172: Lantao

Qianjiao Cliff, spirit cave Side Hall.

Having just reached the Third Rank, with his aura still somewhat unstable, Turtle Three Thousand was hunched over a desk piled high with Jade Slips and nautical charts.

His eyes were slightly closed, and a pale blue water-spirit radiance flowed from his fingertips. Using the Divine Sense of a newly promoted Demon King and his sharpened divination intuition, he was rapidly processing and analyzing fragments of intelligence gathering from various channels.

After his Breakthrough, his ability to sense the Luck of water veins and discern the authenticity of intelligence had indeed improved significantly.

Suddenly, an inconspicuous black shell-shaped Magical Artifact in front of him vibrated slightly, and a few lines of barely perceptible silver text appeared on its surface before vanishing.

This was the highest-level encrypted information from his subordinates; if Turtle Three Thousand's Divine Sense had not been strong enough and he had not been familiar with the specific decoding method, he would never have detected it.

Turtle Three Thousand's gaze sharpened. He immediately stopped his work, formed hand seals with both hands, and injected a trace of pure Demonic Power into the shell.

More text and a brief, shadowy image appeared. In the image, the outline of the newly built, magnificent building complex at Sanlong River Mouth was vaguely visible, as well as a figure that was slightly blurred in the water-mirror technique recording, but one that Turtle Three Thousand would never mistake—green robes, a jade crown, a gaunt face, with water-wave Dao patterns faintly circulating around his body. It was none other than True Person Lan Tao, the newly promoted Golden Core of the former Green Wave Sect who had escaped death by relying on a teleportation array!

He was walking side-by-side with several Cultivators dressed in the attire of the Heavenly Sword Sect, his expression carrying a mix of reserve and faint eagerness characteristic of someone who had just pledged allegiance to a new master.

The text information was even more detailed: "...Target confirmed as former Green Wave Sect Elder 'True Person Lan Tao,' who arrived at Sanlong River Mouth fifteen days ago accompanied by three Disciples.

According to 'Mysterious Number Three,' who witnessed him entering the Heavenly Sword Branch Alliance's core building, the 'Guanlan Hall,' he appeared half a day later in the capacity of a Guest Elder and participated in a medium-scale meeting.

It is reported that he has presented the 'Detailed Map of the Western Water Veins of Yunmeng Marsh' and 'several secrets of ancient Sects' to the Heavenly Sword Ancestor and is highly valued.

This person is currently responsible for assisting in surveying water veins and planning exploration routes, and is suspected of gathering intelligence on Qianjiao Cliff... Risk rating: High. Suggest vigilance."

After reading it, even with his hundreds of years of cultivation in maintaining composure, Turtle Three Thousand could not help but gasp, his expression instantly becoming incomparably grave.

True Person Lan Tao! Not only had this remnant of the Green Wave Sect not died, but he had also reappeared at such a critical juncture in this manner and had even latched onto the towering tree that was the Heavenly Dao Alliance!

He immediately realized the explosive and dangerous nature of this intelligence. Without hesitation, he grabbed several key Jade Slips and the black shell, his figure moving like lightning as he headed straight for the main spirit cave where Gao De was located.

...Inside the spirit cave where Gao De was located.

Gao De had just finished listening to Turtle Three Thousand's macro-level intelligence report regarding the Heavenly Dao Alliance supporting the Heavenly Sword Ancestor's Breakthrough and the establishment of the branch, and was analyzing the situation with Green Edge, Iron Pincer, and Lin Xiaofan, when he saw Turtle Three Thousand return, his expression also having become grim.

"Master! Urgent intelligence!" Turtle Three Thousand did not even have time to salute before activating the black shell, presenting the image and text information to everyone, while quickly reciting, "Our secret agent placed in the Heavenly Sword Branch has sent word—the remnant of the Green Wave Sect, True Person Lan Tao, has joined the Heavenly Dao Alliance's 'Heavenly Sword Branch Alliance' and has become a Guest Elder!

This person has already presented the map of the western water veins of Yunmeng Marsh and secret ancient records of the Green Wave Sect. He is highly valued and is primarily responsible for surveying water veins, with his target pointed directly at the vicinity of Lake!"

The Purple Lightning in Gao De's dragon eyes paused slightly upon hearing the four words "True Person Lan Tao," before immediately resuming its steady circulation.

