328: Untitled

The Tianli Cult preaches the acquisition of power by controlling one's own desires through indulgence, and their actions are often eccentric and sinister.

However, for a Golden Core Family with a solid Foundation like the Duan Family, the Tianli Cult was nothing more than rats hiding in the gutter, unfit to be seen in public.

And those who were recruited into the sect were mostly unsuccessful Loose Cultivators or low-level Cultivators with weak wills.

This kind of minor trouble simply didn't catch Duan Tianxiong's eye, and he usually couldn't be bothered to deal with it.

"Could it be that this group of death-seeking things has actually reached out to my Duan Family?"

At this thought, a cold light suddenly flashed in Duan Tianxiong's eyes.

If that were truly the case, the nature of the situation would be completely different; it would be a blatant provocation against their Duan Family.

And judging from Duan Hong's abnormal behavior yesterday, that sudden and even uncontrollable lust seemed to faintly match the rumors of the Tianli Cult's bizarre methods!

"A bunch of stinking rats in the gutter. I couldn't be bothered with how you delude those Loose Cultivator trash on normal days.

But now you actually dare to set your crooked sights on my Duan Family, tarnishing our reputation and attempting to shake our Foundation—you are simply seeking death!"

Duan Tianxiong's voice grew increasingly cold, and he then abruptly stood up. No longer concealing his Mid-stage Golden Core pressure, it boomed as it filled the entire hall.

"Men, pass down the order! Conduct a strict investigation into the identities of all personnel related to the Star-Grabbing Tower in the Liuyun Immortal Market yesterday, and see if they have any connections to the 'Tianli Cult'!"

"If it really is this group of stinking rats..." A fierce look flashed in Duan Tianxiong's eyes: "This Seat will let them know what the consequences of provoking my Duan Family are!"

...About a hundred li southwest of the Duan Family territory, there was a range of rugged, grey-brown mountains. Because its main peak was shaped like a gourd, it was called the "Yuanhu Mountains" by the locals.

However, the spiritual energy here was extremely thin, so Cultivators rarely set foot in it.

But today, in front of an inconspicuous, wind-eroded steep cliff deep within Yuanhu, two grey-robed figures with suppressed auras suddenly arrived.

They quickly scanned the surroundings, and after confirming no one was following, one of them raised a hand and struck several complex hand seals against the seemingly solid cliff face.

As the runes sank into the stone wall, it was like a drop of water falling into a calm lake.

Buzz—

A low hum sounded from deep within the mountain.

Then, the scene before them underwent a strange transformation.

The originally rough, grey-brown cliff surface began to ripple with circles of pale green light, like waves on water.

Wherever the ripples passed, the textures on the rock seemed to come alive, flowing and combining on their own until they finally linked together to form the phantom of a circular portal about a zhang in diameter.

The interior was dark and deep, as if it connected to another space.

After completing this, the two looked at each other and then stepped forward without hesitation. Their figures were like pebbles thrown into water, instantly sinking into the ripples and vanishing.

Subsequently, the formation runes and the portal phantom behind them quickly dimmed and faded away. The cliff face returned to its original state, as if nothing had ever happened.

The two who had stepped inside walked dozens of steps through a narrow passage before the view suddenly opened up.

The interior of the mountain had actually been completely hollowed out, forming an extremely vast underground cavern!

The cavern was dozens of zhang high and spanned no less than a thousand mu. The walls and ceiling were covered with Luminous Stones, emitting a faint, cold light that illuminated the internal space.

And it was not empty; rather, it was a fully equipped secret base with excellent concealment.

In the center of the cavern stood the tallest black stone hall.

Its design was ancient, and its doors were tightly shut. Two twisted characters were carved on the lintel—"Tianli"!

The two who arrived did not look left or right, walking quickly along the stone path to the front of the black stone hall.

The hall doors opened silently, and the two slipped inside.

The interior of the hall was empty and dimly lit, except for a high platform in the center where a faint fire flickered, illuminating a black-robed figure sitting cross-legged.

The person was enveloped in a thick, colorful mist, and their aura was as deep as an abyss.

"Sect Leader!"

The two walked to the front of the platform and, with synchronized movements, knelt on one knee and saluted respectfully.

"Mhm."

The black-robed figure on the platform did not turn around, only giving a faint response before asking.

"How is the matter proceeding?"

One of them immediately looked up to report, his voice devoid of emotion.

"Reporting to Sect Leader, the matter has been settled. Everything is proceeding according to plan!"

He then paused, a hint of hesitation appearing on his face, before adding.

"However, Sect Leader, although our actions this time were secret, they are not without traces. If the Duan Family uses their full power to investigate, they will likely find a clue. I am worried this might startle the snake, drawing the Duan Family's malice prematurely, which would be detrimental to our clandestine development."

"What if they find out?"

Hearing this, the black-robed figure on the platform let out a disdainful cold snort, directly interrupting the other's words.

He then slowly turned around, revealing his face under the hood in the dim glow of the demonic fire.

It was the face of a middle-aged man with a slightly pale complexion. Deep within his abyss-like pupils, dark gold vortexes faintly swirled, exuding an indescribable evil.

This person was none other than Murong Jingyang!

And the two below were Teng Qianjue and Liu Wusheng.

Although they currently retained their Golden Core cultivation along with some of their past memories and combat experience, their Divine Soul cores had been completely reconstructed. They were absolutely obedient to Murong Jingyang, becoming the most capable 'Left and Right Protectors' under his command.

Murong Jingyang looked at the two below, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly as he spoke.

"What I want is precisely this result!"

Upon hearing this, a hint of confusion and doubt flashed in the eyes of both men simultaneously.

But Murong Jingyang did not pay attention to their confused gazes, nor did he offer much explanation.

Because he himself was not entirely clear on all the intricacies behind it.

He only knew that this was an order sent back by the Sovereign.

He was to find a way to provoke a conflict between the Duan Family and the Qi Family, while simultaneously exposing the existence of the 'Tianli Cult' to Duan Tianxiong's sight.

Specifically, why did the Sovereign want to do this? What was the deeper plot? Murong Jingyang had no idea, nor did he need to know.

He only needed to understand that this was the Sovereign's will.

As the Sovereign's most loyal subordinate, he, Murong Jingyang, only needed to execute it to the letter.

As for the rest, it was not for him to worry about.

As for this so-called 'Tianli Cult', it was originally a 'facade' created by Murong Jingyang according to the Sovereign's instructions to establish a public force after expanding from the unified Black Sha Marsh.

After all, if they wanted to replace a certain Blessed Land in the future and join the ranks of the Thirty-Six Blessed Lands, they could not do without a clear-cut organization as an outer shell.

The doctrine of the 'Tianli Cult' proclaimed to 'Preserve Heavenly Principles, Extinguish Human Desires,' which was purely a simplified core of the Six Desires Heavenly Demon Art, repackaging the ideology to attract and delude those low-level Cultivators with weak wills.

The core members of the sect were all like Liu Wusheng and Teng Qianjue, their Divine Souls completely controlled by Murong Jingyang through the 'Seed Demon in the Dao Heart' from the Six Desires Heavenly Demon Method, reduced to being 'Soul Slaves'."