Demon Sword Sect’s Undercover
Chapter 867: 866: Unpredictable Changes

Chapter 867: Chapter 866: Unpredictable Changes

“Did you not explain to them that one of the sword cultivators was wronged?” Hou Niao teased.

Fairy Shui was quite earnest, “At first, I thought about it, but as the words reached my lips, I found just as you said, sometimes explanations truly have no meaning, and can even be worse than no explanation!

It leads to a series of troubles, such as whether to cooperate with them? The real situation on Jinxiu Continent? The purpose of these Upper Realm visitors? The situation on Hell Star? If you agree, you trap yourself; if you don’t, you become a traitor to the Anchor Chain, neither insider nor outsider. That’s why I think things are fine as they are now.

You can focus on honing your swordsmanship without worrying whether your opponent is intentionally or unintentionally holding back…”

Hou Niao sighed inwardly, with a calm heart, clarity comes naturally. This Fairy Shui has really moved past everything, seeing things quite clearly.

“You’re right, retaining genuine identity leaves room for future return. I belong neither to these emissaries from the Upper Realm nor to the Anchor Chain followers; I belong to Jinxiu Continent. When facing tigers and wolves, why must a sheep choose a side?”

Fairy Shui smiled lightly, “Over these years, the Anchor Chain’s crusade against Hell Star criminal cultivators has yielded quite a few, hundreds indeed, but how many times did they actually strike the right people, even the Anchor Chain doesn’t know; according to the disciples’ reports back, possibly nine altogether, but this number is surely inaccurate. First, they may exaggerate, and second, there are outstanding cultivators among the criminals too, making distinctions difficult, so my task is to try and discern the situation of these twelve people.”

Hou Niao chuckled wryly, “Three or four at most, perhaps none at all.”

Fairy Shui continued, “People like me among the Anchor Chain cultivators should not be too many; they won’t reveal the exact number, but since entering requires consent from the Innate Spiritual Treasure, perhaps only a few dozen?”

Hou Niao pondered, “I have a question, why doesn’t the Anchor Chain use the criminal cultivator transmission directly to achieve their goal? In that case, would they still need the consent of the Innate Spiritual Treasure to send people?”

Fairy Shui shook her head, indicating misunderstanding of high-level entities, “You can’t consider advanced cultivation beings with mortal reasoning. Having reached this level, they inherently have their principles; how could they be deceived by humans unknowingly? What would they become then?

Thus, the Anchor Chain side would rather negotiate directly, insistently requesting a certain admission quota, rather than clandestinely sending excellent disciples as criminals to Hell Star. That’s the bottom line; if ignored, the entire Trial System within the Anchor Chain would collapse.

Once there’s a first time, there will be a second, and with time, rules will dissolve, genuinely impacting the credibility of the Great Dao within the entire upper structure of the Anchor Chain. For minor cultivators like us, it might still be indifferent, but for the True Monarchs, it’s a fatal matter, concerning union with the Dao, an absolute red line not to be crossed.”

Hou Niao laughed, these issues are still too distant for him, “In that case, is the Innate Spiritual Treasure above the True Monarch?”

Fairy Shui helplessly faced this uneducated fellow, fundamental concepts for a closed Star Domain are as unknown as the ocean.

“Of course, but the Great Dao doesn’t distinguish by realm; though human cultivators only touch the core of the Great Dao at the Nascent Soul stage, attention to this aspect of cultivation begins at the Golden Core stage, and it’s no subject for jokes.”

“Alright then, can it be confirmed now? Dozens of Anchor Chain cultivators have entered Hell Star, and with Innate Spiritual Treasure’s tacit approval, they need not fear rejection from the Unihorn Clan here. So the question is, what is their retreat? Can they freely enter and exit Hell Star, or like other criminal cultivators, face lifelong entrapment?”

Fairy Shui was puzzled too, “This is what I wanted to discuss, our second mission; besides seeking opportunities to kill you, we’ve been tasked to, after decades, when Hell Star once more approaches Jinxiu Continent, venture in with you together!

But they didn’t mention what happens if we can’t get in. As I understand Innate Spiritual Treasure, it only allows for one instance, granting entry to these people; yet it won’t permit a second, allowing them easy departure, this is advanced cultivation being’s mindset—crossing a line inevitably incurs corresponding cost.”

“So, Fairy, either you’ll grow old on Hell Star or travel back with me to Jinxiu Continent?” Hou Niao joked.

“Indeed, only these two paths, no third one.”

Six years have passed, and fifty-four remain, equating to eighteen years in Hell Star.

“Jinxiu Continent is a sealed Star Domain, with thousands of years passing without anyone entering; last time only a few Foundation Establishment disciples did, next time Golden Core can? Isn’t that too fast?”

Fairy Shui explained, “The seal loosening visibly accelerates in the latter stages; it’s common knowledge. Like a dyke, sound intact against winds and waves, once a tiny mouse hole penetrates, dyke’s destruction becomes apparent.

They say Jinxiu Continent’s seal has shown signs of loosening, allowing passages for cultivators during Hell Star’s approach, previously Foundation Establishment cultivators could enter, next it will be Golden Core, further on, who knows.”

Hou Niao sighed, the limited fusion before breaking Jinxiu Continent’s chains indeed presents the smoothest path for Boundary Domain’s cosmic integration, much better than abrupt collision, seen from Heavenly Dao’s perspective as the correct way.

Yet, cosmic forces will exert their influence during such preliminary collisions, part of the Heavenly Dao’s operations.

The crucial point is, who enters? Who influences?

“How do you plan to break through?”

Fairy Shui looked bewildered, “How should I know these things? The orders from above were to follow you; at least you’ve been there once, right? Then I can only follow you, better than spending a lifetime in prison.”

Hou Niao was speechless, the woman’s straightforwardness aside, he himself is clueless about returning, perhaps just follow Senior Sister?

This mess…

“No orders to contact others?”

Fairy Shui was momentarily at a loss but still spoke truthfully, “Yes, I have a list of some of them, but I’m sorry, I cannot inform you.”

Hou Niao was dismissive, everything has boundaries; Fairy Shui is quite measured on this point, saying what should be said, withholding what shouldn’t be.

“Very cautious, telling you only a few names, making it impossible for you to gauge their exact number? I suspect most of these people have no idea how many actually entered, except just a few key cultivators, should be this way.”

Fairy Shui looked at him worriedly, “I don’t want to find them, just time it right to ride along to Jinxiu. If one day I attain Nascent Soul, perhaps still a chance to return home.

You… you won’t deliberately seek and eliminate them, will you?”