Chapter 482: Half-Immortal?

Turn back the clock a little.

"So this is the Wendao Sect, how spectacular."

Mingtai stood before the mountain gate of the Wendao Sect, sighing with emotion.

"Mingtai, let's go," Elder Sikong urged him to keep up.

The two traversed the bamboo grove, stepped over a stream, and entered the core area of the Wendao Sect, the main venue for this celebration.

The River Spirit poked its head out, scrutinizing everyone who entered the Wendao Sect to determine whether they were qualified to pass.

"It's livelier this time than any previous celebration," the River Spirit murmured softly with a satisfied smile, watching the paragons and mighty figures enter in single file.

It was a spirit of the stream, blessed by heaven and earth with a spark of spiritual light, and later enlightened by the Primal Daoist to birth true intelligence; grateful for the Primal Daoist's kindness, it willingly became the sect's guardian spirit, witnessing the rise and fall of the Wendao Sect.

What the River Spirit failed to notice was that alongside Mingtai's duo, a group of uninvited guests had also slipped into the Wendao Sect.

They flitted through the bamboo grove, silent and leaving no trace to follow, as if they did not exist at all, and not a soul noticed their presence.

"I have long heard that the Wendao Sect possesses a formidable guardian spirit, and seeing it today confirms the rumors, but unfortunately, you have crossed paths with me this time," the Imperial Preceptor sneered, bypassing the River Spirit to lead his followers into the Wendao Sect.

Upon entering the core area of the Wendao Sect, the Imperial Preceptor shed his disguise; there were too many cultivators here, and even if they couldn't see them, they might bump into them, so remaining hidden would work to their disadvantage instead.

Along the way, the Imperial Preceptor spotted several cultivators in the Tribulation Transmutation Stage, thinking to himself that it was fortunate he had brought enough people, otherwise, relying on him alone, it truly wouldn't be easy to annihilate the Wendao Sect.

"My Lord, when do we strike?" the Black and White Venerables quietly inquired through divine sense transmission.

"No rush, the celebration has just begun, which is when the Wendao Sect's vigilance is highest; let us scout thoroughly first, figure out exactly how many Synthesis and Tribulation Stage cultivators are attending this celebration, calculate the gap in battle strength between both sides, and then decide when and at what hour to strike."

"According to Immortal Sect standards, every Immortal Sect must have at least one Tribulation Stage cultivator and one method comparable to the Tribulation Stage; it is impossible for the Wendao Sect to deploy all its martial might for this celebration, as important places like the sect's treasury must be guarded by someone."

"The River Spirit just now should be the method comparable to the Tribulation Stage, and the Wendao Sect's true Tribulation Stage cultivators ought to be elsewhere; when the time comes to strike swiftly, the Wendao Sect's Tribulation Stage cultivators will fail to react, and even if they can rush over, it will be too late."

Clang— Clang— Clang—

The tolling of a bell echoed through the Wendao Sect, totaling twelve reverberations, signifying the official commencement of the celebration.

The group fell silent as they watched their target step by step ascend the altar to preside over the sacrificial ceremony.

"What an ancient method of sacrifice, it seems to originate from antiquity," the Imperial Preceptor remarked with slight surprise; they were cultivators from the early Dayu era, separated from antiquity by only the Daqian Dynasty.

The Wendao Sect was only established in the late Dayu era, yet it commanded such an ancient method of sacrifice.

"This Wendao Sect does have a few tricks up its sleeve," the Black and White Venerables commented nonchalantly; within the group, his status was second only to the Imperial Preceptor.

An ancient method of sacrifice proved nothing; it was entirely possible it had been unearthed from some ancient tome.

After all, up to the present day, there were still quite a few ancient ruins that remained unexcavated.

"A common, ordinary brat actually dared to thwart our Dayu's plans time and again, he truly does not know how the word 'death' is written!"

As the ceremony concluded, the Imperial Preceptor's brow unfurled, and a smile hooked the corner of his mouth.

"My Lord, you are..."

The Imperial Preceptor analyzed for the group: "Haven't you noticed? Compared to when the celebration sacrifice was underway, the number of high-level cultivators here is dwindling; it seems I overestimated the Wendao Sect's position in Daxia."

