Blessed by the Immortal Celestial on This Journey

Outside the mountain gate of the Dao Seeking Sect, eight plainly dressed men huddled together, discussing matters. "Those filthy-rich bastards from the Five Elements Sect have so many spirit stones they literally don't know how to spend them. Building such a massive flying boat, loaded with a bunch of useless frills! If we had this many spirit stones, so many of our plans could become reality!" One of the Immortal Cult's high-ranking members salivated as he looked at the flying boat moored outside the Dao Seeking Sect's mountain gate, a thought of theft sprouting in his mind. Vice Cult Master Liu snapped at him for his lack of vision. "Calm down! Look at you, acting like you've never seen the world. If our operation goes smoothly and we put the Dao Seeking Sect to sleep, looting them thoroughly, do you think we won't be able to afford a flying boat like that?" Another high-ranking member of the Immortal Cult voiced some worry about the future. "Still, will our plan really succeed this time? This is the Dao Seeking Sect, a place we've never set foot in!" To them, the Dao Seeking Sect was nothing less than a dragon's pool or a tiger's den. "Please rest assured, my lords. Our undercover operative inside the Dao Seeking Sect has already provided the event schedule and a map of the areas where the activities will be held. It will definitely be safe this time!" spoke up Tang Yunsheng. As an Inspecting Emissary, even Branch Masters had to bow to him, but here, he was the one with the lowest rank and cultivation level. "Mm, Little Tang is right," another Vice Cult Master spoke up. His name was Gao Zhenglai, a cultivator at early Body Integration. "Besides, we are all believers of the Immortal Celestial. The Immortal Celestial is the symbol of wisdom, strength, and luck. Blessed by the Immortal Celestial on this journey, we are bound to succeed!" "May the Immortal Celestial bless us!" "May the Immortal Celestial bless us!" The eight men chanted in hushed voices, terrified of being overheard. "Sorry to have kept you all waiting." Lu Yang arrived to welcome his subordinates. On the surface, his current identity was the Acting Sect Master of the Dao Seeking Sect, while in the shadows, he was the Cult Master of the Immortal Cult, playing both sides of the fence. "Allow me to introduce him: this is Branch Master Lu Yang, the stellar believer who successfully infiltrated the Dao Seeking Sect," Tang Yunsheng introduced him, then whispered, "Where are the other two?" How could only one person show up to welcome the leadership? Lu Yang explained, "Meng Jingzhou and Man Gu are busy grilling skewers. They couldn't pull themselves away." Tang Yunsheng then placed special emphasis on introducing the seven high-ranking members of the Immortal Cult, including the two Vice Cult Masters, Liu and Gao, as well as five elders and guest elders. Tang Yunsheng was in charge of liaison work and would not be entering the Dao Seeking Sect this time. With his Nascent Soul stage cultivation, he wouldn't make the slightest splash in the Dao Seeking Sect, so there was no need to bring him along. Lu Yang instructed his seven subordinates, "To our Immortal Cult, the Dao Seeking Sect is a dragon's pool and a tiger's den, exceptionally dangerous. I must ask you seven lords to strictly follow my instructions. If anything goes awry, not one of us will have a burial ground!" The seven of them frowned. Taking orders from a Foundation Establishment cultivator went against their instincts, but thinking about how visitors in a mental asylum had to listen to the guide to avoid being attacked by psychiatric patients, they let it go. "Lead the way." Seeing the Acting Sect Master leading people inside, the disciples guarding the gate did not stop them and let them straight through. Vice Cult Master Liu was thoroughly astonished. Gaining entry to the Dao Seeking Sect was that easy? Lu Yang smiled and explained, "Disciples of the Dao Seeking Sect often come over to eat skewers at our place. Over time, we got acquainted. When I have business, they generally don't give me a hard time." Vice Cult Master Liu patted Lu Yang's shoulder. "To think you could blend in so well with the people of the Dao Seeking Sect—that's something countless cultivators couldn't pull off even if they went crazy. Well done. A pity your cultivation level is too low right now; otherwise, I would promote you no matter what!" Lu Yang thought to himself, *If I get promoted again, I'll be the Cult Founder.* *Wait, what is a Cult Founder anyway? Isn't it just the founder of the cult? Since I revived the Immortal Fairy and gave the Immortal Cult an actual object of faith, that is precisely the work of a Cult Founder!