Cultivation Begins with Daily Intelligence Reports

122: The day of the alliance”Hoo...”

Lin Jingyu slowly exhaled a mouthful of foul Qi, his breath long and profound. It was time.

With a slight thought, the familiar light-blue Intelligence Panel silently unfolded in his view.

[Information Refreshed!]

[The traitor of the Tianyue Sect, Xu Mou Xinghai, after dozens of days of fleeing, has infiltrated the Xinlan Market City.]

[Being extremely wealthy, he booked the most luxurious VIP suite in the Xinlan Immortal Pavilion. Utilizing the rich Spiritual Qi there and the rare Medicinal Pills he carried, the numerous injuries inflicted by his pursuers were continuously healing.]

[After resting securely in the suite for three days, a look of determination flashed in Xu Mou Xinghai’s eyes. He carefully took out a black Jade Talisman covered in strange runes, poured Spiritual Power into it with his fingertip, and fiercely crushed it! The Jade Talisman silently transformed into an extremely subtle fluctuation, instantly penetrating space and vanishing without a trace.]

[The wait was not long. Moments later, the Void Realm before him rippled, and an incredibly complex Map, outlined by pure light and shadow, materialized out of thin air.]

[In the center of the Map, a bright red marker was exceptionally striking. Xu Mou Xinghai’s face revealed a look of ecstasy!]

[He quickly packed his belongings and left the luxurious Xinlan Immortal Pavilion without a second thought. Hiding his tracks along the way, he followed the Map’s guidance and finally arrived at a remote, deep mountain valley filled with towering ancient trees.]

[The gigantic trees in the valley blocked out the sky and sun, creating a gloomy environment. He cautiously checked his surroundings, and after confirming he wasn’t followed, he took out a strange Token—neither metal nor wood—and shook it towards a moss-covered rock wall in the valley.]

[The Token flashed faintly, and the rock wall rippled like water, revealing a dark passage just wide enough for one person. Xu Mou Xinghai immediately darted inside.]

[At the end of the passage was a hidden Space enveloped by a powerful Formation! Three groups of people were already waiting inside the Space, each exuding deep, profound auras and contained Evil Qi.]

[One person was seated on a Stone Platform, eyes slightly closed, his aura obscure and terrifying like a deep abyss—he was clearly a Mighty Expert of the Golden Core Stage! Xu Mou Xinghai’s arrival instantly drew everyone’s attention.]

[”Did you bring the item?” A cold, hoarse voice sounded, carrying an undeniable sense of pressure. It came from a Cultivator whose face was obscured by a Black Robe.]

[Facing the gazes of the many powerful experts, Xu Mou Xinghai showed no fear, instead giving an arrogant smile: ”Hmph, naturally! I, Xu Mou, have been lurking in the Tianyue Sect for nearly twenty years, exhausting my efforts and barely surviving, wasn’t it all for this moment, for this Secret Realm Key? How could I mess up!”]

[”Very good.” The Golden Core Mighty Expert who had been sitting on the Stone Platform with closed eyes finally spoke, his voice calm yet carrying the authority of someone who controlled everything.]

[”Four of the Five Elements Fish Dragon Tokens have been gathered; only the token from the Wood Element lineage is missing. Once the Five Elements unite, we can forcibly tear open a corner of the Restriction surrounding the ’Myriad Ages Evergreen Secret Realm’ and enter by force.”]

[Xu Mou Xinghai glanced around, his brow slightly furrowed: ”Where is the person from the Wood Element lineage? Why haven’t they arrived yet? Could they have backed out at the last minute?”]

[The previous cold voice sounded again, carrying a hint of impatience and killing intent: ”The movements of the Wood Element Token Master have always been erratic. We have already sent a message to him through a Secret Treasure. If he is sensible, he will rush over. If he dares not to come...”]

[Two chilling sneers came from beneath the Black Robe. ”Heh heh, then don’t blame us for disregarding our past Fellowship. Even if he flees to the ends of the earth, we will extract and refine his Divine Soul to forge an artifact!”]

Lin Jingyu looked at the refreshed information on the panel, his brow slightly furrowed.

The Tianyue Sect traitor, the Five Elements Fish Dragon Tokens, Golden Core Mighty Experts, the Myriad Ages Evergreen Tomb... These fragments of information pieced together a vast conspiracy far exceeding his current level.

The Xinlan Market City wasn’t too far from here. The commotion caused by the opening of the Secret Realm planned by this group would likely be immense. A shadow fell over his heart.

