reported?" Lin Fei asked.
Jiang Man answered, "A Golden Core Ancestor."
Lin Fei was silent for a moment, then said admiringly, "I’m not as bold as you. I wouldn’t even dare to report someone at Foundation Establishment. I’d only dare to pick on a Qi Refining cultivator like you.
"I can’t believe a Qi Refining cultivator like you dared to report a Golden Core Ancestor. Aren’t you afraid they’ll send you to meet your ancestors with a single flick of their wrist?"
Jiang Man didn’t answer and just went back to his book.
Lin Fei grew curious. "Since you’ve offended a Golden Core, what’s the point of reading?"
"To improve my abilities. Once I’ve improved enough, I won’t have to fear them," Jiang Man said honestly.
’It wasn’t the Golden Core spy he feared, but the powerful experts of the Lingyue Sect.’
Lin Fei fell silent again.
For a moment, he couldn’t tell if the other man was arrogant or just ignorant.
’Can reading really make up for such a huge gap?’
’If it could, he’d start reading too.’
’He’d even stay up all night to do it.’
’This was a Golden Core expert, after all.’
After that, Lin Fei watched as Jiang Man would finish his tasks and immediately sit down to read, spending even more time on it than before.
Elsewhere, a man and a woman were gathered together, staring in Jiang Man’s direction.
"So we’re the ones who have to deal with him?" the woman said coldly. "This person uses the Six Harmonies Palm. No wonder Senior Sister Mo mistook him for someone else. Senior Sister Mo’s Spirit has been broken by torture; otherwise, she wouldn’t have been so reckless.
"But why has he stopped going to draw the sword?
"If he doesn’t go, how are we supposed to make trouble for him?"
The slender man beside her shook his head slightly. "Let’s wait. He might have realized someone would be coming for revenge, so he’s laying low. It’s fine. If he can wait, so can we."
"Should we just go and attack him directly? We have authorization, after all." The woman stared at Jiang Man and gritted her teeth. "It would be the perfect chance to avenge Senior Sister Mo and get some Spirit Stones to recover our strength."
"Attack him directly? He’s very close to the Steward. And what if he really is a spy? Let’s observe first. If he keeps staying up late, he probably isn’t one." The slender man shook his head.
The woman nodded, ultimately deciding she could only endure it for now.