81: Your subordinate Ling Canglan, here to see the Xuanyang Sect Master

Gu Changge did not answer, but a faint golden stream of light suddenly flashed in his eyes.

His Eye of Illusory Breaking quietly unfolded, and the spiritual energy patterns flowing around Lingxiao Holy Land Master, the protective imprints hidden deep within his Sea of Consciousness, and even the Legacy Qi imprinted in his Bloodline, instantly became visible to his eyes.

[Name: Ling Canglan]

[Cultivation: Saint King Realm Middle Stage]

[Talent: Saint-Grade Medium Grade]

[Physique: Heavenly Spirit Body]

[Comprehension Ability: Superior]

[Heart-Nature: Cunning and Treacherous]

...Gu Changge's gaze paused at the four words "Cunning and Treacherous."

"This Heart-Nature... Cunning and Treacherous? What kind of path is this?"

He looked up at Ling Canglan again. The other party was still trying to maintain the dignity of a Holy Land Master, but his eyes were constantly darting around, clearly thinking of a way to escape.

A hint of interest grew in Gu Changge's heart: "As expected, he's not a simple character. I'd like to see how cunning he can be."

Lingxiao Holy Land Master saw that he didn't answer and instead swept his body with such an all-seeing gaze, a chill inexplicably rising in his heart.

He was about to declare, "If you dare to harm me, Lingxiao Holy Land will retaliate with all its might."

However, Gu Changge looked at him, and a vast Divine Sense, like a sea of stars, surged forth like a tide. Before he could react, it had already crashed into his Sea of Consciousness!

"You dare!"

Lingxiao Holy Land Master was both shocked and enraged. Two brilliant lights instantly burst forth within his Sea of Consciousness.

One was the "Soul Suppressing Jade" he had found in a Secret Realm in his early years. The jade light, as it circulated, could shatter the Divine Sense of a Saint King Realm Cultivator.

The other was the soul-protecting array imprint, a Legacy of Lingxiao Holy Land for ten thousand years, which had once withstood a full-force sneak attack from a Saint King Realm Late Stage Cultivator.

Yet, these two defenses, which he regarded as life-saving trump cards, were like thin paper meeting a sharp blade before Gu Changge's Divine Sense. With a "crack," they shattered into nothingness, unable to even delay for half a breath.

The Divine Sense invaded his Sea of Consciousness without any obstruction. Lingxiao Holy Land Master only felt a tearing pain in his mind, as if thousands of steel needles were simultaneously piercing him.

He wanted to mobilize his spiritual energy to resist, wanted to open his mouth to scream for help, but he was pinned in place by an invisible restraint around him, unable to move even a fingertip.

He could only watch as Gu Changge's Divine Sense spread out within his Sea of Consciousness, transforming into a large azure-golden hand, and began to perform the Soul-Seizing Technique.

"No... I am Lingxiao Holy Land Master! I am the Master of an ancient Holy Land! How can I be controlled by you!"

He struggled frantically within his Sea of Consciousness. His remaining will condensed into a small gilded sword—that was his "Dao Heart Sword," forged with the power of the Holy Land's Legacy, which had once cut down Heart Demons and broken through illusions.

As soon as the small gilded sword touched the azure-golden hand, it was suddenly gripped by a seemingly gentle, yet incomparably powerful force.

The force was as light as crushing a withered leaf, yet it instantly shattered Ling Canglan's resistance within his Sea of Consciousness.

The moment the small sword dissipated into countless specks of light, his last shred of struggling thought, like a sandcastle washed away by the tide, instantly collapsed, and he was completely controlled by Gu Changge.

Gu Changge's Divine Sense took the opportunity to spread out within his Sea of Consciousness, examining Ling Canglan's memories.

When it swept past the dark barrier deep within his memories, it unexpectedly broke open a past that no one had ever set foot in.

This discovery made even Gu Changge inwardly exclaim, "Good heavens."

Ling Canglan's memories actually contained another identity, one that was enough to shake the Central Domain: the Palace Master of the Netherworld Hall.

In his early years, when Gu Changge had idly explored the Xuanhuang Great World, he had heard the name of the Netherworld Hall.

It was an assassin organization hidden in the shadows, so ruthless that even Saint King Realm Cultivators dared not easily provoke it.

Thirty years ago, a Saint Old Ancestor of a first-rate force in the Central Domain had just broken through to the Saint King Realm. Before he could even celebrate, he was assassinated by the Netherworld Hall's killers in the dead of night. His head was hung at the Sect's mountain gate for three days, intimidating the entire Central Domain into silence for half a month.

There were even rumors that Saint Realm offerings from Holy Lands had fallen to their specially made poisoned needles.

And in this memory, Ling Canglan was precisely the helmsman of this Netherworld Hall.

The scene was vividly shocking.

