37: Chapter 37: Have I Become Bait?

Deep within the Deacon Hall of the Eternal Night Demon Sect.

Xiao Ran had stepped into this place once again; the last time he had come here was, well, the last time.

He had killed the Blood Child and successfully ascended to the position of Eighth Demon Son here.

He had come again this time, but on this occasion, he was here to discuss a deal with a big shot.

Xiao Ran had submitted a formal visiting card, so as soon as he arrived, he was led by a Disciple deep into the Law Enforcement Hall.

The space here was far more vast than it appeared from the outside, as if it formed a world of its own.

Ninety-nine ghostly green soul lamps hung high from the dome, their flickering light casting mottled shadows throughout the hall.

On both sides stood eighteen pitch-black giant pillars, each coiled with a lifelike statue of a Dragon.

At the end of the grand hall, atop a nine-level black jade staircase.

Mo Yuan sat in a massive chair, eyes closed as he rested.

He looked like an ordinary middle-aged man, but Xiao Ran knew that this was a genuine Void Refining powerhouse.

Looking across the entire Northern Territory, he was an existence standing at the very pinnacle of the pyramid.

As the saying goes, after Golden Core comes Nascent Soul, after Nascent Soul comes Soul Transformation, and only after Soul Transformation does one reach Void Refining.

A Void Refining Cultivator can invoke the Laws of heaven and earth with a single thought, and overturn a hundred miles of mountains and rivers with a single palm.

A powerhouse in the true sense of the word.

Xiao Ran walked to a spot three zhang before the staircase and bowed.

"Disciple Xiao Ran pays respects to Hall Master Mo."

His voice echoed in the vast hall.

Mo Yuan did not open his eyes, merely saying indifferently.

"Speak."

A single word, yet it made Xiao Ran feel the surrounding air grow heavy and stagnant.

He steadied his mind and recounted in detail the encounter with Wu Yuan and the Shiyin Sect on the Netherworld Ancient Path, presenting a recording Jade Slip that captured Wu Yuan's aura.

"The Shiyin Sect..."

Mo Yuan slowly opened his eyes.

"A thousand years ago, during its Peak, the Shiyin Sect had three Void Refining experts, nine Soul Transformation experts, and over ten thousand Disciples."

"Its Sect Master, the Corpse Demon Heavenly Venerate, was at the Void Refinement Peak and refined twelve Heavenly Corpse Puppets, each possessing the combat power of a Soul Transformation expert."

Mo Yuan's voice was calm, yet it carried a sense of vicissitudes.

"Back then, the righteous and Demonic Paths joined forces, and seven Void Refining experts surrounded and killed the Corpse Demon Heavenly Venerate at the Immortal Burial Abyss."

"That battle shattered half the mountains and rivers, and it was only at the cost of four Void Refining experts being heavily injured that the Corpse Demon Heavenly Venerate was finally killed."

"I thought the Shiyin Sect had been completely eradicated, but I didn't expect... there were still remnants clinging to life."

Xiao Ran felt a chill in his heart.

Three Void Refining experts, nine Soul Transformation experts!

The strength of the Shiyin Sect at its Peak was probably not inferior to the current super-first-class powers!

"Hall Master, if the Shiyin Sect truly intends to make a comeback..."

Xiao Ran probed.

"They won't be able to stir up any waves."

Mo Yuan's tone was indifferent, and he waved his hand dismissively.

"In that battle back then, the first half of the Shiyin Sect's Legacy treasure, the Ten Thousand Corpse True Scripture, was destroyed, and the second half went missing."

"Without a complete Legacy, they can at most recover to the Soul Transformation level; it is impossible for them to produce another Void Refining expert."

Speaking of this, he seemed to have thought of something, and his gaze shifted to Xiao Ran.

He paused for a moment and continued.

"However, if they were to discover that you possess the Myriad Dao Guixu Body, things would become troublesome."

"This Disciple is dull-witted; please enlighten me, Hall Master."

Xiao Ran hurriedly asked.

What does this have to do with my Physique?

"The Myriad Dao Guixu Body is ranked third on the Ancient Holy Body list. Its core talent lies in the ability to devour all things, which holds special significance for the Shiyin Sect."

"Do you know why the path of corpse refining cannot go far?"

Mo Yuan asked slowly.

"Because they cannot absorb Death Qi?"

Xiao Ran thought for a moment and replied.

"Exactly!"

"Death Qi is a form of death energy; if a living person absorbs too much, it damages their Foundation."

"Therefore, Cultivators of the Shiyin Sect, once they reach a high Realm, must constantly absorb heaven and earth spiritual items to suppress the Death Qi within their bodies."

"In order to suppress the Death Qi, they would stop at nothing, to the point where even that bunch of hypocritical fellows from the Daoist Sects couldn't stand it anymore."

"That is why the Demonic Path joined forces to destroy them."

Xiao Ran couldn't help but nod; so that was the reason the Shiyin Sect was destroyed.

"Hall Master, what does this have to do with me?"

Xiao Ran actually had a guess in his heart, but he still asked, feigning ignorance.

"They possess a forbidden technique called the 'Possession and Corpse Refining Art,' which can seize the Physical Body of a Cultivator with a special Physique and refine it into a living Corpse Puppet to serve as a Clone."

"A living Corpse Puppet can retain the Physique talent from its previous life, yet it remains absolutely loyal to the corpse refiner."

Xiao Ran's pupils contracted.

"They want to use my body... to refine a living Corpse Puppet?"

"Correct."

Mo Yuan nodded.

"If they truly succeed, a living Corpse Puppet possessing the Myriad Dao Guixu Body would have a growth potential of at least the Soul Transformation Realm, at which point the Shiyin Sect would have the capital to revitalize their Sect."

