Crimson Space.
The Myriad Desire Demon Lord's divine sense hovered in midair, appearing as a cloud of crimson mist. A pair of scarlet eyes stared down at Jiang Li.
A flicker of surprise flashed through his eyes.
"You were able to kill a Qi Refining Eighth Level disciple from the sect?"
He could tell that Jiang Li's cultivation was only at the Qi Refining Fifth Level.
"I succeeded in a sneak attack."
Jiang Li kept his answer brief and to the point.
There was no way to hide it from the Heavenly Mystery Holy Land, so he could only tell the truth.
But no Ten Thousand Demons Sect disciple had witnessed him killing anyone. How the story was told depended entirely on his whim.
After quite a while.
The crimson mist reacted again.
An eerie, invisible wave of sound spread downward.
"I already understand this matter. You did very well. I have had someone send word to raise your authority. You will serve as the Ten Thousand Demons Sect's hidden pawn within the Heavenly Mystery Holy Land. You need only focus on climbing higher; you may abstain from all undercover missions."
Joy rose in Jiang Li's heart.
This was exactly what he wanted.
What undercover agent could avoid carrying out undercover missions?
Especially since Yuan Li, the Heavenly Mystery Holy Land's Undercover Contact Person, was at odds with him. If Yuan Li ordered him to carry out a certain-death mission, he would have no way to refuse.
Now.
That problem had been resolved.
He could continue lying low.
Just as he was rejoicing, the Myriad Desire Demon Lord's icy voice rang out once more.
"You should understand the consequences of using your identity token. If you cannot continue demonstrating your value to me, I will kill you myself."
"Understood."
"Good. Since you have encountered such an opportunity in the Heavenly Mystery Holy Land, this pawn of yours can be put to use. I want you to join the Law Enforcement Hall and work your way up to become a core disciple. When necessary, I will have other undercover agents and even sect members cooperate with you to help you advance."
At those words.
Jiang Li's expression shifted slightly.
A Law Enforcement Hall core disciple?
No.
How had this come full circle again?
The reason he had not chosen to join the Law Enforcement Hall back then was precisely because its nature was too dangerous and offended too many people.
Once he got involved, with the nature of the Profound Yellow Heart Refining Art, would he not have to uphold justice every day?
Of course.
If the Myriad Desire Demon Lord was willing to cooperate, then it was not as though he could not do it.
It was just a little wasteful of undercover agents.
But the Ten Thousand Demons Sect was not his anyway. A son selling his father's land felt no pain.
Jiang Li agreed without hesitation.
Heavenly Mystery Holy Land, Cave Residence.
Jiang Li's consciousness returned.
He let out a long breath.
The fallout from wiping out the undercover agents had finally been dealt with.
Next, he only needed to lie low in peace, wait for a suitable opportunity to join the Law Enforcement Hall, and rise through its ranks by accepting missions until he became a core disciple.
Jiang Li felt a headache coming on.
Before one wave had settled, another had risen.
Why did it feel as though the stronger he became, the more work he had to do?
But Jiang Li did not regret it.
Rather than leave his life in someone else's hands and be exploited without resistance, he would rather take some risks and tear away every shackle.
Just then.
Jiang Li noticed that the panel information had been updated.
Name: Jiang Li. Identity: Disciple of Heaven Sword Peak, Heavenly Mystery Holy Land (Myriad Desire Demon Lord's No. 410 possession body). Realm: Qi Refining Fifth Level. Main Cultivation Art: Profound Yellow Heart Refining Art. Main Spell Art: Dragon Slaying Sword.
No. 410?
Jiang Li was somewhat surprised.
He remembered that when he was at the Qi Refining Layer 4, he had still been No. 550 Backup Possession Body.
He had not expected that merely advancing one minor realm would move him up by one hundred and forty places.
It seemed he had already made an impression on the Myriad Desire Demon Lord.
Jiang Li fell into thought.
Deepening the Myriad Desire Demon Lord's impression of him had both advantages and disadvantages. But no matter what, he still could not resist that great demon.
He could only lie dormant.
As he was thinking.
His communication talisman stirred.
The sender was Yuan Li, the Undercover Contact Person from Spirit Plant Peak.
"There is a problem with the Spiritual Plants you planted. Come over at once."
This was a code phrase between undercover agents.
It was meant to deceive prying eyes.
But Jiang Li could roughly guess why that old dog was looking for him.
After all.
He had returned alive and well from Frostfeather City, while all the other undercover agents had died.
As the Undercover Contact Person, it was perfectly normal for Yuan Li to seek him out.
The timing was simply unfortunate.
He had already resolved his worries.
After all.
Who could have imagined that he had a method to report directly to the highest authority?
Though that was also a negative buff.
"Get lost."
