Chapter 226: Senior Brother Dai, we have captured the Nine Nether Sect Leader

"Are you sure you were the leader of the Nine Nether Cult in your previous life?" Lu Yang scrutinized Li Haoran, finding it impossible to connect him with the Nine Nether Cult's leader.

Li Haoran hesitated. "Most likely, yes. Didn't Yiren say that as my cultivation level improves, I'd gain memory fragments and recall things from my past life? Just now, after I broke through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, a scene flashed through my mind. In the scene, there was a man in black, who must have been my subordinate. It was pitch black all around, and I couldn't make out the surroundings."

"My subordinate was holding several sheets of paper and said, 'Cult Leader, this is the cult's annual spiritual stone income and expenditure; please review it.' After I took them, I saw 'Nine Nether Cult Spiritual Stone Income and Expenditure' as the first line on the paper."

"Before I could read the rest of the content, the scene vanished."

"Being called the Cult Leader and shown the Nine Nether Cult's accounts, my identity in my past life is quite obvious."

The Nine Nether Cult was one of the Four Demonic Cults.

Just as the world didn't know the name of the Immortal Cult's leader, they also didn't know the name of the Nine Nether Cult's leader.

Now Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou knew: his name was Qin Haoran.

Lu Yang lowered his head in thought. Given this, Li Haoran truly seemed to be the reincarnation of the Nine Nether Cult's leader.

He looked at Meng Jingzhou, who was also deep in thought. "What do you think?"

Meng Jingzhou looked up, his brows furrowed. "The Nine Nether Cult seems a bit poor; they don't even light a lamp."

Lu Yang ignored Meng Jingzhou's odd focus and analyzed, "If Junior Brother Li's past life was indeed the Nine Nether Cult's leader, then some things Senior Su said would make sense."

"For example, as a late-stage Integration cultivator, why was Qin Haoran's existence unknown to anyone? Either he was a recluse like Senior Su, or his identity was special and couldn't be revealed."

"Another example is why Qin Haoran was initially hunted. There are generally two scenarios: either he acquired an extremely valuable magical artifact, and the culprits wanted to kill him for it, or Qin Haoran held an extremely high position, and the culprits wanted to usurp his power."

"The former scenario is highly unlikely in the Central Continent. In that case, Qin Haoran's reaction should have been to seek help from the Great Xia Dynasty, which would have prevented him from crashing into Senior Su's cultivation ground later on."

"Therefore, the second possibility is much more likely: at that time, a rebellion occurred within the Nine Nether Cult to seize power, and Qin Haoran was defeated and gravely wounded."

"Qin Haoran never revealed his identity to Senior Su, even saying that what he was doing was very dangerous and that Senior Su's ignorance would ensure her safety. Of course, the leader of one of the Four Demonic Cults couldn't tell Senior Su; if Senior Su knew Qin Haoran's identity, she would face severe punishment when the Nine Nether Cult's affairs were exposed."

"Qin Haoran also said that his identity was special, and if he didn't break through to the Tribulation Transcending stage, he would live his entire life in the shadows. However, if a demonic cult leader reached the Tribulation Transcending stage, they could do many things they previously dared not."

In fact, Lu Yang had long suspected Qin Haoran's identity, but without proof, he couldn't tell Su Yiren directly that her husband belonged to a demonic cult and was no good.

Lu Yang looked at Li Haoran and smiled, "Junior Brother Li, do you believe now that you are Qin Haoran's reincarnation?"

Actually, Lu Yang had also suspected that Su Yiren might have fabricated a memory and implanted it in Li Haoran's mind. It was unlikely, but still a possibility.

However, the Immortal Fairy confirmed that it was indeed Li Haoran's own memory, untouched by anyone.

Li Haoran hung his head, dejected. With something like this happening, he had to believe it, whether he wanted to or not.

Suddenly, he remembered another question and broke out in a cold sweat. "The Great Xia Dynasty doesn't have a system for holding people accountable for their past lives, does it?"