In his early years at Lingxiao Holy Land, Ling Canglan, relying on his Saint-Grade Medium Grade talent and Heavenly Spirit Body Physique, was designated as a "Candidate Saint" by the Old Ancestors.

But no one expected that this promising Candidate Saint would quietly hide his identity during an outdoor training expedition, assume the alias "Cang," and infiltrate the Netherworld Hall.

He deliberately restrained the awe-inspiring aura of a Holy Land Cultivator, presenting himself only as an "ordinary Loose Cultivator." Starting as a low-level assassin, he quickly distinguished himself in life-and-death struggles within three short years, relying on his Comprehension Ability and ruthlessness, which far surpassed those of his peers.

Climbing over the corpses of countless opponents, he rose from a low-level assassin to the position of "Netherworld Left Emissary" within fifty years, earning the respect of even the old-timers in the Palace.

A hundred years ago, he launched a rebellion during the old Palace Master's secluded Breakthrough. Using the secret techniques of Lingxiao Holy Land combined with the Netherworld Hall's "Soul Corroding Poison."

He brutally pulverized the thousand-year-old old Palace Master, stepping on his lingering soul to ascend to the position of Palace Master, without even the most loyal Elders in the Palace noticing any abnormality.

Even more ingenious was his dual-line operation.

By day, he was the high and mighty Holy Master of Lingxiao Holy Land, using the Holy Land's power to suppress his competitors within the Netherworld Hall, flawlessly enacting the charade of "eradicating assassin organizations."

By night, he transformed into the Netherworld Hall Master, directing assassins to eliminate dissenters within the Holy Land.

Gu Changge's Divine Sense roamed through this memory, watching Ling Canglan simultaneously use the Holy Land's resources to nurture the Netherworld Hall's assassins, and use the assassins' hands to clear obstacles within the Holy Land, playing the game of "using power to strike power" with masterful skill.

Gu Changge inwardly exclaimed: This is truly an eye-opener; people from the Central Domain sure know how to play.

He originally thought Xuan Yangzi and the Azure Profound Sect's Old Ancestor were already good at hiding, but he didn't expect Ling Canglan to be even more ruthless. Under the identity of a Holy Land Master, he sat firmly as the Palace Master of an assassin organization, so much so that even the core Elders of Lingxiao Holy Land didn't detect any flaws.

"No wonder the Eye of Illusory Breaking marked his 'Heart-Nature' as 'Cunning and Treacherous.' He's not just cunning; he's practically playing the entire Central Domain in his hands."

If he hadn't encountered a cheat like Gu Changge, and in such a simple and crude manner.

Ling Canglan might have truly relied on his dual identity, enjoying reverence as a Holy Land Master while controlling the shadows with the Netherworld Hall, turning the Central Domain of the Xuanhuang Great World into his personal backyard.

Gu Changge originally intended to control this person with the Soul-Seizing Technique and hand him over to Xuan Yangzi for disposal.

Although the Soul-Seizing Technique could firmly control this person, this fellow was so cunning that the Sect Master might not be able to handle him in the future.

It's better to add another layer of insurance, Gu Changge thought to himself.

"Since you like so many identities, it's not too much for me to add another one for you, is it?"

Gu Changge's Divine Sense roamed within his Sea of Consciousness, beginning to alter his memories.

The original scene of "being kidnapped to high altitude and coerced by someone" was layered over, replaced by a past so clear it seemed etched into his bones.

In the memory, he had been a secret agent planted by the Azure Profound Sect in Lingxiao Holy Land since childhood, secretly cultivated by a mysterious Elder.

Later, he gradually took charge of Lingxiao Holy Land, and even more so, "strictly followed the Azure Profound Sect's orders, enduring humiliation and waiting for the summons."

His joining the Netherworld Hall and becoming its Palace Master was also secretly supported by the Azure Profound Sect.

"You... you are... a person of the Azure Profound Sect?"

The resistance within Lingxiao Holy Land Master's Sea of Consciousness completely dissipated. His eyes changed from fear to bewilderment, then slowly became tinged with reverence, finally transforming completely into submissive loyalty, his voice even carrying uncontrollable excitement.

In just half an incense stick's time, Gu Changge withdrew his Divine Sense, and the azure glow on his fingertips quietly receded.

He raised his hand to brush away non-existent dust from his sleeve, and the spiritual energy restraint within Lingxiao Holy Land Master's body was also lifted.

The Holy Master stumbled, but he had no thought of escaping. Instead, he knelt with a "thump" before Xuan Yangzi.

His head was bowed extremely low, his hands pressed before his knees, his back straight but radiating complete deference, his voice steady yet trembling with suppressed excitement:

"Your subordinate, Ling Canglan, greets Sect Master Xuan Yangzi! For three hundred years, I have been lurking in Lingxiao Holy Land, day and night awaiting the day of my return. Today, I finally behold the true face of the Sect Master. Your subordinate... your subordinate is truly fortunate!"

Next chapter will be updated at noon!