Chapter 78: Lanting's Secret Mission

Lu Yang quipped from the side, "This invisible force is everywhere. How about we call it 'gravity'?"

Lan Ting found the voice familiar. She looked up and saw Lu Yang. "Oh, it's you!"

"Come inside," Lu Yang said, concerned that Lan Ting might reveal their true identities. Lan Ting was exceptionally beautiful, and standing gracefully at the doorway, she was quite eye-catching, making it easy for anyone with ill intent to overhear their conversation.

As soon as Lan Ting entered, she saw the ghasts diligently skewering meat and realized they were the tiger demon's remaining ghasts. Seeing Lu Yang and Lan Ting enter together, the two ghasts silently picked up their bowls of meat and skewers, then sat at a corner table to continue their work. Their skilled movements made Lan Ting wonder if the ghasts had done this type of work in their previous lives.

In the backyard, Man Gu heard the commotion, stopped his cultivation, and came to the main hall.

Meng Jingzhou, having finished his day of wandering, burst through the door, exclaiming, "Did you hear? Yanjiang County has its own unique festival called the Spring Gathering Festival, happening in half a month! People go out to enjoy spring, hike, and play. There are even poetry gatherings at night where people recite poems and enjoy themselves. It's quite lively, and people from nearby counties will come."

"Local residents of Yanjiang County even get three days off."

"I also found out that brothels raise their prices during those days and make a fortune. Should we seize the opportunity to hold a big promotion, perhaps celebrate our two-month anniversary with a grand special offer?"

Meng Jingzhou proved that he wasn't just out having fun; he was also gathering information, though this particular piece of intelligence wasn't very helpful to the three of them. Man Gu's eyes lit up, and just as he was about to speak, he met Lu Yang's emotionless gaze and quietly shut his mouth.

Meng Jingzhou noticed Lan Ting and was also surprised. "I remember you. Aren't you Lan Ting from the Laurel Immortal Palace?" They had stayed here for over a month to open a barbecue restaurant — or rather, to infiltrate the Demonic Sect. What was Lan Ting here for?

"That would be me," Lan Ting replied softly.

Lan Ting also found Lu Yang and his companions interesting. She had been in Yanjiang County for over a month and had heard about the famous barbecue restaurant, but being naturally quiet and disliking noisy places, she had never visited. Today, she happened to pass by and realized that this barbecue restaurant was run by people she knew, and surprisingly, they were also disciples of an Immortal Sect.

It seemed these three were genuinely building a substantial enterprise in Yanjiang County. Could it be that the Dao Inquiry Sect's missions, besides subduing demons and devils, also included opening businesses to make money? Considering the Dao Inquiry Sect's reputation, it wasn't impossible. Lan Ting had heard from her senior sisters that among the Dao Inquiry Sect's contribution point rewards was a "One-Day Sect Leader Experience," a reward not offered by the other four Immortal Sects.

"You've been in Yanjiang County for so long, are you on a mission? If you need anything, just say the word. We're acquainted with the constables here, and we even know people in the local jail," Lu Yang said enthusiastically. As members of the Five Great Immortal Sects, they should naturally help each other.

Currently, Lu Yang and his two companions practically held sway over Yanjiang County. On the surface, they were enthusiastic residents who had helped Constable Wei apprehend criminals, and the constables often gathered here for meals. Secretly, they were esteemed demonic seeds favored by the Yanjiang Branch Master, and their true identities were core disciples of the Dao Inquiry Sect. In terms of connections, no one could surpass them.

Lan Ting fell silent. She was here on a secret mission and was not supposed to interact with outsiders. Otherwise, after helping Lu Yang fight the tiger earlier, she wouldn't have just symbolically taken two tiger hides and left. Now, over a month had passed, and there had been no progress. She was growing anxious. These three people before her might be an opportunity; perhaps they could help her!

