Chapter 289: The Heart of the Strange Immortal

Hearing Stone Difference Immortal’s words, Bai Ninger shrugged and said, “You’ve got one thing wrong. The Qingxiao Sect is not a secular School, much less a Dynasty. What we pursue is immortality through Immortal Ascension. The Sect Leader will surely become an immortal, and he will rule the Qingxiao Sect forever.”

Stone Difference Immortal looked at him and pressed, “Then do you think he will never change?”

“That’s natural,” Bai Ninger said without hesitation.

Stone Difference Immortal froze, his gaze turning strange.

Bai Ninger felt no burden regarding his gaze.

Coming to Wenxian Temple this time, Bai Ninger wanted to investigate Wenxian Temple’s background. Although Wenxian Temple couldn’t compare to cultivation Schools like the Qingxia Sect or Baiyuan Valley and hadn’t been targeted for inspection by the Qingxiao Sect yet, he felt it was necessary to make a trip.

After hearing Stone Difference Immortal’s story, he initially found it interesting, but after learning more, he felt Stone Difference Immortal was not simple.

Possessing extraordinary talent, being able to endure the shame of being rejected by the Son of Heaven, and finally choosing to live in seclusion deep in the mountains—such a person would surely succeed.

If he eventually became an enemy of the Qingxiao Sect, that would be bad.

Before the rise of the Qingxiao Sect, there were too many Schools in the Martial Forest that seemed powerful, and even the Great Li Dynasty had collapsed. He didn’t want the Qingxiao Sect to encounter another enemy like Li Qingqiu.

Bai Ninger smiled and asked, “Temple Master Shi, I would like to stay here for two days to properly understand the compassionate world-saving immortal. Is that alright?”

Stone Difference Immortal smiled and said, “Of course.”

Subsequently, Bai Ninger asked a few more questions, which Stone Difference Immortal answered one by one.

After chatting for a while, Stone Difference Immortal finally saw Bai Ninger out of the main hall. He didn’t see him off personally but called a Disciple to arrange a place for Bai Ninger to stay.

Stone Difference Immortal stood before the threshold, watching Bai Ninger leave. He was entirely in the shadows, and his delicate face lost its smile, appearing extremely cold and his gaze full of disdain.

Behind him, the compassionate world-saving immortal actually moved its arm slightly… As the night deepened.

Bai Ninger lay on the bed but was unable to sleep. He pillowed his head with his hands, looking at the bright moon outside the window.

He had been at Wenxian Temple for two days, and he increasingly felt something was wrong with Stone Difference Immortal.

Stone Difference Immortal normally didn’t teach the Disciples how to Cultivate at all; he only had them plant flowers and grass or chant scriptures to the compassionate world-saving immortal.

Could such a School really be considered a cultivation School?

He suspected he had misjudged Stone Difference Immortal; could this fellow simply not become a figure like Sect Master Li?

“Just looking like this won’t reveal any problems. The more formidable a character is, the better they are at hiding themselves.” A voice came from inside the room, startling Bai Ninger into turning his head.

He saw the Wenxian Temple Disciple on the opposite bed lying on his back. His eyes were closed as if he were sleeping.

Bai Ninger hadn’t expected him to say such a thing. Over the past two days, this Disciple had acted very enthusiastically and seemed to have no schemes, so Bai Ninger hadn’t been very guarded against him.

“What do you mean by that?” Bai Ninger asked calmly.

“You claim to be a Qingxiao Sect Disciples. Do you think if Stone Difference Immortal had a problem, he would show it to you?” the Wenxian Temple Disciple continued to ask.

Bai Ninger was silent.

He was suddenly awakened to the truth. He thought that by acting kind and casual, he could gain trust, not realizing that the identity of a Qingxiao Sect Disciples was a huge threat to other Schools, and it was impossible for them to let down their guard.

Only… “Who exactly are you? Why did you join Wenxian Temple?” Bai Ninger turned and asked the Disciple.

The Disciple still kept his eyes closed and replied, “Since I can answer you, you should be able to guess my true origin. I just can’t tell you my identity. This is my mission, not a free mission taken at the Experience Hall.”

