Translator: CinderTL
On the large bed lay a man and a woman.
The woman was none other than Wei Qin, whom Song Wen had been searching for.
The man had a bald head, marked with Buddhist marks, clearly a monk. Moreover, he was at the late Golden Core stage.
Song Wen recognized him.
His name was Hui Neng, and he held a high position within Mixed Yuan Temple, overseeing external affairs management—equivalent to a Vice Sect Leader in other sects.
Seeing Hui Neng, Song Wen finally understood how Wei Qin, a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, had managed to escape to Mixed Yuan Temple territory so quickly: it was all thanks to this monk's assistance.
The entire Yu Clan had been slaughtered—Mixed Yuan Temple was indeed behind the massacre.
"Benefactor Wei, have you taken care of those who were with you when you performed the requiem for the Yu Clan?" the monk asked.
"You were just calling me 'Female Bodhisattva,' and now it's 'Benefactor'..." Wei Qin rolled her eyes, giving the monk a sidelong glance. Then she continued, "Senior Hui Neng, rest assured. It's all been handled cleanly. No trace will ever be found."
The monk known as Hui Neng replied, "Good."
Wei Qin asked, "The Yu Clan is just a minor Foundation Establishment family with only five Foundation Establishment cultivators. Why would your temple go to such lengths to eradicate them?"
Hui Neng's expression suddenly darkened. "Don't pry into matters that aren't your concern. It won't benefit you."
Wei Qin threw herself into Hui Neng's arms, her voice sweet and seductive.
"It was wrong of me to ask. But Senior, you promised that if I wiped out the Yu Clan, you would let me join the Mixed Yuan Temple and become a Daoist Nun in the Joyful Hall. When will that happen?"
Hui Neng replied, "Among the disciples of the Mixed Yuan Temple, there are many who practice body refinement. Most of these disciples maintain their Pure Yang Bodies, their Primordial Yang thick and abundant. You plan to use them to help you form your Golden Core—a clever scheme indeed. And it's true that the Joyful Hall lacks Buddhist Nuns. I've already discussed this with Junior Brother Huiluan of the Joyful Hall, and he readily agreed."
"Thank you, Master. From now on, we are fellow disciples. Please take care of me and teach me profound Buddhist teachings," Wei Qin said.
Hui Neng replied, "Excellent. I shall now teach you a technique called 'Guanyin...'"
Outside the courtyard, Song Wen stood in a secluded street corner, listening to the two people's vulgar and obscene words.
He listened for an entire night.
Only at dawn the next day did the two finally finish their battle. Hui Neng bid farewell to Wei Qin and left the courtyard alone.
As soon as he stepped out, he saw Song Wen standing outside the gate.
Song Wen's aura was profound and concealed, yet Hui Neng felt a chill run down his spine, as though he were being stared down by a primordial beast.
Hui Neng's body trembled violently, and his voice was filled with barely concealed terror.
"Senior... were you waiting for this junior?"
"If you don't want to die, follow me."
Song Wen spoke calmly, then turned and flew out of the market without waiting for Hui Neng.
Hui Neng watched Song Wen's retreating figure, his eyes flashing with internal conflict. Ultimately, he lacked the courage to defy Song Wen. He took to the air and followed behind him.
The two left the market and arrived at a wide riverbank.
"May I ask Senior's honored title?" Hui Neng bowed and asked.
Song Wen didn't answer Hui Neng's question. Instead, he asked, "What exactly is the Mixed Yuan Temple plotting? Why did they send Wei Qin to slaughter the Yu Clan?"
Upon hearing this, Hui Neng roughly understood Song Wen's identity, and his fear intensified.
"This matter was ordered by High Masters Xiao Chan and Mi Hai. They... they seem to be plotting against you, Senior."
Song Wen turned his head and glanced at Hui Neng, a smile playing on his lips.
"You're quite clever to have guessed my identity."
Hui Neng's legs buckled, and he knelt on the ground.
"Reporting to Senior Yin Shuo, this junior is willing to cooperate with you to dismantle Xiao Chan and Mi Hai's plot. Please spare my life, Senior."
Hui Neng then recounted the general plan of Xiao Chan and Mi Hai.
