Chapter 107: Weapons Used by Confucian Cultivators

In the end, it was Lu Yang who stepped forward, offering a brief explanation that untangled the whole chaotic affair in a few words.

Had Lu Yang not spoken so swiftly, Dai Bufan would have readily cleansed the sect of its errant elements; he had long yearned to cast these two troublesome outcasts straight out of the Wendao Sect!

Just look at how the honest Mangu had been corrupted by associating with them, boldly declaring himself a member of a demonic cult the moment he walked in.

"So, you actually joined the Immortal Cult? And managed to rise to the rank of Branch Masters?" Dai Bufan cast a newfound gaze of astonishment upon the trio. A Branch Master was a mid-level figure in a demonic cult, privy to many well-guarded secrets, including the precise rites required to resurrect the Immortal Immortal.

The four great demonic cults had always guarded their secrets meticulously, and Dai Bufan had long yearned to discover exactly how the Immortal Immortal was to be brought back to life.

Lu Yang thought to himself that they knew far more than just the rites; at this very moment, the Immortal Fairy herself was fast asleep within his own spiritual realm.

Then again, since the Immortal Fairy was residing inside him, what was he doing playing at being a mere Branch Master? He really ought to be the Cult Leader.

"Splendid, you have done exceptionally well!" Dai Bufan slapped his thigh in approval. The demonic cults were notoriously elusive, constantly on guard against the orthodox sects; he had long suffered from a dearth of first-hand intelligence, and every attempt to plant spies within their ranks had ended in failure.

He had never anticipated that Lu Yang and his companions would deliver such an unexpected windfall.

"That Tang Yunsheng wants you to act as spies for the Immortal Cult and infiltrate our sect, does he? Then we shall play along with his scheme. In half a month's time, the Wendao Sect will be recruiting a new batch of service staff to expand our internal entertainment sector. I shall slip your three names into the selection list." Dai Bufan made his decision without a moment's hesitation.

"As for the Yanjiang Branch... do you happen to have a roster of its members?"

"We do." Lu Yang produced the roster he had prepared well in advance and handed it over to Dai Bufan.

Dai Bufan gave Lu Yang a deeply meaningful look. Though the lad was slippery, he possessed a sharp wit, sensing exactly what would be required and preparing for it beforehand.

"When you next cross paths with Tang Yunsheng, you must maintain your disguises flawlessly and gather as much intelligence on the Immortal Cult as possible."

"Your infiltration of the demonic cult is a mission in its own right; you will not be bound by the same rules as the others, who must complete three missions every year."

"Regarding your contribution points: the highest reward for a Foundation Establishment mission is one thousand points. You have eradicated two tiger demons and four members of a demonic cult—including one at the late Golden Core stage—and successfully thwarted the activation of the Reverse Longevity Array. This is an immense contribution."

"The two Foundation Establishment tiger demons and three demonic cult members of the same stage will earn you seven hundred and fifty contribution points."

"Slaying Branch Master Chu and halting the Reverse Longevity Array counts for one thousand points."

"Infiltrating the demonic cult and securing the position of Branch Master counts for another one thousand points."

"Meng Jingzhou, Mangu, the two of you shall receive two thousand seven hundred and fifty contribution points each."

"Lu Yang, your performance throughout this endeavor was exemplary. Upon your base of two thousand seven hundred and fifty points, I grant you an additional, specially approved two hundred and fifty points, bringing your total to three thousand."

Delight bloomed upon the faces of the three youths, quite dazed by the sheer avalanche of contribution points. With such wealth, they could finally purchase many coveted items from the exchange ledger, ample to squander for a good long while.

"Should you unearth further intelligence within the Immortal Cult, you shall be rewarded with even more points."

After imparting a few crucial instructions regarding secrecy, Dai Bufan dismissed the trio.

Upon exiting the Mission Hall, Lu Yang ran into a familiar face: Senior Brother Li Dan, the very man who had once recommended a weapon to him. Standing beside the rather fierce-faced Li Dan was a petite Senior Sister.

"Senior Brother Li Dan," Lu Yang and Mangu greeted in unison.

Both Lu Yang and Mangu looked at one another in surprise, neither having realized that the other was also acquainted with Senior Brother Li Dan.

Mangu introduced him, saying, "This is Senior Brother Li Dan, who spent one hundred contribution points to purchase my barbecue recipe."

