Your Mission Is to Infiltrate the Dao Seeking Sect

"Since Li Shouyi is dead, his promotion is off the table." "The authorities might suspect a demonic cult is operating here based on his identity, so tell everyone here to keep a low profile for a while." Tang Yunsheng made a swift decision. Having risen through the ranks step by step himself, he was decisive in his actions. "As for the three of you, take out your bone plaques." The three handed over their bone plaques inscribed with the word "Deacon." Tang Yunsheng walked up to the statue of the Immortal Celestial, bowed three times before it, and his large hand glowed with golden light as he chanted rapid, indistinct incantations. He swiped his hand across their three plaques, and the word "Deacon" transformed into "Branch Master." As an Inspecting Emissary authorized by the upper echelons, Tang Yunsheng had the power to appoint and demote personnel at the rank of Branch Master and below. Promoting Lu Yang's group of three to Branch Masters was not Tang Yunsheng's idea, but an order from the higher-ups. As for which higher-up, Tang Yunsheng was not sure; he had heard it was a decision made at the Vice Cult Master level, or perhaps even higher. He was merely carrying out orders. "Which commandery are we being sent to as Branch Masters?" Meng Jingzhou asked, looking eager to stretch his wings. Tang Yunsheng shook his head. "What are you dreaming about? You're only in the early Foundation Establishment stage. If you were made actual Branch Masters, would the subordinates even respect you? You wouldn't even be able to manage this Yanjiang Branch. "A new Branch Master will be parachuted in for Yanjiang Commandery. That isn't something you need to worry about." "Then what about our Branch Master status...?" "Making you Branch Masters wasn't my call, but the higher-ups'. They instructed that you be promoted to the Branch Master tier—granted the rank without the administrative post. That way, you'll enjoy many of the privileges exclusive to Branch Masters, free of many constraints. "The higher-ups have entrusted you with a top-secret mission. You must not tell anyone other than the four of us!" Lu Yang and the other two snapped to attention, on high alert. Tang Yunsheng lowered his voice: "The upper echelon has given you one year to find a way to infiltrate the Dao Seeking Sect. I am your contact!" The eyes of Lu Yang, Meng Jingzhou, and Man Gu narrowed slightly in shock at this assignment. Tang Yunsheng waved his hand. "I know this mission is exceedingly difficult. Among the Five Great Immortal Sects, the Hanging Temple has too few members to easily plant moles, while the Dao Seeking Sect has minds far too erratic to penetrate. Even if one gets in, they're liable to be exposed for failing to fit in. "The three of you have great compatibility with the Dao Seeking Sect. You might just manage to enter smoothly. "Nor are you required to become Dao Seeking Sect disciples. According to intelligence analysis, the Dao Seeking Sect has a thriving entertainment industry and recruits staff every year. You can use this opportunity to slip inside! "Of course, that's just one method. The cult won't intervene, so you're free to improvise and seek other approaches. The deadline is one year. If you fail to complete the mission within a year, the higher-ups will assign you a new one!" Seeing the three of them wearing utterly confident expressions, Tang Yunsheng shook his head with an amused scoff. They had no idea how difficult infiltrating the Dao Seeking Sect was; countless people had already met their ends there. He pulled out three talismans and handed them over. "The Dao Seeking Sect is fraught with perils. These are Far-Escape Talismans. If your mission fails, use them immediately to make your escape!" These three were rare talents of the Immortal Cult, especially Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou. Naturally, the Cult Master wanted to ensure they were well protected. The Dao Seeking Sect was fraught with perils? Meng Jingzhou thought to himself, *Returning to the Dao Seeking Sect is just like going home. What danger could there be? If there is any danger at all, it's Eldest Senior Sister.