My Sister Is Dead

Li Weiyi divided the dozens of hermits and hermit elders into two groups.

They separately investigated the Demon Race and the rice sect.

Those who could reveal their true identities, such as Hidden Five "Shi Jiuzhai", Hidden Nine "Li Jiufu", and Hidden Eleven "Li Jiao", were responsible for screening the list of Imperial Court martial arts practitioners obtained from Zhuang Yue.

In other words, the thirty powerful spirits hidden within the Imperial Court, using the Soul Merging Secret Technique, were put in charge.

Li Weiyi made specific arrangements. "These Imperial Court Dao Seed Realm Underground Immortal Mansion immortal abode and were captured by the Rice Sect are either Dao Seed Realm experts with inferior roots or whose lifespans are about to end, so the range is not large."

"Hidden Eleven, Ge Xiantong owes you a favor. If necessary, you can leverage his influence."

"Hidden Five, your main task is still with Long Xiangcen. She is a crucial figure in dealing with the Demon Race."

"Those thirty hidden powerful spirit beings are all extremely formidable; their cultivation levels are definitely not low."

"Remember this, everyone: your objective is not to kill them, but to locate them as much as possible. Before the battle begins, you must not alert them."

Hidden Nine asked, "What happens after the war breaks out?"

Li Weiyi said, "I will send the list to some Imperial Court departments that we have screened as soon as possible, and their own people will handle the arrests. There may still be some problems in some departments, but it's impossible for every department to have problems."

"Even if the Demon Race and the Rice Cult do not attack the core eight states, but instead take Lingxiao City first, they cannot possibly reach Cloud Heaven Immortal Plain instantly. The Imperial Court will have at least half a day to a day to react."

"What we need to do now is to silently gather intelligence for them in advance, giving them the ability to resolve potential threats within half a day, rather than having them panic and lose their composure when war breaks out."

"Lingxiao City is a wrecked ship, riddled with holes. We need to find the leaks and let them plug them themselves before the storm hits."

Hidden Nine said, "In other words, as long as we gather enough intelligence, we can close the net even before the war breaks out?"

"That's right, the sooner the better."

Li Weiyi actually didn't have much confidence in the Imperial Court's ability to handle affairs.

Even if we fed the intelligence directly to them, their internal infighting would likely make it difficult to act swiftly, increasing the risk of leaks and potential disaster. In that case, we could only try our best to deliver the information to several extraordinary individuals at the same time.

The masked Xing Yenu, "The Luantai is responsible for collecting intelligence, espionage, and counter-espionage information for the Imperial Court. With the assistance of the Luantai, we can achieve twice the result with half the effort."

After Li Weiyi dismissed half of the hidden agents responsible for investigating the thirty deceased powerful figures, he turned to Xing Yenu and said, "The Rice Sect has a huge influence in Lingxiao City. The Sui Sect alone is quite difficult to deal with. The presence of high-ranking figures like Yao Qian and Jiang Xin within the Luantai means it has probably been infiltrated like a sieve."

Li Weiyi was certain that Jiang Ning would investigate the Imperial Court martial arts practitioners on the list and deal with the Sui Sect's personnel in Luantai. Given her personality, she would not sit idly by and wait for her doom.

There's no need to say this.

Li Weiyi said, "Next, we will discuss how to deal with the Rice Cult and the Sui Sect."

"Yin Er, how's the investigation of the Inari sect's stronghold going?"

Yin Er took out a booklet and handed it to Li Weiyi: "These past few days, following the two strongholds given by the Hidden Person and the clues held by the Hidden Gate itself, all the information has been compiled in this book."

As Li Weiyi flipped through the pages, he said, "Keep digging deeper! Be extremely careful; the Rice Cult has at least one Venerable in Lingxiao City, and their cultivation level must be incredibly formidable."

"Like I said, investigate discreetly. Don't alert them. I don't want us all to perish in Lingxiao City."

Outside the council chamber.

The Old Zhuo planted Death Spirit Fire for all the departing hermits and hermit elders.

In top-tier organizations, disciples carrying important secrets or carrying out crucial missions will plant the Death Spirit Fire.

The significance of planting the Death Spirit Fire.

