Chapter 898: Chapter 38: The Hidden World Buddhist Temple, Pieces of the Sky Patching
Number Eight’s identity was truly impossible to deduce.
The reason was simple: it wasn’t necessarily sothing learned from Ziwei Master—it could very well have been a conjecture.
The top four finishers on the Path to Ascension happened to be Xu, Luo, Ge, and Zhao, the nas of four prominent families. Most would assu Changgeng accepted disciples based on ranking.
But why only the top four, and not the top five or top six?
It wasn’t strange for soone to guess that Ziwei Master had intervened and issued instructions. Yet Wei Dongliu noticed that Number Eight’s tone was unusually certain, not the kind of speculation made without evidence.
He hoped Number Eight might reveal sothing related to Kunlun—this way, he could further narrow down possibilities for their identity—but Number Eight stopped at just the right mont, closing their mouth and saying no more.
Thus, as Number Nine, Wei Dongliu could only begin recounting the work he had completed.
It would’ve been fine had he stayed silent, but as soon as he spoke, the results of everyone else’s efforts paled by comparison.
After all, while so were still “lying in wait,” others were “retreating when trouble cos near,” with Number Three engaged in “settling personal scores,” and Number Four and Number Five having “sacrificed themselves ahead of ti”… Wei Dongliu thought to himself, if he were Daoist Luo, looking at this pile of useless individuals within the sect, he’d probably be half-dead from anger.
Compared to that, Wei Dongliu’s work was outstandingly completed in excess, a clear stream amidst a muddy landslide, forcing everyone to reflect and ponder.
After succinctly finishing his account, he heard Daoist Luo let out a cold laugh and say:
“Number Nine entered the sect the latest and was already a Golden Core Cultivator at the ti. Several fellow disciples privately warned , saying Number Nine’s loyalty and dependability couldn’t be guaranteed.”
“But look at things now—why is it that the so-called ‘loyal cultivators’ nurtured within the sect seem inferior to the ‘outsiders’ you all ntioned before? Can anyone tell why this is?”
The crowd fell silent.
Everyone understood that the Sect Leader was using Number Nine as a tool to reprimand them, yet it was undeniable that Number Nine’s accomplishnts had indeed been solid.
If becoming the Sect Leader of Mortal Life Path was sowhat aided by sect arrangents, then ascending to the position of Six Paths Alliance Leader was truly an extraordinarily difficult task for ordinary people to achieve.
The sects of the Six Paths weren’t stupid. Without sufficient benefits and external enemies, who would willingly form an alliance and follow your commands?
Now look at Wei Dongliu, soone bold enough to challenge a giant like Kunlun, managing to take a bite out of their holdings and retreat unscathed… A leader capable of uniting the Six Paths—what was so unusual about that?
As such, everyone chose to stay silent and obediently endured the Sect Leader’s ridicule and rebuke.
After Daoist Luo concluded his reprimands, he announced the dismissal of the eting.
As Wei Dongliu was about to leave with the others, Daoist Luo called out to him.
“Number Nine.” Daoist Luo paused for a mont before speaking: “There’s a task not within your official duties, but I might need you to lend a hand.”
Wei Dongliu: ……
If it’s not in my scope of responsibilities, then don’t assign it to and make work overti, alright?
Daoist Luo clearly lacked such self-awareness, rely gesturing and saying:
“Number Two, co forward!”
Number Two stepped forward—Wei Dongliu was taken aback. This guy hadn’t already left? Why hadn’t I noticed him at all?
“Number Two has cultivated a Divine Skill,” Daoist Luo explained, “one that makes him go unnoticed by others.”
“However, the skill is yet incomplete and cannot be controlled at will. As a result, while successfully infiltrating the sect, he hasn’t gathered much useful information.”
“Now, among those in the sect, if we weigh ambition, audacity, and capability, you are the most outstanding. After much thought, only you can assist him.”
Wei Dongliu pondered for a long while, realizing refusing wouldn’t be ideal.
Having just excellently wrapped up a mission and earned initial trust from Daoist Luo, declining now would certainly provoke displeasure.
Thus, he opened his mouth and said:
“Do I need to alter my appearance?”
“Naturally,” Daoist Luo replied, waving his hand. “Golden Cicada Temple is a hidden Buddhist monastery; only mbers of the Buddhist sect may enter.”
“I’ll teach you an Illusion Technique. You need to disguise yourself as a sarira monk from Pudu Temple, allowing Number Two to usher you in so you can reside in the temple to cultivate.”
“Understood.” Wei Dongliu thought for a mont and followed up with, “What is the mission objective?”
“Gather as much detailed information about Golden Cicada Temple as possible,” Daoist Luo answered. “Compile and organize the intelligence—the more thorough, the better.”
“Understood.” Wei Dongliu took the Illusion Technique jade slip handed by Daoist Luo.
“Go to the rear hall’s teleportation portal,” Daoist Luo instructed. “The teleportation path you used previously is under maintenance and temporarily unusable.”
Maintenance again? Wei Dongliu was puzzled.
Wasn’t it under maintenance when I ca here last ti? And now it’s undergoing maintenance again? Are these teleportation arrays single-use? If their secrecy is guarded to such extres, this is truly over-the-top.
He followed Number Two to the rear hall, stepped into another teleportation array, and disappeared without a trace.
Amid the spinning of sky and earth, the two arrived in a mountainous region.
The peaks lood fiercely, steep and dramatic in their jagged height, disappearing into the heavens, while clouds stretched endlessly below.
Ancient, gnarled pines clung upside-down to the cliffs, crystal-clear streams wound their way through, with eagles and orioles soaring across the skies, their calls echoing continuously.
Atop the summit stood a Buddhist temple, its architecture exuding an antiquated simplicity. Mud-plastered walls and brass-layered eaves sharply contrasted with the modern trends seen in other temples.
“Brother, th-that… that’s Golden Cicada Temple,” a voice stamred beside him.
Wei Dongliu was startled—soone was beside ?
Then he noticed a humble novice monk, palms pressed to chest, stamring as he spoke:
“Brother is from Pudu Temple… Pudu Temple’s wandering monk, right? This humble monk… this humble monk can arrange introductions. But still, perhaps Brother should alter his appearance first. Amitabha, Amitabha.”
Wei Dongliu instantly understood—this novice monk was Number Two’s hidden operative under Hell Path.
Stepping away from the monk’s view, he retrieved the Illusion Technique jade slip provided by Daoist Luo.
The Illusion Technique was far too rudintary, entirely inferior to Ah Jing’s “Mirror Flower Water Moon.” Wei Dongliu instructed Ah Jing to craft an illusion disguise, transforming him into a tall, slender young monk with a gentle face.
Returning to the novice, who still stood in place chanting Buddha’s na, albeit in a stamr.
“Brother, Brother has finally returned,” the novice muttered, keeping his head low. “Let this humble monk… this humble monk guide Brother back to the temple.”
One after the other, the pair ascended the mountain path.
Wei Dongliu cast his gaze into the distance. The sky held no sun, yet it remained as bright as daylight.
The sea of clouds stretched endlessly, with no other peaks visible in sight.
“Ah Jing,” he quietly called in his heart, “Where exactly is this place?”
“It appears to be a Dwelling Cave Heaven,” Kunlun Mirror replied. “The craft behind constructing this space bears distinctive traits of the Western Cult.”
Wei Dongliu nodded slightly, only to hear Kunlun Mirror suddenly cry out in alarm:
“Guan Shui! I sense the presence of the Heaven-nding Stone!”
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