222: The undercurrents of conflict and the "lie detector" at the old teahouse

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

The old tea stall in the Wild Boar Forest market was as bustling as ever. Loose Cultivators and small Sect Disciples of all kinds stopped here to rest. The sounds of conversation, clinking bowls, and the waiter's shouts blended together, creating a natural screen of cover.

Mo Chen took the field himself. He changed into an inconspicuous grey cloth robe and applied simple camouflage to his face, making him look like a middle-aged merchant who traveled often. He sat alone in a corner of the tea stall, a spot that allowed him to observe the entrance without being conspicuous. He ordered a pot of the cheapest coarse tea and sipped it slowly, appearing relaxed but actually possessing highly focused attention.

Wang Wu and several combat team members skilled in concealment were scattered around the tea stall, disguised as passersby and stall vendors. They kept a secret watch and used "hummingbird" Puppets and high-altitude surveillance to ensure no tails from the Discipline Hall or suspicious individuals approached.

As noon approached, Old Diviner Chen appeared on time. He was still wearing that washed-out old Daoist robe. His pace seemed leisurely, but his slightly tense shoulders and eyes that scanned the surroundings from time to time betrayed his inner nervousness. He walked into the tea stall, his gaze sweeping across it, and quickly locked onto Mo Chen, who was sitting alone in the corner.

He walked to the seat opposite Mo Chen and sat down, lowering his voice: "Are you the relative of that person, Your Excellency?"

Mo Chen put down his teacup, revealing a gentle yet scrutinizing smile: "Old Diviner Chen, it is a pleasure to meet you. Are you satisfied with the items?"

Old Diviner Chen did not answer directly but took the small compass from his bosom and placed it on the table. The compass needle was pointing slightly towards Mo Chen at that moment, emitting a soft light. "This 'Spirit-Discernment Compass' was passed down by my ancestors and is sensitive to energy reactions that are exceptionally pure or have shielding characteristics." He stared at Mo Chen, "The aura on you is of the same origin as that fragment, but... it is deeper."

A chill went through Mo Chen's heart. This Old Diviner Chen really had some tricks; this "Spirit-Discernment Compass" could vaguely perceive the Star Power he had camouflaged within his body. He remained calm: "Your family's heritage is impressive, Old Diviner Chen. I admire it. May I ask why you requested this meeting today?"

Old Diviner Chen leaned forward, his voice lowered further, carrying a hint of urgency and a desperate gamble: "Let's speak plainly! My ancestors suffered a calamity because they were researching a Talisman to shield 'that thing,' and they died with this ambition unfulfilled, carrying their regrets to the grave! I have wasted my whole life groping in the dark as well, but like a blind man touching an elephant, I have made little progress! The power in your hands is completely different from 'that thing'; it is pure and restrained, exactly the direction we dream of! I implore Your Excellency... to show me the way!"

His words were direct and sincere, carrying a long-suppressed resentment and longing, his eyes burning as he stared at Mo Chen.

Mo Chen did not answer immediately; he needed to confirm if this was a trap or if the other party was trustworthy. He seemingly casually dipped his finger in some tea and drew an extremely simple symbol on the rough wooden table that contained a specific rhythm of Star Power. This was one of the secret signals used within "Starfire" for preliminary identity verification, which no non-core member could possibly know.

Seeing that symbol, Old Diviner Chen was stunned for a moment, and then an incredible, wild joy erupted in his eyes. His fingers trembled slightly as he dipped them into the tea and completed the other half of the symbol beside it! Although the strokes were slightly raw, the structure and rhythm were exactly the same!

"This is... one of the few incomplete symbols left by my ancestor... Before he passed away, he said that if I met someone who could complete this symbol, they would be a fellow traveler!" Old Diviner Chen's voice was even choked with emotion.

The secret signal matched! The Bloodline and the Legacy of belief were verified at this moment!

Mo Chen felt relieved, and his smile became a bit more sincere: "Old Diviner Chen, it seems we are indeed 'fellow travelers'."

However, just as Old Diviner Chen was excitedly about to continue questioning, an extremely subtle but specifically frequent vibration came from a button-sized "Energy Fluctuation Monitor" specially made by Senior Brother Li in Mo Chen's pocket!

This was a warning! There was an abnormal energy source in the vicinity carrying the distinct imprint of a "spirit net" scanning the area! It wasn't targeting them; it seemed more like... a large-scale routine inspection?

Mo Chen's expression changed slightly, but he immediately returned to normal. He picked up the teapot to pour tea for Old Diviner Chen, while signaling him to be quiet with his eyes.

Old Diviner Chen was also an old hand in the Jianghu and understood immediately. He picked up his teacup and pretended to taste the tea, but his peripheral vision was already vigilantly scanning the surroundings.

Just then, two young men wearing the robes of Qingxuan Sect Outer Sect Disciples walked into the tea stall entrance. They seemed to find an empty seat casually and ordered some food, but one of them's fingers were tapping on the table as if unconsciously. An extremely obscure fluctuation centered on him spread out like water ripples, sweeping across the entire tea stall.

It was the "Wind-Listening Spell" of the Discipline Hall! A low-level but wide-range detection Spell mainly used to monitor discussions in public places and sense the gathering of abnormal energy.

Mo Chen sneered inwardly; the Black Wind Mountain's surveillance everywhere really hadn't relaxed at all. The Star Power within his body flowed slightly, and an invisible barrier naturally formed, isolating the fluctuations of the "Wind-Listening Spell." At the same time, he sent a signal to Wang Wu, who was guarding outside, through the "Mind Net": [There are flies, execute Plan B.]

Outside the tea stall, Wang Wu, disguised as a candied hawthorn vendor, immediately gave a wink to a "child" (another team member in disguise) squatting on the ground watching ants not far away.

That "child" suddenly cried out "Wah" and pointed at the sky, shouting: "Bird! A big bird pooped on my head!"

This interruption immediately attracted the attention of many people inside and outside the tea stall, and also instantly interfered with the focus of the two Discipline Hall Disciples casting the "Wind-Listening Spell."

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Mo Chen quickly slid a "Message Stone" that looked like an ordinary pebble but had a micro-teleportation coordinate carved inside to Old Diviner Chen's side, and whispered: "Hold it tight and silently recite 'Starfire.' If you encounter danger or have made up your mind, you can use this item to go to the 'crooked-neck tree at the foot of Black Wind Mountain,' and someone will be there to guide you. Remember, be cautious!"

Old Diviner Chen gripped the warm "Message Stone" tightly and nodded heavily, his eyes filled with determination and hope.

The two Discipline Hall Disciples were disturbed by the "child" and didn't detect any obvious anomalies, so they ate some food and left dejectedly.

Mo Chen also put down the tea money and left like an ordinary tea guest.

The first official contact was completed without incident under the nose of the Discipline Hall.

Old Diviner Chen, this long-buried spark, was finally successfully ignited. And the "Message Stone" in his hand and that guidance location would become a secret channel for "Starfire" to absorb external members.

The fire of "prairie fire" had finally ignited its first field.

(End of this chapter)