I Have An Infinite Cultivation Resource
Chapter 64: Identity
"Since Dongfang Bubai possesses such methods, the more we wait and search, the more passive we become." Huo Chuan swept his gaze over the crowd and said, "It just so happens that all of you are here. When Venerable Wu went into seclusion, he said that if anything happened, we should decide it together. Now the timing is perfect."
Venerable Wu was Wu Tong's grandfather. He managed the entire Deep Literary Pavilion and was also one of the few peak masters of the Verdant Cloud Sect.
"Let's review what Dongfang Bubai has done."
Huo Chuan took out a crystal-clear jade from his storage artifact. Gradually, mist spread out from the jade, and images began appearing within the haze.
"First, Dongfang Bubai sent people to our Myriad Talismans Pavilion to gather information. Then, using a secret method to bypass the tomb's restrictions, she entered the tomb and stole the ancient map. After that, she arranged for Hu Da, who already had training, to join the Deep Literary Pavilion during the expanded recruitment."
Every time Huo Chuan spoke a sentence, corresponding images appeared in the mist.
"What does this prove? It proves that Dongfang Bubai understands the ancient map and formations extremely well. She even knew that one of the ancient maps was in our possession and has been steadily approaching us to seize it."
"Rather than guarding against a thief for a thousand days, it's better to lure the enemy into a trap."
Huo Chuan spoke solemnly:
"We already know that behind each ancient map lies a map, and each map corresponds to a secret realm. Only by solving all the secret realms can one assemble the complete Jade Toad Swallows the Moon Technique. Once someone masters this technique, they will face no bottlenecks on their cultivation path. As long as their resources are sufficient, they can devour their way all the way to the Tribulation Transcendence realm, directly contend with the heavens, survive the heavenly tribulation, and ascend."
"Everyone here knows that the ancient map we possess has long been deciphered. The location of the secret realm has been investigated nearly a hundred times. The reason we haven't explored it is because this secret realm allows entry but forbids exit. Moreover, it constantly devours the spiritual energy of those who enter. If the formation's core cannot be broken, even a Divine Transformation realm cultivator who enters will eventually have their lifespan drained away."
"Since Dongfang Bubai could decipher the inheritance tomb, perhaps she can also find the formation core of this secret realm and break it. So we might as well leak the news—say that we've discovered a secret realm and are preparing to send disciples inside for training. Since Dongfang Bubai can decipher the ancient map, she will certainly deduce that this secret realm is related to it and will definitely go."
"The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind."
"This secret realm does not restrict cultivation levels. Even though Venerable Wu is in seclusion, the ten of us Golden Core cultivators together are more than enough to surround and kill Dongfang Bubai."
Huo Chuan's eyes gleamed with malice.
He had long coveted the Jade Toad Swallows the Moon Technique. Originally, he had planned to obtain the ancient map through the blood sacrifice of the inheritance tomb and use that merit to receive Venerable Wu's personal instruction. But Dongfang Bubai had disrupted everything.
This time, he planned to make up for his failure, solve the new secret realm, and seize Dongfang Bubai's ancient map as well.
"Elder Huo," one of the nine Golden Core cultivators said hesitantly, "Dongfang Bubai has accomplices. What if she calls a group of helpers as well?"
The nine Golden Core cultivators hesitated. Having long grown accustomed to comfortable lives, they couldn't even firmly decide on something as basic as surrounding and killing Dongfang Bubai.
A bunch of useless trash.
Huo Chuan snorted inwardly but forced himself to explain patiently:
"This will be a sect trial. We'll gather all the disciples who sign up together and place them under supervision before sending them directly into the secret realm. We won't give her time to prepare. As long as only we know the entrance and move quickly enough, she won't have time to call for reinforcements."
"That makes sense."
"Good idea."
"Elder Huo truly plans brilliantly!"
The nine Golden Core cultivators all voiced their praise. But less than a minute later, someone raised another doubt:
"What if Dongfang Bubai also cannot break the formation? Wouldn't we become nourishment for the secret realm as well, drained dry of spiritual energy?"
Huo Chuan finally couldn't help but sigh.
"On the path of cultivation, we fight the heavens for our fate. If you don't dare to do this and don't dare to do that, how can you ever achieve immortality?"
