Chapter 375 - 221: The Immortal Sect Is the Evil Dao (Part 2)

With their Golden Core Cultivation, it had still taken them a month to get here by Sword Control.

They had encountered many dangers along the way.

If it were just Qi Refining Cultivators, it would truly be a near-death journey.

Unless they harbored some deep-seated hatred, Foundation Establishment Cultivators would almost never flee the cities where their Sects or the Yunqian Bureau were based.

"We all have to pretend we’re at the Qi Refining stage?" Jiang Wen asked.

"Yes. I’ve prepared everything you’ll need." As she spoke, Zhuo Qingcheng took out sets of clothes and their new identities.

Their backstories and names were all clearly written out.

Any investigation would trace back to a corresponding person; there was no way they’d be exposed as spies over such a small detail.

Jiang Man received his identity.

He was to be someone unwilling to live an ordinary life. After failing the Yunqian Bureau’s entrance exam, he carried the hopes of his entire village on his shoulders and didn’t dare return home, ultimately deciding to venture out and make a name for himself.

After unexpectedly learning of the Lingyue Sect’s existence, he had overcome countless dangers to come here and seek the Immortal Dao.

He was nineteen years old, at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer.

What he lacked wasn’t Talent, but resources.

Therefore, he firmly believed he could rise above the rest. If given just one chance, he would make a name for himself and become the hope of his village.

The people in his village all called him Ah Niu.

"It suits me quite well," Jiang Man said with some feeling.

The only difference was, he had never been his village’s hope.

"Do you all understand your new identities? Change into the clothes and make yourselves look a bit more disheveled, then you can go take the Sect’s entrance assessment. Get the details right—for example, the wounds and dirt on your legs. You can’t look too clean." Zhuo Qingcheng paused, then continued, "Don’t be anxious. Take it slow. We’ll regroup once you’re settled in. Also, try to find a way to get closer to the core of the mountain range."

"You should be able to uncover something there.

"Additionally, you need to find a way to contact our people who are already inside. The Secret Skill for doing so is included with your identities.

"After entering the Sect, you’ll need to imprint the Secret Skill onto your Identity Tokens. For that, we’ll be counting on Jiang Man."

As she spoke, Zhuo Qingcheng looked at Jiang Man.

"No need for all that trouble." Jiang Man casually took out an Array Stone, glanced at the Secret Skill, and began inscribing it.

Array Patterns appeared continuously at his fingertips.

A moment later.

The stone split into five pieces.

Jiang Man looked at the group and said, "One for each of you. Most of the Secret Skill is on them. You just have to complete the final step, and you’ll be able to start sensing each other.

"Unless someone from the Lingyue Sect knows the Secret Skill, these will look like ordinary stones no matter how they’re examined.

"Of course, anyone with a deep understanding of Arrays might get suspicious."

Just as Han Meixue was about to cry out in surprise, Jiang Man continued, "Also, first infuse a trace of Spiritual Qi into them.

"After that, your Spiritual Qi can trigger a Concealing Array. Tapping two stones together will create a Sound Insulation Array. Three will trigger both the Sound Insulation and Concealing Arrays. Four will add a Perception Array. And five can trigger both Defense and Attack functions, but only I can control the Attack.

"Each use will consume Spiritual Power.

"Also, they will break after three months.

"I’ll prepare new ones for you when the time comes."

The other four were all stunned as they listened.

’This thing is that powerful?’

’Since when were Array Masters this capable?’

Han Meixue couldn’t help but ask, "Do you really have a cultivation partner?"

Jiang Man nodded seriously. "I do."

Long Yangxia was also shocked. "These skills of yours... they certainly live up to your reputation as a genius."

"Unparalleled Celestial Pride," Jiang Man corrected.

Everyone: "..."

He wasn’t the least bit humble, quite the show-off in fact.

It was hard to say whether that was a good thing or a bad thing.

However, when they tried the stones, they worked exactly as Jiang Man had said.

Zhuo Qingcheng felt a surge of relief, glad that she had asked Zhuo Bufan for help.

This had clearly increased the mission’s chance of success.

"Also, unless something major happens, I’m just going to focus on my Cultivation," Jiang Man said.

Everyone: "..."

’Seriously?’

’He’s still going to be cultivating while undercover?’

Han Meixue whispered, "How are we supposed to be proper spies with you acting like that?"

"Fine. As long as the Array matter is handled, you just wait for our orders for everything else," Zhuo Qingcheng said.

After giving a few more instructions, Zhuo Qingcheng had everyone split up.

Then they headed for the Lingyue Sect.

Jiang Man was walking alone down the road when he soon spotted other people.

It was a middle-aged man leading five children toward the Sect’s main gate.

The middle-aged man was at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer.

The children looked to be five or six years old.

At that moment, the group across the way also noticed Jiang Man.

The man frowned and said, "Evil Dao?"

Huh? Jiang Man was taken aback. ’Aren’t *you* the ones from the Evil Dao?’

"Senior, why would you think that?" Jiang Man asked, bowing respectfully as he took out five Spiritual Source stones.

"I can’t see your Cultivation." Seeing Jiang Man’s respectful demeanor and accepting the Spiritual Source stones, the middle-aged man relaxed his guard a bit and continued, "Only those from the Evil Dao are able to conceal their Cultivation under normal circumstances."

Jiang Man felt the man’s description actually fit a Sect.

Under normal circumstances, you really couldn’t see their Cultivation.

This was true among Qi Refining Cultivators, and it was also true among those at Foundation Establishment.

Even Golden Core Cultivators had trouble discerning each other’s Cultivation and Realm.

The only way was to observe them in a fight.

Or by knowing their assessment scores.

That’s why you always had to ask what score they got; if the score wasn’t high enough, then they simply weren’t good enough.

"The Lingyue Sect should accept people like me, right?" Jiang Man asked.

"The Lingyue Sect doesn’t just take anyone. If you’re too old or your Cultivation is too poor, then you won’t make it," the middle-aged man said.

After that, the two of them headed toward the Sect together.

Along the way, Jiang Man looked at the children and asked, "They’re so young. Can they cultivate?"

At the Yunqian Bureau, everyone started their Cultivation at sixteen.

The middle-aged man said with disdain, "Only the Evil Dao starts Cultivation at sixteen. It’s all because their Talent is insufficient.

"In truth, if one’s Talent is great enough, they can begin cultivating as a child.

"They are closer to their innate state.

"Once they grow up, their Innate Qi disappears, making them less suited for Cultivation.

"The Evil Dao faction promotes the false slogan that anyone can cultivate, all so they can make people miss the best time for Cultivation.

"This ensures that everyone’s Cultivation remains limited, forcing them to serve the strong for all eternity.

"And they’re even expected to be eternally grateful for it."