Demon Sword Sect’s Undercover
Chapter 159 - 159 158 Inexplicable

159: Chapter 158: Inexplicable 159: Chapter 158: Inexplicable Several months had passed since Hou Niao had returned to Fang Family’s Castle.

He didn’t go inside, but instead sent a sword message to his senior brother, Dou Gong.

Networking was crucial in matters like this, and although Dou Gong’s connections at Fang Family’s Castle were limited due to his role as Patrol, they were still far broader than Hou Niao’s.

Essentially, he was like a headless fly there, not even knowing where the temple gate was.

The two riders stood in the wheat fields outside Fang Family’s Castle, arranged like stars in a chessboard pattern.

Thanks to the recent torrential rain, the crops were thriving, and the farmers were busily working the fields, presenting a scene of vitality and prosperity.

In Fang Family’s Castle, human activities enjoyed relative freedom.

As the largest human settlement in Yinling, and with Quanzhen Sword Cultivators standing guard, it was rare for the Demon Clan to come looking for trouble.

The exchanges with Xiang Zhiwen at the time made him realize the complexity of the situation.

The issues of Fang Family’s Castle were likely not solely related to the Demon Clan, and the forces behind it were intriguing; this touched upon higher-level concerns, reflecting the complex situation of the Jinxiu Continent in a microcosm.

What he saw was just the tip of the iceberg—he feared that pulling on the thread might unravel something too immense for him to face.

This was not something he could confront at the moment.

A moment later, two riders rushed out from the castle, and it wasn’t just Dou Gong – Xiang Zhiwen followed as well.

“It’s this kid.

Thank you, senior brother,” Hou Niao said.

Dou Gong sneered dismissively, “Hou junior brother, you have your fun, but you make your senior brother clean up your mess?

I heard there were two more?

You’re really good at causing trouble.

On one hand, you’re wiping out entire groups and on the other, you find time to care for orphans.

Aren’t you tired?”

Hou Niao chuckled awkwardly, “When there’s nothing else to do, I might as well do something.

One day when the senior brother comes out, I’ll treat you to grilled Spiritual Beast meat.”

Dou Gong snorted, “Who cares about your little bit of Spiritual Beast meat?

Remember next time if you have the chance to go on a rampage, don’t forget about us senior brothers!

To think I even took you under my wing for a while.

You enjoy good fortune but don’t call on your dear senior brother.

Can I even want a junior brother like you?”

Dou Gong knew that Xiang Zhiwen had more to discuss with Hou Niao, so after a few complaints, he took the two children with him into the castle.

Of course, the arrangements inside would be fine, but whether they could learn anything was entirely up to them.

No one else could help with that.

Xiang Zhiwen led the horse by the reins and walked outside, with Hou Niao closely following.

“I hear you’ve been doing well these past few months?

With the river issue resolved, you decided to stay in the castle and devote all your energy to helping the orphans?”

Hou Niao forced a smile, “Senior brother, you jest.

Dou Senior Brother is outspoken without restraint.

But you, as a longer-serving one, should not listen to his ramblings.

Mainly I’ve newly achieved Grain Avoidance Cultivation and need to consolidate it a bit, hoping to make a Bridge Connection as soon as possible.

As you know, at my age, I can’t afford to delay much longer.”

Xiang Zhiwen observed his aura closely, “Oh, your progress is not slow at all.

To have reached Grain Avoidance Cultivation at the age of twenty-four or twenty-five, you would be considered above average in the Cultivation World.

Not bad at all.

The secret of making a Bridge Connection doesn’t lie in diligent practice, but in comprehension; in a Cultivator’s understanding of their own Inner Secret, whether they can discover the secrets of the Purple Mansion and thus connect it with their Dantian.

I see your aura is very pure, and your Dantian Spirit is nearing completion.

What’s left is to comprehend the Purple Mansion, right?”

Hou Niao flattering said, “Senior brother’s perception is as sharp as a torch, exactly so.

I’m just a bit confused and unsure where to begin.”

Xiang Zhiwen nodded, “This junior brother Hou is quite remarkable.

To say he’s a genius, he did start Energy Induction Essence Building a bit late, but it’s not as if he’s mediocre in talent.