Seeing the uneasy expressions on their faces, Huo Chuan reluctantly added:
"I've already left a message for Venerable Wu. As long as we bring enough storage artifacts and endure within the secret realm, we'll be fine. If the formation cannot be broken after a long time, Venerable Wu will come out of seclusion. Even if it means destroying the secret realm, he will rescue us."
Hearing that Venerable Wu would serve as their backup plan, the others finally relaxed and agreed to Huo Chuan's scheme.
After the nine Golden Core cultivators left, Huo Chuan kicked over a chair in the hall.
"Damn it. To think I must associate with such ants."
Within the Verdant Cloud Sect, cultivators roughly fell into two types.
One type had climbed up from the bottom. These people possessed firm Dao hearts and fought the heavens for their fate. They followed their own paths and would never associate with people like Huo Chuan or participate in opportunistic schemes.
The other type were cultivators raised comfortably by the sect with abundant resources. These people were used to having everything handed to them and no longer dared to fight the heavens for their fate. They could only cling together for warmth.
And precisely because of this, Huo Chuan was able to control them.
Their Golden Core status and influence could bring Huo Chuan and the Deep Literary Pavilion many benefits, but the drawbacks were also obvious. When it came to real battles, they were completely unreliable.
"Master, I've come up with a few guesses."
Seeing that the outsiders had all left, Wu Tong finished cleaning up Zhou Lei's corpse and then spoke quietly. "I've discovered some clues about Dongfang Bubai's identity."
"Oh?" Huo Chuan raised an eyebrow.
Seeing that Huo Chuan didn't quite believe him, Wu Tong straightened his chest and proudly explained:
"When I was investigating Hu Ke's cause of death together with Han Tian from the Law Enforcement Hall, I discovered a few clues. Now that Zhou Lei has also been controlled, I'm about ninety percent certain."
Walking over to the jade in front of Huo Chuan, Wu Tong tapped it lightly. The mist shifted and changed images according to his will.
"Master, after thinking about it for a long time, I believe the person with the most deeply hidden identity in the sect is Dongfang Bubai."
"Blowing up the Myriad Talismans Pavilion, and Hu Da joining the recruitment—those were merely distractions meant to divert our attention. The real Dongfang Bubai had already infiltrated the sect long ago."
"She hid herself well at first. But nothing in the world can stay hidden forever. Let's reason it out step by step."
"First, when the inheritance tomb opened, she definitely wasn't inside the Verdant Cloud Sect."
Wu Tong's eyes gleamed brightly.
"If she suddenly left, it would surely arouse suspicion. So she must already have had an excuse—something that would justify her not living in the sect for long periods of time, giving her freedom to move around."
"Second, whether it was the deceased Hu Ke or the puppet Zhou Lei, they both share a common characteristic."
Wu Tong continued:
"Hu Ke once went to Lu You to extort money from him. Because of that, the communication talisman belonging to Gu Jingtan ended up in Hu Ke's hands. Zhou Lei, meanwhile, delivered a letter to Lu You but embezzled some Qi-Nourishing Pills. Their shared trait is that both of them had contact with Lu You."
"So you're saying Dongfang Bubai is Lu You? That useless fellow who couldn't even defeat Hu Da despite holding a treasured artifact?" Huo Chuan frowned.
"No, that trash could never be Dongfang Bubai." Wu Tong chuckled. "But his roommate is a cultivator named Lu Xiao'e!"
"This Lu Xiao'e is a woman and also a sword cultivator, yet she joined the Deep Literary Pavilion. She claims that her family lives down the mountain and that she often returns there to stay. I checked—when the inheritance tomb opened, Lu Xiao'e just happened to be off the mountain."
"Hu Ke went to her courtyard and was controlled. Zhou Lei also went to her courtyard and ended up being controlled."
"And most importantly, after Lu Xiao'e joined the sect, all the sect task talismans she submitted were either bought or snatched from others. She never drew them herself. Why would she do that?"
Huo Chuan froze for a moment before blurting out:
"She's afraid we would discover that the talismans she draws are identical to those from the Myriad Talismans Pavilion or the ancient tomb!"
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