Chapter 336: Heavenly Court Sect is Formally Established (Thanks to Book Friend Anchor Anran for the Alliance Leader Reward)

"Such is the general blueprint. Think about it, Senior Brother Dai. If this Heavenly Court Sect boasts only Meng Jingzhou and myself as its ancient prodigies, would it not appear far too hollow? It might hardly suffice to command the belief of the Nine Nether Sect," Lu Yang explained, offering the rationale behind their grand design.

"Even if we throw the Fifth Elder into the mix, a magnificent Heavenly Court Sect possessing but a single Unity Stage cultivator simply defies all reason."

"In the end, we must recruit a few high-ranking cultivators to shore up the framework of the Heavenly Court. And as you well know, my acquaintances within the cultivation world are few and far between. Balancing the ledger, I found none more perfectly suited to the criteria than our very own sect elders!"

Meng Jingzhou chimed in, "Furthermore, familiarity breeds mastery. In the business of deception, experience is paramount. The elders have already swindled the Nine Nether Sect once before; repeating the performance should prove an effortless feat."

Dai Bufan fell into a brief silence, bereft of words, primarily because the arguments presented by Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou struck him as profoundly reasonable.

The Nine Nether Sect was hardly composed of fools; the cast of actors could not remain entirely unchanged, and fresh faces had to be introduced eventually.

"Very well. Since matters stand thus, go forth and speak with the elders. Should they grant their consent, I shall have nothing more to say."

Though Dai Bufan managed the Mission Hall on behalf of the First Elder, he remained a disciple at his core and held no authority over his seniors.

Nevertheless, he harbored a suspicion that the elders would be thoroughly delighted.

After all, a second collective swindle of the Nine Nether Sect was a rare and precious opportunity.

Dai Bufan recalled that during the last collective foray of the Nine Sovereigns of the Flying Sword Sect, they had driven the Nine Nether Sect to the very brink of bankruptcy.

Nine hundred years ago, the elders had originally intended to drain the Nine Nether Sect of all its wealth, causing it to collapse from within through internal strife.

To their surprise, the vitality of the Nine Nether Sect proved absurdly resilient; even stripped of their fortunes, they endured.

"You excel most in alchemy, where the mastery of flame is of supreme import. Why not style yourself the Heavenly King of Golden Flame?"

"To think that reincarnation truly exists in this world, and that it has manifested right here within our Flying Sword Sect. How wondrous."

"The matter stands thus: our current numbers are somewhat lacking, and we wish to invite you, honored elders, to masquerade as Guardians of the Heavenly Court Sect."

"Last time, I was the very first to deceive the Nine Nether Sect. To have history repeat itself is surely a decree of fate; I shall be the Heavenly King of Primal Fate."

"I am a scholar of Confucian letters; let me be called the Heavenly King of Grand Scholars."

Silence—a long, drawn-out silence.

"My expertise lies in body tempering; even those monks from the Buddhist Kingdoms who have forged Vajra bodies are no match for me. Call me the Unbroken Heavenly King."

"I maintained long ago that the Founding Master chose this location with absolute precision. The feng shui of our Flying Sword Sect vastly eclipses that of the other four immortal sects. I have made a dedicated study of feng shui!"

"Nephew Lu is indeed a man of ideas. Why did such a notion never occur to me back then?"

"The Heavenly King of Ten Thousand Swords, then?"

Qin Haoran pondered deeply before replying, "I know not what manner of Golden Core Meng Jingzhou possessed. My memory holds only a fleeting fragment: Meng Jingzhou holding high a soul-summoning banner, summoning his Golden Core amidst the weeping of a hundred ghosts and the howling of demonic beasts, a spectacle so grand it mirrored the procession of the King of a Hundred Ghosts."

"Say no more, Eldest Brother. Your so-called studies in feng shui amount to nothing more than selecting grave sites. I even heard that while you slept within a coffin, you encountered several bands of grave robbers. They were nearly frightened to death upon seeing you, thinking a corpse had sprung back to life."

"What title shall our Ninth Brother bear? The Heavenly King of Sword Peddling?"

"From that description, it sounds remarkably like the Ghost-Weeping Wolf-Howling Core—grand enough in its commotion to terrify onlookers, capable of sonic attacks, and highly effective for swelling one's ranks when venturing out short-handed. Its utility is manifold."

The nine elders, rich in experience, swiftly deduced the nature of the Golden Core.

"The Golden Core of Meng Jingzhou bears no resemblance to that of Nephew Lu. Nephew Lu's core should be entirely uncompromised."