He’s only been in Yinling for a year, yet his Cultivation has risen from Essence Building to Grain Avoidance.

It’s clear he already has the foundation for Bridge Connection, missing only one insight.

With this rate of progress, he’s not just above average—he has top-tier potential.

Some excel in Cultivation from the start, while others surpass later.

It appears that this fellow has quite a lot of potential in reserve, a sense of accumulating depth before achieving sudden progress.”

“To gain insight, you must venture out and have more experiences.

Seclusion is useless; this is the experience of the elders, and you should not limit yourself.”

Hou Niao just twisted his mouth, “Just come out with it, is there another task?

You always have to bring up ‘realizations’.”

Xiang Zhiwen smiled, knowing he couldn’t hide anything from this guy,

“It’s the trouble you caused, so naturally, you should handle it.

The punishment principle agreed upon by the three mansions was just like this.

What, has Patrol made you lazy?”

Hou Niao was unconvinced, “Whether it’s related to me or not, isn’t it all up to you big shots to decide?

If we’re being serious, all the troubles in Yinling are related to me, then how am I supposed to live my days?”

Xiang Zhiwen didn’t bother with idle chatter, “Some guests from Jin City arrived a few days ago, exchange disciples from Anhe Daoist Sect.

As you know, our relations with the Anhe Daoist Sect have thawed recently, leading to some Cultivation exchanges; since both sides are still in the early stages of contact and our relationship is not that deep, people who came are mostly low-rank cultivators below Tongxuan, fitting the current situation.

If this kind of exchange is beneficial, we don’t rule out expanding and upgrading it in the future.”

Hou Niao knew this was the way of interaction between Cultivation Sects, to clear away mutual suspicions and avoid misjudgment, transparency in strength and normal interactions were most important.

It was just starting, so of course, there wouldn’t be Upper Cultivators coming.

Therefore, the low-level cultivators became the pawns of Cultivation diplomacy, which was actually beneficial for low-rank cultivators as well.

“Our people also went to Anhe?”

Xiang Zhiwen nodded, “Of course, it’s hosted by Mu Shuai Mansion, the personnel were dispatched by them, all Jin City’s finest, nothing to do with us, let alone a convict cultivator like you!

Still thinking you could take this chance to go back to your old home, dreaming much?”

Hou Niao was speechless, “A convict cultivator still has cultivation rights, you can’t discriminate, right?”

Xiang Zhiwen continued, “It’s actually a good thing, but now there’s another group of foreign cultivators in Jin City, from the Huncheng Sect of Demon Sect at Huxia Country.

They were invited by the Central Military Mansion, you know, our Quanzhen Sect is revered as the leader of the Southwest Demon Sect, and the exchanges with the Demon Sect are frequent, with disciple visits from various places to Jin City.

This two groups, for some unknown reason, had a dispute in Jin City that seems irreconcilable.

Mu Shuai Mansion decided to find a place for them to measure each other up…”

Hou Niao sighed, “Boring!

If they can’t see eye to eye, just fight, why find a place and go through a third party to compete?

So, Brother, you’re saying the demons of Yinling are going to be unlucky again?

‘Officials may set fires, but the common folk can’t even light a lamp’.

If I kill giant rats, it’s disregard for the bigger picture, but when they kill, it’s for friendship?”

Xiang Zhiwen glared at him, “Hou Junior Brother, you’ve got quite a few odd sayings, apparently, you’re dissatisfied with the original decision by the three mansions?

Letting them fight each other, whoever wins or loses, our Quanzhen Sect as the host must be involved.

It’s better to find a place to kill some insignificant creatures.

What, did this disturb your peace?”

Hou Niao scrambled for excuses, “I have turned over a new leaf recently, not willing to cause trouble, but I always feel off, like I’m destined for a bloodbath…”

Xiang Zhiwen laughed, “That’s a problem with your Heart Realm!

That’s why you feel like anything you do will go wrong.

It’s the natural reaction of succumbing to demons, the tangle of human nature and demon nature.

If you don’t get out of it, you’ll never be able to take the next step.

I remind you, when you have diarrhea, don’t trust any fart!”