One method is to maintain secrecy. Once it falls into enemy hands, if the enemy tries to search the soul, the Death Spirit Fire will be triggered instantly. Some powerful Death Spirit Fire can even burn the enemy to death.

Conceal fire within your body and set traps to kill enemies.

Secondly, if one plants the Death Spirit Fire and then betrays their sect, revealing it to the enemy, their sect can kill them instantly upon discovery.

This is a necessary precaution when carrying highly classified information and carrying out important missions.

Even so, there is still a risk of leaks.

Therefore, matters involving the highest levels of secrecy are always personally handled by the transcendent, who unleashes the Death Spirit Fire. The "spirituality" of those Death Spirit Fire is even more terrifying.

Just like the Death Spirit Fire within Yao Qingxuan's body, her words and actions could be sensed. Even when she told Li Weiyi secrets, it was mostly through hints.

Hidden Lord once said that Yao Qingxuan didn't dare to speak out explicitly.

But even Hidden Lord didn't know exactly how far Transcendence could go; he simply couldn't comprehend that level. The perceptual abilities of Transcendence varied depending on the level of Transcendence.

Perhaps a connection can be made within a certain range. Or perhaps complete concentration is required to generate a subtle connection.

The more incomprehensible something is, the more awe it evokes.

Inside the council hall, only Li Weiyi, Hidden One, and Hidden Five remained.

Hidden One removed his mask, revealing a face of someone in his thirties with a mustache and an air of melancholy.

Hidden Five narrowed his eyes, quite surprised. "Yang Qianfeng, the head of the Yang Family, Hidden One, it's actually you."

Hidden One, "The Cangli Tribe and the Yang Family have been intermarrying for generations, so what's so strange about their complicated internal grudges and entanglements? They're intertwined. If it weren't for Hidden Lord, my grandmother and I would have died at the hands of the Yang Family long ago."

"The seeds of hatred are sown in one's own heart; who cares about them? Everyone only sees your current glory."

"Hidden Person, I've discovered something: Li Songjian, the eldest son of the Cangli Tribe chief, is very likely a member of the Rice Cult. His wife is Yang Qingxi's aunt."

Li Weiyi had already discovered that some members of the Cangli Tribe were cultivating Benevolent Rice in the ancestral territory when he went to the Jiu Li Tribe's ancestral land to retrieve Seven Phoenix Wing Moth Emperors.

At that time, I saw an Old Man looked quite similar to Li Songlin and Li Songgu.

It's most likely their eldest Li Songjian.

Hidden One, "But the traitor hidden among the nine clan leaders is still nowhere to be found. We used to think that Coffin Mountain suppressed and subdued him. Now it seems that it should be the Rice Cult's doing."

Hidden Five had met that Old Man: "That person must be a giant, but it's a pity that such a strong person had his spine broken, was subdued and turned into a dog, and became a tool for the enemy to destroy the Jiu Li Tribe."

Hidden One felt this deeply. "There is white in black, and black in white. Being in the Hidden Gate means we are destined to walk on the edge of black and white, and we will only come into contact with people who move between black and white. We cannot blend into absolute white. We are not in a position to deal with absolute black."

The Rice Cult, the Sui Sect, the Imperial Court, and other forces have all planted spies among the Jiu Li Tribe.

The existence of the Jiu Li Hidden Gate is a counterattack against them.

The black and white factions of all the major powers in the world are intertwined.

Li Weiyi pondered for a moment, "Let's put this aside for now; the truth will come out sooner or later. Hidden Five, hand Sikong Jingyuan over to Hidden One."

With a thud, Sikong Jingyuan, who was unconscious, tumbled out of the bag.

Li Weiyi said, "This person is the divine son of the Rice Cult; he must know many secrets."

Hidden One, "Does the Hidden Person want me to pry his mouth open?"

"He definitely has Death Spirit Fire growing within him; it will be very difficult to get him to speak."

Li Weiyi then added, "I need you to use the power of the Sui Sect to interrogate him, teach him a lesson, and get him to talk. That would be ideal. Then, at the appropriate time, make him escape by the skin of his teeth."

Hidden One understood. "Framing the Sui Sect? Using the Rice Cult to deal with the Yang Shen Realm and Yao Qian. When will you let him escape?"

"Wait for my news."

Li Weiyi had to wait for news from the main headquarters.