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou suddenly understood. They recalled Mangu mentioning a senior brother who had bought his barbecue recipe and used it to win the heart of a certain senior sister.

"Greetings to you all," Senior Brother Li Dan said with a smile, though the grin only made his countenance appear even more menacing.

Using a divine sense transmission, Dai Bufan summoned the chatting Li Dan over: "Junior Brother Li Dan, Junior Sister Ding Xiang, come here a moment. There is a mission well-suited to the two of you."

"Senior Brother Dai is calling for us, so we must take our leave," Li Dan and Ding Xiang said, departing in a hurry.

Dai Bufan handed the Yanjiang Branch roster to the pair. "This is a list of demonic cult members I obtained through a discreet channel. However, it contains only their names and lacks specific addresses. Go to Yanjiang County, track down every individual on this list, and ensure they are eliminated in a single stroke. Let not a single fish slip through the net."

"Understood!" The two rejoiced. They had been fretting over which mission to undertake, and now Senior Brother Dai had arranged one perfectly for them.

"Pack your belongings and set out at once."

"Yes!"

"Hold on, there is one more thing." Before they could depart, Dai Bufan called them back. "While you are undercover in Yanjiang County, do not open a barbecue shop."

"Ah? Oh, right."

"What do you intend to buy?" Lu Yang inquired of Mangu.

"I wish to purchase a weapon suitable for a Confucian cultivator. I cannot simply use Brother Meng as a weapon in every single battle."

Meng Jingzhou felt distinctly insulted by the remark.

"What do you think of this fan? The leaves are inscribed with poetry, and a gentle wave can unleash a wind blade. Moreover, hidden within the folds are Soul-Severing Needles, which can be stealthily launched alongside the wind blade." Lu Yang had spotted an intriguing weapon.

"It feels a bit too refined. Is there nothing possessing a greater sense of raw power?"

"What about this Obsidian Iron Hammer? Forged from pure obsidian iron, it weighs two thousand catties and is embedded with a weight-augmenting array. The moment it is swung downward, its weight multiplies, yet the weight vanishes the instant it is lifted back up. A forceful swing can shatter a hillside, and no Foundation Establishment cultivator would dare face its blow directly. It costs seven hundred and eighty contribution points."

Mangu was somewhat enticed, finding that it suited his martial style perfectly, yet he ultimately declined.

"Still, it will not do. What I require is a weapon meant for a Confucian cultivator."

Undeterred, Lu Yang scrolled all the way to the very bottom of the exchange ledger until he discovered a particular treasure.

"The Sleep Inducing Talisman. It contains the complete text of the *Sayings of the Sages* for recitation, highly effective at promoting slumber. It costs a single contribution point."

"If you affix this talisman to the iron hammer, the weapon will automatically chant the *Sayings of the Sages* during combat. Would that not make this hammer a true weapon of a Confucian cultivator?"

Mangu’s eyes illuminated with sudden clarity, marveling at how agile Brother Lu's intellect truly was; why had such an ingenious solution never crossed his own mind?

"I'll take it!"

Mangu expended seven hundred and eighty-one contribution points to secure his beloved weapon.

As Mangu brandished the great iron hammer, the handle continuously echoed with the aphorisms of the ancient sages, making it clear to any onlooker that he was indeed a proper Confucian cultivator.

Meng Jingzhou required no weapons, choosing instead to purchase several wagonloads of premium grass fodder to reward his loyal steed.

Lu Yang purchased a few items that might prove useful in the heat of battle: the Flesh-Sprouting Pellet, which could instantaneously regrow flesh and restore vitality should a chunk of his body be carved away during combat.

The Golden Light Charm, which conjured a protective golden shroud around the body to deflect several blows, safeguarding the entire form far more effectively than the baked biscuits from the refectory.

Deeming the Golden Light Charm an excellent item, Lu Yang bought ten of them in a single breath.

He also acquired garments that automatically maintained cleanliness, dispensing with the need for Cleansing Spells; these clothes would remain pristine, making them an absolute necessity for enjoying Sichuan hotpot.

Furthermore, these garments had been bound to his soul, ensuring they could not be easily stripped away by an enemy utilizing a storage ring.

Lu Yang was taking precautions for a rainy day, wary that his foes might possess an imagination as vivid as his own.