Jiang Li replied without the slightest courtesy.
He ignored Yuan Li's barrage of messages.
He began testing the new trait of the Profound Yellow Heart Refining Art—Soul of Justice.
This was a boosting skill.
With the Soul of Justice's enhancement, the defensive power of the Shield of Justice he cast increased by a great deal.
It was enough to withstand attacks below the Foundation Establishment Realm.
This discovery delighted Jiang Li immensely.
As a glass cannon built around high attack and low defense, defensive power was far too important to him.
Not long afterward.
Jiang Li discovered an uninvited guest outside his Cave Residence.
It was Yuan Li.
Because Jiang Li had refused to cooperate, this Undercover Contact Person had come looking for him with a grim, sinister expression.
His first words upon meeting him struck like lightning.
"I already know your secret. You have quite the nerve. You actually dared to join forces with Law Enforcement Hall disciples to destroy the Ten Thousand Demons Sect's temporary stronghold and kill everyone else."
Jiang Li was thoroughly stunned by those words.
He looked at the other man with a strange expression.
Yuan Li was not misled by Jiang Li's reaction. He said with complete confidence, "Is that not the case? The temporary stronghold was destroyed by Law Enforcement Hall disciples. Every undercover agent, including the envoy, was wiped out, yet you alone survived. Could that possibly be a coincidence?"
"The only answer is that you betrayed the sect. You leaked the information about the temporary stronghold in order to borrow the Law Enforcement Hall's hand and eliminate the envoy who wanted to take you away."
"Jiang Li, Jiang Li, I never expected your courage to be so enormous that you would even dare betray the organization."
By the time he finished speaking.
The great weight in the Undercover Contact Person's heart had fallen away.
Because he had finally grasped Jiang Li's weakness—no, it should be called his fatal flaw.
So long as he held this matter over Jiang Li, Jiang Li would be like a dead dog, completely at his mercy.
He would not dare offer the slightest resistance.
Jiang Li sneered. "Idiot."
With that.
Jiang Li flung out a Crimson Decree.
It smashed viciously into Yuan Li's face.
The Myriad Desire Demon Lord had given it to him when he left the Crimson Space.
Its contents were very simple.
It ordered the Ten Thousand Demons Sect's undercover agents within the Heavenly Mystery Holy Land to cooperate with his actions.
This was undoubtedly an imperial sword of authority.
He could strike down whoever he wanted.
"Take a look."
Jiang Li said flatly.
Yuan Li was doubtful and unsettled. Jiang Li's calm composure frightened him. After struggling for several seconds, he picked up the Crimson Decree and examined it.
The moment he read it.
His entire body froze.
He, the Undercover Contact Person, was to cooperate with Jiang Li with all his strength?
If Jiang Li wanted resources, give him resources? If he wanted lives, give him lives? If he wanted cooperation, give him cooperation?
?
A question mark slowly appeared in his mind.
What was going on?
A traitor who had sold out the Ten Thousand Demons Sect's interests and caused the temporary stronghold to be swept away in one fell swoop had not only avoided punishment, but had been entrusted with an important role. He was even being ordered to fully cooperate with him?
What kind of joke was this?
How could this be possible?
Was this still the Holy Sect he knew?
At that moment.
The corners of Jiang Li's lips curled upward. "Finished reading? The order above says that you, the Undercover Contact Person, must cooperate completely. I would like to know just how far your cooperation can go."
"Kneel."
As Jiang Li spoke those words, his expression turned cold and sinister.
His tone grew heavier.
It carried an oppressive force that allowed no refusal.
At those words.
Yuan Li's face turned ugly to the extreme.
His expression shifted between shades of darkness and uncertainty.
His fists clenched tightly.
Yet beneath those words, "cooperate with all your strength," he could only kneel in humiliation.
Even though he knew perfectly well that Jiang Li was humiliating him.
"Is that... is that enough?"
Yuan Li ground his teeth.
"I will cooperate with all your strength in your actions."
Jiang Li said nothing.
The curve of his lips only rose higher.
After three years, he had finally launched his first counterattack against Yuan Li.
He had stomped him viciously beneath his feet.
This feeling was incredible.
But this was not enough.
Unless he killed that old dog, the hatred lodged in his heart over these past three years could not be dispelled.
In ancient times, the Flame Emperor had his battle qi drained for three years before finally rising to greatness.
Today, Jiang Li had been exploited and suppressed for three years before finally gaining power.
After quite a while.
Only then did Jiang Li finally relent.
"Scram."
As if granted a pardon, Yuan Li slunk away in disgrace.
The venom in his eyes nearly took tangible form.
At that.
Jiang Li's gaze darkened. I need to find a chance to trick that old bastard out of the Holy Land and kill him while I'm at it. He's an eyesore.
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