Immortal Venerable of the Beast Race
Chapter 98 - 98 75 Out on a mission_1

98: 75 Out on a mission_1 98: 75 Out on a mission_1 Chen Qingqing nodded and said, “In Zhao Country, there are four powers with considerable strength: the Hundred Ghosts Sect, Yin Corpse Sect, Blood Skeleton Sect, and Heavenly Fiend Sect.

The Hundred Ghosts Sect excels in controlling ghosts, the Yin Corpse Sect in manipulating corpse refinement, the Blood Skeleton Sect’s cultivators like to turn their enemies into skeletons, while the Heavenly Fiend Sect pursues the path of killing.

Besides these, the most powerful force is the Liu Family, which rose to prominence after the Yu Family was destroyed.

With the support of the Hundred Ghosts Sect, they boast several Core Formation cultivators.”

“The Yu Family?”

Shen Long paused slightly.

“The Yu Family had a heritage stretching back hundreds of years, strong and powerful, with no fewer than five Core Formation cultivators.

Junior Brother Shen must be aware of the ‘Eastern Ten Fiends’ and ‘Five Immortals’, right?”

Chen Qingqing inquired.

“Of course, they all originated from loose cultivators, possessing vast divine skills.

The Ten Fiends are Core Formation cultivators, and the Five Immortals are Nascent Soul cultivators.

Did the Yu Family provoke the Ten Fiends and Five Immortals?”

Shen Long asked curiously, knowing that major powers did not like to provoke high-level loose cultivators, and with the reputation of the Eastern Ten Fiends and Five Immortals, the Yu Family should not have willingly provoked them.

“Exactly, and somehow they managed to offend the Maniac Blade Ascendant.

He alone stormed the Yu stronghold, not leaving a single survivor.

The Yu Family’s territories were quickly divided among other forces, with the Liu Family taking over most of their lands.

The Heavenly Fiend Sect was quite dissatisfied, since the Yu Family had close ties with them.

The Heavenly Fiend Sect took in some of the Yu disciples, but it’s been over two hundred years since the Yu Family was destroyed, and now the Liu Family is the foremost cultivator family in Zhao Country,” Chen Qingqing explained slowly.

“Maniac Blade Ascendant!”

Shen Long made a mental note of this name.

“You need to think carefully about how to conceal your identity.

Right now, there’s no need for you to gather any intelligence.

What you need to do is to lay low.

The Profound Yin Marketplace is a marketplace established by the Yin Corpse Sect.

Among the four sects in Zhao Country, the Yin Corpse Sect’s overall strength ranks last.

Most of our intelligence personnel operated within the territories of the Hundred Ghosts Sect, but our intelligence network there was destroyed by their Information Hall.

Before you leave for your assignment, I will train you for a while, teaching you some skills for hiding and methods of intelligence gathering,” Chen Qingqing said.

“Senior Sister Chen, has our sect put so much effort into Zhao Country just to monitor the movements of the Four Sects?

Surely we would not be able to notice if there really was any unusual activity from the Zhao Country’s Four Sects,” Shen Long expressed his doubts.

He did not believe that the Spirit Control Sect was merely there to monitor the Four Sects of Zhao Country, but he was not aware of the real purpose behind their actions.

“Junior Brother Shen, your clearance isn’t high enough for us to tell you everything.

If you were captured, it could lead to leaks of our sect’s secrets.

I understand your concerns; our sect has invested a lot of resources in you, not for you to go to your death.

It is also an opportunity for you.

If you can accomplish a great feat, there is a chance to be selected among the Seventy-Two Talents,” Chen Qingqing’s tone was full of temptation.

Shen Long naturally wouldn’t be swayed by the big picture that Chen Qingqing painted.

If it were so easy to accomplish great feats, then other intelligence operatives would have done so by now.

As the saying goes, ‘the army has its own ways, and orders are not always followed.’ Once in Zhao Country, it would be an achievement just not to defect, as for the mission, he would see what happens!

“I’ll soon recommend you a second-tier Talisman Maker, but there’s not much time left, so you better start preparing.

I’ve already spoken with Junior Brother Liu from Green Cloud Peak, and he is unaware that you’ve reached the Foundation Establishment Stage,” Chen Qingqing said.

“Senior Sister Chen, can my extra allowance be issued all at once for ten years?

It can’t be distributed on an annual basis!” Shen Long stated, aiming to secure as many cultivation resources for himself as possible.

Chen Qingqing nodded and answered, “Yes, we can issue ten years’ worth at once.

I will give it to you before you depart.”

“That’s great.

If there’s nothing else, I’ll be on my way back.

I hope you can recommend that second-tier Talisman Maker to me as soon as possible.

Having a skill at my disposal will make it easier for me to stay undercover,” Shen Long said.

Loose cultivators also practiced alchemy and talisman crafting, albeit at a lower rate.

“No problem.

You go back and focus on your cultivation.

Once I find someone, I’ll immediately recommend them to you,” Chen Qingqing promised.

Shen Long nodded and left with the help of a flying device.

When he returned to his residence, Shen Long entered a secret chamber and ascended to the second floor of the Spirit Control Tower.

He whistled, and the Fire Rock Beast charged toward him from afar.

This place was abundant with Fire Spirit Qi, but it seemed a waste just to use it for breeding the Fire Rock Beast; he planned to cultivate some Fire Attribute spiritual medicines and fruits.

He had no experience cultivating spirit fruits or medicines, and thought about consulting relevant books in the Scripture Pavilion.

He sat cross-legged on a blue stone bed and took out a bluish porcelain bottle.

After drinking the monster beast’s essence blood inside, he began to cultivate his powers.

······

Green Cloud Peak, Begonia Court.

Ye Yutang, Ye Yuqing, and Qian Dafu were seated in a bluestone pavilion, discussing something.

“Junior Brother Shen hasn’t sent any message for such a long time?

Could something have happened to him?” Ye Yuqing wondered aloud.

“It’s unlikely.

I’ve asked Senior Brother Qin about it, and he said that Senior Brother Shen has been sent on an external assignment,” Qian Dafu replied.

“That’s strange then.

He didn’t participate in the grand competition and was directly assigned to an external task?

Could it be that he offended someone and was sidelined?” Ye Yutang pondered doubtfully.

“That’s unclear.

I haven’t seen him for a long time and there’s no news about him.

Junior Brother Lin is still cultivating the spirit peach trees for Senior Brother Shen.

He should be fine,” Qian Dafu analyzed.

Ye Yuqing nodded, “Hopefully, that’s the case.”

······

More than five months hurriedly passed by.

Green Fox Peak is one of the seventy-two Inner Peaks.

Qingmei Garden, a secret chamber; the walls are inscribed with numerous red talismans, the temperature frightfully high.

Shen Long was seated on a red cushion, his gaze fixed intently on the red alchemy furnace not far ahead of him.

The four-legged furnace with two ears was engraved with patterns of raging flames on its surface, with a mass of scarlet fire burning beneath it.