Chapter 178: This Immortal's Name is Huang Doudou

"Go to Prisoner Peak and see if we can extract the location of the Immortal Sect's headquarters." With a flick of Yun Zhi’s finger, the bodies of the several Immortal Sect members rose uncontrollably into the air, floating helplessly behind her.

Yun Zhi paused for a moment, then called out to Lu Yang, "You come along as well. Perhaps you will be of some use."

Only a few days had passed since his last visit, yet Lu Yang found himself setting foot upon Prisoner Peak once more.

As always, the peak remained steeped in its customary atmosphere—sullen, heavy, and oppressive.

Inside a cell, Lu Yang caught sight of the ancient Tribulation Transcendence cultivator from the Sanli Grotto-Heaven: the Blood Demon Venerable.

Now reduced to a mere soul, the Blood Demon Venerable possessed none of the unbridled arrogance he had shown during their first meeting; at the sound of the Eldest Senior Sister’s footsteps, he curled into the corner of his cell, trembling violently.

The Eldest Senior Sister walked straight past, not granting him so much as a single glance.

A white-haired child, assuming a deliberately archaic manner, welcomed the arrival of Yun Zhi and Lu Yang: "Little Yun has come again. Who have you brought with you this time?"

By now, Lu Yang had learned that the previous sect master—the white-haired child before him—was named Tang Shengyi.

"Two Vice Sect Masters of the Immortal Sect, and five high-ranking members."

"Good heavens, every single one a heavyweight. Have you uprooted the Immortal Sect’s very nest?" Tang Shengyi remarked in slight shock, deeply impressed by the sheer capability of his grand-disciple.

"They threw themselves into the net willingly."

At that moment, Vice Sect Master Liu and Vice Sect Master Gao both regained consciousness. Hearing Yun Zhi’s words, they burst into a torrent of furious abuse.

"Despicable Dao Seeking Sect! It was clearly you who tricked me into coming here!"

"What a grand display, using a Tribulation Transcendence 'Tofu Celestial' as an undercover agent to infiltrate our Immortal Sect and deceive our trust!"

Evidently, Vice Sect Master Liu was not yet fully awake.

Vice Sect Master Gao nudged him and whispered a warning, "Wake up. Where on earth did a Tofu Celestial come from?"

Vice Sect Master Liu looked somewhat dazed. "Isn't that just Lu Yang?"

Yun Zhi watched Lu Yang in silence, curious to know what kind of dream he had woven for Vice Sect Master Liu.

Lu Yang let out a cough, too embarrassed to recount the dream. To divert their attention, he asked, "Let us interrogate them quickly. What tools do we require? Chili water, a tiger bench, or perhaps a water-soaked leather whip?"

The two Vice Sect Masters had, after all, drifted through the demonic path for hundreds if not thousands of years; both were ruthless and cold-blooded figures who would not so much as blink at ordinary methods of torture.

"Hah, young man, do you truly believe such petty methods can force us to spit out the secrets of our Sect? Impossible!"

"The righteous path is foolish and ignorant, actually daring to obstruct our resurrection of the Immortal Celestial. When the great ancient era returns, if we do not resurrect the Immortal Celestial, who will protect us?!"

"Slaying demons and eliminating monsters—how beautifully you phrase it, yet you fail to realize that it is precisely this behavior of yours that forfeits the future of the human race!"

The two Vice Sect Masters chimed in one after another, mocking the ignorance of the righteous path.

"There is no need for such trouble just yet," Yun Zhi said, stopping Lu Yang.

After requesting the white-haired child to step outside, she spoke to Lu Yang, "Immortal, please come forth and meet your believers."

Behind Lu Yang, an ethereal, dreamlike figure of a celestial maiden manifested. Her jade feet were bare, her eyes bright, her teeth pearly white; her skirt floated gently in the air, her celestial grace elegant and her aura transcendent.

"Are you two the ones who claim to be my believers?"

The Immortal Celestial’s expression was cold, her gaze as devoid of ripples as an ancient well. As she looked upon the two Vice Sect Masters, it was as though she were looking at mere insects.

The Body Integration stage denoted figures of immense consequence in the Central Continent—ancestors within their sects, high-ranking officials within the dynasties, and mysterious legends within the martial world—yet before a true celestial, the Body Integration stage was utterly insignificant.

"Who are you!"

The two Vice Sect Masters shouted in challenge, attempting to use the volume of their voices to mask their inner panic.

For some unknown reason, the moment they beheld this celestial maiden, a sudden impulse to prostrate themselves in worship welled up within them.

The Immortal Celestial let out two careless laughs and declared, "This seat is the Immortal Celestial."

"The Immortal Celestial?" Hearing her claim, a sense of unease began to drum within their hearts.