Lu Yang quickly reviewed the books he had read in his mind and stated with certainty, "No, the Great Xia Dynasty's legal principle is that responsibility ceases upon death. Since you've already reincarnated, the Great Xia Dynasty has no jurisdiction."

Li Haoran breathed a sigh of relief.

"You three are up so early?" Li Haoran's mother beamed when she saw them cultivating in the courtyard.

"Auntie, Haoran just broke through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage," Lu Yang said with a smile.

Both of Li Haoran's parents were at the early Foundation Establishment stage. Previously, Li Haoran had surpassed them in combat power; now, he had even surpassed their cultivation realm, which delighted his mother.

It was inconvenient for Li Haoran to tell his parents about his past life's identity, as it would only cause them unnecessary worry.

"Oh, then we must celebrate properly! See, I told you, if you spend more time with Little Lu and Little Meng, you're bound to make progress!"

Li Haoran: "...Ah, yes, yes, yes."

During the celebratory meal, Li Haoran informed his parents that they needed to return to the sect, which surprised both his father and mother.

The fact that Li Haoran's past life was the leader of the Nine Nether Cult was too significant for the three of them to handle alone; they needed to report it to the sect as soon as possible.

"You're leaving after only a few days? Little Lu, Little Meng, have you had enough fun?"

Lu Yang put down his chopsticks and offered a convincing smile. "Junior Brother Li's breakthrough requires the elders of the sect to help consolidate his cultivation, so we need to return as soon as possible."

This was a lie; the Dao Seeking Sect always advocated for individual cultivation, and elders were not needed to consolidate one's cultivation. However, Lu Yang's tone was very sincere, making it easy to believe.

Upon hearing this, Li Haoran's parents stopped trying to persuade them to stay a few more days. The old horse-drawn carriage once again took the three of them back to the Dao Seeking Sect.

Meng Jingzhou urged the old horse to hurry back to the sect. The old horse leisurely nodded and continued to walk at its unhurried pace, just as before, but each step covered hundreds or even thousands of miles.

"Junior Brother Li, your identity as the Nine Nether Cult Leader has great potential! Once we return to the sect, if we play our cards right, we could make a fortune. How about we split the profits seventy-thirty after it's done?"

"Such a good deal exists?"

"Of course, but first, Junior Brother, you'll have to endure some hardship."

Soon after, the three returned to the Dao Seeking Sect and arrived at the Mission Hall. "Is Senior Brother Dai inside?" Lu Yang asked the disciple on duty.

The disciple looked up and saw the smiling Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou, along with the sack Meng Jingzhou was carrying on his shoulder.

"Senior Brother Dai is inside. He instructed that if you need to see him, you can go straight in without announcement. But what's in that sack...?" "Spoils of war."

"Oh, then go on in." The duty disciple didn't think much of it; it certainly wouldn't be dangerous goods.

The two carried the sack to Dai Bufan's room. Dai Bufan was still in his usual posture, poring over scrolls and looking for mission clues.

"Why are you two here? What do you need me for?"

Meng Jingzhou spoke first. "Good news, Senior Brother Dai! Through our tireless efforts, we've finally captured the leader of the Nine Nether Cult! We're just wondering how many contribution points this achievement will earn us."

"The Nine Nether Cult Leader?" Dai Bufan looked suspiciously into Meng Jingzhou's eyes. Meng Jingzhou wasn't lying and felt no guilt, meeting Dai Bufan's gaze.

Dai Bufan then looked at Lu Yang, who likewise felt no guilt and dared to meet his gaze.

Dai Bufan's confusion deepened. He couldn't figure out what these two rascals were planning and felt very uneasy.

"Where is the Nine Nether Cult Leader?"

Meng Jingzhou loosened the opening of the sack, revealing Li Haoran, who was gagged and bound. With a righteous gesture, he pointed, "This fiend!"

Dai Bufan: "..." Are you two taking me for a fool?