Bai Ninger’s eyes widened. He had always known that the Qingxiao Sect had Disciples specifically responsible for undercover missions. These Disciples’ identities were very mysterious, and the missions they executed were personally arranged by the sect’s high-level officials, not under the jurisdiction of the Experience Hall.

He hadn’t expected the sect to plant such a spy even in Wenxian Temple.

From the observations of the past two days, Stone Difference Immortal clearly valued this Disciple highly.

Bai Ninger suddenly felt that the Qingxiao Sect was not as open and upright as he had imagined, but this thought actually made him breathe a sigh of relief.

The School was not conceited and still faced secular forces with potential threats cautiously.

“I see. Since you’re here, I won’t worry about it.”

Bai Ninger showed a smile and lay flat again. He didn’t press for the Disciple’s identity to avoid making things difficult for him.

The Disciple said no more.

The moon set and the sun rose.

The two of them walked out of the room one after another. That Disciple immediately returned to his usual enthusiastic self, proactively fetching water for Bai Ninger, which filled his heart with emotion.

The Qingxiao Sect Discipless were all full of spirit, yet he hadn’t expected them to be able to bend their backs when executing a mission.

Bai Ninger had originally planned to head down the mountain after noon, but as it turned out, the weather was unpredictable. Before he could pack his bags, a rainstorm quickly arrived.

Rumble—

Thunder suddenly roared, deafeningly loud. The mountain forest was washed by the heavy rain, and mist filled the air.

Bai Ninger stood under the eaves, watching the trees around Wenxian Temple swaying in the rainstorm, his thoughts drifting.

Although he always traveled down the mountain and was cheerful with everyone, he actually had his own goals in his heart. He also wanted to become a brilliant Genius like Zhao Zhen, Cloud Color, and Sword Solitary. Unfortunately, he didn’t have that kind of talent; he was just an ordinary person with better luck.

Regarding the next Dharma Battle Assembly, Bai Ninger also had ambitions.

He also wanted to stand out.

“I wonder what Fellow Daoist Bai is thinking that makes him frown so deeply?” Stone Difference Immortal’s voice came, causing Bai Ninger to turn his head.

He saw Stone Difference Immortal holding an umbrella, walking through the temple’s small path into the courtyard.

Bai Ninger watched him approach and then smiled, “I’m preparing to return to the sect, so I was thinking about some of my own cultivation plans.”

Stone Difference Immortal smiled and asked, “As expected of a Disciple of the number one School under heaven, to have set such detailed plans for your own cultivation.”

Seeing that the rain was unlikely to stop anytime soon, Bai Ninger began chatting with Stone Difference Immortal.

The heavy rain poured down, mercilessly lashing all things in heaven and earth.

Suddenly.

Streaks of air-piercing sounds cut through the thunder, coming from the horizon. Bai Ninger and Stone Difference Immortal were startled and turned to look, only to see Cultivators stepping on Flying Swords coming through the rain. Visible white Qi swirled around them as they crossed the forest and quickly landed on the eaves in front of them.

There were twelve people in total, all wearing the uniform blue robes of the Qingxiao Sect.

Bai Ninger raised an eyebrow; he recognized the leader.

Invincible Xiao!

At thirty-two years old, Invincible Xiao was already at the Ninth Layer of the Nourishing Origin Realm. He was considered a strong contender for first place in the next Dharma Battle Assembly.

He stood on the eaves, his build sturdy, his black hair draped casually, standing like a majestic lion. His brow was full of arrogance, his chin slightly upturned as he looked down on Stone Difference Immortal.

Invincible Xiao didn’t have a deep impression of Bai Ninger, and Bai Ninger wasn’t wearing the Qingxiao Sect robes. He looked down at the two of them and said, “I am the Qingxiao Sect True Disciple Invincible Xiao. This mountain has been requisitioned by the Qingxiao Sect. You must either move the temple and leave or close it; you must not interfere with the Qingxiao Sect’s collection of Spirit Stones!”

Collecting Spirit Stones?