Why did this title sound so remarkably similar to the Immortal Celestial they worshipped? Was it a mere coincidence?

The Immortal Celestial continued, "You have been deceived. There has never been an 'Immortal Celestial' of that nature; there is only this seat, the Immortal Celestial."

"Certain individuals feared my resurrection and sought to conceal my existence beneath that ridiculous title of 'Immortal Celestial.' How ignorant, how utterly laughable."

"The world lacks no shortage of foolish fools who believed the rumors of the mastermind behind the scenes."

"Fortunately, the Dao Seeking Sect carries the mandate of heaven, and a person of immense fortune has borne the karma of my resurrection, calling forth my true name and restoring me to life."

A chill crept into the depths of the two Vice Sect Masters' hearts, for this single paragraph revealed far too much information.

What did she mean by there never being an Immortal Celestial, what did she mean by fearing the Immortal Celestial, and what was that about the Dao Seeking Sect carrying heaven's mandate and a person of immense fortune... the deeper they thought, the more terrifying it became.

"So, the one we actually faith in is not that Immortal Celestial, but you?" Vice Sect Master Liu lifted his head to look at the holy Immortal Celestial, his mind gripped by trepidation.

"Correct. You were tricked by others. This celestial is by no means bloodthirsty or murderous; the notion that I take pleasure in slaughter is entirely groundless, a piece of sheer nonsense."

The Immortal Celestial instructed kindly, "To recognize one's mistake and reform is the greatest virtue. If you now disclose the location of the Immortal Sect's headquarters to this cultivator named Yun Zhi, there will still be room to rectify all your errors."

Vice Sect Master Gao suddenly inquired, "Celestial, could you tell us your true celestial name?"

The Immortal Celestial nodded, her tone measured and calm as she revealed her true name: "This celestial is named Huang Doudou."

The expressions of the two Vice Sect Masters instantly flared with outrage. "I knew you were a fraud sent by the Dao Seeking Sect! How could a grand celestial possibly bear such a name? It is obviously made up on the spot!"

"Caught you red-handed! Huang Doudou? Is your family in the business of making tofu?"

An incredibly chilling and terrifying aura erupted from the Immortal Celestial.

Had a Tribulation Transcendence cultivator been present, they would have discerned that this aura far surpassed the boundaries of the Tribulation Transcendence stage, thereby recognizing the Immortal Celestial's true identity.

Unfortunately, the two Vice Sect Masters were merely at the Body Integration stage; lacking the vision to recognize Mt. Tai, they only knew that this aura surpassed their own realm, remaining ignorant of the fact that this was an aura exclusive to celestials.

Yun Zhi softly and gently advised the Immortal Celestial against her anger: "Senior Celestial, there is no need to be enraged. Having you step forward was merely to try our luck. Since they fail to recognize you, I shall simply employ a few of my own methods to make them speak the location of the Immortal Sect."

Only then did the Immortal Celestial's countenance soften, and she vanished back into Lu Yang's body.

Yun Zhi then spoke to Lu Yang, "My methods this time will be somewhat more cruel than the last. You are still young, so you had best not watch."

Hearing the Eldest Senior Sister's advice, Lu Yang felt a cold shiver run down his spine, and he obediently departed from Prisoner Peak.

On the way back, Lu Yang kindly consoled the brooding Immortal Celestial, praising her name by saying it was actually very pleasant to hear and quite cute.

"Really?" The Immortal Celestial felt a burst of joy, for it was rare for anyone to praise her name.

"Really, absolutely really!" Lu Yang nodded repeatedly.

Looking up at the moon in the sky, Lu Yang suddenly recalled something: "Speaking of which, I wonder what hour it is. Has tomorrow arrived yet?"

Just as Lu Yang was feeling puzzled, a burst of loud laughter echoed from not far away.

"Junior Brother Lu asks a fine question! What a coincidence indeed—the hour of Zishi has just passed, and it is already the next day!"

In other words, the Immortal Celestial was no longer the Acting Sect Master.

Senior Brother Ma Tianyang grinned savagely. "Junior Brother Lu, did these three days as Acting Sect Master treat you pleasantly? I have heard that you possess the talent of a heavenly being, capable of challenging those above your realm. I would very much like to test those skills myself."

Like a man lifting a small chick, Senior Brother Ma Tianyang hoisted Lu Yang straight onto the dueling arena.

Hearing that Lu Yang was present, more and more senior brothers and sisters came rushing toward the area, causing Lu Yang's legs to tremble with dread.

"Celestial, you have to take responsibility for this!" Inside his spiritual space, Lu Yang glared furiously at the Immortal Celestial.

To think he had just been comforting her a moment ago—comfort her, my foot! She should be the one comforting him!

The Immortal Celestial guiltily averted her gaze.

"This... this is also part of the trial."

(End of Chapter)