Chapter 473: Half Immortal?

Let's turn back the clock a bit.

"This is the Dao Seeking Sect. How magnificent!"

Ming Tai stood before the mountain gate of the Dao Seeking Sect, expressing his awe.

"Ming Tai, let's go," Elder Sikong urged him to follow.

The two walked through a bamboo forest, crossed a stream, and entered the core area of the Dao Seeking Sect, the main venue for the celebration.

The River Spirit poked its head out, scrutinizing everyone entering the Dao Seeking Sect to confirm their eligibility.

"This celebration is more lively than any year before," the River Spirit murmured softly, a satisfied smile appearing on its face, as it watched prodigies and powerful cultivators stream in. It was the spirit of the stream, born from a spark of spiritual light by the grace of heaven and earth. It was then enlightened by the Innate Daoist, developing true sentience. Grateful for the Innate Daoist's kindness, it voluntarily became the sect's guardian spirit, witnessing the rise and fall of the Dao Seeking Sect.

What the River Spirit failed to notice was that alongside Ming Tai and his companion, a group of uninvited guests had also entered the Dao Seeking Sect. They moved silently through the bamboo forest, leaving no trace, as if they didn't exist. No one noticed their presence.

"I've long heard that the Dao Seeking Sect has a powerful guardian spirit. Seeing it today, the rumors are true. What a pity you've met me this time," the Imperial Advisor sneered, bypassing the River Spirit and leading his group into the Dao Seeking Sect.

Upon entering the core area of the Dao Seeking Sect, the Imperial Advisor dropped his disguise. There were too many cultivators present; even if they couldn't see them, they could still bump into them. Remaining hidden would only be a disadvantage. Along the way, the Imperial Advisor spotted several Tribulation Transcension cultivators. He thought to himself, "Fortunately, I brought enough people. Otherwise, it would be quite difficult to destroy the Dao Seeking Sect alone."

"My Lord, when shall we act?" the Black-White Venerable asked quietly through a spiritual message.

"Not yet," replied the Imperial Advisor. "The celebration has just begun, which means the Dao Seeking Sect is at its most vigilant. First, we need to scout thoroughly and ascertain how many Body Integration and Tribulation Transcension cultivators are attending this celebration. Once we've calculated the disparity in power between us, we can decide when and how to strike. By immortal sect standards, every immortal sect must have at least one Tribulation Transcension cultivator and a method comparable to that stage. The Dao Seeking Sect certainly wouldn't deploy all its combat power for this celebration. Important locations like the sect treasury must be guarded. The River Spirit we just saw should be that comparable method. The Dao Seeking Sect's true Tribulation Transcension cultivators must be elsewhere. When we make our move, we must be swift. The Dao Seeking Sect's Tribulation Transcension cultivators won't have time to react, and even if they rush over, it will be too late."

Dong—Dong—Dong—

Twelve chimes of a bell reverberated through the Dao Seeking Sect, signaling the official start of the celebration.

The group fell silent. They watched their target ascend the altar step by step to preside over the sacrificial ceremony.

"What an ancient sacrificial method, it seems to originate from antiquity," the Imperial Advisor commented with slight surprise. As cultivators from the early Great Yu Dynasty, they were separated from the ancient era by merely one Great Qian Dynasty. The Dao Seeking Sect was founded in the late Great Yu Dynasty, yet it possessed such an ancient sacrificial method.

"This Dao Seeking Sect certainly has some interesting aspects," the Black-White Venerable commented indifferently. Among the group, his status was second only to the Imperial Advisor. An ancient sacrificial method doesn't necessarily mean anything profound; it could simply have been found in an old text. After all, many ancient ruins still remain unexcavated.

"A mere ordinary boy, repeatedly disrupting our Great Yu's plans. He truly doesn't know what death means!"

As the celebration concluded, the Imperial Advisor's brow relaxed, and a smile played on his lips.

"My Lord, are you..."

