Chapter 342 - 337: Attacking the South Sea Blessed Land Ruins

The clamor gradually escalated into mutual accusations, and some even began to turn on Du Youqian.

"Mr. Baili, you were put in charge of leading the alchemy effort to develop a curative elixir. Months have passed. Momenan has been all but wiped out, and over ten percent of cultivators are already infected, yet you have nothing to show for it. Don’t you think you owe everyone an explanation?"

"That’s right. So much manpower and resources have been spent, yet for nothing. Surely no one’s been lining their own pockets, right?" someone said with a sneer.

Another person added, "Mr. Baili, you look rather ill yourself. Don’t tell me you’re infected too?"

Du Youqian merely smiled at their accusations, offering no rebuttal.

Fang Hua couldn’t bear to watch and was about to speak, but Du Youqian stopped her with a glance.

As for Jie Yu, who was also in attendance, she simply watched with a faint smile, enjoying Du Youqian’s predicament.

The door soon swung open, and Master Wu Ai, whom Du Youqian had summoned via Telepathy, glided gracefully into the room.

Everyone stared, stunned.

After all, everyone knew that Master Wu Ai had recently fallen ill and was confined to her bed.

But now, there wasn’t the slightest trace of illness about her!

"Master Wu Ai, can it be that you’ve made a full recovery?"

"Fellow Daoist Wu Ai, did you heal yourself with your own techniques, or did you take some kind of elixir?"

"Master Wu Ai, Master Wu Ai..."

The beautiful Daoist nun simply smiled, saying nothing.

Du Youqian’s Divine Sense washed over the room, causing everyone to freeze. "Quiet," he commanded.

Everyone stared at Du Youqian, and a chill ran down some of their spines.

’This Master Baili’s Divine Sense... it’s probably far stronger than a typical Golden Core Late Stage cultivator, isn’t it?’

’What is Master Baili’s true Realm? Golden Core Late Stage? Or Golden Core Perfection?’

Even Master Wu Fei was thinking to himself, ’You De, I am truly no match for you.’

Only then did Du Youqian speak, his voice calm. "Master Wu Ai’s illness has indeed been cured."

He paused, then stated, enunciating each word, "I cured her."

The room erupted as if a hornet’s nest had been kicked, a buzzing din filling every corner.

Du Youqian smiled faintly. "I have already developed a specific elixir to cure the plague. And I have also found the mastermind behind its spread."

"The mastermind?" Master Wu Fei had his suspicions, but he was still shocked to hear it confirmed.

’The plague that swept across Momenan and nearly brought the Human Race to the brink of annihilation... wasn’t a punishment from the Celestial Dao, but a man-made disaster?’

’Just who could create a plague that could even infect Core Formation Masters?’

Du Youqian looked at Master Wu Fei. "Wu Fei, we still don’t know how many Core Formation Masters have thrown their lot in with that person. To prevent further complications from delay, I propose we launch a surprise attack on the mastermind immediately after this meeting. If we don’t kill him, he’ll just create another, even greater plague, even if we manage to cure everyone."

In his heart, Master Wu Fei completely agreed, but he felt he had to voice the arguments of any potential dissenters. "But how can we be certain he is the mastermind? If we’re going to fight, wouldn’t it be better to take our time and plan more thoroughly?"

Du Youqian’s expression turned grim. "I am one hundred percent certain. And I have a witness."

He gave Master Wu Ai a look. She stepped out of the room for a moment, returning with Gu Kechen.

"Fellow Daoist Gu!"

"Please, tell everyone."

"Yes!" Gu Kechen calmly cupped his hands in a salute to the assembled Core Formation Masters. "I am Gu Kechen of the Emotionless Sect. Some of you may know me, while for others, this is our first meeting. I can confirm Mr. Baili’s words, and I know the identity of the mastermind. Many years ago, a certain individual approached me, hoping I would secretly serve him and bring about a great disaster in Momenan. As Mr. Baili’s fame is known throughout the world, I reported this matter to him, hoping he would investigate and eliminate this person. However, Mr. Baili asked me to endure the humiliation and infiltrate the enemy’s ranks to gather intelligence."

Gu Kechen’s narrative was smooth and engaging. He made sure to highlight his own contributions, then lavished praise upon Du Youqian, before finally revealing, "The mastermind and the Pang Master who once tried to shatter the boundaries of Momenan were close friends. He calls himself ’Master Nine.’ He was also involved in that incident, working alongside Pang Master. After lying dormant for many years, he has re-emerged, seeking both revenge for Pang Master and to advance his own agenda. He intends to use a vast number of living souls to forge a Demon Artifact that surpasses Tier Four and Tier Five, a weapon on the level of a Tier Six Spiritual Treasure. If he succeeds, not only will Momenan be devastated, but the future will be plunged into eternal darkness. No one who dares oppose him will be able to withstand the Demon Artifact in his possession."

Du Youqian chose this moment to interject, "Therefore, we must set out at once to eliminate this man and remove the threat for good."

Gu Kechen’s words had convinced most of the cultivators.

Furthermore, everyone knew that Gu Kechen had also been diagnosed with the plague, yet here he stood, perfectly healthy. This was more ironclad proof that Master Baili had indeed developed a curative elixir.

