97: Chapter 97: The True Evil

On the blood boat of the Eternal Night Demon Sect.

Xiao Ran sat cross-legged in the cabin, closing his eyes to adjust his breath.

Mo Yuan's voice came from outside.

"Xiao Ran, come to the deck."

Xiao Ran opened his eyes, rose, and walked out of the cabin.

On the deck, Mo Yuan stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the distant sea of clouds.

"Palace Master."

Xiao Ran walked to his side.

Mo Yuan turned to look at him with a gentle gaze.

"Did you find the blood god flower and the nine netherworld underworld iron?"

"I asked others, but no one found anything."

Xiao Ran was not surprised upon hearing this.

Because the locations of these two items were too well hidden.

If he had not obtained the Legacy of Daoist Duobao, he would not have even seen them, let alone obtained them.

"Palace Master, I have fulfilled the mission!"

Xiao Ran thought for a moment before taking out the blood god flower and a nine netherworld underworld iron sword embryo from his storage ring.

Mo Yuan was overjoyed; he took them, examined them carefully, and nodded with satisfaction.

"Not bad, both items are genuine."

"Especially this sword embryo. Having the nine netherworld underworld iron forged like this saves the Sect a lot of effort."

He put the items away and looked at Xiao Ran.

"The mission was completed very well. After returning to the Sect, I will apply for you to have one access to the Eternal Night Demon Pool."

"You can use it at any time."

Xiao Ran saluted: "Thank you, Palace Master."

"This is what you deserve."

Mo Yuan waved his hand and suddenly asked again.

"Xiao Ran, what was your harvest in the Ancient Battlefield?"

Xiao Ran's heart tightened slightly, but he remained calm and said,

"Disciple was lucky enough to gain some Opportunity and had a Breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Realm."

Mo Yuan looked at him with a smile that was not quite a smile.

"Just Nascent Soul? The Qi in your body is not as simple as someone who has just entered the Nascent Soul Realm."

Xiao Ran remained silent.

Mo Yuan smiled and did not press him.

"If you don't want to say, then don't."

"But I must remind you that greed leads to indigestion; you should understand this principle."

"Additionally, the Sect led you into the ruins, and we agreed that all gains would be split fifty-fifty."

"Of course, the item you obtained as the final Legacy belongs to you."

Xiao Ran nodded immediately: "Disciple understands."

Major Sects still have a broader perspective.

If it were some small Sects, they would be eager to strip you bare at this moment.

"Good that you understand."

Mo Yuan nodded, looking at the distant sea of clouds, and suddenly said, "Xiao Ran, do you know that your performance in the Ancient Battlefield has spread throughout the entire North Territory?"

Xiao Ran was stunned.

"Killing Blood Buddha Ku Chan, defeating a Nascent Soul expert in one move..." Mo Yuan looked at him with a smile that was not quite a smile. "Now, all the Cultivators in the North Territory are inquiring about who Xiao Ran is."

Xiao Ran gave a bitter smile: "This is not a good thing."

"Good that you know."

"After returning, keep a low profile and Cultivate; go out less."

"This matter cannot be hidden. Some Loose Cultivators will not care if you are a Saint of the Eternal Night Demon Sect. You should wait until the storm passes."

Mo Yuan reminded him with a smile that was not quite a smile.

Xiao Ran's expression tightened.

He understood what Mo Yuan meant.

The Loose Cultivators he spoke of were not just Loose Cultivators; they could also be Demon Cultivators.

"Disciple understands."

Mo Yuan patted him on the shoulder.

"Cultivate well. After the Eternal Night Demon Pool, you should be able to advance further. By then..."

He paused.

"The North Territory Prodigy Assembly might be the time for you to truly make a name for yourself."

Xiao Ran's eyes lit up.

The North Territory Prodigy Assembly?

That was a grand event where all the Geniuses of the North Territory gathered!

At that time, it would not just be Sects, but also top Dynasties, various Families... all gathering together.

That was the most prestigious assembly in the entire North Territory.

At the same time, the resources obtained by the winner of the assembly would make even Void Refining experts covetous.

...

Meanwhile, on another sword boat.

Li Changsheng was also standing on the deck, looking at the distant sea of clouds.

Daoist Master Qingxu walked to his side.

"Changsheng."

"Palace Master."

Daoist Master Qingxu looked at him with a calm and profound gaze.

"You had quite a harvest in the Ancient Battlefield, right?"

Li Changsheng respectfully said: "Disciple gained some insights in the Innate Dao Valley and luckily had a Breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Realm."

Daoist Master Qingxu nodded and did not ask further.

He just said gently:

"Cultivate well. You are the Third Saint of the Supreme Dao Palace; the road ahead is still long."

Li Changsheng lowered his head: "Disciple will remember."

Daoist Master Qingxu turned and left. Before leaving, his gaze lingered on him for a moment.

In that instant, Li Changsheng felt as if he had been seen through completely.

But Daoist Master Qingxu said nothing.

He just smiled slightly and drifted away.

Li Changsheng breathed a sigh of relief.

In the Soul link, Xiao Ran's voice came through:

"Changsheng, how is it on your side?"

"Just got probed by the Deputy Palace Master."

"He seemed to have noticed something, but he didn't say."

Li Changsheng replied.

"Same."

"Mo Yuan also said some cryptic things, but didn't point it out."

"I guess they know we have something, but they don't know what. We just act like we don't understand, and that's it."

Xiao Ran stated the result of his analysis.

According to his experience from his past life, if some high-level leaders know exactly what you have, they will hint at it directly or indirectly.

If they are not sure whether you have something, they will be like this, probing you.

If you cannot handle the pressure, then you confess.

If you handle the pressure, then it's fine.

Xiao Ran decisively chose the latter; handling the pressure is all it takes.

The two were silent for a moment.

"Xiao Ran, do you think we can hide it for long?"

Li Changsheng suddenly asked.

Xiao Ran thought for a moment.

"When we can't hide it anymore, we won't hide it."

"Then what do we do then?"

Xiao Ran laughed.

"Then, of course, we offer it to them. Don't worry, as long as you give them something, they won't hold this matter against you."

"I am an expert in this, have you forgotten?"

Li Changsheng laughed upon hearing this.

"That makes sense."

Before the Transmigration, Xiao Ran was responsible for this aspect.

Li Changsheng loved listening to Xiao Ran back then and never suffered any losses.

So it is the same now.

He still listens to Xiao Ran.

"Oh right, Mo Yuan just told me to keep a low profile."

"We have just entered the Nascent Soul Realm, and holding such a big Opportunity, he is afraid we cannot handle it."

"Some old monsters whose Lifespan is coming to an end might make a move on us."

"So I plan to go into seclusion for a period of time, firstly to avoid the spotlight, and secondly to stabilize my Realm."

Xiao Ran suddenly reminded him.

Li Changsheng's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this.

"That is your Demon Sect; our Dao Sect wouldn't do that, right?"

Xiao Ran laughed upon hearing this.

"Look at you, your experience is still shallow!"

"Haven't you heard that true evil is never on the surface?"

"The evil of the Demon Sect is known to everyone, so I am always cautious in my conduct and never open my heart to anyone."

"But your Dao Sect has quite a few sanctimonious hypocrites."

"If you trust them, you won't even know how you died."

Li Changsheng became vigilant immediately.

"I understand."

The two chatted for a while longer and then disconnected the link.

The blood boat and the sword boat drifted further and further apart in the sea of clouds.

Heading in their respective directions.