Demon Sword Sect’s Undercover
Chapter 575 - 575 574 Quicksand Treasure Hunt 1

575: Chapter 574: Quicksand Treasure Hunt 1 575: Chapter 574: Quicksand Treasure Hunt 1 Hou Niao looked at Yu Zhengxing with confusion, “What do you mean?

Don’t we still have our undercover in the Qin Sect?”

Yu Zhengxing laughed and scolded, “Stop guessing everyone’s motives with that Sikong Mansion mentality of yours.

I’m telling you, playing those tricks among Cultivation Sects really doesn’t mean much, and sometimes, being straightforward can be effective.

Sneaking around like you do might just ruin things.

There are no undercover agents, no need for them!

The Sikong Mansion wouldn’t let us use their so-called treasures; it’s just a tacit agreement, an understanding between friends on certain matters.

You should remember, although you are in the Sikong Mansion, isn’t it better to do things openly and solve problems just the same?”

Hou Niao widened his eyes, “You urge me to steal the treasure one moment, and the next, you boast about being open and honest.

Your mouth really is…”

Yu Zhengxing was indifferent, “I’ll say it again, it’s not stealing.

It’s about placing the treasure where it belongs, benefiting the entire Northwest.

Tell me, isn’t such ‘stealing’ worth it?”

Hou Niao forced a smile, “Please, continue.”

Yu Zhengxing said, “I’ve been in contact with the Qin and Yue Sects for many years, mainly to gain their support regarding the Protective Forest.

Although most cultivators don’t agree with such risky ventures, thinking it’s like throwing an already limited resource into the water, some insightful people see the benefits, so it’s not entirely fruitless.

This time, the dispute over the Water Spirit Pearl between Qin Yue involves other factors; since the Yue Sect has always had good relations with the mainstream Southeastern Daoist Sects, they have a certain advantage in this dispute.

Although, in terms of strength, Qin Yue are evenly matched, if the Southeast Daoist Sects interfere, things could go either way.”

“The alliances in the Cultivation World of the Continent are complex; positioning is very important.

The Qin Sect, like the Chu Sect in the Southeast and the Yan Sect in the Northern Territory, is considered non-mainstream within the Daoist community and faces exclusion, hence there’s some resentment.

A friend of mine from the Qin Sect often laments, feeling that the internal discord within the Daoist community is too severe and quite dissatisfying; knowing that the mainstream Daoist communities led by the Qi Sect will favor the Yue Sect, therefore, the chances of the Qin Sect getting the Water Spirit Pearl are slim, and they fear that in the future they will have to simply hand over what satisfies the mainstream demands.

“You should meet this senior; he likely has a method to get you into the Flowing Sand River, and the rest will depend on your own abilities.”

Hou Niao wanted to ask more, but Yu Zhengxing became somewhat impatient, “You only have seven days, hurry up and stop dawdling.”

It truly was a deadly urgency; Hou Niao suddenly realized that despite all precautions, he still fell into the old man’s trap.

Clearly, sending him to the Flowing Sand River to steal the pearl was Yu Zhengxing’s main purpose for seeking him out.

He thought he had gained the upper hand with the old man, but in the end, it was the old man who used him, with a mere elusive promise.

Hou Niao soared into the air and sped toward the direction of Sand Island by the Flowing Sand River on the border of Qin Yue.

There wasn’t much time left.

Although the Northwest was poor, it was vast; just traveling there would take five days, plus he had to find that Golden Core from the Qin Sect.

The journey was quiet.

Amid the vast stretches of yellow sand, glimpses of green began to appear, transitioning from sporadic dots to connected patches, but that was it—nothing compared to the paradisiacal landscapes of the Southwest and Southeast.

On the fifth day, as he neared the Flowing Sand River, he retracted his Sword Escape; since he was there to be a major thief, of course, he couldn’t be too ostentatious.

Sword Control Technique was fast and impressive, but too recognizable.

He could also use several escape skills specific to the Daoist system, whether from the collections of the Quanzhen Sect or gifted by Master Xiao in the form of a Jade Scroll.

With his current abilities, learning a new escape skill wasn’t difficult; it was just a matter of how well he could master it.

The Riverside Tower was a restaurant located on the Qin side of Flowing Sand River, outside Zhenru City.

Standing by the river, it offered a grand view of the river’s majestic beauty—a prime spot for watching the water and a favorite gathering place for powerful cultivators of Zhenru City.

Ordinary people couldn’t afford such a luxury.

Hou Niao moved upstream along the river, unable to help but marvel at the volume of the Flowing Sand River.

This largest river in the Northwest was impossible to measure in length since it was known by other names in other countries downstream, but the section on the border of Qin Yue was indeed vast and tumultuous, roaring downstream with sand and silt, churning wildly.

At a glance, this section of the river averaged three to fifty li in width and was a hundred zhang deep, even on the Continental scale, a size that could rank within the top ten, it’s no wonder that Water Demons thrived here, unfazed by human pressures.

The banks of the Flowing Sand River were the most prosperous areas of both Qin and Yue, with countless tributaries, serving as the largest granaries for both countries.

The population density far exceeded other areas, and rightfully, the Quicksand Basin could be considered the core area of the entire Northwest.

That’s why, even though there currently were no Nascent Transformation Great Demons in the Water Demons of the Flowing Sand River, there were many Golden Core Great Demons.

They controlled the river’s flow, and offending them meant jeopardizing the next year’s favorable weather.

If they deliberately created a flood, the entire Northwest would suffer a total crop failure.

Out of fear of losing what they couldn’t replace, the survival of hundreds of millions was the soft underbelly of the Northwestern Cultivation World, hence their attitude of coexisting peacefully with the Water Clan, despite occasional conflicts, was generally manageable.

This time, with the Water Spirit Pearl appearing in the Flowing Sand River, the Water Clan naturally considered it their treasure, rightfully assuming ownership.

Even without a Nascent Transformation Great Demon backing them, they dared to openly challenge the two largest Cultivation Daoist communities in the Northwest.

Thus, he was facing not only the Qin and Yue Sects as opponents but also the colossal entity of the Water Clan.

He saw the Riverside Tower, a seven-story building suspended on a massive rock at a sharp bend of the river.

Across from it was Sand Island, with Zhenru’s mighty city at its back, and across the river was the great town of Zhenbei from Yue Country.

He made no attempt to conceal his presence; the Riverside Tower was built specifically for privileged cultivators, and nobody would be surprised by a stranger flying in and out—it was nothing out of the ordinary.

Walking into the building, he noticed that even the young servant was a Lower Cultivator performing Energy Induction, indicating the ecological state of the Northwestern Cultivation World.

Working here provided opportunities to interface with Upper Cultivators, crucial for Loose Cultivators who lacked connections and backing.

A young boy approached respectfully, “Is the Upper Cultivator alone?

Or meeting friends?”

Hou Niao wanted to act like an important Upper Cultivator and reached into his Treasure Gourd, only to remember that he was currently penniless.

That crafty old Yu Zhengxing really caused him significant harm; the current state of the Protective Forest was like the Shan Sect’s Beggar Gang!

“Is Elder Lin Xiashi here?

If so, lead me to him.”

The boy didn’t show any impatience despite not receiving a tip, “Seventh floor, Room of Wind.

The Upper Cultivator can go up by himself, and as a servant, I can’t lead the way.

Please forgive me.”