Lan Ting paused for a moment, took two deep breaths to steady herself, and then solemnly told the three, "I am on a secret mission. What I tell you today must not be spread, as it concerns my safety! And please, do not be surprised by what you hear!"

Seeing Lan Ting's serious demeanor, the three straightened their backs.

"I need to infiltrate the Immortal Sect as an undercover agent!"

The three blinked in unison, thinking they had misheard.

Lan Ting continued, "This is reliable information our Laurel Immortal Palace obtained through special channels: recently, all Four Great Demonic Sects have been planning to recruit a large number of followers. The Blazing Sun Sect has finished its recruitment, and the other three are still recruiting."

"There is a branch of the Immortal Sect in Yanjiang County, called the Yanjiang Branch. Its master is mysterious, their identity unknown, and even their surname is a secret."

"The Yanjiang Branch ranks relatively low among all Immortal Sect branches, and its members generally have lower cultivation levels, making it suitable for a Foundation Establishment stage disciple like me to infiltrate. If the plan goes well, it's possible to even rise to a high position within the Yanjiang Branch."

"My senior sisters' cultivation levels are too high, making them too conspicuous and well-known in the outside world, which would hinder infiltration. After much discussion, this mission fell to me." When Lan Ting mentioned her senior sisters were "well-known," she meant they were exceedingly beautiful and had even appeared in certain forbidden books to fulfill some men's fantasies.

Lan Ting sighed, "It's just that I've been in Yanjiang County for over a month and still haven't found the location of the Yanjiang Branch. I don't even know if their trials have ended yet. I hope it's not too late!" Lan Ting looked at the three with hopeful eyes, especially at the very reliable Lu Yang, hoping they could offer assistance.

The three silently took out the waist tokens given by the Branch Master. The two prominent characters for "Steward" were particularly striking.

"Um, sorry, but we're already members of the Immortal Sect."

Lan Ting: "!!!"

"Oh, don't be alarmed. We mean we've successfully infiltrated the Immortal Sect," Lu Yang added.

Lan Ting relaxed. She had thought the three had defected, but it turned out they were just undercover... Wait, that wasn't quite right either.

"How did you get into the Immortal Sect?!"

Lu Yang was a bit troubled. How should he explain it? They had simply participated in a very ordinary trial and successfully passed.

Meng Jingzhou proudly stated, "We performed exceptionally well during the disciple selection. The Immortal Sect saw that we were very suitable for joining a demonic sect, so they chose us."

Man Gu didn't understand what Meng Brother was so proud of.

Lu Yang explained in simple terms how they went to the tiger demon's lair, found Qin Yuanhao's letter, then found Qin Yuanhao based on the letter, and thus learned about the recruitment of followers and the location of the Yanjiang Branch.

Lan Ting was filled with regret. She wished she had acted with Lu Yang back then. Now she had wasted over a month, hadn't even found the entrance to the Yanjiang Branch, while they had already infiltrated the high ranks.

"You should be able to recruit ordinary followers, just like Qin Yuanhao, right? Can you recruit me?"

Lu Yang shook his head. "Ordinary followers don't have access to the Immortal Sect's secrets. You would have to undergo the trials organized by the Immortal Sect's headquarters. To be honest, I don't think you can pass the trials; the probability of your identity being exposed is quite high."

Lan Ting lowered her eyes, somewhat disappointed. Lu Yang then added, "However, we can forge an identity for you, saying you're a distant relative of mine who has come to seek refuge. You can stay with us, outwardly working at the barbecue restaurant, and assist us when we take action. That way, you'll still complete a portion of your mission."

"Really?" Lan Ting hadn't expected such a good offer.

Man Gu also hadn't expected that the barbecue restaurant would finally recruit new staff.

Lu Yang nodded. "Of course. As someone in the Foundation Establishment stage, you're a considerably strong combatant and would be a great help to us. However, you're quite striking, so you'll need a disguise. By the way, do you know transformation spells? If not, I can teach you."

(End of chapter)