Undercover

Clear white clouds drift across the sky, and the radiant sunlight bathes the sea of clouds, making everything on Mount Shu seem peaceful and serene.

Especially those who have just survived a mortal crisis—how much more precious everything feels.

After returning to Mount Shu, Chu Liang rested briefly and, by midday, was already busy again.

He first visited the White Tower, discovering the cage within was empty. There were two possibilities: either killing people does not yield rewards from the White Tower—after all, previous rewards were for defeating evil spirits—or, despite casting the Soul Shifting Spell, the black-robed man technically committed suicide, so the mark was not transferred to Chu Liang.

Which is correct remains to be seen in the future.

Of course, there were still gains: the small items scavenged from the black-robed man were plentiful and needed to be examined one by one.

Though killing did not grant a reward, the spoils might be even greater, as people differ from evil spirits; every cultivator is a treasure trove.

Although the magical artifacts of demonic cultivators are often sinister and poisonous, most were of little use to Chu Liang. But the Mount Shu Sect rewards sword coins for turning in demonic artifacts, so nothing would go to waste.

He began with the small porcelain bottles containing sealed ghosts.

The disciples of the Underworld Sovereign Sect were most unpredictable because of these refined ghost creatures. Chu Liang thought, though he could not command them, dispersing them with a sword would send them to reincarnation and potentially earn rewards from the White Tower—a double benefit!

But upon opening the bottles, he was disappointed.

Apparently, the black-robed man had cast spells on the ghosts to ensure their loyalty; upon his death, all the ghosts dissipated.

Such a pity.

Chu Liang sighed silently.

This pile of empty bottles left a hollow in his heart.

The remaining items included materials for practicing demonic cultivation techniques, which Chu Liang did not recognize and suspected would be useless to him; these would be handed over to the Sword Transmission Hall.

Then there was the Underworld Heaven Book, a sinister artifact that increased cultivation by killing, so dark that simply touching it made the wails of tormented souls audible… Certainly unusable.

Another item was a carefully preserved silk pouch on the black-robed man, containing three hollow dark bronze balls, each the size of a walnut, icy cold in the hand and emanating a sense of fear.

No doubt another dangerous artifact.

He would ask his master about it later.

Finally, there was a dark gold token engraved with the words "Soul Binding," seemingly another magical artifact.

Chu Liang could not discern its purpose, but since its previous owner was dead, it should pose no danger. He tried infusing a thread of spiritual consciousness to inspect it.

Rest—

His consciousness sank into the token, revealing a gloomy, misty space within.

There was nothing in this space except several lines of golden text floating, as if the artifact was transmitting information.

[Shā]: "I have broken through to the third stage of the Five Elements Realm. My next cultivation requires Mystic Underworld Water or various Underworld Sea monsters… As you travel the world, keep an eye out for me."

[Fifty-nine]: "Congratulations, Honorable Shā. We will do everything in our power to search for you."

[Sixty]: "Congratulations, Honorable Shā. I will devote myself wholeheartedly."

[Shā]: "Hmm? Why has Fifty-eight been silent for so long? Could something have happened?"

[Fifty-nine]: "Another hour has passed. Is it possible Fifty-eight met with an accident?"

[Shā]: "Fifty-eight, please respond if you receive this."

Chu Liang, reading these messages, recalled hearing about such artifacts before—a soul domain space, allowing a few people to transmit messages remotely through spiritual connection.

Mount Shu did not specialize in soul techniques, nor did it possess such soul domain methods, so he had never seen one. The Underworld Sovereign Sect, being experts in soul arts, naturally had such artifacts.

It seemed this soul domain space was limited to these four people.

That "Shā"… and Fifty-eight, Fifty-nine, Sixty. Just from the names, it was clear who the group leader was.

The absent Fifty-eight was likely the previous owner of this Soul Binding token.

What to do?

Should he reply?

There was no danger; they could not trace him through the soul domain and beat him up, so it was worth a try. Chu Liang cautiously infused a message with his spiritual consciousness.

Instantly, the message appeared in the space.

[Fifty-eight]: "Congratulations, Honorable Shā. I will make every effort to search."

When unsure what to say, echoing the previous replies with a simple "me too" was safest.

With no immediate response, Chu Liang set the Soul Binding token aside and organized the other items.

Soon after, he felt the token tremble slightly.

Ah, it vibrates.

Picking it up, he saw a new reply in the soul domain space.

[Shā]: "Where were you just now? Was there danger?"

Faced with the leader's inquiry, Chu Liang pondered. He had little time to think; a delayed reply would arouse suspicion, but a misstep could reveal inconsistencies.

He needed a plausible reason for his long absence.

