Chapter 471: Where Is This?

"Many unfamiliar Integration Stage cultivators?" Lu Yang was puzzled. He didn't know many Integration Stage cultivators, primarily those from his own sect. Of the external Integration Stage cultivators invited to the celebration, he only recognized Su Yiren; he merely knew the names of the others.

For instance, he hadn't recognized the Sect Master of the Imperial Qi Sect who had just passed by. He had just received the "List of Great Xia Dynasty Integration Stage Cultivators," which included profiles and portraits of various Integration Stage cultivators, but Lu Yang had been busy shopping and hadn't had a chance to read it yet.

Unlike the unreliable Immortal Fairy, his Senior Sister's words were highly credible, so Lu Yang had to take them seriously.

"Could they be reclusive Integration Stage cultivators?" Similar to Su Yiren, a reclusive cultivator, her presence was very low, and few people knew her.

His Senior Sister shook her head, dismissing that possibility: "I know most reclusive Integration Stage cultivators; it's improbable that all the ones I haven't encountered would coincidentally be here."

Lu Yang frowned in thought. This was very strange; with so many Integration Stage cultivators suddenly appearing, were they friends or foes?

Were they enemies? No one in their right mind would contemplate attacking the Dao Seeking Sect. Were they friends? Then why did they come uninvited?

Lu Yang couldn't quite understand the mindset of these Integration Stage cultivators.

"It's not just Integration Stage cultivators; there are three or four Tribulation Stage cultivators as well, and they're also strangers," Yun Zhi suddenly said.

Lu Yang was startled; this made the situation much more serious.

"Should we apprehend them and ask?" Lu Yang suggested, reasoning that if they apprehended the wrong people, he, as the acting Sect Master, could simply apologize.

"Alright," Yun Zhi nodded, finding Lu Yang's idea agreeable.

A wooden sign blocked their path. The sign read: "Please hold your breath before entering."

"This sign wasn't here when we passed by earlier, was it?" Lu Yang puzzled, as they had nearly completed a full circle.

"It's a sign set up by the Sixth Elder." Yun Zhi had clearly seen this wooden sign before and recognized it as the Sixth Elder's work at a glance.

Lu Yang understood; that made sense.

Those attending the celebration were all prodigies and mighty cultivators; holding one's breath was merely a thought away and required no effort.

The Sixth Elder's arrival didn't cause much disturbance.

Soon, the two met the Sixth Elder in a familiar spot, precisely where Luo Hongxia was fishing.

Luo Hongxia and the Sixth Elder were close friends, and they were taking the opportunity of the celebration to chat.

Although they couldn't speak, their relaxed expressions suggested they were enjoying their conversation.

Lan Ting and Tao Yaoye followed their respective masters, also communicating through divine sense.

"Palace Master Luo." "Fellow Daoist Yun." Both bowed to each other.

"Lu Yang, it's been a long time since we parted ways in Qingzhou," Lan Ting greeted him warmly.

"Junior Sister Lan Ting, do you know Junior Sister Tao?" Lu Yang noticed them both smiling radiantly, their smiles beautiful, and their relationship seemed very close.

Both were Immortal Bodies; perhaps they had much in common.

"I've long heard my master speak of Palace Master Luo taking in a junior sister whose talent is no less than my own. I finally get to meet her today." Tao Yaoye proactively took Lan Ting's hand and subtly shifted, creating distance between Lu Yang and Lan Ting.

Lan Ting echoed, her voice delicate, "Junior Sister Tao and I became instant friends. She even wants to use my image for 'Dreamy Bubbles'."

Tao Yaoye chuckled, gently shaking Lan Ting's arm, "I've always wanted to feature a beautiful cultivator's image in 'Dreamy Bubbles'. Meeting Junior Sister Lan Ting today, I'm truly astonished; such beauty exists in this world! It would be absolutely perfect for the performance."

"Oh, 'beauty' indeed," Lan Ting demurred, "Junior Sister Tao is far more beautiful than I am. My only notable asset is my cultivation."

Lu Yang sensed a subtle tension in the atmosphere but couldn't quite place it, so he stayed silent for a moment.

Yun Zhi noticed the Boundless Light Treasure Box at Luo Hongxia's feet and inquired, "Palace Master Luo, why have you brought out the treasure box, and are you finished using it?"

Luo Hongxia considered this. Nearly all the senior cultivators she knew were already inside the box, so she assumed her task was complete.

"I'm finished using it."

"May I borrow it?"

With the Boundless Light Treasure Box, it was perfect for capturing those unfamiliar Integration and Tribulation Stage cultivators.

"Well..." Luo Hongxia looked troubled. Although the Boundless Light Treasure Box was a supreme treasure of the Moon Palace, it was common for the five great immortal sects to borrow such artifacts from one another, so she couldn't easily use that as an excuse to refuse.

Luo Hongxia also felt a pang of guilt. They were on the Dao Seeking Sect's territory, and confining all the powerful attendees in the treasure box would bring discredit to the Dao Seeking Sect if news spread.

Furthermore, Yun Zhi was right there, and it was too late to release anyone now. Unable to conjure a reason for refusal, she reluctantly lent out the treasure box.

"Thank you, Palace Master Luo," Yun Zhi said, bowing. She crooked a finger, and the treasure box floated up from the ground.

"Junior Brother, let's go." Hearing his Senior Sister's call, Lu Yang breathed a sigh of relief, quickly bade farewell to the two women, and hurried to catch up.

True Monarch Wangyue was squatting in front of a stall, thoughtfully examining the items for sale.

He was under orders from the Imperial Advisor to investigate the celebration, and he hadn't anticipated such an unexpected discovery.

"Interested in this?" The stall owner, an elderly man with a simple, farmer-like smile, picked up a book from his stall.

"I found this old book in a certain secret realm. It records the existence of someone called the 'Hundred Medicines Heavenly King' from the Heavenly Court Cult. If you're interested, I'll sell it to you for 800,000 spirit stones!"

True Monarch Wangyue was intrigued. The Imperial Advisor was currently troubled by the sudden emergence of the Heavenly Court Cult, and he hadn't expected to stumble upon a clue here. This would be a significant achievement.

For an Integration Stage cultivator, 800,000 spirit stones was not expensive.

He wasn't concerned about it being fake. This was the Dao Seeking Sect's territory, after all; selling counterfeit goods would be a blatant insult to the sect.

"I'll take it!"

Without a word, True Monarch Wangyue tapped his storage ring against the old man's, and 800,000 spirit stones were transferred.

Just as he was about to take the book, a beam of light enveloped him, drawing him into the treasure box.

*Thud.* The old book slipped from his grasp and fell to the ground.

"Niece Yun, what are you doing...?" Grandpa Ba looked at Yun Zhi with slight surprise.

"Senior Sister wants to ask him some questions," Lu Yang answered obsequiously for Yun Zhi.

True Monarch Wangyue looked around blankly, unable to understand what had happened.

He was just peacefully buying a book; how did he suddenly end up here?

And why were there so many people here?

He saw two powerful cultivators approaching slowly, eyeing him with sinister smiles and rubbing their hands together. Even the seemingly benevolent old monk radiated killing intent.

Further away, a group of powerful cultivators, bruised and swollen, lay on the ground wailing, which made him shiver.

Where was he?

"I don't know him, who is this?" Qiu Jin'an hesitated, having never seen True Monarch Wangyue before.

"Who cares?" Yang Ding concluded after a brief analysis. "Since Fellow Daoist Luo put him in here, he must be here to mock us. Beating him up is definitely the right thing to do!"

"Makes sense."