"These high-level cultivators must have attended the celebration sacrifice out of obligation to save face; once the sacrifice ended, the various subsequent activities prepared by the Wendao Sect and the final matches of the young cultivators failed to pique their interest, which is why they departed."

Everyone flashed expressions of excitement; a decrease in the number of high-level cultivators meant their actions would be unimpeded, and the pressure suddenly diminished.

"Indeed, destiny lies with Dayu," the Imperial Preceptor's lips curved upward in high spirits; in this manner, the destruction of the Wendao Sect was assured.

"However, we cannot afford carelessness just yet; it is inconvenient to use divine sense here, so fan out, gather intelligence on the Wendao Sect, and compile it at my location afterward."

The Imperial Preceptor pointed beneath his feet: "I shall wait for you all right here."

"Understood."

The group dispersed, leaving the Imperial Preceptor alone on the spot.

"They probably won't return anytime soon, so I shall go gather intelligence on the Wendao Sect myself."

The Imperial Preceptor acted with caution; he wanted to use the intelligence he gathered personally to cross-reference the reports collected by his subordinates, thereby ensuring the reliability of the information.

"The most bustling place here should be the merchant street we passed by; let's go take a look there," the Imperial Preceptor paced forward, walking toward the merchant street.

"A mere merchant street actually conceals numerous Synthesis Stage cultivators," the Imperial Preceptor narrowed his eyes; his cultivation was unfathomably profound, and with a single glance, he could discern that those seemingly ordinary restaurant owners and waiters were all remarkable grandmasters who could rule as kings in the outside world.

"Relying solely on the Synthesis Stage, they still cannot stir up any waves."

He alone could slay six Tribulation Stage cultivators; though they were all in the early Tribulation Stage, it was still an extraordinary feat, and he did not hold the Synthesis Stage in his eyes.

"Dear guests, would you care for some barbecue?" the three glamorous ghosts, Xiao Wu, Xiao Liu, and Xiao Qi, were soliciting customers at the entrance of the barbecue shop, working diligently and drawing a crowd.

The business of the barbecue shop was booming; Master Liu and Master Gao manifested three heads and six arms, working simultaneously, which significantly boosted their barbecue efficiency.

"Make way, make way, I'm here to deliver meat," a slaughterhouse owner delivering meat called out for the customers to step aside so he could get inside.

The barbecue shop's business was far too good; even though they had anticipated it and prepared many meat skewers, it still wasn't enough.

The Immortal Immortal sat with one leg crossed over the other, merrily watching all of this, his smile stretching from ear to ear.

A single day's sales volume could match that of ten days.

The name of the barbecue shop had been temporarily taken down by Lu Yang; otherwise, if outside cultivators ate barbecue, remembered the shop's name, and then advertised it in the outside world, the Jiuyou Sect would discover that the Wendao Sect also had a "One More Time Barbecue Shop," making it difficult to fool the Jiuyou Sect then.

Hearing Xiao Wu's shouting, the Imperial Preceptor raised his gaze to look over, and subsequently spotted the two barbecue masters as well as the slaughterhouse owner, his heart giving a sudden jolt.

"Three Synthesis Stage ghost thralls? Is the Wendao Sect's Tribulation Stage cultivator right here?"

Only a Tribulation Stage cultivator could refine Synthesis Stage ghost thralls.

Generally speaking, ghost thralls would not be too far from their refiner; the Wendao Sect's Tribulation Stage cultivator was hidden inside this very barbecue shop.

"Good luck indeed," the Imperial Preceptor smiled, his smile brimming with confidence.

He had originally intended to scout the situation first, but he hadn't expected to eliminate a Tribulation Stage cultivator ahead of schedule.

The embryonic form of his Dao Fruit was related to concealment, which was how he had eluded the River Spirit—who rivaled the Tribulation Stage—and led his group into the Wendao Sect.

The embryonic form of his Dao Fruit could ensure that he silently disposed of the Wendao Sect's Tribulation Stage cultivator.

He stepped into the barbecue shop and caught sight of the leisurely Immortal Immortal.

The Immortal Immortal also caught sight of him.

"A Half-Immortal?"

The two spoke in unison.

The second update will be at eleven o'clock.