205: Exposed

Just as Zhang Huaiyuan was immersed in his research, the situation of the entire world was also undergoing a massive change.

Even though the Statue of Liberty did her utmost, using the reincarnation mirror to repeatedly pull the wool over everyone's eyes.

But as the trial time drew to a close, at which point not a single trial taker would return, those great powers would personally descend to the lower realm to investigate, and then everything would no longer be hidden.

At this time, the two intelligent lifeforms were also making their final arrangements.

"Asroth, it's time. Since His Excellency has not yet emerged from seclusion, there is no longer any hope for victory in this war."

"Immediately take His Excellency Zhang Huaiyuan and evacuate to the edge of the world. At that time, I will control the reincarnation mirror to strike the 'world-prisoning bead' with all my might, causing it to briefly malfunction, and you take the opportunity to leave with His Excellency."

The Statue of Liberty's voice carried a hint of regret.

She had already done her best.

If it were a civilization on the technological side, perhaps they could have counterattacked by controlling its weapons and armaments.

But facing a powerful cultivation-side civilization like the Xuanjian Sect, which had existed for an unknown number of years, she had no means at her disposal other than the reincarnation mirror.

"Understood, Lady Statue of Liberty. You don't need to worry about the Master's safety, but as for you..."

Asroth hesitated:

"Once the intrusion of the reincarnation mirror is discovered, there is a high probability they will invite outside help to find a way to deal with intelligent lifeforms. At that time, you might not be able to escape easily..."

"You don't need to worry about my affairs."

The Statue of Liberty interrupted flatly: "After leaving that world, follow the information we found and head towards the Sea of Time. The academic atmosphere there is strong; it is a place where His Excellency can truly show his talents."

"Fine, then take care of everything."

Asroth said no more, only giving a solemn response... Two months later, it was also the day the Xuanjian Sect trial ended and the trial takers were about to return.

Including Mr. Xuan Jian, almost all the elders and Enshrinements of the Xuanjian Sect were present.

"I heard there are quite a few good prospects in this batch, having obtained S-grade evaluations or higher across dozens of consecutive reincarnation worlds."

An elder smiled as he looked at the scoreboard projected by the reincarnation mirror.

—This was naturally the false data created by the Statue of Liberty after she took control of the reincarnation mirror.

"As expected, those two little fellows, Ghost Hand and Blood Shadow, are first. It's just a pity that Beast Tide died so pointlessly. Based on his previous performance, his probability of taking first place was the highest."

"Who would have thought that such a low-level world would contain such terrifying creatures, and that they would even be controlled by the natives."

An Enshrinement spoke with lingering fear.

He had seen the footage of that battle.

Two Guardians, whose cultivation was close to his own, were torn to shreds by a single claw.

"Yes... let's not talk about such disappointing things. Do you all plan to take disciples?"

The elder from before asked.

"Of course, my disciples have almost all died in the Ascension Battlefield. These geniuses who can survive more than sixty reincarnation worlds are truly remarkable, just right to replenish a batch."

"Indeed, the Sect Master will likely take the top two personally, so we don't need to consider them. I, however, have my eye on a disciple in the Blood Shadow Squad; she practices the 'Inspiration' Great Art that I passed down, and her talent is quite good."

The Enshrinement smiled.

Amidst the casual conversation of the sect's high-level members, the time for the return soon arrived.

"Lin Ge, initiate the return teleportation."

Above the main hall, the majestic voice of Venerable Xuan Jian rang out.

But there was no response.

"Lin Ge? Hmm?"

Venerable Xuan Jian frowned, his divine sense sweeping across the area below, only to discover that the disciple who had been guarding the reincarnation mirror was actually not there.

His expression immediately darkened, and with a reach of his hand, two disciples who were guarding the mirror together were dragged up into the air.

"Where is Lin Ge?"

"Venerable... Venerable... we don't know either... Senior Brother Lin just said he was going to change his clothes... and then he disappeared."

The two disciples fell to their knees on the ground, their faces ashen.

Under the pressure of the Xuanjian Sect's powerhouses, they couldn't even speak fluently for a moment.

"Disappeared?"

A bad premonition suddenly surged in Venerable Xuan Jian's heart. Just as he was about to continue questioning, his gaze suddenly froze, and he looked up toward the mountain gate.

The rest of the Enshrinements and elders also seemed to sense something and looked up one after another.

They saw a disciple flying over quickly, his expression filled with both anger and a hint of confusion.

"What's going on? Why is it so noisy outside the mountain gate?"

"Reporting to the Venerable and the Elders, hundreds of merchant guilds have arrived outside, claiming that our Xuanjian Sect disciples owe them debts and refuse to pay, demanding an explanation..."

"Impudent!"

Before he could finish, an elder flew into a rage:

"Where did these shady merchant guilds come from, to dare to blackmail our Xuanjian Sect? Where are the Disciplinary Hall disciples? Cut off one arm of each of them as a punishment."

"This..."

The reporting disciple looked troubled and took out a stack of talismans, hesitating: "Elder, those merchant guilds are all well-known, long-standing guilds in our Xuanjian Great World... and they have contracts in their hands..."

"What!"

The faces of all the Xuanjian Sect higher-ups changed at the same time. Venerable Xuan Jian beckoned with his hand, and the stack of contracts immediately flew into his grasp. Looking closely, it was clearly written:

"Inner disciple of the Xuanjian Sect, Cun Zhongding, hereby mortgages his sect salary for the next hundred years to withdraw 10 million Profound Crystal Coinss..."

"Outer disciple of the Xuanjian Sect..."

A thick stack, all of them were debt contracts from disciples within the sect.

They bore clear divine sense imprints, obviously not fakes.

And the most eye-catching one among them clearly stated:

"Core disciple of the Xuanjian Sect, Lin Ge, hereby mortgages his sect salary for the next hundred years and his future position as Holy Son to withdraw 300 million Profound Crystal Coinss..."

"Good, good, good! Our Xuanjian Sect has actually produced so many talents."

Venerable Xuan Jian laughed in extreme anger. Spiritual energy surged from his fingertips, gathering into dozens of long ropes that he slammed toward the void.

Immediately, dozens of disciples scattered in different locations were dragged over at once.

They were initially stunned, but upon seeing the person before them and the familiar contracts in his hand, their expressions changed drastically, and they all fell to their knees, begging for mercy incessantly.

"Is the treatment of our Xuanjian Sect so poor that even inner and core disciples have fallen to the point of needing to go into debt?"

Venerable Xuan Jian spoke expressionlessly, his cold tone allowing anyone to feel the fury within.

"Venerable, please forgive us... Venerable, please forgive us..."

One of the disciples panicked and wailed repeatedly:

"This disciple was swindled by Senior Brother Lin... by that liar Lin Ge..."

As he spoke, he quickly recounted the whole story from beginning to end.

Seeing this, the other disciples also hurriedly said: "This disciple was also swindled by that bastard Lin Ge."

"Ancestor? Traitor? Controlling the reincarnation mirror?"

Venerable Xuan Jian, who originally thought it was just a matter of the disciples' character, suddenly became alert.

Thinking of the sudden disappearance of Lin Ge, who was responsible for managing the reincarnation mirror, and how his divine sense hadn't even detected him just now, could it be... "Not good!"

Venerable Xuan Jian suddenly couldn't be bothered to deal with these disciples. With a flash, he arrived before the reincarnation mirror. Just as his divine sense was about to enter it, it met with a massive obstacle.

"There really is a problem."

Venerable Xuan Jian's face was terrifyingly grim as powerful spiritual energy erupted violently.

"Let me see exactly what is going on."

..."}],