But he knew nothing about Fifty-eight; lying from this identity would risk exposing flaws.

So he decided to tell the truth.

[Fifty-eight]: "I just fought a battle and captured a Confucian cultivator at the Divine Intent Realm, sealing her into the Underworld Heaven Book."

[Shā]: "A Divine Intent Confucian cultivator? Well done. If refined properly, she can walk in daylight—a great asset."

[Fifty-nine]: "Impressive."

[Fifty-nine]: "If only I were so lucky."

[Shā]: "Fifty-eight is seasoned, far beyond you two in experience. This is more than luck. The two of you should learn from him."

[Fifty-nine]: "Yes, yes."

Chu Liang had muddled through the exchange and withdrew.

It appeared the "Shā" had reached the third stage of the Five Elements Realm—a master in the Underworld Sovereign Sect. Fifty-nine seemed like a street-wise type, always quick to reply, likely idle. Sixty rarely appeared; not much was known.

After the brief conversation, Chu Liang decided to report it to his master.

He went to the small pavilion, where Empress Phoenix, rarely lucid, was engrossed in the latest popular romance picture book—tales of lovesick men and grieving women. It was hard to imagine such a formidable woman, capable of soaring through the skies, could be so captivated.

"Master, your disciple has something to report," Chu Liang greeted courteously.

"What is it?" Empress Phoenix lazily set down her book and asked.

"This is an artifact I found on the black-robed man…" He first produced the three dark bronze balls. "I do not recognize this item. May I keep it?"

"Oh?" Empress Phoenix glanced at them and replied languidly, "Those are Mystic Calamity Thunder bombs."

"Mystic Calamity Thunder?"

"They're little explosive devices that detonate and instill fear at the same time," she explained. "A Golden Core cultivator with three of them must have kept them as life-saving treasures. You can use them, or exchange them at the Sword Pavilion for some sword coins—up to you."

"I see…" Chu Liang nodded, then added, "There is another matter."

He briefly recounted the soul domain space encounter.

"Oh?" Empress Phoenix perked up, sitting upright.

"The Underworld Sovereign Sect's right and left guardians were recently wounded by the Nine Mysteries Immortal of Misty Hidden Mountain. The Silver King was slain, and the Purple Gold Marquis escaped with severe injuries. Under the Purple Gold Marquis are eight guides, twenty-four Shā, and seventy-two Soul Binding envoys…"

"In the past, the Marquis relied on these Soul Binding envoys to capture souls, harm innocents, and bolster his cultivation. The black-robed man was likely one of these envoys."

"Each guide oversees three Shā, each Shā manages three Soul Binding envoys—the structure under the Purple Gold Marquis is like this."

"The soul domain space is formed by planting a seed of each person's soul, entwined into an array, allowing contact across thousands of miles. However… if one person's soul dissipates, the Soul Binding token should no longer access the soul domain. Others have killed Soul Binding envoys before, but I've never heard of someone inheriting the token…"

Empress Phoenix was puzzled.

Chu Liang considered. "Is it possible that although the Soul Binding envoy died, his soul had not dissipated… perhaps a failed spell trapped his soul in the Underworld Heaven Book…"

He produced the Underworld Heaven Book for Empress Phoenix to inspect.

It made sense: such secret magical artifacts from demonic sects would not be usable just by anyone. Normally, if a Soul Binding envoy died, his token would instantly become useless.

Fifty-eight's case was evidently a rare exception.

Empress Phoenix looked it over, grasped the situation, and suddenly smiled.

"Excellent…"

"Hand the Underworld Heaven Book over to the Sword Transmission Hall, let them release all innocent souls, keeping only the envoy's soul."

"You should stay hidden in that soul domain space—avoid exposing yourself…"

"With the Purple Gold Marquis now wounded and in hiding, not only are righteous cultivators hunting him, but the demonic factions are tearing each other apart. He dare not return to the Underworld Sovereign Sect and must be nursing his wounds in secret somewhere."

"You, embedded among his direct subordinates, might one day discover his hideout…"

"If I, your master, single-handedly slay the Purple Gold Marquis, it would be a grand feat—and what could Wang Xuanling boast in comparison?"

Envisioning such a future, Empress Phoenix's smile grew ever more triumphant.

Chu Liang, meanwhile, felt the weight of responsibility settle upon him.

Comrade Chu Liang, your task is infiltration!

"If Master slays the Underworld Sovereign Sect's right guardian, the sect rewards must be generous, right?" he probed.

"Rest assured—whenever there are benefits, the two of us will split them seventy-thirty; your share will never be lacking…" Empress Phoenix chuckled tremulously, her laughter growing more twisted, "Hehehehehe…"