Chapter Five: Why Are You Here?

The Azure Sky Mirror had not been activated.

What did this mean?

Chu Tiange was no fool; naturally, he would not believe this man’s words. “Do you expect me to believe your empty ramblings? Since the Grandmaster lent Elder Liu the Azure Sky Mirror, how could he not have activated it?”

“Ah, I forgot to activate it,” the young scholar nodded.

Chu Tiange: “…”

It was rumored that the leader of the Morning Immortal Sect, Xiao Yicai, was a transcendent of the Forgetting Sorrow Realm. In all the lands, unless those of the Crossing God stage emerged, he was unrivaled. The Azure Profound Continent was ruled by the Three Teachings and Nine Sects, with the Morning Immortal Sect being one of the Nine. Yet a thousand years ago, the Morning Immortal Sect had been but a second-rate group, only managing to join the Nine by virtue of this Grandmaster’s own strength.

However, Xiao Yicai was far too mysterious; even in his previous life, Chu Tiange had never glimpsed his true face.

In that past life, Chu Tiange once speculated that this Grandmaster perhaps perished during the calamity two months later, for otherwise the sect could not have declined so swiftly thereafter.

“You are… the Grandmaster?” Chu Tiange was shocked. He had never imagined that this young scholar would actually be the Grandmaster himself.

But it made sense. In the sect, only the Grandmaster would possess such profound abilities, able to know the unfathomable.

“That’s right, I am Xiao Yicai,” the young scholar nodded, then after a pause, slowly uttered three more words: “His nephew.”

“…”

Chu Tiange’s pupils narrowed, then he suddenly laughed. “Oh, his nephew? Forgive my rudeness!”

“Heh. Since you know my name, I am Xiao Shijing. There’s no need for hostility; all this is by my uncle’s order, assisting you in secret,” Xiao Shijing said.

“The Grandmaster?”

“Indeed. In every corner of the Morning Immortal Sect, the Azure Sky Mirrors are set. Rather than saying they discern truth from lies, it’s more accurate to call them ‘monitors.’ Nothing escapes the Grandmaster’s eyes. Last night’s events, even this conversation now, the Grandmaster sees and hears it all,” Xiao Shijing explained.

“So even if the Azure Sky Mirror was lent out, without the Grandmaster’s secret control, it could not change color. Last night, I happened to be with my uncle; otherwise, I would not have witnessed such a spectacular scene. I must say, you are truly remarkable.” Xiao Shijing gave Chu Tiange a deep look of admiration.

“Spectacular!”

It was indeed spectacular—a night of dark winds and black moon, when a mere Mortal Bone cultivator unexpectedly crushed a late-stage Spirit Gathering practitioner with ease. Had it not been witnessed, who would believe it?

“Since you saw everything, by the rules of the sect, harming a fellow disciple should result in crippling of cultivation and expulsion. Why cover for me?”

Chu Tiange fixed his gaze on Xiao Shijing, trying to discern his intentions.

“The sect rules?” Xiao Shijing shook his head, his tone indifferent. “They’re just empty words, written by the Grandmaster himself.”

“Moreover, last night, even if you hadn’t acted, the Grandmaster would have. You must have noticed—Zhao Yiren was bewitched, clearly the doing of a malignant spirit. Ning Wuque is very suspicious; with his abilities, how could he have escaped the Divine Abyss?” Xiao Shijing’s gaze deepened as he glanced toward the Hall of Punishment.

“But Ning Wuque is only a small fry. To catch the big fish behind him, we must let the line out longer. Ning Wuque cannot die yet, or it would ruin the plans of the Three Teachings and Nine Sects.”

“As for you, you must remain safe as well. Only with a Heaven Bone can one fight foes beyond their realm. No one would expect the so-called ‘King of Spongers,’ a worthless nobody, would quietly astonish the cultivation world.” Xiao Shijing lowered his head again, his eyes sharp as he looked at Chu Tiange.

“To become a top-tier immortal sect, one must possess the Heaven Bone Carving Technique. Unfortunately, for a thousand years, aside from the Grandmaster, none have managed to carve a Heaven Bone. This led to the rumor that our sect’s carving method could only produce Earth Bones, so the Grandmaster is all the more determined to protect you.”

“Heaven Bone!” Chu Tiange had not expected the sect’s carving technique to be the Heaven Bone Method.

Nor did the Grandmaster know that Chu Tiange’s talent was actually the Immortal Bone!

Both sides had misjudged each other.

“More importantly, there is something the Grandmaster needs you to do,” Xiao Shijing continued. “Only you can accomplish it. Once it’s done, the sect rules become truly meaningless for you.”

Chu Tiange raised an eyebrow. “So you mean I have no choice? If I refuse, the rules will still apply—crippling, expulsion, as required? Seems I don’t have an option. What is it?”

“A month ago, Azure Profound City was struck by a massive ghost tide.”

“Brother, there’s a Ghost King there. Heaven Bone or not, even a hundred Divine Pill cultivators would be no match for it,” Chu Tiange rejected outright.

The Netherworld has seven ranks: Yin Fiend, Blood Fiend, Nether Fiend, Ferocious Fiend, Ghost Fiend, Earth Fiend, and Heaven Fiend.

A Ghost Fiend is a Ghost King, already cultivating by absorbing yin energy, extremely terrifying—even Nascent Soul cultivators struggle to withstand one.

“You are of Heaven Bone constitution; the Grandmaster would not send you to your death. The Ghost King has been subdued. Your destination is a mountain town beneath Azure Profound City, where in just a month, a Blood Fiend has killed many.”

“It’s too cunning; whenever sect members are stationed there, it hides away. As soon as our disciples leave, it reappears and kills again—impossible to guard against. The city is in panic.”

“So, you want a Mortal Bone cultivator to go and lure out the Blood Fiend?” Chu Tiange paused, then spoke.

Compared to ordinary folk, a Mortal Bone cultivator’s vital energy is much richer—prime food for nether creatures.

“No! Any ordinary Mortal Bone cultivator would be a mere morsel. But the Grandmaster witnessed your strength last night and believes you are the best candidate, fully able to contend with the Blood Fiend and wait for reinforcements to slay it,” Xiao Shijing explained.

“This Blood Fiend must be very important to you, related to the Three Teachings and Nine Sects’ plans. I can agree, but I want payment: three bottles of Spirit Gathering Elixir, one Foundation Establishment Pill, and thirty top-grade spirit stones,” Chu Tiange proposed.

Three bottles of Spirit Gathering Elixir were needed for the Lamp Lighting stage; the Foundation Establishment Pill could stabilize cultivation after Spirit Gathering; thirty top-grade spirit stones, though not much, would be enough to support him to the fourth stage of Spirit Gathering.

“Deal!” Xiao Shijing agreed without hesitation. “When will you depart?”

“Tonight,” Chu Tiange replied.

“Good, go and prepare. When the sun sets, I’ll send someone with your items, and you’ll set off immediately.”

“Alright.” Chu Tiange agreed, then left to pack his things.

Watching his departing figure, Xiao Shijing’s eyes grew thoughtful. “Who would have thought this infamous ‘King of Spongers’ had been hiding his true strength all these years, keeping so low-profile.”

He watched Chu Tiange’s figure for a long time, not even noticing the approaching footsteps behind him.

“Senior Brother Grandmaster, what are you doing here?”

A surprised voice rang out from behind.