"Ah? You didn't know about this? Wasn't it just the other day that someone from your Lingxing Peak took a token to our hall's intelligence storeroom to retrieve some information? I happened to be on duty there at that time. Recently, due to a shortage of personnel here, the Deputy Hall Master had me transferred here again; it really keeps me extremely busy." The middle-aged cultivator was also very surprised and still carried some complaints in his voice.

Yuan Ming's heart sank. Shen Lingyun had sent someone to fetch intelligence ahead of time? Then why hadn't he informed him beforehand? Could there be some hidden circumstances?

He carefully recalled the scene of his interaction with Shen Lingyun, pondered for a long while, and gradually formed a plan.

After confirming Yuan Ming's token and purpose, the middle-aged cultivator did not further trouble Yuan Ming and busied himself with his own matters.

This allowed Yuan Ming to linger in the storeroom for about a day before finally returning to Shen Lingyun's cave mansion with a bunch of Jade Scrolls.

"These are the suspicious records you've identified? This one named Ge Chen, what exactly is suspicious about him?" Shen Lingyun carefully examined the Jade Scrolls presented by Yuan Ming and casually inquired.

"Reporting to Master, firstly, every time he completes a mission, one of his companions inevitably dies a violent death, and secondly, according to what your disciple has learned, he once took a master's token to the Deacon Hall to access some classified intelligence," Yuan Ming replied respectfully, head bowed.

Upon hearing this, Shen Lingyun suddenly paused as if recalling something, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. He then fixed his gaze sharply, his aura restrained yet unlaunched, his voice becoming even more emotionless as he spoke calmly:

"Oh? Such a thing happened?"

"Indeed, disciple speculates that perhaps that token was forged by him. This man dares to impersonate master's name; it's truly detestable," Yuan Ming continued.

"Hehe, you guess well. He probably managed to get a rough likeness of my token from somewhere else, but this does not prove anything," Shen Lingyun suddenly chuckled lightly.

"Master is right. Since this is the case, I've now located this man's position. Please permit me now to capture him and confront him face-to-face to clear Master's suspicions," Yuan Ming bowed and turned to leave.

But just then, he suddenly felt a pain in his chest, and looking down, he saw it was a silver-white long spear, penetrating his thorax.

Yuan Ming recognized it was Shen Lingyun's magic treasure. He immediately tried to stay conscious and, unable to believe it, turned his head to look at Shen Lingyun.

"Master, why... this?"

"It's a pity; I truly wanted you as my successor. Some things you would have come to know in time. If you must blame something, blame your own curiosity for noticing things you shouldn't at the wrong time," Shen Lingyun said still wearing a smile, his voice as calm as ever.

However, in the next instant, his smile froze on his face.

Suddenly, Yuan Ming, summoning the last of his strength, crushed the Jade Talisman in his hand. Simultaneously, a sound that shook the heavens suddenly resounded outside the cave mansion.

"These are the suspicious records you've identified..."

Shen Lingyun was startled and immediately released his Divine Sense, only to see two phantoms floating above the cave mansion, depicting himself and Yuan Ming.

Meanwhile, near the mountain waist, the corpulent Shen Peng looked up into the sky with surprise, holding in his hand a fist-sized treasure bead that continuously emitted light.

"The Abnormality Capturing Pearl, since when?"

Shen Lingyun's eyes flashed coldly, recognizing it as a popular magic artifact of the Chaotian Sect. Paired in twos, it could record the nearby situation and simultaneously transmit to another Round Bead Magic Artifact not far away.

This artifact was generally used during high-level cultivators' teachings, allowing disciples who were not qualified to attend to also have a chance to listen in. Never did he expect Yuan Ming to use it here.

Shen Lingyun took advantage of the moment before any critical scene was displayed, and with a thought, he knocked Shen Peng unconscious. He then quickly walked over to Yuan Ming's corpse, took the other Image Capturing Pearl from him, and directly crushed it.

Just then, Shen Lingyun suddenly saw the last expression on Yuan Ming's face, mocking.

"These are the..."

The familiar voice echoed again, yet this time, the phantoms did not appear over Lingxing Peak but over Changle Peak.

Shen Lingyun froze, then suddenly recalled that activating the Abnormality Capturing Pearl did not require a Jade Talisman. Yuan Ming's last action had triggered something else.

"Junior Brother Shen, what is this all about?"

Suddenly, another elderly voice came from outside the cave mansion; it was a Core Formation Stage cultivator from the Chaotian Sect stationed at other peaks, who, having noticed the content of the Image Capturing Pearl, had come specifically to inquire.

Shen Lingyun's face shifted for a moment, but eventually, he steeled his heart, took out a Ten Thousand Miles Communication Talisman, activated it, and only said one sentence:

"There's been a change, we must initiate the plan immediately, please Venerable come quickly."

Then, he released his hand, letting the communication talisman turn into ashes. Simultaneously, he took out a token, mana surged, and he activated the protective formation already prepared.

A light pillar soared from Lingxing Peak into the sky, like a beacon of fire, and after a brief silence, several other peaks within the sect, just like Lingxing Peak, activated their protective formations.

The chaos of the Chaotian Sect had officially begun at this very moment.

...

