Chapter 2753: Infiltration

Feng Feng, originally an unaligned cultivator, joined the Heavenly Mystery Sect during a period when it was widely recruiting disciples. He passed the assessment and is now at the early Nascent Soul stage.

The Heavenly Mystery Sect had been in decline for years, but fortunately, with True Monarch Heavenly Mystery's advancement to the Integration stage, the sect began to prosper and thrive.

Luo Xiangyun secured the Forbidden God Stone mine and sent people to set up defensive formations, also dispatching disciples for patrol. Feng Feng was one of these disciples.

Honestly, Feng Feng wasn't keen on this assignment. At other Heavenly Mystery Sect outposts, patrolling might be tedious and offer fewer benefits, but it wasn't dangerous.

Now, both the Wang Family and the Heavenly Mystery Sect had suffered heavy casualties, including fallen Void Refinement cultivators, in their struggle for this Forbidden God Stone mine. The Wang Family would undoubtedly send more forces to reclaim it. At that point, patrolling disciples would be highly vulnerable to attack. To put it bluntly, their patrol duty was akin to being on the front lines.

Despite his reluctance, Feng Feng had no choice but to accept the assignment.

Feng Feng's face was full of vigilance, and his expression was tense.

"Someone's coming, be careful," he warned, looking into the distance.

A golden streak of light appeared on the distant horizon, swiftly flying towards their position.

Feng Feng and the other patrolling disciples were on high alert, some even pulling out communication talismans, ready to immediately alert their sect elders if they detected anything unusual.

Soon, the golden streak of light halted, revealing a dazzling golden flying boat. A tall young man in a golden robe stood aboard, his face pale and his aura weakened.

"Senior Brother Li, where are Senior Sister Lin and the others?"

Seeing the golden-robed young man, Feng Feng breathed a sigh of relief.

The golden-robed young man was Li Tianshuo, who had grown up within the Heavenly Mystery Sect. Unlike disciples like Feng Feng who joined later, Li Tianshuo was considered a "home-grown" disciple with extensive connections.

"We were pursuing Wang Family cultivators when we unexpectedly encountered their reinforcements," Li Tianshuo explained. "Senior Sister Lin and the others were killed. The Wang Family cultivators were too powerful; we were no match. I fought desperately to break through their encirclement. I have crucial information to report to Senior Uncle Luo. You all must heighten your vigilance; the Wang Family might attack at any moment. I'm going to report to Senior Uncle Luo now."

The golden-robed young man's voice was weak, and his expression anxious.

Before Feng Feng could reply, Li Tianshuo formed a hand seal, and the golden flying boat glowed brightly, accelerating its flight towards the depths of the Thunder Dove Mountain Range.

Feng Feng said nothing, as Li Tianshuo indeed had no obligation to report to him.

The patrolling disciples proceeded with caution, their hearts pounding, dreading a sudden attack from Wang Family cultivators.

Along the way, Li Tianshuo encountered numerous Heavenly Mystery Sect disciples. After a few cursory questions, they allowed him to pass.

Since Li Tianshuo knew them all and claimed to have vital intelligence for Luo Xiangyun, the other disciples naturally didn't obstruct him. Besides, with eight Void Refinement cultivators stationed there, what disturbance could he possibly cause, even if he were a defector?

Deep within the Thunder Dove Mountain Range lay a massive valley, enclosed on three sides by mountains. Within it stood a teal palace over ten zhang tall, constantly shimmering with spiritual light, surrounded by several temporarily erected courtyards and pavilions.

Inside the teal palace, Luo Xiangyun, Leng Feng, and eight other Void Refinement cultivators were gravely discussing military strategy.

Their reconnaissance had revealed a medium-sized Forbidden God Stone mine deep underground, valued at billions of spirit stones. With systematic excavation, it could be exploited for thousands of years. However, the Forbidden God Stone was located over a hundred thousand zhang below the surface, making extraction extremely challenging.

"Nearly half a month has passed; the Wang Family cultivators should have arrived by now!" Leng Feng said in a deep voice. "I hope Venerable Green Lotus Sword is leading them." The Wang Family had several Void Refinement stage sword cultivators, with Venerable Green Lotus Sword being the most renowned. He personally hoped for a confrontation with him.

"So many years have passed; True Monarch Four Seas should have advanced to the Void Refinement stage by now!" A burly man in a red shirt, his face alight with battle intent, spoke with excitement. "I hope to exchange blows with him." This was Lü Xiong, a body cultivator and one of the Heavenly Mystery Sect's most promising disciples. The True Monarch Four Seas he referred to was Wang Yuanjiang, who had risen to fame at a young age. After becoming an enforcement elder, Wang Yuanjiang frequently traveled to investigate cases, earning a considerable reputation.