They had made empty promises to rogue cultivators, inciting them to attack the Asura Sect's industries, targeting its foundations to weaken its power and pave the way for the Mixed Yuan Temple's return to Yishi Ridge.
Furthermore, if a large number of the Asura Sect's base-level industries were destroyed, it would inevitably alert Sect Leader Song Wen, prompting him to personally investigate the scene. Xiao Chan and Mi Hai planned to ambush and eliminate Song Wen during his inspection.
However, Xiao Chan and Mi Hai could never have imagined that their plan would be exposed so early on. Song Wen had already detected the scheme and, using the Fragmented Spirit Soul-Searching Art and the Thousand-Mile Breath Tracking Art, had tracked them all the way to the Brahma Sound Market.
Song Wen looked at Hui Neng, his mind racing.
The most direct way to resolve this crisis was, of course, to eliminate Mi Hai and Xiao Chan, eradicating the threat once and for all.
However, killing Mi Hai and Xiao Chan wouldn't be easy.
First, it would be difficult for Song Wen to track their movements.
Second, Mi Hai had witnessed Song Wen's methods and would never give him a chance to fight one-on-one. He would undoubtedly stick close to Xiao Chan and might even gather a group of Golden Core cultivators to set up a Formation and trap Song Wen.
Just then, Hui Neng, desperate to survive, revealed another secret.
"Reporting to Senior, in the past six months, the Profound Yin Sect has sent people to meet with High Master Mi Hai three times."
"Before that, did the Profound Yin Sect ever set foot in your Mixed Yuan Temple?" Song Wen asked.
"They would come, but rarely. And when they did, the Profound Yin Sect's envoys were all Golden Core cultivators who wouldn't have been able to meet with High Master Mi Hai," Hui Neng replied.
A sense of urgency suddenly surged through Song Wen.
Hui Neng's words made him realize that the Mixed Yuan Temple and the Profound Yin Sect might have joined forces to deal with him.
He could still handle the Mixed Yuan Temple alone.
But if he had to face the Profound Yin Sect as well, he would be powerless.
The Profound Yin Sect had Gui Ni and the Ant Queen Fu. Song Wen stood no chance against them.
"Should I abandon the Asura Sect and flee Yishi Ridge?" Song Wen wondered, his mind racing.
Hui Neng had no idea what Song Wen was thinking. Seeing the shifting expressions on Song Wen's face, he assumed Song Wen was considering how to deal with him, and his heart pounded with terror.
"Senior, please spare this junior. From this day forward, I will obey your every command. If the Mixed Yuan Temple ever takes any action against Yishi Ridge, I will notify your sect as quickly as possible," Hui Neng pleaded.
"Rest assured, I won't kill you," Song Wen replied.
He produced a Magic Staff and tossed it to Hui Neng.
The Magic Staff was a mid-grade Buddhist-Daoist Mystic Treasure. Song Wen couldn't remember which Mixed Yuan Temple monk he had killed to obtain it.
Hui Neng was insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Killing him might alert Mi Hai, so Song Wen decided to let him go.
"Working for me won't leave you wanting. I'm giving you this treasure as a reward. As long as you provide me with important intelligence about the Mixed Yuan Temple, I won't be stingy with Spirit Stones or Mystic Treasures. I even have pills that can help you achieve Core Formation."
Hui Neng caught the Magic Staff, and undisguised delight flashed in his eyes.
"Thank you, Senior, for sparing my life. Thank you, Senior, for this treasure."
Bang, bang, bang... Hui Neng kowtowed repeatedly.
"This junior will follow Senior's every command from now on and will never dare to disobey in the slightest."
After speaking, Hui Neng raised his head and looked at Song Wen.
He saw that Song Wen was holding a fist-sized stone in his hand.
The stone was emitting an extremely faint blue glow, which was completely absorbed by Hui Neng.
Hui Neng's expression immediately stiffened.
The stone was, in fact, an Image Stone.
(End of the Chapter)
---
📖Read (RDC) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c1020. [+2]
🔑Early Access at $5.
✍Translated (6) Series, (3.6K+) Chapters, (5.1M+) Words.