130 - Divine Mastering Dragon System

Chapter 130: Division With the observation ceremony concluded, it was time for the participants to draw lots to determine their opponents and head to the various arenas for their matches. The main stage held no significant figures today, yet after everyone dispersed, Xiang Shi Yan chose to remain. It appeared as if she was attentively watching the ongoing battles, but her gaze was unfocused, seemingly lost. Standing beside her, Long Rui Qing’s demeanor gradually stabilized. She discreetly communicated, “Our agreed meeting time was when everyone was gathered here to spectate this morning. However, despite waiting for a long while, no one appeared. Such an occurrence has never happened before. After considerable effort to contact one of the secret operatives within Qing Yuan City, I found out that the person originally responsible for liaising with me and another infiltrator went missing last night.” Xiang Shi Yan frowned, remaining silent for a moment, before stating, “If the Tianji Sect or any other cultivators had detected traces of the demon clan, the matter would likely have been sensational news by last night.” “During the Hidden Dragon Ranking period, any disturbance in Qing Yuan City would tarnish Tianji Sect's reputation. Even if they discovered demons among us, they wouldn’t publicize it.” Xiang Shi Yan pondered briefly, “That indeed seems plausible.” The Tianji Sect was notoriously adept at covering up matters. In the original story, a similar incident occurred where demon clan spies infiltrated the gathering. The Tianji Sect discreetly eliminated them without making a fuss. However, in the original plot, the Hidden Dragon Ranking took place two years later. By then, tensions between the two races were at a boiling point with war looming, making any minor disturbance a cause for alarm. The Tianji Sect had detected the demon clan's suspicious activities and secretly eliminated their spies without informing the elders of the other sects. All their actions were aimed at aligning with the heavenly mandate, supporting the Child of Destiny, yet their methods were quite questionable. If they foresaw a future event, whether beneficial or detrimental, they didn’t mind making it come earlier; the process didn’t concern them. From Xiang Shi Yan’s perspective, their approach of seeking outcomes often resulted in unpredictable consequences. The Tianji Sect’s surveillance was extensive in Qing Yuan City. They could detect even the most subtle nuances, and having long been aware of the demons’ movements, they could have informed the thirteen seats' fellow cultivators earlier, enabling better precautions. For their prophecy announcing the Child of Destiny to be believable, they allowed the demons to assault Qing Yuan City, resulting in heavy casualties among temporary stationed cultivators and, notably, the vulnerable common folk were not spared. This incident later became a catalyst for the great war between the two races, even costing the Tianji Sect two elders. Their disciple Fu Xiao perished in this chaos, with many other disciples suffering heavy casualties. Their actions exacted a hefty price, disregarding even their disciples’ safety. The Tianji Sect was indeed capable of such actions... However, by then, all parties were already on edge. The conflicts between both races, and within the thirteen seats of sects, were unavoidable. They took such steps to further ignite the situation. Currently, Qin Miao's cultivation was merely at the Foundation Establishment stage, lacking self-preservation capabilities, and folks in the cultivation world hadn’t anticipated the impending war, let alone believe the Tianji Sect’s unilateral claims, allowing Qin Miao more freedom, which could instead result in suppressing Yu Cang Shan, being entirely detrimental to the Tianji Sect’s objectives. "If they conceal their findings now and a major issue arises later, wouldn’t that place the Tianji Sect in a disadvantageous position? If they suppressed the information just for face’s sake, it shouldn’t be a significant threat. Once they discern the extent of the demons' operations, they would naturally announce it to the world." By then, if chaos erupted, the Tianji Sect would surely inform fellow cultivators to unite against the threat. If it was merely routine reconnaissance by the demons on various sects, then it wasn’t significant. With the Hidden Dragon Ranking being a momentous event among human cultivators, demons couldn’t openly spectate, sending several spies to gather intelligence was normal. The Tianji Sect likely preferred avoiding panic, thus opting to let it pass quietly. “However... if it is indeed the Tianji Sect’s doing, that would be fortunate.” Concern deepened in Long Rui Qing’s eyes, “I thought the same. If it were the host’s doing, there would be some trace. If someone else acted, it’s hard to discern their intentions.” Generally, demon clans are openly condemned within human territories, except in black markets where they are tolerated. Conversely, if a cultivator spots the demon clan, they would first report to the Tianji Sect or at the very least coordinate with others or spread credible rumors. Yet today, Qing Yuan City remained bustling with no sign of alarm among the populace. “Given this, someone might have beforehand knowledge of the demon spies’ whereabouts in Qing Yuan City, discreetly eradicating them without alarming anyone. Whoever did this presumably has a comprehensive understanding of the operatives’ locations,” Xiang Shi Yan conjectured with a hint of trouble. “To ensure safety, refrain from contacting them for now.” This differed from her initial plan, but it was likely that Tai Xu Sect’s and the demon clan’s strategies were also disrupted. Tai Xu Sect’s primary goal in this assembly was to claim the championship. However, aside from Bai Jing Huan's second disciple, there didn’t appear to be notable competitors among the new participants. Defeating Huai Ye seemed challenging. Since a victory was nearly impossible, their hope lay in their opponents encountering turmoil. They needed to eliminate Huai Ye