Reeling in the Truth

Lin Xingjian’s face was solemn, and his muscles were tense.

He quietly hid his hands behind his back, his long fingers gently stroking a hidden weapon.

The chilling sensation was akin to a spring of icy water.

In this unique moment of Chen Jie’s return, no other individual had arrived either before or after him.

A profound stillness enveloped their surroundings.

Lin Xingjian perceived time itself congealing into a thick, viscous fluid, each subtle stir of the air magnified to an unbearable degree.

With every breath, an unnerving calm settled over him.

His gaze remained fixed on the Den Leader, scrutinizing every minute shift in expression and every subtle movement of the man’s body.

Should the bearded Den Leader before him exhibit even the slightest anomaly, Lin Xingjian would launch his attack without a moment’s hesitation.

As a cultivator of the Shadow Sect, he had, through years of rigorous training, mastered the art of the hunt.

The prey must never detect the slightest hint of danger, nor be allowed to entertain even a fleeting thought of escape.

This was his unwavering code of conduct, the cardinal tenet that guided his survival in the shadows.

One second, then two…

Within this fraught atmosphere, time unspooled with excruciating slowness, each second stretching into an eternity.

Lin Xingjian leaned subtly forward, his center of gravity sinking, poised to launch himself forth like an arrow loosed from a taut bowstring.

In the very next moment, the Foundation Establishment stage Den Leader suddenly swung his arm with force.

The air howled, a gust of wind seeming to claw its way towards Lin Xingjian.

A massive palm, charged with a fierce momentum, tore through the air, producing a violent ripping sound.

A ferocious expression contorted the Den Leader’s face, his eyes wide and bloodshot, while the bulging veins on his temples pulsed like writhing earthworms.

“Smack!”

The sudden assault left Lin Xingjian reeling, disoriented; he stumbled back several paces, narrowly avoiding a fall.

“Oh, Big Brother, what was that for!”

“Your little brother merely wished to ask a question.”

Lin Xingjian rubbed his aching head, grumbling with an aggrieved pout.

The Den Leader let out a cold snort.

The sound, a low rumble like distant thunder emanating from deep within his throat, carried a hint of displeasure and playful mockery.

“You rascal, always with your endless questions. Don’t you know curiosity killed the cat?”

“Then… then this little brother shall refrain from asking.”

Mimicking Chen Jie’s demeanor, Lin Xingjian pouted his lips, feigning dejection, and made to depart.

Observing his reaction, the Den Leader abruptly called out, stopping him.

“What’s the rush? Did Big Brother say he wouldn’t tell you?”

A flicker of joy ignited within Lin Xingjian, though he kept it carefully concealed.

“Come, listen closely. There’s no harm in telling you this, but you are absolutely forbidden from speaking a word of it to anyone else.”

“If you dare to breathe a word, I truly will have to teach you a proper lesson.”

As he spoke, the Den Leader mimed the motion of delivering another slap.

His raised palm hovered in the air, a clear gesture of intimidation.

Maintaining Chen Jie’s persona, Lin Xingjian grinned and nodded, his face alight with feigned excitement.

“This matter, you see, dates back to a very, very long time ago.”

“Rumor has it that someone from our higher ranks took a particular fancy to an Immortal Maiden from the Xuantian Dao Sect.”

The Den Leader’s voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper, his eyes gleaming with a mix of greed and covetous desire.

“An Immortal Maiden?!”

Lin Xingjian, still perfectly embodying Chen Jie, uttered a gasp of surprise at the opportune moment.

“Could it be that he was simply overcome by lust?”

“Hmph, what nonsense are you spouting? How could our superiors be so shallow as to undertake such a monumental task merely out of lust at first sight?”

“No, it must be that the Immortal Maiden possesses some extraordinary physique, and they intend to use her as a cultivation cauldron.”

As the Den Leader spoke, a cold, disdainful sneer curled his lips.

A chilling glint flickered, then vanished, in Lin Xingjian’s eyes.

At last, he had cast his long line and reeled in a truly significant catch.

To think these individuals were plotting to abduct an Immortal Maiden from the Xuantian Dao Sect, intending to use her as a cultivation cauldron.

The intricacies of this scheme were proving to be fascinating indeed.

Considering the vast number of cultivators within the Xuantian Dao Sect, for the Demonic Path to risk exposing their identities, using an invasion of the Xuantian Dao Sect as a mere smokescreen, this Immortal Maiden’s innate talent must be truly exceptional!

Who could she be?

Lin Xingjian’s mind raced, a carousel of conjectures flashing through his thoughts.

Could it be that extraordinary woman from the Gu Sect, rumored to possess the Five-Poison Saint Body, or perhaps the Pill Sect’s disciple born with the Heavenly Charm Physique?

Or the gifted woman from the Confucian Sect, steeped in poetry and literature, whose aura was as refined as an orchid?

Or even that delightful individual from the Food Sect, a master of gourmet cuisine…

There were simply too many possibilities.

Within each subsidiary sect of the Xuantian Dao Sect, there invariably existed a handful of geniuses, each possessing exceptional talent and unparalleled grace.

Who, then, could she truly be?

“You know as well as I do that our current scheme can’t possibly last forever.”

“It’s truly thanks to the Pill Sect’s Grand Pill Dao Competition that we’ve managed to sell so many of these pills with such remarkable ease.”

The Den Leader continued, his voice laced with pride.

A triumphant smirk played on his lips as he boasted of their ‘masterpiece.’

“Once those fools who purchased these pills consume them, they will, one after another, begin to experience signs of cultivation breakthrough failure, some even suffering qi deviation on the spot.”

As he uttered these words, the Den Leader’s smile turned profoundly sinister.

Lin Xingjian’s fists involuntarily clenched within his sleeves, his knuckles turning stark white from the strain.

His own junior sister had nearly succumbed to qi deviation.

He understood profoundly that this was not the moment for impulsive action; he had to endure, burying his rage deep within his heart.

“Initially, those old fogeys of the Xuantian Dao Sect won’t pay it any mind, but as the numbers steadily climb – a few, then ten, then even over a hundred – it will inevitably pique their attention and trigger an investigation.”

“The Xuantian Dao Sect’s investigation will undoubtedly commence with the Pill Sect, subsequently expanding to other various sects. Conveniently, the Pill Sect’s competition will also draw a portion of their personnel away.”

The Den Leader grew increasingly animated with each word, his hands gesticulating wildly in the air, vividly sketching out the blueprint of their flawless plan.

“That, my friend, will be our prime opportunity to strike!”