Thus, no one objected to the proposal of eliminating the mastermind known as "Master Nine."

However, some disagreed with leaving immediately. "Mr. Baili, more than ten Core Formation Cultivators are currently infected. Their Cultivation has weakened, and they are unable to engage in Magical Combat. Since you can already create a curative elixir, why not heal them all first? We can wait for them to recover their strength before we go to deal with Master Nine."

Du Youqian smiled serenely. "Although I have created the elixir, it still takes a significant amount of time to achieve a full cure after taking it. If we delay, I fear it will only lead to more trouble."

In truth, the crucial factor was that curing cultivators at Foundation Establishment or higher required more than just the elixir. They also needed to cultivate a specific Secret Technique to help purge the poison left by the Divine Ability, a process that took a great deal of time.

Master Wu Ai and Gu Kechen, on the other hand, had the poison personally extracted by Du Youqian using his Sword Intent. Such a delicate procedure was taxing even for him, especially since he wasn’t in peak condition himself.

Du Youqian scanned the faces of those present. "I know," he continued, "that some among you are still in secret contact with this ’Master Nine.’ I hereby promise that once Master Nine is dead, all past transgressions will be forgiven, just as they were after we dealt with Pang Master."

Elder Wu Fei also declared his support. "I am of the same mind."

Nong Jiasong had not come himself, but the Holy Blood Sect’s representative, a True Inheritance Core Formation cultivator, also spoke up. "My sect also supports Master Baili’s proposal."

As he said this, he gave Du Youqian a wink.

’Everyone in the world now knew that Du Youqian was actually Master You De, a True Inheritance Core Formation cultivator from the Holy Blood Sect, who had taken this body through Possession. This was an open secret, something that couldn’t be said aloud, but the members of the Holy Blood Sect all considered Du Youqian one of their own.’

’Even though the members of the Holy Blood Sect were notorious for backstabbing and infighting, they would always present a united front and staunchly support their own in public.’

"In that case, let’s all set out together!" Du Youqian declared.

Elder Wu Fei asked, "But where is this mastermind, Master Nine, located?"

Du Youqian gave the answer he had obtained through Divination. "The Desolate Abyss, within the ruins of the South Sea Blessed Land."

The cultivators hesitated.

The ruins of the South Sea Blessed Land were fraught with peril, and no one knew how many undead demons still slumbered within.

Moreover, it had once been a Blessed Land for the Demon Race and had been altered by them.

To fight there would undoubtedly put them at a great disadvantage.

Du Youqian smiled. "I have already performed a divination. The Human Race is destined to win this battle. Our future is bright."

It wasn’t exactly a lie... His Divination regarding the attack on the South Sea Blessed Land ruins had indeed yielded an "auspicious" result.

However, battle was full of unpredictable factors, and there were plenty of cases where a fight was lost despite an "auspicious" divination.

Right or wrong, with Du Youqian’s current influence, his words were enough to raise everyone’s morale.

But at this moment, Master Wu Ai spoke up. "Mr. Baili’s path to Enlightenment is tied to the Human Dao Fortune. With so many casualties among the common people of the Mortal World, the Human Dao Fortune has suffered, and Mr. Baili has been severely affected as a result. What’s more, he has spent the last month exhausting his mind and energy to finally develop a cure. I propose that Master Baili remain behind as a precaution."

Jie Yu nodded as well. "I agree. Mr. Baili should stay and pass on the technique for creating the curative elixir as quickly as possible."

Elder Wu Fei settled the matter. "I also agree."

’Truth be told, Du Youqian had no desire to fight a life-or-death battle with the mastermind, Master Nine.’

’That Master Nine was an unfathomable mystery, and Gu Kechen’s words hadn’t been entirely truthful. Du Youqian even suspected that Master Nine might be the Pang Master from years ago—not dead, merely gravely injured, now returned to stir up trouble under a new identity.’

’According to Gu Kechen, Master Nine possessed Mighty Powers. Meanwhile, Du Youqian’s own strength was hampered by the weakened Human Dao Fortune. He was in no condition for a prolonged battle and couldn’t afford to suffer an unexpected defeat.’

’He had already contributed more than enough to this affair. No one could possibly find fault with his actions.’

So he simply smiled. "In that case, I shall remain here. I wish you all a swift and decisive victory. Go, and restore peace to Momenan!"

Master Wu Fei immediately led the dozen or so Core Formation Masters present and departed.

The beautiful Daoist nun and Fang Hua were among them; only Jie Yu was assigned to remain and guard the Taihe Sect.

Fang Hua had recently advanced to the Golden Core Late Stage, and the beautiful Daoist nun was at the Golden Core Middle Stage. Both were formidable fighters.

But fighting in the South Sea Blessed Land—fighting on enemy turf—presented numerous disadvantages. Du Youqian couldn’t help but worry, though he couldn’t stop Master Wu Fei from taking them into battle.

After the group had departed, Du Youqian sighed, slipped away from the Taihe Sect, and summoned his Spiritual Boat.

Just as he was about to board it, a voice chuckled from behind. "The great Master Baili, are you up to no good, being so secretive?"

Though the speaker’s voice was disguised, Du Youqian would never mistake their aura. He turned with a smile. "Master, you’ve come out of seclusion."