Chapter 97: Your task is to infiltrate the Asked Dao Sect

“Since Li Shouyi is dead, his promotion will no longer be considered.”

“The authorities might suspect the presence of a demonic cult here, given his identity, so everyone needs to lie low for a while.”

Tang Yunsheng made a quick decision; he had risen through the ranks step by step and was decisive in his actions.

“As for you three, hand over your bone tiles.”

The three handed over their bone tiles, which bore the characters "Deacon." Tang Yunsheng approached the statue of the Immortal Being, bowed three times to it, and with a golden light emanating from his hand, muttered incantations that were hurried and indistinct.

He swiped his hand over the three bone tiles, and the characters "Deacon" transformed into "Helmsman."

As an inspector, Tang Yunsheng was authorized by the higher-ups to arrange promotions and demotions for helmsmen and those below that rank.

Promoting Lu Yang and the other two to helmsman was not Tang Yunsheng's decision, but rather the will of the higher-ups. Tang Yunsheng wasn't sure which high-ranking official made the call, only that he heard it was a decision from the Vice-Cult Master level, or even higher; he was merely executing orders.

“Which commandery are we to serve as helmsmen in?” Meng Jingzhou asked, eager to prove himself.

Tang Yunsheng shook his head. “What are you thinking? You're only in the early stage of Foundation Establishment. How could people under you accept you as helmsmen? Not even at the Yanjiang Branch.”

“A new helmsman will be appointed to Yanjiang Commandery. That's not something you need to worry about.”

“Then our helmsman status...”

“Your promotion to helmsman wasn't my idea, but the higher-ups'. They want you to advance to the helmsman rank, but without an assigned post, only the rank itself. This way, you'll gain many rights exclusive to helmsmen, while being free from many restrictions.”

“The higher-ups have assigned you a confidential mission. No one outside of the four of us can know about it!”

Lu Yang and the other two stood at attention, poised and ready.

Tang Yunsheng whispered, “The higher-ups are giving you one year to find a way to infiltrate the Dao-Seeking Sect. I will be your contact!”

Lu Yang and the other two's pupils contracted slightly, surprised by the mission.

Tang Yunsheng waved his hand. “I know this mission is extremely difficult. Among the Five Great Immortal Sects, Suspended Temple has too few people, making it inconvenient to plant agents. The Dao-Seeking Sect's thinking is too unconventional, making it hard to enter, and even if you do, your identity would likely be discovered due to a lack of conformity.”

“However, the three of you have a high degree of compatibility with the Dao-Seeking Sect. You might be able to enter successfully.”

“We're not asking you to become disciples of the Dao-Seeking Sect. According to intelligence reports, the Dao-Seeking Sect has a rich entertainment industry and recruits people annually. You can use this opportunity to infiltrate them!”

“Of course, what I've mentioned is just one method. The cult will not interfere; you have the freedom to improvise and find other ways. The deadline is one year. If you fail to complete the mission within that time, the higher-ups will assign you a new one!”

Seeing the confident expressions on Lu Yang and the others' faces, Tang Yunsheng shook his head with a wry smile. They had no idea how difficult it was to infiltrate the Dao-Seeking Sect; countless people had already perished there.

He pulled out three talismans and handed them to the trio. “The Dao-Seeking Sect is full of dangers. These are Evasion Talismans. If your mission fails, use them immediately to escape!”

These three were rare talents within the Immortal Cult, especially Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou. Naturally, the Cult Master would ensure their full protection.

"The Dao-Seeking Sect is full of dangers?" Meng Jingzhou thought to himself. "Going back to the Dao-Seeking Sect is like going home for me. What danger could there be? If there's any danger, it's only Senior Sister."

“One more thing, did Helmsman Chu ever tell you how to revive the Immortal Being?”

Lu Yang shook his head. “Helmsman Chu only told us the first step: to kill people to please the Immortal Being. As for the second step, he said our rank was too low, and by regulation, he couldn't tell us.”

