Starting My Cultivation With Time Management-Chapter 897 - 37 Spy Among Spies
Chapter 897 -37 Spy Among Spies
Hell Path’s cultivators from the same sect, even within their own stronghold, refuse to reveal their true appearances and refer to each other using numerical aliases.
The only exception is Wei Dongliu: because he had risen to the position of Six Paths Alliance Leader, and the mission associated with the number nine was openly known, everyone was aware that Number Nine was Wei Dongliu.
Of course, no one knew that Wei Dongliu himself was also operating under a layer of disguise…
Soon, the crowd was complete.
Aside from Sect Leader Luo Daochang, the rest were all shrouded in black mist, obscuring their features. Their numerical aliases could only be inferred by their seating order.
Though Wei Dongliu’s identity was exposed, he went along with local customs and donned a layer of demonic qi to conceal himself.
“I’ve summoned all of you today to confirm the progress of your respective tasks,” Luo Daochang calmly said. “Let’s start with Number One.”
Number One cleared his throat and began describing his mission.
Wei Dongliu listened silently and quickly gathered that Number One was an undercover agent lurking within Penglai’s Yuqing View.
Although the speaker deliberately avoided revealing their identity, and most of their words focused on the mission and the internal matters of Yuqing View, Wei Dongliu was intimately familiar with Penglai. He immediately deduced that this agent was stationed within the Divine Elixir Pavilion and had a rather low status… Many of their guesses and analyses about Penglai’s Yuqing View were egregiously mistaken!
After Number One finished speaking, Luo Daochang remained noncommittal and said indifferently:
“Ever since Number Three’s mission concluded, Yuqing View has intensified its purging and investigation of spies. Though outwardly the situation seems calm for now, internally the vigilance is still very high.”
“Do not rush to probe for information. Above all else, prioritize avoiding exposure.”
Number One didn’t reply further and merely uttered an affirmative sound.
Wei Dongliu glanced at Number Three and immediately knew this person was likely Luo Yan’s second senior sister, Lei Caiyan.
The turn then came to Number Two: this shadowy figure’s voice seemed rather hoarse, and they spoke haltingly, with stammers and unnecessary pauses, making it difficult for everyone to follow. No one could tell whether this was their natural manner or an intentional pretense.
This person was not lurking within the Three Pure Ones and Six Paths, but rather at a Buddhist temple as a novice monk.
The temple was named “Golden Cicada Temple,” a name Wei Dongliu had never heard before… And he was a self-proclaimed know-it-all, managing five different undercover identities across major sects!
What could possibly be the origins of this Golden Cicada Temple, to warrant Hell Path’s specific interest in placing a spy there?
As for the specific details Number Two described, it was merely trivial matters related to the Buddhist sect—where the abbot had gone, who was studying in the Scriptural Repository, and so forth. Luo Daochang listened quietly and offered no instructions, instead turning to Number Three and asking:
“How are things on your end?”
“Heavenly Demon Path has been acting strangely lately,” Number Three replied. “Master Zizai is said to have undergone a dramatic personality change. He now shows little interest in daily sect affairs, but whenever it involves the Mortal Life Path, he orders the sect leaders to prioritize compliance at all costs.”
“Many elders now suspect that this immortal has fallen into demonic possession, accounting for his sudden transformation, but there’s no concrete evidence to prove it.”
“Furthermore, Master Zizai’s historical reputation is still formidable, so no one dares to test his limits for now. Everyone can only obey him in silence.”
Wei Dongliu listened silently, thinking to himself that after Lei Caiyan defected from Penglai, she had evidently taken on a new identity within Heavenly Demon Path.
“Hmm.” Luo Daochang responded coldly, his tone tinged with displeasure. “Number Three, let me remind you of one thing: maintain a clear distinction between personal and public matters.”
“Masks worn for too long can be hard to remove.”
“It doesn’t matter anymore,” Number Three said indifferently. “Everyone already knows who I am… Who knows, I could die any day now.”
