Chu Xingchen slightly raised his hand, using his spiritual power to draw the crystal toward him while summoning Wanban in its embroidery needle form.
For objects tainted by rules, using Wanban to verify would be more convenient.
In some ways, it seemed as though Wanban had been born precisely for this purpose.
Wanban coiled around the crystal for a moment before radiating a piercing light, intending to destroy it.
Chu Xingchen didn’t manipulate it with spiritual power but simply gestured slightly to express his stance. Instantly, Wanban froze in place, trembling faintly as if restraining itself with great effort before returning to his hand.
"My speculation isn’t far off—it’s likely that some rules have fallen into the hands of demons," Chu Xingchen remarked as he withdrew Wanban. "Under what circumstances was this thing found?"
Bai Xuanling lifted his gaze and answered, "I know a bit about this. Remember the group of demons Bai Qing captured in the Eastern Victory Divine Continent? Aside from following the Buddhist lead, we never abandoned the other trail there."
"Pursuing the clues led us to a large number of bizarre, scattered factions of demonic cultivators, all connected by this one thread."
"We cast a wide net, but in the end, only managed to catch a few deluded demonic cultivators who had been fooled by this thing. They were all interrogated—you know the Tianyan Sect’s ultimate methods, half of which were devised by you. They knew nothing, believing only that this was a heaven-sent opportunity. They thought that by deciphering or absorbing it, they could ascend to immortality and dominate the world."
At this point, Bai Xuanling suddenly scoffed. "Leaving aside everything else, if this thing truly had such miraculous effects, why would it ever fall into the hands of those demonic cultivators?"
"If a thousand years of cultivation can’t compare to a mere fragment of the Dao, then what’s the point of calling it 'treading the heavens'? If that’s the case, immortality isn’t worth pursuing."
Chu Xingchen glanced sideways at Yanyun. "So, why have you called me here? Is there something you need me to handle personally?"
Yanyun nodded lightly. "The Tianyan Sect’s influence in the Eastern Victory Divine Continent is limited. Our last operation also drew dissatisfaction from other immortal sects. Officially, we claimed to be investigating demons, but in the end, we only exposed demonic cultivators. Naturally, our explanation didn’t satisfy them."
"Behind the scenes, they might suspect that the Tianyan Sect is trying to overreach, leveraging its dual-core disciples to extend its reach where it shouldn’t."
"Once suspicion takes root, no matter how righteous and transparent our actions, others will assume we’re scheming something underhanded."
"You’re said to be on good terms with Daoist Yuyang of the Taidao Sect. If we can leverage their resources, that would be ideal. If not, we’re willing to disclose our intentions to Daoist Yuyang—at the very least, we must ensure Tianyan Sect members can investigate."
Chu Xingchen didn’t immediately agree but instead countered, "Wouldn’t it be better for Sect Leader Lü and the Taidao Sect’s leader to discuss this? Operating in the shadows feels too passive."
"Because formal negotiations have stalled," Yanyun sighed. "Sometimes, a few private words between allies achieve far more than grand discussions between major sects."
"This isn’t a matter of exchanging benefits. Acting through your identity might simplify things, at least demonstrating that the Tianyan Sect has no intention of interfering in the Eastern Victory Divine Continent’s affairs."
Chu Xingchen gave a slight nod, accepting Yanyun’s reasoning, then asked,
"Are there any remaining leads to follow? Or are you sending me out blind with a broken fishing rod?"
Yanyun retrieved a pale blue jade stone. "We have undercover agents there, though they don’t know they’re directly controlled by the Tianyan Sect. We’ve used a proxy faction to manage them."
"The aftermath of that investigation caused quite a stir, and the Tianyan Sect hasn’t collected intelligence directly from there in some time. But recently, critical clues surfaced—it’d be a shame not to pursue them. We wouldn’t have called you if not for these troubled times. With so much happening, we’d rather avoid unnecessary complications."
Chu Xingchen stood up with a hint of exasperation, summoning the pale blue jade from Yanyun’s hand.
"You’ve already planted spies everywhere, yet you complain about others being suspicious. After all that talk, I almost believed the Tianyan Sect was truly immaculate."
Yanyun also rose, her tone calm as she replied,
"An immaculate sect wouldn’t be one of the Eighteen Immortal Sects. Besides, they have their own spies in the Southern Continent. If we’re all the same shade, doesn’t that make us immaculate in another sense?"
Chu Xingchen stretched lazily. "Fine, fine, you’re right. Congratulations on redefining the meaning of 'immaculate,' establishing an equivalence that elevates its usage to new heights."
Yanyun gave him a puzzled look. His words were oddly roundabout, half-spoken—but even without thinking, she knew they weren’t complimentary.
Still, compared to his past provocations, in Yanyun’s eyes, Chu Xingchen now seemed almost amiable.
She ignored the remark and asked directly, "So, you agree?"
"Mm." Chu Xingchen nodded lightly. "Where do I meet the contact?"
Yanyun exhaled in relief. Ever since Ling Yu persuaded him with that cup of wine, his attitude had improved significantly. She quickly answered,
"Eastern Victory Divine Continent, outside Yaoguang Immortal City, in the Yuhua Ravine."
"Once you arrive, just present the jade I gave you. Your codename is Jiuxuan. From then on, you’ll command all Tianyan Sect spies and undercover agents in the Eastern Victory Divine Continent."
"If you encounter any unsolvable problems or life-threatening situations, contact the Tianyan Sect immediately. No matter the circumstances, we’ll spare no cost to aid you."
Chu Xingchen acknowledged with a nod before walking over to Bai Xuanling.
Bai Xuanling remained seated, lifting his gaze slightly. "Do you need me to do something for you?"
"Just one thing." Chu Xingchen retrieved a pill bottle from his spatial ring and placed it before Bai Xuanling. "You’re not as carefree as you used to be—clearly, you’re unwell."
"Bitter medicine cures best. Remember to take it on time. The Elder’s seat is still reserved for you."
A faint smile crossed Bai Xuanling’s face as he flicked his white robe sleeve, his tone suddenly brighter.
"Since when do you give me orders? Fine, go handle your business—just don’t mess up and force me to clean up after you."
Chu Xingchen clasped his hands in farewell. "Don’t worry."
With that, he strode out of the hall and vanished in a streak of light.
Yanyun watched him leave before turning a concerned gaze to Bai Xuanling.
"Elder Bai, your mood has improved, but your mind isn’t fully at ease yet. This isn’t such a pressing matter—you didn’t need to come in person."
Bai Xuanling shook his head. "That boy’s sharp. If I hadn’t come today, who knows what he’d imagine? He might’ve even thought I was on death’s door."
As he spoke, Bai Xuanling seemed to recall something and asked,
"Have you arranged everything I mentioned?"
Yanyun replied solemnly, "Rest assured, nothing has been overlooked."
"Good." Bai Xuanling picked up the elixir vial from the table and walked out,
"Strive harder to become the sect leader sooner. Who knows—you might even surpass your master, Sect Leader Lü, in leadership."