Chapter 336: The Eighth Elder

Lu Yang estimated that if Tao Yaoye were to join the Nine Nether Sect, its leader would likely either revere her as a saintess or make her the sect master directly.

This way of making money was far faster than Qin Haoran's loans; calling it a venture with infinite returns and no capital would not be an overstatement. With no investment, there was no need to worry about losses. There was no need to hire actors, nor to reshoot dozens of times. Illusions could be conjured at will, and special effects were indistinguishable from reality. If one fell victim to an illusion during combat, dying within the illusion meant true death; the illusions created were more real than reality itself. As for plots, there was no need to worry either. Daily occurrences in the cultivation world could serve as material, easily adapted into movies with a little dramatization and refinement. Stories that were too long could become TV series. Not to mention, Master's storytelling work, "The Legend of Wen Dao Sect," could be used as a movie.

"It's a good idea, but there are areas for improvement," Lu Yang said. He pondered for a moment, then pointed out the shortcomings in Tao Yaoye's illusion casting. "You realized that relying solely on combat wasn't captivating enough, and adding brief storylines was a good idea, but it's still not enough."

"Engaging plots should give people a deeply satisfying experience, leaving them with endless aftertastes. There should be foreshadowing and plot twists."

"Mmm-hmm," Tao Yaoye nodded repeatedly. As expected of her senior brother, his mind worked faster than hers; he could think so far ahead immediately upon hearing the idea.

"For now, the plot is secondary. The main thing is how to cast these illusions effectively."

Tao Yaoye looked confused, not understanding what he meant. "I can cast illusions myself," she said.

Lu Yang shook his head. "Of course you can cast them, but you can't possibly cast illusions everywhere; you'd exhaust yourself to death. You also said you want to make money this way. To make money, you need to promote it, and to promote it, you need a more convenient way to cast illusions. For example, talismans. If I recall correctly, talismans are the most common medium for carrying illusions."

Tao Yaoye lowered her head, thinking about who would be suitable to ask. "Regarding talismans... the Sect Master excels in swordsmanship, the First Elder in dream-making, the Second Elder in array formations, the Third Elder in body cultivation, the Fourth Elder in Confucianism, the Fifth Elder in artifact refining, Master in immortal bodies, the Seventh Elder in alchemy, and the Eighth Elder in deception and fraud. It seems none of the elders specialize in it. Should we ask our senior brothers or sisters for help?"

Lu Yang paused, then couldn't help but say, "...Is it possible that besides deception and fraud, the Eighth Elder also excels in talismans?" Although it was rumored that when Daoist Buyu first came to the mountain, he was raised by the Eighth Elder, which laid a solid foundation for Daoist Buyu's future crooked path. Although nine hundred years ago, the Eighth Elder defrauded the Nine Nether Sect so severely that its treasury was emptied, forcing the sect master before the previous one to commit suicide. Although the Eighth Elder sold Meng Jingzhou twenty-year-old exam questions. Although the Fifth Elder adamantly refused to let talisman cultivator Qin Yanran learn talismans from the Eighth Elder, fearing she would go astray. Nevertheless, it couldn't be denied that the Eighth Elder was indeed a master of talismans.

"Let's consult with the Eighth Elder, but to be safe, it's best to bring the Sixth Elder along," Lu Yang prudently suggested, a proposal Tao Yaoye agreed with.

On the peak of Wuchen Mountain, the breathtakingly beautiful Sixth Elder sat cross-legged. Under the influence of her Immaculate Immortal Body, the area around her became a vacuum. She tried to restrict the range of her Immortal Body, realizing that the smaller the area of effect, the stronger the repulsion. The optimal state was to have the Immaculate Immortal Body's domain adhere to her body's surface, a thin layer, which would make her impervious to any attack. However, according to records, no previous Immaculate Immortal Body had ever achieved such a degree of mastery.

She sensed someone approaching nearby, opened her beautiful eyes, and saw Lu Yang and Tao Yaoye. "What do you two need?" she asked via spiritual transmission.

"We apologize for disturbing your cultivation, Master. It's like this: your disciple recently had new ideas about illusions..." Tao Yaoye thoroughly explained the discussion she had with Lu Yang.

"That's a good idea. With Old Eight's talisman skills, it shouldn't be difficult to implement," the Sixth Elder said. She also recognized the immense business opportunity embedded in Tao Yaoye's idea, feeling a touch of pride. Tao Yaoye's idea was far more profitable than her Ninth Junior Brother's "Size as Desired (Partial Version)." "See? This is the excellent disciple I've trained!"

"Come, I'll take you to him," the Sixth Elder said, raising her hand. A peculiar ball of energy enveloped Lu Yang and Tao Yaoye, carrying them directly from Wuchen Peak's summit to the nearby Runic Peak's summit. Runic Peak was the mountain under the Eighth Elder's charge.

Upon landing, Lu Yang and Tao Yaoye, visiting Runic Peak for the first time, noticed that runes were everywhere. Even leaves bore runic markings, and various plant formations subtly resembled talismans.

"Old Eight, come out! I need your help!" the Sixth Elder transmitted her voice to the Eighth Elder.

"Senior Sister is looking for me?" The Eighth Elder emerged from his cave dwelling with a surprised expression; he couldn't recall his Sixth Senior Sister ever asking for his help. "Has Senior Sister been swindled by some fool outside? Do you need me to swindle it back? That might be tricky; it's been decades since I last went out to trick anyone."

Lu Yang thought to himself, *Eighth Elder, have you forgotten you just tricked Meng Jingzhou a year and a half ago?* Tao Yaoye was unaware of this, assuming the Eighth Elder had retired from his ways.

"But rest assured, if anyone dares to cheat you, Senior Sister, even if I don't leave the mountain, I can send disciples to swindle them until they don't even have their underwear left! I'm not like Ninth Junior Brother. I've been tricking people for so many years, and I've never been caught! And my disciples are the same; they're all very reliable and won't get caught by the authorities!" the Eighth Elder thumped his chest, assuring them. He clearly valued his relationship with his senior sister, as the Sixth Elder had often looked after him when he was young.

Lu Yang felt a sudden surge of respect. He hadn't imagined the Eighth Elder's deception skills were so superb that he had never been caught—even Master couldn't compare to that! One should know that Master was a ruthless person who could scheme the Minister of Justice into prison. Optimistically speaking, Master probably hadn't been released yet. Lu Yang heard that ever since the Minister of Justice was imprisoned in the Great Goose Prefecture's jail, the entire Ministry of Justice relocated to work there. As a result, the public order in Great Goose Prefecture had become unprecedentedly clear, with not a single crime occurring. Criminals weren't foolish. With the entire Ministry of Justice stationed in Great Goose Prefecture, only a madman would commit crimes right under their noses. They weren't Daoist Buyu, after all. However, there was a cost. Lu Yang heard from Meng Jingzhou that even officials in the imperial capital, when on leave, would make a detour to the Great Goose Prefecture's prison just to see something new. They called it "caring for colleagues." And while they were at it, they would suggest to the Great Goose Prefecture Governor that Daoist Buyu be sentenced to death.

The Sixth Elder rolled her eyes at the Eighth Elder. Having been senior and junior siblings for two millennia, she knew exactly what kind of person the Eighth Elder was. "Yes, you've indeed never been 'caught.' You've always turned yourself in, claiming it would reduce your sentence. Also, don't think I don't know why you haven't left the sect. You're just waiting for the statute of limitations to expire." The Great Xia Penal Code explicitly stipulated that if the statutory period of limitations for a crime had passed, the criminal would no longer be prosecuted for their criminal liability.