At that moment, Dai Bufan wished he could emulate the Abbot of the Hanging Temple and subdue this little beast Lu Yang just like the abbot had subdued Daoist Buyu.
So you didn't go undercover in the Immortal Cult after all—you went there for advanced studies?!
"Wait, wait, wait! Senior Brother Dai, it's not what you think!" Seeing signs that Dai Bufan was about to explode, Lu Yang hurriedly yelled that it was all a misunderstanding.
This was a Body Integration senior brother, after all; even the Invincible Core urged Lu Yang to hurry up and commit suicide to preserve his win rate.
Lu Yang automatically blocked the Invincible Core's advice.
"Out with it, then. What's the situation?" Dai Bufan told the three to come clean.
"It's like this: we ran into three female ghosts in Guhuai Town. As it turns out, the Nine Nether Cult had placed soul restrictions on them. To gain the Nine Nether Cult's trust, we claimed to be ancient geniuses from the Heavenly Court Cult, and even said we found Qin Haoran's reincarnation..."
Dai Bufan: "..."
You two can really spin a yarn.
If he hadn't known the kind of people Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou were, even he would have believed that there truly was an ancient Heavenly Court, and that Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou were revived ancient geniuses seeking to rebuild it.
Subconsciously, he ruled out Li Haoran. Knowing Li Haoran, he was merely an actor dragged along for the ride.
If even he was close to believing it, the Nine Nether Cult would certainly fall for it.
Although it came as a surprise that the Nine Nether Cult mistook Qin Yanyan for Qin Haoran's reincarnation, it didn't affect the big picture.
"So what do you need me to do?"
"Here's the thing. Our Heavenly Court Cult is pretty short-handed right now—there are only four of us—and we lack someone who can intimidate the Nine Nether Cult. I'd like to ask you for help, Senior Brother Dai, to find us another member for the Heavenly Court Cult."
"Hey, Lu Yang! As the Supreme Grand Heavenly Venerable, can this Immortal not even intimidate a mere Nine Nether Cult?" In the spiritual space, the Immortal Fairy put on a haughty look.
When Lu Yang was concocting the Heavenly Court Cult, he had consulted the Immortal Fairy numerous times. Not only had she offered many constructive suggestions, helping him flesh out the cult's history and doctrine, but she had also emphatically advised him to place her position at the very top.
Thus, Lu Yang had replaced the original Yun Tianzun with Dou Tianzun.
Hopefully, Eldest Senior Sister wouldn't mind.
Facing the Immortal Fairy, Lu Yang said with a grave face, "Fairy, as the Supreme Grand Heavenly Venerable, how could you easily take action yourself? It would diminish your majesty."
The Immortal Fairy felt this made sense and stopped fussing.
Dai Bufan gave it some thought. Lu Yang's nominal master was still languishing in prison and couldn't get away.
As for Lu Yang's actual master, Dai Bufan didn't dare order her around.
Meng Jingzhou's master, the Third Elder, had plenty of cultivation, but not enough brains, making him unsuited for this affair.
"The Fifth Elder could help you."
The Fifth Elder had a steady temperament, sufficient cultivation, and was Li Haoran's master—the ideal candidate for the job.
After the three left, Dai Bufan called over the senior brother on duty at the front desk.
"Regarding the three female ghosts mentioned in Lu Yang's mission: once they've been vetted and if there are no problems, bring all three directly to the Dao Seeking Sect."
Dai Bufan was concerned that members of the Nine Nether Cult might be keeping tabs on the ghosts in secret. If they sent someone to probe them and discovered that the ghosts had been registered with the Dao Seeking Sect, things would turn ugly.
Bringing the three female ghosts to the Dao Seeking Sect was the safest solution.
"Lu Yang and the others are still young, after all."
...
"What? You're Junior Brother Li's former daughter?" Listening to Qin Yanyan explain her identity, Tao Yaoye and Man Gu felt their eyes had been truly opened.
Putting aside the fact that Junior Brother Li was the former cult master of the Nine Nether Cult, how could someone as young as him already have a daughter older than himself?