"Among the Wang Family's Void Refinement cultivators, True Monarch Purple Cloud and Venerable Green Lotus Sword are the most formidable," Luo Xiangyun stated. "The other Void Refinement cultivators are not as renowned." Luo Xiangyun's willow-like brows furrowed as she cautioned, "Don't underestimate them. According to reliable intelligence, several of the Wang Family's Void Refinement cultivators are ascended beings who have emerged from a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood. They are not to be trifled with."

Just then, a respectful male voice sounded from outside: "Disciple Li Tianshuo, I have an urgent matter to report to Senior Uncle Luo."

"Come in, Senior Nephew Li," Luo Xiangyun instructed.

Li Tianshuo entered, his expression respectful.

"You've been missing for almost half a month. Where have you been? Why did it take you so long to return?" Luo Xiangyun asked, her voice tinged with suspicion. Some of the Heavenly Mystery Sect's Nascent Soul cultivators who had pursued the Wang Family cultivators had already returned, but others remained missing, their fates unknown.

"I, along with Senior Sister Lin and the others, pursued Wang Family cultivators," Li Tianshuo explained. "On the way, we encountered their reinforcements. Senior Sister Lin and the others were killed; I was fortunate to escape." By the end of his account, a look of fear had spread across Li Tianshuo's face.

"The Wang Family's reinforcements have arrived? So quickly? Do you know who is leading them?" Luo Xiangyun pressed, clearly concerned. This was her primary concern, as knowing one's enemy was crucial for victory.

"True Monarch Dry Earth! True Monarch Tai Hao's eldest son," Li Tianshuo stated gravely. The outside world was unaware of Wang Changsheng's true descendants in the lower realms, so they all considered Wang Qingcheng to be his eldest son. Wang Qingcheng cultivated earth-attribute techniques, but many cultivators primarily regarded him as skilled in managing people and handling administrative affairs; his actual combat prowess was largely unknown to the outside world.

"True Monarch Dry Earth! What about Venerable Green Lotus Sword and True Monarch Purple Cloud?" Luo Xiangyun asked with a hint of disbelief. It was truly odd that the Wang Family would send Wang Qingcheng to lead the expedition. Were Venerable Green Lotus Sword and True Monarch Purple Cloud both preoccupied?

"I'm not sure," Li Tianshuo replied. "I only heard it from the Wang Family disciples; I truly don't know if it's true or not." As Li Tianshuo was only at the Nascent Soul stage, he would have no chance of escape if he truly encountered a Wang Family Void Refinement cultivator.

"Go down and heal your injuries first," Luo Xiangyun instructed. "I will send someone to verify your report."

Li Tianshuo acknowledged her words and turned to leave.

"Wait, Senior Nephew Li," Leng Feng called out. "Tell your third granduncle to take his people on patrol."

"Senior Uncle Leng," Li Tianshuo replied, puzzled, "my third granduncle didn't participate in the battle. Has he been transferred from the rear?"

"No, I was mistaken. You may withdraw," Leng Feng dismissed him.

"Junior Brother Leng, do you suspect Senior Nephew Li is compromised?" Lü Xiong asked.

"Normally, I wouldn't think twice," Leng Feng said seriously, "but this is a special situation. It's better to assign a few disciples to keep an eye on him. I hope I'm just being overly cautious, but don't let him get near the formation's location."

Luo Xiangyun nodded. "I'll arrange it," she said. "However, Senior Nephew Li grew up in the Heavenly Mystery Sect; all his clan and descendants are here. He's been in the rear lines until now and hasn't had any contact with Wang Family cultivators. He has no reason or motive to betray us."

"It's better to be safe than sorry; caution is advisable," Leng Feng suggested. "After a while, we should transfer him back and have the enforcement disciples conduct a thorough review."

Luo Xiangyun nodded in agreement.

In a secluded small courtyard with green tiled roofs, stood a two-story teal pavilion and a guest room.

Li Tianshuo, Wang Qingxiao, Wang Jiye, and Wang Gonghu sat together, their expressions grim.

The three — Wang Qingxiao, Wang Jiye, and Wang Gonghu — had used Nine-Origin Spirit Concealment Talismans to hide their presence and, guided by Li Tianshuo, successfully infiltrated this outpost. Their task now was to wait for Wang Qingcheng to attack the outpost, then coordinate their actions from within.