The Imperial Advisor explained to his companions, "Haven't you noticed? The number of high-level cultivators here is decreasing compared to during the sacrificial ceremony. It seems I've overestimated the Dao Seeking Sect's standing in Great Xia. These high-level cultivators likely attended the sacrificial ceremony out of obligation and to save face. After the ceremony, the various activities and the young cultivators' finals prepared by the Dao Seeking Sect no longer piqued their interest, prompting their departure."

Excitement showed on the group's faces. A decrease in the number of high-level cultivators meant their actions would be unobstructed, and the pressure on them had suddenly lessened.

"Indeed, the Mandate of Heaven favors Great Yu," the Imperial Advisor declared, his spirits high, his lips curling upward. With this, the Dao Seeking Sect was surely doomed. "However, we must not grow complacent yet. It's inconvenient to use spiritual sense here. Disperse and gather intelligence on the Dao Seeking Sect, then report back to me."

The Imperial Advisor pointed to the ground. "I'll wait for you all here."

"Understood."

The group dispersed, leaving the Imperial Advisor alone.

"They shouldn't be back anytime soon. I'll go gather intelligence on the Dao Seeking Sect as well." The Imperial Advisor was meticulous in his work. He intended to cross-reference the information he gathered with that of his subordinates to ensure its reliability. "The busiest area here should be the commercial street we passed. I'll go take a look," the Imperial Advisor mused, then strolled towards the commercial street.

"A mere commercial street, yet it hides so many Body Integration cultivators," the Imperial Advisor observed, narrowing his eyes. With his unfathomable cultivation, he could tell at a glance that the seemingly ordinary restaurant owners and waiters were formidable masters, capable of reigning as kings in the outside world. "Body Integration cultivators alone can't cause much trouble." He alone could kill six Tribulation Transcension cultivators, even if they were only in the early stage. Body Integration cultivators were beneath his notice.

"Esteemed guest, would you like some barbecue?" Xiao Wu, Xiao Liu, and Xiao Qi, three alluring ghoul spirits, diligently attracted customers at the barbecue restaurant's entrance, drawing considerable attention. The barbecue restaurant's business was booming. Master Liu and Master Gao worked as if they had three heads and six arms, significantly boosting barbecue output.

"Excuse me, excuse me, I'm here to deliver meat," said the slaughterhouse owner delivering meat, asking customers to make way so he could enter. The barbecue restaurant's business was so good that even with ample preparation, the many skewers weren't enough. The Immortal sat cross-legged, merrily watching everything, smiling from ear to ear. A single day's sales here matched ten days elsewhere. Lu Yang had temporarily changed the barbecue restaurant's name. Otherwise, if cultivators from outside ate there, remembered the name, and then spread word, the Nine Nether Cult would discover that the Dao Seeking Sect also had a "Come Again Barbecue" restaurant, making it difficult to mislead them.

The Imperial Advisor heard Xiao Wu's shouts, looked up, and was startled to see the two barbecue masters and the slaughterhouse owner. "Three Body Integration ghoul spirits? Is the Dao Seeking Sect's Tribulation Transcension cultivator here?" Only a Tribulation Transcension cultivator could refine Body Integration ghoul spirits. Generally, ghoul spirits don't stray far from their refiners. The Dao Seeking Sect's Tribulation Transcension cultivator must be hidden within this barbecue restaurant.

"Good fortune," the Imperial Advisor chuckled, his smile filled with confidence. He had intended to scout the situation first but unexpectedly found an opportunity to eliminate a Tribulation Transcension cultivator ahead of schedule. His nascent Dao fruit was related to concealment, allowing him to deceive the River Spirit, whose power was comparable to a Tribulation Transcension cultivator, and lead his group into the Dao Seeking Sect. His nascent Dao fruit would ensure he could silently eliminate the Dao Seeking Sect's Tribulation Transcension cultivator.

He entered the barbecue restaurant and saw the Immortal relaxing leisurely.

The Immortal also saw him.

"Half-immortal?"

Both spoke simultaneously.