Chapter 328: Not a Single Lie

Shi Huagu possessed a peculiar and secret method that allowed him to discern whether another was speaking the truth or a falsehood, a talent by which he had ferreted out an untold number of moles planted in his domain by the other vice-cult leaders.

Though this secret technique could not gauge the veracity of another's words with absolute certainty, it nonetheless boasted a success rate of eighty to ninety percent.

Circulating this secret method placed an exceedingly high demand upon both one's magical power and mental energy; strong as Shi Huagu was, he could not maintain it indefinitely, yet keeping it active throughout his conversation with Lu Yang posed no difficulty at all.

Moreover, he was adept at observing human countenances, knowing well that when a person lied, all manner of subtle variations would manifest in their expressions.

With these two factors combined, those who could successfully utter a lie in his presence were practically nonexistent.

This was precisely the reason why the cult leader had dispatched him to this place.

To cooperate with the Heavenly Court Cult, the first thing that had to be verified was whether the counterpart truly belonged to the Heavenly Court Cult.

A trace of a confident smile appeared at the corners of Lu Yang's mouth as he took a light sip of tea and spoke in a tone tinged with a touch of ostentation: "I wonder if Cult Leader Shi is aware of the Immortal Ying Tian and the Immortal Qilin?"

"The honorific titles of those two ancient immortals are, naturally, something I have heard of." The Nine Nether Cult also possessed quite a few ancient texts, within which the immortal titles of the Four Ancient Immortals were recorded.

"I have heard that when people nowadays describe a certain supreme talent, they like to say he possesses the talent of a juvenile immortal, and you all believe that a juvenile immortal is invincible and insurmountable, but what I wish to tell you is that when Master was in the Golden Core stage, she once fought against two opponents simultaneously, facing off against Immortal Ying Tian and Immortal Qilin, and though the two juvenile immortals deployed an endless stream of methods, they were still no match for Master!"

"When Master was in the Golden Core stage, she was hailed as invincible!"

The pupils of the three from the Nine Nether Cult shrank slightly, visibly moved by these words.

The meaning of possessing the talent of a juvenile immortal was to be invincible among those of the same rank, without peer, having already walked that stage to its absolute limit, with no room left for further advancement.

If two juvenile immortals were to battle and absolutely had to determine a victor, it would undoubtedly require them to exhaust all their hidden trump cards and deplete their spiritual energy just to barely decide the outcome; there was no helping it, for the gap between them was simply too small.

Daoist Celestial Dou had actually defeated two juvenile immortals entirely by her own strength while in the Golden Core stage—just what kind of natural talent must that be!

Overwhelming all the immortals!

No wonder she was the first to achieve immortality in the ancient era!

Zhou Shan steadied his mind and asked further: "I wonder if Young Cult Leader Lu has ever heard of the final battle between the ancient Dragon and Phoenix?"

Lu Yang pondered for a moment, then asked: "Is it the Dragon-Phoenix battle where the rebirth through bathing in fire was performed?"

"Not so. The talents of the Dragon and Phoenix clans had engaged in numerous contests in order to achieve immortality, a series of events known to history as the Dragon-Phoenix War. The one Young Cult Leader Lu speaks of was the penultimate battle between the Dragon and Phoenix; what I speak of is the final Dragon-Phoenix battle, the very last confrontation."

Lu Yang smiled and said: "It is I who am unfamiliar with the appellations used by later generations; please, do tell in detail."

When Zhou Shan mentioned that battle, a lingering dread remained in his heart; from the descriptions recorded in the books alone, one could well imagine the terrifying nature of that confrontation.

"It is recorded in the ancient texts that during the ancient era, there were two demonic beasts whose cultivations were but half a step away from achieving immortality, a dragon and a phoenix, who were the great adversaries of the Immortal Qilin. Even after the Immortal Qilin achieved immortality, the dragon and the phoenix continued their battle."

"That was the last recorded battle, and the conflict arose over an immortal fruit of unknown origin."

"It is presumed that this immortal fruit contained a vast and heavenly opportunity, allowing for not the slightest concession."

"To contend for this immortal fruit, the dragon and the phoenix engaged in a fierce battle, the terror of their auras causing the heavens and earth to lose their color, the space to violently fluctuate, and the dao patterns to fill the sky, while the clash of the Dragon-Phoenix True Flames made even the stars tremble and shiver."

"Present at the scene at that time were Immortal Qilin, Immortal Ying Tian, Immortal Jiu Chong, and Immortal Sui Yue, yet even with four immortals facing them directly, they were still unable to halt the Dragon-Phoenix War!"

"Immortal Qilin was the first to preside over justice; he did not favor either side and wished to stop the warfare, but that dragon and phoenix refused to listen, and even shouted for the Immortal Qilin to retreat."

