Chapter 0.57. Coming to the Door
“Damn it!” the Hundred Barrier Mountain Lord suddenly cursed with a laugh, “This Seat had previously thought that if we could capture Zhen Hanzi alive, I would surely enjoy tasting him. But after hearing what the Black Nether Valley Master said, this person is actually an ugly monster who hides his head and shows his tail? What a disappointment!”
“Fellow Daoist Yan, we cultivators judge people by their appearance and attainments. How can you judge people by their appearance?” the Black Nether Valley Master feigned displeasure and deliberately teased.
The Hundred Barrier Mountain Lord chuckled sheepishly, “I was just speaking casually.”
“Very well, then I will continue to talk about our ugly monster!” the Black Nether Valley Master’s face immediately broke into a smile.
“Ah, ha ha ha…” The council hall was filled with a joyful atmosphere.
Qin Gou, who had remained silent, had a dark expression.
Although he had often teased Zhao Xinting, calling her a ‘sissy’, seeing so many outsiders slandering Old Qin’s Little Zhao so unscrupulously, Qin Gou, a fierce protector of his kin, truly wanted to lash out.
“With the secret of the Myriad Treasures Sacred Body alone, I believe it is enough to make everyone risk an adventure with me?” the Black Nether Valley Master said with a cold laugh, “When that ugly thing is captured alive, we can use the unique soul-capturing technique of our Black Nether Valley to extract its three souls and seven spirits. Then, no secret will be able to hide.”
“My Hundred Barrier Mountain’s Soul-Snatching Claws have the same effect!” The Hundred Barrier Mountain Lord’s eyes flashed with heat.
“Haha, I didn’t intend to compete with Fellow Daoist Yan,” the Black Nether Valley Master’s lips curved into a barely perceptible smug smile.
While the onlookers could see clearly, Qin Gou observed coldly. After all this talk, the Black Nether Valley Master had not produced any direct evidence to prove that ‘Zhen Hanzi’ was a scion of the Zhen Han clan. It was all just bait to lure other sects into helping.
Qin Gou, possessing the system, ‘Old Pal’, had acquired abilities similar to the ‘Myriad Treasures Sacred Body’ in a clever way. He knew how tempting such a divine physique was to other cultivators. Even a slight whisper of it would cause a frenzy. After all, while Qin Gou could possess multiple Natal Spirit Tools and Dharma Images, the true Myriad Treasures Sacred Body, once it reached peak grade, could even summon multiple Natal Spirit Tools or Dharma Images simultaneously in battle, which was an unspeakable terror.
“What does the Lone Shadow Saint Lord think?” At this moment, the Black Nether Valley Master turned his fawning gaze to Yi Chengying, as the Purple Extreme Demonic Sect’s power was on a completely different level from all the sects present.
“Allow me to consider it for a moment,” Yi Chengying said faintly, feigning thought while actually waiting for instructions from Qin Gou behind her.
“Yes.”
Suddenly, Qin Gou, transforming into the playful demon, stood up straight after receiving a non-existent sound transmission, and said with a cold tone, “Our sect now suspects there is a spy from the Sword Questioning Sect in this council hall. We ask all esteemed lords for your cooperation.”
“A spy from the Sword Questioning Sect?”
“This is simply absurd.”
“We are discussing important matters, how can you, a junior, be so presumptuous?” The Black Nether Valley Master, whose disruption had ruined his plans, looked displeased.
“Qingyue is the head of our sect’s ‘Shadow Catcher’ hall, skilled in intelligence infiltration and identifying spies. Otherwise, why would this Palace allow him to be present in this council hall?” Yi Chengying’s eyes were cold and luminous, speaking fluently and even adding a touch of her own amusement.
The Hundred Barrier Mountain Lord looked skeptical, “Head of the Shadow Catcher Hall? This person’s cultivation level is only at the early stage of the Dao Comprehension Realm! How noble is the position of your hall head that…”
Yi Chengying’s little face turned cold, and she calmly replied, “Our sect’s protectors, Ren and Xu, are also only in the Dao Comprehension Realm. Why doesn’t the Mountain Lord ask them as well?” She didn’t use herself as an example. With the Purple Extreme Token in hand, her cultivation level was insignificant in the eyes of outsiders.
The Hundred Barrier Mountain Lord immediately fell silent. Although Protectors Ren and Xu lacked high talent and cultivation, they were among Demon Lord Purple Extreme Zhao Xinting’s oldest subordinates and could not be easily offended.
“It is understandable that you are unwilling to trust this matter upon first hearing of it,” Qin Gou said sternly, “But have you esteemed lords noticed that the Taiping Tower Master’s subordinates are absent from this council hall?”
Indeed, only Mu Tangchun was present from the Taiping Tower faction today, which was quite unusual.
“That is precisely because there is a damn spy from the Sword Questioning Sect among the Taiping Tower Master’s men, and the others are also being questioned by my Shadow Catcher hall. According to the results revealed by that spy, the people from the Sword Questioning Sect have split into several groups and plan to infiltrate our sect under different identities, and it is naturally possible that they are hiding among you esteemed lords.” Qin Gou looked at Mu Tangchun through his veil and said, “And the matters you are discussing in this council hall today cannot afford even the slightest leakage!”
As soon as he finished speaking, Mu Tangchun very cooperatively said, “This matter is of great importance. I swear in my father’s name that what Head Qingyue said is true, and it is indeed so.”
Qin Gou’s face behind his veil turned green. What a filial piety in annihilating her own kin!
Despite all that had been said, the Black Nether Valley Master still frowned in displeasure, “Then how does Head Qingyue plan to catch the spy?”
“Naturally, by using my Natal Spirit Tool.”
As he spoke, an exquisite ‘Goose Return Cage’ appeared in Qin Gou’s palm.
The Hundred Barrier Mountain Lord’s expression became vigilant, “If you want us to offer our spirit blood, then forget it.”
“No need. You only need to write down your names under the power of my spirit tool. It will be concluded within half a day,” Qin Gou’s smile behind his veil grew more and more unrestrained.
“This is somewhat interesting.”
“In that case, let’s make it quick and not waste time.”
The cultivation level Qin Gou displayed at this moment was his best protection. The arrogant individuals present truly did not believe that Qin Gou’s strength could cause them any substantial harm.
Before long, everyone present, except for Mu Tangchun and Yi Chengying, had written their names under Qin Gou’s gaze. In fact, the true method was Qin Gou holding the Goose Return Cage, approaching them, and gently sweeping over their bodies with the spirit tool’s power within range, planting a ‘Goose Return Cage mark’. The names were secondary. Qin Gou could ask Yi Chengying about them later. This seemingly redundant step was because proposing a relatively easy condition was more effective in dispelling doubt.
“Thank you, esteemed lords. Please do not leave Senluo Mountain within the half-day it takes for the results to come out.”
“We weren’t planning on leaving anyway,” the Black Nether Valley Master said impatiently.
Qin Gou’s lips, however, couldn’t stop smiling. Originally, if these experts in the council hall had become ruthless and desperately tried to flee, it would have been quite troublesome. But now, even if they escaped, Qin Gou could obediently make them report back one by one. Especially those two who had most brazenly mocked Little Zhao!
“Lord Qin!” Yi Chengying’s voice transmission suddenly echoed in Qin Gou’s mind, “It seems we have two more honored guests at Senluo Mountain, and they have specifically asked to see you.”
“Who are they?”
“One of them did not reveal her name, while the other claims to be… Zhen Hanzi.”
“What?” Qin Gou’s breath hitched.
Yi Chengying’s voice transmission also sounded shocked, “Is this someone coming to confront us?”
