Chapter 149

Chapter 149: Opportunity

Peacehaven Town was small, yet it had quite a few cultivators. There was only one Foundation Establishment expert, Wu Yong, but there were a dozen or so at the Qi Refining Stage, which was more than usual for a city of mortals.

According to Ye Zhao Zhao’s sensing, three of those Qi Refining cultivators had already joined the Devil Path.

Among the rest, some looked eager with shining eyes, while others were pale with worry. They likely already guessed that the Heavenly Sovereign Society was linked to the Devil Path.

The eager ones wanted to join the Devil Path to gain strength quickly. The fearful ones were probably controlled by various methods and forced to be here.

A man named Liu Bai was the most interesting. He acted scared, but he was one of the three Devil Path members on Ye Zhao Zhao’s list.

Li Shuang believed the list was real. Ye Zhao Zhao still needed it to earn the trust of their Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters, so she had no reason to fake it. Besides, Li Li had told her that Liu Bai reeked to high heaven, which made it very likely he was Devil Path.

Liu Bai half held a young woman’s arm. She wore a green dress and had delicate features; her name was Ye Qing Er.

Ye Qing Er seemed terrified of what was coming. Even with Liu Bai’s comforting words, she could not stop trembling.

Li Shuang watched the pair for a while. Liu Bai sensed her gaze and looked up at her warily. Li Shuang only smiled and withdrew her eyes.

Liu Bai stared at her for a bit, but could not read anything, so he went back to comforting the woman in his arms as he whispered: “Qing’er, don’t be afraid. Since we’re here, let’s accept it as it comes. It might not be as bad as you think.”

With his comfort, Ye Qing Er calmed a little, though her face was still troubled. She and Liu Bai had been passing through Peacehaven Town when, under Wu Yong’s forceful invitation, they joined the Heavenly Sovereign Society.

At first, it was supposed to be simple business. Later, Ye Qing Er realized the “business” was actually fraud. She could not bear the guilt and wanted to leave.

But joining was easy and leaving was hard. When she and Liu Bai tried to run, Wu Yong caught them and placed deadly restrictions on them. From then on, they became obedient puppets.

By that point, Ye Qing Er knew for sure the Heavenly Sovereign Society was a Devil Path group. No Righteous Path organization would act like this.

Now that the Society’s headquarters was sending someone, and that someone was a Golden Core Stage expert, there was even less hope of escape.

She looked at Liu Bai and forced herself to steady as she thought: [If it were only me, to avoid falling into the Devil Path, I might have ended my life already. But Liu Bai is here.] Liu Bai was her Dao Companion, and they had sworn to live and die together. No matter how hard it got, she would face it with him.

As everyone held their own thoughts, Li Shuang sensed something and looked up at the sky.

Soon, a flying boat hung in the air, and a group descended from above. The leader was unusually burly, bare-chested, his skin the color of burnished bronze. Li Shuang’s eyes moved as she judged: this was the Golden Core Stage Copper Devil Guard.

Not only had he reached Mid Golden Core Formation, he also walked the body-refining path; his skin looked tough as a treasure tempered hundreds of times.

Wu Yong hurried forward with a flattering smile as he said: “Lord Copper, you’ve arrived.”

The Copper Devil Guard gave a slight nod, then locked his gaze on Sui Jin. Without a word, he swept Sui Jin with his Golden Core divine sense.

Sui Jin’s expression did not change as he let the probe pass. The guard’s sense then swept over Li Shuang and the others before he showed a satisfied look and said: “Good, very good. Huang Yue, your record is already outstanding, and this time you brought many Foundation Establishment experts to the Heavenly Sovereign Society. When we return to headquarters, the Heavenly Sovereign Lord will grant you great merit.”

Sui Jin answered with pleased calm.

The Copper Devil Guard took out a yellow sheet and said: “This is a Commendation Writ. Drip your blood on it and your name will appear. When you reach headquarters, the Heavenly Sovereign Lord will reward you.”

He stared fixedly at Sui Jin, waiting to see his reaction.

Li Shuang’s heart gave a quick beat as she thought: [This Commendation Writ is definitely off. If Third Senior Brother really drips blood on it, who knows what might happen?] Yet Luo Ming Yue and Sui Jin himself both looked perfectly calm, and Li Shuang understood they must have their own methods.

Sui Jin smiled with just the right excitement as he said: “The Heavenly Sovereign Lord will personally award merit? What a great honor.”

Under the guard’s gaze, he pricked his finger without hesitation. Blood fell onto the yellow sheet, and words rose on it: “Huang Yue: mid Foundation Establishment.”

Li Shuang relaxed as she thought: [Its effect is limited. It couldn’t even see through Third Senior Brother’s disguise.]

Seeing the name, the Copper Devil Guard nodded in satisfaction as he said: “You have done well. The Heavenly Sovereign Lord will grant you glory.”

He looked back at Wu Yong and said: “As usual, I will stay in Peacehaven Town for three days. After that, take all the cultivators away.”

Wu Yong bowed and said: “Yes. The lodgings are ready. Please come with me, Lord Copper.”

The Copper Devil Guard flicked a glance at his followers and said: “Wu Yong will take me. The rest of you, see to your tasks.”

They answered and disappeared into different parts of Peacehaven Town.

Li Shuang and the others watched the guard leave, then gathered again in the underground chamber.

Sui Jin spoke in a low voice as he said: “He plans to stay here for three days. Wu Yong never warned us about that. It seems they have more in mind than they say. We need to find out what.”

Luo Ming Yue lifted a brow and said: “There’s no one above Nascent Soul Stage in Peacehaven Town. By Master’s instruction, you must solve this yourselves. I won’t act.”

Sui Jin smiled lightly as he said: “A mere Golden Core Stage enemy does not require First Senior Sister to act. I’ll tail the Copper Devil Guard. I have some skill in hiding my presence.”

Li Shuang’s eyes moved, and she volunteered as she said: “Let me handle the Copper Devil Guard. Senior Brother and Senior Sister, please check what his people are doing around Peacehaven Town.”

Sui Jin paused, about to refuse, but Luo Ming Yue smiled as she said: “With Junior Sister’s soul strength, following the Copper Devil Guard will be easy.”

Remembering that Li Shuang had rebuilt her cultivation and was not a common Foundation Establishment cultivator, Sui Jin nodded agreement.

He laid out the plan as he said: “Too many trailing him will be a problem, so Junior Sister will go alone. The rest of us will track the others and see if anything in town has changed that shouldn’t have. If anyone runs into danger, forget about keeping your identity hidden. Use the Flame Talisman, and the others will rush to help.”

Everyone agreed.

Ye Zhao Zhao’s eyes flickered as she thought: [Li Shuang will move alone? The chance I’ve been waiting for is here!]