34: Your test is also my bargaining chip

Moonlight flowed, and its cold radiance bathed the open space in front of the Immortal Cave.

Han Yuexi's figure had long since vanished.

In the air, only a faint, almost imperceptible fragrance remained, proving she had been there.

Lu Yuan stood rooted, not immediately returning to his Immortal Cave.

He looked up at the bright moon in the sky, his expression calm, but deep in his eyes, a turbulent undercurrent swirled.

Han Yuexi.

A woman who could not be priced by the Great Dao Options Exchange.

A powerful Cultivator possessing a wondrous treasure that could shield Heavenly Secret.

An ally, or perhaps an observer, who was extremely curious about his method of “stirring Karma.”

This cooperation was an opportunity, but also a double-edged sword hanging over his head.

Just as his thoughts solidified, the bronze token in his arms, which had maintained a cold touch, suddenly vibrated ever so slightly.

Lu Yuan withdrew his gaze, lowered his eyes, and took out the token.

On the token's surface, the ancient bronze bird pattern vibrated its wings slightly, and a stream of information silently poured into his mind.

It wasn't a transaction.

It was a mission.

“Mission: Analyze recent Blood Fiend Sect activity intelligence around Danyang City, assess its potential risks and true objectives.”

“Attachment: Original intelligence dossier (incomplete).”

There was no ripple in Lu Yuan's eyes.

The test had arrived.

He returned to his Immortal Cave, reactivated the Restriction, and unrolled the so-called intelligence dossier in his mind.

The dossier's content was extremely detailed, recording the Blood Fiend Sect Disciples' activity tracks over the past month at dozens of locations outside Danyang City, even including their secret contacts with some Loose Cultivators.

An ordinary Cultivator receiving this intelligence would only reach one conclusion: the Blood Fiend Sect was preparing for the next Three Sects Minor Competition, or plotting some scheme against Danyang City.

But Lu Yuan did not rush to analyze.

He knew that what the Heavenly Secret Pavilion's ‘Azure Bird’ gave would never be a simple question.

His consciousness sank into the Great Dao Options Exchange.

He did not search for any targets related to the Blood Fiend Sect; instead, he directly entered a target that no one would have expected into the trading interface.

“Target: The true objective of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion's ‘Azure Bird’ in this mission.”

The light screen flickered.

A line of golden text appeared.

“The ‘Azure Bird’ is conducting a final assessment of your abilities. Call option price: 0.1 karma points.”

“If the event is true, you will receive an increase in your internal evaluation within the Heavenly Secret Pavilion.”

As expected.

Lu Yuan did not hesitate, buying it directly.

The contract was established, and more information flooded into his mind.

The Exchange clearly showed that the intelligence the ‘Azure Bird’ had submitted to him deliberately omitted the most crucial part.

What she wanted to see was not what he could analyze.

But whether he could discover that he couldn't analyze anything at all.

This, in itself, was the answer.

Lu Yuan's lips twitched silently.

He sat cross-legged and began to write his analysis report.

He played along, making a perfect deduction based on the incomplete intelligence.

He pointed out the Blood Fiend Sect's troop deployment.

He predicted their three possible attack targets.

He even analyzed their secret collusion with a certain Family within the city.

Every inference was logically rigorous and impeccable.

However, he did not provide the final conclusion.

At the end of the report, Lu Yuan added a short sentence.

He transmitted this report back via the bronze token.

Then, it was a wait.

The other end of the bronze token fell into a long silence.

A quarter of an hour.

Half an hour.

Lu Yuan was not anxious; he even had leisure to begin meditating, recovering his previously depleted mental energy.

He knew that the silence at this moment was, in itself, a confrontation.

It was an assessment, shock, and deliberation.

Finally, the token vibrated again.

This time, the ‘Azure Bird’s message carried complex emotions, no longer the cold, business-like tone from before.

“You passed.”

Three simple words.

Immediately following was the answer Lu Yuan had been waiting for.

“Their true target is the ancient Restriction diagram at the birthplace of the nine revolutions soul returning grass.”

“From now on, your authority is elevated to ‘Scribe,’ allowing you to access over seventy percent of the confidential intelligence in the Danyang region.”

The ‘Azure Bird’s tone paused, seemingly re-evaluating his value.

“Your remuneration has been deposited into your token. As for the ‘intelligence fee’ for your report, I paid for it personally.”

Lu Yuan calmly accepted all of this.

He knew that from this moment on, his relationship with the Heavenly Secret Pavilion had changed from a probationary candidate being tested to an equal collaborator.

He did not stand on ceremony and immediately took the opportunity to ask his question.

“I want to know the Heavenly Secret Pavilion's attitude towards Ye Chen.”

This time, the ‘Azure Bird’ did not conceal anything.

“The Heavenly Secret Pavilion is not monolithic.”

“Some Elders within the Pavilion are extremely optimistic about Ye Chen, viewing him as one of the most important ‘assets’ for the next hundred years, and have invested a large amount of resources in him.”

“Simply put, someone is ‘longing’ Ye Chen.”

Lu Yuan understood in his heart.

So that's how it was.

He was not only fighting against a Son of Luck, but also contending with a massive “investment institution” that had already placed its bets.

This made things even more interesting.

“Last question.”

“Does the Blood Fiend Sect also purchase intelligence from the Heavenly Secret Pavilion?”

The ‘Azure Bird’s reply came quickly, confirming Lu Yuan's guess.

“Yes.”

“What they purchased was all information regarding that ancient Restriction.”