82: Rich! This is really rich!

Xuan Yangzi stared at Ling Canglan, who was kneeling before him, his entire body frozen in place, his fingers unconsciously digging into his palms, even forgetting to breathe.

He first widened his eyes, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down several times, before a trembling voice squeezed out from between his teeth.

“What the actual f—!”

His voice was urgent and hoarse, with a hint of disbelieving crackle.

“Wh-wh-what’s going on here?”

Xuan Yangzi took two steps forward, then abruptly retreated half a step, his gaze darting back and forth between Ling Canglan and Gu Changge, as if he had seen a ghost.

Just a moment ago, he was still contemplating how to deal with the Lingxiao Holy Land. How, in the blink of an eye, did this Saint King Realm Holy Master, whose power made even Central Province forces wary, start referring to himself as “this subordinate” to him?

Especially when he heard about Ling Canglan’s three centuries of undercover work in the Lingxiao Holy Land, yearning day and night to rejoin the ranks, Xuan Yangzi felt his mind go “Buzz” and his vision wavered.

His heart was in an uproar: The Azure Profound Sect could be considered a major Sect in the Xuan Province of the Eastern Province, but it seemed ordinary in the entire Eastern Province.

Where did it get the ability to “plant secret agents in a Central Province Holy Land three hundred years ago”?

But then, a thought struck him, and he clenched his hands tightly—

Could it be the Sect’s Old Ancestors who did it?

Were the Old Ancestors so farsighted back then, having already laid out this secret chess piece?

Three centuries of infiltration, allowing a secret agent to take charge of a Central Province Holy Land and even control the Netherworld Hall... This move was too terrifying!

On second thought, that couldn’t be right. He knew how capable the Old Ancestors were... He couldn’t help but look down at the Sect robes on his body, then glanced at Ling Canglan.

He felt his temples throb and, turning to Gu Changge, his tone was full of uncertainty.

“Changge, this... what exactly is going on? Does our Sect really have such a powerful trump card?”

Gu Changge looked at Xuan Yangzi’s expression, a mix of “shock and bewilderment,” and felt a slight urge to laugh.

“There’s no trump card laid by any Old Ancestor. It’s merely controlling him with the SoulSeizing Technique and slightly altering his memories, so he would be wholeheartedly obedient.”

“Al-altered memories?”

Xuan Yangzi’s voice suddenly rose, then he quickly lowered it, his eyes fixed on Gu Changge.

This person was a true Saint King Realm Cultivator!

To be able to preside over a Holy Land in the Central Province, his Sea of Consciousness strength was definitely not comparable to that of a Saint Realm Cultivator. With ordinary methods, let alone altering memories, even invading his Sea of Consciousness would be as difficult as ascending to heaven.

Yet now, Ling Canglan was still kneeling there, his back straight, his eyes showing not a trace of falseness in their loyalty. He had clearly taken the fabricated “undercover past” as real.

“To be able to... alter the memories of a Saint King Realm Cultivator...”

When Xuan Yangzi looked at Gu Changge again, his gaze had completely changed, as if he were looking at an unfathomable deity.

“Changge, your strength... is truly terrifying.”

Is this still my sweet and adorable Junior Brother?

He recalled the Junior Brother he and several Peak Masters often looked after when he first arrived at Zizhu Peak. How, in the blink of an eye, had he become a peerless big shot?

Xuan Yangzi quietly clenched his fists, his thoughts racing like an abacus.

Before, he protected his Junior Brother. Now, it seems he must firmly cling to this powerful figure!

Gu Changge watched Xuan Yangzi’s constantly changing expression and added casually, “Oh, and this person’s identity is not simple—he’s not just the Lingxiao Holy Land Master, but also the Palace Master of the Netherworld Hall.”

“Netherworld Hall?”

Xuan Yangzi’s eyes first froze, then his brows furrowed slightly, as if he was searching for fragments deep within his memory.

“Are you referring to that assassin organization that hides in the shadows and specializes in assassinations?”

He had spent most of his life in the Eastern Province and had heard of this force in his early years. They were ruthless in their actions, even daring to accept contracts to kill Saint Realm Cultivators. However, they were too secretive. Besides the name “Netherworld Hall,” no one could even pinpoint their exact location.

At the time, he had simply dismissed it, never imagining that the Palace Master of this organization was none other than the Lingxiao Holy Land Master kneeling before him!