First, the Demonic Cult’s Sacred Sect was stirring deep within Black Mountain, and now some “Fish Dragon Sect” remnants popped up, wanting to open an Ancient Cultivator Secret Realm, even involving Golden Core Cultivators.

Things were truly becoming more and more unstable. In comparison, the sense of presence of the Qinglan Sect seemed abnormally weak.

”A time of great trouble...”

Lin Jingyu muttered softly, suppressing the unease in his heart.

The games played by Golden Core Mighty Experts and the struggle for the Ancient Cultivator Secret Realm were truly too far removed from him, a mere Qi Refining Fourth Layer Cultivator.

What was pressing right now was the tough battle at his own doorstep. He took a deep breath, concealed the Intelligence Panel, and his gaze became sharp and focused once again.

Pushing open the secret door of the Cultivation Chamber, the sky outside was already bright. Inside Lin Family Village, the false ”festive” atmosphere had been deliberately intensified, yet it felt even more oppressive.

Lin Jingyu straightened his clothes and walked out with a calm expression.

At the village entrance, Grand Elder Lin Chenghai, dressed in a brand-new Crimson Daoist Robe, looked radiant. He stood with the core members of his faction and dozens of clansmen, lined up like a Wedding Procession, anxiously awaiting.

The air was filled with a suffocating tension and hypocritical deference.

Not long after, a low buzzing sound came from the horizon.

A Flying Boat, built entirely of dark, somber Ironwood, about ten Zhang long, with the head of a fierce fish carved on its bow, broke through the clouds. Carrying a powerful Spiritual Power Coercion, it steadily hovered above the entrance of Lin Family Village.

The sunlight was blocked by the hull, casting a large shadow on the ground, like dark clouds pressing down.

The Flying Boat’s hatch opened, and the first person to leap down was Liu Chengcai, the Young Clan Leader of the Spiritual Fish Liu Family, who was at the Qi Refining Fifth Layer!

He was dressed in luxurious Silk Robes, his face arrogant, and his gaze swept over the Lin Family members below like a hawk, filled with undisguised scrutiny and contempt.

Immediately afterward, two more figures descended, their auras equally deep and profound—they were clearly also at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer!

Following them were five or six sharp-eyed Elite Disciples of the Liu Family, whose cultivation was at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer. Every one of them held their heads high, their eyes full of disdain.

The Liu Family’s Flying Boat did not land; it just hovered brazenly, like a sharp longsword suspended over the Lin Family’s heads.

Liu Chengcai led the group, walking slowly into the village like a master inspecting his territory, under the humiliated, angry, yet fearful gaze of countless ordinary Lin Family clansmen.

Grand Elder Lin Chenghai quickly put on a flattering smile and hurried forward to greet him: ”Young Clan Leader Liu’s honored presence brightens the Lin Family’s humble abode! May your longevity and health be everlasting, and your demeanor remain splendid!”

Flattering a Cultivator who was countless years younger than himself, he didn’t feel the slightest bit ashamed.

Liu Chengcai gave a noncommittal nod, counting it as a response.

His gaze swept over the dazzling Red Silk, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes, and he walked straight toward the temporary Platform erected next to the Ancestral Hall.

The Platform was covered with a Red Carpet and furnished with several Sandalwood Tables and Chairs. Liu Chengcai unceremoniously took the main seat, while the Grand Elder could only sit at the subordinate position.

The rest of the Liu Family stood like guards on either side of the Platform, their eyes indifferent.

Servants tremblingly offered Fragrant Tea.

Liu Chengcai picked up the teacup, used the lid to skim the foam, symbolically touched his lips, and then wrinkled his brow in disgust, as if he had drunk something filthy.

He casually set the teacup down, the clinking sound—neither loud nor soft—breaking the hypocritical small talk.

”Grand Elder Lin,” Liu Chengcai spoke, his voice not loud, yet clearly audible throughout the entire venue, carrying a condescending tone of interrogation:

”I heard that your residence was visited by Demonic Cultivators a few days ago? The loss must have been considerable? I hope it won’t affect the great matter of our two families forming an alliance today.”

Lin Chenghai’s heart skipped a beat, and his face appropriately showed grief, indignation, and a hint of lingering fear. His voice even rose a few decibels:

”Alas! Fellow Daoist Liu, you see clearly! Those damned Demonic Cultivator brats—the leader actually had Qi Refining Seventh Layer cultivation, and he brought four Qi Refining Mid-Stage accomplices! They launched a night raid; it was truly vicious!”