Can't Catch Fish Then Pump Water and Use Electricity at the Same Time

"Is this the elite force under your command?"

Outside Qulin City, a young man stood before five Qi Refinement cultivators and two Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Setting aside Chu Xingchen's thoughts for the moment, even Xie Lingyu's gaze toward the young man carried a chill.

There was no doubt—anyone with half a brain could tell the young man was blatantly feigning compliance while undermining orders.

Chu Xingchen swept his eyes over the group, his gaze settling on the young man’s face, which bore an expression of pure innocence, as if he were utterly sincere. He demanded sharply:

"Is this everyone you have?!"

The young man looked slightly aggrieved. "I’ve halted all other tasks and gathered every available person. This is truly all I have."

Chu Xingchen let out a cold laugh. "Where’s that dark-skinned farmer from last time?"

"That man is my friend, not my subordinate," the young man replied respectfully, clasping his hands. "Last time, he only helped as a favor. Since this concerns the Dark Crow Sect Leader’s secrets, it wouldn’t be appropriate to involve outsiders."

"But rest assured, Envoy, every person here is a cultivator willing to lay down their lives. Any mission, no matter how perilous—we will charge into the flames without hesitation. I am no exception."

The young man spoke with righteous fervor, his eyes meeting Chu Xingchen’s with unwavering sincerity.

Never mind whether my forces are strong or not—what matters is they’re expendable. You can send them to their deaths however you please.

And don’t ask what use these worthless fools are even in death. Useless or not, they’ll die in your name.

Chu Xingchen roughly grasped the young man’s intentions. Behind that youthful face likely lurked the mind of a seasoned schemer.

After all, only adults insisted on having it both ways.

Not that it was surprising. If these so-called [demons], skulking in the shadows and plotting to overturn the world, were truly so foolish as to be lured out so easily, they would’ve long been devoured by the Buddhist sects.

This man was probably operating on the principle that any information was a bonus—if there was none, death was just death.

Rather than trusting the Black Crow’s direct orders, he was gambling his life for intelligence.

Time passed slowly. Chu Xingchen watched calmly as the young man remained bowed, hands clasped, as if prepared to hold the posture indefinitely until spoken to.

After a moment, Xie Lingyu also glanced at Chu Xingchen in silent inquiry.

Chu Xingchen had already scanned the group with his [Terms], confirming they were merely human demonic cultivators—pawns the young man had scraped together as filler.

Chu Xingchen spoke deliberately. "Let me confirm one last time—everyone under your command is here, with no one else unaccounted for?"

"Envoy, that is correct."

The young man straightened, meeting Chu Xingchen’s gaze without flinching, as if trying to convey his sincerity through sheer eye contact.

Chu Xingchen’s tone turned pointed. "In that case, any other cultivators—even demonic ones—we encounter during our operation will have no ties to the sect, and we’re free to eliminate them?"

"Naturally," the young man replied earnestly. "Unless the Envoy doubts my commitment?"

Chu Xingchen snorted. "Doubt is the Sect Leader’s concern. My task is simply to report everything I hear and see—unfiltered."

The young man ignored the sarcasm in Chu Xingchen’s voice.

"Understood. However, as a deputy hall master, sect regulations grant me the right to an audience with the Dark Crow Sect Leader. Might the Envoy arrange it?"

Chu Xingchen replied flatly, "Complete your mission, and the Sect Leader will see you."

The young man dropped the request and instead asked,

"Now that my forces are assembled, what task does the Envoy assign?"

"A group of demonic cultivators in Jinggu Forest are causing trouble. Their leader is a Blood Qi demonic cultivator at the Nascent Soul stage. In three days, gather your men and wait outside the forest for further orders. Reinforcements will be sent." Chu Xingchen’s gaze swept over the young man, his voice laced with mockery as he added,

"Though with your early-stage Divine Transformation strength, you alone should suffice. No need to waste your followers’ lives pointlessly."

The young man clasped his hands again, his tone unruffled. "As you command."

Chu Xingchen gave a slight nod, then flashed a faint, inscrutable smile before turning away with Xie Lingyu.

The young man watched their retreating figures vanish into the distance, his expression calm.

"Jinggu Forest…?" he murmured, a trace of puzzlement crossing his face. "Could it really be a coincidence?"

The Blood Qi demonic cultivators in Jinggu Forest were undoubtedly the newly emerged faction Donggua had begun dealing with.

Donggua’s initial attempt had reportedly failed, but instead of eliminating them outright, he’d chosen to recruit them personally—suggesting their abilities and purity had impressed him.

Given Donggua’s involvement, recruitment was more likely than rejection.

If they launched an attack now, it’d be a case of allies clashing blindly. Warning them to flee would risk exposing his own identity.

The young man quickly made his decision.

We’ll suppress them—but not completely, and not the crucial players.

He’d send a letter to Donggua, ensuring key figures escaped while the expendable ones perished.

Yet… this operation likely had ulterior motives.

Could the Dark Crow Sect have detected Donggua’s movements?

Lost in thought, the young man ignored his so-called "elite force" and strode back to his base.

---

In Fuyao Immortal City, Chu Xingchen strolled leisurely toward Fuyao Pavilion with Xie Lingyu in tow.

Noting his relaxed demeanor, Xie Lingyu asked,

"Are you luring him to Jinggu Forest to capture or kill him?"

We cast the net for big fish, but only minnows bit. Catching them feels wasteful, yet letting them go risks empty hands.

Chu Xingchen shook his head. "He’s already resolved to die. Otherwise, no matter the reason, he wouldn’t have half-heartedly paraded those fools—practically spelling out ‘half-hearted’ with their formation."

"Capturing or killing him would be meaningless."

Xie Lingyu frowned. "Then why send him to Li Xingtian’s territory? At early-stage Nascent Soul, he’ll be in danger if we don’t intervene."

"Because tricking him away is about reassuring the remaining fish," Chu Xingchen said, raising a brow. "When the fish won’t bite, I drain the pond and electrocute the water—hook or no hook, I’ll haul them out."

"I’ve no patience for their games. Those schemers are too slippery, and my time’s too valuable to waste."

"Once we return, I’ll have Daoist Yuyang summon a contingent from the Taidao Sect and mobilize our own forces."

"Three days is enough to seal off Qulin City and its surroundings within a hundred-mile radius—tight as a drum."

"The reason the Eighteen Immortal Sects stand atop isn’t their investigative prowess."

"It’s because they’ve got numbers—and they hit hard."

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