Gu Changge raised his chin, gesturing for him to look at Ling Canglan: “You ask him yourself. He knows more than I do.”

Xuan Yangzi immediately turned to the still-kneeling Ling Canglan, suppressing the shock in his heart and trying to maintain his Sect Master demeanor.

“What is this Netherworld Hall about? Since you are the Lingxiao Holy Land Master, why would you also preside over this Palace?”

Ling Canglan bowed in response, his tone respectful: “Reporting to Sect Master, the Netherworld Hall is a secretive assassin organization in the Central Province. This subordinate infiltrated it under an assumed name back then and gradually gained control of the force...”

Xuan Yangzi’s pupils constricted tighter and tighter as he listened. When he heard “even daring to kill Saint King Realm Cultivators,” he gasped sharply.

He had originally thought that acquiring a Lingxiao Holy Land Master was shocking enough, but he never expected something even more explosive. This “trump card” in his hands was far heavier than he had imagined.

So, he had not only acquired a Holy Land’s Holy Master, but also the head of an assassin organization?

As soon as Ling Canglan finished speaking, he immediately reached for the index finger of his left hand.

A Storage Ring, entirely black and inscribed with obscure spiritual patterns, was on his knuckle. Though inconspicuous, it subtly emanated the fluctuations of a Saint-Grade artifact.

He carefully removed the ring, holding it with both hands and presenting it to Xuan Yangzi, his tone filled with respect.

“Sect Master, within this Storage Ring are the treasures this subordinate has accumulated over the years while presiding over the Lingxiao Holy Land and the Netherworld Hall. Today, I offer them all to the Sect, to contribute my humble strength to the Sect’s growth.”

Xuan Yangzi snapped back to his senses and reached out to take the ring. Before the cool sensation on his fingertips faded, his spiritual consciousness eagerly probed inside.

The next second, his pupils suddenly dilated, his breathing hitched, and only one thought furiously spun in his mind.

We’re rich! We’re truly rich now!

The space within the ring was far vaster than he had imagined, and the treasures piled within made his eyes dizzy.

Most conspicuous was a Saint King Weapon placed on a jade platform, along with three Saint Weapons, each emanating a pressure that made Saint Realm Cultivators tremble.

In the adjacent jade boxes, hundreds of bottles of Saint-Grade Medicinal Pills were neatly arranged, while Medicinal Pills below Saint-Grade were piled up like mountains.

There were also several Saint-Grade herbs with golden leaves, which even he, a Sect Master who had lived for hundreds of years, had only seen described in ancient texts.

Other treasures were piled up like mountains, too numerous to count... Xuan Yangzi’s spiritual consciousness circled through the pile of treasures, and even his fingers began to tremble slightly—this was hardly “contributing humble strength.”

This Holy Master truly was extravagant.

He subconsciously clutched the ring tightly, as if afraid the ring full of treasures would fly away. The shock on his face had long turned into irrepressible joy, and even the Sect Master demeanor he had maintained earlier had largely collapsed.

“It is this subordinate’s honor to serve the Sect. If the Sect Master requires other resources, this subordinate will return and allocate them from the treasuries of the Lingxiao Holy Land and the Netherworld Hall. I will certainly not disappoint the Sect Master.”

Xuan Yangzi finally came back to his senses and quickly raised his hand in a gesture of support.

“Enough, enough! These are already sufficient! You may rise first. This matter must only be known by one person. Do not spread it. After you return, we must carefully consider how to proceed.”

His gaze at Ling Canglan was like staring at a walking “treasure bowl,” so fervent it almost overflowed.

This was no Saint King Realm Holy Master; this was clearly a “wealth-bringing child” sent by heaven to deliver Opportunity to the Azure Profound Sect!

Gu Changge looked at Ling Canglan, who was still kneeling, and said, “I just checked your memories and confirmed that you did not participate in the pursuit of Master Daoist Zizhu back then, which is why I spared your life and let you off.

After you return, there are two tasks to complete. First, thoroughly clear out everyone in the Lingxiao Holy Land and the Netherworld Hall who participated in the pursuit of Master back then, regardless of their status. Leave no one behind;

Second, guard your position well and serve as Azure Profound Sect’s secret agent. Do not let anyone know your identity.”

Ling Canglan’s body trembled, and his tone became even more deferential than before.

“This subordinate obeys!”