Chapter 123: The Secret Meeting of the Five Great Immortal Sects

The spokespersons of the five great immortal sects had convened on a specific peak of the Dao Inquiry Sect. This peak was shrouded in extreme mystery; only high-ranking members of the Dao Inquiry Sect were privy to its location.

The four spokespersons sat in silence, awaiting the word of the meeting's organizer. Sensing everyone's arrival, Yunzhi awoke from her enlightenment. When she opened her eyes, they seemed to hold countless worlds, immeasurable time and space, appearing profoundly mysterious. The other four, meeting her gaze, felt a momentary trance.

They were inwardly stunned. They hadn't seen Yunzhi in years, and even then, she had given them an unfathomable impression. To their surprise, that feeling was now even more pronounced. The Dao Inquiry Sect must have had incredible fortune to attract such a talent. And she was, moreover, the disciple of that old rascal, the Silent Daoist.

However, Yunzhi's profound cultivation was a welcome development. A great era was imminent: spiritual energy was abundant, the Grand Dao was manifesting, demonic cults were wreaking havoc, powerful beings dormant for hundreds of thousands of years were reawakening, and legendary immortals were gradually surfacing. It was conceivable that these powerful beings and immortals would not readily adhere to current rules. They would undoubtedly redefine order and carve out territories according to their own desires, posing a catastrophe for both mortals and cultivators alike.

Some powerful cultivators had already reawakened, seeking to stir up trouble in the Central Continent, but before they could gain significant traction, they were jointly struck down by the five great immortal sects. Not all immortals were as carefree and content as the Immortal Fairy. For instance, the ancient nameless figure who refined stars into continents was certainly a formidable force. In such circumstances, the greater the strength of the five great immortal sects, the higher their chances of withstanding the impending great catastrophe.

Yunzhi spoke calmly, "I have summoned you all today because I've acquired some intelligence regarding the demonic cult that I wish to share."

The four felt a prickle of alarm. It was no wonder Yunzhi hadn't resorted to conventional methods like telepathic transmission, but instead had requested their physical presence at the Dao Inquiry Sect's secret peak. This secret peak, blessed by generations of Dao Inquiry Sect ancestors and further modified by Yunzhi, could obscure heavenly secrets, conceal karma, and was immune to information leaks. While the demonic cult wasn't exceptionally strong, their devotion to immortals had granted them numerous immortal treasures and techniques. These artifacts and methods were insidious and required careful handling.

"As you are aware, over a month ago, I breached the Immortal Cult's headquarters and acquired some intelligence. Two pieces of information are particularly significant: first, the method for reviving the Immortal Fairy; and second, details concerning 'undercover agents'."

The four subtly straightened in their seats. Reviving an immortal—this was an astonishing piece of intelligence. They had, in fact, long heard rumors of Yunzhi dismantling the Immortal Cult's stronghold, though they never knew how she managed to locate it.

"The Immortal Fairy's Dao Fruit is highly unique. Even if he were to completely perish and his soul scatter, as long as someone utters his title and immortal name, intentionally or not, he can be resurrected!"

A jolt like thunder shot through the four. Immortal Dao Fruits were indeed never simple. All the immortal Dao Fruits they had encountered previously were related to enhancing combat prowess; this was the first time they had come across a Dao Fruit solely for revival.

"The intelligence also indicated that the Immortal Cult had planted undercover agents within the Moon Laurel Immortal Palace, the Hell Suppressing Sect, and the Five Elements Sect."

In truth, this information wasn't sourced from the Immortal Cult's headquarters but was acquired by Lu Yang from Inspector Tang Yunsheng. When Tang Yunsheng assigned the undercover mission to Lu Yang and his two companions, he mentioned that among the five great immortal sects, only the Hanging Temple, due to its small number of members, and the Dao Inquiry Sect, with its many eccentric individuals, were impossible to infiltrate with undercover agents. The other three sects, however, all had them.