Yuan Ming opened his eyes and found himself back in the room again. At the same time, he heard the voice of Shura Master, tinged with a trace of regret.

"The first replay failed."

However, Yuan Ming did not feel discouraged, for the last few tactics were merely feeble struggles to get back at Shen Lingyun for deceiving him. What he truly wanted was to start the next attempt armed with the intelligence he had gathered.

After all, the experience in the Illusion Array wasn't real history; he only needed to reach his goal within three tries without considering the consequences.

After briefly pondering the intelligence he had gained from his last experience, Yuan Ming soon heard Shen Peng's voice outside the room.

"Junior Brother Zhen, hurry up..."

Before Shen Peng could finish calling out a few times, Yuan Ming had already opened the door and asked directly.

"Senior Brother Shen, did you manage to hold a reception task for me? I wonder if there is one for Chang Chun Temple?"

"Chang Chun Temple? There is, but how did Junior Brother Zhen know I came to tell you about a reception task?" Shen Peng scratched his head, utterly puzzled.

"Hehe, Senior Brother Shen has always been warm-hearted, and seeing that he came today with joy, conceivably he had gone out of his way to arrange a good opportunity for his junior brother. I merely happened to guess it, but still, thank you, Senior Brother, for your care. I will keep your kindness in mind," Yuan Ming said with a chuckle.

Seeing Yuan Ming's smiling face, Shen Peng was so shocked that he momentarily didn't know what to say.

"So, Senior Brother, is there a task for receiving Chang Chun Temple?" Yuan Ming urged upon seeing his reaction.

Like waking from a dream, Shen Peng said, "Ah, yes, yes, I have two tasks in hand, one for Chang Chun Temple and one for the Five Thunder Sect. Since Junior Brother already has a plan, I'll give you the Jade Scroll for Chang Chun Temple, and I'll go back and register it later. However, Junior Brother, you don't have any issues today, do you?"

"Senior Brother need not worry. It's just that I had some insights and felt that the past was too dull. I wanted to change something to avoid affecting my future cultivation," Yuan Ming explained.

Shen Peng nodded hesitantly, but seeing that his usually gloomy junior brother had become much more cheerful, he thought it not a bad thing, so he didn't say much more. He briefly explained the task details and reminded him of a few precautions before turning to leave.

Yuan Ming returned to his room, let his Divine Sense sink into the Jade Scroll, and learned that the delegation from Chang Chun Temple would arrive the next day. After reflecting for a moment, he picked up his Storage Bag and went outside the Sect to prepare the necessary items at the workshop.

The next morning, at the peak of Dragon Peak.

This peak was tasked with negotiations with other Sects and housed buildings mostly for receiving guests from other Sects. Although some disciples maintained them daily, there was no Peak Master assigned.

A large Green Wood Flying Boat slowly landed on the platform at the top of the mountain. Dozens of cultivators dressed in Da Jin attire descended, led by a handsome young cultivator with a tuft of green hair draped on either side of his ears, adding a carefree flair.

Trailing behind him were about seven or eight Foundation Establishment cultivators, who all seemed quite young, with two of them subtly taking the lead.

Seeing the people disembark from the flying boat, Bi Changyou, the Peak Master of Changle Peak, immediately came forward laughing.

"Haha, I didn't expect that this time the leader would be Fellow Daoist Wan Qi Ze. The rumor that you entered the Core Formation before fifty has been all the rave recently. Now, seeing you in person, you indeed have an extraordinary demeanor," he said.

"Fellow Daoist Bi is jesting. My achievements today rely fully on the devoted nurturing of my sect, coupled with some fortunate encounters. Truly speaking of power, it's nothing more than a reflection in the mirror, a flower in the water, not worth mentioning at all," Wan Qi Ze humbly replied.

"Under a great reputation, there's no mediocrity. Fellow Daoist, there's no need for modesty. Since it's rare for you to visit our Chaotian Sect, I have already prepared a tea session in advance. Would you honor me with your presence so we can sit and discuss the Dao?" Bi Changyou invited.

"I shall follow your kind command," Wan Qi Ze nodded and left with Bi Changyou.

Seeing their interaction, Yuan Ming, who had been silently standing behind Bi Changyou, stepped forward at the right moment and bowed to the remaining cultivators from Chang Chun Temple.

"Fellow Daoists, my name is Zhen Luo from Lingxing Peak, and I will guide you through the scenic spots of our Sect. Is there any place you wish to visit in particular?" he asked.

Upon hearing this, the cultivators from Chang Chun Temple looked at each other, and finally, one of the Foundation Establishment male cultivators spoke:

"We have long heard that your Sect possesses four great desolates, among which Heavenly Dawn Peak's Thousand-year-old Immortal Mist is the most famous. We have longed to see it for a long time; please lead the way, Fellow Daoist Zhen."

Yuan Ming nodded and his gaze fell on the face of the male cultivator. He felt somewhat familiar with his features. Noticing a certain commanding presence in the man's mannerisms, he asked:

"May I know how to address Fellow Daoist?"

"Liu Zhanshang," the male cultivator replied with a smile.

"Ah, so it's the Emperor of Da Jin himself. My apologies for the oversight," Yuan Ming realized, his smile broadening.

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