If the previous plan succeeds, one of Yao Qingxuan and An Xianjing will most likely come to Lingxiao City.

The hidden people left in batches.

The forty-fifth Supreme Elder said goodbye and left, "This matter is too big. After the battle in Lingxiao City, the world's situation will change dramatically. I have to return to Lizhou, report to Yinjun, and summon all the Supreme Elders and Gu Yin people to prepare in advance to meet a more dangerous and chaotic situation."

"If Lingxiao City cannot be defended, flee towards Lizhou. The Hidden Gate will come to your aid."

The Hidden Lord he referred to was, of course Hidden Person from the previous sixty-year cycle.

Danyue Ward, Heavenly Pavilion.

Inside the lavishly decorated room, Tang Wanqiu lay slumped over the table, drinking alone. Her face was flushed, her eyes were glazed, and she reeked of alcohol.

Lately, he's been in a daze every day, half-drunk and half-awake.

The two waitresses who were serving drinks were already passed out drunk.

"Knock knock!"

There was a knock on the door.

A senior expert's voice, urgent and joyful, rang out from Xue Jian Tang Ting: "Young Master Qiu..."

"Don't bother me, get lost... My sister is dead... My sister is dead, what's the point of me living? Sister... If I had known, I wouldn't have gone to the Du'e Temple... I didn't even get to see you one last time..."

Tang Wanqiu clutched the wine jug, weeping like a child, overwhelmed with grief.

Tang Wanzhou is not only his sister, but also a strict teacher, an unyielding leader, and the spiritual banner of the younger generation within the Xue Jian Tang Ting.

"Bang!"

The door was flung open with a single blow.

"Are you trying to rebel? Who gave you the guts... Sister... Is that you? I'm not dreaming, am I...?"

Tang Wanqiu abruptly wiped away the tears in her eyes with her sleeve, trying to make out the figure that had entered.

Tang Wanzhou scanned the scene in the room, his gaze falling on Tang Wanqiu. With a "smack," he slapped Tang Wanqiu hard across the face, knocking her to the ground.

"Sister, it really is you! I know that slap so well! Sister, you're not dead!" Tang Wanqiu covered her face, overjoyed.

Tang Wanzhou sat down in a chair. "Tang Wanqiu, look at yourself now. Is this the chosen one who went to Du'e Temple to cultivate? You've been defeated by such a small setback? Drag her away, straighten yourself out, and bring her back later."

"Yes, sir."

The two Old Man from Xue Jian Tang Ting held Tang Wanzhou in the highest esteem.

Their dejection vanished, their eyes shone brightly, and they seemed to have inexhaustible energy to serve the young lord.

Fifteen minutes later.

Tang Wanqiu sobered up completely, took a bath and changed her clothes, feeling refreshed. She ran quickly into the room and saw Tang Wanzhou looking out the window. She immediately became cautious again and explained, "Sister, I thought you had perished in the Underground Immortal Mansion. I was so upset that everything looked gray, so I had a few drinks."

Tang Wanzhou said, "If I die in the Underground Immortal Mansion, the future of Xue Jian Tang Ting will rest on your shoulders. I don't need you to mourn for me; I need you to always be full of fighting spirit, shoulder the responsibilities of a man, and move forward with unwavering perseverance."

Tang Wanqiu smiled and said, "With your wise guidance, I feel that the road ahead is smooth and there is no more confusion."

"I don't have time to beat you up again. If I see you so dejected again, I'll throw you into the depths of the Netherworld of the Departed. Whether you live or die depends on your own fate. The future master of the Xue Jian Tang Ting must never have a weak side, not at any time," Tang Wanzhou said.

Tang Wanqiu said, "If I disappoint you again, I will go to the Netherworld of the Departed to train myself."

Tang Wanzhou took out a letter and tossed it to him. "Leave the city immediately, return to the Northern Border, and tell the old man that the time has come to head south and water the horses. Tell him to gather his troops and be ready to cross the Misty Grassland at any time to come to Cloud Heaven Immortal Plain to kill demons and reap the final harvest. The specific tactics and some of my ideas are all in this letter."

"Sister, aren't you coming with me?" Tang Wanqiu asked.

Tang Wanzhou said, "I have more important things to do."