"I watch over the medicinal gardens and possess a profound understanding of spiritual flora. Why not the Heavenly King of a Hundred Medicines?"

Yun Zhi lifted her head, a faint gleam in her eyes. "No, I am contemplating what title Master should adopt. Given his silver tongue, how does the Heavenly King of Loquacity sound?"

Qin Haoran inquired out of curiosity, "What grade of Golden Core is this?"

"Then all is well," the elders concluded, settling the matter.

"Can we not devise titles that sound a bit more aligned with the Heavenly Court?"

"Slaying demons and vanquishing devils is a duty we cannot shirk!"

The moment the two stepped into the grand council chamber, a suffocating sensation washed over them—the Third Elder, possessor of the Stainless Immortal Body, was present, and the assembly had been communicating entirely via divine sense.

Just as Lu Yang assumed the elders were about to decline, the telepathic exchange grew exceedingly chaotic.

The elders displayed an enthusiasm that far exceeded Lu Yang's wildest expectations, looking for all the world as though they had suddenly recalled the green spring of their youth a millennium ago, when they plagued the mortal realm.

"What a thing to say. Our Flying Sword Sect is a cradle of geniuses and spiritual grace; what miracle could not transpire here?"

"I missed out on the previous affair involving the Immortal Sect, but this business with the Nine Nether Sect is something I absolutely cannot pass up!"

Lu Yang described the sequence of events with succinct brevity, while Meng Jingzhou offered occasional supplements.

"I, too, discern nothing amiss. By the way, Nephew Lu, do you know what kind of Golden Core Meng Jingzhou formed? It is possible your Golden Core is linked to his, and that he is using this method to gradually assimilate you, transforming you into himself."

"This old man deals with graveyards year-round; let me be the Heavenly King of the Underworld."

"That still feels somewhat off-flavored."

"He is currently sharing a dungeon cell with the Minister of Justice. I reckon he won't make it in time."

The Heavenly Gate Peak, the Grand Council Chamber.

"Let me think. I possess the Stainless Immortal Body... the Heavenly King of No Dust... the Heavenly King of Pure Dust... or perhaps the Stainless Heavenly King? The Heavenly King of Pure Dust seems to roll off the tongue rather better."

"Guardians of the Heavenly Court—that carries a far grander mystique than Elders of the Flying Sword Sect!"

"The Pill of Severed Limbs Reborn, perfectly rounded—it is indubitably a first-grade Golden Core. It does not appear to be a trap left behind by Meng Jingzhou."

Yun Zhi, who had remained silent throughout, shook her head gently. "Nothing."

"Niece Yun Zhi, have you discerned any anomaly?"

"Lu Yang, Meng Jingzhou, do you two have some business here?" the Second Elder inquired, somewhat puzzled.

"It is a pity Ninth Brother is absent from so delightful an enterprise."

"Does 'Sword Peddling' sound appropriate? Have you forgotten the glorious days when Ninth Brother led us to fortune? He should be called the Heavenly King of Wealth Creation!"

"Haoran is my disciple; naturally, it is I who should go!"

The nine elders surrounded Qin Haoran, observing him as though he were a rare and exotic beast.

Taking advantage of the elders' debate, Lu Yang quietly questioned Yun Zhi, who had remained still and silent. Her brow was slightly furrowed, as if she were engaged in some monumental decision.

Lu Yang transmitted his thoughts via divine sense: "It is like this: in order to deceive the Nine Nether Sect, we have specially established a Heavenly Court Sect..."

The elders discussed their titles in a clamor of voices, a lively and bustling scene. Having concluded their own selections, they began to fret over what manner of Heavenly King the Silent Daoist should be named.

"Eldest Senior Sister, are you considering whether or not to join the Heavenly Court Sect?"

The position of Sect Master for the Eldest Senior Sister was of paramount importance.

They had only just learned that Qin Haoran was the reincarnation of the previous Sect Master of the Nine Nether Sect.

Just as the assembly prepared to disperse, Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou walked through the doors.

"Ninth Brother frequents the dungeons daily; why not the Heavenly King of Incarceration?"

"To correct you, my method is called waiting for the rabbit to hit the tree."

"Such a marvelous game, and you speak of it only now? Had you told me earlier, I would have gone in place of Second Brother!"

"Second grade."

"Lu Yang has already chosen a title for me: the Heavenly King of Many Treasures."

"Count me in, count me in. Tricking the Nine Nether Sect is my greatest expertise."