“Now that you are cult members at the helmsman rank, you are qualified to know how to revive the Immortal Being,” Tang Yunsheng said. “This is also an obligation for every helmsman-level member. Come, I'll demonstrate it for you.”

Tang Yunsheng knelt before the Immortal Being, raised both hands high, and loudly called out, “Oh, Immortal Being, Miaomuzhen above, your most devout followers sincerely call upon you here! Please bestow a divine miracle and protect humanity!”

After speaking, he kowtowed three resounding times, then stood up, the ritual complete.

The three were utterly bewildered. "That's it?"

Mang Gu even muttered to himself, “Why does the Immortal Being's name sound like a barbarian's?”

Tang Yunsheng said, “You must strictly follow what I just said when calling upon the Immortal Being, but you must not say Miaomuzhen.”

“Why is that?”

“Because Miaomuzhen is not the Immortal Being's true name.”

The three grew even more confused. “If it's not the true name, then why say it?”

Tang Yunsheng explained, “To revive the Immortal Being, you must utter both his title and his immortal name. The first step, 'killing people to please the Immortal Being,' means that once the Immortal Being is pleased, he will subtly guide us to reveal his immortal name.”

“We already know his title is 'Immortal Being' from the ruins, but his immortal name was not recorded there. Until the Immortal Being grants us a divine sign, our Immortal Cult can only keep trying different names.”

“Out of respect for the Immortal Being, the interval between calling out immortal names must be one month!”

Tang Yunsheng pulled out a tattered "Great Xia Dictionary." “Most names have already been tried. Recently, I've suspected the Immortal Being might be a barbarian, so I'm trying barbarian names.”

The ancient barbarians were once a significant force protecting humanity, which would align with the Immortal Being's identity.

Tang Yunsheng took out three thick notebooks and handed them to the trio. On the covers was written: "Immortal Names Already Called (120th Edition)."

The sheer number of immortal names recorded made Lu Yang suspect that the Immortal Cult had already tried every name imaginable.

“Every few decades, we compile a list of all the immortal names we've called out to avoid repetition. This is the latest compiled list. Take a look, and try calling out a name, just make sure it's not one already in the notebooks.”

Lu Yang cried out, “Oh, Immortal Being Archimedes above, your most devout followers sincerely call upon you here! Please bestow a divine miracle and protect humanity!”

Meng Jingzhou cried out, “Oh, Immortal Being Li Goudan above...”

Mang Gu cried out, “Oh, Immortal Being Yelü Sarad above...”

Evidently, very few names remained for the Immortal Being.

After their calls, the Immortal Being did not bestow a divine miracle or revive itself.

“Alright, I've relayed all the tasks the higher-ups asked me to convey to you this time. Pack your things and figure out a way to enter the Dao-Seeking Sect on your own.”

“Yes.”

Back at the barbecue restaurant, Lanting was already waiting for the trio in the main hall. Lu Yang and Lanting coordinated their stories, briefly discussing the subsequent events and the mission Tang Yunsheng had given them. Lanting looked at the three of them with a strange expression.

The Immortal Cult, she thought, was likely doomed sooner or later.

“Since you're leaving, I should also return to the Immortal Palace to report on my mission,” Lanting said with a sweet smile, reluctant to say goodbye. “These past ten-plus days have been very pleasant. Thank you for your help. Although I haven't officially joined the Demonic Cult, helping you slay the helmsman is a great merit and will earn me many contribution points.”

Fate, indeed, was a curious thing. She had initially helped Lu Yang kill the tiger simply out of sect camaraderie, all while on a mission to infiltrate the Demonic Cult. Who would have thought that in the end, she, with her mission, wouldn't join, while Lu Yang and the other two, who initially didn't even know of a demonic cult, would end up joining?

With Tang Yunsheng still in the commandery, prolonged contact between them risked discovery by him, potentially causing further trouble.

“The road ahead is long, may we meet again if fate allows!”

“Goodbye!”

“Take care!”

After seeing Lanting off, the trio began packing their belongings. Suddenly, Meng Jingzhou remembered, “Where are our horses?”