“Although I followed the sect’s orders to infiltrate Penglai, Elder Shi Ding truly treated me with utmost kindness—not only not withholding anything but even showing deep generosity. Betraying him was an unavoidable sect mission, but his death at the hands of Heavenly Demon Path’s sect leader? That’s a grievance I absolutely will avenge.”
Wei Dongliu: ………..
Oh no, I feel somewhat ashamed now.
Speaking of Elder Shi Ding’s demise, I’ve been preoccupied with managing the Heavenly Craft Workshop and watching over Liuli Lady to even consider seeking vengeance for him. Though it’s partly because I lacked power at the time, I still failed to fulfill my obligation as a disciple.
The only one still fixated on revenge turns out to be my second senior sister who’s already defected from the sect… Shameful indeed.
Well, now that I’ve reached the Nascent Soul stage, I’ll find some time to log into Luo Yan’s identity and deal with Heavenly Demon Path’s sect leader and the Ghost Mother Sisters—to honor my master’s memory!
Seeing Number Three spiraling into despair, no one said much more and simply turned their attention to Numbers Four and Five.
These two seats were empty, and no one knew the reasons behind it. Six suddenly spoke up:
“Over at Shushan, ever since Numbers Four and Five were slain by Tai Yin Sword Master, investigations for spies have become particularly stringent. I can’t make any moves now; otherwise, I’ll risk exposing myself.”
“Then lie low for now,” Luo Daochang sighed and cursed. “Tai Yin Sword Master! What the hell is that, coming out of nowhere like a rock from a crack?”
“Shushan with Tai Yin Sword Master has truly disrupted our plans,” Six added with a sigh. “Overnight, immortals retired, sect leaders replaced, and the top echelon underwent near-total upheaval.”
“Most of the personnel networks and intelligence frameworks we had established have collapsed. I need more time to rebuild those relationships, so I can’t complete the sect’s assigned tasks for now.”
Wei Dongliu listened silently, sneering internally as he deduced the identity of the speaker.
Either a disciple of Elder Ming Hua or Elder Leng Quan.
When these two were executed as culprits, their disciples weren’t punished but were inevitably ostracized by the various peaks.
The total breakdown of their networks was only natural… You’d better watch out, traitor, or I—Ling Yunpo—might catch you!
Once Six finished venting, it was Seven’s turn. freewebnøvel.coɱ
Seven: ………..
He remained completely silent, and everyone just stared at him quietly.
Then… Luo Daochang’s voice suddenly spoke up:
“Alright, Number Eight.”
Wei Dongliu nearly toppled over: so all of them were secretly communicating telepathically just now?
Whatever it was, if it couldn’t be spoken openly at the gathering, must you play whispering games with the sect leader? Aren’t you showing disregard for your comrades?
When Seven finished, Number Eight spoke up:
“Kunlun hasn’t had any major developments lately.”
Though this individual had disguised their voice, Wei Dongliu swiftly recognized it as the person who had approached him at Hell Path’s stronghold entrance last time, attempting to ingratiate themselves.
“Elder Changgeng has formed his Nascent Soul, and numerous factions in Kunlun are competing to place disciples under his tutelage,” Eight continued. “Unfortunately, Ziwei Master has specifically assigned four individuals from the Xu, Luo, Zhao, and Ge clans, while Elder Changgeng has rejected all others. Our mole failed to infiltrate his inner circle.”
“Hmm,” Luo Daochang said impassively. “Elder Changgeng is destined to become Kunlun’s future sect leader; his discipleship priorities naturally focus on security above all else.”
“For now, avoid targeting him. Just continue to act discreetly.”
Wei Dongliu remained silent, but his mind raced.
The Xu, Luo, Zhao, and Ge clans were indeed the top four scorers during the Ascension Road trials, which led me to accept them into my fold—or so it appeared to outsiders.
Yet hardly anyone knew that prior to the Ascension Road results, Ziwei Master had already decided on these four names for me… How does Number Eight know this?
What is their true identity?