The grand hall fell into silence.

Xiao Ran's back broke out in cold sweat.

He hadn't expected his value to be so high.

Fortunately, when he underwent Transmigration, he didn't end up in the Shiyin Sect; otherwise, he would have been done for by now.

For the first time, Xiao Ran was so satisfied with the Demon Sect.

The Demon Sect is great!

He was loyal to the Demon Sect.

"Therefore... this Disciple must completely eradicate them."

Xiao Ran took a deep breath; the urge to destroy the Shiyin Sect became even more urgent in his heart.

He would not allow such a great threat to exist.

"Oh?"

"What do you intend to do?"

Mo Yuan looked at him with great interest upon hearing this.

"This Disciple wishes to borrow the power of the Sect."

"But using the reappearance of the Shiyin Sect remnants as a reason alone would likely not be enough to make the Sect go all out; after all, the current Shiyin Sect is nothing more than a minor skin disease in the eyes of the Sect."

Xiao Ran said candidly.

"Interesting."

"Continue."

A trace of appreciation flashed in Mo Yuan's eyes.

He liked people who knew their own limitations; such people lived long.

"Therefore, we need to give the Sect a... reason they must act."

"For example, the Shiyin Sect is secretly colluding with certain forces within the Demon Sect, intending to overthrow the rule of the Eternal Night Demon Sect in the Northern Territory."

Xiao Ran raised his head and said with a sharp gaze.

Mo Yuan laughed upon hearing this.

The smile was exceptionally cold and chilling.

"Frame-ups? Your methods are ruthless enough, but... where is the evidence?"

"No evidence is needed."

"It is enough to just make everyone believe that the Shiyin Sect has such great ambition and strength."

Xiao Ran said calmly.

He took a Jade Slip out of his Storage Pouch and presented it with both hands.

"This is the plan this Disciple has compiled over the past few days; please take a look, Hall Master."

Mo Yuan grabbed through the air, and the Jade Slip flew into his hand.

As his Divine Sense swept over it, for the first time, a look of obvious surprise appeared on his calm, unruffled face.

After a long while, he put away the Jade Slip and looked deeply at Xiao Ran.

"If this plan succeeds, the Shiyin Sect will surely be destroyed."

"But the risk is not small; if the Sect were to find out that you were meddling in this, it would be a major crime of framing fellow Sect members and inciting internal strife!"

Mo Yuan said with a look that was half-smile, half-serious.

"That is why I need the Hall Master to preside over it."

Xiao Ran hurriedly stood up and bowed, saying.

"This Disciple is only responsible for execution; all decisions are to be made by the Hall Master."

"After the matter is accomplished, of the Shiyin Sect's thousand-year accumulation, this Disciple is willing to take only twenty percent, with the rest belonging entirely to the Hall Master and the Law Enforcement Hall."

"Twenty percent?"

"You are quite generous."

Mo Yuan raised an eyebrow and said.

An 80/20 split was quite sincere.

"Without the Hall Master's protection, this Disciple's life would be hard to preserve, let alone speak of profits."

Xiao Ran's attitude was sincere.

"Moreover, being able to demonstrate my value before the Hall Master through this matter is more important to this Disciple than any treasure."

These words were spoken frankly and realistically.

Mo Yuan stared at Xiao Ran for a long time and slowly nodded.

"Approved."

"Thank you, Hall Master!"

"However, the plan needs to be adjusted."

Mo Yuan stood up, and an invisible pressure permeated the air.

"If the Shiyin Sect truly has remnants surviving to this day, there should be at least one Soul Transformation expert presiding over them. The fake news bait in your original plan is too crude to deceive a Soul Transformation Cultivator."

He walked down the staircase; with every step he took, a pitch-black array pattern appeared beneath his feet.

"To catch a fish, you must use real bait."

"Real bait?"

Xiao Ran was stunned.

Mo Yuan raised his hand, and three items appeared in his palm.

The first item was a withered branch that was pitch-black throughout, covered with blood-colored patterns on its surface, exuding a dense aura of Corpse Evil.

"The main stem of a thousand-year Corpse Evil Grass; this is the real deal."

The second item was a palm-sized black token with a ferocious ghost head carved on the front.

"A Shiyin Sect Elder Token, captured when the Shiyin Sect was wiped out a thousand years ago; there are no more than ten in the entire Northern Territory."

The third item was a roll of dark yellow animal hide, with tattered edges.

"A remnant page of the Ten Thousand Corpse True Scripture; although it is forged, it is enough to pass for the real thing."

Xiao Ran looked at these three items, shocked in his heart.

This is the true layout!

Using the thousand-year Corpse Evil Grass as a lure to attract the attention of the Shiyin Sect.

Using the Elder Token as a token of trust to imply an inside man.

Using the Ten Thousand Corpse True Scripture remnant page as bait to directly target the Legacy they crave the most!

Triple bait, layer upon layer.

As long as the Shiyin Sect still wants to revitalize their Sect, they absolutely cannot resist this temptation!

"I will have someone inadvertently let these three items flow into the black market and spread the news that they were discovered by a Loose Cultivator in the depths of the Netherworld Ancient Path."

"The news will point to a hidden Immortal Cave in the Bone Wasteland. I will have it set up in advance, leaving behind traces of battle and signs of escape, making everything look logical."

Mo Yuan said indifferently.

"And then?"

Xiao Ran asked.

"Then the Shiyin Sect will send people to investigate. When they confirm that these three items are real, they will follow the clues to track down the whereabouts of that Loose Cultivator."

Mo Yuan looked up at Xiao Ran again as he said this.

"And you are that Loose Cultivator."