Bai Ninger froze, the confusion in his heart suddenly resolving.

So Stone Difference Immortal was practicing Endurance here because there was a Spirit Mine here?

But how did the sect find out about this?

He thought of the Wenxian Temple Disciple who shared a room with him.

Upon hearing this, Stone Difference Immortal couldn’t help but frown. He asked, “Is the Qingxiao Sect not being too overbearing?”

Invincible Xiao snorted coldly, “The Xuan Dynasty reveres Qingxiao. Could it be that your Wenxian Temple was established before the Xuan Dynasty? Allowing you to Cultivate and recruit Disciples is already merciful enough. Do not be greedy. If you comply, the Qingxiao Sect will not mistreat you and will grant you money.”

“Is secular money useful to us cultivation Schools?” Stone Difference Immortal asked, suppressing his anger.

Invincible Xiao said in a deep voice, “I’m not here to discuss this with you!”

The other Qingxiao Sect Discipless all cast their gazes on Stone Difference Immortal. These Disciples’ cultivation levels were very high, high enough that even Bai Ninger felt pressure.

Stone Difference Immortal couldn’t help but look at Bai Ninger, his gaze filled with a look of pleading.

Bai Ninger gave a fake cough and said, “Fellow Daoist Shi, I advise you not to go against our sect. Only by occupying the Spirit Mine can we become stronger and better protect the world. There are plenty of ways for you all to Cultivate; you can even come to the Qingxiao Sect to buy Medicinal Pills. Do not harbor thoughts you shouldn’t have.”

After saying that, he leaped up. The qingxiao sword flew out from his Storage Pouch and quickly landed beneath his feet, carrying him as he streaked toward the horizon under the rainstorm.

Invincible Xiao and the others glanced at Bai Ninger, not expecting him to also be a fellow Disciple.

They turned their gazes back to Stone Difference Immortal. The rain couldn’t fall on them, but it formed a mist around them, and lightning intertwined in the sky behind them, lengthening their shadows and pressing down on Stone Difference Immortal.

Facing such pressure, Stone Difference Immortal took a deep breath, trying hard to calm his emotions.

“I was muddled; I shouldn’t have obstructed the Qingxiao sacred will,” Stone Difference Immortal said with a smile.

Invincible Xiao, however, frowned, feeling that the other party was mocking him. But the Sect Master had given an order: as long as the other party did not resist, they must never start a massacre.

He immediately waved his hand, and the True Disciples on both sides shot out like arrows in different directions, quickly disappearing… July arrived, and the world gradually became hot.

Li Qingqiu walked into the Lingxiao Courtyard, and Xiao Wuqing, who had been waiting for a while, immediately bowed to him.

Once Li Qingqiu was seated, Xiao Wuqing finally said, “Sect Master, the Spirit Mine in Zhongtian Province has already been controlled by my elder brother. The reserves of this Spirit Mine are astonishing; the combined reserves of the Spirit Mines we currently control cannot compare to it. I have already informed Hall Master Li.”

Li Qingqiu’s face lit up with a smile upon hearing this, and he praised, “Not bad. The Disciple who discovered this Spirit Mine must be given a heavy reward.”

Xiao Wuqing followed up, “No one left a name for this intelligence.”

Li Qingqiu was not surprised; instead, he nodded and said, “Hmm, I will handle it personally.”

Xiao Wuqing knew that Li Qingqiu still held a mysterious hall force in his hands. Since no name was left for the intelligence, it likely came from that force.

“Sect Master, there is a small cultivation School next to the Spirit Mine called Wenxian Temple. Could there be something fishy about this?” Xiao Wuqing continued.

Li Qingqiu said dismissively, “Precisely because of the Spirit Mine’s presence, people nearby can comprehend the path of cultivation and enter the path of cultivation more easily. It’s only logical. Of course, what needs to be investigated must still be investigated. Remember, do not harm the innocent, do not humiliate others, and try to be reasonable first.”

“Yes!”

Xiao Wuqing replied. He wasn’t too worried in his heart; he just hoped to clearly investigate potential threats.