* Lu Yang felt that becoming the Cult Founder was entirely logical, legitimate, and justified. Besides, he wouldn't need to vie for the position with the fake Cult Master of the Immortal Cult. Now, the hierarchy of the Immortal Cult was crystal clear: at the very top was the Immortal Fairy, followed by Cult Founder Lu Yang, and only then came minor figures like the Cult Master and Vice Cult Masters. Considering the Immortal Fairy was already a guest elder of the Dao Seeking Sect and the temporary Acting Sect Master for three days, viewing the Immortal Cult as a branch of the Dao Seeking Sect wouldn't be improper either. Having made it inside the Dao Seeking Sect, Vice Cult Master Liu and the others were filled with curiosity, but they did not dare release their spiritual senses, only daring to observe with their naked eyes. Along the way, their hearts pounded with fear, terrified that someone from the Dao Seeking Sect would notice something amiss. Fortunately, the worrying things had already occurred long ago; worrying now was far too late. At the Martial Arts Square, the first match of the Golden Core group had begun. Representing the Dao Seeking Sect was Senior Brother Luo Hai, who had once been challenged across cultivation realms by the Immortal Fairy. Senior Brother Luo Hai specialized in water-attribute spells, and his opponent was the same. As the two clashed, waves collided and tides roared relentlessly, the sheer scale of the battle completely belying the Golden Core stage. "We're here. This is it—our stronghold!" Lu Yang arrived at a barbecue shop where a large signboard read "One More Time." This shop had been arranged well in advance by Dai Bufan. Previously managed by others, it was temporarily handed over to Lu Yang's trio for the exchange event. Man Gu was lighting the fire and grilling skewers with practiced ease. Only a scattering of customers occupied the spacious shop. Other shops in the area were also just opening for business. The contest between the Dao Seeking Sect and the Five Elements Sect covered four major groups. So far, only the Foundation Establishment group had finished. The other three groups featured longer fights, remarkable methods and strategies, and far greater spectacle, which was what truly drew crowds to the exchange meet. Therefore, the shops all chose this time to open for business. "Greetings, Vice Cult Master..." Man Gu put down his work and started to salute, but Vice Cult Master Liu stopped him. "We are deep in the dragon's pool and tiger's den. Keep all formalities simple." "Yes. Lords, please take a seat." Man Gu invited them to sit. "Where is Meng Jingzhou?" Lu Yang looked around and didn't spot him anywhere. "Oh, Brother Meng said he went to look around the other shops to see how their business is doing, and whether we need to adjust our strategy." Lu Yang frowned. He was just about to berate Meng Jingzhou for slacking off—how could he be distracted by trivial matters when the Immortal Cult's success or failure hung on this single endeavor? Vice Cult Master Liu stopped Lu Yang. "Come now, there's no need to be angry. As the saying goes, in acting, one must see the play through to the end. Little Meng's actions fit those of a barbecue shop clerk. It's understandable." Vice Cult Master Liu continued, "Still, it will be hard to coordinate with someone missing. Little Man, go bring Meng Jingzhou back. The three of you know the Dao Seeking Sect best, so we should plan our next move together." "Yes!" Man Gu trotted out of the barbecue shop. Before leaving, Man Gu said, "By the way, Brother Lu, someone placed an advance order for our skewers. They're almost done grilling. Remember to deliver them." "All right." Lu Yang took over Man Gu's task and continued grilling the skewers over the rack with seasoned movements, looking every bit like a veteran worker who had been doing it for thirty years. Vice Cult Master Liu nodded. Lu Yang's technique was standard, not much different from what he himself had learned. Once they were grilled, Lu Yang said, "Please wait a moment, my lords. I'll go deliver the order." "Hold on, where are you going? I'll send someone to deliver it for you," Vice Cult Master Liu stopped Lu Yang. Once Lu Yang left, only the seven of them would remain in the barbecue shop. Lu Yang pointed toward the distant spectator stands. "It was ordered by the big shots on the stands." Vice Cult Master Liu was rendered speechless. Up on the spectator stands were the high-ranking figures of the Dao Seeking Sect and the Five Elements Sect, all of them at Body Integration. If they went over to deliver food, their identities could easily be exposed. "Go, go! Make it quick!" Vice Cult Master Liu waved his hand. Lu Yang grabbed the food container and hurried out. Not long after Lu Yang left, a pure and beautiful young woman noticed the place. "Huh, Try Again Barbecue Shop? What an interesting name. Hey, you guys, you've got business! Give me twenty mutton skewers. If they taste good, I'll order more!" It was none other than Shangguan Yu.