Even in the Dao Seeking Sect, this was utterly outrageous.
"Hurry, tell us! What do you call Junior Brother Li? And after leaving his hometown, how did you end up coming to the Dao Seeking Sect?" Tao Yaoye's face practically radiated gossip; she was dying to know every detail.
Qin Yanyan felt rather overwhelmed by Tao Yaoye's enthusiastic barrage of questions. Fortunately, Lu Yang's voice cut in, breaking Tao Yaoye's interrogation.
"Junior Sister Tao, Junior Brother Man, you two formed your cores?" Lu Yang was somewhat surprised to see Tao Yaoye and Man Gu. Their speed of Core Formation wasn't slow at all.
Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou subconsciously glanced at Li Haoran: You're the only one left who hasn't formed a core.
"Get lost, all of you! I'm accumulating strength for a greater breakthrough!" Li Haoran retorted with a dark face.
Tao Yaoye revealed a sly smile. "It's all thanks to Senior Brother Lu and Senior Brother Meng. Having your Core Formation experiences paved the way and gave Junior Brother Man and me great inspiration."
"What kind of Golden Cores did you form?"
Man Gu was just about to answer when Tao Yaoye raised a hand to stop him. "Senior Brother Lu, it's been a long time since we sparred. Rather than just asking what Golden Cores we formed, why don't we settle it on the arena stage and see if you can guess?"
"Sounds good," Lu Yang said with a smile. Ever since forming his core, he hadn't fought anyone yet.
"Then I'll fight you, Junior Brother Man will fight Senior Brother Meng, and Junior Brother Li can watch." Tao Yaoye had already planned out the matchups.
Meng Jingzhou grew a bit excited. After fighting opponents well above his realm every day, it was high time he fought fellow geniuses of the same level. "To the arena, then?"
"To the arena!"
Splitting into pairs, they leaped onto separate arena platforms.
This move piqued the interest of many Dao Seeking Sect disciples, especially those from the same cohort as Lu Yang. The four on the platforms were their idols.
"Who will win?" Qin Yanyan asked her former father, deeply curious.
Li Haoran rolled his eyes. "Who knows? Either way, I'm not qualified to join."
Li Haoran felt this made no sense. As the reincarnation of a mighty figure, shouldn't he be the number one among the younger generation?
On second thought, aside from leaving him an unrelated mother-daughter pair, that scoundrel Qin Haoran had left him nothing but cringe-worthy memories of a past life.
Qin Haoran, are your memories full of nothing but ways to resolve the Nine Nether Cult's deficit crisis? Not a single one about fortuitous encounters?!
"Rather than asking who will win, it is better to see with your own eyes," a calm voice came from behind Qin Yanyan.
Qin Yanyan turned her head in curiosity, only to find a woman as cold as frost standing behind her. Aloof and proud, possessing breathtaking beauty, she seemed unapproachable like a frigid snow-capped mountain. Her long black hair cascaded like a waterfall down to her waist, and she wore elegant cloud-patterned robes. Every movement carried an effortless grace, like an immortal from the heavens.
Qin Yanyan had always believed her mother was the peak of worldly beauty; she never imagined someone could be even more stunning than her mother.
"Elder Sister, who are you?"
Hearing Eldest Senior Sister's voice, cold sweat instinctively broke out across Li Haoran's body. He hastily turned his head to see that perpetually expressionless face.
Though he had done nothing wrong, Li Haoran couldn't help but feel terrified whenever he faced Eldest Senior Sister. "El-Eldest Senior Sister, you're back."
"Mm. Finished my business and just returned," Eldest Senior Sister replied, leaving Li Haoran at a total loss for how to carry on the conversation.
Forget it, don't overthink. Just watch the fights, Li Haoran thought silently.
Yun Zhi had brought back the Immortal Fairy's kitchen and was on her way to find her when she heard that the four disciples were sparring in the arenas.
It wouldn't hurt to watch.
Chapter 311