The five great immortal sects were:The Dao Inquiry Sect, renowned for its Daoist magic and eccentric ideas, which the other four sects cautioned their juniors to avoid.The Hanging Temple, known for its compassion and benevolence, which, despite having only two members at its lowest point (a master and disciple), possessed immense power.The Moon Laurel Immortal Palace, whose members believed the moon held unspeakable secrets, cultivated by harnessing lunar power, and whose grounds were covered in moon laurel trees.The Hell Suppressing Sect, which was dedicated to suppressing all manner of evil spirits and malevolent entities.And the Five Elements Sect, which adhered to the principle of the Five Elements' unification and had mastered their profound truths.

The other four great immortal sects felt the Dao Inquiry Sect was fundamentally incompatible with them. Conversely, the Dao Inquiry Sect believed the other four sects were incompatible with them. Despite this perceived incompatibility, the five great immortal sects maintained a generally good relationship.

"So, it's about the undercover agents," the Moon Laurel Immortal Palace Mistress stated without surprise. She was Lan Ting's master, and Lan Ting had previously shared some details with her.

"Amitabha," the Abbot of the Hanging Temple simply stated. Their sect had no demonic cult infiltrators. While their small number was one reason, a more significant factor was their differing beliefs. Demonic cult members, constantly engaging in their devout practices, would inevitably suffer a collapse of their Dao heart, making them too susceptible to exposure.

"I can't believe my Hell Suppressing Sect, which champions the suppression of all evil and deviant paths, has been infiltrated by the Immortal Cult! I will conduct a thorough investigation upon my return!" The Hell Suppressing Sect Master was enraged, though he managed to temper his expression given the formal setting.

"Since there are undercover agents, it's likely not limited to just the Immortal Cult. Other demonic cult agents might also be lurking. We must conduct a meticulous investigation," the Five Elements Sect Master said, his eyes cold. The demonic cult's audacity was truly astounding, as if they completely disregarded the Five Elements Sect.

"So, how do we screen for these undercover agents?" asked the Moon Laurel Immortal Palace Mistress.

"Doesn't the Immortal Cult revere the Immortal Fairy? What if we have our disciples collectively shout, 'The Immortal Fairy is a bastard'?" the Five Elements Sect Master proposed.

The four nodded in unison, finding the idea quite sound.

The Hell Suppressing Sect Master offered, "There's another method. We undoubtedly each have a list of suspects. We can tell those on the list, 'The cult leader has uttered the Immortal Fairy's immortal name, and the Immortal Fairy has been resurrected. The cult leader demands all believers gather at headquarters.'"

Since the righteous path was unaware of the Immortal Fairy's revival method, an Immortal Cult undercover agent hearing this would, in all likelihood, assume the speaker was a fellow cult member.

Yunzhi shook her head. "This would alert the enemy. Our suspect lists don't just contain Immortal Cult agents; there are also agents from the other three cults. If they hear you say this, they'll undoubtedly realize you're screening for undercover agents."

The Hell Suppressing Sect Master thought Yunzhi's words made sense and made no further suggestions.

"By the way, isn't it true that the Dao Inquiry Sect has no undercover agents?" the Five Elements Sect Master inquired, earning nods of agreement from the other three. "I wonder if Fellow Daoist Yunzhi would be willing to share some insights."

Yunzhi uncharacteristically frowned, stumped by the question. She, too, didn't understand why the Dao Inquiry Sect not only lacked demonic cult infiltrators but also managed to plant their own agents within the demonic cults.

"Perhaps it's because my Dao Inquiry Sect disciples are pure of heart, while demonic cult members possess complex minds, making it impossible for them to convincingly disguise themselves as our disciples."

The five then conceived numerous cunning methods to identify undercover agents, with the Hanging Temple Abbot's suggestions proving the most ruthless. If these methods were ever revealed, the world's perception of the five would undergo a complete reversal.

After the secret meeting, all five left the peak. Three of them departed the Dao Inquiry Sect, while only the Moon Laurel Immortal Palace Mistress remained.

"May I ask what matter Palace Mistress Luo has?" Yunzhi asked. The Moon Laurel Immortal Palace Mistress's name was Luo Hongxia.

Luo Hongxia then summoned a reluctant Lan Ting. "Does your Dao Inquiry Sect have a disciple named Lu Yang? I have an urgent matter with him. My Lan Ting was such a good child, but he led her astray! I demand compensation!"

Yunzhi calmly responded, "Then perhaps the two should become Dao companions?"

Luo Hongxia's expression froze.