"In the end, the Dragon-Phoenix War drew to a close with a draw, and no one knows into whose hands that immortal fruit eventually fell!"

Within the mental space, the Immortal Fairy felt that this manner of narrative was remarkably familiar: "I remember now, Ying Tian liked to speak in this way, saying that doing so could elevate the prestige of the immortals!"

It was the first time Shi Huagu had heard this rumor, and he felt that he could perceive the strength of this dragon and phoenix from a mere few sentences.

No wonder the Dragon and Phoenix clans remained so powerful to this day; their heritage was simply too profound.

Shi Huagu observed Lu Yang and discovered that Lu Yang's expression remained unchanged, with even a hint of playfulness lingering at the corners of his eyes, which shocked him greatly.

Could it be that even a battle of this magnitude was considered "nothing more than this" to him?

Was a disciple of an immortal truly so terrifying?

Lu Yang lightly chuckled: "So this battle is referred to by later generations as the final ancient Dragon-Phoenix battle."

Upon the grand wedding of the Immortal Qilin, the Fairy had sent over an immortal fruit, saying it was a gift for the most beautiful person present, whereupon the talents of both the Dragon and Phoenix clans demanded this fruit; the Immortal Qilin found it a massive headache and could not easily stop them, so Ying Tian and the other two peacemakers used all their persuasive powers to alter the martial contest into a culinary competition, with the three of them acting as judges.

But what Ying Tian and the others did not know was that the culinary arts of the two talents from the Dragon and Phoenix clans had been learned from the Immortal Fairy...

"I happen to know some inside information regarding this battle. Speaking of which, the origin of the matter was merely a casual chess move played by my Master."

"On that occasion, the Immortal Qilin was hosting a banquet, widely inviting his good friends, including countless individuals in the Tribulation Transmutation stage, as well as the three immortals including Ying Tian; however, out of wariness toward Master, no invitation was issued to her."

"Upon learning of this matter, Master was not angered; returning good for evil, she casually sent over an immortal fruit bearing a blessing."

"An immortal fruit blessed by Master possessed countless marvelous benefits."

"Needless to say for the four immortals, this fruit was not enough to make them scramble for it, so those with the greatest qualification to contend for it in the entire venue were that dragon and phoenix."

"This immortal fruit carried immense implications, such that even one as strong as the Immortal Qilin dared not rashly declare who was most entitled to receive it."

"Therefore, that dragon and phoenix could only battle, but it was, after all, a banquet hosted by the Immortal Qilin, so a martial contest was inappropriate, and thus it was changed to a competition of True Flames."

Zhou Shan was startled; this was the very detail he had intentionally omitted just now. What was recorded in the ancient text was that after the Immortal Qilin stepped down, the three immortals—Immortal Ying Tian, Immortal Jiu Chong, and Immortal Sui Yue—stepped forward to preside over justice, proposing that a duel of True Flames could be held.

The process of the True Flame duel remained unknown; all that was known was that during the course of this duel, even the three immortals including Ying Tian suffered injuries.

A duel of True Flames!

The world only knew that the final ancient Dragon-Phoenix battle arose because of an immortal fruit, but those who knew that the method of duel was a competition of True Flames were exceedingly few!

Zhou Shan had obtained a rare ancient text, and this was the content recorded therein; the author of the text was Immortal Ying Tian, making the content absolutely authentic and reliable!

Lu Yang, unaware of what Zhou Shan was thinking, continued: "The methods of the True Flame competition included the degree of torment inflicted upon living beings, the level of control over the True Flames, the proficiency in utilizing blades, and so forth."

"Ultimately, the three immortals tasted the fruits of the True Flame competition and suffered a spiritual attack, their minds shaken by it."

"A single immortal fruit ultimately caused the Immortal Qilin to step down and the three immortals including Ying Tian to suffer a spiritual shock; Daoist Celestial Dou possesses such calculation, she is terrifying to such an extent!" Shi Huagu lamented aloud, utterly shocked by the calculating mind of Daoist Celestial Dou.

One must absolutely never make an enemy of her!

Within the mental space, the Immortal Fairy's brow furrowed slightly, always feeling that what Shi Huagu spoke of was herself, yet also not herself: "Am I truly like that?"

Lu Yang took the opportunity to say: "Fairy, your wisdom is as vast as an abyss, profound and unfathomable; a mere mortal like Shi Huagu was simply startled by your wisdom and spoke without proper measure!"

The Immortal Fairy came to a sudden realization: "That is true, after all, I am very clever!"

In reality, Zhou Shan sent a voice transmission to Shi Huagu: "My Lord, the other party is aware of so many ancient secrets; he must undoubtedly be a person of the ancient era!"

Shi Huagu nodded slightly: "This seat thinks so as well."

The second update will be around ten-thirty.

(End of this chapter)