Chapter 685 - 54: Jiaoxiu Seven of Jiaoshen 2

Proficiency in the myriad arts of cultivation was the most basic requirement for the Honored Guest Elders recruited by the five great Immortal Races. Without a unique specialty, it was impossible to gain entry to the Giant Raft of the Noble Family, a place teeming with extraordinary individuals.

Bing Suqin was one of the moles the Ten Thousand Beasts Xuan Sect had planted among the five great Immortal Races. She excelled at Alchemy and was held in high regard by a Spirit Immortal of the Nangong Family.

In her early years, she had awakened the Taixu Cyan Simurgh Bloodline within the True Spirit Treasure Pagoda. One of her Talent Divine Techniques was Hidden Bloodline Power, which allowed her to alter her identity and, posing as a Loose Cultivator, successfully infiltrate the Nangong Family.

She also had another identity: the Dao companion of Ascendant Xuan Yun, the Grand Elder of the Ten Thousand Beasts Xuan Sect.

Xuan Yun had been designated by the three Spirit Immortals of the Ten Thousand Beasts Xuan Sect as the next Sect Leader. If Xuan Hui hadn’t suddenly returned and passed through the Sin Punishment Abyss, Xuan Yun would have already taken control of the True Spirit Treasure Pagoda and become the new Sect Leader.

The couple was wholeheartedly devoted to the sect’s grand plan. After Bing Suqin awakened her Taixu Cyan Simurgh Bloodline, they began to painstakingly lay the groundwork for their scheme, which culminated in her successful infiltration of the Nangong Immortal Race.

The cover story that Bing Suqin’s Dao companion was an expert in Talisman-crafting was also part of the "persona" the couple had long established. It was all groundwork for an ulterior motive.

They had told the Nangong Immortal Race that Bing Suqin’s Dao companion was away traveling and had not returned in a very long time...

Now, with the "Dao companion" returned, it was only natural for the couple to want to serve the Nangong Immortal Race together and seek shelter under its mighty boughs. This was all perfectly understandable.

This information flashed through Fang Cheng’s mind, but he was weighing another matter. "Brother Chan," he said, "when you detonate the Tier Seven Divine Thunder, how am I supposed to defend myself?"

The Treasure-Refining Golden Toad chuckled. "You won’t need to. When the time comes, I’ll swallow you back into my Qiankun Stomach. The Qiankun Stomach separates two realms; it’s one of the few treasures in the world that can withstand a Tier Seven Divine Thunder despite being only a sixth-tier item..."

’If I believed you, I’d have wasted all these years of my life...’

As the thought crossed his mind, a smile touched Fang Cheng’s lips. "Then I’ll be counting on you, Brother Chan."

"Of course." The Treasure-Refining Golden Toad’s body abruptly shrank. With a single leap, it landed on Fang Cheng’s shoulder and asked curiously, "Friend Xuan Hui, you’ll need a false name for this trip to the Nangong Family. Have you thought of one yet?"

Fang Cheng gazed at his flickering shadow on the cave wall and said nonchalantly, "I’ll just go by Fang Cheng."

With that, he strode out of the cave.

*

*

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「At that same moment.」

Inside a Secret Hall on True Spirit Island, Venerable Guangyuan, the Supreme Elder of the Ten Thousand Beasts Xuan Sect, sat opposite Grand Elder Ascendant Xuan Yun.

The master and disciple were in the middle of a leisurely game of go.

Venerable Guangyuan’s entire being was a mass of shifting Profound Light. A hazy figure could be seen within, but it was impossible to make out any details.

Ascendant Xuan Yun was dressed in a gold-trimmed Profound Robe. He had a powerful, heroic build, with sword-like brows and eyes as bright as stars, which glinted sharply from time to time. He sat with perfect posture, his spine as straight as an iron ruler.

"Master, is it wise to send my junior brother to the Nangong Immortal Race? Can he be trusted?" he asked in a low voice, placing a stone on the board.

Venerable Guangyuan spoke at a leisurely pace. "Even I did not expect Xuan Hui to now possess such astonishing combat prowess with his Divine Techniques. Besides him, no one else could infiltrate the Nangong Family and successfully contend for a spot at the God-King Festival. For now, he is our only option."

Ascendant Xuan Yun frowned, perplexed. "But my junior brother was expelled from the sect. He’s spent all these years as an Ascetic Cultivator in hiding. Who knows what hardships he’s endured? He must harbor a deep resentment for our sect. Aren’t you afraid he’ll betray us?"

A wisp of Immortal Spirit Qi emerged from the mass of Profound Light, guiding a stone to the board. Only then did Venerable Guangyuan’s voice follow. "He won’t be able to give up the position of Sect Leader of the Ten Thousand Beasts Xuan Sect. More importantly, he won’t be able to resist the temptation of becoming a Spirit Immortal."

Ascendant Xuan Yun’s expression finally shifted upon hearing this. "So, Master truly does intend to pass the Sect Leader position to him."

’If Xuan Hui can’t bear to give it up, how could I?’

Venerable Guangyuan said, "Both of you are rare talents I have personally nurtured. Whichever of you takes control of the True Spirit Treasure Pagoda will have a seventy percent chance of reaching the Spirit Immortal Realm. This should be a blessing for our sect, but alas..."

Ascendant Xuan Yun stared intently at the hazy figure within the Profound Light. "Alas, there is only one True Spirit Treasure Pagoda."

Venerable Guangyuan smiled faintly. "Attach a wisp of your Divine Soul to the Treasure-Refining Golden Toad. You will help Xuan Hui with his Talisman-crafting to conceal his identity, and you will also monitor his every move, just in case. The success of this mission to ambush the seven great Spirit Immortals hinges on you... If it succeeds, I will pass the position of Sect Leader to you."

A glint appeared in Ascendant Xuan Yun’s eyes. He stared at the go board, lost in silent contemplation.

’If I can personally control the Treasure-Refining Golden Toad, then when the time comes to detonate the Tier Seven Divine Thunder, I won’t have to worry about Xuan Hui...’

"But... can it truly deceive the Spirit Immortal of the Nangong Immortal Race?" Ascendant Xuan Yun asked, still doubtful.

Still, Venerable Guangyuan’s arrangement was to his liking.

He then heard Venerable Guangyuan say with confidence, "The Treasure-Refining Golden Toad has its own Profound Mechanism. Nangong Qinghui won’t be able to see through it."

Hearing this, Ascendant Xuan Yun felt reassured and asked no more questions.

They each placed several more stones in turn.

Venerable Guangyuan sighed. "When I first began my journey on the Dao, there were still Three Sects and Five Clans on the Cyan Nether Sea. The five great Immortal Races would have to show our Ten Thousand Beasts Xuan Sect a measure of deference. Now, only we remain of the Three Sects, while the five great Immortal Races grow ever stronger and more tyrannical. If we don’t resort to drastic measures, I fear our Xuan Sect will suffer the same fate as the other two."

"Xuan Yun, Xuan Hui is merely a pawn in our hands. If you can win this game, you will be the Lord of Revival for the Ten Thousand Beasts Xuan Sect. The sect’s destiny will flourish through you, and you will soar on its momentum, with a chance to attain the Celestial Immortal Position."

...

「Above the vast, open sea.」

A beam of Escape Light shot across the water.

Within the light was a handsome, elegant man. With his wide, fluttering sleeves and transcendent bearing, he had the very air of an immortal, his expression leisurely and serene.