The slightly flustered figure in the image reminded him of some long-forgotten past events—it was merely a small fish that had luckily slipped through the net when the Green Wave Sect was destroyed back then.

At that time, he had just achieved Dragon Transformation, and the Green Wave Sect was merely a hurdle he had stepped over on his path of cultivation. This person, Lan Tao, had not left much of a mark in his heart, let alone fear.

He waved his hand to signal Green Edge and the others, who were wearing angry expressions, to remain calm, his gaze sweeping calmly over the image and text information.

What truly concerned him was not Lan Tao himself, but the direction and potential variables represented by the appearance of this "old acquaintance" at this moment.

"Lan Tao... actually defected to the Heavenly Dao Alliance." Gao De's voice betrayed neither joy nor anger, only calm analysis, "A stray dog can only offer its familiarity with Yunmeng Marsh, especially the western waters, and... some secret ancient records that the Green Wave Sect might have preserved."

He tapped his fingertips lightly on the armrest of the jade throne: "His personal life-and-death grievances are insignificant. What is important is that he has now become the 'eyes' and 'guide' for the Heavenly Dao Alliance.

The Heavenly Sword Branch Alliance is new here and must have limited knowledge of the hydrology, geography, power distribution, and even ancient legends of Yunmeng Marsh. Lan Tao's defection happens to make up for this shortcoming.

Especially regarding the 'Great Marsh Secret Treasure,' the Green Wave Sect might have truly possessed some unknown, scattered records or conjectures."

Gao De looked at Turtle Three Thousand: "What is the value of the 'Detailed Water Vein Map' and 'secret ancient records' he presented? What information might they contain that is unfavorable to us?"

Turtle Three Thousand immediately replied: "Replying to Master, the Green Wave Sect did indeed explore the western part of Yunmeng Marsh to a certain extent back then. Their water vein map might be more detailed than the ones we drew in the early days, especially regarding some hidden tributaries and locations of spirit caves.

Regarding secret ancient records, the Green Wave Sect's Legacy is not particularly ancient, but it might contain some scattered legends about the Sea Eye phenomena or exploration notes from predecessor Cultivators. As for my Qianjiao Cliff..." He paused slightly, "Lan Tao knows the location of the former Green Wave Sect mountain gate and also roughly understands your strength back then, Master, as well as our identity as the Yao Race.

But he does not know our specific development, strength improvement, and gains from the deep exploration of the Yunmeng Great Marsh over these years, much less your newly acquired Divine Ability and re-refined Demonic Power artifact, Master.

However, just the fact that we are the 'Dragon force that destroyed and occupied the former Green Wave Sect ruins' is enough for the Heavenly Dao Alliance to list us as an object that needs attention or even assessment."

"Mm." Gao De nodded slightly.

The situation was slightly better than expected, but still not optimistic. The greatest threat Lan Tao brought was not his own meager cultivation and old grudges, but the fact that he provided valuable "local intelligence" to the behemoth that was the Heavenly Dao Alliance, turning Qianjiao Cliff from "one of the local Yao Race forces that might need attention" into a specific target that "has old grievances with the Heavenly Dao Alliance's newly recruited Guest Elder, occupies a strategic location, and needs to have its background thoroughly investigated and evaluated on how to handle it."

"This person, Lan Tao, is cowardly and good at currying favor. His primary purpose in defecting to the Heavenly Dao Alliance is to seek protection and a new backer; restoring his prestige is likely secondary." Gao De continued to analyze, "He provides intelligence to demonstrate his value and gain a foothold. In the short term, he may not actively or fully push the Heavenly Dao Alliance to deal with us, because that carries significant personal risk for him and may not align with the overall interests of the Heavenly Dao Alliance. However..."

His tone shifted, and his gaze became sharp: "Once the Heavenly Dao Alliance decides to strengthen its control over the western part of Yunmeng Marsh, or if we touch upon their interests in certain matters, the information Lan Tao provides about us will become an important basis for their decision-making, and might even be used by Lan Tao to borrow a knife to kill, fanning the flames.

Moreover, he is familiar with the Lake waters. If he leads the Heavenly Dao Alliance's troops to investigate, the threat to the concealment of our territory will be far greater than that of other unfamiliar enemies."

Upon hearing this, the mood of everyone in the hall became even heavier.

Lan Tao was like a thorn; although not large, it could be stuck in the most fatal spot, attracting increasingly fierce subsequent attacks.