* "One more thing: did Little Chu ever tell you how to resurrect the Immortal Celestial?" Lu Yang shook his head. "Branch Master Chu only told us about the first step—killing people to please the Immortal Celestial. As for the second step, he said our rank was too low, so the rules forbade him from telling us." Tang Yunsheng said, "Now that you are members of Branch Master rank, you are qualified to know how to resurrect the Immortal Celestial. It is also the duty of every Branch Master-level member. Come, I'll demonstrate it for you." Tang Yunsheng knelt before the statue of the Immortal Celestial, raised both hands high, and called out loudly: "Immortal Celestial Miao Muzhen above! Your most devout believer hereby calls upon You in all sincerity. Please bestow a celestial miracle and protect the human race!" With that, he banged his head against the ground in three loud kowtows, then rose to his feet. The ceremony was complete. Question marks filled the three boys' minds. *That's it?* Man Gu muttered to himself in confusion: *Why does the Immortal Celestial's name sound like someone from the Barbarian clan?* Tang Yunsheng said, "You must call upon the Immortal Celestial strictly following the words I just spoke, but you cannot say 'Miao Muzhen.'" "Why is that?" "Because Miao Muzhen is not the Immortal Celestial's true name." The three grew even more bewildered. *If it's not his true name, what was the point of saying it?* Tang Yunsheng explained, "To resurrect the Immortal Celestial, one must chant both his title and his celestial name. The first step of killing to please the Immortal Celestial means that once the Immortal Celestial is pleased, he will guide us from the unseen realm to utter his celestial name. "We learned from the ruins that his title is the Immortal Celestial, but the ruins did not record his celestial name. Until the Immortal Celestial bestows a miracle or a hint, our Immortal Cult can only keep trying name after name. "Out of respect for the Immortal Celestial, the interval between invocations of celestial names must be one month!" Tang Yunsheng pulled out a tattered copy of the *Great Xia Dictionary*. "Most names have already been tried. Lately, I've suspected the Immortal Celestial might have been a barbarian, so I've been trying barbarian names." The Ancient Barbarian race had once been a vital power safeguarding the human race, which did fit the Immortal Celestial's standing. Tang Yunsheng produced three thick notebooks and handed them to the trio. On the covers was written: *Celestial Names Already Invoked (120th Edition)*. The sheer number of celestial names recorded inside made Lu Yang suspect that the Immortal Cult had already exhausted every name conceivable. "Every few decades, we compile all the invoked celestial names to avoid repeating them. This is the latest compilation. Take a look and try calling out once each. Just make sure not to use any name from the notebooks." Lu Yang called out loudly: "Immortal Celestial Archimedes above! Your most devout believer hereby calls upon You in all sincerity. Please bestow a celestial miracle and protect the human race!" Meng Jingzhou called out loudly: "Immortal Celestial Li Goudan above..." Man Gu called out loudly: "Immortal Celestial Yelü Salade above..." Clearly, very few names remained for the Immortal Celestial. After the three made their invocations, the Immortal Celestial did not bestow any miracle to resurrect himself. "All right, I have relayed all the tasks the higher-ups instructed me to give you. Pack your things and figure out a way into the Dao Seeking Sect on your own." "Understood." Back at the barbecue shop, Lan Ting was already seated in the main hall waiting for them. Lu Yang compared stories with Lan Ting and briefly explained what had happened afterward, as well as the mission Tang Yunsheng had assigned them. Lan Ting looked at the three with a rather bizarre expression. *The Immortal Cult is doomed sooner or later.* "Since you are leaving, I should also return to the Immortal Palace to report on my mission. It was a pleasure spending these ten or so days together. Thank you all for your help. Although I did not infiltrate the demonic cult, helping you slay a Branch Master is still a major merit, and I'll earn plenty of contribution points," Lan Ting said with a sweet smile, reluctant to say goodbye. The word "fate" was truly wondrous. When she had initially helped Lu Yang slay the tiger demon, it was merely one sect disciple aiding another. She had also carried the mission of infiltrating the demonic cult. Who could have imagined that in the end, she, the one assigned to infiltrate, hadn't joined the demonic cult at all, while Lu Yang and his companions, who hadn't even known the demonic cult existed at first, ended up joining it instead? With Tang Yunsheng still in the commandery, if they stayed together for too long, he might discover them, inviting unnecessary trouble. "The rivers and lakes are vast; may fate bring us together again!" "Goodbye!" "Take care!" Having seen Lan Ting off, the three began packing their belongings when Meng Jingzhou suddenly remembered: "Wait, where's our horse?"