quietly and subtly to avoid any gossip, ensuring they could not directly intervene. However, if Huai Ye were gravely injured or perished, it naturally wouldn’t be tied back to them. The demon clan was divided, with some displeased by the Demon Emperor’s external submissiveness and internal harsh tactics. They covertly fueled tensions between the races, longing for another great war to dethrone the carp clan. Tai Xu Sect held unmatched sway across the land, but maintaining such dominance during peace times was challenging. Their prime had passed, yet they remained superficially intimidating, dreaming of prolonging their supremacy over the other twelve seats. That was naturally impossible. Human societies are built on justice and order. Although Tai Xu Sect could threaten other sects with sheer might, stability and order were undermining their authority. Weaker sects gradually became comfortable standing on equal footing, continually bridging the gap. Both desired a war engulfing the entire cultivation realm, involving humans and demons alike, making collaboration inevitable. Owing to this, as a demon clan-trained spy, Long Rui Qing communicated with Tai Xu Sect members and would aid their endeavors when necessary. Hearing Xiang Shi Yan’s advice, Long Rui Qing fell silent, refraining from commenting but revealing hesitance. After a prolonged silence, she finally found her words, still heavy with hesitation, “The two people’s bodies have yet to be found. One was designated to liaise directly with me; our adversary might extract information from him about me. Hiding might be futile. It’s not a trivial matter and could unveil the connection between Tai Xu Sect and the demon clan, presumably causing chaos on that end—” “However, originally only a few demons were stationed long-term in Qing Yuan City to monitor the Tianji Sect. The rest were recently dispatched here. After much contemplation, only Tai Xu Sect has the comprehensive knowledge for such actions. For them, executing this would be most convenient.” The young woman turned slightly, eyes glinting with cunning, “Isn’t this a rare opportunity?” On the stage, the duelists exchanged blows vigorously, while the onlookers cheered, yet the two standing at the edge retained their calm demeanor. Xiang Shi Yan originally didn’t want her to take such risks, but Long Rui Qing was unappreciative; she couldn’t do much: “Since you insist, act freely. Your divisive plan benefits me, thus I won’t interfere.” Long Rui Qing smiled faintly, “I shared my plan with Yue Hua Jun; would you care to share your next steps?” She was aware that Xiang Shi Yan’s sole purpose was to ensure Huai Ye’s safety, while her own agenda was far more intricate. Long Rui Qing had joined hands with Xiang Shi Yan to escape the Shadowfeather Master's control. Though she didn't desire to betray Yu Cang Shan, the opposing side pressed her relentlessly. Whether she obeyed or defied, once her value was expended there, the demon clan wouldn’t allow a traitorous liability to live. Moreover, considering Long Rui Qing’s complex relations with the demon side, being of mixed heritage, and having inherited human visible traits, surviving within the demon clan was impossible. She didn’t desire to drag these unpredictable complexities onto Yu Cang Shan. That’s why she chose to defect, for her potential on Yu Cang Shan was limited. After all, being a double agent holds value in more intelligence-critical regions. During this time, she must devise a reason to safely extricate herself. If her identity was exposed, it would be akin to a mission failure, leaving her without a retreat and the opposing side would not keep a useless individual, thus, it must be an entirely unavoidable situation. “Why would you return to the demon clan? Aren’t you afraid they’ll silence you?” Xiang Shi Yan, clearly not intending to disclose her movements, diverted, asking, “If you hadn’t provoked Elder Sister Yu Ming so, now your disappearance might still earn you her refuge.” “Yue Hua Jun jests, if I vanished suddenly, the demon clan would overturn Yu Cang Shan searching for me, with Fu Liu Feng being the first to suffer. No place offers safety from the Shadow clan’s reach,” Long Rui Qing grimaced. “Furthermore, my disdain for Yu Ming Jun isn’t feigned. In my youth... I was truly devoted to her, but alas, she was never meant to be my haven.” The conversation concluded, and it was as if the young woman wore a mask, her expression calming as she waved her hand dismissively, "The bodies of those two haven't been found yet. They might still be alive. I need to carefully investigate and devise an impeccable excuse." After Long Rui Qing left, Xiang Shi Yan pondered deeply alone, murmuring to herself, "Qing Yuan City... is there a good place to hide people?" After a short pause, her brows furrowed as she recalled such a place. Even the most elite Shadow clan scouts couldn’t find traces of their companions, and detecting demon auras there with magical tools was nearly impossible. In truth, since her conversation with Long Rui Qing, she’d been wondering who could silently and seamlessly abduct two Nascent Soul stage feather demon cultivators from a vigilant group of demons? Suddenly, Xiang Shi Yan shivered. The young disciples of Yu Cang Shan were eagerly gathered around Huai Ye, wanting to see what kind of treasure the Tianji Sect had bestowed. He He cradled her little bird, following the group at a respectful distance, chatting with her companions as she walked, her demeanor unchanged from usual. Unbeknownst to anyone, about a hundred meters below their feet, where underground streams surged, two men bound by ropes stared in terror at a water flow shaping into a human form right before their eyes. The water silhouette formed a smile. Though the three "humans" were in the pitch-black underground, the two men, utilizing their naturally keen eyesight, could see the rolling motion of water on her face. "Hello there." Author's Note: In the next chapter, the master explores the underground river! Third consecutive day of daily updates! No pop-up ads on this site, permanent domain (xbanxia.com)